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 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 …
In 1932, film director, W.S. Van Dyke, and crew descended upon the Silver River in Central Florida to film a Hollywood blockbuster. Tarzan the Ape Man would do just that, making more than $2.5 million worldwide. In comparison to today’s film industry, that would be a hit! Capitalizing on the film’s success, local tour boat operator, Colonel Tooey, devised a plan to purchase several exotic species including Rhesus macaques to keep near the banks of the river. He would offer a five-mile “Jungle Cruise” from the river’s mouth up to the headwaters of Silver Springs. His idea was to place …
Another year has come and gone. Like those years preceding, 2015 has witnessed both heartbreak and achievements in conservation. As we reflect back, it is important to find the positive in the saddest of situations, learn from them, and apply the knowledge gained to help in the new year. The death of the King of Hwange, Cecil, brought trophy hunter to center stage. Through his tragic end, Cecil became a voice for Lions. Not only did the world listen they too spoke out asking how and why this could have happened. Demanding justice. In response, the United States listed one …
As 2014 came to a close, I felt inundated with reports of record numbers of animals killed to fuel the illegal wildlife trade. In 2014, almost 1,200 rhino were killed for their horns. Numbers of elephants slaughtered for ivory were in the tens of thousands. It appears that life in the sea is just as dangerous on land as over 100 million sharks were killed for their fins. Gorillas, tigers, okapis, hippos, lions, and cheetah are not only losing their lives, but also their homes. Sadly, they are not the only ones. This cannot continue. As we begin 2015, …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …