TINA CHIARELLI, PHD, FRGS

Poaching: New Year, New Problems

January 17th, 2013tinalc0 Comments

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 …

Human-Wildlife Conflict Redefined

December 7th, 2012tinalc0 Comments

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 …

Wildlife Trafficking: Be Part of the Solution, Not the Problem

November 13th, 2012tinalc0 Comments

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 …

Dr. Tina Dow Featured in University Graduate Catalog

November 7th, 2012tinalc0 Comments

The 2012-2013 West Virginia University Graduate Catalog has featured Dr. Tina Dow as a mentor for prospective students. While attending University, Dr. Dow was awarded a Graduate Teaching Fellowship and Tuition waiver. She was the first person in her family to attend college.

Dispelling Wildlife Myths- Halloween Edition

October 23rd, 2012tinalc0 Comments

With Halloween right around the corner, I thought it the perfect time to address some common misunderstandings about wildlife. We have all heard them. Whether they are called myths or Old Wives Tales most false accusations conjure up fear that sometimes result in the persecution and death of many innocent species. How many times have you heard someone say that toads give people warts? I myself have been told this on more occasions then I care to remember. The idea that touching or just looking at a toad can cause a skin malady is simply not true. Although some species, …

Sea Otters: A Species Under Threat

September 29th, 2012tinalc0 Comments

With the new challenges wildlife faces daily, it is no longer enough just to survive. To ensure species longevity, individuals must learn to quickly adapt. Although a lot of attention is given to the conservation of the large, iconic creatures of land and sea, it is often those species that reside in the middle of the food chain that play the most vital rolls in ecosystem balance that are overlooked. One particular animal that fits into this category is the sea otter. Like all otters, the sea otter is a member of the weasel family. The three subspecies of Enhydra …

Let’s Hear it for Arthropods!

September 11th, 2012tinalc0 Comments

Like a lot of you, I used to be quite fearful of a number of arthropod species. That was until one chance encounter with an Argiope aurantia named Matilda and a visit to the Cockrell Butterfly Center in Houston. The biggest problem with fear is that it clouds our understanding. Although a lot of arthropods have the potential to act as disease vectors, the vast majority actually helps rather than harms humans. A big misconception is that arthropods are just insects. The word insect simply implies six legs. Regardless of leg number, there are over 1,000,000 species of arthropods. This …

Vultures: Ecosystem Guardians

August 31st, 2012tinalc0 Comments

1 September marks International Vulture Awareness Day. Although sometimes regarded as ugly and gross, vultures play a most important role in keeping ecosystems healthy. They serve both a biological and cultural significance. Unfortunately, several species are under threat of extinction due to humans. And please believe me when I say, this is not a species that we can live without. Collectively, there are 23 species of vultures that are classified into two groups: Old World Vultures and New World Vultures. Although all species are similar, these two groups actually belong to different families. There are 16 species of Old World …

Emerging Zoonotic Diseases in Wildlife

August 22nd, 2012tinalc0 Comments

Outbreaks of infectious disease make headlines around the globe almost daily. Viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and parasites have the potential to affect both humans and animals alike. A variety of infectious diseases can also be categorized as being zoonotic meaning they can be transmitted to other species. As reported by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), at least 2.2 million human deaths annually are the direct result of zoonotic pathogens. As for domestic animals and wildlife, there is not an accurate number due to the under reporting of sickness in developing nations. For our …

The Future of Our Oceans and Beaches

August 15th, 2012tinalc0 Comments

Recently, my husband and I had the opportunity to travel across the southern gulf coast of the United States. The anticipation of visiting new shorelines and wildlife inhabiting these areas was almost too much. However, what we actually found was dismal and sad. It appears that humans have left their mark on the beaches in the form of refuse. Plastic containers and bags, glass bottles, abandoned tents and sun shades, and general debris littered hundreds of miles, if not more, of beach. Although it was obvious that a bit of the garbage had washed up during high tide, it was …