Conservation – Page 5 – TINA CHIARELLI, PHD, FRGS

Devil Facial Tumor Disease

January 27th, 2012tinalc0 Comments

In honor of Australia Day I thought it would be fitting to write about one of their most beloved species, the Tasmanian devil. Immortalized as the spinning, incoherent cartoon character, the survival of the real Tasmanian devil is in peril. A communicative disease called Devil Facial Tumor Disease (DFTD) is decimating the devil population of Tasmania. As researchers race to understand the etiology behind DFTD the devils face an uncertain future. Devil Facial Tumor Disease was first documented in 1996 in northeastern Tasmanian. The disease is characterized by large, fast-growing cancerous tumors that are found around the face and inside …

Invasion of the Habitat Snatchers

January 21st, 2012tinalc0 Comments

Non-native or invasive species are finding their way into ecosystems all around the world. Regardless if they are being purposefully introduced by biologists to predate on a more destructive non-native or to enhance a biological area, or if they are being released by irresponsible pet owners, non-natives threaten native species. More importantly, invasive species not only pose a risk to native plants and animals through displacement, competition, or predation, but also by the possible introduction of disease. One of the most well-known stories of a non-native invasion is the cane toad of Australia. Brought to Australia in 1935, the cane …

Sharing Space With Wildlife

January 13th, 2012tinalc0 Comments

One of the first things we are taught as children is to be mindful of traffic. We know all too well the consequences of running across a busy street; doing so with blatant disregard would be considered suicide. Therefore, it is well established that roadways are the automobiles area, and we respect that. So why don’t we give the same caution in regards to wildlife? Why would we dare swim in crocodile territory in North Queensland, Australia? Why would we hike through Grizzly bear habitat without taking extreme precaution? Or why would we walk within meters of a wild elephant …

The Ivory War Continues: 22 Years After the Ban

January 7th, 2012tinalc0 Comments

2011 was considered the bloodiest year for elephants since 1989, the same year the ivory ban began. Confiscated ivory from illegal sales estimate over 3000 elephants were killed by poachers to fuel the black market demand; and that is just what was found. In a single month, Malaysian authorities seized over $1.3 million US worth of ivory that was being shipped out of Kenya and into Cambodia. It is well documented that the illegal trade in wildlife and their parts is a multi-billion dollar a year business; third only behind drugs and weapons trafficking. Trade in rhino horn and tiger …

A New Year For Conservation

December 30th, 2011tinalc0 Comments

Like years past, 2011 has been full of both triumph and loss. Precious habitat was saved. Conservationists continued to educate and inspire others to help preserve our natural world. In addition, new plant and animal species were discovered; however, a few were also considered to now be extinct. With all of our great accomplishments over the last 365 days, I believe we can do better. Whether we are aware of it or not, we are all interconnected to each and every living thing on this planet. All of our actions, good or bad, have an effect on others. I meet …

Peace and Place For All

December 23rd, 2011tinalc0 Comments

When I first began working in the field of wildlife conservation I was very naïve. It was so easy to come up with solutions to habitat loss and species survival when humans were not factored into the equation. It was so very simple to point an accusatory finger. Part of the learning curve in this line of work is to understand that for every person who carries out atrocities against wildlife and their habitat, there are at least five that want to save them. In addition, identifying the driving force behind such horrific events is just as much of the …

Extinction: The Final Countdown

December 7th, 2011tinalc0 Comments

The word extinction has shown up several times in the news lately regarding the population status of some wildlife species. All too often we can identify species that have been deemed extinct, but we are not given an explanation of how this came to be. Historically, or I should say prehistorically, we know that a meteor striking the earth and an ice age contributed to the extinction of thousands of species. Note that these catastrophic events were natural disasters. However, what about the extinctions as of late? Internationally, we still experience natural disasters all the time, but what is their …

Habitat Preservation and the Discovery of New Species

November 29th, 2011tinalc0 Comments

It is hard to believe that in a world where the human population now exceeds 7 billion, that there are still unexplored wild areas, and new plant and animal species being discovered. I think it is easy to understand the importance of preserving oceans, jungles, rainforests, grasslands, and deserts (yes, even deserts) for the known species that inhabit them, but what about the places that are home to creatures yet to be discovered? What about the plants, bacteria, or fungi in those wild areas that could lead to new breakthroughs in medicine? And, although hard to imagine, should we not …

Thank You

November 23rd, 2011tinalc0 Comments

This week, in the United States, we will be celebrating Thanksgiving. This holiday is a time for recognizing the things and special people we are thankful for. Aside from stuffing ourselves with roasted turkey, potatoes, stuffing, and pumpkin pie, the day is spent with friends and family. In addition, I thought it would be the most fitting time to give thanks to all those special people who have inspired me over the years and helped cultivate my passion for wildlife conservation and habitat preservation. If not for these wonderful people, I would not be who I am today. As a …

Crikey! It’s Steve Irwin Day!

November 10th, 2011tinalc0 Comments

This Tuesday, 15 November, is the annually celebration of the life of Steve Irwin. Like him or not, you cannot deny that this man brought the plight of wildlife conservation into more than 150 million living rooms around the world. Carrying on that tradition, the aptly named Steve Irwin Day continues Steve’s mission to fight for wildlife conservation and habitat preservation. In addition, the day reminds us that one person can make a huge difference. I remember the first time I saw Steve Irwin on television. Being raised on the stylings of Sir David Attenborough, Steve was unlike anything I …