Human/Wildlife conflict

Human/Wildlife conflict is an issue that seems to be arising more and more in Conservation Sciences. It basically boils down to the issue that certain wildlife(not just predators mind you) cause destruction in human settled areas and the humans in return seek justice/retaliate etc.

The main issue that should be identified here is the fact that wildlife isn't doing anything it's not suppose to. Wolves will kill livestock, elephants will attack something that scares them and dolphins will steal fish from a net. These are things you can expect from nature. So the essential of the conflicts boils down to conservations vs stakeholders instead of the animals.

So really one of the current problems faced in one of these conflicts is how to best solve them in order for it to be a win win situation. If you make it illegal to retaliate, usually you need to crack down on those laws and as it's common with wildlife crimes, it's hard to do. One of the sayings that anti-wolf people use is "Shoot, Shovel and Shut up". Essentially meaning kill the wolf(and endangered species), hide the body and just don't tell anyone about it. This is a sentiment that is widely shared with many people across the globe. Especially those who live in poverty areas where the difference between selling 10 livestock or 15 could be the difference between starving or eating.
So really who can blame them? A farmer in India that loses livestock to predators has a right to be angry at the animal as well as the conservationists.

So let's focus on the win-win situation. How would we make it work? First of all a compensation scheme or an insurance scheme always seem to be a good idea. Making sure that people get their money from the death of a livestock seems to reduce the anger. However for most people it's not enough. A cow may be worth $500 in paper but to a farmer it may be worth more. Also the stress of being predated on causes cows to miscarriage, less yield etc. So monetary compensation shouldn't be enough.

One of my favorite ideas is the predator friendly meat. Several ranchers in the U.S.A have set up a co-op of farms that essentially ensure that no predators are harmed for their products.That makes sure that wolves, coyotes, raptors and other carnivores are not killed in case of depredation or moved. It's a great idea that ensures that consumers can support the cause if they wish.

Another one is a model from the above. Introducing products produced from predator friendly areas is a great way to provide an extra source of impact. For example snow leopard products help locals associate snow leopards with monetary benefits and provide them with an extra source of income that could help onset the costs of having snow leopards around.

Each case is unique and each one has it's own solution. From text messages to save people from being attacked by elephants to encouraging guarding dogs each site can have a win win situation if they are willing to reach a common ground. And in order to promote coexistence we really should.

Welcome Shasta pack!

When I was originally writing this, wolves were still not a thing in California. Apart from 0R7, there have been reports of another wolf sighting in July but nothing else. Right now, California has welcomed wolves back into it’s beautiful northern part. California Fish and Wildlife officials have found pictures of at least two adults and five pups. The pack has been officially called the Shasta Pack and this is beautiful news indeed.  It just goes on to show that effective wolf management can go a long way to help species recovery.  But it’s an uphill battle from now on in California and I wanted to just write some advice on how to properly manage wolves in order to achieve a beautiful balance in your state.

1)      Don’t panic: Wolves are not man eater or man hunters by nature. The beautiful Mt.Shasta landscapes are not dangerous because of wolves. Wolves will often shy away from humans so you are safe. If you have a dog with you, make sure they are on a leash and that they don’t wander off too much from you. Keep a noise making device to scare off wolves in case they attack your dog. However given the fact that it’s just eight wolves, it is highly unlikely that this will be the case. States which have hundreds of wolves only get 1-2 dog fatalities a year and usually it’s from dogs allowed to roam.

2)      It’s just eight wolves: It’s a small pack in a vast wilderness. As of now, there is no reason to worry about livestock or human conflict. The only thing I can see driving them to hunt livestock is fire(that would move them from their territory) or lack of food(which is unlikely).

3)      Listen to the science: Please. This one is important. If Californians want to coexist with wolves, listening to science is pretty much a given. Oregon has been doing very well so far, with the wolf numbers increasing, non-lethal measures in place as well as proper compensation in case of livestock depredation.

4)      Keep your livestock in check. If you happen to live anywhere near the Shasta pack’s territory, then it’s a good idea to keep a better eye on your livestock and consider non-lethal methods. It’s highly unlikely that your livestock will be predated but you want to avoid it as much as possible.

5)      Cherish what you have. Wolves haven’t been in California for about 90 years. Now they have returned. If you are interested then keep track of them and make sure people understand that the wolves returning is a good thing.

Enjoy California and please be environmentally responsible. I will try and get myself more involved with the Shasta Pack and I will keep you updated.

Leave your face out of nature

In case you haven’t heard, there has been an increase in injuries in Yellowstone NationalPark this year. Who causes theses injuries? Is it bears? Is it wolves? Is it mountain lions? Well technically it’s bison but it’s all the tourists’ fault and let me tell you why.

In a culture that’s obsessed with taking pictures and showing our presence in places, a lot of tourists in Yellowstone (and other national parks) have risked their lives in order to “take a selfie with a bison” or other animals.  When you try and get close to a bison or a deer, you stress them out and they attack you. So why do you want to take pictures with a wild animal?The word why is screaming in my head.  I have a theory as to why. It’s the same reason why people pay to take pictures with wild animals in zoos and it’s the same reason people climb dangerous hills to take a picture of themselves with a stunning view.

We want to be part of nature and in some cases safe nature.

Safe nature is what I call Nature that is beautiful and marvelous but won’t harm us for our stupidity. Take zoos and parks for example. They charge a lot of money for a chance to take pictures with wolves, tigers, bears etc. These are dangerous animals and often elusive and having a picture with one shows that you care. It shows that you are a part of nature and makes you stand out from the norm of Facebook/Twitter/social media profile pictures. 

Through my experience working with captive wolves, I’ve come to identify two kinds of people that are interested in them. The first group are the genuine wolf lovers. They are more interested in the wolf than they actually are about taking pictures. They will interact with the wolf, observe it and to them just touching the wolf and being there is a great honor. The second group is the vanity lovers. These people may love the wolf but love what it represents and how their love of wolves will appear to the rest of the world. They care less about the animals and more about being positioned next to them, getting a picture interacting with them and so forth.  The line is very thin.

Unfortunately vanity lovers aren’t only present in zoos and this is where the main problem occurs. In zoos, the captive animals are under some sort of control. But in the wild an animal that attacks humans is very likely to be put down, removed from the wild and transferred to a zoo or even become so upset that it’s vulnerable to predation. Several studies have suggested that our presence in national parks and in the ocean wildlife watching has a significant impact on the animals as it stresses them out, reduces their physical condition and often cause miscarriage and alteration in behavior.  

But it’s all worth it for the selfie right? Well no. Not only are they potentially harming themselves and the animal but are also setting precedent for others to act on. While one tourist can get away with a selfie or a video interacting with wildlife, others may not be so lucky. Don’t just consider attacks. Even small animals like squirrels may be harmful as they may carry diseases that could be contracted by tourists who interact with them.

So here is a simple idea, leave the selfies alone. Put your phone down and enjoy nature for what it is. If you happen to be lucky enough to have a unique encounter with wildlife, cherish it for what it is and don’t try and take pictures with yourself in it.

If you want to take pictures of wildlife make sure you do it from a safe distance, following protocol set in place(bear spray, particular distance etc) and be responsible. Wildlife and nature aren’t there for your enjoyment and you should feel grateful to be in their presence. Otherwise visit a zoo. That’s what they are there for.

Farewell Wolf Watch UK

Ever since my teenage years I've wanted to work with wolves. They fascinate me as animals and it's always good to specialize in something when studying biological sciences. During my first year I've started looking for places that specialize on wolves to volunteer and gain experience with. Wolf Watch UK opened their doors for me and it's been a great relationship ever since.

Wolf Watch UK or WWUK is run by Tony Haighway. His mission is to take in wolves that can't be kept in other captive facilities. Reasons for this may be excess puppy breeding, pack disputes and wolves not suitable for breeding. WAZA(World Association for Zoos and Aquariums) and EAZA (European Association for Zoos and Aquariums) both see it as acceptable practice to kill animals in zoo management (here are my thoughts on this matter). WWUK offers an alternative to death and instead provides a beautiful habitat for the animals to live out their lives.

Located in the heart of Shropshire, Tony has a fantastic piece of land for the animals to roam around and interact with. As it stands, there are six wolves on site and all of them are pretty happy. It was in Wolf Watch when I met my first wolf love. Madadh and Kgosi are two socialized wolves that Tony got as part of an excess litter from one of the zoos. While I was there I had the opportunity to bond with Madadh, who just steals the hearts of anyone who meets her. Kgosi and I maintain a healthy respect for each other but due to his assertiveness as a male, I couldn't interact with him that much. 

Nonetheless, Madadh stole my heart and we spend a good deal of time just chilling in each other's company. She was 12 years old when I met her and she is now 17 as of when I saw her a few weeks ago. It isn't easy seeing her being an old lady and I can't even imagine what Tony feels. Nonetheless her spirits were high and there were a few moments where she acted as a pup. It broke my heart however when she saw me and tried howling. You see, wolves lose their vocal cords as they get older, so it's hard for them to howl. One of my favourite games with Madadh was howling back and forth, usually about who could keep a howl going longer. I don't think I need to tell you who won that one. Anyway, just the fact that she recognized me and tried howling made me tear up, She was as cuddly and affectionate as I remember her being last time I saw her and part of me felt bad for not visiting her every holiday.

There is something to be said about hanging out with wolves, even if it's captive ones. There is a primitive feeling to running your fingers through their fur, looking into their eyes and accepting their affection. Of course, there is also the non-stop alertness and the full awareness that these animals can cause some serious damage to you. But it all makes you feel great. 

Madadh and Tony have both taught me a great many things and I owe my drive to work with wolves to both of them.

Tony has taught me persistence and humility. He doesn't let just anyone come and volunteer at the sanctuary (for the sake of the wolves and his own private ease of mind) so that meant that I had to take an 8 hour train ride for just a day's interview. Never mind the fact that on that first day I found myself waist deep in mud and made a fool of myself. I had to be persistent to volunteer there and when I did, Tony's words were those of constant encouragement. He knew all the wolf experts and all the players in the field, even though Tony has never studied any sort of biology himself. He told me how hard it was to get into the field and how I needed to be optimistic, head-strong and never stop trying. His words still echo in my mind every time I get a rejection from a wolf related application. 

Madadh on the other hand has taught me how to be cheerful, happy but also sneaky. It's hard being angry or upset when she is nearby. When I first met her, I was attempting to quit smoking for the first time. As most people know it isn't easy at all and sometimes I found myself being very upset at the most stupid of things. A steep hill, tripping over a tree, wet ground and many more all caused me to be upset. Not for long, though mind you. A moment later and either Madadh would be there, smiling at me and licking my face or I would just look at her, being a completely careless spirit and I would just let all my troubles go.  Her infinite stealing of food from her brothers made me laugh every day but also had me on my toes as I had to devise ways to feed both of them without Madadh catching a whiff of my plans.

For all the great things that Wolf Watch UK is, it is also facing its own set of troubles. Technology is hard to obtain in that area and it's hard to take advantage of some of the tools that other captive facilities use to gain extra members and revenue. The wolves are getting older and although they lived a happy life, there is now a need for puppies to be socialized and be the face of Wolf Watch. But the ethics of the place stand as an obstacle to an easy acquisition of pups (which may not necessarily be a bad thing). And lastly, Tony is thinking ahead in time about where he wants the sanctuary to go and who will manage it when he finally steps back and let the sanctuary function in the hands of others. That's not to say that these issues aren't addressed but it was just to make sure that you guys understand that it is not easy running an animal sanctuary.

It's hard to say goodbye to a place like that. Wolf Watch UK seems locked in an world where the real life can't get you and all you can do is just sit there with a cup of coffee, watch the wolves play and exchange back and forth banter with Tony. It has given me a great deal of treasured moments as well as determination and strength to do what I want. And for that I thank Wolf Watch UK and say farewell until we meet again.

Go Outside. Remain

So today I want to talk about something a bit more personal. Let's talk about nature in general. Lately I've been getting urges of wanderlust as it's been a good few weeks of me stuck in a city. I am here to talk to you about this and about why you should experience a piece of nature at least once a week.

Even if it's a walk in the woods, or a stroll down the beach, none can argue about the therapeutic effects that nature has on you.  It allows you to relax and change your setting. The longer you stay outside the more you don't want to return. I am not even saying that you should go to the wildest places available. Even your local woods can be important to your wellbeing. We've associated feeling good in nature with hippies and somehow that's bad. If you ever take more than two seconds, stop and observe nature you will understand what I mean. Just listening to the sounds of nature, feeling the dirt on your feet and smelling the air can change your outlook. Regardless of your beliefs, you can't argue that some nature is always good for you.

Try and incorporate nature to your schedule once a week. Visit your local botanical gardens, go picnic at a lake or even just drive to a great viewpoint and just enjoy a cup of coffee while taking in the view. It won't massively effect your life but mentally nature can have huge benefits towards your well being. Nature doesn't necessarily mean isolation or the wilderness. In Aberdeen, there are great spots to enjoy nature that are in the city itself.

Incorporate a bit of nature in your schedule every week. I promise you won't regret it.

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.

Can compassionate conservation work?

Today I want to talk about compassionate conservation and whether it can or cannot work. For those who don't know, compassionate conservation is an idea proposed in which animals in conservation are treated ethically and the lives of individual animals are considered. If you didn't know already, there is killing that occurs in the name of conservation. Sometimes it's for the best and sometimes it's for science to pinpoint a problem. For example predators are likely to be killed if a particular prey is endangered. This occurs when the problem about whether the particular animal's population is declining and nobody knows why.What essentially compassionate conservation is proposing is that each animal's individual life should be considered and lethal methods shouldn't occur. Here is my opinion as to whether it can work or not.
Conservation is all about problem solving and depending on their severity, a rapid reaction may be needed. Although killing is never a good affair, it can help tackle and contain a problem very fast. In addition to that killing animals is sometimes the only option. Take the American mink and the gray squirrel for example. Both animals are invasive animals and the mink is doing significant damage to the Scottish wildlife as it is. Thus the only way to restore the ecosystem is to capture and kill the mink. So killing is a tool that should definitely be considered as part of conservation. By removing killing, you are unfortunately limiting the extend towards which conservationists can react to a problem.What is more, places like the U.K have no natural predators to regulate their deer population and so humans have to kill the deer in order to maintain a healthy ecosystem and a healthy deer population.
However there are several flaws with considering killing. In a lot of circumstances killing animals in conservation is often a pre-emptive strike. Investigation for the causes for an animal's decline usually points towards predators before they do anything else and hence there may be a lot of unnecessary killing. In addition to that, sometimes killing animals may cause more issues. For example killing some wolves in a pack causes social disturbance which may end up with more lone wolves predating on livestock. Culling coyotes only leads to them breeding more as a response to death and in which case the problem isn't solved at all. In addition to that, animal killing isn't often specific enough to the animal and endangered species may also be killed in the process.
What I believe should occur is to assimilate compassionate conservation ideals to current conservation practises. Kill only when necessary and don't assume that killing will solve a problem. More research should be conducted before killing occurs. By placing value into individual animal lives, we may opt to kill animals which may not have a larger impact to the ecosystem(i.e not hierarchical dominant animals or mothers with young). Then again by doing so we providing value for animals and endanger labelling some animals as useless.  So to conclude, in my opinion killing should only be used when other methods cannot be used and when killing occurs it should be done humanely and with the species' biology in mind.