(E.B.W.) Critter Corner
Feature:
Scientists Have Just Discovered a Hidden Group of Lions
“Conservationists are celebrating...after discovering a previously undocumented group of lions in remote parts of Ethiopia.
African lions are classed as a “vulnerable” species with about 20,000 lions left in the wild...
...University of Oxford’s Conservation Research Unit says it has found... a population while exploring the Alatash National Park in North West Ethiopia...
The team, led by Dr. Hans Bauer, believe... that not only are there lions present in the Alatash National Park but that they are also likely present in the neighboring Dinder National Park in the Sudan...
The Born Free Foundation, a leading wildlife charity, has been able to confirm the existence of the lions through use of motion-sensitive cameras...
It’s hard to over emphasize just how important this discovery might be. Lions were thought to be locally extinct in the Sudan, so the fact that they may now exist...gives hope that in time the species could be reintroduced & maintained there.
Additionally, there’s a chance the lions may belong to a subspecies whose numbers are currently thought to be less than 1,000... If that does prove true, this would be a significant boost to that dwindling population which could play a role in maintaining overall genetic diversity for central & southern African lions.
What’s more, the outlook for these particular lions, both in Ethiopia & the Sudan, seems positive...There are fewer pressures on these lions, for example less people to bother the lions, &... poaching isn’t a problem in the area due to how relatively remote it is & the fact that there are safeguards in place created by the national parks.
...the wildlife parks have reportedly indicated they will take every measure they can to ensure that the lions are preserved in these areas. Ethiopia has a strong record of working well with conservationists...”
Steve Williams
February 3/2016
care2.com
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(E.B.W.) Critter Corner
Feature:
Walrus born in captivity at Quebec City aquarium
“It doesn’t have a name yet, but a baby walrus is faring well under its mother’s care at the aquarium in Quebec City.
The Aquarium du Québec announced the birth... noting that it was only the 7th walrus born in captivity in North America since 1930.
So rare, in fact, the aquarium said it marked the first time in Canada a captive walrus has delivered a live full-term baby.
Proud parents are Arnaliaq, a mother from Ungava Bay in northern Quebec, & Boris, the Russian father...
‘Today, the entire team at the Aquarium du Québec is overjoyed,” said the Société des établissements de plein air du Québec (Sépaq), the provincial agency that manages parks & wildlife reserves...
...The cub was born at 7:30 a.m. Saturday.
During delivery, the mother was observed by animal guides, a veterinarian, & aquarium staff using video surveillance cameras.
‘Everything went naturally without any human intervention,’ according to Sépaq...
‘Arnaliaq is a gentle & protective mother to her child. We don’t yet know whether it is a boy or girl because no one has come close to the mother & her newborn...’
...Lucie Boulianne, a spokesperson for Sépaq, said the baby walrus will be monitored closely for the next few weeks...
‘It’s a very rare event,’ said Boulianne. “Of those 7 births (since 1930), only one walrus reached adult age. So we feel very privileged to have 2 walruses reach pregnancy.’
The aquarium’s second pregnant female, Samka, is due in early June.”
John Meagher
May 9/2016
montrealgazette.com
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(E.B.W.) Critter Corner
Feature:
World’s Largest Population of Giant Manta Rays Gets More
Protection in Peru
“In another win for marine life, Peru started the new year by enacting regulations to protect the world’s largest known population of giant manta rays.
...Organizations including Planeta Océano, WildAid & The Manta Trust have partnered up & have been calling for further protection...
The good news is that their efforts have paid off. Peru’s Ministry of Production has officially passed a resolution that... bans fishing for manta rays & requires any who are caught accidentally... be immediately released.
‘My team & I are extremely proud to have generated legal action for the protection of giant oceanic manta rays in Peru through this Ministerial Resolution... Our ultimate goal is to achieve sustainable fisheries & sustainable consumption in benefit of future generations,’ said Jesús Eloy Barrientos Ruiz, Director of Supervision & Fiscalization of the Ministry of Production.
The change brings Peru in line with 12 other countries that have enacted some protection for manta rays, including neighboring Ecuador, which will hopefully provide them with more safety as they migrate.
‘The Peruvian government has taken commendable & critical steps to protect this unique population, & with proper enforcement it will now be safe from exploitation on both sides of the border,’ said Josh Stewart, Associate Director of The Manta Trust.
Now the organizations involved are pushing for more changes...
They’re also calling for more research on giant manta rays, which will also help identify critical habitat, along with more education & outreach to build support for conservation, training for fishermen to provide them with alternatives like tourism & the establishment of protected areas...”
Alicia Graef
Jan. 12/2016
care2.com
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(E.B.W.) Critter Corner
Feature:
The Dramatic Story of the California Condor
“10,000 years ago in the Pleistocene era, the California Condor roamed free & proud among other iconic ice age species such as the saber tooth cat, giant sloths, & mastodons. The California condor however was one of the few super-sized species that could boast of making it through the ice age.
For thousands of years more, the California Condor continued to claim its throne as king of the skies, as it watched homo sapiens migrate south... The condor & these early human settlers of North America lived side-by-side for thousands of additional years. Then...came the modern age...
By 1987...only 22 were left in the wild...all 22 California Condors were captured by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Department & put in captivity. The goal was to breed the remaining animals & create a viable & genetically diverse population to release back into the wild.
...Michael
Mace, a Curator of Birds for the San Diego Zoo described...how
biologists had to rely on a method called Conservation Innovation...
...slowly
the population began to rebound. In 2008, the Condor Recovery Program
reached a happy milestone: more California condors were flying free in
the wild than were in captivity for the first time since the program
began in 1987.
Today, 400-plus condors fly the American skies... biologists continue to closely monitor the entire population on an individual-by-individual basis. Each bird gets periodic check-ups, immunizations for dangerous diseases such as West Nile Virus & medical treatment if necessary.
Amazingly, the results of all of this dedicated work & ingenuity...represent one of the most dramatic turn-arounds ever for a critically endangered species – & the California Condor is again King of the Skies across the American West.”
Cherise Udell
January 12, 2016
care2.com
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