Solenodon – The World’s Great Survivor, But For How Much Longer?

The solenodon may not look like much, in fact few people are aware of its existence; but this shrew-like mammal the size of a rabbit; which can be found in Cuba, Dominican Republic and Haiti, is pretty special in a number of ways. For one, it is one of only a handful of venomous mammals, being able to squeeze neuro-toxic venom in its saliva through its incisors. As well as this, its snout contains a ball and socket joint to give it extra maneuverability and it is one of the privileged few species that the great Sir David Attenborough would put on an Ark if he had one.

But what is most incredible about the solenodon is its ability to survive. Scientists have established that this small mammal evolved 78 million years ago during the Cretaceous period, which means that it walked the earth at the same time as the dinosaurs! Even more incredibly, it survived the asteroid that caused the mass collapse of entire ecosystems and heralded the end of the dinosaurs. Scientists even believe that the solenodon populations were close to the area in Mexico where the asteroid hit, which makes it even more unbelievable that they survived such a momentous event in the world’s history.

The solenodon is so unique that the two species (Cuban and Hispaniolan) represent an entire biological family: Solenodontidae. Little is known about the Cuban species as it was presumed extinct until the 1970s and was then not seen again until 2003. The Hispaniolan species is better known and researchers have found that it actually comprises three separate subspecies which all evolved as a result of isolation on the islands. The rarest is found in a small Haitian forest whilst the other two can be found in the northern Dominican Republic and a south Dominican mountain range (the best protected population thanks to national parks).

As nocturnal burrowing animals, the solenodon has small eyes and poor vision, so similarly to a bat, it uses echolocation and its above average sense of smell to forage for its prey, comprising insects and other invertebrates. It has also been known to feed on fruit.

Unfortunately for this great survivor, both species are now classified as endangered on the IUCN Red List, and it is mainly due to us. Before human settlement occurred on its home range, the solenodon was the apex predator, and as such had no need to evolve defence mechanisms. However, during colonial times, settlers introduced the Asian mongoose to the islands to hunt snakes and rats, as well as bringing their domesticated cats and dogs. These non-native species have overtaken the solenodon as the apex predators and hence what was once the predator, has become the prey. Furthermore, human settlement has resulted in huge habitat loss, contributing to a reduction in its range and its population. The Dominican Republic lost more than 200,000 hectares of forest from 2001-2014, but the solenodon’s fate in Haiti looks even less certain. Here, the solenodon survives in the only significant part of cloud forest remaining in the Masif de la Hotte region. This impoverished region has been under constant pressure from the charcoal trade, resulting in almost total deforestation.

Solenodon researchers have been trying to raise the awareness of its existence through a three year research and conservation program, but despite its recommendations, few solutions have been put into place due to lack of funding, and local people still have little knowledge of it even though it is one of only two endemic land mammals on the islands.

The plight of the solenodon goes to show that in conservation, awareness is key. Everyone knows about the killing of rhinos and elephants and the orangutans losing their forests, and these are the species that get all the media attention and funding. The solenodon is a truly unique species, yet the vast majority of people have never heard of it. It would be such a shame if after having survived asteroids and ice ages, the solenodon perishes due to the actions of man.

Heroic Humpbacks

Known as the gentle giants of the sea, a recently published study in the Marine Mammal Science journal by Robert Pitman and his colleagues demonstrates evidence that humpback whales may have altruistic tendencies, as there have been a number of incidents that have been recorded at various locations throughout the world where humpback whales have rescued numerous other marine species from orca attacks.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/20/humpback-whales-hawaii_n_4482515.html

A highly notable incident was in May 2012 in Monterey Bay off of the coast of California. Here, whale researcher Alisa Schulman-Janiger noted a pod of orcas attacking a gray whale calf whilst two humpbacks nearby rushed to its aid. Eventually the calf succumbed to the orca attack; but before the orca pod could feed on it, 14 more humpbacks arrived and appeared to be actively preventing the orca from eating the calf. Despite there being a thick krill swarm nearby, the humpbacks continued to engage in tail slashing and loud vocalising behaviours whenever the orca came near for six and a half hours, the longest recorded humpback-orca interaction. It turned out that this was not an isolated incident. In 62 years, 115 interactions have been recorded between humpback whales and orcas.

Selfless or Self-Serving?

So why do humpbacks go to such lengths to interfere in orca attacks? The most accepted explanation is that it is of some benefit to them. Orcas are known to attack young humpbacks, so maybe the adults “rescue” calves to help them get through the early stages of life to a point where they are large enough to survive by themselves. This may be true, but of the instances where humpbacks interfered in orca hunts that were recorded in this study, only 11% involved other humpback whales. The other 89% involved seals, sea lions, porpoises and even ocean sunfish. Pitman (one of the co-authors of the study) first noticed this behaviour in 2009, when he recorded an orca pod cooperating to knock a Weddell seal off an Antarctic ice floe. Before they could finish the attack, a lone humpback lifted the seal onto its belly and kept it out of harm’s way.

http://www.sciencemag.org

It is also possible that they are answering the auditory calls of the orca and do not realise what species is being attacked until it has fully invested its energy in the battle. Therefore they would probably engage in this behaviour as on some occasions it would be justified if the animal needing aid was another humpback. Another line of reasoning suggests that individual humpbacks that interfere in orca hunts may have a personal history with orca. Many of those involved often bear scars from what appears to be previous orca attacks.

Or perhaps, as is suggested by some experts, humpback whales demonstrate altruism. Lori Marino, an expert in cetacean intelligence, suggests that due to their high general intelligence which makes them capable of decision-making, problem-solving and communication; humpbacks could also be capable of displaying empathy. Due to the results of the study showing a high percentage of instances where non-humpback animals have been “rescued”, this explanation cannot be ruled out.

Whether humpbacks are truly selfless remains to be seen, but it is clear that there is plenty still to learn about the ocean’s gentle giants.

New Hope for the World’s Rarest Marine Mammal

The vaquita, the world’s rarest marine mammal, with only an estimated 60 left in the wild, has been given a beacon of hope. The Mexican government has announced that from September, there will be a permanent ban on the use of gill nets in the upper Gulf of California, the only place where vaquita can be found. The vaquita is living on the edge of extinction, less than 60 years after it was first discovered in 1958. In just three years, the vaquita population has plummeted by 50%, with an average of 39 vaquita dying each year. If this death rate continues unabated, the vaquita will be extinct by 2018.

http://www.worldwildlife.org

Vaquita are being killed by fishing nets used for the illegal fishing of the critically endangered totoaba fish. The bladders of these fish are regarded as a delicacy in China and the demand for them has skyrocketed, with bladders selling for around £6,000 per kilogram. For each pound of totoaba caught, fishermen receive the same as they would for half a year’s worth of legal fishing. Vaquita are the unintended victims of this demand, becoming entangled in the fine-meshed nets and ultimately, drowning. It was this same reason that brought vaquita levels crashing down in the 1970s, when totoaba fish were over-fished and declared an endangered species.

As well as a permanent ban on the use of gill nets, Mexico have also made a joint announcement with the USA, stating that both countries will increase their cooperative enforcement efforts to stop the illegal trade in totoaba bladders as well as work with international experts to develop alternative fishing nets that are vaquita-friendly, whilst disposing of all illegal fishing gear from the Gulf of California.

The instatement of a permanent ban alongside a promise of cooperation with the US is indeed encouraging news, as this shows that the Mexican government are committed to bringing the vaquita back from the brink of extinction; but this may not be enough unless Mexico and the US also work with China to curb the demand for totoaba fish. China need to do their bit to acknowledge the demand in totoaba fish and deal with it appropriately. Educating the public will be crucial in addressing this issue. It seemingly made an impact on shark fin soup consumption when celebrity-fronted campaigns made the public aware of the plight of sharks; so there is every reason to believe that a similar campaign could work for the totoaba, and hence for the vaquita as well.

However, if the demand from China continues, totoaba prices will remain high, meaning that fishermen will still find ways to catch totoaba and therefore doom the vaquita to extinction.

Rhino: Wanted Down Under?

Since 2008, at least 5,940 African rhino have been killed by poachers for their horns, with the number increasing in 2015 for the sixth year in a row. Despite the efforts of several organisations, poaching does not seem to be slowing down, so a new radical project aims to relocate 80 rhinos from South Africa to safari parks in Australia.

The Australian Rhino Project wishes to relocate these rhinos to establish a back-up population, an insurance policy in the event that the South African poaching crisis sends its animals there to extinction.

This year, the first group of rhino will enter quarantine in Johannesburg before being transferred to a zoo in New South Wales to undergo further quarantine. After their quarantine is complete, the rhinos will then be relocated to a safari park in Adelaide. It is then hoped that they will breed with the intention of returning them to Africa when poaching becomes less of a threat to he species’ survival.

Is it a good idea?

I appreciate that despite the amount of funding that is used to curb the current poaching crisis, poaching remains rampant in several rhino range states; therefore I can see why such a radical idea has materialised. However, there are a few issues I have with this project.

Firstly, why have White rhino been chosen to be relocated, when they are the most numerous subspecies? Black rhinos are much more endangered, with only 4880 left in the wild, compared to the 20,170 white rhinos. It could be argued that the Black rhino is in need of more help.

Secondly, alien species in Australia have wreaked havoc with the established ecosystems, just look at the Cane Toad as an example. The introduction of this species has caused many native species to decline in number as well as other problems. What if the introduction of rhinos to the Australian outback results in threats to the native biodiversity?

Finally, I believe that the funding for this project would be better being put to use in the field, rather than being used to transport animals thousands of miles away from their home. Rhinos are an iconic African species and deserve to stay in Africa, where they belong.

I have my reservations about this project, but I do hope it can be a success, for the sake of the rhino. I guess only time will tell.

The Silent Extinction of the World’s Tallest Animal

40% in 15 years.

That’s how much giraffe numbers have dropped, right under the world’s noses, mainly due to habitat loss and poaching. So how is it that such a decrease in the wild population of an iconic animal has completely passed us by? There are now only an estimated 80,000 giraffes left in the wilds of Africa, yet they are still listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. It seems like this has been largely unnoticed by the conservation community, until recently.

A new Natural World documentary that aired recently highlighted the plight of this magnificent animal and efforts being taken to ensure its continued survival. It is deeply worrying that such an unique animal is now extinct in 7 of its range countries, without anyone batting an eyelid. If we also compare the giraffe to the African elephant, of which there are 5 times as many, it seems crazy that have not applied the same attention to its predicament. Efforts to conserve elephants have been well documented for decades, with it being well known that they are primarily poached for their ivory; yet no one seems to know that giraffes face the same uncertain future due to the bush-meat trade and habitat loss.

Giraffes: Africa’s Gentle Giants showed the efforts of Dr Julian Fennessy, Executive Director of Giraffe Conservation Foundation, as he attempted to relocate 20 Rothschild’s giraffes in Uganda across the River Nile to establish a new population, as their current home was under threat due to the fact that it was situated on ground that contained the majority of Uganda’s known oil, with plans to drill there coming to fruition. This programme also highlighted some interesting scientific research findings.

Currently, there are nine known subspecies of giraffe, although it is thought that there could actually be five separate species after genetic research was carried out on all giraffe populations by the Giraffe Conservation Foundation. This is yet to be proved beyond doubt, but it is likely that the results of this research will be published soon. Of these nine subspecies, three (West African, Rothschild’s and Nubian) have populations of less than a 1000 in the wild. The Nubian giraffe is particularly endangered due to the fact that fewer than 250 remain in the wild, with only a small captive population in a UAE zoo.

I think the fact that these subspecies are currently grouped into only one species is part of the problem with regards to efforts to conserve them. There is such a distinct difference in population sizes between them, with half of the entire giraffe population being Masai giraffes, that this potentially hides the predicament of the much rarer subspecies. If the genetic research can confirm that some of the subspecies are actually separate species, this could go a long way to directing conservation efforts to the populations that are most in need of human intervention in order to ensure their continued survival.

It is time to stop believing that giraffes are everywhere and always will be, as it is simply not true. Now is the time to ensure that the world’s tallest animal is not left to its silent extinction. It is time to give the humble giraffe the attention it deserves.

 

 

The World’s Most Trafficked Mammal

Every year, around 100,000 of these mammals are taken from the wild and sold illegally. That is an alarming rate of roughly 1 every 5 minutes. It’s not a creature that many people are familiar with, in fact many people probably aren’t even aware of its existence. The world’s most trafficked mammal is not a rhino or an elephant, but a small anteater-like creature known as the PANGOLIN.

So what is a Pangolin you might ask?

Currently, there are eight species of pangolin, four African and four Asian. Of these, the Chinese and Sunda pangolins are critically endangered; the Philippine and Indian species are endangered; and the four African species (Black-bellied, White-bellied, Giant Ground and Tremminck’s Ground) are listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.

It looks like an anteater, with its long thin snout and extremely long tongue lubricated with sticky saliva to prise ants and termites out of their mounds, but in terms of their classification, they are deemed to be more closely related to the Carnivora order, which includes wolves, bears and big cats.

As a species, they are truly unique in the fact that they are the only known mammal to have a body covered in scales and it is this unique quality which lies at the heart of their current fight for survival.

Why are they in danger?

Southeast Asia, (particularly the Chinese and Vietnamese) believe that pangolin scales (despite being made of keratin, the same substance as our hair and nails) can cure cancer, and a surge in demand over the last decade has seen black market prices skyrocket. It is thought that a kilogram of pangolin scales can fetch as much as $3000. Pangolins provide easy money for poachers as the pangolin’s main defence mechanism is to simply curl into a ball, much like a hedgehog. This makes it incredibly simple for people to just pick them up off the ground.

With it being so easy to obtain pangolins, the illegal trade in them is vast, which has caused the Asian species to suffer. With their numbers now dwindling, it is a huge worry that the demand could outweigh supply, meaning that traders will now look to the African species to meet it. I read recently in the latest Traffic International bulletin that there is already evidence of this happening in Nigeria, with 5185kg of scales being seized over six separate incidents in 2015. If this trend continues unabated, there is a real risk to the survival of all eight species.

How should we protect them?

Upgrade Their CITES Listing

At the moment all species of Pangolin are listed on Appendix II of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). This means that trade is regulated, only being allowed if exporting countries have permits. However, there is a zero export quota on the Asian species, which means that all international commercial trade is banned. Personally, considering the current situation of the Asian species and the effect that illegal trade is beginning to have on the population of African species, I feel that they should probably be upgraded to CITES Appedix I, which would ban all international trade in the species.

Captive Breeding?

A lot of species that are suffering badly due to the illegal wildlife trade, such as tigers, rhino and elephants; are kept in zoos and are part of a worldwide breeding program. So why don’t zoos try and establish a pangolin breeding program? The simple answer is that unfortunately they are a species that do not thrive in captivity. In fact, only six zoos in the world keep pangolins. It is unknown exactly why they do no thrive, but many of those that have died in captivity usually died from digestive problems, which suggests that there is a lack of knowledge about these creatures’ eating habits in the wild. With no substantial captive population to breed from, it is even more critical that the wild populations are protected before it is too late to save them.

Deterrence

As is often the case with the illegal wildlife trade, the rewards often outweigh the risks. In order to stop poaching, there needs to be a strong deterrent. In pangolin strongholds, anti-poaching patrols should operate regularly to catch poachers in the act and to deter others from engaging in this illegal activity. Furthermore, sentences need to be harsher in order to ensure that people do not consider poaching to be a worthy activity. Other countries should follow Zimbabwe’s example. Here, ¾ of seizures in 2015 resulted in a 9 year prison sentence for at least one party involved, and this has resulted in a decrease in pangolin poaching here, suggesting that harsher sentences do work as deterrents.

Education

Southeast Asian countries are under the impression that pangolin scales can cure various ailments and consider their meat to be a delicacy. In order to curb the ever-increasing demand, cooperation with the main consumer countries (China and Vietnam) is needed to investigate reasons for demand and develop strategies to diffuse these beliefs. As well as this, the plight of the pangolin needs to be publicised more widely. I’m sure there are numerous people in the world that have never even heard of such a creature. If more people knew of its existence, they may be more inclined to worry about its plight and aid in efforts to save it from extinction.

If things don’t improve soon, there is a real risk that the Asian pangolins will be hunted to extinction and then the African pangolins will bear the full brunt of this relentless trade. It would be such a shame if we were to lose such a unique creature. It really is one of a kind and like no other creature alive today.

 

R.I.P. Harambe

As I’m sure that you are aware, at the end of last month, a magnificent 17-year-old critically endangered Western Lowland gorilla silverback called Harambe was shot dead after a 4-year-old boy fell into his enclosure at the Cincinnati Zoo. This has caused a massive outcry, much like the killing of Cecil the Lion last year.

Inadequate Enclosures

Rather than attributing blame to either the zoo or the boy’s parents, the first question I found myself asking when I saw this news was: ‘how on earth did a small child manage to fall into a gorilla enclosure?’ This as opposed to placing responsibility on either party needs to be addressed, as it should not be possible for members of the public to get into animal enclosures.

I have never been to Cincinnati Zoo but I have been to several other gorilla exhibits in the UK and in comparison, it clearly only provided the minimum protection for the animal. From what I have read, there was a 3ft steel railing with 4ft of bushes after it and then a 15ft drop to shallow water, which was accessible to the gorillas. When you consider that an average 4-year-old is 3’5″, it is quite conceivable that a young child managed to scale the fence, wander through some bushes and fall into the moat.

Of the ones I have visited, I have never had any concerns about the safety of the exhibits. If I take Bristol Zoo’s gorilla enclosure as an example, the indoor part of the enclosure offers the public a 180 degree view of the animals, as toughened glass acts as the ceiling and walls of the viewing area. There is also an outdoor area for the gorillas, which can be viewed from a short distance. This area is a raised island, surrounded by a shallow moat (as gorillas cannot swim) with a small electric fence surrounding it and another wooden fence (roughly 4ft) a few metres back from that, which the public stand behind.

The differences between the two exhibits are stark and shows that there is a wide gulf in the quality of animal exhibits. Meeting the minimum requirements is not acceptable. Everything possible should be done to ensure the safety and welfare of the animals if we are to continue keeping them in zoos.

Protector or Danger?

Many reports were conflicted as to whether Harambe posed a serious danger to the boy’s life, or if he was actually trying to help him. I cannot say whether Harambe was protecting the boy or harming him as I am not an expert in primate behaviour, but in my opinion he did not seem to be acting in an aggressive way.

In 1986, a 5-year-old boy fell into the gorilla enclosure at Jersey Zoo. Whilst the boy was unconscious, Jambo the silverback stood watch over him, protecting him from the other gorillas in the enclosure.When the boy woke up, he backed away allowing the child to be rescued. Another similar incident happened at Brookfield Zoo in 1995, when a 3-year-old boy fell 20ft into a gorilla enclosure. This time Binti Jua, a female gorilla, carried the child carefully to an access gate where staff could reach the child and get him to safety.

These instances suggest that gorillas are gentle creatures however all animals are unpredictable and unique, so it is hard to say whether Harambe would have acted the same, given the chance. With all the shouting from other people, he could have felt threatened and that could have ended with him being aggressive or running away. As for tranquilising Harambe, that would have posed an even greater threat to the boy because it would have taken minutes to take effect and within that time, Harambe would probably be enraged. The zoo staff knew the animal’s temperament better than anyone, so they clearly thought they had little choice but to shoot him.

It is an incredibly tragic outcome, particularly as Harambe was entering his prime and would have contributed to the ongoing survival of his species, but his legacy will serve as a reminder that we must create zoo environments where both people and particularly the  animals, are safe. Tragic as it is, lessons must be learned.

R.I.P. Harambe

 

Hello!

Hi, so here I am writing my first blog. I know I’m a bit late to the party but I want to share my feelings on this important topic, as I feel it is often neglected in everyday news. I have decided to focus on telling you about various wildlife and conservation issues that have caught my attention. There will be the obvious topics covered, but I hope to raise awareness of other lesser-known endangered species that need just as much help as flagship wildlife like the rhino and tiger.

I have always had a love for wildlife. I grew up in a family of animal lovers and there wasn’t a time in my life where we didn’t have a pet, be it a cat; dog; rabbit; or rat; but I remember always being in awe whenever my sisters and I were taken to the zoo. Seeing animals in the flesh that I had only read about in books and seen on TV, was incredible. It was almost as if I couldn’t believe that they were real. I have never really grown out of this awe and I struggle to understand why anyone in the world would not feel the same way. Species that are struggling to survive are in this position due to the actions of man, be it directly or indirectly; so I think it is our responsibility to protect them. I am not a conservationist and I have no direct expertise in the field, I am just a passionate wildlife lover and this is my way of contributing. 

So if you are interested in joining me on spreading the word about issues facing various species, stay tuned for my first post about the most trafficked mammal in the world.