Elephant Biologist | FN'22 The Explorers Club
Elephant Biologist | FN'22 The Explorers Club
This past year, I got the opportunity to interview some incredible conservation organizations regarding their work before, during, and after the Covid-19 pandemic. During such trying times, they continued to support wildlife and communities in range countries despite new challenges. You can read the article in its entirety at JEMA 2022v33i3.
As 2016 draws to a close, it’s important to reflect upon the last 365 days. Just like the preceding years, 2016 had triumphs and failures in wildlife and habitat protection. Although we still have a lot of battles before us in the field of conservation, I feel that 2016 was the year of awareness. Global issues were brought to the forefront to be openly discussed. I have to hope that is a great start for things to come in 2017. With each passing year, I am often asked how one person can make a difference. I completely understand how easy …
Despite staunch conservation efforts, global big cat populations continue to decline. In just the last 30 years, data collected by conservation groups in Africa show that some big cat populations fell by at least 50% (table 1). Loss of habitat, human-wildlife conflicts, hunting, and poaching continue to threaten the long –term survival of these iconic creatures. Population 1985 2015 Cheetah (Africa and Iran) ~21,000 <10,000 (CCF) Lion (African and Asia) 100,000 ~23,000 Africa; <400 Asia (IUCN) Tiger (6 subspecies) 5,000-7,000 <3,500 (Global Tiger Initiative) Leopard (9 subspecies) no reliable data 100,000 Africa; 8,000 India (Nat Geo) …
From 2010-2012, the world lost more than 100,000 African elephants. At present, it is estimated that we lose 98 elephants a day. The biggest threat to both African and Asian elephants continue to be poaching to fill the demand of a thriving illegal ivory trade in China, the U.S., and Southeast Asia. In July 2013, President Obama revealed his Executive Order on combating wildlife trafficking, a proposed ban on all commercial trade in elephant ivory in the U.S. Working with preexisting legislature to close legal loopholes, the order will amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to include African elephants. …
Authors: Sunil Nawaz, MSc Zoology, M.phil Microbiology Scholar Natasha Zarish M.Sc Zoology M.Ed Science Education Pakistan is blessed with several natural beauties including indigenous wildlife (including several rare endangered species), beautiful mountains of Himalayas, deserts of Cholistan and Thar, Manmade forests like changa manga forest as well as several natural resources from the Baluchistan trails. It also holds second tallest mountain K-2, which is a really challenging tourist attraction in terms of mountain climbing. Four seasons bloom each year to their fullest, and rain fall of 12-14 inch per year average lead to make Pakistan a very fertile agricultural …
The last 365 days have proved to be one of the worst years for poaching since the 1980s. In 2012, it is estimated that over 17,000 elephants and 700 rhino were lost during this ongoing global war against wildlife poaching. Keep in mind these are but two out of hundreds of species that were affected. The last year has been filled with both triumphs and failures as conservationists fight to conserve these magnificent creatures. Unfortunately, as we are only 14 days into a new year, the killing continues. Already reports out of Kenya reports an entire African elephant family has …
Five years ago, if you heard the words “human-wildlife conflict” (or HWC) the first thing that probably came to mind was the challenges agriculturalists in range countries face coexisting with native fauna. Maybe you thought about the struggle between Namibian goat herders and cheetahs or East African farmers protecting their crops from raiding elephants. In short, humans had what animals wanted. No doubt those types of incidences still exist, but the overall dynamic of human-wildlife conflicts have changed, and therefore need redefined. Perhaps the first thing we should change is our way of thinking; how we view conflict between man …
With the holidays right around the corner many people have started their yearly quest for one of a kind gifts. It is very easy amidst the hustle and bustle to purchase items based on beauty alone. Please be wildlife aware when buying and receiving gifts. The cost may only be a few dollars out of your pocket, but for an animal it just may have cost his life. It has been well known for quite some time that the illegal trafficking of wildlife and their parts is a multi-billion dollar a year business. Falling behind only drugs and weapons, wildlife …
Across the globe animal species are going extinct. From such contributing factors such as disease, persecution, poaching, displacement, and habitat destruction, we are losing some of our most amazing creatures at an alarming rate. Unfortunately, species extinctions are nothing new. But can we learn from past mistakes to ensure more magnificent animals do not do the way of the dodo? One of the most iconic species to have become extinct in the 20th Century was the thylacine or Tasmanian tiger. The last known thylacine was observed in captivity at the Hobart Zoo in 1936. Although the thylacine was a large …
In the past, poaching of wildlife for bushmeat or sale of animal products was typically carried out by people living locally to wildlife habitats. Particularly in severely impoverished areas, poaching was done to feed and support families. In the last few years the face of poaching has changed. Poaching has become very sophisticated utilizing GPS, helicopters, and tranquilizers instead of tracking animals on foot and using snares or automatic weapons. Rangers, veterinarians, and researchers who have sworn to protect and conserve vulnerable and endangered species are the very ones who are now participating in their demise. Carcasses are left to …