Showing papers in "Oryx in 1999"
TL;DR: The threat of the bushmeat trade to primates and other taxa was assessed from the literature, including data from markets, village hunting studies and logging concessions in Central and West Africa.
Abstract: The threat that the bushmeat trade presents to primates and other taxa was assessed from the literature, including data from markets, village hunting studies and logging concessions in Central and West Africa. In many cases the numbers of both common and protected species of primate being killed throughout the region are thought to be unsustainable. This is also the case for other taxa involved in the bushmeat trade, which crosses geographic, cultural and economic boundaries. A suite of measures must be considered to mitigate the effects of this trade, and these measures will have to recognize the local, regional and national socio-economic importance of the trade if they are to result in long-term conservation success.
162 citations
TL;DR: The African wild dog Lycaon pictus has declined dramatically over the past 30 years as mentioned in this paper, and only c. 5000 wild dogs remain in total, mostly in southern and eastern Africa.
Abstract: The African wild dog Lycaon pictus has declined dramatically over the past 30 years. Formerly distributed throughout sub-Saharan Africa, today c. 5000 wild dogs remain in total, mostly in southern and eastern Africa. Wild dogs’ decline reflects the expansion of human populations and the associated fragmentation of habitat available to wildlife. Because wild dogs live at very low densities, even ‘fragments’ covering thousands of square kilometres may not support viable populations. Furthermore, packs often range beyond the borders of reserves, so even nominally protected populations are often subject to persecution, road accidents, snaring and disease contracted from domestic dogs. Such edge effects mean that reserves smaller than c. 10,000 sq km will provide only incomplete protection. The highest priority for wild dog conservation, therefore, is to maintain and promote the contiguity of areas available to wildlife. Establishing cross-border parks and buffer zones, and encouraging game ranching on reserve borders, will all be beneficial. In smaller areas, protecting wild dogs requires that edge effects be mitigated by: (i) working with local farmers to limit persecution; (ii) controlling snaring; (iii) routing roads carrying high-speed traffic away from wildlife areas; and (iv) minimizing contact between wildlife and domestic dogs. Most of these measures will also benefit other wildlife.
118 citations
TL;DR: The authors recommend a fire management programme, which would include controlled burns on a rotational basis in different sections of the park to improve the availability of food for herbivores and control the spread of alien grass species.
Abstract: This study evaluates the impact of two wildfires, in 1994 and 1995, on the large mammal fauna of Emas National Park, central Brazil. The 1994 fire burned 100 per cent of the park's grassland and after the fire, in a c. 2000-ha survey area, the authors found 16 giant anteaters Myrmecophaga tridactyla, two giant armadillos Priodontes maximus and one tapir Tapirus terrestris that had died in the fire. The 1995 fire burned 15 per cent of the park's grassland and no dead animals were found in a 220-ha survey area. The authors discuss the possible long-term ecological consequences of wildfires on the large mammal fauna of Emas, with a special focus on the giant anteater population, which is particularly susceptible to fires. They recommend a fire management programme, which would include controlled burns on a rotational basis in different sections of the park. The programme would also improve the availability of food for herbivores and control the spread of alien grass species.
109 citations
TL;DR: The successful results of the translocation, the large amount of original data obtained, the interest shown by scientists in samples and the subsequent new conservation impetus that appeared in the government corroborate the initial conviction that the operation was worthwhile.
Abstract: Many wildlife rescues have been carried out over the past few decades but most were not documented and were controversial. However, such operations can be useful, providing risks are evaluated and elementary guidelines are followed. In addition to saving lives and being desirable from an ethical point of view, such operations can be very valuable for both biological research and conservation, and are certainly preferable than the alternative: to do nothing. Previous rescues are reviewed and the operation conducted in French Guiana during the filling of the Petit Saut reservoir is described. Objectives, methods, results and financial aspects are discussed. Around 5500 mammals and reptiles were captured, sampled and translocated to a protected area. The successful results of the translocation, the large amount of original data obtained, the interest shown by scientists in our samples and the subsequent new conservation impetus that appeared in the government corroborate our initial conviction that the operation was worthwhile.
103 citations
TL;DR: The return of the Arabian oryx Oryx leucoryx to Oman symbolized the success of a new approach to species conservation and established reintroduction as a conservation tool.
Abstract: The return of the Arabian oryx Oryx leucoryx to Oman symbolized the success of a new approach to species conservation and established reintroduction as a conservation tool. Ten years after the species had been exterminated in the wild by poaching, the first 10 founder oryx, descendants of the ′World Herd′, were reintroduced to the desert in central Oman in January 1982. A second release followed in 1984 and the population grew slowly through a 3-year drought that was broken by rain in June 1986. Further years of good rainfall and more founders meant that by April 1990 there were over 100 oryx in the wild, independent of supplementary feed and water, and using a range of over 11,000 sq km. At that time a new monitoring programme was implemented that allowed the transition from individual- to population-based monitoring and management. The population continued to grow and by October 1995 numbered approximately 280 in the wild (of which 22 were surviving founders) and used over 16,000 sq km of the Arabian Oryx Sanctuary. However, in February 1996 poaching resumed and oryx were captured for sale as live animals outside the country. Despite the poaching the population continued to increase and by October 1996 was estimated to be just over 400. However, poaching intensified and continued through late 1996 and 1997. By September 1998 it had reduced the wild population to an estimated 138 animals, of which just 28 were females. The wild population was no longer considered viable and action was taken to rescue some of the remaining animals from the wild to form a captive herd.
98 citations
TL;DR: The evidence for ecotourism's capacity to generate revenue for protected-area management and the financial viability of nature tourism in the Congo Basin are reviewed.
Abstract: In the debt-ridden, high-population-growth, resource-mining states of the Congo Basin, conservation of biodiversity is seldom the primary concern of national policy makers or of local resource users. Moreover, the recurring costs of managing protected areas and the opportunity costs of forgoing logging and farming to maintain protected areas are a substantial net drain on national and local economies. Consequently, it is becoming increasingly important that protected areas generate, from user fees or donor contributions, sufficient funds to offset the costs of maintaining them. Government and donor investment currently meet less than 30 per cent of the estimated recurring costs required to manage the protected-area network within central African countries effectively, and cover none of the growing opportunity costs. Nature tourism, the fastest growing sector of the $US3 trillion (3 million million) a year global tourism industry, may offer a source of revenue to help fill this gap in funds. Congo Basin national parks and reserves harbour many charismatic animals (okapi, lowland gorilla, mandrills, bongo, forest elephant) that are likely to attract tourists, and as a result many protected- area managers are sinking capital into the development of tourist infrastructure. This paper reviews the evidence for ecotourism's capacity to generate revenue for protected-area management and appraises the financial viability of nature tourism in the Congo Basin.
89 citations
TL;DR: A survey of the slender loris Loris tardi gradus in the Dindigul Forests of Tamil Nadu, India in 1996 revealed that the population belongs to the subspecies L. t.
Abstract: A survey of the slender loris Loris tardi gradus, a Vulnerable primate, was carried out in the Dindigul Forests of Tamil Nadu, India, in 1996 in order to assess prevalence. Lorises were found in high densities in the open Euphorbia scrub forests and in crop lands nearby. Although most often seen in bushes and Acacia trees, the species uses a wide variety of vegetation and substrates. Individuals were found mostly at an altitude of 300-500 m. Body measurements taken on sample animals revealed that the population belongs to the subspecies L. t. lydekkerianus. Conservation measures for the species in this region include additional surveys and evaluation of prospects for establishing a slender loris sanctuary.
66 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a review of available information suggests that safari hunting could offer a significant and sustainable source of financing to offset some of the costs of maintaining protected areas in central Africa, and better quantitative data are needed to assess whether trophy hunting is both ecologically sustainable and economically competitive over the long term relative to other land uses.
Abstract: In sub-Saharan Africa conservation of biodiversity is increasingly predicated on finding ways to ensure that the economic value of maintaining a landscape in its ‘natural’ state meets or exceeds the expected returns from converting the area to an alternative land use, such as agriculture. ‘Wildlands’ in Africa must generate, directly or from donor contributions, funds sufficient to cover both the operating costs of conservation, and the opportunity costs of forgoing other forms of resource use. Government and donor investments currently meet less than 30 per cent of the estimated recurring costs required to manage the protected-area network within central African countries effectively, and cover none of the growing opportunity costs incurred to maintain protected areas. Unfortunately, few additional sources of funding are available. Tourism is only economically viable where charismatic species exist in ‘safe’ areas that are not more than a few hours drive in a 4×4 vehicle from an international airport—ostensibly excluding tourism from most of central Africa. In contrast, a review of available information suggests that safari hunting could offer a significant and sustainable source of financing to offset some of the costs of maintaining protected areas in central Africa. However, better quantitative data are needed to assess whether trophy hunting is both ecologically sustainable and economically competitive over the long term relative to other land uses.
61 citations
TL;DR: Odzala National Park, Republic of the Congo has the highest recorded densities of western lowland gorilla and chimpanzee in Central Africa and may be a result of the high productivity of the forest and low poaching pressure.
Abstract: A survey of diurnal primate populations was carried out in Odzala National Park, Republic of the Congo, over 3 months in 1994 and 2 months in 1995. The park contains a high diversity and species-specific abundance of primates, and has the highest number of diurnal primates (10 species) in the forest block of Central Africa. Eight species of monkey: greater whitenosed monkey Cercopithecus nictitans, moustached monkey Cercopithecus cephus, crowned guenon Cercopithecus pogonias, De Brazza's monkey Cercopithecus neglectus, talapoin Miopithecus talapoin, white-cheeked mangabey Cercocebus albigena, agile mangabey Cercocebus galeritus and guereza Colobus guereza, as well as gorilla Gorilla g. gorilla and chimpanzee Pan t. troglodytes were sighted in the survey. Monkey species richness was highest in dense inundated forest and thicket, with all eight species occurring in these habitats, whereas only four species were found in terra firma forest (consisting of the park's two main habitats, open-canopy Marantaceae forest and closed-canopy primary forest). Three of the four species (C. nictitans, C. cephus and C. albigena) present in terra firma forest were most abundant in closed-canopy primary forest (1.4,1.0 and 0.6 groups per km, respectively) while the fourth (C. pogonias) was most abundant in open-canopy Marantaceae forest. Gorilla nests were most abundant in open-canopy Marantaceae forest (12.1 nests per km), while chimpanzee nests were mostly found in closed-canopy primary forest and Marantaceae forest (14 and 12 nests per km, respectively). Odzala has the highest recorded densities of western lowland gorilla (mean = 5.4 individuals per sq km) and chimpanzee (mean = 2.2 individuals per sq km) in Central Africa. The high densities of gorillas and chimpanzees may be a result of the high productivity of the forest and low poaching pressure. Conservation measures to ensure the maintenance of conditions in the area, such as educational programmes, are suggested.
60 citations
TL;DR: The conservation status of five elephant corridors in different regions of India is discussed in this article, where the authors suggest that other Asian countries that have elephant populations and that are capable of establishing large conservation units, should have master plans that should detail possible developmental activities around existing wildlife habitats.
Abstract: The conservation status of five elephant corridors in different regions of India is discussed. Elephants have not used the 13-km-wide corridor between Ariankavu and Thenmalai, in the southern portion of the Western Ghats for several decades because a rail track and road, both of which are bordered by human habitations, cross it. The future of the Chilla–Motichur and Rajaji–Corbett corridors, which hold the Rajaji–Corbett elephant population in north-west India as one entity, is bleak. It is still possible for elephants to use the Kallar–Jaccanari corridor linking the 4000-strong elephant population of northern and southern Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve in southern India. It may be possible to save the Siju–Rewak corridor, which connects the elephant populations on either side of the River Simsang in north-east India. The authors suggest that other Asian countries that have elephant populations and that are capable of establishing large conservation units, should have master plans that should detail possible developmental activities around existing wildlife habitats. Establishing vast protected areas for large mammals, however, would need political will and regular communication among the nations' development planners, wildlife managers and researchers.
58 citations
TL;DR: Protecting remaining wild dog populations currently represents a better investment than any attempt at reintroduction, as there appear to be no suitable sites for wild dog reintroduction in West or central Africa, and few in eastern and southern Africa.
Abstract: African wild dogs Lycaon pictus have been extirpated across most of West and central Africa, and greatly depleted in eastern and southern Africa. Given an urgent need for population recovery, especially in West and central Africa, this paper discusses the possibilities for using reintroduction to re-establish wild dog populations. Reintroduction is probably now technically possible, as long as release groups include wild-caught animals; several past attempts failed because captive-reared animals lacked skills needed to survive in the wild. However, reintroduction has only a limited role to play in wild dog conservation. Ideally, it should involve animals of the appropriate local genotype. Limited genetic data indicate that wild dogs from West and central Africa may be distinct from those in eastern and southern Africa. Because there are no wild dogs with West or central African genotypes in captivity, and no wild populations in the region large enough to be harvested for translocation, future reintroductions might have to use animals with non-native genotypes. In addition, there appear to be no suitable sites for wild dog reintroduction in West or central Africa, and few in eastern and southern Africa. Releases currently planned in the Republic of South Africa will be locally valuable, but will not establish a population likely to remain viable without intensive management in perpetuity. For these reasons, protecting remaining wild dog populations currently represents a better investment than any attempt at reintroduction.
TL;DR: Given the remoteness and continuing political instability of the region, conservation initiatives must collaborate with traditional authorities based in the Itombwe Massif, and should focus at the outset on protecting the gorillas and limiting further degradation of key areas.
Abstract: In 1996, the first major biological surveys in the Itombwe Massif in over 30 years revealed that significant areas of natural habitat and remnant faunal populations remain, but that these are subject to ongoing degradation and over-exploitation. At least 10 areas of gorilla Gorilla gorilla graueri occurrence, including eight of 17 areas identified during the first survey of the species in the massif in 1959, were found. Seventy-nine gorilla nest sites were recorded and at least 860 gorillas were estimated to occupy the massif. Fifty-six species of mammals were recorded. Itombwe supports the highest representation, of any area, of bird species endemic to the Albertine Rift highlands. Twenty-two of these species were recorded during the surveys, including the Congo bay owl Phodilus prigoginei, which was previously known from a single specimen collected in Itombwe nearly 50 years ago. No part of Itombwe is officially protected and conservation initiatives are needed urgently. Given the remoteness and continuing political instability of the region, conservation initiatives must collaborate with traditional authorities based in the massif, and should focus at the outset on protecting the gorillas and limiting further degradation of key areas.
TL;DR: The inferred recent decline in the size of the wild population suggests that the reserve design is inadequate for the long-term survival of alligators, and programmes to survey the status of the remaining wild populations and evaluate the feasibility of establishing new wild populations by reintroducing captive-bred animals are currently being developed.
Abstract: The Chinese alligator Alligator sinensis is one of the world's most endangered reptiles. At one time widespread throughout much of the lower Yangzi River basin, the remaining wild individuals are now restricted to a small area in southern Anhui Province and perhaps in adjacent Zhejiang Province. Population estimates conducted in the 1980s suggested that only 500–735 wild individuals remained at that time. Current figures suggest that the wild population is c. 400 individuals and continues to decline. The principal factor contributing to historic population decline has been habitat loss, but deliberate killing of alligators and the heavy use of pesticides have also had significant negative effects. The current conservation programme in Anhui Province is based on captive breeding and the establishment of a reserve for small groups of wild alligators. However, the inferred recent decline in the size of the wild population suggests that the reserve design is inadequate for the long-term survival of alligators. Programmes to survey the status of the remaining wild populations and evaluate the feasibility of establishing new wild populations by reintroducing captive-bred animals are currently being developed.
TL;DR: An aerial survey of known and suspected camel habitat in Mongolia during March 1997 is conducted and density, group density and population size of large mammals in south-western Mongolia is estimated using the interactive computer program distance.
Abstract: Wild Bactrian camels Camelus bactrianus ferus are endangered. Surveys over the past several decades suggest a marked decline in camel numbers and reproductive success. However, most surveys were made using methods that precluded rigorous population estimation. The need for more accurate surveys resulted in an aerial survey of known and suspected camel habitat in Mongolia during March 1997. We estimated density, group density and population size of large mammals in south-western Mongolia using the interactive computer program distance. We recorded sufficient data for population modelling of wild Bactrian camels, goitred gazelle Gazella subgutturosa, Asian wild asses Equus hemionus and argali sheep Ovis ammon. We observed 277 camels in 27 groups (mean group size=10.26±2.38 SE camels/group). Modelling yielded a population estimate of 1985±802 SE camels in the survey area. Population modelling for other ungulates yielded estimates of 6046±1398 SE goitred gazelles, 1674±506 SE Asian wild asses, and 909±303 SE argalis. Discrepancies between population estimates of ungulates in our survey and previous surveys are discussed with regard to methods used and robustness of results obtained. We also discuss conservation implications for wild Bactrian camels and other Mongolian ungulates.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors developed sun ey techniques based on distance sampling within an area of relatively undisturbed rain forest at Ranomafana National Park, where 394 individuals from six species were recorded and population densities of 27.2 +/- 5.4/ha Brookesia spp and 21.4 +/- 4.0/ha Calumma spp.
Abstract: Malagasy chameleons are threatened by the relentless pace of habitat destruction. Their great popularity amongst herpetoculturalists has also resulted in collection for international animal markets. Most previous fieldwork has focused on the compilation of much needed species inventories, but little attention has been given to estimating chameleon population densities. This lack of information prevents a reliable assessment of the effects of habitat loss and direct exploitation on wild populations. A simple and repeatable methodology for the monitoring of chameleon populations is therefore urgently required. The present study developed sun ey techniques based on distance sampling within an area of relatively undisturbed rain forest at Ranomafana National Park. In total 394 individuals from six species were recorded and population densities (+/- SE) of 27.2 +/- 5.4/ha Brookesia spp and 21.4 +/- 4.0/ha Calumma spp. were estimated using the computer program DISTANCE. The authors propose that monitoring of chameleons in areas subject to different threats should begin immediately using the methods outlined in this paper.
TL;DR: In this paper, a new conservation intervention, the Agulhas National Park, is in the process of being implemented on the coastal lowlands at Africa's southernmost tip, and a flexible, reserve-selection design tool is being used to guide this process.
Abstract: In terms of the persistence of biodiversity, the siting of conservation areas has traditionally been ad hoc. In the Cape Floristic Region, a hot-spot of plant biodiversity and endemism, past conservation interventions have led to the mountains being over-represented in the reserve network, while the lowlands have remained very poorly conserved. Ongoing threats to the lowlands such as the rampant spread of invasive alien plants, and land transformation for agriculture and resort development, continue to undermine biodiversity in these regions. A new conservation intervention, the Agulhas National Park, is in the process of being implemented on the coastal lowlands at Africa's southernmost tip. A flexible, reserve-selection design tool is being used to guide this process. The practical challenges in implementing a new protected area in a fragmented landscape, which has a high biodiversity and vulnerability, are examined. The role of different institutions, in partic-in particular state-private partnerships, and current investigations into conservation agencies' policies, legislation and funding mechanisms are dealt with. It is imperative that future conservation planning considers the threats to biodiversity first and foremost. Institutions such as South African National Parks and the Cape Nature Conservation Board must act strategically to avoid changes in land use that will compromise the biodiversity goals of retention and persistence. Conservation efforts will only succeed if institutional and socio-economic considerations are integrated with conservation plans aimed at ensuring the long-term persistence of biodiversity.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors assessed the evolutionary relationships and genetic variation in the Juan Fernandez firecrown population and concluded that the survival of the firecbird is inextricably linked to the holistic restoration of ecosystem/ community function of the island.
Abstract: The Juan Fernandez Islands constitute two distantly separated (182 km) major islands, of which Isla Robinson Crusoe is the closest (667 km) to the Chilean mainland, and a number of smaller surrounding islets. The endemic Juan Fernandez firecrown Sephanoides fernandensis once inhabited both major islands and numbered many thousands. Today it exists only on Isla Robinson Crusoe and numbers just a few hundred. Another hummingbird, the green-backed firecrown S. sephaniodes, inhabits this island but also occurs on the mainland. The islands are in ecological meltdown as a result of the removal of much of the native (largely endemic) biota. This degradation has been exacerbated by introduced herbivorous and carnivorous mammals, which are extirpating all that remains. In a previous investigation the authors assessed the evolutionary relationships and genetic variation in the Juan Fernandez firecrown population. They showed that the species: (i) is a relative of the high Andean hummingbirds; (ii) is a close sister species of the green-backed firecrown; (iii) dispersed to the islands approximately 0.5–1 million years ago, unlike the green-backed firecrown, which is probably a very recent invader; (iv) maintains some genetic variation, although significantly lower than that found in the green-backed firecrown island population. Because of their relatively recent divergence the authors aimed to find out if the two species compete for resources. In addition, they assessed the conservation options for the Juan Fernandez firecrown and provided recommendations for its management. They concluded that the survival of the Juan Fernandez firecrown is inextricably linked to the holistic restoration of ecosystem/ community function of the island. The initial step must involve the removal of introduced mammals, followed by replanting of native flora. Although the authors do not support the use of captive propagation as a general conservation tool, they believe that, because the Juan Fernandez firecrown is composed of only one small population that is under extreme threat of extinction, a captive population should be established.
TL;DR: The mini-guides program of TAMAR as mentioned in this paper is a summer training course in which local children between 8 and 13 years old learn basic information about marine ecosystems and sea turtles, strategies to promote their conservation, and skills to interact effectively with tourists.
Abstract: The Brazilian Sea Turtle Conservation Programme (TAMAR) was established in 1980 to protect sea turtles in Brazil and to re-establish their natural life cycle, which had been disrupted by humans. The programme is based on grassroots involvement by the coastal communities, and provides jobs and generates alternative sources of income. Within this framework, the mini-guides programme was created. It consists of a summer training course in which local children between 8 and 13 years old learn basic information about marine ecosystems and sea turtles, strategies to promote their conservation, and skills to interact effectively with tourists. After the course, children are given on-site experience by working as interns at the TAMAR visitor centre at Praia do Forte, on schedules designed to avoid conflicts with their studies at school. The children work closely with tourists, informing them about sea turtles and TAMAR's work; they also help the biologists in field activities. In this way, they enhance their own awareness, and by extension their families’ and the community's concern about environmental conservation. Their involvement provides them not only with valuable skills, but also an extra source of income, thereby providing economic benefits to their families. The success of this programme is indicated by the excellent approval ratings given by the tourists visiting the area.
TL;DR: The current distribution of endemic partulid snails on Tahiti in French Polynesia reflects the danger snails still exist in good numbers in two areas, at opposite ends of the island.
Abstract: The current distribution of endemic partulid snails on Tahiti in French Polynesia reflects the danger of ignoring expert advice and introducing an alien species into a fragile island ecosystem. The endemic tree-snail fauna of the island now faces extinction. Although the extinction of the native species of Partula (Partulidae; Polynesian tree snails) on Moorea in French Polynesia is well known in the world of conservation biology, losses on other Pacific islands are less well described. This paper presents an update on the status of partulid snail populations on Tahiti in the light of fieldwork undertaken between 1995 and 1997. Native snails still exist in good numbers in two areas, at opposite ends of the island. In other areas, sightings of single or a few individuals indicate remnant populations now on the edge of extinction. Efforts to protect these populations and others in French Polynesia are being planned in collaboration with local government authorities.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors presented an analysis of the literature and field observations on the changes in distribution and abundance of the Mongolian saiga Saiga tatarica mongolica in the last few decades.
Abstract: Data are presented on the changes in distribution and abundance of the Mongolian saiga Saiga tatarica mongolica in the last few decades, based on an analysis of the literature and the authors’ field observations. The subspecies has suffered a considerable decline in its range because of hunting and competition with domesticated stock. In 1997 a survey was made of almost all the known range, which consists of two disjunct areas and covers a total of 2200 sq km. A total of 609 animals was recorded and analysis of the census results suggests that c. 1300 saiga remain in total. The authors recommend strengthening the nature reserve established in 1993 in the Shargyn Gobi, and creating several sanctuaries outside this area, where Mongolian saiga from the main remaining population could be reintroduced. These measures would enhance prospects for the survival of this endemic subspecies of the semi-deserts of western Mongolia.
TL;DR: The Przewalski's horses appeared to adapt well to the new conditions and there appeared to be no negative effects of interspecific interaction with introduced kulans Equus hemionus kulan in the release area.
Abstract: In 1989 an experiment was started at the Bukhara Breeding Centre, Kyzylkum Desert, Uzbekistan, to discover whether zoo-bred Przewalski's horses Equus przewalskii could adapt to semi-wild desert conditions. One stallion and four mares of different ages were released into a 5126-ha fenced area and monitored over a period of 17 years. This paper presents the information gained from the studies concerning home ranges, interactions with other ungulate species, adaptation to new food resources and comparative changes in daily activity. The results of breeding and changes in the structure of the group are also presented. The horses appeared to adapt well to the new conditions and there appeared to be no negative effects of interspecific interaction with introduced kulans Equus hemionus kulan in the release area.
TL;DR: In this paper, three steps were taken to assess the status of Baird's tapir Tapirus bairdii in north-eastern Honduras: (i) forest cover was mapped to estimate the amount of habitat available; (ii) interviews with local people were conducted to determine where the species occurs; and (iii) searches were made for tapir signs in several mountain ranges to corroborate interview information.
Abstract: Between April and August 1994, three steps were taken to assess the status of Baird's tapir Tapirus bairdii in north-eastern Honduras: (i) forest cover was mapped to estimate the amount of habitat available; (ii) interviews with local people were conducted to determine where the species occurs; and (iii) searches were made for tapir signs in several mountain ranges to corroborate interview information. Local reports and searches indicated that the species occurred in forests throughout the area. Using density estimates of 0.05–0.24 tapirs per sq km, there may be 520–2760 tapirs in the 10,400–11,500 sq km of contiguous rain forest that remains in north-eastern Honduras—a population large enough to have a good chance of long-term persistence. The main threat to the population is human colonization, which is destroying the forest along the rivers and major streams. This is fragmenting the tapii population into isolated units, which will be increasingly subject to the stochastic events that drive small populations to extinction. Hunting, which along with habitat destruction, is a major contributor to the rapid decline of tapir populations in areas of human colonization, does not appear to pose an immediate threat in the study area. However, population trend data are lacking and the impact of hunting on tapirs remains unassessed.
TL;DR: The value of raw ivory in Sri Lanka used to be $US228-285 per kg, and after the listing of the African elephant in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), the price fell to $US72 per kg as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: Elephants Elephas maximus have declined in range and number in the wild in Sri Lanka, from c. 12,000 at the turn of the nineteenth century to c. 4000 today. While in the distant past the decline in elephant numbers was due largely to indiscriminate killing by sportsmen and trophy hunters, today elephants are being killed primarily because they interfere with agriculture. Human–elephant conflicts have increased substantially in the recent past and ivory poaching has become a byproduct of such conflicts. Elephant tusks have been used traditionally in the ivory-carving industry in Sri Lanka since the time of the ancient kings. Until the turn of the century, very little ivory was imported from Africa because there was a plentiful supply of tuskers locally available. Sri Lankan ivory carvers started to use African ivory in 1910. Today ivory and fake-ivory products are sold openly to tourists in some 86 shops in the island. Before the listing of the African elephant in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), the value of raw ivory in Sri Lanka used to be $US228–285 per kg. After the listing, the price fell to $US72 per kg, reflecting a drastic drop in the demand for ivory from tourists. Many ivory carvers have switched to other jobs or are using substitutes (such as bone and horn) to produce fake-ivory carvings. Only about 7.5 per cent of bulls in Sri Lanka are tuskers and they are under poaching pressure outside protected areas. Given the rarity of tuskers in Sri Lanka, promotion of trade in ivory products, even locally, may pose a serious threat to their long-term survival in the wild.
TL;DR: The endemic bearded sakis are locally extinct in some areas where intense habitat fragmentation is exacerbated by hunting pressure, but also show that, in the absence of hunting, they can be relatively abundant in isolated forest fragments as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: The endemic bearded sakis Chiropotes satanas Satanas and Chiropotes satanas utahicki of south-eastern Amazonia are among the most threatened of this region's primates because of a combination of deforestation and hunting, and their apparent intolerance of habitat disturbance. Recent surveys at eight sites confirm that sakis are locally extinct in some areas where intense habitat fragmentation is exacerbated by hunting pressure, but also show that, in the absence of hunting, they can be relatively abundant in isolated forest fragments. Density was unexpectedly low in one protected area, however, which implies that caution is necessary for the planning of long-term conservation strategies. Well-protected forest fragments of reasonable size ( > 5000 ha) appear to have good potential for the protection of bearded saki populations. While many of the region's major landowners may thus make a significant contribution to the management of saki populations, land conflicts are a potentially serious problem for the long-term conservation of not just these primates, but the region's fauna and flora as a whole.
TL;DR: Basic knowledge of the biology and habitat of the species is obtained, which would be useful for selecting management measures to ensure its conservation, and protective measures to mitigate or eliminate the impact of certain stressors are suggested.
Abstract: Atelognathus nitoi is a microendemic leptodactylid frog restricted to the area surrounding the pond Laguna Verde in the Nahuel Huapi National Reserve, north-west Patagonia, Argentina. Its habitat is potentially threatened by a number of anthropogenic and natural factors. The aim of this study was to obtain basic knowledge of the biology and habitat of the species, which would be useful for selecting management measures to ensure its conservation. The area was surveyed during all four seasons in 1996 and 1997 and Laguna Verde was sampled intensively in winter and in summer. Atelognathus nitoi is distributed patchily. The preferred microhabitats of adults and juveniles are the most humid areas of the forest. Reproduction and larval development occurs only in lentic environments. Laguna Verde is the only known permanent waterbody suitable for reproduction every year. During rainy years reproduction can also take place in temporary ponds. Action towards the conservation of A. nitoi should be aimed at preserving both the terrestrial and aquatic habitats. Laguna Verde appears to be a key site for the A. nitoi source population and plays an essential part in the conservation of this species. In terrestrial habitats it is vital to preserve the heterogeneity of the lower strata in the forest. The knowledge gained through this study has allowed the authors to suggest protective measures to mitigate or eliminate the impact of certain stressors on the ecology of the species.
TL;DR: In reading this paper I was struck by how it high lighted the importance of the three 'P's of wildlife restoration projects: Preparation, Post-release moni toring and Publication, and the need for improved standardization of terminology.
Abstract: Between 1991 and 1996 Struhsaker & Siex (1998) made a valiant and worthwhile series of surveys to assess the outcome of earlier attempts to establish viable popu lations of the Zanzibar red colobus monkey Procoio/Jos kirk!i, one of Africa's most endangered primates. Between 1977 and 1981 red colobus were released at three sites in Zanzibar, two of which, Masingini and Kichwele, were believed to have probably held red colobus before the 1800s, whereas red colobus never naturally occurred at the third site, on the island of Pemba (Struhsaker & Siex, 1998). The results of the surveys indicated that one of these releases was successful, with red colobus still present and apparently breeding only at Masingini. In reading this paper I was struck by how it high lighted the importance of the three 'P's of wildlife restoration projects: Preparation, Post-release moni toring and Publication. The paper also revealed a need for improved standardization of terminology. The expansion of the use of reintrod uctions as a means to restore threatened species, and the growing need to ensure that any such projects have the greatest possible chance of success, prompted the IUCN/SSC's Re introduction Specialist Group to produce a series of guidelines for reintroductions (IUCN, 1998). These guidelines set out the stages and requirements for any serious reintroduction attempt. The guidelines also define a number of terms in order to standardize their usage and avoid confusion in the published literature. Struhsaker & Siex (1998) considered the release of red colobus into their former range to constitute a transloca tion, that is 'the capture of free-ranging wild animals in their native habitat and their release into natural or near-natural habitat within their geographical range', distinguishing this from a reintroduction, that is 'the transfer of captive animals (usually captive-bred) into the wild' (Struhsaker & Siex, 1998: 278). These definitions are at odds with the ones used in the IUCN Guidelines, where a translocation is 'a deliberate and mediated movement of wild individuals to an existing population of conspecifics', and a reintroduction is 'an attempt to establish a in an area which was once part its historical range, but from which it has been extirpated or become extinct (TUCN, 1(98). The principal difference with the IUCN definition of reintroduction is that the animal to be released can corne from any source, the key point being their release into habitat in which the is no longer found. The
TL;DR: There is no evidence of a recent reduction of the population size of this monkey, mainly because trees are extracted at a low rate (1–2 trees/ha), which does not cause a significant change in the forest composition and structure, and because hunting pressure is currently low.
Abstract: The conservation status of the sun-tailed guenon Cercopithecus solatus, which is endemic to central Gabon, is assessed using the most recent information available. The known range of the species covers 11,000-12,000 sq km, an area with a sparse human population but where the logging activity is widespread. There is no evidence of a recent reduction of the population size of this monkey, mainly because trees are extracted at a low rate (1-2 trees/ha), which does not cause a significant change in the forest composition and structure, and because hunting pressure is currently low. Moreover, the species is suspected to be able to thrive in degraded secondary forests. Consequently, the sun-tailed guenon does not appear to be under immediate risk of extinction. The conservation actions undertaken to date are described and the threats that may affect the monkey in the near future are discussed. Commercial bush-meat hunting is considered to be the most serious threat for the species. Recommendations for the conservation of wild populations and habitat are proposed, and emphasis is placed on co-operation with the forestry companies that are the main economic actors in the species's range.
TL;DR: In 1996, there was an acute and dramatic mortality incident in the last remaining wild population of the northern bald ibis Geronticus eremita, which occurred on the Atlantic coast of southern Morocco as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: In May 1996 there was an acute and dramatic mortality incident in the last remaining wild population of northern bald ibis Geronticus eremita. This species is Critically Endangered, comprising only about 250 wild individuals, which occur on the Atlantic coast of southern Morocco. Over a period of 10 days a total of 38 adult birds (aged 1 year or more) died or disappeared. Deaths, probably secondary to the loss of one or both parent birds, also occurred subsequently in six nestlings and one recent fledgling. The incident appeared to involve no other species. This paper describes the pattern of the incident, and pathological, microbiological and toxicological investigations and findings. Several features point to a toxic aetiology but the cause of the incident has not been established.