Wild Animal News

Wolves have bitter human enemies and passionate human supporters and both are wrong in their extreme views, a new study argues.

Wolves do not destroy game animal populations and deprive hunters and ranchers of livelihood. Nor does their mere presence restore the balance of nature and right environmental wrongs, according to the authors.

Instead, wolves are simply a necessary part of the wildscape.

The report was published in Frontiers In Conservation Science. One conclusion perhaps not that obvious, is that human activity has altered the landscape enough that wolves couldn’t possibly eliminate deer populations. Farming, forestry, landscaping and gardening have created perfect habitat for deer, the study notes. Neither hunters, drivers or wolves could kill enough to put a big dent in ungulate populations.

“What we do to landscapes, whether that’s forestry, agriculture or gardening, provide deer with a perfect landscape for them to live in. Hunters don’t remove enough deer, cars don’t remove enough,” said said Bernd Blossey of Cornell University, “Their populations exploded, because the living conditions were just absolutely wonderful.” Blossey co-authored the study.

Intentionally or not, Blossey is glossing over a serious problem. Highway related deaths of deer and many other animals are an unknown but vast number and create much unnecessary suffering. As we noted

Nationally, perhaps 150 people are killed annually in car/deer crashes and 10,000 are injured. These crashes cost about $1 billion annually.

As to the cause of livestock losses they are numerous and there are ways to reduce wolf-human conflict.

But the opposite view is not true either. The mere presence, or addition, of wolves to a landscape does not solve all environmental issues.

Unfortunately, the balanced view proposed does not impress some people. Whole packs of wolves have been poisoned in Oregon, and shot in California. Wolves roaming out of the protection of Yellowstone National Park are gunned down quickly. The arguments against allowing wolves to live or reintroducing them remain the same. Ranchers argue that wolves can kill up to 10 percent of their stock; academics insist the number is a fraction of that. But some academics acknowledge that the losses are uneven and a 3 percent total can easily involve wiping out one person’s whole stock. Recently one rancher lost 143 sheep when they were stampeded by two wolves.

If you have been reading this blog you will know that conservationists all over the world have been battling local extinction by re-introducing or even rewilding species missing from a particular area.

In California, over and underpasses have been or are being built to prevent local extinction of cougars. The most famous is Liberty Canyon. That passage over the 101 Freeway is designed to protect cougars from inbreeding and eventual local extinction. Activists in South America have taken a leaf from that book. They have also re-introduced “re-wilded” jaguars into areas from which they disappeared decades ago.

Now comes news that South Africa has provided 19 rhinos to Mozambique, which lost its last white rhino about 40 years ago. The rhinos are both black rhinos and white rhinos, the two species found in Africa and are the vanguard of at least 40 to be relocated.

The rhinoceros is one of the largest surviving land mammals. Once very common it is estimated that fewer than 30,000 remain in the world. The five or six remaining species of rhinceros are found in east and south Africa, India, Sumatra and Java. Africa is home to black and white rhinos (possibly two distinct species of white rhinos) while India and the two islands have separate species of their own. The distinctive horn, by the way, is not bone but is made up of keratin, a protein related to hair.

The new home for the rhinos is Zinave National Park in Mozambique. At 400, 000 hectares, about one million acres it is already home to about 2000 relocated animals. The ambitious development is being organized by Peace Parks Foundation and is a major effort to revitalize wildlife in a multi-national area. Sadly, a great deal of effort has to go to preventing poaching and illegal logging in the protected areas.

In our last post we talked about Armenian bears rescued from display at gas stations and restaurants. Today comes news of alleged animal smugglers busted in Thailand.

Two Indian women were arrested when authorities allegedly found 109 live animals in their luggage. The animals were confiscated. Thai officials did not say what was done with them.

The two women were headed to Chenmai, India. They allegedly had 50 lizards, 20 snakes, 35 turtles 2 white porcupines and 2 armadillos secreted in two suitcases, according to news accounts. The baggage x-ray machines at the Bangkok Airport discovered the smuggling attempt. Thai conservation officials said the two women were detained. They are facing charges of violating at least three Thai laws.

Although two of the animals were identified as armadillos, they were most likely pangolins. Armadillos are found in North, Central and South America. Pangolins live in Asia and have a similar insect based diet. Theyt are scaly in appearance. Martial arts star Jackie Chan has recently lent his name and efforts to a drive to save the pangolin from conflict with humans.

The exact size of the captive wildlife trade is unclear. INTERPOL. the international police association, estimates the trade at 10-20 billion a year. Pat Craig, the Founder of The Wild Animal Sanctuary, {TWAS) says that kidnapping wildlife for the exotic trade is on par in size with drug running and gun-running.

TWAS focuses its effort on rescuing larger predators including lions, tigers, bears and leopards. TWAS has an in-depth article on the captive trade on its website.

According to the article:

“Today, these animals can be found everywhere from extravagant Las Vegas magic shows, to shopping malls, to roadside zoos, and even in people’s backyards, basements and garages. Like guns, drugs and other illegal items, law enforcement agencies are continually forced to confiscate animals from unlicensed individuals who attempt to keep them as pets. Additionally, many private collections exist in licensed facilities throughout the world – though licensing doesn’t always guarantee the proper or humane treatment of animals.”

Thai officials have not said what they think the women intended to do with the animals but most of them could have ended up as exotic pets, displays, or traditional medicine specimens. TWAS and other groups are trying to bring attention to the size and scope of the trade. Capturing animals as pets and for other purposes may be driving some animals to extinction in the wild.

Himalayan wolves appear to be expanding their range out of Tibet and into Nepal. Livestock kills attributed to the wolves are on the rise.

The wolves are not very well known to most people and eke out a living on the slopes of Mt Everest and its environs. Also known as Tibetan wolves, several thousand are believed to live in Tibet. An unknown number are now in neighboring Nepal. The number of livestock being kiled by wolves is rising. Last year according to Nepalese statistics, 323 animals were killed. About 70 percent of them were killed by wolves. The wolves are also common in Mongolia.

In recent posts we have talked about the perils of “tiger-centric” conservation. In Nepal the problem may be focus on snow leopards. Efforts to save the snow leopards may put the wolves in the shadows. The two animals are the apex predators in the region. At lower elevations, Nepal has been successful at increasing the numbers of Tigers in the country.

Tibetan wolves are a subspecies of gray wolf. They weigh up to 100 pounds, and are opportunistic predators that eat anything they can catch. Tibetan wolves will work in packs for bigger prey. In Mongolia they are hunted routinely and bounties are placed on them. Conservation efforts are beginning because conservation authorities are worried about how many are being hunted.

Since Mongolia does not pay bounties for killed livestock and the hunts are ingrained in the culture, efforts to conserve the wolf in all its range are beginning. The Defenders of Wildlife (DOW) and the Tibetan Ministry of the Environment are partners with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)The three groups are planning to study the Mongolian wolves and recommend hunting laws and conservation measures. Although largely focused on North American wildlife issues DOW also works internationally on conservation issues.

JICA is a governmental agency in Japan. The goals are human development and forging a peaceful and secure world. The agency assists with projects around the world.

Just last week we reported that what appears to be a stunning conservation success may actually have a dark lining.

Both India and Nepal have reported surges in their wild tiger population. They are one of a few nations with wild tigers to record significant surges. The two countries have almost doubled the numbers of the giant felines in their nations.

But the two nations have accomplished this by what is called a “tiger-centric” approach. That is human modification of landscape in the perceived best interests of the tigers. Recent criticism suggests we don’t know the tigers best interests very well. Our perceptions may not be aiding other endangered species. .

Recent critics are calling for an end to cutting or burning grasslands and uprooting trees. They want a “mosaic” approach that recognizes the needs of other wildlife. A more subtle approach that recognizes the different ways in which animals interact. Perhaps using a scalpel rather than a chainsaw may be an analogy.

Now the World Wildlife Federation (WWF) is calling for another new approach a “people-centric” report. This may at first seem a poor choice of words. After all, hunting, hide harvesting, kidnapping for circuses, land-clearing, and dismemberment for traditional medicines may all be considered “people-centric” even if they don’t fit most definitions of conservation.

But the WWF is essentially turning that idea on its ear by recognizing the Big Tiger In The Room. Any form of successful conservation will require a recognition of the legitimate needs of the populations involved. Tigers now live in some of the most densely populated areas on earth and the needs of their human neighbors must be considered.

As they say it on their website:

“

“Tiger landscapes are home not only to an incredible array of biodiversity but also to local communities who depend on this same land for their livelihood, culture, traditions and social existence. 

Tigers live in some of the most densely populated regions of the world and finding effective ways to partner with people living and working in these areas is vital for the long-term recovery of wild tigers.“

In other words, the goal must be finding ways in which tigers and people can coexist to their mutual advantage. After all wildlife tourism can be a boon to communities. Animals such as tigers also have cultural and social significance. Finding ways to increase cooperation and minimize hazardous conflict needs to be the new goal, according to the WWF.

It is not far from the stated goals of most nations grappling with serious conservation issues. Governments understand the need for partnersship, the WWF says there is a lack of practical guidance and experience on how to implement cooperation.

Conservationists and governments have been inching toward this type of modern approach. In the United States the Liberty Canyon overcrossing is an example of government/community conservation action. CalTrans, California’s transportation agency, actively works to build under and over crossings for animals to use. These actions require public imput and a balance of the needs of people and animals. Many regions have government or private sources of reparations for livestock lost to predators. The WWF intends to expand that idea.

“On the ground examples in different tiger range countries have shown that communities are key to successful tiger conservation. While there is consensus among governments and conservation organisations on the need to engage with communities that live in and around protected areas, there is a lack of practical guidance on how to work with these communities..” according to Emmanuel Rondeau of the WWF.

But humans are humans and there is always human darkness. Recently, we reported on frantic efforts by Thai authorities to rescue an injured tiger with only three legs. The animal was thought to be in severe danger from poachers.

Gray wolves were once common in most of the United States. They were hunted to near extinction and survived in a few scattered places. Slowly they have been returning to a number of western states. The return has not been smooth or without anger and controversy.

Wolves are predators and our domestic animals qualify as prey. This fact guarantees headaches for wildlife managers. Trying to balance competing interests is a challenge and wild animals don’t play by human rules.

Idaho game officials are wrestling with the fallout from a recent wolf-sheep encounter. Two Wolves took after a flock of sheep. The sheep were so terrified that they ran into a ravine and 143 were crushed or suffocated.

I’ts hard to imagine a starker example of why there is a battle between sheepherders and defenders of wolves. With wildlife management in the middle.

Historically, ranchers and sheep herders have held a kill on sight attitude toward wolves, finding them to be a predatory nuisance with no redeeming value. Over the last 50 or 60 years a strong and vocal opposition to that idea has formed. Many now see wolves as valuable parts of the ecosystem and claim that the numbers of livestock killed by wolves are inflated. They also point to beneficial changes to the Yellowstone National Park ecosystem since the reintroduction of wolves to the park in the 1990’s. Attitudes are slow to change and wolves roaming out of the park are frequently slaughtered.

It is hard to argue with 143 slain at one sitting however, and an understanding of the truth must lie somewhere in the middle.

Scientists say reintroduction has been good for the ecosystems involved. Wolf kills provide food for many smaller animals and scavengers. They also provide food for bears in difficult winters. Wolves have limited coyote populations, which may help smaller animals survive and thrive. Their impact on animals people hunt and on livestock has been debated but does not seem to be too large. Colorado State University notes, however, that although the total impact of wolves on livestock is low it is unevenly distributed. Some producers are hit seriously while others aren’t. The University also notes that wolves don’t always fully consume a kill, which rankles livestock owners.

Wolf defenders point to studies that show that normally wolf predation on livestock rates are low and that the cost of wolf kills is not very high. That argument holds that wolf kills are an absorbable cost. Once again 143 killed at a sitting will make for harsh argument in Idaho wildlife conferences. Cattlemen and ranchers say the losses are closer to 10 percent. They also say presence of wolves stresses livestock and leads to lower birth rates and health issues.

The reintroduction of wolves to American west began in the mid 1990’s. Wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone and spilled out of its borders into surrounding states. Some migrated south from Canada. Idaho has perhaps 1,000 wolves. Oregon has under 200. Surrounding states including Washington, Oregon and California also have packs. Wolf killers however, poisoned an entire Oregon pack and wolves in California are not thriving.

The relationship of people and animals runs the gamut from cruelty to kindness. Many animals receive absolutely no compassion from humans. Others seem to get the help and treatment they need.

In Bihar, India a doctor at a human medical clinic noticed a wild monkey with a head injury carrying a baby with a keg injury. The monkey appeared to be waiting outside the clinic seeking aid.

According to the India Times, the doctor motioned the mother to come inside and she did. He then treated the mother and child for their apparently not-too-severe injuries. They rested in the clinic awhile and then left when they felt better.

India has a complex relationship with its wildlife, especially monkeys. People and monkeys often clash. In Majalgaon, dogs and local langurs began to fight and the monkeys killed an estimated 250 dogs. The monkeys began to stalk children and attack adults. Authorities had to capture and deport monkeys in an effort to end the tension. But as the doctor visit shows, many respect and protect monkeys. Hindus worship Hanuman, a monkey god but apparently many others do not protect monkeys. Recently, we noted Indian officials were investigating the suspicious death of 24 monkeys found piled by the side of a road. Fould play was suspected.