Don't interfere with wildlife

I really don't like ranting posts. I feel like I am preaching and I sound snobbish but I can't help not to. In response to this news article I just want to say not to mess with nature. Picking up wildlife and saving wildlife in particular is a risky risky business.

First of all, you may end up hurting the animal instead of saving it. In the case of the news above, the girl saved a tortoise by dropping it in the water. Problem is that some tortoises can't swim and she may have just drowned it. In other cases, helping baby animals may actually affect their life. Some baby birds drop from their nests and their mother pick them up. That's how they learn how to fly.  Some animals leave their young for a while to go foraging for food. So while you are walking around, you may encounter a nest of young and think they are abandoned and deprive the young of their mom.

Secondly, it may be dangerous for you. There are countless videos and reports of people being attacked by animals which were either injured, cornered or had their young threatened. Nature is unpredictable that way and it may just be that you are endangering your life. Another unseen threat is diseases. People who have rescued stranded dolphins or wounded animals have been known to contract diseases from those mammals. So you may actually hurt yourself or your pets/animals you love.

So what should you do? The best course of action is to let an official know. If you have phone signal, call the local authorities for wildlife in the area and let them know. They will handle it as they see fit. In some cases you may be asked to leave the animals alone. It may seem cruel and evil but it may ultimately be for their own good. If you are worried about the stance of your local authorities then contacting an NGO or non profit organisation may be a good idea. If they give you a similar response then follow their instructions.

If you aren't in an area with phone reception then the best course of action is to leave the animals alone. If an animal is visibly injured, mark the location and return to a place where you can contact the authorities. Keep in mind that if that animal is a herbivore you may be messing with some predator's  meal and be on your guard.  Never approach the animal because cornered and injured animals can deal out some serious damage. In case of marine strandings, call the authorities as soon as possible and they will let you know how to deal with it. Don't try putting it back in the water as you may hurt it, and don't try keeping it wet as you may induce shock. Usually the person at the end of the line is capable to guide through some basic stuff that you can do while the professionals arrive.

What happens if you are too far away to get help? That is all up to you and your ethics.  However assessing the situation, being smart and levelheaded as well as realistic should be your first instincts and never put yourself in danger or situations you can't handle.

In conclusion, nature and wildlife have a way of dealing with situations themselves. If you are worried then contacting the authorities before acting is always the best plan and remember that even animals you are rescued/have rescued can hurt you so always be aware.

Wildlife Watching. Is there more to it?

Seeing as I am on my final year, the words CV, employment and experience get tosses around a lot. I've been recently thinking about what kind of skills you can gain by simply analysing your hobbies. And so today I decided I want to just talk about wildlife watching and whether there is something to it than just watching animals. For clarification purposes, all the skills I talk about here are gained when watching wildlife without a tour guide/tour. Also these are just ideas and not solid facts.

1) Determination/Patience: It takes a lot of determination and patience to watch wildlife. Very rarely have I arrived somewhere and got sighting of wildlife upon arrival. Usually you have to wait around a bit, scout further locations and return to the same spot time after time before you catch a glimpse of an animal. The harbour next to my house is a hotspot for dolphins and porpoises. It doesn't mean you just have to show up and they will be there. More often than not there are a lot of hours spend to catch a glimpse of an animal.

2)Local area knowledge: Even if you are tourist, the time it takes to scout and find the best locations, to view wildlife and the research you put into it give you a good lay of the land. Local wildlife watchers are familiar with the best times, seasons and places to view specific species. This is often a valuable skill that many outdoor jobs appreciate.

3)Keen eyes/eye for detail: Have you ever tried spotting an animal in their native environment? They usually aren't easy to spot. Wildlife watchers have often been self trained to spot the tiniest movement or a camouflaged animal. It's not an easy task and more often than not it will be something completely irrelevant but slowly and steadily we all get to a point where we can spot wildlife from a distance faster than inexperienced watchers.

4)Identification: This is perhaps the most important skill you can add to your CV. Most wildlife watchers can often narrow down the animal they are watching to at least the genus of subject. This is a pretty cool skill to have and it's usually highly sought after. Most places unfortunately won't just take your word for it so try and get as many courses or certificates about this as possible. However most places will accept the fact that you have been an avid wildlife watcher if you are able to prove it somehow.

5) Affinity with Nature: It may sound like something off a role-playing game but wildlife watchers are usually the first to report changes in habitats as well as notice details in animas and their social units. Some watchers follow the stories of particular wolf packs in Yellowstone, others run an unofficial survey of dolphins they spot at Monterey bay and so forth. All of this information and your knowledge means that you are more sensitive to nature and the environment and you can make for a good surveyor or a good ranger. Never underestimate the gut feeling you have regarding nature.

No. You can't own Nature

This is a topic that has been vexing me for quite a while. Ever since I started working with captive wolves and even before, I've always heard or read about people having the desire to have wild animals as pets. Although some wild animals can be “domesticated”without much effort (see  birds of prey for falconry and wild horses broken for riding) some others don’t. If you think it would be awesome to have a wolf, a lion, a tiger or whatever other animal as a pet well then you should understand that you can’t own or tame nature and here is why.

Our ancestors did a great job at selecting traits they wanted from the wild cousins of our domesticated animals. They breed aggressiveness out of wolves and cats, they domesticated farm animals and made our lives a lot easier. They did all that because at some point someone realized that some animals were easier to handle and selected for them. They did so because some people probably were injured or killed by aggressive animals. So why would you want to go back to the wild animals?

My theory is because people want to own a piece of wilderness. The wolf is and will be a symbol of what is wild. The lion and tiger are both majestic animals that demonstrate the raw ferocity of nature.  Sharks and crocodiles represent predators, effective killing machines. It is then no wonder why most people who want to own wild animals choose to own predators. Predators have always magnetized us. If it’s not predators then it will often be primates or other animals which are deemed as intelligent. Very few people want to own a pet deer or a pet boar. And here lies the problem. Predators are wild animals that are tuned to hunt for prey. They receive cues for hunting and will always take the opportunity to hunt and kill if they are hungry. To think that people can tame these animals is ridiculous.

 One of the theories that seem to be oddly prevalent is that if a predator has not had blood or meat then it will be friendly and will not need to kill. Unfortunately it does not work that way. If you watch at least one documentary on predators, you will notice that most young emulate or attempt to hunt even if they haven’t observed family members doing so. Predators are hardwired by their DNA to response to certain cues which trigger their predatory instinct. Jerky movements, nervous behavior, loud screeching and anything that would emulate a prey animal in distress triggers the instinct. While they are still young, they may not succeed at the hunt. Even if they grow up they may not succeed in killing an animal alone. However they will try and this will of course mean that the animal will become potentially dangerous for the owner.

Another theory is that if animals are obtained when young, then they can be socialized and act as regular pets. In the Wolf Science Center here as well as Wolf Watch UK I had the pleasure of working with socialized animals. These wolves were hand-raised when they were puppies and are relaxed around humans and will obey commands given to trainers. Hence they can be pets right? Wrong.  Let’s assume that someone wants to own a wolf. Apart from the part that wolves don’t do well as lone wolves as they become more neurotic and shy, let’s say they manage to provide all the socialization needed as well as all the space and stimulation needed. What is the issue here is a few things. Firstly wolf play is not like dog play. Wolves play hard. They are used to con-specifics tolerating biting, pulling, scratching and all sorts of rough play. Rough play for these animals can equate to serious damage for humans.  Some of the so called animal attacks are actually captive animals wanting to play or getting riled up and wanting to play.  In addition to that, most of the trainers here, and everywhere else that socialized animals are kept, work hard to maintain a working relationship with the animals. And not only that, the trainers sometimes also understand and give these animals room and time if a strain occurs on the relationship. Owning a wild animal as a pet and forcing them to interact with you when they don't want to is a disaster waiting to happen. Also if you cannot properly read the animal's behavior you may mistake certain situations which may put you in danger.

These wild animals are not suitable as pets. Regardless of how many books or films you watch, having a wild animal as a pet is an accident waiting to happen. There are a lot of domestic animals who need love and care and you won’t be risking your life or their life by having them.

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.

Wildlife Tourism

Wildlife tourism is a good way to get to experience nature without going to zoos. It offers a more immersible experience with nature and it's a chance to watch all sorts of local fauna and flora as well as observe behaviours that you might not observe in the wild. On the other hand it's a wild card, never knowing if you are going to get what you want and when you want it. Due to it being summer time and prime vacation time I want to talk to you about whether or not you should practise wildlife tourism.

First things first wildlife tourism supports the animals in their natural habitats. As in any other industry, animals that attract tourists build an industry around them. Hotels and shops are built to cater for the tourists as well as make a profit from them(which doesn't mean it's bad. It is a business, it needs to make profit). These hotels,hostels, wildlife tour guides and all the relevant businesses that build up from wildlife tourism all depend on tourists being present in the area, spending time in the area and more importantly spending money. By visiting these areas not only do you get to visit scenery and watch animals but you are also supporting local businesses. These businesses in turn might advocate for conservation or against plans that could potentially ruin their business. For example: With recent events regarding the wolf removal from the endangered species list and the opening of hunting seasons a lot of people are worried about their business. They are worried that if too many wolves are seen shot, trapped or dead that the public will refrain from visiting and not only that, if wolf numbers decline and the visibility of animals is decreased then the public will probably shift their attention to a place where visibility is still high and hence local businesses will suffer.

Secondly it's an experience that is multi layered. What I mean is that it's not just a trip to the zoo, look at the animals and go. Odds are that when you go on vacation you visit a place with a specific purpose in mind. Whether that is to spot a rare bird, catch a glimpse of a bear or tick off the Big Five, anyone that goes off to visit a country for wildlife will have something they would like to see. However as I said above you won't see just that. By taking a Jeep for a safari to go watch lions you also appreciate the local fauna and flora and something else might catch your interest while you are there. In these areas, smaller animals and interesting plants are often neglected in favour of large mammals that are often rarer to watch. However on the ride/hike there and on the waiting time for the animals to show up, nature will intrigue you or your family. A small rustle in the bushes, a raptor flying up high or small mammal peaking or running away from you are experiences you won't get anywhere else. For that experience alone wildlife tourism is worth it. If you went tiger watching but your eye caught a glimpse of a beautiful bird, you might ask your guide about it and find out that the bird is rare and endangered. Bits and pieces of knowledge will flow through you and at the end, what first started as a tiger watch became an overall appreciation for the habitat and the residents there. This is what I enjoy about wildlife tourism. You learn and appreciate the habitat and observe different animals apart from the ones you came to see and learn more about them.

It's not a guaranteed experience however. Depending on where you are going, what you want to watch and the time of the year you have to understand that animals can be elusive. Just because you are visiting a National Park or a Reserve does not mean you will actually see the animals you want to see. Usually the locals tend to know what you want and hence will take you to the favourable spots that you can find the animals you seek. However depending on a lot of factors you might spend your holiday not even catching a glimpse of the animal you wish to see. So my advise will be to do some research first. Find all the hotspots, best seasons to visit and good rated guides for hire. All of these will increase your chance of seeing what you visited to see. However it is better off that you don't raise your expectations too high. Pick a location you can visit but don't spend all your time chasing the animal around. Plan your holiday to include other activities. Try and combine a few animals in one trip. If they are in the same environment you are likely to encounter animals that you might have missed before. One example is people visiting Yellowstone National Park. People who go wolf watching have often glimpsed on grizzlies, mountain lions,mouse, elk and all the fauna of Yellowstone in search for wolves. In a twist you might not see wolves until you decide to go watch grizzles and wolves might appear. It is a natural habitat, nothing sets up scenes for you and a lot of the encounters with wild animals often happen when no one is expecting it. So prepare a series of outings, do your research and hopefully you will see what you went there to see.

It takes time. Wildlife holidays have to have a long span. You can visit a reserve in three days for example, however you might want to maximise the experience due to the elusive nature of animals. Usually , depending on the visibility of animals, a wildlife holiday lasts about two weeks to a month unless you happen to be a local in which case you can arrange for a weekend and always return whenever you can. But for people who travel halfway through the globe to see animals then maximizing your trip is important to getting the experience you would like. In addition to that it is really rare that animals will appear on the spot you are watching on the clock. You will probably have to wait some time and be patient in order for you to see animals.

It takes effort. There will be a lot of moving around either with a car or hiking. People who have been on such trips will often tell you that when an animal is spotted it goes on the radio and you have to dash around to go see it. More often than not, wild animals are seen in the early morning or the late afternoon and even at night time so be be prepared to lose sleep and be exhausted by the end of the trip.

There are currently very few studies to see how wildlife tourism actually affects wild animals. Do they become habituated to humans? Do boats, even when they keep their distance, stress animals out? Although most tourists will try to minimize their impact on the habitat they are visiting, we are learning new things about how nature works every day. It could be very likely that at one point on we find that the whales we have been watching all these years are more and more stressed due to our activities. Some forms of wildlife tourism such as dolphin swimming or fish feeding have been under criticism by scientists by causing disturbance and/or habituating animals to human presence which could create problems. In fact some shark attacks on divers are thought to have occurred by sharks who have been fed by previous diving groups and hence became used to human contact and presence.

Overall however a wildlife holiday is a great experience. Not only does it support local businesses and a sector of the tourism that could advocate for conservation but it also provides experiences often lost while gazing at animals at the zoo. It makes you appreciate a habitat and teaches you things you never knew. So long as you respect the habitat and the animals living there you should enjoy them as much as possible and learn everything you can.