U.S Fish and Wildlife Service Proposes Greater Protection for Chimpanzees

Chimpanzees "fishing" for termites in Gombe National Park

It has been recently reported that the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service is announcing a rule that would provide chimpanzees with greater protection. The proposal pleased renowned primatologist and chimpanzee researcher Jane Goodall, who congratulated the service for the decision. She further added that this is also good news for all animal rights organizations, especially the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) who have worked very hard in advocating against the use of chimpanzees in circuses, films, television shows, and even testing. This proposed rule would change the current classifications that assume wild chimps as "endangered" and their captive counterparts as "threatened." This split classification enables the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to finance medical experiments conducted on captive chimps. The U.S is the only nation in the world that is known to carry out invasive medical research on chimpanzees. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) stated that over one million chimpanzees disappeared from the wild since the twentieth century, and indicated that about 300,000 remain in the wild. However, the capture of these primates and destruction of their habitat is further making those numbers to go down. The proposition is expected to be decided after being open to public commentary for two months, and happens in about one month after the NIH announced plans to "retire" about 360 government-owned chimpanzees from its research facilities. That step would leave approximately fifty chimps still in the organization's custody. In January, a working group for the NIH told the organization that it should put a stop to six of the nine invasive chimp studies it finances. These studies include searching for a contagious cause for primary biliary cirrhosis and tests on the immune system's response to diseases like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.

I'm extremely proud of the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service for proposing this rule in helping save lives of chimpanzees. These closest relatives of human beings have for generations been used for the purposes of "entertaining" the general public through circus performances, films, and television shows. The driving force behind the entertainment these primates provide is the harsh treatment they are subjected to from their trainers behind the camera. Furthermore, the chimps' attractive looks have made them a popular choice for buyers and sellers as exotic pets. However, as with any wild animal that is smuggled overseas as an exotic pet, the ultimate price to pay is the unpredictable behavior exhibited these primates that result in serious injury or even death of their so-called owners. This example was seen in the case of a chimpanzee named Travis, who gained notoriety for severly injuring his owner's friend in the state of Connecticut. The idea of bringing a chimpanzee or any other wild animal as a pet is deemed as inviting trouble to one's doorstep. It is an accident that is waiting to happen at any given moment.

With this proposed rule pending, the buyers and sellers who function the exotic pet trade would be restricted from transporting these primates across federal or state lines. I very much hope that this rule will be put into action for the sake of safety of both chimpanzees and humans. Both species are closely related to one another, but one species is adapted for life in the wild and not in an urban environment. I also hope that the Fish and Wildlife Service will also impose similar rules in an effort to save other wild animals that are victims to the exotic pet trade, and impose threat on human lives. These include big cats, bears, reptiles, wolves, other primate species and even marine animals such as dolphins and killer whales. They are highly unpredictable, which is their true nature, in spite of the entertainment they exhibit on public television and in circuses and amusement parks. Putting a halt to these animals from being smuggled overseas or from state to state is a key to saving their lives, along with the public.

 View article here 

Kutch Bustard Sanctuary Adds 32 Square Kilometers

A pair of great Indian bustards near a field at Kutch's Naliya grasslands

It has been recently reported that the Kutch Bustard Sanctuary in the Indian state of Gujarat has added 32 square kilometers in a major push for conservation efforts conducted at the critically endangered great Indian bustard. The recent addition of land has been given to the state forest department in and around the Naliya grasslands through the "land bank" procedure and under the demands of the Forest Conservation Act. The Kutch Bustard Sanctuary currently exceeds over only two square kilometers, and efforts to make it grow bigger have been slow since much of the surrounding land is comprised of grazing fields, revenue wastelands, and private property. Earlier this year, these uninhabited lands near the sanctuary and at the grasslands' outer edge converted into agricultural fields. Even the 32-square kilometer areas of land that has recently been transferred to the forest department has undergone such transformation over many years in about a dozen installments. According to one official, the transferred areas will steadily be announced as protected areas and the forest department now has legal groundwork with which to preserve the land as habitat for the bustards.

I'm glad to know that the Kutch Bustard Sanctuary has acquired more areas of land as part of the effort to conserve the great Indian bustard. However, majority of the area beyond the borders of the sanctuary is comprised of agricultural land which has been slowing the process. As of now, there are still ongoing negotiations with the forest and revenue departments for more land transfers. I hope that the two sides will come to an agreement regarding the acquired number of areas for the bustards. This current transferred patch of land made up less than a third of area recognized as the bustards' core habitat, which covers more than ninety square kilometers. The great Indian bustard is a critically endangered species, whose habitat in recent times has degraded across India due to human-encroachment through agriculture and mining. As part of the effort to revive the species, the nation must acquire pieces of land to allow this magnificent bird to flourish without any form of disturbance by people.

View article here    

World Wildlife Fund Welcomes Kenya's New Anti-Poaching Amendment

An African bush elephant in Kenya

It has been recently reported that the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has welcomed the Kenyan Parliament amendment in an effort to tackle poaching. The amendment will increase penalties for poaching of wildlife, especially elephants and rhinos, to up to fifteen years in prison and/or a fine of ten million shillings. This surge in 2,500 per cent on current fines means that crimes related to wildlife now have the same status and penalties as the Anti-Terrorism Crime Act, the Economic Crimes' Act, and the Organized Crime Act. According to WWF Regional Representative Niall O'Connor, this initiative would help in conserving the wildlife. He also noted that the amendment will see an increase in the number of game rangers to protect Kenya's wildlife. He further added that the WWF was willing to work with the government of Kenya to put a stop to the illegal wildlife trade that has been the biggest threat to the nation's growing economy.

Handicraft ivory item near elephant tusks at Port Klang, Malaysia

I'm very proud to see that Kenya has taken such an intensive move, in order to protect its wildlife from the ongoing threat of poaching and the illegal wildlife trade. However, in other parts of Africa, most notably in Central Africa and South Africa, poaching has been indiscriminately wiping out wild animals at an alarming rate. Among the animals that have been in the news are elephants and rhinos. Central Africa has become infamous for its poaching, which not only fetches millions of dollars but also funds rebel groups operating in the region. These groups include the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) and the Janjaweed, whose members are infamous for conducting treacherous activities such as child-sex slavery, kidnapping, murder, mutilation, and military use of children. The ever-increasing threat of poaching in the region has forced several wildlife organizations to urge Central Africa's governments to adopt a zero-tolerance policy on poaching. But it seems the rebels have taken full control of Central Africa in a sense that governments have little or no chance in dismantling these rebel groups, and indicting their members on numerous crimes against humanity and wildlife. Furthermore, South Africa has and continues to be a major hub for illegal poaching activities carried out by criminal syndicates with access to sophisticated hi-tech equipment that overwhelms game rangers in the battle to end the poaching crisis. I feel that Kenya should also take a step further in aiding South Africa, Central African countries, and other African countries where poaching is rife. This would really help in stemming and ultimately cease the threat of poaching in Africa as a whole.

View article here

Elephant Poaching on the Rise After the Overthrow of Central African Republic's Government

A forest elephant in Central African Republic's Dzangha-Sangha Special Reserve

The Central African Republic has been in the news in recent times due to increased hostilities between the government and rebels, which has resulted in the overthrow of the nation's president Francois Bozize and the federal government. But this significant event has also led to another catastrophe: surge in elephant poaching. Conservationists stated that the rebels, who were responsible for bringing down the government, are also believed to be involved in poaching. One of the primary hotspots of poaching activities is the Dzanga-Sangha Special Reserve, which has been home to more than 3,400 elephants. The overthrow of the government has allowed poachers to further carry out their slaughter. Bas Huijbregts, head of policy for WWF's campaign against poaching in Central Africa, stated that elephant meat is being sold in the town of Bayanga near the reserve and other surrounding villages. The local residents further added that at least forty elephants had been killed in Dzangha-Sangha since the rebels took control on March 24. However, the World Wildlife Fund stated that it was impossible to estimate the numbers of animals killed since no patrols had been going into the jungles to determine the exact figures.

Rebels in Central African Republic are believed to be involved in the poaching of elephants in the country.

This article is a clear representation about the side effects caused during the aftermath of the overthrow of a federal government. In the case of Central African Republic, one of those side effects has been an increase in poaching. Because there is no government to oversee the country, it is possible for criminals of all sorts, including poachers, to carry out their evil deeds. It has been said that ever since the rebels toppled Central African Republic's government, their leader, Michel Djotodia, has taken over to lead a transitional government. However, critics have stated that he has little control over his followers who have been blamed for continuous looting of hospitals and aid groups in the nation's capital of Bangui. In addition, the rebels have also been said to have looted the offices of WWF staff in the Dzanga-Sangha Reserve and even formed alliances with poachers from Sudan. This has truly, along with targeting innocent civilians, has made them a force to be reckoned with. I feel that Central African Republic is in a dire need of help regarding lives of its people and wildlife. The nation is now being overrun by not just any poachers, but also cruel and bloodthirsty cutthroats who have no regard for human or animal life. Immediate action must be taken to help bring down the rebels conducting their activities in and around Dzanga-Sangha Reserve, as well as in other parts of Central African Republic. In addition, a new government must also be established to replace the current existing one that has put millions of lives at stake.

View article here

Oriya Poachers Turn to Wildlife Protection

An elephant in Simlipal National Park

It has been recently reported that a group of four elephant poachers in Orissa's Simlipal National Park have renounced their poaching ways, in an effort to help keep the wildlife safe. The four men, who were responsible in killing of at least eighteen to twenty elephants, surrendered before the forest officials and are set to be part of the national park's protection squad. According to Simlipal's field director Anup Nayak, the four men live in villages on the foothills of the national park. The eldest of the four was Dhanu Soren. A member of the Anantpur village, he had been a poacher for the past twenty years and gained notoriety for training and recruiting local youngsters in the illicit activity. The other three included Budhuray Hembram, Chotray Marandi, and Lakshman Marandi. The group's impudence became a serious matter when nearly 1,200-1,300 members of their gang held 59 forest personnel hostage in the Upper Barakamra range in Simlipal's core area in May last year.

Forest road through Simlipal National Park

The change of heart in these four men happened as a result from efforts put Honorary Wildlife Warden Bhanumitra Acharya. Warden Acharya was able to reform them with the help from local village youngsters who are members of the Simlipal Tiger Protection Force (STPF), which he established in 2001. The organization is now comprised of above 1,013 members, which include village youngsters from 1,200 surrounding villages. In addition, Warden Acharya also founded the Simlipal Special Force which is comprised of twenty youngsters and former army officials who work as an active action group during an emergency situation. According to Warden Acharya, the organization was able to convince the four ex-poachers to give up their illicit profession after a series of meetings. However, this was the first part of this extraordinary success story. The real test will be to exercise their talents, network, and modus operandi to capture other poachers. The four men have been utilized as protection assistants by the forest department's team of sentries.

Sambar deer in Simlipal National Park

This article is an explicit demonstration of how wildlife protection should be conducted around the world. Battling wildlife crimes such as poaching, habitat destruction, and the illegal wildlife trade does not only mean apprehending the perpetrators and sentencing them to prison time. It is also about giving them a second chance in life. And what better way to do than giving these individuals an opportunity to work side by side with wildlife officials in an effort to protect the animals which they kill for profit? This action was seen in the case of these four poachers, who were infamous for not only slaughtering elephants but participating in holding forest personnel hostage. Now, these newly-reformed men have given up their lifestyle of poaching to become part of a protection squad comprised of members from their individual villages. I firmly believe that the efforts Warden Acharya took, in order to protect the wildlife of Simlipal National Park should be an inspiration to national parks and wildlife sanctuaries across India and in other parts of the world to protect their local wildlife. This remarkable success story has already inspired an organization called Sangram, which has launched a program titled "Pratyavartan" in order to encourage poachers and other such people who cause any harm to the environment to renounce their lifework and make their living by respectable means. A similar concept is seen when a gang member or any regular criminal either rejects or is convinced to give up the lifestyle he/she led in committing crimes, in order to educate other people not to follow the same path. If the protection of the world's wildlife is enhanced this way, in which poachers and other such criminals be given a second chance to redeem themselves, then the battle against the ongoing threats these people have been committing will likely to cease. However, it is also vitally important at the same time to be vigilant for any individuals who would turn out to be uncooperative for offers like what these four men were given.

View article here

Conservationists Call for a Stop in the Illegal Trade of Cheetahs

A cheetah destined for the illegal pet trade confiscated in 2011

It has been reported that the Wildlife Conservation Society, the Endangered Wildlife Trust, and the Zoological Society of London have recently joined forces with representatives from the nations of Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda to call for a stop in the illegal trade of cheetahs as pets. The three African countries were prompted due to an increasing concern of diminishing populations of East African cheetahs, which are currently believed to be smuggled as pets. The Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) has recently accepted the proposal to authorize the first serious study of the trade in cheetahs that should form a groundwork in for future conservation action. Each year, many cheetahs are illegally taken from the wild as cubs since they are easy to tame. During the smuggling process, it is said that more than half of the cubs are thought to die in transportation and scientists fear that the trade could be impacting the cheetah population survival in the Horn of Africa. In 2011, the Coalition Against Wildlife Trafficking (CAWT) recorded 27 cases involving smuggling of seventy cheetahs within a one-year period, although conservationists believe the total number of figures is much greater.

Cheetah

This news article highlights the growing impact of the exotic pet trade affecting our world. In addition, it also highlights the reaction of countries where exotic animals come from. In this case, the victims are cheetahs and the countries from which the reactions towards the exotic pet trade are coming are Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda. All three of these countries are one of the few places in Africa that are known to contain some fairly good numbers of cheetahs, but have also served as hotspots for smuggling wildlife and other illegal activities. According to Dr. Nick Mitchell of the Wildlife Conservation Society and the Zoological Society of London, cheetahs in the wild occur at very low density numbers which means that eradication of individuals by any means can have a significant impact on the populations' survival. This is why it is extremely crucial that countries having wild animals for the exotic pet trade, and those that are prime hotspots of the business to band together in an effort to save cheetahs and other animals from this ongoing cycle of wildlife smuggling.

View article here 

Namdapha National Park Under Surveillance to Prevent any Illegal Activities

Members of Namdapha National Park's protection force.

It has been recently announced that the Namdapha National Park in India's northeast is now under constant surveillance of a protection force that is actively seeking to prevent any illegal activities from happening. According to Principal Chief Conservator of Forests N.N Zhasa, the force is comprised of a 35-member protection squad, thirteen former service members, and representatives of various local communities of Arunachal Pradesh. Zhasa, who visited the national park during a two-day period from February 27-28, stated that he was satisfied with the change in the national park's situation since it came into spotlight for an attack on former Chief Wildlife Warden J.L. Singh last year. The change was accredited to the park's field director S.J Jongsam, who along with his staff took the local Lisu people into confidence such that few have even become members of the protection force.

I'm extremely proud of the efforts the staff of Namdapha National Park have undertaken, in order to keep it safe from threats like poaching and other illegal activities. In my opinion, Namdapha should be considered as a role model and inspiration to other national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in India and around the world when it comes to protecting the wildlife. The efforts in protecting wildlife should not only include forest guards or wildlife officials, but also former members of the armed forces and local indigenous people living in surrounding areas of a national park or a protected area. The combination of ex-military officials' knowledge of combat and the indigenous people's knowledge of the land can prove to be worthy and effective in the ongoing battle against poaching and the illegal wildlife trade. Therefore, it is absolutely important and crucial that other national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in India and around the world should employ similar tactics in order to put a stop to the ongoing threats affecting the world's wildlife.

View article here