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.
“In March 2020, at the beginning of a global pandemic, elephant carcasses were found in the Ngamiland district of northern Botswana. Within three months from the initial report, helicopter-based surveys counted a total of 350 dead elephants. Carcasses of males and females were found by themselves with 70% near water. In some cases, it was as though the animal was walking and just collapsed. Locals would state that some elephants were observed walking in circles with extremely low body condition before death. Due to Covid-related travel restrictions, carcasses were not thoroughly examined, and tissue samples not collected; thus, a causative …
As promised, I am starting to update my website. To say that, since 2020, life has thrown it’s very best and worst at us would be a huge understatement. One of my grounding points has always been my work with elephants. Thankfully, they continue to be a guiding light. I was delighted to be interviewed by Gray Matters for their Members on the Move for Conservation” segment. “An interview with EMA Conservation Committee member Tina Dow, PhD. – This year, the Conservation Committee is highlighting EMA members that are making a difference for elephant conservation. For this issue of Gray …
At 08:03 local time, the plane touched down in Johannesburg. Although the last flight was a whopping 15-hours total air time, the South African Airlines flight crew did an amazing job making sure we were as comfortable as possible. After a trip through customs to get my passport stamped, and several laps around terminals A and B, I found my shuttle and was off for the 7-hour land trek to Skukuza Rest Camp in Kruger National Park. The only hiccup being I was the only one without cellphone service. Having prepared a week in advance, I had added the AT&T …
Listed as an UNESCO World Heritage Area and one of the world’s largest tropical wetlands, the Pantanal covers 188,000 ha in western central Brazil. Bordering Bolivia and Paraguay, this freshwater ecosystem, fed by the Cuiabá and Paraguay rivers, is home to a variety of species found nowhere else on Earth. Modern pressures and an ever-growing human population continue to pose challenges for wildlife conservation and habitat preservation. Research projects centered on such species as the lowland tapir, giant river otter, and jaguar work relentlessly to mitigate human-wildlife conflict and secure safe rangeland to ensure wildlife are protected and given the …
The 2012-2013 West Virginia University Graduate Catalog has featured Dr. Tina Dow as a mentor for prospective students. Â While attending University, Dr. Dow was awarded a Graduate Teaching Fellowship and Tuition waiver. Â She was the first person in her family to attend college. Â
This year, 2012, has been an exciting time for the Timber rattlesnake population and reproductive assessment survey research. The driving force behind this project was to better understand how human presence in the north eastern part of their range has affected overall rattlesnake numbers and breeding success compared to previous data. In addition, we wanted to learn more about Timber rattlesnake behavior so that we can educate the public and help them better appreciate the importance of this magnificent snake. Having begun this project in 2011, it was a frustrating year as all the specimens we were finding had been …
It was certainly a weekend of celebrations in West Virginia.  In addition to participating in the 143rd Commencement at West Virginia University, Dr. Tina Dow’s research was highlighted  in the latest edition of the WVU Alumni Magazine. Big Impact, Big Research Written By Jake Stump/ Photographs By Scott Lituchy The story of Tina Dow’s love of elephants began in another story, tucked away in the pages of her first Little Golden Book — The Saggy Baggy Elephant. Never Could she predict that someday she’d work with the same creatures that fascinated her as a girl growing up in Cumberland, Maryland. …
Recently, Dr. Tina Dow was featured in the Researching the Researcher section of the latest edition of the Journal of the Elephant Managers Association (JEMA). Â The article highlighted Tina’s doctoral research while at West Virginia University and the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute.
Award-winning videos feature WVU’s true story on YouTube Six WVU University Relations-produced videos honored with prestigious Telly Award. Yes, substantive content does exist on YouTube. Beyond the guitar-shredding cats, personal pleas to Justin Bieber and brouhahas in fast food parking lots, the true stories of West Virginia University’s academic heart and soul can be seen, heard and experienced on the world’s most popular video-sharing website. This month, a New York-based awards institution has sifted through the cyber debris to celebrate six tales of academic achievement and graduate student life at WVU. The Telly Awards honor the finest film and video productions by top …