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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