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Showing papers in "Oryx in 1980"





Journal ArticleDOI
01 Apr 1980-Oryx
TL;DR: The author, a member of the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, who since 1972 has been engaged full time on the research and conservation work for the butterfly, tells the story as it is now known.
Abstract: In 1979 the Nature Conservancy Council revealed that the large blue butterfly Maculinea arion was probably extinct in Britain, despite much research and valiant efforts to save it. The author, a member of the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, who since 1972 has been engaged full time on the research and conservation work for the butterfly, tells the story as it is now known.

98 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
01 Aug 1980-Oryx
TL;DR: After spending five months in Peru on the first field study of this rare monkey, the author believes that habitat destruction is the greatest threat to its survival, and that action to protect it now and provide refuges is urgent.
Abstract: After spending five months in Peru on the first field study of this rare monkey, which until 1974 was thought to be extinct (Oryx 13,1), the author believes that habitat destruction is the greatest threat to its survival, and that action to protect it now and provide refuges is urgent.

41 citations




Journal ArticleDOI
01 Apr 1980-Oryx
TL;DR: An appeal for the scimitarhorned oryx is launched by FPS and PTES to protect the arid-lands fauna of West Africa and to achieve this rational utilisation of wildlife could be of immense benefit to the people, but protection is the first priority.
Abstract: Very few reserves exist to protect the arid-lands fauna of West Africa, particularly in the sub-desert zone, and the large mammals, such as addax, scimitar-horned oryx and dama gazelle are disappearing New reserves are planned but they could be too late Many permanent waterholes have been dug, and the nomads (and their livestock) tend to stay near them, depriving the wild animals of their traditional dry-season haunts Firearms have made hunting easier, and the slow-running desert animals cannot compete with motor vehicles – many die of heat exhaustion, calves are abandoned in the chase and unborn young aborted Rational utilisation of wildlife could be of immense benefit to the people, but protection is the first priority To achieve this FPS and PTES have launched an appeal for the scimitarhorned oryx

17 citations





Journal ArticleDOI
01 Aug 1980-Oryx
TL;DR: The echo parakeet in Mauritius seems doomed to extinction very soon as discussed by the authors, due to the destruction and degradation of the native forest on which these fruit-eating parrots depend.
Abstract: With numbers down to under ten birds and no evidence of successful breeding since 1975, the endemic echo parakeet in Mauritius seems doomed to extinction very soon. The main reasons are the destruction and degradation of the native forest on which these fruit-eating parrots depend and competition with introduced macaque monkeys and another parakeet, aided by cyclones that have defoliated and stripped trees of their fruit. All attempts at captive breeding have failed and numbers are now too low to consider translocation.



Journal ArticleDOI
01 Dec 1980-Oryx
TL;DR: The railway bisects the Magombera Forest Reserve in Tanzania, and as a result the most viable surviving population of the rare endemic Iringa red colobus is seriously threatened.
Abstract: The Tanzania-Zambia railway now bisects the Magombera Forest Reserve in Tanzania, and as a result the most viable surviving population of the rare endemic Iringa red colobus is seriously threatened. The railway has facilitated tree-felling, settlement and cultivation, and the colobus habitat is already seriously damaged. The authors conducted a survey of the forest in 1979, and recommended that the southern part, which has a viable colobus population, be included in the neighbouring Selous Game Reserve, thus giving that part the stronger protection of a game reserve, and that the local people be compensated by the release to them of a small area of the Selous.

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Dec 1980-Oryx
TL;DR: In the early 1970s the huge lechwe herds gave the Kafue Flats in Zambia one of the highest carrying capacities in the world as mentioned in this paper, an estimated 11,000kg per sq km.
Abstract: In the early 1970s the huge lechwe herds gave the Kafue Flats in Zambia one of the highest carrying capacities in the world – an estimated 11,000kg per sq km. But these highly specialised antelopes depend on the annual floods of the Kafue river, to which particularly they have adapted their breeding behaviour and the leks in which they mate. Since the completion of two huge dams on the Kafue these floods are now controlled in the interests of making electricity, and not of the lechwe. The author, who studied the lechwe's social organisation and behaviour in the Lochinvar National Park, first describes the lechwe's remarkable lek system, how they are adapted to the floods to the point of being able to graze in water up to their shoulders, and the remarkable way in which they maximise the resources of the Flats. In the second part (page 481) he shows how the new flood control can disrupt their breeding behaviour and social organisation, which might lead to the extinction of the Kafue lechwe.

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Apr 1980-Oryx
TL;DR: In Gabon, the status of gorillas and chimpanzees was investigated by Short and Wrangham as mentioned in this paper, who reported that people are so dependent on the forests for food, that the Government will preserve these, and with them the wildlife, despite impending large-scale development.
Abstract: ‘Gorillas destroy our crops and they are vicious animals’, the authors were told last December in Gabon, where, along with Professor Roger Short and Dr Richard Wrangham, they were investigating the status of gorillas and chimpanzees. Gorillas can be shot on sight, and both animals are killed for meat. Gabon people are predominantly rural, and because they are so dependent on the forests for food, it may be that the Government will preserve these, and with them the wildlife, despite impending large-scale development.

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Apr 1980-Oryx

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Aug 1980-Oryx
TL;DR: It is pointed out that because TB is a stress disease, and because it is impossible to gas every badger in a group simultaneously, gassing may be driving infected individual badgers to join other groups and infect them, thus actually spreading the disease.
Abstract: For the past six years the Ministry of Agriculture has been tackling the problem of TB in badgers in a few areas in south-west England by gassing all infected sets and those in immediately adjoining territories as dangerous contact, with the expectation of eliminating all the infected badgers. The author points out that because TB is a stress disease, and because it is impossible to gas every badger in a group simultaneously, gassing may be driving infected individual badgers to join other groups and infect them, thus actually spreading the disease.

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Dec 1980-Oryx
TL;DR: The hawksbill turtle is seriously threatened with extinction due mainly to trade in tortoiseshell as discussed by the authors, and only by stopping the trade through CITES can the hawkbill be saved.
Abstract: The hawksbill turtle is seriously threatened with extinction, due mainly to trade in tortoiseshell. This has sent the price rocketing. Divers hunting for lobsters and snappers find it rewarding to search even the remotest reefs in the hope of getting the odd turtle – worth $200 or more. The authors urge that only by stopping the trade through CITES can the hawksbill be saved.

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Dec 1980-Oryx
TL;DR: In this article, Dr. Edroma, who is the Director of the Uganda Institute of Ecology, lists the steps that must be taken if the present disastrous situation is not to deteriorate to the point where Uganda's wildlife is effectively exterminated.
Abstract: Uganda's national parks are littered with elephant carcasses, poachers' camps and meat-drying racks, and poachers are better armed and equipped than the guards. And the slaughter continues. Dr Edroma, who is Director of the Uganda Institute of Ecology, lists the steps that must be taken if the present disastrous situation is not to deteriorate to the point where Uganda's wildlife is effectively exterminated.





Journal ArticleDOI
01 Dec 1980-Oryx
TL;DR: The authors conclude that the range of the species is small, and also that the type locality was wrongly given, and think the turtle may well be endangered, and suggest a captive breeding programme for its conservation.
Abstract: In 1976 one of the authors saw a pet turtle which he recognised to be Phrynops hogei . This was remarkable because hitherto the type specimen, first described in 1967, was the only one known to scientists. However, since 1976 three other live animals have been seen, and also eight museum specimens. From the new information the authors conclude that the range of the species is small, and also that the type locality was wrongly given. They think the turtle may well be endangered, and suggest a captive breeding programme for its conservation.


Journal ArticleDOI
01 Aug 1980-Oryx
TL;DR: The future for the three species is gravely threatened unless the Government takes strong measures to enforce the protection laws as mentioned in this paper. But the authors of this article do not consider the impact of hunting in modern vehicles on the gazelle populations.
Abstract: Hunting in modern vehicles has seriously reduced the Libyan gazelle populations. The author, who has been studying them, believes that the future for the three species is gravely threatened unless the Government takes strong measures to enforce the protection laws.


Journal ArticleDOI
01 Aug 1980-Oryx
TL;DR: Dr Medem, Colombia's foremost conservationist and reptile specialist, believes that only international efforts can save the caimans and crocodiles and that first Colombia must be persuaded to join the CITES Convention.
Abstract: In Latin America crocodilians are being poached and smuggled in thousands every year for their skins, and their future is bleak. Dr Medem, who is Colombia's foremost conservationist and reptile specialist, believes that only international efforts can save the caimans and crocodiles and that first Colombia must be persuaded to join the CITES Convention.