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90% Isn’t Always a Good Thing…

In what has been considered to be one of the few remaining strongholds of the West African Chimpanzee, Cote d’Ivoire, a study has shown that the rare chimp population has declined ninety percent over the past eighteen years. More and more people are beginning to populate the regions, and they’ve been destroying the chimp’s habitat, which is cited as a reason for decline. The other reason is the increase in poaching and hunting. In fact, Guinea is now supposed to house the largest population of the rare primates, but that hypothesis is based on surveys from twelve years ago. Scientists are trying to find a stable population so efforts can be made to save the species before it goes extinct. Unfortunately, the few other havens of the chimps that haven’t seen such a drastic decline have never had many chimps to begin with.

This is a clear indication of what is to come given the state that the world’s wildlife is in. With the past few weeks yielding articles all heralding news that one fourth of all mammals are in danger of extinction or news of primate populations being discovered when they too are on the brink of extinction, it is even more important to find ways to protect the existing wildlife we have, especially the primates, who are of much closer a relation to us than other animals. A valid point is brought up in the article: poaching must be stopped, not just prohibited. Until we can find ways to stop illegal hunting, there can be no lasting hope of saving some of the more exotic and rare species of animals. Despite that not being an easy goal, it is one we must work hard to achieve.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/10/081013-chimps-decline.html

West African Chimps have already lost ninety percent of their population in their last stronghold.

Extinction and Economics

Just as the global economy plunges into crisis, so too does the wildlife of the world. Across the globe, wildlife researchers are finding that more and more species are in danger of going extinct. The reasons are as diverse as the loss of habitat to cancers and disease spreading throughout the species. Recently the 2008 Red List, a current and up to date list of all the animals and plants known to man that face endangerment or extinction, was released. To compile said list, every species, be it animal, plant or bird, has been assessed. A new edition to the mix is the introduction of the Red List Index, which functions much like the Dow Jones Index, using the health of groups of species as the indicator of the overall health of wildlife.

The new Red List Index should prove helpful. Twenty-five percent of all mammals are endangered, while thirty-two percent of all amphibians face extinction. The rest aren’t fairing much better. Clearly, biodiversity is struggling right now, but this is a good step forward in the fight to save species before things get out of hand. By being able to understand how the overall taxons are fairing, we can monitor how much trouble wildlife around the world is having and decide how to proceed. After all, it’s not just the economy that needs a bailout plan.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/10/081006-endangered-species.html

One Ecosystem at a Time

There comes a time when small steps are no longer effective because you’ve fallen so far behind. So, rather than putting one species on the endangered species list at a time, sometimes it’s more effective to put one ecosystem on the list. Such is the case in the islands of Kauai, Oahu, and Maui. While the latter two have yet to do so, they are planning to follow Kauai’s example. On the island of Kauai, forty-three square miles will be set aside as a habitat for forty-eight of the types animals that reside on the island. This approach works more towards effectively saving and restoring the natural habitats of the animals, plants, and insects that are endangered. Since most of the land already falls in existing habitats, nothing needs to be change to accommodate the species. It is appropriate that the islands are the first to test this approach given that they house more endangered species than any other state in the U.S.

I think this is a great approach. It works to save the actually land and the organisms living there without causing more trouble than necessary. It also circumvents the long and arduous process of approving the species individually and cuts down on the need to find land for each individual species. I also agree that it’s very appropriate that Hawaii be the first to try the new approach. Since they have the most endangered wildlife, there is more at risk to be lost. Hopefully, this will prove effective enough to begin implementing this style of conservation elsewhere in the U.S. and the world.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/10/01/tech/main4491484.shtml?source=search_story

Giant Turtle

This past year scientist attempted to mate two Yangtze giant soft-shelled turtles, one of which being the only female known to still exist. The female, a resident of the Changsha Zoo, was taken last May to the Suzhou Zoo where a 100-year old male lived. While the mating did produce 100 eggs, only half were fertilized and the not one of the other half survived. The scientists have since found two more males in Vietnam and are hoping to try the mating process again next May.

The efforts to bring back the Yangtze turtle species are definitely a good example of how scientist around the world are trying to save endangered or threatened species. It shows teamwork and perseverance despite a failed first attempt. Of course, this does not mean that more attempts should be made to preserve what is left of the species. Despite having discovered two more males, there is still extreme danger. Right now, there is only on female, and she happens to be 80-years old. It was shown that part of the reason why none of the eggs survived was due to her previous diet. She had been fed raw meat rather than fish and crawfish. Steps have been taken to improve her diet in hopes that next year will prove fruitful. If this mating works, there may still be a way to save a species from extinction.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/08/world/asia/08turtle.html

New and Nearly Extinct

In a remote area of Tanzania, a new genus of monkey was discovered with only 1,117 surviving individuals. The Rungwecebus kipunji is now thought to be the rarest monkey in Africa, found only in two small, remote areas of the continent. Despite this, poaching and logging are threatening the critically endangered species. They are a shy species that have eluded the eye of scientists for years, but now they have become known, members of various nature and wildlife conservancy are hoping that new steps will be taken to safeguard this rare genus.

Protection should be implemented as soon as possible given the rarity and state of the species. They are the only species in their genus, thus an important part of scientific study. Rarity aside, as a struggling species with little over 1,000 individuals, scientists and nature conservationists should work together to ensure that the monkeys are safe. I think it’s exciting that a new genus has been discovered in Africa. It provides more insight into the types of animals that inhabit the more remote and rural parts of the land and may lead to the discovery of other new species in remote areas of Africa. This species also provides a bit of hope. Despite the fact that they are critically endangered, they still increase the number of known organisms in our world today.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/08/080804-rarest-monkey.html

Treasure Trove Found in Africa

A treasure trove has been discovered in the Congo Republic of gorillas. Over 125,000 lowland gorillas have been discovered, a light of hope in an otherwise diminishing primate population. This news comes after the subspecies of gorilla was placed on the critically endangered list elsewhere for having an individual count of less than 100,000. Most of the population reduction is due to an increase in the spread of the Ebola virus and continued hunting. While the population is safe for now, the future still remains uncertain.

Steps need to be taken to protect the new group of gorillas before things get too out of hand. As the article points out, this is one of the few times where people have a chance to save the population before it winds up on the critically endangered or functionally extinct list. Also, more laws and stricter enforcement of said laws needs to be put in place. Despite the large number of these gorillas, there is a good chance that, given the way things are going now, they could be threatened in the coming years. Something must be done now, before it’s too late to save the species, especially considering that other countries of Africa and Asia have over ninety percent of their primate species on the endangered or critically endangered species list.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/05/science/05apes.html

Right Whales, Right Problem?

Recently the federal government agreed on a ruling that requires boats sixty-five feet or longer to reduce their speed to below ten knots when within twenty miles of the Atlantic coastline in an effort to reduce the number of boat-related whale deaths each year. Right Whales have only about four hundred individuals left and are considered an endangered species. This step is welcomed by many nature conservationists who believe speeding boats are the cause of the deaths. Many boaters deny this and argue that there’s no proof that speeding boats is detrimental to the whale population. The law will expire in five years if proof cannot be found to suggest it is in fact detrimental.

I think that, while this is a valiant effort to protect the endangered whales, this is both helpful and hurtful. Proof is necessary to support the claims, not just because the boaters feel inconvenienced but because the problem won’t go away if it’s not being addressed properly. Right whales are endangered, but blaming everything on one action doesn’t solve the problem especially when there’s no proof that the action is the problem. Actions like this are only helpful when they address the proper problem.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/10/us/10whales.html

It Just Takes One

There is a legend that the children of a village were sent into the forest to survive and grew tails and fur, turning into monkeys. They are called white-headed langurs, and their home is in Chongzuo, Guangxi province in China. Pan Wenshi has worked miracles in the province. With his work and protection, the langur population has grown from 56 to 500 in the last twelve years, but his success is not just the result of wildlife protection and preservation. Pan Wenshi has helped keep the langurs safe by helping the people who live in the region, and they, in turn, help protect the langurs from outsiders looking to make money off of the animals. This one village is preventing an animal from dying out.

I think the Pan Wenshi understands what it takes to preserve a population of animals. Just like the inhabitants of countries who make their living off of logging and deforestation, these villagers make their living off of the surrounding land and animals. By helping them first, you help the animals without destroying the way of life of the people living in the region. This is important because teamwork and a greater understanding is needed to ensure the preservation of wildlife around the world. Rather than working against the populations of people, it’s necessary to find ways to work with them. Global animal conservation is something that can’t be done through force and indifference towards people’s way of living, and while nature conservatories and preserves do help, they can’t accomplish everything. This village proves that point.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/23/science/23monk.html?pagewanted=1

Around the Globe

Animals across the globe are continually threatened by humans. The animals are losing homes and habitats due to human takeover or global warming while others are being hunted for sport or because they have something of value. Each year more and more animals are placed on the endangered species list as being either threatened or endangered. Global conservationists have even estimated that about one in four species is in danger of dying out, and the growing list of endangered species proves it. The Indian tarantula has been designated as endangered for the first time. The Southeast Asian Iberian lynx, one among many animals on the critically endangered species list, has now been joined by the Cuban crocodile and the Rameshwaram parachute spider. In Costa Rica, the only place in the world this amphibian can call its home, Holdrige’s toad has been declared extinct. The only good news is that the African elephant is no longer on the vulnerable species list; it’s on the near threatened list.

Well, I think it’s clear that animal conservation is becoming even more of a challenge. The Caspian seal has, in the past 100 years, declined by 90 percent of their population. One third of amphibians are extinct or endangered. 188 animals are critically endangered, which is as far as a species can get without being declared extinct or functionally extinct. While people can make the argument that there are many recovering species, such as the bald eagle, there are too many that still remain endangered due to hunting, global warming, and habitat loss. It’s even been dubbed a crisis by some environmental agencies. I think it is a bit of a crisis. In the very least it’s a problem. It seems like species are going extinct or becoming endangered faster than we can discover new ones or save the old. I also think this is a bit of a wakeup call. One in four is a lot, especially when the numbers deal with death or endangerment.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/07/science/earth/07mammal.html?_r=1&ref=world&oref=slogin

Gray Wolves

Last March the gray wolf was removed from the endangered species list. The population had supposedly stabilized and recovered their numbers. Recently, this ruling has been questioned by environmentalists. The case is now being investigated in-depth to determine whether or not the species should be reinstated to their place on the list or if they should be removed. Wildlife agencies, such as the National Resources Defense Council, are thankful for the investigation. Numbers have even shown a decline in the population by about ninety individuals, the first occurrence in at least ten years. This leads people to question the reasons for the sudden decline.

Personally, I’m thankful for the ruling especially given the reaction to the removal. In many states, wolf hunting seasons are being established. This move seems counterproductive given that the point of putting various species on the endangered species is to keep them from dying out. I’m inclined to believe that half the reason why they were on the list to begin with is due to excessive hunting. Just because an animal is removed from the list doesn’t mean that protection is no longer needed. Environmentalists around the world are fighting to preserve wildlife not to create more game for overzealous hunters.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/24/us/24wolves.html