Minnesota's Wolves are Opportunistic Feeders

Gray wolf

Wolves are known for their signature method of hunting in packs, which helps them bring down large prey ranging from deer to moose and bison. But a recent research conducted in Minnesota's Voyageurs National Park has found that wolves have developed a taste of fish. This was seen when researchers with the Voyageurs Wolf Project recorded wolves catching freshwater fish as a seasonal source of food. This extraordinary finding is a new addition to the initial studies of Voyageurs' wolves, which have shown that the animals consume beavers and even blueberries to add to their diet. Since 2015, wolves from seven different packs in and around Voyageurs were fitted with GPS collars. Researchers collected location data from the wolves every twenty minutes, which enabled them to surge on the animals' feeding habits at a finer scale. This was how members of one of the wolf packs, known as the Bowman Bay pack, were first suspected by the researchers of eating fish.

Wolf scat containing blueberries

In April 2017, Tom Gable from University of Minnesota strolled to a creek where one of the collared wolves spent a great deal of time. He saw a collared wolf approximately 50 feet away while hiding in the shrubs on the edge of the creek. Dr. Gable watched the wolf wander back and forth around the creek, repeatedly running into the creek and splashing around. Then it stopped, and appeared to be eating something, before returning to the creek. When the wolf left, Dr. Gable emerged from his hiding spot and investigated the area. He knew right away that wolf was catching fish in the creek. Dr. Gable and his colleagues quickly learned that the scene he saw was a seasonal meal. In a month after his trek to the creek, researchers discovered that two collared Bowman Bay pack members spent roughly half their time fishing there. A year later, Dr. Gable and his colleagues spotted the pack visiting the creek again, so they installed camera traps, and captured footage of the wolves catching fish at night. In addition to eating their freshly-caught fish, the wolves were even shown to store their prey on the creek's bank.

Dr. Tom Gable with a lower mandible of a beaver killed by a wolf

I find it very fascinating what the researchers have uncovered about wolves in Voyageurs National Park. I have heard of studies done in coastal habitats of Alaska and British Columbia which have shown wolves habitually catching and eating salmon during the spawning season, but this is the first time they have been observed eating freshwater fish. The research studies on feeding behavior of wolves in Voyageurs, Alaska, and British Columbia have shown that the animals are highly opportunistic and can readily adapt to new sources of food. In addition to meat matter, Voyageurs' wolves have been observed to feed on blueberries. These findings, in my opinion, are clear proof of how bears and dogs are related to one another. I also think that this omnivorous diet is an indicator of how wolves are directly related to domestic dogs. The reason is because some kinds of dog food contain a combination of both meat and vegetarian substances. It goes to show that both wolves and domestic dogs, despite their carnivorous design, have managed to adapt for thousands of years in a variety of ways, including changing their feeding behavior.

Wolves lounging on a frozen lake in Voyageurs National Park

I believe that research on the feeding behavior of wolves in Voyageurs should be seen as a tool, in order to educate the public that wolves are not the stuff of nightmares and fairy tales that people tend to think of. I have always understood that when a carnivorous animal becomes a man-eater, it is due to human activities such as moving into the animal's habitat, killing off its natural prey, and converting that habitat into a human habitat. In other words, human beings have been inadvertently responsible for turning such animals, including wolves, into man-eaters. I firmly believe that the research work done on wolves should be seriously taken into consideration, in order to educate the global public and hopefully change their attitudes towards them. We should not forget that wolves are ancestral relatives of domestic dogs and studying them closely can reveal more secrets that no one has ever heard of before.

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Wolves Should Be Welcomed in Germany

A captive wolf in Hexentanzplatz in northern Germany.

In Europe, the wolf was and still is persecuted by rural populations. Since the Middle Ages, it has been viewed as the personification of evil and a threat to the farmers' livelihood which drove people to ruthlessly slaughter countless numbers across its home range. However, with the establishment of various national parks and other protected areas, the wolf was saved and its populations began to rebound. As wolf numbers grew, the animals began to move into parts of Europe where they had once disappeared. One of those places is Germany, where wolves had disappeared 150 years ago but have been making a comeback thanks to the country's reunification after 1990 which enhanced Europe's endangered species protections to the eastern part of Germany. The comeback of wolves into Germany has been seen since 2000 with packs crossing the border from Poland. According to the Brandenburg environmental office, wolf packs have increased from zero in 2007 to 26 this year.

Hans-Holger Liste, a soil ecologist, is one of several people in favor of wolves' return to Germany. 

The wolves' return to Germany may be great news for conservationists and to the country's urban population, but to the farmers it is a disaster. This was seen in April when more than forty sheep were killed in a single attack. One of the concerned farmers is Marco Hintze, who demanded that farmers should be given the right to shoot the wolves at an anti-wolf rally in the city of Potsdam last month. He further added that government officials are unresponsive to the concerns of people living in the rural areas. Another man who is against the wolves is Dirk Wellershoff of the Brandenburg Hunting Society, who argued that the animals' return is a manifestation of a larger political problem. That is, Germany's politics is distancing from the people and their concerns and that the wolves are indicators of how the people's problems are not being seen and no solutions are being found. Despite the criticism from farmers, there are also people who are in favor of wolves returning to Germany. One of them is soil ecologist Hans-Holger Liste, who is also a volunteer with a pro-wolf organization called Wolfsschutz Deutschland. He indicated that wolves need to be protected, so that they can benefit Germany's natural environment by controlling the country's excessive deer population. He is also aware of the intense hostility towards wolves in the German countryside. This was seen when authorities found remnants of a female wolf that had been illegally shot and then sunk into a lake with a concrete weight in the state of Saxony over the summer. In addition, there was even a report about a 55-year-old man who was attacked in northern Germany last month. It is unclear whether the attacker was a wolf as wolf attacks on humans are very bizarre, and a following DNA test of the man's bite wound was vague. However, the report threatened to arouse fears for the children's safety in the countryside.

A pair of Eurasian wolves

I honestly believe that wolves deserve to be welcomed back to their former haunts of Germany, where they had disappeared 150 years ago. However, I also firmly believe that emphasis should be placed on the well-being of farmers in order to eliminate the hostility they have been carrying towards wolves. This is the kind of hostility that was prevalent in Europe centuries ago when the vast majority of people were fearful of wolves and demonstrated that attitude through widespread killing, which resulted in regional extinctions across the animals' home range. The countries that have lost wolves over the centuries are Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria, United Kingdom, and Ireland. Nowadays, it is mostly the rural populations that are hostile towards wolves. I strongly believe that the governments of Germany and other European wolf countries should join forces with conservation groups to implement necessary steps that ensures the well-being of both wolves and farmers. This includes employing livestock guardian dogs to protect their animals without resorting to retaliatory killing. In addition, the farmers' properties should be surrounded by some kind of protective barricade to prevent wolves from venturing in. Furthermore, it is essential to conduct educational outreach programs and workshops to farmers and the general public about the importance of wolves and how to prevent possible attacks on people from them. Wolves are crucial for the survival and well-being of Germany's ecosystems, especially when there is an overabundance of deer, wild boar, and other herbivores. Without wolves, herbivore populations would continue to escalate and as a result increase in the damage on newly-planted trees. This is why wolves should be welcomed in Germany and other European countries where they had once disappeared.

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Should the Great Indian Bustard Vanish into History?

The drastic drop in great Indian bustard population over the past decades.

The great Indian bustard is without question on the brink of extinction. With as few as 150 birds remaining in India as of 2018, it is a matter of time before it is completely wiped out from the face of the Earth. Such is the situation with this magnificent bird, that three wildlife organizations have joined forces to launch an emergency campaign to save the bustard from further disappearing into history. The three organizations that have initiated the campaign are the Corbett Foundation, Conservation India, and Sanctuary Nature Foundation. The goal of this campaign is to underline the overhead power transmission lines in bustard habitat, which are the main threat to these low-flying birds along with illegal hunting and habitat loss. The campaign implored the Ministries of Power and of New and Renewable Energy to take action by placing these power lines underground; a solution suggested by the Wildlife Institute of India's Endangered Species Recovery Program. The campaign also highlighted the ecological significance of the bustards' grassland habitats which have been reduced to wastelands. Since the campaign's launch, more than 6,500 people have signed the online petition addressed to Power Minister R.K Singh with whom the organizers have requested a meeting to show their case and receive a guarantee to action from him. The campaign has even received support from celebrities like actress Dia Mirza and former cricketer Anil Kumble.

Map showing great Indian bustard habitats and locations, and power lines

I strongly urge the general public of India and the global Indian community to provide a great deal of support for the conservation of the great Indian bustard. This magnificent bird is on the brink of extinction because it did not receive early support from not just the general public, but also politicians, policy makers, and the corporate sector. This delay cannot go on and should never go on! I strongly urge India's politicians, policy makers, and the corporate sector to please take action to help save the bustard. I can promise you that when the great Indian bustard goes extinct, it will be a major shame and disappointment for India on a global scale despite all the scientific expertise and financial resources available to save this bird. This is the last chance for everybody in India and abroad to save the great Indian bustard from extinction. Here are the following steps that need to be implemented to save the great Indian bustard without any exception whatsoever:

1. All state governments of India need to safeguard and fully protect "lekking" sites, so that male bustards can attract the females for breeding. Any disturbance or annihilation of these sites can spell disaster for the birds. This step requires political will and cooperation from various government departments and local communities.

2. All state governments should establish a great Indian bustard task force in every state where the birds live. These task forces should include effective and dedicated government officials from various departments, biologists, conservationists, and local community leaders.

3. The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) should initiate an all-out "Project Bustard" based on an accurate scientific plan, and established in consultation with national and international experts, as well as leading people from each great Indian bustard state.

4. Analyze the practicability of captive breeding by establishing a core group comprised of international experts with experience in breeding bustards or comparable endangered birds in captivity, such as the California condor.

5. Announce annual advisories from the MoEF to Chief Wildlife Wardens of states containing bustards to outlaw entry and photography of the birds all the known habitats during the breeding season from April 1 to October 31. However, such disturbance outside the breeding season can have serious ramifications for the bustards. Therefore, wildlife photographers should willingly refrain from photographing the great Indian bustard.

The great Indian bustard is part of India's heritage, along with the tiger, lion, and the elephant. However, it has never been given much attention like the latter and this is why its numbers have been drastically reduced by anthropogenic factors. I say this again to the global Indian community that your support is vital for the conservation of the great Indian bustard. Your voice is crucial to urge our country's politicians, policy makers, and the corporate sector to take action with the wildlife experts, biologists, conservationists, and others involved in this large scale. This can be done by signing the online petition above specifically addressed to Minister R.K Singh. In addition, I highly recommend the people of India, including the politicians and policy makers, to strongly adhere to the five steps above in order to save great Indian bustards. It is time everybody took action regarding this ongoing conservation issue. The great Indian bustard needs our help; do not and I repeat DO NOT let this magnificent bird vanish into history!

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Somaliland's Fight Against the Illegal Smuggling of Cheetahs

Northeast African cheetah

When most people think of Somalia, what comes to their mind is a country torn apart by decades of civil warfare dating back to the late 1980s and early 1990s. Even today, Somalia continues to be a haven of violence and bloodshed due to the strong presence of warlords and militias operating in the country and pirates off the coast. However, there is one part of the country that is a stark contrast to the bombings, shootings, and other acts of violence: Somaliland. Situated in the northwestern part of the country, Somaliland was devastated by the civil war and in turn separated from the rest of Somalia to rebuild itself. As a result, Somaliland became a self-proclaimed state with its own government and capital that is relatively peaceful than the rest of the country. Although it is poor, Somaliland has recently come to the spotlight for its remarkable stand against another issue unique to Africa: the illegal smuggling of wild cheetahs.

Shukri Haji Ismail, Minister of Environment and Rural Development, is leading the fight against trafficking of cheetahs in Somaliland. 

Cheetahs are known to be illegally smuggled as cubs from Africa to meet the consumer demands in the Middle East. From Somaliland, the cubs are transported by boat across the Gulf of Aden to Yemen. From Yemen, they are exported either to Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates. According to Patricia Tricorache of the Cheetah Conservation Fund, two-thirds of the cubs perish during this arduous journey and those that survive are sold through the internet as pets to the wealthy citizens of the Persian Gulf countries. She further added that a minimum of 330 cheetahs move through Somaliland, but the number may be as high as 500. Between February 2012 and July 2018, 1,367 cheetahs were offered for sale via Instagram. Leading the fight against cheetah trafficking is Somaliland's Minister of Environment and Rural Development Shukri Haji Ismail. For her, battling the smuggling of cheetahs is a moral mission. However, she is well-aware that Somaliland lacks the funding provided by international organizations like the World Bank because it is not recognized by the United Nations. As a result, all the costs of caring for the cheetah cubs and other confiscated wild animals are handled by the Cheetah Conservation Fund.

Somaliland landscape

I find it very remarkable that Somaliland is taking a tough stand against the illegal smuggling of cheetahs. It is amazing to see how a self-proclaimed state which was once devastated by the Somali civil war and having rebuilt itself has joined the global fight against the illegal wildlife trade. I also find it intriguing that even though Somaliland is poor with the fourth lowest GDP in the world, its people's mindset is extraordinary when it comes to wildlife conservation. For example, an aid worker named Guenther Wirth, who has lived in Somaliland since 2001 and is involved in efforts to close up the illegal wildlife trade, pointed out how a coast guard turned down an offer of $2,000 provided by the smugglers from whom he confiscated cheetah cubs. This goes to show that Somaliland's people are genuinely concerned about the plight of Africa's cheetahs and other wild animals being illegally smuggled through their homeland to meet consumer demands. I believe that other developing countries where the illegal wildlife trade is rampant should have the benefit of learning from Somaliland. This would help them change their attitudes towards this ongoing threat and act upon it. I very much admire that Minister Ismail is leading the battle against the trafficking of cheetahs and other wildlife. However, I strongly believe that Somaliland is in a great need of help with regard to funding in its battle against the illegal smuggling of cheetahs. It is highly crucial that the United Nations recognize Somaliland the same way it does with other countries, so that the nation is provided with ample financial support to further its efforts in suppressing the illegal wildlife trade. In addition, it is vitally important that other African countries, including those that make up the Horn of Africa, join forces with Somaliland in the battle against wildlife smuggling.

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Gujarat Forest Officials Use Themselves as Bait to Capture a Leopard!

A leopard in Gir Forest National Park

In India, the leopard is the most adaptable of the big cats. Its tolerance of change in habitat has made it coexist with people across its home range, but also brought it into conflict with them. Incidences of human-leopard conflicts across the country continue to make headlines with one person being either killed or seriously injured by a leopard. Such incidences have forced numerous measurements to mitigate human-leopard conflicts by capturing the leopard alive and then releasing it far away from human settlements. The most common method used is baiting, in which a live animal is placed in a steel cage with bars inside to keep it safe from the leopard. Generally, a dog or a goat is used as bait to lure the leopard into the trap since both the animals are the big cat's preferred prey in human settlements. But recently, in the state of Gujarat, a new type of bait is being used in a bid to catch a leopard: Humans!

The three men inside a cage where they spent four hours waiting for the leopard to show up.  

The story of Gujarat's latest human-leopard conflict came when a leopard was reported to have killed three people, including two children, and injured five others in Dahod district since mid-November. The victims included Mathuri Ganava, who was killed while venturing into the forest at around 7:00 in the morning on November 28 to collect firewood with three other women. The two children were village girls named Jyotsna Parmar and Ashwinta Pasaya, who were helping their families tend their cattle in the forest. The incidences called for drastic action aimed at capturing the leopard. Forest officials initially used goats to trap the leopard, but their efforts failed. So they changed their tactics by having three of their own colleagues spend a Friday night inside one of nine cages put around the forest where the leopard was roaming. The three men who spent the night in the cage included a veterinarian and a forest guard named Vijay Bamania, a specialist in shooting tranquilizer darts. Mr. Bamania indicated that neither he nor two other men were afraid while spending four hours inside the cage. He further added that all three of them spread dry leaves around their position so they could hear the leopard coming and had a machine to emit goat sounds to entice the animal, as well as a live goat tied in the open nearby. The remaining eight traps contained goats. According to Chief Conservator of Forests S.K Shrivastava, the cage was well-locked and that the three men's job was to alert the others after spotting the leopard.

One of the nine traps used to capture the leopard. 

I find it very interesting that forest officials employed a new technique in which they used themselves as bait to lure a leopard into the trap. It may sound bizarre at first, but I think it goes to show that when a leopard or any powerful big cat kills a human being, it acquires taste of human flesh and there is a possibility that it would reject non-human prey. But there are also various other factors that contribute to a leopard's man-killing behavior, along with that of lions and tigers. One of those factors is old age and it can be identified by signs such as broken teeth and wounds on the animal's body. I certainly hope that as forest officials in Gujarat's Dahod district continue to keep their traps set up in hopes of capturing the leopard, they will make sure that the animal really is a man-eater or not. In fact, I believe that it would help very much to enlist the support of leopard experts who can provide valuable information in distinguishing a man-eating leopard from a normal leopard. I strongly believe that there is a great need to take serious measurements in ensuring the villagers' safety in the area. This includes warning them to never venture out into the forests at dawn or dusk to raise their livestock or collect firewood. In addition, their village perimeter should be surrounded by a strong barricade effective in keeping leopards and other dangerous animals like hyenas and sloth bears from venturing inside.

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Iranian Wildlife Conservationists Should Never be Imprisoned on Baseless Criminal Charges

The eight conservationists from the Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation held hostage by Iran.

The Asiatic cheetah is on the precipice of extinction with less than 53 remaining in Iran. Due to its conservation status, conservationists are working hard to ensure this magnificent cat does not go extinct. However, the process is being greatly hindered when a group of eight conservationists Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation were captured by the country's government and held hostage on charges related to espionage. The hostages include Amir Hossein Khaleghi, Abdolreza Kouhpayeh, Houman Jowkar, Morad Tahbaz, Niloufar Bayani, Sam Rajabi, Sepideh Kashani, and Taher Ghadirian. They were working for the organization on the conservation of various Iranian wildlife species, which includes observing animals like cheetahs with camera traps. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed that the team used camera traps to gather information on Iran's missile program. If convicted, the conservationists could be sentenced to six months or face the death penalty. These people were not the only ones to be wrongfully accused of espionage by the country's government. Kavous Seyed-Emami, an Iranian-Canadian environmentalist, was arrested earlier this month on similar baseless charges and died under questionable circumstances in February while in custody. According to Tara Sepehri Far, a researcher with the Human Rights Watch, an investigation by the order of President Hassan Rouhani did not find that the conservationists were spies, which put them in the heart of a "domestic power struggle" with hardliners of the judiciary and the Revolutionary Guard. A group of experts demanded the government of Iran to have the charges against these conservationists to be dropped in a statement from the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Asiatic cheetah

I cannot think of anything more barbaric and outrageous to both wildlife conservation and humanity than to see these eight conservationists being held hostage on false charges relating to espionage. What have these people done that is traitorous to Iran and its people? How can they be persecuted like animals without any solid proof that they committed crimes relating to espionage? These eight people were simply conducting camera trap surveys to monitor Iran's cheetahs as part of the ongoing conservation efforts to bring these cats back from the brink of extinction. To blindly imprison conservationists and environmentalists on false charges is downright unacceptable. I strongly urge the government of Iran to please drop the charges against these eight conservationists and let them continue their work in ensuring the survival and well-being of Iran's wildlife. If more and more people involved in the conservation of Iran's wildlife end up this way, it would not only hinder the efforts but also spell disaster for critically endangered animals like cheetahs. In other words, the Iranian government would inadvertently let the cheetah get closer and closer to extinction by wrongfully accusing conservationists and environmentalists of crimes which they have never done. I cannot imagine the Asiatic cheetah vanishing into history, especially after it had disappeared from much of its former homeland in India, the Arabian Peninsula, Central Asia, and the Caucasus in the past decades. Iran is its last home and serious action needs to be taken to bring it back from extinction.

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Can a Sensor Save India's Elephants from Trains?

An elephant crossing a railroad track

In the past five years, India has lost nearly 100 elephants in train-related accidents. In addition, 26 elephants have been killed so far in 2018 alone with the most recent incident having occurred in Odisha's Kendujhar district where an elephant succumbed to its injuries after being hit by a goods train. However, there now appears to be a ray of hope in this issue with a recent news about Subrat Kar, a professor from IIT-Delhi's electrical engineering department, who has invented a sensor device that is currently being put to test. It is hoped that this device would be set up along railroad tracks frequented by elephants and prevent their deaths by train collision. Professor Kar has been working on this sensor for close to ten years in partnership with the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and financed by Indian Railways and the Department of Science and Technology. The sensor was first tested inside the IIT-Delhi campus with satisfying results, and is now scheduled to be tested in real conditions. The sensor can detect the elephants' movement from a distance through a collection of built-in devices. These devices include a vibration detector which captures heat rays from the elephants, a camera to identify them, and lasers which have all these. Once the elephants' movement is detected, it would send a signal to the nearest railroad station and the message is sent to the train driver conveying him to slow down the train. The devices also authenticate whether the moving animals are actually elephants and not any other, which can cross the railroad tracks without needing to slow down the train. Professor Kar indicated that the sensors would be installed in sensitive spots, where there are paths that elephants use in order to detect them. He further added that Rajaji National Park in Uttarakhand has been chosen as the test deployment site for these sensors.

An elephant family

I find this news to be very hopeful and promising for both elephants and people. Elephants in India have been under constant threat of getting hit by trains running through their habitats and dying as a result. But the invention of this special sensor sheds a light of hope in mitigating such incidences. I really hope that these sensors will be deployed in areas with railroad tracks, where elephant activity is frequent. Installing these devices in such areas will help everyone know their effectiveness. At the same time, I believe focus should be put in mitigating human-elephant conflicts across India especially in places where elephants are venturing into human settlements resulting in attacks on both sides. Just as there is a device designed to prevent elephants from getting killed by trains, I firmly believe that extensive research is required in developing a similar invention to help in preventing human-elephant conflicts. These animals are part of India's culture and heritage, and losing them to any form of anthropogenic pressure would be a devastating blow to the country.

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U.S Oil and Gas Companies Should Consult with Environmental Groups Before Conducting Seismic Surveys

A humpback whale with sea lions

The Trump administration recently permitted five companies to "incidentally, but not intentionally, harass marine mammals" by using seismic air guns when searching for oil and gas in the Atlantic Ocean. The decision has shocked environmental groups, who argue that the blasts of compressed air can harm mammals like humpback whales, and some coastal communities, who are concerned that the decision is a forerunner to offshore drilling. However, the permissions given by NOAA Fisheries are not the decisive step. The companies are required to also acquire permits from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) before they start searching. Furthermore, the authorizations expect the companies to take some measures to minimize harm to marine mammals. For instance, watchers on the vessels should warn the crew if a protected animal comes nearby. In addition, the searching missions are also required to observe underwater sounds for mammal vocalizations and close up for specific "sensitive species or groups." If allowed by BOEM, the companies would use the air guns to map underwater geology in order to look for oil and gas reserves and the blasts generated from the guns could cover a large area off the central and southern East Coast. Despite the given measurements, environmental groups strongly oppose the initiative pointing out that seismic blasting would tremendously impact the livelihood of marine animals. For example, Christopher Joyce of NPR recently reported that the acoustics from air guns would interfere with the communication of marine mammals by drowning out their sounds to each other. The report also pointed out that whales were observed to retreat from the air gun sounds, making them abandon their breeding or feeding grounds. In addition to marine mammals, other research indicated that the sounds could harm smaller marine animals such as plankton. Although the Trump administration announced that it was open to seismic surveying for oil and gas, some Republicans like Governor Henry McMaster of South Carolina, have parted ways with the administration to oppose this method of exploration.

A seismic air gun in use

I personally think it is very absurd that the Trump administration would issue a statement that companies can "incidentally" harass Atlantic Ocean's marine life through seismic surveying with air guns when searching for oil and gas. How can you call it incidental that marine mammals like whales, dolphins, and porpoises suddenly come into contact with seismic air gun sounds and end up getting harmed in some way? I believe that these companies which are given federal permission to conduct seismic surveys in the Atlantic Ocean should stay in contact with organizations like the NOAA and others, who could advise them on which parts of the ocean are suitable for such activities and during what times of the year. This is especially important since migratory mammals like whales are known to occupy certain parts of the ocean for breeding or feeding. At the same time, it is especially crucial to thoroughly study the reaction of various marine animals' reaction to the acoustics from seismic air guns in order to get a better understanding as to whether conducting seismic surveys in the Atlantic Ocean or any other ocean is safe. Whales, dolphins, porpoises, and other marine animals have special roles in keeping the marine environments healthy and any harm inflicted upon them can jeopardize the environments to some degree.

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Land Purchase is Crucial to Expand Grizzly Bear Habitat

Grizzly bear family

A pair of conservation groups, the Vital Ground Foundation and Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative, recently purchased an undeveloped subdivision of land near the town of Troy in northwest Montana where the Kootenay and Yaak rivers meet. The land serves as an important corridor to provide habitat linkage between isolated grizzly bear populations in the Cabinet-Yaak ecosystem and would alleviate the bottleneck for bears roaming the Kootenay Valley. The purchase has added to the 2017 procurement of seven other adjoining areas and has added to what the groups call the "White River Project" to 42.5 preserved acres of prime wildlife habitat moving between the Cabinet and Purcell mountains. According to Kim Trotter, U.S program director of Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative, the purchase is "a win for bears, other wildlife, and people." Wildlife biologists from several commissions have long suggested that the Kootenay and Yaak rivers are a critical zone for habitat linkage, and new development could disintegrate the corridor. The Kootenay Valley separates the Cabinet and Purcell mountain ranges, splitting the Cabinet-Yaak area's improving grizzly population into two segregated subgroups, with an estimated 25 bears per subgroup. The Wild River Project also plans to revitalize a quarter-mile of riverbank and neighboring wetland along the Kootenay River, reforming habitat for the endangered white sturgeon and bull trout. Biologists have recorded more than thirty other species of concern near the project site, such as the Canada lynx, fisher, and wolverine.

View of the Yaak River

I feel very proud and happy that there is a conservation project being conducted to ensure the well-being of both grizzly bears and other wildlife in the Montana-Canada area. I believe it is very crucial that there needs to be an expansion in the grizzly habitat to prevent any bottleneck in the bear populations. In order to allow the habitat expansion, purchasing lands that serve as vital corridors are necessary to enable the bears' movement from one area to another. I also believe that such lots should never, under any circumstances, be subjected to land development or any other form of anthropogenic pressure that could jeopardize the bears. This is especially true with the issue of grizzly bears dispersing beyond Yellowstone National Park. These animals should never be seen as prey for human beings just because they venture outside a protected area. We must not forget that grizzly bears once ranged throughout the western half of North America before the establishment of various national parks like Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and Glacier. So when these bears venture outside these parks, it is extremely important to identify the areas they are using to go from one place to another and proclaim them as wildlife corridors. The bears and other wildlife documented in these natural corridors should be protected no matter what.

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Will State Government-Sanctioned Initiatives Benefit the Conservation of Asiatic Lions?

A pride of Asiatic lions

In the past two months, the Asiatic lion made headlines following a canine distemper outbreak which killed 27 lions in and around Gir Forest National Park. The incident sparked arguments from conservationists and wildlife specialists like Dr. Ravi Chellam, who reminded about the necessity to translocate the lions outside Gujarat and touched on a similar catastrophic event that nearly wiped out 30 percent of the lion population in Africa's Serengeti. However, the government of Gujarat continued to maintain its ground by enlisting veterinarians, experts, and technicians from across India and abroad to treat the infected lions. Now, the government is taking a step further with a recent announcement of new plans in the lion conservation. One of the initiatives is building a highly developed hospital for the lions and other wildlife in Gir. According to Gujarat Forest Minister Ganpat Vasava, the hospital will be built at a cost of Rs. 100 crore and will have a laboratory to carry out various tests to determine the cause of diseases among the animals. He further added that Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani authorized Rs. 350 crore for enforcing various initiatives for the longstanding conservation of lions in the state. Rajiv Kumar Gupta, additional chief secretary of Gujarat Forest Department, indicated that Chief Minister Rupani has agreed to establish an independent veterinary organization for which approximately 120 experts and technicians will be enlisted in order to run the hospital and laboratory. Minister Vasava further added that other measurements will include distribution of drones to keep track of the lions' movements, setting up a camera system in Gir Forest, constructing eight new rescue centers, deployment of 33 rapid response teams in the forest, and enlistment of 100 "trackers" to keep watch on the lions. In addition, four new breeding centers for animals like spotted deer, sambar, and nilgai to bolster the lions' prey base will be established. Furthermore, a plan to create extensive grasslands for lions inside the sanctuary has been announced, along with instituting a committed ambulance service and a 24-hour helpline for obtaining crucial information about lions from the public. There is even news about five new safari parks to be built in Gujarat. These include a lion safari park near Gandhinagar, a tiger safari near the town of Kevadiya in Narmada district, and leopard safari parks in Bhavnagar, Dang, and Surat districts. Lastly, Chief Minister Vasava had even assigned the officials to outline a plan to save Gujarat's endangered birds such as vultures, lesser floricans, and great Indian bustards.

Canine distemper virus

I'm really proud and hopeful that the government of Gujarat has announced various initiatives for the conservation of Asiatic lions and other wildlife in the state. It goes to show that the government is very dedicated to the safety and well-being of both the lions and other wild animals in Gujarat. However, I also believe it is crucial to combat the canine distemper epidemic that has claimed lives of 27 lions two months ago. In order to do that, populations of foxes, jackals, wolves, and even stray dogs in Gujarat should be surveyed and thoroughly examined for the canine distemper virus and treated accordingly. This would help prevent further spread of the disease to lions and other animals. In addition, I firmly believe that the lion safari park should be built not just for public-viewing but with strong emphasis on conservation. That is, it should specialize in captive breeding of the Asiatic lion in order to keep the population healthy and to help in the reintroduction of lions outside Gujarat. I strongly agree that the lions are part of Gujarat's heritage, but we must not forget that they once roamed throughout central, northern, and northwest India in states like Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Punjab. This makes the lions part of India's heritage, along with the tiger. It would not be wise to simply take wild lions out of Gujarat and release them in any of these states because then they would end up struggling to survive in unknown lands which they are not generally used to. Some of the factors that could influence the survival of wild lions when they are released outside Gujarat include climatic conditions and change of terrain which would probably make it difficult for them to get around and ultimately spell disaster for them. This is why it is crucial to conduct captive breeding programs for the lions and release them into their former home range across India. To do so, I believe it is important to look at and learn from conservation success stories like the Arabian oryx whose numbers recovered via captive breeding and reintroduction into the wild. Also, before making any reintroduction attempt, it is compulsory that captive-bred lions should be provided with a great deal of enrichment to help stimulate their survival instincts which would help them when they are released into the wild and start living on their own. Furthermore, I suggest that the reintroduction of Asiatic lions across India should begin with a trial run in which some number of lions should be placed in a protected area and closely monitored before making any decision to either reintroduce more lions outside Gujarat or give up the reintroduction project. A similar approach should also be implemented when setting up the tiger safari park near Kevadiya. Tigers once ranged throughout the North, Central, and South Gujarat districts that border Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra before becoming extinct. They need to be reintroduced in their former Gujarati home range in order to revitalize the state's wildlife. Just because one tiger was spotted somewhere in South Gujarat does not mean that the species will be able to recolonize the state as a whole in a matter of months. Finally, the leopard safari parks should focus on the conservation of India's leopards which includes conducting educational outreach programs directed at local communities in an effort to mitigate human-leopard conflicts across Gujarat and India.

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Could the Death of a Female Asiatic Cheetah Have Been Avoided?

Asiatic cheetah

The Asiatic cheetah has and continues to be a critically endangered species in its Iranian homeland. It remains threatened by issues such as conflicts with humans, habitat fragmentation due to mining and road construction, and even vehicular accidents caused by unsafe roads and reckless drivers. A recent case involved a young female cheetah, who was severely injured in a car accident while walking across the northern fringe of Zamen-e-Ahoo National Park and Miandasht Wildlife Refuge in Iran's North Khorasan Province. The accident was reported by an environmentalist in the area, who contacted the provincial department of environment (DOE). According to Ali Motahhari, general director of the DOE, the female cheetah was still alive when the department's forces arrived at the scene but died on the way to the department due to a severe spinal cord injury. Her death is one of many that continues to decimate Iran's cheetahs. In August, a cheetah cub succumbed to its irreversible spinal cord injury after being hit by a car on the Abbasabad-Mayami road. Deputy environment chief for DOE natural environment and biodiversity doctorate Hamid Zohrabi castigated the Ministry of Roads and Transport for its ineptitude in fencing the roads to prevent cheetahs from being run over by vehicles.

An Asiatic cheetah in its natural habitat

It disturbs me very much that the Asiatic cheetah continues to remain a critically threatened species, despite various efforts being put to save it from extinction. How long should this magnificent cat wait until it can roam freely in its natural habitat while anthropogenic threats continue to persist? I find it extremely disheartening that careless drivers inadvertently continue to decimate their country's cheetah population, despite the presence of road signs warning them about the animals' presence. Had these people paid close attention to the conservationists, wildlife officials, and others involved in Iran's cheetah conservation, then pretty much all the cheetah deaths, including this young female, caused by vehicular accidents could have been avoided to some degree. But it seems to me that the people of Iran are ignorant to the fact that cheetahs are on the brink of extinction. I urge the people of Iran to wake up and join forces with their country's conservation groups, NGOs, and international organizations like the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) to save the world's last remaining population of the Asiatic cheetah from extinction. Furthermore, I urge the Ministry of Roads and Transport to also team up with specialists who specialize in cheetah conservation in order to get some useful tips on how to better improve the roads that run through cheetah habitats. In addition, I firmly believe that heavy fines and stiff penalties should be imposed on anyone responsible for killing a cheetah either by vehicular accident or poaching in order to send a message to the public about the importance of protecting Iran's cheetahs. Several tribal communities living in the vicinity of protected areas housing cheetahs need to be educated about using non-lethal methods to protect their livestock from the animals or at least encourage them to settle in lands where there are no cheetahs. The Asiatic cheetah faces an uncertain future and unless the people of Iran become actively involved in the conservation of this cat, it would probably once again make a successful comeback from close to extinction.

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Cooperation Between Anti-Poaching Squads and Local Communities Necessary in Fight Against Africa's Wildlife Poaching

Samia Suluhu Hassan

Tanzania's Vice President Samia Suluhu Hassan recently officiated at an inauguration of a paramilitary group assigned to fight illegal poaching and trafficking of wildlife and wildlife products. The force began with 313 members, which includes female and male personnel, and will function under the country's Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism. The inauguration ceremony took place at Fort Ikoma in the Serengeti District. In her address, Vice President Hassan hopes that the anti-poaching squad will effectively combat poaching in Tanzania and urged the communities living in the vicinity of the country's game reserves and national parks to cooperate with the appropriate government authorities in fighting the wildlife crimes. She further showed her optimism that fighting poaching would increase the tourism sector by attracting more tourists. Hamisi Kigwangalla, the minister of Natural Resources and Tourism, disclosed earlier in the ceremony that the women and men who form the squad were from the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA) and Wildlife Management Authority, among others. He further added that they have been enlisted by the Tanzania People's Defense Force (TPDF).

Landscape of Serengeti National Park

I can say that I'm hopeful that this anti-poaching squad will be effective in combating wildlife poaching and the trafficking of wildlife. Due to members' paramilitary background, I have no doubt they are ideal candidates in the ongoing battle against poaching of Africa's elephants and rhinos. I'm very grateful that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism came up with this initiative to not only protect Tanzania's wildlife, but to ensure the benefit of the country's tourism sector. Tanzania, like most African countries, relies on tourism as the main source of income. However, the wildlife also attracts poachers and wildlife smugglers whose activities can have a drastic effect on the country's economy as well as its natural environment. I strongly believe that the work of this paramilitary squad combined with the cooperation from communities living in the fringes of Tanzania's protected areas will certainly help put a stop to poaching and wildlife smuggling activities in Tanzania. If this project works, I hope other African countries will follow Tanzania's example in developing similar initiatives to save their local wildlife and benefit their tourism industries. Illegal poaching and wildlife smuggling cannot be stopped mainly by anti-poaching personnel and other authorities. It is highly essential to have a joint cooperation between local communities and anti-poaching squads to put an end to such crimes against nature.

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Can Sunscreens Have a Devastating Effect on Coral Reefs?

Palau's Rock Islands

Coral reefs generally appear in the news regarding the threat of coral bleaching, due to climate change. But there is another unusual threat which some researchers believe is killing off coral reefs and damaging marine environments: sunscreens. This has recently been seen in the case of Palau, which has become the first country to ban sunscreens to protect its coral reefs. According to the Consumer Healthcare Products Association, the law passed this week in Palau describes the prohibited "reef-toxic" sunscreens as containing one of ten chemicals, including oxybenzone and octinoxate, which are found in several sunscreens sold in the U.S. The law clearly indicates that  retailers who break the prohibition will be fined $1,000. Olkeriil Kazuo, spokesman of President Tommy E. Remengesau, Jr., stated that the force behind the ban was a 2017 report by the Coral Reef Research Foundation which uncovered extensive sunscreen toxins in Palau's Jellyfish Lake, a popular tourist attraction and UNESCO World Heritage site. The report urged visitors to promptly switch to "more biologically friendly" sunscreen products. Mr. Kazuo further added that Palau will immediately stop importing reef-toxic sunscreen, but retailers have until 2020, when the law goes into effect, to sell their remaining stock.

Jellyfish Lake

I find it very fascinating that sunscreen products pose a threat to the world's coral reefs. At the same time, I find that it is worth noting about the harmful effects sunscreen can have on coral reefs. A study in 2015 by researchers from University of Central Florida showed that oxybenzone presents a threat to coral conservation by depleting coral of its nutrients and bleaching it white. This implies that sunscreen products containing oxybenzone attribute to coral bleaching, which has and continues to threaten coral reefs worldwide. I really believe that the findings made by such studies should be taken into serious consideration if the global community is to save the coral reefs from further decimation. Places like Palau and Hawaii have already passed laws banning "reef-toxic" sunscreens, which do not go into effect until 2020 and 2021 respectively. I don't believe people should wait that long to go swimming and snorkeling in tropical seas. If they care about the health and well-being of coral reefs and want to do such aquatic activities, they should purchase sunscreen products containing micronized zinc oxide and titanium dioxide (check the ingredients on the bottle or tube). Not only do these minerals serve as safe alternatives to the reef-toxic chemicals, they also protect the skin by reflecting the harmful rays away. This is especially useful since there is an increase in the rate of skin cancers. Hawaii, Palau, and various other islands in the South Pacific rely on tourism as their source of income. Hundreds of visitors are drawn to these tropical islands by their sun-soaked beaches and crystal-clear waters that house coral reefs. The reefs themselves are part of the tourist sector and if they continue to be devastated by coral bleaching, it can negatively affect the economies of these island nations and the livelihoods of their people.

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How can China Ban the Ivory Trade But Allow Trade of Tiger Bones and Rhino Horns?

Seized rhino horns at the Department of Wildlife and National Parks headquarters in Kuala Lumpur. 

In 1993, China had banned the use and trade of rhino horns and tiger bones. But now, 25 years later, the country made an announcement that it will allow the trade of these endangered wildlife products, infuriating conservationists who urged that the move will further devastate the animals. China's State Council indicated that it would partly lift the ban to permit rhino and tiger parts to be used in scientific research, medicine, and "cultural exchanges," emphasizing that the trade will be rigorously controlled and that the parts will come from captive animals. It further added that the animals' body parts may come from licensed distributors and can only be used by certified doctors. No reason was given for the sudden lifting of the ban, but enraged wildlife activists highlighted that the move would encourage poachers and traders to accumulate goods for a country that places phenomenal value on the animals' body parts. According to wildlife trade specialist Colman O'Criodain, the prospect of laundering a tiger or rhino product would be enough to increase the poachers' activities. Experts also feared that probable consumers will look for body parts in other parts of the world, especially Southeast Asia which is rife with tiger farms and South Africa where there are lots of ranches containing rhinos.

Bengal tiger

I find it extremely shocking and sickening how China would first call for a ban on all ivory trade and now announce that it is allowing trade of other endangered wildlife products, particularly rhino horns and tiger bones. It really goes to show how two-faced China and other countries can be when it comes to protecting endangered wildlife around the world. How can you ban the trade of certain products made from the body parts of endangered species and then allow the trade of others? When an animal is endangered, then it should always be protected no matter what. But unfortunately, countries like China seem to find an exception to the rule and make poor decisions by banning the trade of endangered species for some number of years and then lift that ban which further puts the lives of such animals in jeopardy. I find this move made by China will definitely result in an increase in poaching activities towards rhinos and tigers, and therefore further push them towards the brink of extinction. I urge the Chinese government to reconsider its decision and put a stop to the trade of rhino and tiger body parts. I also urge the people of China to refrain from purchasing tiger bones and rhino bones if they care so much about the well-being of the animals and voice their support for the protection of tigers and rhinos.

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