The Last Asiatic Cheetahs Of Iran

When we hear Iran mentioned in the news, the images that immediately come to mind are war torn cities and military fighting; however, there is so much more to Iran than we know. Thinking of Iran, the one image that doesn't enter my mind is a cheetah, but there are Asiatic Cheetahs living and surviving in Iran’s “vast central plateau” (Hunter, National Geographic). There are only about 100 individuals left in Iran so they are extreme rarities among the desert landscapes. According to Dr. Luke Hunter, President of Panthera, “Iranian cats are virtually invisible […] intensely shy […] and hovering on the edge of extinction, they are essentially impossible to see” (Hunter, National Geographic).

Recently, National Geographic magazine published amazing photographs of wild Asiatic cheetahs in Iran gathered from those taken by camera-traps.  National Geographic was only able to photograph these rare cats due to an 11-year conservation project by the Iranian Department of Environment. In 2001, the DoE with support from the United Nations Development Programme, began a long-term project to bring the cheetah back from the edge of extinction. The Conservation of the Asiatic Cheetah Project (CACP) provided their own help by labeling five landscapes as specially protected cheetah reserves and provided numerous resources to make them remain safe havens—dozen of cheetah guards, new vehicles, motorbikes, and other materials. (Hunter, National Geographic)

Back in 2001, most Iranians had no idea their country harbored some of the Earth’s last Asiatic cheetahs, but now in cooperation with Panthera and local partners, the CACP sets out to protect the last Iranian cheetahs by

mitigating the direct threats facing cheetahs and their prey; gathering ecological data on existing cheetah, other carnivore and prey populations; enhancing and empowering law enforcement officials to protect cheetahs and their prey, including seeking a reduction in the number of annual gun licenses issued in cheetah range; researching the ecology of cheetahs, other predators and their prey using camera traps and radio-collars; studying cheetah rangelands to determine the extent of competition for land between livestock and the cheetah’s wild ungulate prey; establishing environmental educational activities with local communities to improve attitudes towards cheetahs; and engaging with local communities, conservation organizations and government officials to collaboratively protect cheetah habitat. (Hunter, Panthera)

In the past, the Asiatic cheetah’s distribution “extended across the Middle East, Central Asia, north into southern Kazakhstan and southeast into India;” however, today the cheetah has been pushed from almost its entire Asiatic range except for the “small and critically endangered population in the Islamic Republic of Iran” (Hunter, Panthera). The roughly 100 Asiatic cheetahs left in the wild occupy the “arid, central plateau of Iran” and face major threats which include: “overhunting of cheetah prey, habitat degradation and direct poaching” (Hunter, Panthera).

It’s important to get the word out about these elusive cats and to grab the attention of conservation organizations worldwide; that’s why the camera trap photos are so pertinent to the cheetahs’ survival. Currently, “Iranian cheetahs live at the lowest density recorded anywhere for the species, one to two cats per 1,000 square kilometers; the same-size area on East African plains can hold 100 cheetahs” (Hunter, National Geographic). National Geographic magazine’s article provides “evidence of residency and breeding including terrific pictures of young cubs” (Hunter, National Geographic). So, even though the cheetahs are at exceptionally low numbers, the camera trap photographs of the cheetahs and cubs provide hope for future populations.

Dr. Luke Hunter hopes that “National Geographic’s wonderful photographs bring the predicament of this critically endangered cat to a new audience who, like most Iranians a decade ago, had never heard of the cheetah’s existence in the country” (Hunter, National Geographic).

References

Hunter, Luke, Dr. "Finding the Last Cheetahs of Iran." News Watch. National Geographic, 25 Oct. 2012.Web. 30 Oct. 2012. 

Hunter, Luke, Dr. "Finding the Last Cheetahs of Iran." Panthera, 25 Oct. 2012. Web. 30 Oct. 2012.

Aerial Drones and Conservation

When it comes to wildlife conservation, much of it involves scientists searching through exotic forests and jungles collecting population data, setting camera traps, and surveying the ecosystem. As important as all this is, it takes up a lot of time and money. So the newest option for conservationists is to use aerial drones to assist them in surveying specific areas for wildlife and for human encroachment in the habitat.

By putting ‘an eye in the sky’ it’s easier to view large herds of elephants in Africa or the effects of deforestation on a habitat. A team of scientists working in Indonesia created “inexpensive unmanned aerial vehicles (aka drone airplanes), to study critically endangered Sumatran orangutans (Pongo abelii) from above the treetops” (Platt). This technology is already being used in other conservation projects around the globe.

Serge Wich, a professor at the Research Center in Evolutionary Anthropology and Paleoecology at Liverpool John Moores University, says “autonomous drones can help scientists and conservationists to inexpensively collect timely, high-resolution data” (Platt). Wich and his partner, Lian Pin Koh, assistant professor of applied ecology and conservation at ETH Zurich, “have developed a lightweight drone system that costs about $2,000—including the batteries, software, cameras and flight stabilizers” (Platt). Other available drones are much more expensive and can cost up to $5,000, but Wich and Koh set up a website, ConservationDrones.org, to help others recreate the same technology around the world.

Wich and Koh first used their drones in Sumatra “to capture video and photographs of orangutans and elephants. The drones also came back with striking images of Sumatra’s deforestation, caused by logging and palm oil plantations” (Platt). They also captured “photographs of orangutan nests high in the trees, information that will help inform future conservation activities” (Platt).

In an interview for the Scientific American blog, when asked what he was trying to solve with these drones, Wich replied that “one of the main problems we have is that we’re almost always behind the facts on the ground.” He goes on to describe how the conservation areas are just so huge and difficult to monitor regularly so the need for drones is high. The drones are available whenever they want to send them out, whereas conducting ground surveys takes time for planning and execution and the cost is considerably higher.

The beauty of the drones is that conservation researchers can choose to fly them as often as they like; for example, drones can fly over the forest every month or every week to see what’s going on. Then if there are any illegal activities or encroachment going on they can inform the local authorities. Wich hopes drones will enable conservationists “to react much faster to changes on the ground” than before (Platt).

Photo of deforestation

Eventually, as the drone technology advances, Wich wants to receive “live feedback from the video” instead of how it is now where he does not get access to video or photos until the drone returns from its flight (Platt). The drones currently operate with an autopilot route, much like Google Maps, that the researcher can plot himself. The next step after live video footage would be thermal imaging attached to the drone software.

Another example of aerial drones used in conservation is the research Panthera is currently conducting for the Jaguar Corridor Initiative. According to Panthera’s September newsletter, “one of the greatest resources shaping [Panthera’s] groundwork is aerial surveys carried out within Panthera’s Jaguar Corridor Initiative—a program working to connect and protect jaguar populations from Mexico to Argentina to ensure the species’ genetic diversity and future survival” (Panthera).

The drones offer “a unique perspective of the jaguar’s range, and a level of detail unmatched by satellite imagery, aerial surveys allow Panthera’s scientists to truly view connectivity of the Jaguar Corridor, identify encroachments on the jaguar’s range and pinpoint habitat in which to focus Panthera’s future conservation efforts.” The main threats targeted by these aerial drones are “habitat loss and fragmentation caused by increasing human populations and developments.” They also supply Panthera scientists with images to “visually demonstrate” to political leaders how the Corridor actually connects the jaguars throughout their range (Panthera).

In addition to population data, habitat status, and the health of the ecosystem, researchers hope drones will enable faster response times for antipoaching patrols. Panthera believes “local communities and local violators are recognizing the potential of aerial surveys to uncover otherwise unidentifiable illegal activities, and allow improved enforcements of forest protection laws.” Drones will definitely have a massive impact on the effectiveness of wildlife conservation around the world.

References:

Platt, John R. "Eye in the Sky: Drones Help Conserve Sumatran Orangutans and Other Wildlife,  Extinction Countdown, Scientific American Blog Network." Scientific American Blogs., 27 Sept. 2012. Web. 28 Sept. 2012. <http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/2012/09/27/drones-help-conserve-sumatran-orangutans-wildlife/>.

"September 2012 Newsletter." Panthera. Web. 28 Sept. 2012. <http://www.panthera.org/september-2012-newsletter>.

Wildlife Bridges: The Animal Friendly Infrastructure

How many times have you had to slam on the breaks because an animal ran into the road? And how many of those times have your reflexes not been quick enough? Roadkill is a tragic reality of today’s car culture. According to Co.Design, vehicle-animal collisions cost Americans a massive $8 billion a year. That’s one expensive reality; however, innovative design can help.

In 2010, Balmori Associates, a New York City landscape design firm, proposed building simple, inexpensive wooden bridges over highways, then covering them in native vegetation to create a wildlife crosswalk. Each bridge would be so wide and the greenery so diverse, it would appear like an extension of the forest, and animals, the thinking goes, would be less inclined to cross the road, resulting in fewer accidents (Kuang, Co.Design). Following this proposal, Balamori Associates came up with the ARC International Wildlife Crossing Infrastructure Design Competition which was the “first-ever international design competition…intended to solve the problem of ensuring safe travel for humans and wildlife” (Kuang, Co.Design). The main idea is to keep the bridge as low-tech and cost-effective as possible so it can be constructed anywhere in the United States without disrupting the road or the environment. 

ARC—Animal Road Crossing—is an interdisciplinary partnership working to expedite new ways to create wildlife crossing structures. ARC’s primary goal is “to ensure safe passage for both humans and animals on and across our roads” (arc-solutions.org). These wildlife crossings or bridges will extend wildlife corridors and enable a variety of species safe passage across America’s highways. In other words, “ARC is working toward the (re)design of our highways so that the need for safe passage is met safely and efficiently while also maintaining the integrity and connectivity of our ecosystems, reducing our carbon footprint, minimizing the consumption of non-renewable materials, recycling resources and extending the life cycle of transportation infrastructure” (arc-solutions.org).          

An interesting fact, one that I was not aware of,  is that most of North America’s major highways generally go east-west while most wildlife movements tend to follow major landforms and topography which generally run north-south (arc-solutions.org) therefore increasing the need for wildlife crossings. When the proposed wildlife crossing structures are designed and built correctly they “act as a new, visible layer of functioning landscape, weaving over and under our highways, in and out of the natural landscape” (arc-solutions.org). Given the range and variety of species throughout North America, each wildlife crossing needs to cater to the specific needs of the species it is designed to protect. For example, some species prefer overpasses, while others prefer underpasses.              

When building wildlife bridges it’s important to remember that they are “typically shorter in span but much wider [than vehicle bridges]. They also necessarily include a thick layer of soil and vegetation—a landscaped surface—that must emulate local habitats” (arc-solutions.org). ARC recommends an inverted arc shape to the wildlife bridge because it conveys the feeling of a valley for animals and results in more light for drivers. Another aspect of the wildlife bridges is education; viewing platforms for the public to actually observe animals crossing the wildlife bridges at a safe distance will encourage support among the public. If people can see what the bridge is protecting they will be more inclined to encourage it.  ARC emphasizes that “wildlife crossings are being designed as living experiments, complete with data-gathering technologies built into the structure. Wildlife crossings offer rich potential for learning: infrared cameras installed at crossing sites capture and record animals in transit; web cams transmit real-time wildlife movement data to science labs and classrooms alike; and hand-held applications [such as smartphone apps] bring the data to passengers in a passing car” (arc-solutions.org). 

If we can manage to get large numbers of these wildlife crossings built, they could reduce animal-vehicle collisions between 80 and 100 percent if designed correctly; with time, ARC believes wildlife crossings can eliminate the problem and the cost of such collisions entirely (arc-solutions.org). Good news is, wildlife crossings may be closer than you think. President Obama just signed a transportation bill on July 6, 2012 that “includes important provisions that will allow states and federal agencies to retrofit roads and create wildlife crossing structures that help prevent wildlife from colliding with the motoring public. The wildlife-vehicle collision provisions address roads on federal and tribal lands, national parks, and state highways” (arc-solutions.org/news)

One easy way to help ARC understand where wildlife vehicle collisions occur most is to go online and share your Road Story here.

Also, to see examples of camera trap photos of animals using the wildlife bridges please visit here.

Reference:

“Can a Wildlife Bridge Fix America’s $8 Billion Roadkill Problem?” Co.Design. Ed. Cliff Kuang. N.p., 02 Dec. 2010. Web. 31 July 2012. http://www.fastcodesign.com/1662800/can-a-wildlife-bridge-fix-americas-8-billion-roadkill-problem.

Species Spotlight: Okapi

The Okapi or the “forest giraffe” is one species many people are not too familiar with.  Inhabiting the tropical rainforests of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the okapi was not discovered by scientists until 1901 and is found nowhere else in the world. In 1901, Sir Harry Johnston’s watercolor rendition of this elusive animal was done without actually seeing the animal first hand. Instead, he obtained pieces of striped skin and eventually a skull. Johnston first believed he was on the trail of some kind of forest-dwelling horse, but soon discovered the tracks were of some cloven-hoofed beast. As it turned out, the okapi is not a horse but a forest-dwelling relative of the giraffe. Scientists confirmed this in 1901 by studying the skull Johnston acquired. 

At first sight, the okapi resembles a horse but upon closer examination it’s similarities to the giraffe are easily seen. The okapi has a relatively long neck, yet nowhere near that of its giraffe relatives. The okapi’s tongue measures between 14-18 inches long. Like giraffes, they use their tongue to wrap around leaves and branches when eating, as well as to groom themselves and their calves. The forehead, neck, and body are brown, with light tan or grey on the animal’s cheeks, throat, and chest. Okapi hair is short, slightly oily to the touch and has a delicate scent. The hind limbs and upper forelegs have cross-stripes resembling those of a zebra while the lower limbs have white “socks” with brown lines going up the front to the knees, where there’s a brown band around each leg. Males have short hair-covered, rear-facing horns, females are slightly taller than the males, and both sexes have large free moving ears.

The distinguishing zebra-like markings on its backside and legs help camouflage the okapi in the forest. The stripes are meant to resemble streaks of sunlight passing through the trees above.

According to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the okapi is categorized as “Near Threatened” meaning that based on recent data the species does not currently qualify for Critically Endangered, Endangered, or Vulnerable but is close to qualifying in the near future. Presently, the okapi population trend is stable; there are approximately 10,000 – 20,000 okapi in the wild and 42 in various zoological institutions worldwide as of 2011. Major threats to the okapi include small-scale human occupation of the forest as well as habitat loss from logging and human development.

The Okapi Wildlife Reserve, established in 1992, protects the habitat of the okapi and numerous other species, as well as local indigenous people, the Mbuti and Efe pygmies. The Reserve includes 13,700 square kilometers of the Ituri Forest in the northeastern portion of the Democratic Republic of Congo. It was listed as a World Heritage Site in 1996, representing a global effort to preserve rare plant and animal life and human culture. The Reserve protects the Ituri lowland rainforest of the Congo River Basin and safeguards a healthy population of about 5,000 okapi, 4,000 elephants, 2,000 leopards, 13 primate species including chimpanzees, three species of crocodile, and many others such as forest buffalo, antelope, water chevrotain, and a variety of birds and insects.

The Okapi Conservation Project, including the Okapi Breeding and Research Station, works to provide a safe and stable environment for both the animals and people of the region. And the Institute in Congo for the Conservation of Nature (ICCN), a government agency of the Democratic Republic of Congo, works to protect the flora and fauna of the country. Working together, the conservationists and the government give all rainforest inhabitants of the Congo hope for a better future.

References:

Okapi Species page

IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group 2008. Okapia johnstoni. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.1. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 26 June 2012.

IUCN Near Threatened

Okapi Conservation Project

ARKive Okapi page

Celebrate Adopt a Shelter Cat Month

June is Adopt a Shelter Cat Month—the ASPCA sets aside June to celebrate all things kitty and to spread the message that cat adoption saves lives. The summer months, especially June, are the perfect time for adopting cats because it falls directly in the time when kittens are usually born in large numbers. I personally feel very strongly for adopting shelter cats because my cats are shelter cats. Adopting a shelter cat means rescuing that cat and giving it a forever home.

The ASPCA Store online has many t-shirts available that will allow you to show your love for your shelter cat or inspire others to adopt a shelter cat. And 40% of the purchase price of each item goes toward supporting the ASPCA. 

If your home is in need of a loving companion, you cannot go wrong with a shelter cat! Save a life, adopt a shelter cat!

Big Cats Roar for Wine

Spring and summer are the seasons to get outdoors and socialize among friends and family; why not also enjoy a nice glass of wine?

The Roar Reserve wine by Big Cat Rescue is a line of certified organic and vegan wines that also help big cats. Big Cat Rescue’s mission “is to provide a permanent home for the wildcats in [their] care and to educate the public in order to eliminate the causes of abandonment and abuse.” A portion of each sale goes directly to Big Cat Rescue’s efforts to save big cats. Depending on the size of your order, you can donate between $6 and $22.99 of the purchase price toward helping big cats in the wild and at Big Cat Rescue in Tampa, Florida. 

The wines available for purchase include: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Malbec, a Sampler package, and a Collector’s package. The prices range from $19.99 for one bottle to $117.95 for the Collector’s package of six bottles. Each bottle carries the face of a big cat on the label so feel free to choose your favorite big cat or the wine that appeals to your personal palate.

If you’re not a wine drinker at all, donate directly to Big Cat Rescue where 100% of your donations go straight to saving big cats.

For more information, visit Big Cat Rescue and BenefitWines. 

Snowy Owls in Sight?

I doubt I’m alone when I say that whenever I see a snowy owl, I can’t help but think of Hedwig from the Harry Potter books by J.K. Rowling. In a way, Hedwig’s character has made children and adults more aware of snowy owls in the wild. These owls are described as “the most massive (greatest average weight) of the North American Owls and believed, by many, to be the most powerful” (Owling.com). The males “can be entirely immaculate white” but usually show a few “spots or bars of dark slatey brown or black on the crown, back, wings, and/or tail.”  Also, “his under parts are generally marked with narrow bars on the abdomen, flanks, and sides.” The female, on the other hand, is much more heavily barred in a blackish color and considerably larger than the male. “Only her face, center part of breast, and back of neck are unmarked white.” Compared with other owls, both the male and female snowy owls have small, brilliant yellow iris.  Snowy owls have feathered feet, large sharp talons, and dull black bills that are almost buried in its fluffy white feathers. And it’s almost totally silent outside its breeding grounds.

The Snowy Owl inhabits the northern tundra around the world. Generally, the Snowy Owl inhabits “areas of low sparse vegetation, open fields, moorland, valley floors, salt and poorly drained fresh water meadows. Its habitat is closely associated with the distribution of small rodents and in the case of breeding territory directly corresponds with the distribution of small rodents (especially lemming). In the winter months, snowy owls are often found in farming areas with open fields of low stubble, marshes, and even dunes” (Owling.com).

As Snowy Owls migrate south for the winter months, we may see many more than expected. According to Sierra magazine, 2012 may be the year of the snowy owl. This winter, researchers at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, have witnessed increased numbers of these birds of prey venturing farther south than usual. After summering in the northern tundra of the Arctic hunting and nesting, snowy owls normally migrate through Canada and the northern U.S. in the winter to search for food. Due to an abundance of prey (lemmings and small rodents) last summer, the snowy owl population experienced a growth which offset the predator-prey ratio. As a result, snowy owls are now experiencing greater competition for food. Therefore, the birds must fly farther south from their usual habitat to ensure better access to prey.

The rise in the snowy owl population is good news in itself, but it’s also great news for birders. The chance to get a glimpse of one of the largest owls on the planet as far south as Texas continues to occur through the end of April. So keep your eyes peeled and cameras at the ready!

All information regarding Snowy Owl biology from Owling.com

News article: Sierra Magazine

Eagle Conservation In Action

As our national emblem the bald eagle is the most iconic bird in the United States, symbolizing a strong and free America. In the past, the bald eagle was on the brink of extinction; however, recently the bald eagle has become more and more common. Don’t misunderstand though, the bald eagle is still a very rare sight but currently its population is holding strong and expanding.

In my home town of Richmond, Virginia, along the James River, there’s a pair of eagles nesting “in a solid top crotch, approximately 90 feet up in an isolated loblolly pine.” Researchers discovered this pair’s breeding territory in the spring of 1995. According to CCB Richmond Eagles on Ustream, one chick was produced in 1996 and the territory has been occupied ever since. The original nest was abandoned and the pair built their current nest in 2001. The pair has used this same nest for over 10 years and has produced 18 chicks since 2001, including 2 last year.

The Center for Conservation Biology explains on Ustream how “the bald eagle population along the historic James River has increased from zero pairs in the 1970s to 174 pairs in 2001 and is one of the best examples of how this species has made a dramatic recovery within the Chesapeake Bay.”

An article in The Daily Record describes how bald eagles reached such a desperate time and how they made their amazing comeback: “Residues of the pesticide DDT from the 1950s and 1960s were still causing thin, fragile eggshells that crushed under the weight of the adult eagles.” It was only with the help of conservation biologists, such as those of Endangered and Nongame Species, and the ban of DDT and other pesticides that bald eagles were given the opportunity to survive. And survival is definitely a challenge they’ve begun to overcome. According to a New Jersey bird count, “2011 was a banner year for reproduction, with 113 nesting pairs and 119 fledged chicks.” The January bird count “found well over 300 eagles making their homes in New Jersey.”

Back in Richmond, Virginia, CCB participates in an EagleMonitoring Program which has monitored the bald eagle breeding population in the lower Chesapeake Bay from the air for 50 years. As a result, CCB has produced one of the most significant conservation datasets in the world. Each year CCB biologist fly a nest survey in February and March to map eagle nests and to determine their activity status (CCB). CCB is also currently conducting an Eagle Tracking Project: “the largest eagle tracking study in the world focused on understanding eagle spatial ecology and how eagles interact with human-made hazards.”

To show your support for America’s bald eagles, donate to eagle research or share the live streaming eagle cam on Ustream.

Learn more about Virginia’s Eagles here.

View the Virginia Eagles Photo Gallery here.

Eat Chocolate…Save the Planet

Wouldn't it be great if eating chocolate meant helping the environment? Well, that’s exactly what happens when you buy Endangered Species Chocolate! The tag-line for this chocolate brand is “Savor chocolate. Save our planet.”

Endangered Species Chocolate offers “premium, all-natural, ethically traded, naturally shade grown chocolate products” that are guaranteed to contain beans purchased from family-owned properties where the income directly benefits the community. Furthermore, 10% of the company’s net profits are donated to fund species and habitat conservation efforts around the world.

Endangered Species Chocolate offers a variety of ways to give back through chocolate. For example, you can simply walk into any natural or conventional grocery store, large or small, throughout the U.S.A. and Canada to buy one chocolate bar.

Or, you can visit the Endangered Species Chocolate website for a larger commitment to conservation and appetite. Chocolates are available to buy in bulk, as party favors, or as a gift. Within the gift collections are special AWF (African Wildlife Foundation) collections that are a bit more expensive, but include a $15 donation to the African Wildlife Foundation as well as a 1-year AWF e-membership, an AWF plush animal (elephant, leopard, gorilla, lion, zebra, giraffe, rhino, wild dog, or wart hog) of your choice, and 3 Endangered Species All-Natural Chocolate Bars.

So, next time you’re craving something sweet, whether it’s one chocolate bar or a gift collection, put your taste buds to work for endangered species and their habitats!

*All information pertaining to Endangered Species Chocolate can be found here.

Polar Bears and Coca-Cola

Coca Cola is a brand recognized worldwide with one of the most iconic advertising campaigns: Polar Bears. The Coca-Cola Company and polar bears have been together since 1922 when the first print advertising campaign premiered. Today, the polar bears remain one of the most recognized and beloved icons throughout the world.

As long as the relationship has been, the Coca-Cola Company only recently joined the conservation community. In 2007, Coca-Cola joined with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to support WWF Arctic research and conservation efforts. Over the years, Coca-Cola has realized just how much help the polar bears need so this year they’ve decided to go the extra mile.

Coca-Cola is helping establish a safe refuge for the polar bear through the Arctic Home project. This project will help to ensure the polar bear has a place to call home in the future. According to Arctichome.com, the Arctic Home project helps to further WWF’s global vision to protect the Arctic; this includes working with local Indigenous communities, supporting cutting-edge research, and carrying out additional conservation work with partners. Currently, “WWF works with Arctic residents developing a plan to ensure a future for all ice-dependent animals such as the polar bear—a plan built around a natural ‘safety net’ of ice high in the Arctic archipelago (chain of islands) of Canada and Greenland that will likely persist longer than anywhere else in the world. If successful, this ice area could cover roughly 500,000 square miles and is twice the size of Texas."

The Arctic Home project shows a lot of promise; however, funding is always an issue in conservation so that is where you come in. It is predicted that this project will cost $10 million over the next five years and will depend mainly on donations. In order to help fund the Arctic Home project, Coca-Cola pledged $2 million and also agreed to match up to $1 million of consumer donations made to Arctic Home by March 15, 2012. Wondering how you can help?

During this holiday season, Coca-Cola is turning their iconic red cans white in honor of the polar bears. On these now white cans is a product code that allows the consumer to make a matched donation through Arctic Home. Simply text the product code to 357357 and you can make a matched $1 donation. Donations can also be made at Arctichome.com.

Disappearing sea ice is the biggest threat facing polar bears today due to climate change. The ice is where a polar bear hunts, lives, and breeds; it is essential to the polar bear’s survival. Be a part of the solution and donate today.

*All facts and information concerning the Coca-Cola Company and the Arctic Home project from Arctichome.com

Happy International Tiger Day! 9.27.11

In celebration of International Tiger Day, I just want to remind everyone how important it is that tigers live on to future generations. Tigers deserve a place of honor in the wilderness they've called home for generations, not destined to be remembered only in movies like the Jungle Book.

Presently, Tigers’ futures lay in the balance, but with the help of the Save the Tiger Fund and Panthera, their futures are getting brighter. We need to remember that diversity of prey and safe habitat, while extremely important, are not the only factors affecting tigers today. Trophy hunting took a large portion out of tiger populations as well as the illegal wildlife trade. Hunting tigers for sport turns the death of a majestic creature into a prize to be won.

We need people who care about tigers to fight for what’s right. Anyone can become an animal ambassador; all it takes is the desire to see change and to educate those around you any chance you get.

We cannot let this gorgeous big cat disappear; demand results.

To learn more about the Save the Tiger Fund, visit here.

To learn more about Panthera, visit here.

To see a 2005-2015 recovery plan for the world’s wild tigers, visit here.

Make today the day you celebrate the natural beauty of wild tigers!

Meet the Sand Cat

The Sand Cat is one of the lesser known and smaller wild cats, resembling the domestic cat in size; the Sand Cat’s coloring helps it blend with those of its desert habitat. Over time, it also developed large eyes placed forward on its broad head and low, tapered ears to provide keen hearing in a habitat where prey is scarce. Another adaptation developed specifically for its desert habitat is the presence of long, dense hairs covering the soles of the feet to provide insulation from the hot sands and to create quiet footsteps over the loose sands.

Sand Cats differ greatly from their fellow African cats such as leopards because instead of jumping and climbing, digging is their forte. A Sand Cat uses digging to construct burrows and dig rodents out of the sand. Also opposed to the more familiar African cats, a Sand Cat’s claws are not very sharp as there is usually little chance to sharpen them among the desert sands.  

A Sand Cat’s diet consists of gerbils, jerboas, sand voles, hares, birds, reptiles, large spiders, and insects. They also have a reputation for hunting horned snakes and sand vipers by stunning them with rapid blows to the head before finishing them with a bite to the neck—the go to kill technique of most wild cats. Furthermore, Sand Cats cover larger kills with sand and return later to finish the meal. Their natural enemies include poisonous snakes, jackals, and large owls.

Like lions, Sand Cats are nocturnal hunters; however, they are solitary animals and their numbers in the wild are unknown.

Most threatened or endangered species today suffer from habitat destruction, the Sand Cat does not since its habitat is located in the vast deserts of northern Africa and southwest Asia. Sand Cats have little interaction with humans because they are usually sleeping when people are active in and around the deserts. On the other hand, this small cat does experience threats from hunters while sunbathing and the illegal pet trade.

One advantage the Sand Cat has over other wild animals living close to humans and their farms is usually there is no retaliation if a Sand Cat happens to steal a chicken or two because of religious tradition. Apparently, Sand Cats are believed to be the companions of the Prophet Mohammed and his daughter. That’s certainly an advantage that cannot be replaced.

An SSP (Species Survival Program) was established for Sand Cats by the Living Desert Museum in California in 1990. This is one of few studbooks for small wild cats. One zoo in the United States participating in the SSP is the Cincinnati Zoo. The Cincinnati Zoo currently works in collaboration with the Living Desert Zoo in California, other U.S. zoos, and the Al Ain Zoo in the United Arab Emirates to produce new founders for the SSP population. With so much devotion and the continued effort of the SSP, the Sand Cat’s future looks bright.

*All facts and information regarding the Sand Cat from the International Society for Endangered Cats and the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

*All photos from ARKive

Mount Kenya Elephant Corridor Allows Safe Passage

In Kenya, there have been problems with people and elephants sharing the same lands; however, recently The Nature Conservancy joined with the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy and found a way to create an elephant corridor beneath a major highway and around long obstructed agricultural fences. In addition to the elephants gaining safe passage through their restored migration route, the corridor also reunited two separated populations. The importance of this being that the elephants could once again interact and diversify the gene pool.

Lewa Wildlife Conservancy had already been working with the Mount Kenya Trust when The Nature Conservancy joined the project to help “raise the final funding to complete the project,” according to Jonathan Moss, Lewa’s chief executive. The goal was to re-establish “the elephants’ historical route between the Ngare Ndare Forest Reserve and Mount Kenya National Park.”

In order to construct the corridor, it would have to follow the Marania River Valley which meant that “the route would have to cross the main Nanyuki-Meru Highway, but only two major private holdings: Marania Farm and Kisima Farm.” Both farms were in favor of the elephant corridor so the only obstacle left was whether or not the elephants would actually pass through a concrete culvert beneath a busy highway.

As the corridor neared completion, the partners on the project had planned a “variety of creative measures to coax elephants through the underpass.” Although, the elephants surprised everyone when it appeared they needed little prodding; they “began gathering in the area as if they sensed a grand opening was imminent.”

On New Year’s Day 2011, Dyer, Kisima Farm’s manager, drove to the underpass to deploy the strategic plan: he unloaded fresh elephant dung from the back of his pickup truck like a trail of bread crumbs. And the plan worked! That night, a group of three elephants led by a bull known as Tony made the first crossing through the underpass. And according to a press release by Mount Kenya Trust, within the first twelve days twelve elephants moved through the underpass.

Sam Lawson, who leads the Nature Conservancy’s projects in Kenya, was quoted as saying, “It was so heartwarming […] to know that the elephants had found the corridor and they were using it.”

Since Tony’s crossing, many more elephants have followed in his enormous tracks, but the corridor still hasn’t reached its full potential. There’s a second underpass needed beneath another smaller road, the corridor fencing must be maintained, and security must be increased to fend off poachers.

Nevertheless, “East Africa’s first elephant underpass and the successful navigation of the new corridor represent tremendous progress toward people and elephants co-existing peacefully in northern Kenya.”

*All information and quotes from The Nature Conservancy

Update: Endangered Species Stamp Moving Forward

May 11^th was an exciting day for the United States Postal Service; it was the day the new Semipostal Stamp was unveiled on Capitol Hill at the Annual Association of Zoos and Aquariums reception.  Proceeds from the Save Vanishing Species Semipostal stamps will go toward helping Tigers, African and Asian elephants, Rhinos, Great Apes, and Marine turtles. According to a USPS press release, net proceeds from the sales of the stamps, once issued in September, will be transferred to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to support the Multinational Species Conservation Funds.

Deputy Postmaster General Ron Stroman was quoted as saying, “This stamp marks the fourth Semipostal issued by the Postal Service. These types of stamps provide an extremely convenient way for the American public to contribute to help protect threatened and vanishing species. We look forward to working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Multinational Species Coalition to make this stamp a resounding success.”

The Multinational Species Coalition is an alliance of conservationists, zoos, veterinarians, animal welfare groups, circuses and sportsmen. Made up of more than 20 million members, the coalition advocates for the Multinational Species Conservations Funds and is fully committed to generating superior interest to this stamp and the funds it was designed to support: African Elephant Conservation Fund, Asian Elephant Conservation Fund, Great Ape Conservation Fund, Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Fund and Marine Turtle Conservation Fund.

The Save Vanishing Species stamp, now available for preorder at usps.com/shop, features an illustration of a tiger cub by artist Nancy Stahl. According to the press release, “The artwork on the full sheet of 20 stamps is dark green and includes silhouettes of a rhinoceros, a tiger, a gorilla, Asian and African elephants and a marine turtle. Stahl based both the stamp art and the silhouettes on photographs of wildlife. The phrases “Save Vanishing Species” and “Amur tiger cub” appear on the left side of the stamp. Derry Noyes served as the art director, designer and typographer for the stamp.”

To begin with, five million sheets of stamps will be printed and reprints will be available depending on customer demand. The stamps will sell for 11 cents more than a First Class Mail Stamp—55 cents—and $11 for a sheet of 20.

Legislation creating these stamps was first passed into law in September 2010 as the Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp Act of 2010. To learn more about the process it took for the Stamp Act to be signed into law, visit my previous blog post about this issue here.

For more information on the Semipostal stamp and the coalition, visit fws.gov/international/semipostal.

The Multinational Species Coalition includes: African Wildlife Foundation, American Bird Conservancy, American Veterinary Medical Association, Association of Zoos and Aquariums, Bonobo Conservation Initiative, Born Free USA, Cheetah Conservation Fund, Chelonian Research Foundation, Conservation International, Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International, Defenders of Wildlife, Fauna & Flora International, Feld Entertainment, Inc., Humane Society of the United States/International, International Crane Foundation, International Fund for Animal Welfare, International Elephant Foundation, International Rhino Foundation, Jane Goodall Institute, National Audubon Society, National Wildlife Federation, The Nature Conservancy, Ocean Conservancy, Safari Club International Foundation, Sea Turtle Conservancy, Sierra Club, The WILD Foundation, Wildlife Alliance, Wildlife Conservation Society, Wildlife Management Institute, World Wildlife Fund

*All facts and quotes from USPS May 11, 2011 Press Release

“Lost Land of the Tiger” on National Geographic

Patrick J. Kiger, in “Tigers in Crisis,” comments on how “the tiger is one of the most recognizable animals on the planet, a creature so magnificent and charismatic that it permeates our culture.” However, a problem has arisen because “as recently as 70 years ago, nine different subspecies of tigers roamed a territory stretching from eastern Turkey to Siberia. Today, three of those varieties—the Bali, Javan and Caspian tigers—are extinct, and the remaining six—Amur, Bengal, Indochinese, Malayan, South China and Sumatran—are in very serious trouble.” This is the exact reason for “Lost Land of the Tiger.”

In the video documentary recently aired on National Geographic channel entitled “Lost Land of the Tiger,” Dr. Alan Rabinowitz, Gordon Buchanan, Dr. George McGavin, and Steve Backshall all go to Bhutan in search of a healthy, thriving population of tigers. Currently, tigers are trapped in isolated areas causing isolated populations. In order for tiger populations to thrive, we need to connect isolated populations of tigers through corridors and in order to successfully save the tigers these isolated fragments must be brought together. According to the documentary, Bhutan, along the Himalayas, is the missing link; there are as few as 3000 tigers left.

This group of specialists uses various tactics to both track and photograph the mysterious tigers of Bhutan. Steve Backshall and big cat expert Claudia Wultsch for example, use a sniffer dog named Bruiser who is trained to find big cats by identifying their droppings or “scat.” Dr. Alan Rabinowitz uses the trustworthy remote, motion-activated cameras that can be set to record for ten seconds at a time when an animal crosses its path. These cameras are placed on tree trunks in logical places such as by a stream where prey may stop for water.

In order to judge whether or not there is a surviving population of tigers, the team must first conclude whether or not the tigers’ prospective prey is thriving in the current ecosystem. If the tigers’ prey cannot survive, then the tigers cannot survive and it will be labeled an unhealthy ecosystem. Thankfully, however, the team finds evidence that numerous examples of tiger prey live in the surrounding areas.

 Continuing their search, Gordon Buchanan is in charge of deciphering one local rumor to discover whether tigers have adapted to the environment and are now living at high altitude in the Himalayas. On his journey up the mountains, Gordon comes across a Yak carcass with a puncture wound to the neck which quite possibly could have been caused by a tiger’s canine. 

When Dr. Rabinowitz collects his motion-activated cameras from amongst the trees, he is pleased to discover that they prove the existence of at least two tigers walking the trails surrounding their camp site. So, it’s official. Tigers are in the forest of Bhutan! And the tiger reigns as King of the Forest!

Rabinowitz goes on to explain how the stripes along the sides of tigers are like a fingerprint pattern. It is important that Rabinowitz identifies different tigers because it will help distinguish whether there is a healthy population or not. Next, Rabinowitz gives testimony that Bhutan is the key to the Himalayan corridor: “If you think of the Himalayan corridor as a body, this really could be thought of as the heart pumping blood out throughout the entire body, much of the rest of the body is starting to die but this has the potential to not only keep it alive but to invigorate the rest of the body” –Alan Rabinowitz.

To add to their numbers, Gordon found proof on the motion-activated cameras that tigers DO live high up in the Himalayas; the cameras even captured a tiger scent marking. After all the time spent waiting, the cameras captured more than 30 tiger images/videos above 4000 meters in the Himalayas. Of those, there is certainty that there are at least two different adult tigers; one male and one female.

After gathering all of the pictures and data, the next step is for Dr. McGavin to present the team’s findings to Bhutan’s Prime Minister. Luckily, he seems willing to cooperate in order to save tigers; he believes tigers belong to future generations.

“Lost Land of the Tiger” highlights how important it is that the world knows Bhutan holds the key to protecting tigers and may even serve as a model for the rest of the world. The Himalayan corridor will help create the largest tiger reserve in the world, but the one requirement is for governments to work together. As of now, it seems as though surrounding governments are willing to cooperate for a shared purpose…“We will save tigers!”

*All photos from National Geographic

*All observations/facts from documentary, “Lost Land of the Tiger”

Animals of the Japan Earthquake and Tsunami

“Japan is a nation of pet lovers and many families affected have lost animals, been forced to leave them behind or have taken them to evacuation centers where there is limited space, food and water” -WSPA

The WSPA (World Society for the Protection of Animals) is actively making a difference for the animal victims of the earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan on March 11, 2011. In the beginning of the disaster, WSPA monitored the situation from afar to strategize about exactly how to help. According to WSPA’s “Animals In Disasters” blog, Dr. Ian Dacre and Dr. Damian Woodberry started by signing up to join the “shelter cluster” set up by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Relief workers have brilliantly decided to set up the animal shelters beside the shelters housing their human parents. Seeing as the human victims are grouped together in shelters by neighborhood, it only makes sense to do the same with their pets.

Next, WSPA launched an appeal to help raise money for the care of Japan’s animals in the wake of such a disaster. WSPA aims to raise at least “$150,000 for Japanese animals to help cover the critical recovery period in the aftermath of the recent earthquake and tsunami.” The funds raised will go directly towards “the set up of 30 temporary shelters for pets via the Animal Disaster Response Team (ADRT), a coalition of local animal groups, including WSPA’s local member society, Japan Animal Welfare Society (JAWS).” And then any food and water needs will be coordinated by the ADRT.  

Additionally on the WSPA blog, it details the Disaster Assessment Needs Analysis (DANA) which “estimates that between 16,000 and 19,000 pets are affected in two of the worst hit regions alone.” Many other animals and livestock surrounding the Fukushima nuclear power station had to be abandoned due to immediate evacuation orders. The DANA concluded that “most owners took their pets to the evacuation centers, where they have remained since.” And because there are few lost or abandoned animals reported, the pets left behind are thought to have died in the tsunami.

During the DANA, there were approximately 350,000 people staying in evacuation centers and about 7-10% of people living in shelters have animals with them; therefore, in total, there are probably over 30,000 animals in need of the emergency shelters. As of March 25, WSPA aimed to establish 30 temporary emergency animal shelters. And on March 28, Dr. Damian Woodberry arrived in Japan to scout locations for the emergency animal shelters as well as look into possible suppliers for the materials to build them.

In addition to the 30 WSPA funded animal shelters, Japan’s Animal Disaster Response Team (ADRT) concluded that another 170 animal shelters are needed to continue to match the growing number of animals in need of temporary housing. The numbers continue to grow because while some human shelters allow animals, many do not, so people are resorting to tying their animals outside the shelters in bitter cold temperatures. Other animals stay a bit warmer inside their owners’ cars.

To further help the unclaimed animals, “Vets have also been micro-chipping and taking photos of stray pets, which are then posted on a common government website in hopes of reuniting owners with their lost pets.”

Returning Japan to its former self will be a journey lasting many years, but animals and their owners still need help right now. Food, medicine, and shelter are the primary concerns at the moment, which are getting more and more difficult to come by. Since numerous roads were damaged during both the earthquake(s) and tsunami it has been difficult for trucks to deliver emergency supplies. But, no matter what, the Japanese will not give up; bicycles are the new way of transporting supplies to hard-to-reach places.

Any donations whether it be money, food, water, medicine, or other materials, will definitely be appreciated. Here’s to hoping that every animal receives the best care possible and a safe place to recover.

*All quotes and information from WSPA’s Animals in Disasters blog

Panthera Foundation: Jaguar Corridor Initiative

About Panthera from Panthera Cats on Vimeo.

“The jaguar is the largest and most iconic cat in the Western Hemisphere. Human societies and cultures across the region have evolved for centuries with the jaguar, a charismatic species that has inspired rich myths and legends, and today serves as a national symbol for several Latin American countries.”-Panthera

I first became aware of this amazing foundation while conducting research for one of my rhetoric classes. I came across an article published in National Geographic magazine in the March 2009 issue entitled “Path of the Jaguar” about the Panthera Foundation’s current project: the Jaguar Corridor Initiative. Mel White writes about Rabinowitz’s journey to create a safe passage for the jaguar through its homeland, “stretching from Mexico (and formerly the United States) to Argentina” (White); yet, this is not a new idea. The Wildlife Conservation Society paved the way for Rabinowitz in 1990 when it “launched a project called the Paseo Pantera (Spanish for ‘path of the panther’), a network of protected areas and wildlife corridors that became known as the Mesoamerica Biological Corridor (CBM) in 1997” (WCS). Many conservationists, however, were concerned with “its slow implementation and highly ambitious agenda” (WCS). Nowadays, Rabinowitz is having more success than the Wildlife Conservation Society did back in 1990. Rabinowitz and the Panthera Foundation have successfully protected the Mesoamerica component of the Jaguar Corridor, but will have to work even harder when it comes to South America “where landscapes and political situations are more diverse and challenging” (White).

Today, Panthera is still hard at work trying to make Alan Rabinowitz’s dream come true. In 2011, the goal is still the same; however, the problems are also still the same. As Panthera points out, “Jaguars, like many large, free-ranging wildlife species, are not constrained by political boundaries, nor are they as challenged or constrained by physical ones. Jaguars use and require protected areas, where their core populations can thrive” (Jaguar Corridor Initiative). Having safe passage from point A to point B sounds simple, but when these big cats move “through landscapes, across rivers, over hills and mountain passes and even through areas with human development” (JCI) things can get much more complex. Amongst the landscapes and rivers there may also be the occasional cattle ranch, citrus plantation, or someone’s backyard- anywhere jaguars can pass through safely and unharmed double as a jaguar corridor (JCI).

The three main problems that brought about a need for the Jaguar Corridor Initiative are:

1.      Dramatic habitat loss and fragmentation from wild lands being converted into agriculture

a.       With isolated patches of land, jaguars run the risk of being confined and are at greater risk for extinction.

2.      Direct hunting by people

a.       Ranchers especially because they see jaguars as a threat to their livelihood

3.      Lack of natural prey, like deer and wild pigs, due to overhunting by humans and habitat loss

a.       This fuels conflict between humans and jaguars because it forces the big cats to prey on domestic animals

The solution will not be easy to come by but with Panthera working in conjunction with “local communities, governments, and other conservation organizations every step of the way, to secure the long-term presence of jaguar populations and to ensure their safe passage from Mexico to Argentina” (JCI) it will come in time. 


In order to successfully preserve the Path of the Jaguar, the Jaguar Corridor Initiative is “built on a multi-dimensional process:”

1.      Map-based model of the jaguar’s ecological needs throughout its range.

2.      “Ground-truthing” corridors to verify where the jaguars are and where they are moving through

3.      Managing and conserving jaguar prey species

4.      Helping ranchers with livestock husbandry improvements

5.      Working with local communities to alleviate conflict between humans and jaguars

6.      Assisting governments with protected area management

As of now, jaguars exist in a total of 18 countries in Latin America and Panthera currently works in 13 of those countries, with plans to move into an additional two countries in the coming year (Panther’s Jaguar Footprint).  The 13 countries are: Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay. To see what Panthera is doing to expand the Jaguar Corridor Initiative in these 13 countries, please visit Panthera’s Jaguar Footprint.