Supporting the right people

Advocating for conservation is not an easy job. Everyone can tell you that. In fact studying any conservation biology modules or degrees can be downright depressing. Sometimes it feels like for every good thing that happens, three more bad things occur. It feels bleak, grim and sometimes soul crushing. But these people give their everything for every inch of ground gained against those who don't care about the environment. Is it always the case though? Be careful which organizations you support, where you work or volunteer and where your funding goes. Today I will tell you why you should be careful.

Firstly conservation organizations have goals in mind. Without goals there is no point in having them around, and although it might seem that they are working for the greater good of the environment some of these organizations have secret agendas that they pursue. For example, apart from some extreme organizations, an organizations won't call itself “the organization for killing wolves and slaughtering cougars and bears”. Instead it will choose to call it itself “the balanced nature organization”and advocate for predator culls and eradication claiming that the predator population is harming the rest of the ecosystem. Most organization like that often are under disguise and their motives should be questioned.

Although most of these “organizations” have been subjected to scrutiny and may have had their real motives known to the world, there are still those who might mislead people into supporting them. If possible take some time and do some research before choosing to support a local conservation organization.

In addition to motives, actions speak louder. Before choosing to volunteer or donate money to a conservation organization observe them a bit. How active are they? Have their actions had some sort of impact? Have the money you are giving them produced some result? Usually donations are in packs of a monthly or yearly donation. Do you feel that the money you are giving them produce an equivalent amount of work? Remember you are donating an organization who coincides with your ideals or does work that you believe is right. If an organization has 10 000 members that donate around $30 a year but the organization does nothing but organize a fund raiser and is not even present in the conservation front line then maybe its time to change your donations. Be careful though. Your organization may not win the battles it is fighting. It is often the problem with conservation, that people are fighting a losing battle but every inch saved is a small victory. Sometimes grand victories will be won but more often than not conservation is about a collection of small victories that matter. So if your preferred organization is out there everyday, attending conferences, participating in research, fighting legislation and getting involved but the government refuses to listen to them then it might not have been their actions that prompt the government to ignore them. Internet is your best ally at this point. Use a search engine and find out what your organization has been up to and what have they done in the past. Here are few bullet points that in my opinion can give you a broader perspective about the groups that you support:

• How long have they been set up? Through age you know that there will be a record of the group's actions
• How often are they mentioned? With age comes exposure. The younger the group the less exposure will be around. If an organization is young but is mentioned in news articles constantly it means they are driven which is usually good. If they are an old organization and not mentioned then that they might not be as driven.
• Observe the website. The news section, the networking and the design usually points to a well structured organization.
• Ask around. Don't be afraid to email them asking for actions taken and why you should support them. If they are driven or care they will reply to you with information. Further more look around in different forums and read what other people say.

In regards to volunteering, then things are often easier to distinguish. By entering an organization you join a circle. That circle may be small and limited to your coworkers but you learn things. While you are there you will hear conversations, you will hear viewpoints and if you don't agree with what they are saying then get out. If you support any sort of organization with your time and effort and don't feel good doing it then there is hardly any point of volunteering there. Be careful of what you support as well while volunteering there. Know your organizations objectives, ideas and viewpoints and covey them whenever you can. If you think you are doing doesn't agree with you then stop volunteering there.

Finally use your judgment. You have done some pocking around and read about the organization. Now it's time to use your judgment. Apply it to what you learned. If in the end you think that the organization is worth it then support them in any way you can. If you can't volunteer in the field and don't have money to donate but want to help, email them. They might direct you in some ways that you can help. It might seem like nothing to you but liking&sharing on Facebook, setting up a website, monitoring websites or inputting numbers on a spreadsheet might help an organization a long way. Don't be afraid to offer your services no matter what they might be.

Species of the Week: Killer whale

Species of the Week:
Killer Whale or known as Orca(Orcinus orca)

1) Despite popular belief killer whales are not actually whales but belong to the dolphin family and more specifically the oceanic dolphin family.

2) Killer whales have a highly complex social system that is governed by a matriarch. First is the tight knit matriline group which is the matriarch and her offspring.  Then around 1-5 matrilines form a pod which although forages together, pods may break up for certain time periods up to months.  Finally are the clans which is a collection of pods which share the same vocalization, ranges and some older ancestors.

3) There are four types of killer whales:

• Type A: Usually found in the Antarctic, these orcas feed mostly on cetaceans( whales and dolphins) and have a large black and white pattern.
• Type B: They are called the ice pack orca. They feed on seals in the Antarctic and their eye patch is usually large with a two tone grey scale color.
• Type C:  They are called "Ross Sea killer whales". They are the smallest of the orcas and they feed on fish.
• Type D:Transient animals that are usually found in Alaska. They are similar looking to Type A and they feed on all sorts of marine mammals. They are however genetically distinct than  Type A.

4) The average life span of a female is about 50 years while the average life span of a male is around 35 years.

5)Gestation period lasts for 15 to 18 months but the calf usually stays with its mother until the age of two.

6)Different killer whales in different regions have developed their own unique ways of hunting. For example the killer whales in New Zealand have developed the use of bubbles to turn stingrays upside down and eat them while killer whales in the Antarctic have developed the use of waves to knock seals of the ice. One group even found out that turning a shark upside down immobilizes it and hence they hunt for sharks.

7)A common occurrence is to see killer whales "play"with their food. Although it seems cruel, this "playing"is often the way to pass on knowledge of hunting to the calves.

8)Apart from captivity, there has been only one documented attack of a killer whale on a human where the orca attacked the diver thinking he was a seal but let him go immediately.

9) Captivity is a major issue at the present moment. It is believed that orcas become neurotic, sociopathic and extremely aggressive when put in a limited space. Not only that but they contract diseases from mosquitoes, bird defecating in the pool and from infected injuries which are often self harm.

10)They can be found all across the globe, mostly around colder waters with a preference to coastal areas rather then the open ocean.

Species of the week:Griffon Vulture

Species of the week:
Griffon Vulture(Gyps fulvus)

1) The Griffon Vulture is considered an Old World Vulture. That means it can only be found in Europe,Africa and Asia

2)Its wingspan is 2.4-2.8 meters.

3)41 years is the longest lifespan recorded for this vulture. It was recorded in captivity

4)Bonding between male and female is often life long.

5) They nest in colonies up in rocky cliffs. A colony can consist of up to 150 pairs but usually the pairs found in each colony are about 20.

6)The vulture is mostly a scavenger, feeding off dead mammals with preference to large mammals

7)A single egg is usually laid, with about 50-52 days of incubation and the hatchling lives with its parents for three months before it leaves the nest.

8)The species can be found in a variety of ranges and habitats but they usually prefer areas of high altitude  They will avoid forest areas or areas with water bodies such as lakes, wetlands and marine coastal areas.

9)Spain alone supports about three quarters of the Griffon Vulture population in Europe.

10) Despite it being listed as "Least Concern"in the IUCN, the population in certain countries is struggling. A prime example is Cyprus where only 10 birds exist in the wild. Efforts from NGO and government agencies launched a relocation program in which birds from Crete were flown over to add to the Cyprus population.

Dissections: What's the point

WARNING: Somewhat graphic descriptions

During June I had to attend a field trip in Parasitology conducted by my university. The whole point of the field trip was to observe parasites, learn their life cycles and consider how these parasites could potentially affect the host organism. It was a very interesting field trip but not for the faint of heart as a lot of dissections were involved. We were no strangers to dissection. In my second year one of the modules taken by all students was one that familiarized you with a worm and leech dissection, a trout dissection and a rat dissection. Then according to the modules taken you got to do more dissections. Taking Ocean Biology I dissected dogfish, starfish, sea urchins, shrimps and so forth. The point isn't what I dissected though, the point is that some people grew squeamish when they had to deal with mammals while some saw no point and refused to do dissections. To each their own I always say but the whole idea intrigued me. Should dissections be carried on now that we have access to multimedia tools that could easily emulate a dissection and further more reduce animal welfare. Here is my opinion on the matter.

There can only be so much you can learn from a virtual dissection. Things change in animals. When I first performed my first dissection on a rat(Rattus norveticus) I was thoroughly confused. I had looked up manuals and the internal layout of the animal before hand but I found the lungs to be smaller, the intestine to take up much more space than I thought and some parts harder or easier to cut through than I expected. After spending a week dissecting mice and voles in my Parasitology field trip I got less messy and more efficient. I can safely say though that if I were to have a look through the internal structure of the rat online and then dissect I would definitely be surprised by the differences that are present. Not to mention things that get you off guard such as embryos,diseases and most of all the smell.

It could be something that is needed in your line of work. Usually there are specialists about who can perform dissections, forensics and they can determine a cause of death. This is often done to determine if a population is suffering from a disease or parasite, or if a protected species is found dead. Whether you want to be one of those specialists is a different thing all together. However I think that dissections can be vital as you never know what you may come across and how dissections could be a solution to a problem affecting wildlife. If you lack the skill then you may have a harder time determining what's wrong or identifying key issues. Of course each animal has a different anatomy so gaining experience on rats doesn't mean that you can dissect and analyze issues on a deer carcass. However basic skills such as how deep to cut, what to look out for, be prepared for smell, don't puncture the gut and so forth are basic skills that can be applied to any sort of dissection you might come across.

Of course there is the dark side. Animals do have to die for you to learn from dissections. More often than not these animals were to die as they may be part of a control experiment or bred in captivity which means they cannot be released in the wild but the fact is that some institutes actively breed animals for dissection. It's a tough choice to make. By opting to do a dissection then you passively condone to animal killing and welfare. Most institutes do it humanely(or so they claim) and some even use them in sustainable matters. For example we were told that the rats that were dissected were gassed and that they were to be given to a local falconry center after the dissection to feed the birds of prey which I suppose could offer some closure in knowing that the animal have another use after their death. Looking into how your university/institute deals with dissection is a factor that could make you more comfortable with performing one if you really want to do it but feel bad about the animal.

Overall in my opinion I think dissections are a good way to get your hands dirty, learn by acting and enhance your skill set. However it is your own right whether or not you are comfortable in doing them and an alternative option should be provided to those who do not wish to do it. It's up to every individual to decide this for themselves and even if you go ahead with it and you figure out that you cannot stomach it then you should be adamant about stopping right there and now. It's a choice that can be hard on anyone and you should not care what people say or think about you in regards to the matter.

Species of the week:Armadillo

Species of the week:

Nine-banded Armadillo(Dasypus novemcinctus)

1)This armadillo like all others can only be found in the Americas continent.

2)It is a solitary mammal.

3) It is mostly nocturnal.

4)It's an insectivore, feeding mostly on small invertebrates.

5)Although its preferred environment is warm and rainy it is adaptable and hence can be found in scrublands,tropical rainforests and open prairies.

6)An armadillo can have about 10-12 burrows in its range.

7)The nine banded armadillo won't curl into a ball when it's attacked. Instead it will either run away or will dig a small trench and lodge itself in there making it extremely hard to remove.

8)Depending on the Hemisphere their mating season varies. In the Northern Hemisphere it takes place  in July-August while in the Southern Hemisphere it's around November-January. That means that the armadillo mates around summer time regardless of Hemisphere.

9)The armadillo can cross water bodies by either inflating its intestines or submerging itself and walking along the bottom.

10) It can hold its breath for an impressive 6 minutes.

Species of the Week: European Otter

Species of the Week:

European Otter(Lutra lutra)

1. The otter's diet mainly consists of fish but during seasons where fish are scare(usually winter) it also eats insects, frogs, crusteceans, birds and sometimes berries.
2. The otter is a territorial animal competing in territory with only members of the same sex. So for example males will only compete with males and it is common for male and female territories to overlap. They are usually solitary animals or living in small family groups of a male and female.
3. Otters are non seasonal breeders. That means that they will breed at any time of the year so long as they are capable of breeding.
4. Their territories are vast, ranging to up to 40km^2.
5. Part of their territories should include at least a few water bodies and prime territory locations are judged by food and water body availability.
6. An otter's gestation period lasts about 60-65 days and give birth to 1-4 pups
7. European otters have a longer tail,shorter neck and greater visage than it's North American river cousin.
8. Pollution, hunting for the fur trade and habit loss and fragmentation are the main threats to the European Otter.
9. It's IUCN status is Near Threatened
10. The European Otter is also found in Asia.

Zoology myths

As every student returning home after the holidays, meeting up with old friends and relatives is somewhat of a requirement. One subject that comes up is what my degree is exactly. Usually this follows up with people asking whether they should start studying the same thing. So I have decided to clear some things up here in the blog. Hopefully this will clear your perception of what Zoology is exactly and whether you want to pursue it or not. However before I go on, let me say that I am studying at a Scottish University( there are difference between the English Universities) and that also I have just finished my second year and that there are two more years to go until I finish my undergraduate. Don't let this article be your final decision point. Your best bet is to find someone studying Zoology at the Universities you want to join or in the country you want to study and ask them about the degree. Then make up your mind.

Firstly. Zoology is not a extensive hands on animal degree. Although you do get to handle some animals, odds are those animals are either small enough to be contained in the lab,predicable enough to study or they are dead already and dissections and observations need to be conducted. If you envision yourself as a Zoology student, going out in the field every day studying wild animals then it's time for a rough reality check. Most Universities shy away from such teaching tactics as they are expensive, unreliable and often might be dangerous. If you want such experience then you are better off checking with Universities before you apply or wait until you can conduct your own research. That being said you might get to study wild animals on your field trips and at some labs and those moments are often treasured.

You can't avoid plants. There are people out there that don't find plant life interesting. If you think that in your Zoology degree you won't come across plants at all then you are mistaken. Plants are an important part of an animal's life cycle and hence you will come across them even in small doses every once in a while. Some plants might be important for conservation, important for animal behavior and hence merit being studied a lot more. So be prepared for some plant biology in your degree.

You can't avoid math. This is one of the largest misconceptions that I once thought myself. I thought I would be doing Zoology and that's it. Statistics and model maths are important parts of the science in zoology and so you will be taught about them, required to include them in plenty of lab reports and will be a basic content of your undergraduate and further studies. Most biologists struggle with them and their computer programs so I would advise you pay close attention to statistics and try and learn as much as you can about them.

You will spend a lot of time on the computer or reading books. Scientific papers don't write themselves and neither do essays. Be prepared to do a lot of background reading, working with statistical software, creating or working with computer and writing up reports. Some computer knowledge will get you a long way in your degree and although you are taught the basics, a few tricks will make your life easier.

It won't always be interesting. Let's face it. We are human beings and as humans we find some things interesting and some boring. Even if you love animals some parts of your education will be boring either due to the subject, the lecturer or because something else is on your mind. Don't assume that just because your degree deals with animals that everything will be interesting. I honestly hope that everything is interesting in your studies but so far I have had lectures I couldn't stand and I think it will always be that way.

Not everyone cares. This is something that I learned the hard way. I thought everyone will be interested in learning about wolves, their conservation and politics. Unfortunately that is not the case. However it makes sense. In your year alone will probably be a hundred people or more. Not everyone will find the same things interesting as you do and not all tutors or lecturers will either, although hopefully a large number of people will have some common ground with you to share.

I don't want to give the image of a horrible degree though. I love what I am doing now even if it involves an unhealthy amount of statistics. Hopefully however this will give you a clearer image into what Zoology is and is not and might steer you in the right direction. If you have any questions then please don't hesitate to contact me and I will try and answer them.