Conservation misconceptions

Today I want to talk to you about some popular misconceptions people have in regards to conservation. Like any sort of topic, conservation has also fallen victim to some popular misunderstanding by the general public and I here I am trying to analyse why some of these are wrong or how they have been misinterpreted.

IUCN Red List: The International Union for Conservation of Nature is the international body that judges a species status and gives it a rating from “Least Concern”all the way to “Extinct”. However as said the Red List is international and judges a species' distribution, ecology and population. This can lead to a misconception that an animal that is listed “Least Concern”is not actually endangered in a particular area. A vivid example is the wolf in the United States. The population there was deemed as endangered exactly because there were not a lot of there around in the United States. Internationally the wolf is not actually endangered, with populations of the tens of thousands in Russia and Canada. This is one of the most classic cases of misconception regarding different bodies and organizations of conservation.

Conservationists don't kill animals: This is unfortunately not true. As much as conservation organizations would love not to hurt animals, a lot of animals are killed every years in the name of conservation. Whether it is grey squirrels trapped and killed in order to help the red squirrels recover or whether it is invasive species killed or predators culled,killing does occur in conservation. It is however done humanely and with the greater good in mind. Invasive species are removed because they damage the environments, predators are killed to give endangered prey animals a temporary relief of pressure and so forth. The decision to kill animals is not one that comes easy and often there is a lot of debate and scientific investigation before a decree is issued. If you have any doubt on whether particular animals are shot in the name of conservation, then I urge you to research the subject as certain organization use the “greater good”excuse to push their own agendas.

Reintroduction are done in secret, with different animals than the ones that used to be here: Another common misconception is that conservationists go around reintroducing species in secret of the public. Although reintroduction sites and other records may remain secret to protect the best interest of the animals, there will never be the case of animals being reintroduced in a habitat without the people being aware of it. This will put animals and humans in danger especially if the animals are predators. There should be several legal issues on the reintroduced animals so as the money and time of the organizations involved won't go to waste if the animals are killed. In addition to that conservationists do not reinforce a current population without approval for the government etc. It costs money, time and a lot of lobbying and you have to remember that conservation organization not only do they have the greater good of nature in their mind but also care about humans. Animals that are different that the native ones are also a misconception as different animals may affect the environment differently. Animals are being reintroduced to maintain or restore a particular balance of an ecosystem. By reintroducing the wrong type of animals may mean that particular niches are not filled, other animals may be harmed and the balance may be skewed completely.

These and other misconceptions that I will try and analyse on another article are what is hampering particular conservation efforts or making others worse. I recommend keeping in mind that conservationists not only do they want the good of the environment but also the people so think twice before believing everything you have been told.

Is Scotlad ready for the lynx?

Most people these days agree that Scotland needs an apex predator. Deer need controlling and the ecosystem needs a predator. I have already discussed the possibility of a wolf reintroduction but now with the Lynx Trust UK filling an application to begin a lynx reintroduction into the Scottish Highlands I would like to cover the issue of a potential lynx return.

The Eurasian Lynx is the candidate considered for reintroduction in the Scottish Highlands and it is a medium size cat. It mostly feeds on ungulates,unlike other lynx, so it could potentially make a good candidate for Scotland. It will potentially help the landscape recover by moving deer herds around which would reduce the pressure from the plants hence allowing the landscape to recover. This is one of the main arguments used by re-wilding fans through however the lynx has a few added benefits to its side.

Firstly lynx are usually very elusive animals. It is very unlikely that people hiking across the wilderness will come across a lynx and extremely unlikely that they will feel threatened by a lynx. This is good in regards to public image as the lynx does not bear a ferocious reputation as the wolf or bears do. Hence the general public is more likely to be more accepting of a lynx roaming the Highlands than any other predator. An additional bonus to this is the fact that lynx reintroduction can be very low profile hence people are unlikely to hear or see the lynx much. This will allow the lynx to expand it's range quietly and without much turmoil. The lynx is generally an animal that is accepted more by farmers and ranchers than wolves or bears so very little opposition will be met in reintroducing in.

Secondly lynx may aid in wildcat protection. The Scottish wildcat is under threat by habitat loss but it's greatest threat is hybridization with feral cats. Lynx has been documented to kill feral cats which could help boost the genetic purity of wildcats. However it is not documented how wildcats will react although other wildcat species seem to coexist with lynx. There are no observations on what effect the lynx will have in the red squirrel efforts although lynx are recorded to prey on squirrels if they can. In addition to that we don't know what effect they will have on pine martens or American minks. It is easy to assume positive effects but caution should be noted. Just because lynx coexisted with native animals in the past does not mean that they will do so again.

However lynx reintroduction will not without it's disadvantages. There will be livestock depredation and although it will not be in big numbers(due to the lynx solitary nature it will not take many livestock) it will probably make reintroducing other carnivores really hard. In addition to that due to the close proximity of towns and villages to natural habitats it may be possible to see the lynx slowly moving into rural areas and maybe even urban environments(although highly unlikely) and hence potentially becoming a pest. The most likely scenario of this is that lynx may venture into villages or towns every once in a while and eat from garbage or attack pets but it is highly unlikely that it will escalate to something bigger due to the shy nature of the lynx.

Overall with proper monitoring, scientific effort and the right support, lynx reintroduction can happen and should happen. It is a species that will not produce much political turmoil and might set the stage for further re-wilding and it is time that a “practice what you preach” action is actually done.

Species of the Week: Peregrine Falcon

Species of the week:
Peregrine Falcon(Falco peregrinus)

1. They are found in all the continents with different subspecies inhabiting different areas.
2. The Peregrine Falcon has a wingspan of 70-120 cm with the female being larger than the male.
3. These falcons are bird eaters feeding mostly on medium sized birds that they take out.
4. In they wild they can live up to 15 and a half years old with their mortality decreasing as they age.
5. They mostly hunt during dusk and dawn with their patterns switching to nocturnal depending on location and migration periods.
6. The Peregrine Falcon mates for life with courtship rituals involving airborne acrobatics.
7. The egg laying season varies depending on hemispheres with February-March in the Northern and July-August and Southern.
8. The eggs are incubated with 29-33 days by the couple defending the nest from predators.
9. The Peregrine Falcon reaches speed of 320km/h when diving to attack prey.
10. The Peregrine Falcon was victim to the DDT pesticide accumulation during the 1950s-1970s but currently bounced back to IUCN "Least Concern" with some subspecies still in trouble.

Species of the Week:Bobcat

Species of the week:
Bobcat(Lynx rufus)

1. Bobcats are a North American feline found in most of Canada,Mexico and the United States.
2. It has a distinctive set of black bars on its forelegs and a stubby tail that is often black-tipped.
3. Bobcat diet varies depending on location although they prefer rabbits and hare.
4. Bobcats are solitary and territorial animals.
5. The longest living wild bobcat has been recorded to live up to 16 years although bobcats usually live from 5-10 years.
6. Bobcats mating seasons usually occur from February until March although this might change depending on location.
7. Gestation period lasts around 60-70 days and about one to six kittens are born, with the normal being around two to four kittens.
8. Kittens leave their mother usually after the Fall of their first year.
9. Bobcat territory varies according to population density and the location but IUCN has found the territory to be from 0.052 km2 to 330 km2)
10. Bobcats are deemed as "Least Concern"by the IUCN although some populations are declining at certain areas.

Species of the week:Ethiopian wolf

Species of the week:
Ethiopian wolf(Canis simensis)

1. The Ethiopian wolf's range is limited to the Ethiopian Highlands.
2. It prefers open spaces with grassland or shrublands.
3. The Ethiopian wolf is build very similarly to the North American coyote.
4. It forms packs of up to 20 although more commonly packs contain 6-8 individuals.
5. They mate around August-November, producing litters of about 2-6 pups.
6. Packs usually have a territory of about 6 km2.
7. They have a very specific diet, feeding only on Afroalpine rodents.
8. Ethiopian wolves hunt or forage for prey alone. They usually pounce on their prey and will dig to collapse tunnels of mole rats.
9. The wolf's population is estimated to be about 360-440 individuals and it is considered the world's rarest canid.
10. The Ethiopian wolf is considered Endangered by the IUCN due to habitat loss, disease, prosecution and hybridization with dogs.

A wrong cause

A few weeks ago I wrote an article about why you should research the organisations you support and why it is crucial to apply critical thinking and investigating your organisation before you start supporting them. In this article I plan to expand a little bit on causes. People tend to take up causes that although seem to be well intended might end up screwing up with others plans other organisations have in place for the benefit of others. I am talking about wildlife of course and in particular animals.

Conservation has it's dark moments. Not only does it seem like it's a war that seems to be lost with so many defeats and very few victories(depending on where you stand) but working for conservation you might have to be involved with a task that few are happy about. Culling. Culling is basically the act of killing animals in order to thin out their numbers. It is often done to make sure that some animals don't overpopulate, to remove invasive species, to stop a disease from spreading, to prevent inbreeding(this is quite questionable) and to relieve other species from the pressure the culled species might be inflicting on them. For example it is common practice to cull predators in a habitat where a particular prey is considered endangered. As is natural, an animal loving public will protest to the “unjust” killing of these animals and it is true that although it is highly unlikely that an individual animal has done anything to blame, for conservationists they have to go. A recent example of this is the attempt to protect whatever Scottish wildcats(felis silvestris grampia)are left in the wild. One of the methods that this is done with is with the culling of feral cats(with which the wildcats hybridise and also the feral cats spread diseases to the wildcats). The public however was not happy to hear that game keepers will be going around trapping feral cats and killing them. Protests from certain people and specific groups occurred and now plans have changed to neuter and vaccinate the feral cats. Although unknown to me as to whether these plans were already in motion or if they changed from culling to neutering which it is to my opinion a more costly and harmful approach. Another example is the removal of grey squirrels(Sciurus carolinesis) from Scotland and ultimately from the U.K in general in order to allow red squirrels(Sciurus vulgaris) to thrive. Public outcries about the grey squirrel have died out as people realize the necessity of removing them.

If you are going to advocate for certain animals or certain animal rights then make sure you read up on all the facts. The animal may be cute, may be majestic but in the end it might be that it's harming the ecosystem a lot more. However make sure you do your research well. Groups with agendas will often misinform the public by being selective on what they quote and publish(see my previous article). It is often a good practise to contact both sides and then deciding. If you decide for example that grey squirrels shouldn't be killed because of the mistakes humans made then that's fine. Human morals vary after all. Just make sure you are not misled and used for other agendas.

Species of the week:African Wild Dog

Species of the week:
African Wild Dog(Lycaon pictus)

1. It is the second largest canid in the world, the first being the grey wolf(Canis lupus).
2. They are carnivores with their diet usually revolving around medium to large ungulates depending on the region.
3. About 80% of African Wild Dog hunts end in kills.
4. African Wild Dogs live in large packs where each member takes on different roles such as pup sitters and hunters.
5. They can mate anytime of the year but prefer mating during the second half of raining season which is around March till June.
6. They give birth from 2-19 pups but the average is around 10 pups per litter.
7. Gestation period lasts from 65-75 days.
8. Pups leave the den and ran with the pack at about 3 months old.
9. The African wild dogs have an unusual behavior in the sense that females disperse from the pack rather than males as it is often observed in social animals.
10. Habitat loss,poaching, competitions from hyenas and lions, a need for large territories and outbreak of diseases have caused the African wild dog to be regarded as "Threatened"by the IUCN