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Wildlife Journal - Nuru the Rothschild Giraffe

May 2nd, 2011

Wildlife Journal - Nuru the Rothschild Giraffe

This is the monthly journal of Nuru the Rothschild Giraffe. Follow along as he reveals his journey...

May Journal Entry

"These strange creatures are fixated on me. The rolling box in which they sit has come to a stop. The oxpecker stops cleaning the back of my neck almost as if to say, 'keep moving, these ones can be dangerous'. But they don't look dangerous to me. They keep raising some sort of device which makes fast paced clicks. My new lady friend, Adin, seems more casual about the situation and continues to munch on her preferred lower portions of acacia. I guess if she's not alarmed, then I shouldn't be either. I take a mouthful from the top branches of the tree..."

Nuru and Adin's Ecological Impact: By browsing acacia trees, they stimulate the tree's development of leaf nector. This nector is preferred by C. mimosa, a kind of ant that acts to protect the tree from excessive foraging. Without the giraffes, the trees produce less nectar, and the ants are replaced by a different kind of ant, C. sjostedti, as well as the stem-boring long-horned beetles, which are detrimental to the trees.

If you would like a Fine Art Print of Nuru and Adin, the Rothschild Giraffes, please click here:
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10% of net profit donated to wildlife and habitat conservation.

Beauty in the Beast - The Amur Leopard

May 2nd, 2011

Beauty in the Beast - The Amur Leopard

Humans have long been fascinated by the strength, dexterity, and mysteriousness of this elusive creature that stalks by night. As modern day fashionistas adorn themselves with leopard patterned prints, an inspiration of the pelts that are still bought and sold today, it is not hard to see how distance, both geographical and mental, has allowed us to lose our grip on the immediacy of the problems these animals face. The fact is, there are only about 35 remaining Amur Leopards in the wild.

With eyes that see with clarity 6 times better than the best of human eyes in low light conditions, a coat that changes from 2.5 cm long in the summer to a lighter 7 cm long pelt in the winter, a 10 foot vertical and 20 foot horizontal leap, what on earth could have brought such a wondrous creature to the brink of extinction?

Cause for concern
Coats now sell for many thousands of dollars in the Asian black markets. Poaching is worse than it was 15 years ago, according to the result of the expeditions of Russian wildlife biologist Zhenya (Evgeniy) Kashkarov. Other challenges facing leopards in this region are loss of habitat and scarcity of prey. “As for (the) habitat of endangered species – there is a reason to worry. Due to (the) politic(s) of government, Russia (will continue to) lose original forest even in protected areas. Millions of hectares of forest in Siberia and Russian Far East are leased by China for lumbering.” The deforestation of the taiga forest in northern Mongolia and Siberia is particularly bad due to its slow regeneration.

The Amur Leopard’s role in our world
As with other leopards, Amur Leopards play a vital role in the ecosystem. They consume silka, musk, and roe deer, as well as wild boar, badger, and hares. This keeps populations in check and prevents over-consumption of the vegetation. As with other predators, the Amur Leopard helps with natural selection by killing the animals with genetic defects, preventing them from passing their genes along.

Ways you can help
Ways of helping range from donations to such organizations as The Amur Leopard and Tiger Alliance (ALTA), “a coalition of 13 international and Russian NGOs that have pooled resources to support conservation of Amur Leopards and tigers in the wild”, to the World Wildlife Federation, to Zhenya Kashkarov’s (interview to follow) more recently formed Trans-Boundary Project for the conservation of the Amur Tiger, Amur Leopard and Snow Leopard. Zhenya has actually taken matters into his own hands in missions to thwart the efforts of poachers on the ground.

If you would like a Fine Art Print of the Amur Leopard painting, please click here:
Photography Prints

If you would like a 100% recycled bag, hand-stitched in the USA, of the Amur Leopard, please visit www.arttotes.com

10% of net profit is donated to wildlife and habitat conservation.

Protector of the Big Cats

May 1st, 2011

Protector of the Big Cats

Evgeniy Kashkarov is a dedicated wildlife biologist who fends off poachers in Eastern Russia, protecting what’s left of the dwindling large cat populations. Two years ago he created the International Rhythm Research Institute and on-line Rhythm Journal, which covers topics such as biodiversity, large mammal conservation strategy and global warming. I am delighted to have had the opportunity to interview him. You might be surprised to learn that the breakup of the Soviet Union was detrimental to the big cat population, as well as what he sees as the biggest threat today.

QUESTIONS:
1. How long have you been involved in wildlife research and conservation? What changes in wildlife population and environment have you seen over the years? What consequences has this had for the ecosystem?

I have been a wildlife biologist since the late 1970s, when I began to collect field materials on large mammals of Russian Far East for my diploma in Irkutsk State University.

The most surprising changes in wildlife populations and environment I have seen happened after the breakup of Soviet Union, when the system of kolkhozes – sovkhozes (collective farms) collapsed, and the extermination of livestock freed space for wildlife, restoring degraded land. It produced a real jump in the populations of most mammals, including endangered species: mountain sheep, bighorn, ibex – Siberian subspecies, snow leopard, Amur leopard and the other subspecies, Amur tiger, White claw bear, Himalayan black bear, and etc.

Another reason for the jump was the global rhythms (cycles) and managed global processes in nature and human society. The hundred-year rhythm, related to global warming, was demonstrated in 20th century by American researchers Hurd Willett and Murray Mitchell Jr. Since 1939 the USA has used Willett’s five-day weather forecasting techniques. In 1940s Willett predicted drought in 1950s for Midwestern farmers and rains in 1980s raising the Great Salt Lake in Utah and flooding surrounding land.

The 1990s should have been the best time for restoring endangered species and their habitat throughout the world (excluding arid territories), but it did not happen. Thanks to the breakup of Soviet Union and its neighborhood China, the world biggest black market of endangered species was created.

2. Last year you started a new project in the Russian Far East and Siberia for the conservation of the Amur Tiger, Amur Leopard and Snow Leopard. Please tell us about this project.

In 2008 we started Trans-boundary Project for the conservation of the Amur Tiger, Amur Leopard and Snow Leopard. It was the initiative of Lon Ball – Klickitat Organics president from Washington. Lon was farming medicinal herbs for many years in U.S. and China, and decided to move this business in Russia – in the Far East. His wish was to unite agriculture and conservation, and he was looking for partner and for an idea. My proposal was a migration corridors for tiger, leopard and snow leopard in trans-boundary territories (Russia, China, Korea, Mongolia, Kazakhstan). Those areas are most vulnerable for endangered species and support its survival in ranges with big gaps. Our project could join the efforts of five countries.

In 2008 we started in the southern part of the Russian Far East. We took general research of the main ranges of tiger and leopard, and outlined the boundaries of migration corridors on Russian side. By renting land in the migration corridors and farming business we were hoping to afforest the open space south of Hanka Lake and provide protection to leopard and tiger. The second task was to raise wild ungulates and the other prey population inside the corridors.

But a huge problem is renting the land we need. There is a lot of corruption and bureaucracy around land, especially in trans-boundary territories. In 2010 Lon created USA-Russian “Biorice” company and got final registration for rent over 500 hectares of the land south of Hanka Lake. Generally we need over 2,000 hectares for migration corridors, but our current budget cannot support our project in whole scale. In 2011 Lon is going to get the first crop of rice in rented area and first profit for continuation of the project. We are looking for investors.

3. Please tell me about your recent trip to the Eastern Sayan Mountains.

In this trip I wanted to check out what happened to the snow leopard and ibex population since 1997, when I worked in the Eastern Sayan last time. I chose four key areas for a brief survey, and made census of all large and middle size mammals. In comparison to the results of my 1997 expedition, today is worse: more poaching and less animals. But I found at least footprints of one snow leopard and few small size ibex herds. I am glad both species still survive.

I also discovered an interesting fact, related to Global Warming. Pine Pinus silvestris is distributed in Sayan Mts. 1,000 meters higher than the known data. It presently reaches the tree line in 2,400 meters above sea level, filling up all open space in Tunka Valley on elevation in 600 meters above sea level. This new fact is in parallel with American scientists’ discovery (Salzer et al., 2009) for the Bristlecone pine Pinus longaeva in the White Mountains (Great Basin). In last tens Bristlecone pine demonstrates unprecedented scale of growth of tree-rings in tree line. The same effect of climate warming is fixed in dendrochronology of Bristlecone pine 3,700 years ago.

4. People often hear about habitat loss, but then have a hard time visualizing it within the great expanse of Russia. Please explain the dynamics of this loss of habitat.

Russia has 7% of hard, degraded agricultural land. After the breakup of the Soviet Union, not all of this land is in use and is naturally restoring. Global Warming helps that process. It helps restore grass and forest in the moderate climate of Russia. But in countries of an arid climate, Global Warming causes deforestation of territories and expansion of deserts.

As for the habitat of endangered species – there is reason to worry. Due to the politics of government, Russia lost original forests even in protected areas. Millions hectares of forest in Siberia and Russian Far East are being leased by China for lumbering. Of course, that forest will eventually restore, but it will not be an original forest – just secondary. To see the difference between secondary and original forest, look to the trees on the border of Olympic National Park in U.S. It is impressive to see original forests. When I see the 800-year-old giant trees of Olympic Park, I respect the politics of U.S. government of 19th century, saving the national values for the next generation.

5. Do you think the demand for skins is lessening, or is protection of these cats just not a concern for the locals? Are they just seen as a nuisance?
Poaching for the skins hasn’t stopped, but I see fewer people who would like to buy skins for price poachers asking. In 1990s-2000s, Asian black markets were overloaded by skins and prices were falling. The snow leopard skin was available for $200-300. Now resellers in cities sell it for $5,000-10,000, but it is not real price. More popular recently is to buy cubs, especially the snow leopard. This cat is very peaceful.

6. People often have a hard time understanding the value of these animals for how they help support the ecosystems, which in turn support our hopes to live sustainably. What are your views on how we can help connect the dots for people?

A logic chain is simple. Empty ecosystems cannot enrich our souls and our society. We lose ourselves when we destroy ecosystems and exterminate the species. I cannot forget the speech of Chief Seattle (one of the most respected chiefs of the native American Northwest Nations), who asked: “how could we sell or buy our land, if it is blood of our ancestors and part of us?” The same thought is justice for animals – they are just part of us.

7. What do you feel is the biggest threat to animals in the wild today?

I think the biggest threat today is not for animals – it is for our society. This threat is alive, while dollar manages us.

8. The initiative and incentives to curb carbon emissions and move to alternative fuel sources has been slow coming in the U.S. What’s your sense of the movement on this front in Russia? Has there been any use of incentives?

Russian and U.S. citizens worry more about the price of fuel than about carbon emission. All of us have heard about alternative sources of gas, but the sharks of gas business are still alive and there’s nothing we can do about that. Carbon emission doesn’t threat the Earth. Paleontological chronicles show it was good for plants and animals. But when the carbon emission fell to zero level, geological catastrophes began. The top problem today is dirt emission, including dollar-ruble emission, emission of newspaper, commercial, and bad TV program.

9. What are some of things people can do to help save these large cat populations?

Accept what Chief Seattle said as a main rule for our lives.

Art Prints

If you would like a 100% recycled bag, hand-stitched in the USA, of the Amur Leopard, please visit www.arttotes.com.

10% of net profit is donated to wildlife and habitat conservation.

Plastic Beaches, Acidic Oceans

May 1st, 2011

Plastic Beaches, Acidic Oceans

This may sound extreme, but it’s increasingly becoming reality. The current rate of acidification of the ocean is ten times the rate that preceded the mass extinction 55 million years ago.[i] It’s hard to find a beach that doesn’t contain plastic debris, some of which has already passed through some organism, causing its demise.

Rising pH levels in the ocean are due to carbon dioxide being absorbed into the ocean, creating carbonic acid. This affects every living organism in the ocean, from oysters and coral, struggling to build their shells and skeletons, to krill and phytoplankton, perishing from increasing ocean temperatures. The delicate interdependency of the food web means that no organism is unaffected.

Whether small or large, any impact that we have on the earth’s delicate climate rhythms only serves to display our unwillingness to respect the need to work and grow in concert with nature. We have the capability, but our current infrastructure is designed to perpetuate the use of the coal for hundreds of years. As a result, recognizing the invaluable damage we are doing to the biosphere and its animals which support us may be clouded by the value of more immediate cheap energy. Marinella and I are no different than anyone else. We struggle with what choices are economically feasible in the interest of preserving the environment all the time. But struggle we must.

The countless marine life that ingest small pieces of broken down plastic certainly struggle. According to the U.N. Secretary, more than 100 thousand mammals and sea turtles, and more than 1 million seabirds are killed each year from trash. The San Diego Coastkeeper, a non-profit, found that plastics in the ocean outnumber zooplankton 6:1.

Imagine the pain associated with damaged and blocked insides due to plastic and chemical ingestion. Now imagine that organism being caught and cleaned prior to death, nicely prepared in a plastic container for you to take home and eat after a long day at work, along with the pollutants that have made their way up the food chain.

If you would like a Fine Art Print of the Humpback Whale, please click here:
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[i] Yale Environment 360. An Ominous Warning on the Effects of Ocean Acidification

 

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