Save Tapirs and Apes to Combat Climate Change!

Nias as a young baby. His species, the Malayan tapir, actually have a role
to play in climate change! (Taken at Port Lympne, December 2014)

No Monkey Business

What link may a tapir, a gibbon and a polar bear have? The answer is "climate change", as crazy as it sounds. This article by The Guardian (Carrington, 2015) discusses a recent study by the University of East Anglia that shows that the disappearances of large animals, such as tapirs and primates, could have enormous impacts on climate change (and that's where the polar bear, which is famously vulnerable to climate change, comes in). 

Aramis, a black-and-white ruffed lemur at Howletts (July
2015). The extinction of primates would have devastating
consequences on fighting climate change.

Tapirs are large, forest dwelling, fruit eating ungulates. Most species live in South and Central America, and the highly endangered Malayan tapir is found in South-East Asia. Additionally, the majority of the world's forest-dwelling primates (not just monkeys, but the great apes, gibbons, lemurs, etc.) and some large birds (such as toucans) eat fruit. This simple fact is why they're absolutely essential. The undigested seeds will be passed on through their faeces onto the forest floor, allowing new hardwood trees to be sowed- seed dispersal as its most natural!

So, What's It To Do With Climate Change?

The study, conducted in Brazil, found that where the tapirs and monkeys had disappeared, so had the hardwood trees. Instead, smaller species, such as bats, were dispersing the seeds of smaller softwood trees; these then replaced the hardwood, disturbing the natural mix between the two types of tree. The larger hardwood trees have more capacity to store carbon. Such a dramatic change in the ecosystem led to a 10-15% decrease of carbon storage!  

All species of tapir are considered to be threatened with extinction (IUCN, 2015), and another recent study showed that over half of primates face the same fate (Echaves, 2015). Therefore, we face yet another massive problem in combating carbon emissions.

We all know that the fight against climate change is complex. To combat it, we must reduce deforestation and deviate away from our dependence on fossil fuels, among other things. It seems that now, we must also turn our attentions to protect those wonderful rainforest species from extinction!

Emba, a Western lowland gorilla at Howletts (July 2015). Keeping
great apes from extinction is vital to combat carbon emissions! 

References

Carrington (2015) Loss of monkeys and birds in tropical forests driving carbon emissions Available at: http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/dec/18/carbon-emissions-loss-of-monkeys-and-birds-in-tropical-forests Date accessed: 23rd December 2015

Echaves (2015) Over 50 Percent Of The World's Primate Face Extinction Available at: http://www.sciencetimes.com/articles/7792/20151126/over-50-world-s-primate-face-extinction.htm Date accessed: 23rd December 2015

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (2015) Tapirus bairdii Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/21471/0 Date accessed: 23rd December 2015; Tapirus indicus Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/21472/0 Date accessed: 23rd December 2015; Tapirus pinchaque Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/21473/0 Date accessed: 23rd December 2015; Tapirus terrestris  Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/21474/0 Date accessed: 23rd December 2015

Will The Lion Sleep Tonight?

Already extinct in the wild... Layla (front) and Jabir, the pair
of Atlas lions at Howletts (August 2015)

The Last Roar

Milo the Atlas lion at Port Lympne Reserve-
a very special cat indeed (July 2014)

If there was one sound during my time at The Aspinall Foundation that I found I was lucky to hear, it was the mighty roars of the lions that echoed around the parks. These lions are not the "ordinary" African lions, They're Barbary, or Atlas, lions, formerly found in North Africa. They are much larger than African lions, and have impressive dark manes.

They are already extinct in the wild, and there are very few in zoos around the world. 

Now immediate efforts must be taken to ensure that the remaining lions do not end up the same way.

The King Needs Help!

Asiatic lions, found only in India, are considered to be Endangered (IUCN, 2015). However, thankfully, their numbers are reasonably stable.

African lions, in sub-Saharan Africa, are Vulnerable and declining in numbers- at a very rapid pace. (IUCN, 2015) 

Spike, an African lion at Whipsnade Zoo (October 2013)

Most notably, lions have decreased by 89% since 1993 in Nigeria, leaving just 32 individuals in this country. Kenya and Tanzania have also suffered losses of 40% and 66% respectively (Fair, 2015). As the human population continues to expand, human-lion conflicts become more evident. Habitat loss through burning, tree felling and urbanization is a real problem. The loss of prey is also a major factor; this is partly down to habitat loss, but mainly down to poaching and the bushmeat trade (IUCN, 2015). As their natural prey declines, lions may turn to livestock, resulting in shootings and poisonings, either in self defense or for the protection of livestock.

(Nearly) Sleeping lions, Layla (front) and
Jabir (July 2014)

However, there are just a few southern African countries (namely, South Africa, Zimbabwe,  and Namibia) that have seen a rise in the number of lions, and they've all done it differently. Fair's article (2015) discusses how South Africa has fenced their lions from the human population. This has apparently led to a decrease in the lion-human conflict; fencing the reserves therefore appears to have served both the locals and the lions well. If we are to protect an apex predator, then the concerns of local people must also be addressed. Additionally, it appears to be economically viable. The article points out that fenced reserves could cost $500 per square kilometre (whereas unfenced would cost four times as much). Furthermore, the fenced reserves could protect 80% of the potential lion population density (compared to just 50% in unfenced populations).

Nonetheless, this is not a black-and-white issue. Namibia does not fence lions due to its low human population, meaning there is comparatively little human-lion conflict. Zimbabwe's lion population has soared since the 1990's. This is not due to a highly controversial trophy hunting economical model in the Bubye Valley Conservancy (I am absolutely not condoning trophy hunting at all for the record).

As it always is with apex predator conservation, it is far from simple. Do we really want to see lions fenced and semi-wild? Do we want to save them through controversial trophy hunting?

It raises some very difficult questions, but we absolutely cannot let them end up like the Atlas lions.

Bless you, Layla! (August 2014)

References

Fair, J. (2015) Is It Time To Stand Up For All Of Africa's Lions? BBC Wildlife, October, pp.52-54

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (2015) Panthera leo ssp. persica Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/15952/0 Date accessed: 28th November 2015; Panthera leo Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/15951/0 Date accessed: 28th November 2015

The Deep Blue Disaster

Shark Trust, 2015

No Limits? No Future!

The other day, I posted about the ICAAT (International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas) meeting in Malta. As the conference drew to a close, the Shark Trust press release was published. It could not have left a more bitter taste in the mouth if possible, and reading through, it is difficult to not get frustrated: it is a complete disaster. 

The Shark Trust's No Limits? No Future! campaign had a number of very vulnerable sharks, most of which can be found in British waters, at its heart. Particularly featured were:

- The blue shark, for which there are no limits to the number that can be taken in Atlantic waters. Annually, in excess of 10 million are taken for their fins alone (Shark Trust, 2015) 

- The shortfin mako shark. Again, there are no limits to the quantity that can be taken in Atlantic waters. 

- The porbeagle. There was a campaign to ban the retention of the species. 

- The common thresher shark. Proposals to ban capture were made. 

The common thresher and shortfin mako are Vulnerable and the blue shark Near Threatened with extinction. The porbeagle is globally Vulnerable, and Critically Endangered in the Northeast Atlantic (IUCN, 2015). 

What Happened? 

A fifth proposal to clamp down on the finning of sharks at sea- a highly destructive, wasteful method of shark fishing- was also made. Despite the increase in the number of countries (now containing 30 of the 50 countries involved in the ICAAT) showing support for a stronger "fins-free", the move was blocked by Japan, South Korea and China.

Shark Trust, 2015

The article also points out that Japan tried to propose a 32% increase in blue shark takings in the South Atlantic; despite a back-up by the European Union, the call was rejected by the USA and Norway, and so there was no action taken on the species. The EU proposals to clamp down on shortfin mako and common thresher catches were also fought (led by Japan). The only objective where small progress was made was with a small compromise between the EU and Canada (which previously blocked the proposal for the taking of the species) for the porbeagle shark. The compromise was to encourage live release.

If we fail to protect the sharks, and we fail to protect our oceans, then how are we to protect anything? Has anything at all been learned from other man-made extinctions? 

And how would we be able to explain to future generations that we failed to get a grip on the steadily dwindling numbers of top predators?

References

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (2015) Prionace Glauca Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/39381/0 Date accessed: 18th November 2015; Isurus oxyrinchus Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/39341/0 Date accessed: 18th November 2015; Lamna Nasus Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/11200/0 Date accessed: 18th November 2015;  Lamna Nasus (Northeast Atlantic Population)  Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/39343/0 Date accessed: 18th November 2015; Alopias vulpinus Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/39339/0 Date accessed: 18th November 2015

Shark Trust (2015) Blue Shark Available at: http://www.sharktrust.org/en/blue_shark Date accessed: 18th November 2015

Shark Trust: No Limits? No Future! (2015) PRESS RELEASE: Japan Blocks 4 out of 5 Shark Conservation Proposals at Atlantic Tuna Meeting Available at: http://www.nolimitsnofuture.org/press-release-iccat2015/ Date accessed: 18th November 2015

Cinderella Species Matter Too!

The Critically Endangered Philippine Crocodile at Paignton Zoo (May 2015).
There are only 250 left in the wild, but they're not likely to be a poster
child for conservation!

Mirembe, the youngest member of the African elephant
herd at Howletts Wild Animal Park (14 months in this
photo, August 2015). Her herd, the largest in the UK,
is one of the most popular draws to the park, along with the
world famous gorilla collection.

What Is A Cinderella Species?

What comes to your mind when you hear the term "endangered species"? 

Do you think of the scimitar horned oryx, painted dog, humphead wrasse, Cuban crocodile, porbeagle, eastern bongo, Golden mantella frog, American burying beetle, or even a plant?

Or is the first thing that springs to your mind something along the lines of a tiger? African elephant? Gorilla? Whale? Panda? Orang-utan? Sea turtle? Snow leopard? 

A lot of attention and money is spent on the latter species, the charismatic fauna that normally are the first few animals that pop up on a quick "endangered species" Google Images search. They are the species that we see when we turn the television on and see a WWF adoption advert, and they are the species who we, as a society, are most likely to dig deep into our pockets for. The WWF, one of the world's largest conservation bodies, had an income of £46.43 million in 2009, 46% of which came from individual donations and memberships (n.d.). The organisation uses the aforementioned charismatic megafauna to bring in donations, and uses the giant panda as its logo.

However, what about the Cinderella species? These are the species not seen as being as charismatic. These are the "forgotten species" that are just as endangered (or if not, more so) as the charismatic megafauna such as pandas and tigers. Yet they do not get nearly so much publicity or attention, and therefore do not get so much money spent on their conservation.  

However, it by no means mean they're less important. In fact, it's the complete opposite. They deserve much better. 

Why Do They Matter?

Now let's also look at a specific Cinderella species, a special antelope species at Howletts Wild Animal Park (where I volunteered for the education department over the summer).

One of two Eastern Bongo calves at Howletts Wild Animal
Park (July 2015)

The Eastern, or mountain, bongo is a Critically Endangered antelope species. This is unlike the western, or lowland, bongo, which is not currently threatened (IUCN, 2015). Found only in Kenya, there are only around 150 of them left in the wild. They've been relentlessly poached, and have also fallen victim to habitat destruction. Sadly,  when informing the public of their plight in the wild, very many were surprised and unaware that it was more endangered than our pair of Sumatran tigers! Yet, like so many others, the species does not generally get the publicity is very much deserves. When was the last time you turned the television on and saw an advert asking you to adopt an Eastern bongo?

Why would it matter if this creature goes extinct?  

Think of the ecosystem as one giant, complicated jigsaw puzzle. It needs every single piece to be present, in the correct order, so that it can work and be complete. Let's use a West African rainforest as an example. First, you would need the soil and all its inhabitants to be present. Without this, forget everything else. Then, you would need the plants to fill in parts of the jigsaw- not just the enormous trees, or the beautiful flowering ones, but the ferns, the shrubs, the bushes, etc. Then you'd need the insects, and so on, and so forth. Eventually, the jigsaw would be complete, and you'd be able to see a healthy, functioning ecosystem which also contains the charismatic megafauna such as forest elephants, gorillas and leopards.

In the ecosystem, nothing is more important than another. They're equal. All organisms- no matter how small or large , how scary or hairy, how beautiful or ugly- matter just as much! 

Indah, the gorgeous Sumatran tiger at Howletts Wild Animal Park
(June 2015). Her species would not be able to survive without
the Cinderella Species that hold her ecosystem together! 

References

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (2015)  Tragelaphus eurycerus ssp. eurycerus Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/22058/0 Date accessed: 16th November 2015; Tragelaphus eurycerus ssp. isaaci Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/22057/0 Date accessed: 16th November 2015

WWF (no date supplied) Income and expenditure Available at: http://www.wwf.org.uk/about_wwf/other_publications/annual_review_archive/annual_review_2009/raising_support/income_and_expenditure/ Date accessed: 16th November 2015

Justice For Jaws

A shortfin mako (back) and blue shark (front), two species at the centre
of the ICCAT conference (Andy Murch)

No Limits? No Future!

Tope. Blue shark. Porbeagles. Shortfin mako. Smoothhounds. Catsharks. These beautiful species of shark can all be found in British waters.  Yet, as is a sadly common story in this day and age, they're all in pretty sharp decline. These sharks are commonly landed in Atlantic waters, accounting for around 97% of sharks landed by fisheries in the region. Statistics collected in 2012 show that 280,000 tons of these sharks were landed in Atlantic waters, although the true statistic is likely to be as much as quardruple this. (SharkTrust, n.d.).  It's about high time that something was done to help sharks before it is too late!

The Shark Trust is currently heading a campaign called No Limits? No Future!, and is also currently attending the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) meeting in Malta. 

The IUCN lists the shortfin mako as being Vulnerable to extinction and decreasing in numbers and the blue shark to be Near Threatened (2015). The campaign seeks to finally place limits on the numbers of these sharks landed in Atlantic waters annually, as well as prohibiting the retention of the Porbeagle Shark (Shark Trust, 2015), which the IUCN lists as Vulnerable and decreasing in numbers. 

Porbeagle shark (Canadian Shark Research Lab) 

The Marine Conservation Society says that Porbeagle meat is among the most valued of all shark meat (2015). It is also used in vitamin supplements! Though it is protected by the EU and in Uruguay (Shark Trust, 2015), it is not protected anywhere else in the Atlantic.

Nursehound (or bull huss) in the National Marine Aquarium (February 2015)-
an often overlooked, yet commonly consumed, species
of shark

In a world where half of the world's marine life has perished in the last 40 years we absolutely must start taking care of our oceans. It is not just about protecting the species we love most. It is about caring about the entire ecosystem for the planet's sake, and for own!

References

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (2015) Isurus oxyrinchus Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/39341/0 Date accessed: 15th November 2015; Prionace gluaca Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/39381/0 Date accessed: 15th November 2015; Lamna Nasus Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/11200/0 Date accessed: 15th November 2015

Marine Conservation Society (2015) Porbeagle Shark Available at: http://www.mcsuk.org/support_mcs/Get+involved/30+species/30+Species+-+Porbeagle+shark Date accessed: 15th November 2015

Shark Trust (2015) ICCAT Available at: http://www.sharktrust.org/en/iccat Date accessed: 15th November 2015

Shark Trust- No Limits? No Future! (no date supplied) The Campaign Available at: http://www.nolimitsnofuture.org/campaign/ Date accessed: 15th November 2015

Plastic fantastic?

The beach at Looe, Cornwall (October 2015). Note the plastic in the seaweed!

Plastic Oceans

Just a tiny fraction of the amount of the litter James and I
cleaned up on Dover beach (January 2015)

It was a bitterly cold early January 2015 morning, and my friend and I met on Dover beach for a quick beach clean. We were only there for approximately fifteen minutes, yet the amount of rubbish that we managed to collect was absolutely astonishing. You name it, we found it. Dummies, discarded fishing tackle, bags, toys, straws, cans... Sadly, this is not an isolated incidence. This international marine litter crisis is not just an eyesore. It is an enormous problem that has the potential to harm you!

8 million tons of plastic enters the oceans every year and the problem is getting worse! (ecowatch, 2015)

The world's top sources of plastic pollution (National Geographic)

WARNING: THE FOLLOWING VIDEO MAY BE DISTURBING AND CONTAINS STRONG LANGUAGE.

The Age of Plastic

Over summer 2015, this harrowing video of a turtle with a straw wedged in its nose went viral on social media. The boat crew can be seen trying to remove it, while expressing their disgust at how something as simple as a straw can cause so much harm. Unfortunately, this is nothing new. This website shows you that millions of sea birds and creatures will die annual as the result of plastic pollution in the oceans.

Turtles are famously common victims to plastic pollution. . 6 of the 7 sea turtles are considered to be very threatened with extinction. (the 7th has insufficient conservation data). 

Not Just a Wildlife Issue...

Marine plastic pollution can refer to anything from plastic bags to the microbeads found in cosmetics and toiletries. All types of plastic eventually break down before being consumed by marine life. It can bioaccumulate in the marine food chain, before it eventually ends up on your dinner plate- obviously not very good for you! This picture sums it up beautifully. 

The problem with plastic in the oceans- not just an oceanic problem, but a very unhealthy
one for us! (Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University)

What Can I Do?

Reduce your plastic consumption!

All countries in the United Kingdom now have a 5p plastic bag charge; England joined in on the 5th October. Today (20th October 2015) it was announced that Scotland has seen an 80% in plastic bag usage since the charge was introduced, and it is also a similar story in Wales. This is a great start, and if it does a little bit to reduce pollution, then great. However, there is still so much to do, and things you can do to help. 

* Microbeads need to phased out from cosmetics 

* More recycling, less "throw-away" culture

* Reduce the usage of plastic bottles

* Say no to a straw, say no to a plastic bag! 

* Reuse your plastic goods 

* Do a beach clean

 Basically, in the words of the Marine Conservation Society...

Marine Conservation Society

References

ecowatch (2015) 8 Million Metric Tons of Plastic Dumped Into World's Oceans Each Year Available at: http://ecowatch.com/2015/02/16/8-million-tons-plastic-dumped-into-oceans/ Date accessed: 20th October 2015

Killer Seagulls?

A juvenile gull in Looe, Cornwall (October 2015)

Seagull Mania

I am used to "seagulls". I grew up in Dover, and now study and live in Plymouth. Neither towns exactly have a shortage of gulls, so I am more than accustomed to their noises and their seemingly predatory habits of snatching chips and pasties from your hands. 

But, whereas I don't really mind "seagulls", there are plenty of people who despise them. The media is part of the anti-seagull brigade, too, and this year (2015), seagulls seemed to be public enemy number one. Even David Cameron became involved; as this news article from the Guardian shows, he called for a "big conversation" as there were talks of a gull cull.

The Human Impact

Juvenile herring gull outside the National Marine Aquarium, Plymouth,
November 2014

What we as a society don't want to acknowledge (or admit?) is that the "thug" behaviour of gulls is a reflection of our own activity. The deaths of the dogs and tortoise as mentioned in the article are, of course, tragic, and the behaviour of the gulls cannot be ignored. However, it is of vital importance to discuss why "seagulls" are behaving the way they are, and how the media has an agenda against them. While the article does talk about the conservation status of herring gulls, there is little attempt to discuss the reasons behind the "aggressive" and "problematic" behaviour of seagulls. 

Black-headed gull (summer
plumage) Fountains Abbey, Ripon,
North Yorkshire, April 2015

Before I move on, "seagulls" don't really exist. The term generally applies to herring gulls and lesser black-backed gull, the two most familiar types of gull. Also, it is vital to address that their numbers are NOT booming, contrary to the hype and misinformation in the media. In fact, just like the majority of British wildlife, both types of gull are in real trouble. The conservation status of the herring and lesser black-backed gulls are Red and Amber respectively, meaning that they have both suffered a significant decline and range reduction (RSPB, n.d.). Of course, there are other species of gull, such as the black-headed and greater black-backed, but they don't receive nearly so much bad publicity. 

As you can see, I have posted a photo of a black-headed gull in Ripon, North Yorkshire, which is very far from the sea. This is a common trend, and is a symptom of what our activities have done to the sea (as little as we would like to admit it). If you've ever had a pasty stolen from your hands by a gull, or seen them hanging around near bins, you would know that they're opportunists, and that's where we as a society have created a problem.

- The WWF states that over 85% of the world's fish stocks are fished to or beyond capacity (2015). This means that the main natural food source of seagulls is removed and the ecosystem is profoundly affected. This means that the gulls are moving further inland to find their food sources (hence why they're in Ripon!).

Herring gulls surround a fishing boat in Looe, Cornwall
(March 2015)

- Poor fishing practices, such as gutting the fish onshore, attracts seagulls and encourages them to scavenge and use their opportunistic behaviors.

- Poor management of waste, particularly food waste attracts seagulls! So by dropping the odd chip on the ground here and there, seagulls are encouraged to scavenge where there are people. Similarly, actively feeding the gulls is not such a good idea as it provides further encouragement.

Gulls are not normally aggressive. Most of the attacks occur in the early summer, which is when their nesting and brooding season is!

No Gull Cull!

So, with regards to the talks of a gull cull, it is a silly idea and would solve very little. 

Before we point at seagulls, we must resolve our own bad behaviour to rectify the issue!

* We MUST discourage people from feeding the seagulls!
* Better management of waste, particularly of food waste
* Tighter regulations on the gutting of fish on the coast
* More sustainable fishing practices- not just to discourage seagulls, but for the entire ecosystem

Therefore, we need to admit that we have made this problem ourselves, and culling them is simply not the answer!

References

The Guardian (2015) Seagull attacks: David Cameron calls for "big conversation" about issue Available at: http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/jul/18/seagull-attacks-david-cameron-big-conversation Date accessed: 19th October 2015

Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (no date supplied) Herring Gull Available at: http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/h/herringgull/ Date accessed: 19th October 2015; Red, Amber and Green Explained Available at: http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/status_explained.aspx Date accessed: 19th October 2015

World Wildlife Fund (2015) Overfishing Available at: http://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/overfishing Date accessed: 19th  October 2015

The Sorry State of the Seas

A bottlenose dolphin at Mount Edgecumbe in Torpoint, near Plymouth, February 2015
(credit to my dad, John Lucock, for this!)

More Than A Fishy Matter...

... It Affects You As Well!

Snakelocks anemones in a rockpool on Mount Batten in
Plymouth (January 2015)

Anyone who knows me on a personal level will know that I adore the ocean. I love to talk about sea animals, find it relaxing to be around the sea, my uni room is decorated with beach-themed items, marble dolphins, sharks and seals, and wooden seabirds. My favourite memories include watching dolphins and seals playing around Devon and Cornwall (and Dave the dolphin who used to live in Folkestone), seeing basking sharks up close (though sadly I haven't seen any for about five years!), witnessing a minke whale glide through the waves closely to the ferry taking us to the Scilly Isles, poking around in rockpools (still do!) and spending hours drawing killer whales. As a girl who grew up in Dover and now spends nine months of the year living in Plymouth, Britain's "Ocean City", I have an attachment to the sea, and it would be a dream come true to work in shark conservation. Yet I know, through the research I have done both out of interest and for uni work, that our oceans are certainly no Utopia. But now we know that they're in more trouble than what we feared.

Yesterday (16th September 2015) I was browsing through my Facebook feed, as you do. I follow a lot of conservation bodies, including oceanic ones, and there was one thing that struck me. Not by surprise, because, really, as a cynical environmental scientist, I kind of guessed that something like this had happened (so unfortunately it wasn't a shocking statistic). What struck me was that, despite it being published on a lot of marine conservation charity pages, you didn't see it on the BBC news that night, or any main news channel, and you probably won't. And that's what's most worrying, because this is major, but is somehow not important enough to report to the general public (which it is!). But without further ado, because, again, I will try to keep my political opinions to myself...

Ocean sunfish (juvenile) in Penzance, June 2015

A new study by WWF and ZSL has found that 49% of marine creatures have disappeared since 1970.

This is big.

This is major. 

This is TERRIFYING. 

So, why aren't we doing more? 

"Well, so what?" I can hear a few of you say. "So what, it doesn't affect me! It's not a human issue!"

Well, as with all wildlife conservation and environmental issues, IT DOES, and this one is just as important as melting ice caps, disappearing rainforests and everything else. This is serious. I know I only did a thing on sharks the other day, but this new report is so terrifying that it does need discussing- and how you can do your bit to help this urgent matter. 

The Deal About The Ocean...

...It's kind of a big deal...

Just some stats for you...

Just like the forests, oceans are responsible for the air that you breathe and take for granted. Phytoplankton are tiny photosynthetic beings that live in all oceans (even the polar seas, which are nutrient rich and give out massive blooms in the summer months). As they photosynthesise, they draw in CO2 and give out the oxygen that we need to survive. In fact, oceans are responsible for more than half of the oxygen we breathe, making them an even bigger source of oxygen than all of the rainforests combined and the planet's number one source of oxygen. Oceans also take in more CO2 than the rainforests- more about that in a bit.

Additionally, the Earth covers two thirds of the surface of this little rock, but provides 99% of the living space. 

Fish is the primary source of protein for over 1 billion people, and coastal regions are home to some 3 in 5 people globally. Oceans provide these citizens with recreation, food, tourism, jobs and industry. 

$9.6billion- the amount of global GDP generated by tourism to coral reefs; fisheries from reefs are worth $5.7billion. They are also worth billions as natural flood defences; areas that have already all but lost their coral reefs tend to get flooded more often and with more devastating consequences than areas that still have their reefs.

100,000,000 tonnes- that's how much fish is estimated to be consumed around the world every year, not including fish that is used for agriculture and the aquarium trades

Loggerhead turtle in the National Marine Aquarium
(February 2015). This species is Endangered.

100,000,000 sharks- the amount of sharks thought to be killed by humans every year through a variety of factors (and is often the lower bound estimate- some sources say it could be 2.7 times higher)

Less than 2%- the amount of ocean that is protected internationally- compared to over 10% on land

90%- the amount of large fish (tuna, sharks, cod, flounder, etc) that have been removed from the oceans

6 out of 7- the number of species of sea turtle considered to be threatened with extinction (the seventh, the flatback, doesn't have enough data on its population)

What's Going On?

Overfishing This is the most obvious one. It's frightening when you see just how much fish is being removed from our oceans, how many sharks are being killed (73 million end up dead just for the wasteful sharkfin soup industry, where the shark has its fins removed while often still alive and then discarded and the rest of the body wasted) and how many end up dead through ghost fishing...

Moon jellies... Beautiful, but their recent huge numbers
are symptoms of a very sick ocean indeed (NMA,
September 2015)

Ghost fishing This term refers to casualties from discarded and abandoned fishing gear (think industrial sized gill nets, etc), and this is DEADLY, and the scale is terrifying. Everything from diving sea birds to turtles to whales and everything in between gets caught in them, and it's not pleasant to think about how painful their deaths must be.

Plastic Not really fantastic... It's not good for the sea creatures, and it's most certainly not good for you! Plastic is easily mistaken for fish and jellyfish, so it ends up in the stomachs of unsuspecting fish, turtles and whales. This then breaks down and is passed down into our own bodies when we eat seafood. Same goes for microbeads, which are now even found in plankton, arguably the primary producer for the whole planet, so this should be setting alarm bells louder than they are.

Agriculture It's hard to imagine how agriculture can affect the oceans, but it really can. I remember a lecture where the lecturer was talking about "Marine Dead Zones", and there are hundreds of them (the most famous one being the Gulf of Mexico). The number of MDZs doubles every decade, and it comes from the Nitrogen and Phosphorus run-offs from agriculture which eventually end up in the oceans. The unusually nutrient-rich water stimulates an over-growth in phytoplankton, which then dies and decomposes, using up precious oxygen in huge quantities, meaning that other animals suffocate.

Eider duck, a coastal species, in Looe, Cornwall (March 2015)

Climate Change This is definitely happening, and we are at least partly responsible! As the seas warm, the coral reefs are dying off (there is a narrow temperature range that they can tolerate). Species are moving further North to cooler waters, as we are seeing here in the UK. 

Ocean Acidification Sort of hand-in-hand with climate change is the drop in pH of coastal regions. As CO2 levels increase, so does the amount absorbed by the oceans. The CO2 then eventually turns into carbonic acid, which breaks down the delicate shells of sea creatures and the exoskeletons of corals. Since the Industrial Revolution, the pH of the oceans has fallen by 0.1 units. This may not sound like much at all, and some may question why this is noteworthy; since pH is a logarithmic scale, this means that the acidity of the ocean has actually increased by 30%! 

And the jellyfish boom of recent years...?

White-spotted jellyfish, NMA, September 2015

Yes, jellyfish are beautiful.

Yes, jellyfish are relaxing to look at.

Yes, I do love jellyfish.

However...

Their booming numbers are a symptom of a very sick ocean. 

- There are far fewer predators that can keep their numbers in check

- Warmer waters benefit them

- So do the extra nutrients

- As their numbers increase, fishermen will lose out even more as their target catch will decrease

- Fish numbers will also decrease as jellyfish prey includes fish eggs 

There is no emphasising how vital our oceans are.

Oxygen. Climate. Flood defence. Food. Industry. Recreation.

We owe the oceans a lot. 

It is the life support of the planet. Without it, we don't have a chance. 

Everything about Plymouth depends on the sea. Its fishing,
naval base, tourism, diving to Eddystone reef, history, its very
existence, are owed to the sea! (picture taken November 2014)

So how can I help?

It's true that the oceans are in so much trouble that it'll take a heck of a lot of people to do their bit to make conservationists' lives easier. However, there are a simple few things you CAN do to do your bit, and it is of utmost importance that you pass this on.

. Say no to a plastic bag. If you can't, reuse it and don't throw it away after one use. Certainly don't discard it on the ground or in the beaches. It will eventually find its way to the sea.

. Do a beach clean and for goodness sake, take your rubbish home with you! All that crap that people drop on the beaches will end up swallowed by some unfortunate sea creature

Just a tiny little portion of a 10 minute beach clean done
by my friend and I in January 2015 on Dover beach

. Be very careful about eating fish. I'm not being a preachy vegetarian here. If you still eat fish, please- make sure it's sustainably caught. I have linked this many times, and here it is again. Here is the Marine Conservation Society's sustainable fish guide.

. Don't litter. Ever.

. Be careful with aquarium fish, never buy unless you're 100% absolutely dead certain that the fish in question didn't come from the wild.

. Be aware of your CO2 levels! If you can walk it, walk. Turn the lights out when they're not needed.

. Never buy "ocean gifts" that are made from real sea creatures! Tortoiseshell is normally made from the shells of the Critically Endangered hawksbill turtle. Don't buy corals or shark products, either. Basically be savvy!

. Speak out for oceans- this is crucial to spread the message! If the BBC News won't report it, we will!

THANK YOU- WE WILL SAVE THE OCEANS TOGETHER!

Oystercatcher on Mount Batten, Plymouth, March 2015

The Sharks Are Nice, Really!

Not a killer, but a beauty <3 A great white shark, photo credit to Mark Carwardine (I would
happily do anything to see a great white in all its glory!)

SHARKS IN THE WATER!

But that's a VERY GOOD thing!

Okay, close your eyes for a second and think of "shark". Think long and hard, really focus. Now, what do you see?

I see a beautiful predatory fish here! Sand tiger shark at
the National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth (May 2015)

Now, I don't want to guess, but I guarantee that a heck of a lot of you conjure up an image that is truly terrifying. You've probably imagined the famous great white shark, with its rows and rows of razor-sharp teeth gleaming in the dark water as its black eyes turn towards an unsuspecting swimmer. The shark then takes a bite out of its favourite prey, amidst a flurry of desperately waving arms and legs, blood-curdling screams, teeth, fins and a pool of blood. 

This is the stereotypical vision of a shark. And I'm here to tell you now, that this vision couldn't be further from the truth. Sharks are hugely demonised, misunderstood, and deliberately betrayed as "deadly, bloodthirsty maneaters" by the press, After all, what could be a "better scoop" than to scare the crap out of people who don't even encounter sharks in their lives (although, that could be said for a lot of things, but as this post is about sharks, I will keep my political views to myself and leave it by saying that what makes a "good scoop" is definitely debatable here!). The truth is, everyone needs sharks. And the sharks need us. There are a lot of myths here to be dispelled, and a lot of beauty behind the "beast". 

What Is A Shark?

Not just great whites, bulls and tigers...

A nurse shark in the National Marine Aquarium (May 2015)
Really not a killer!

If you've seen from my previous posts, the National Marine Aquarium on the Barbican in Plymouth is one of my favourite places. In fact, I went again just today with a couple of friends (13th September- God love the annual passes!) and as always it was fantastic. Of course, the star animals are the two sand tiger sharks and the adorable loggerhead turtle (Snorkel). However, there are several species of shark to be found in this beautiful building. There's even a shark nursery here, displaying mermaids purses (the egg cases of certain species of shark and ray) where you can see the little developing sharks squirming around inside, alongside newly hatched sharks and rays. In the main tanks with the more grown-up sharks, you can find small spotted catshark (a.k.a the lesser spotted dogfish, although the former name is more scientifically accurate), smooth hounds, bonnetheads, bull huss (a type of catshark), nurse sharks and thornback, sting, spotted and blonde rays to name but a few.  

To class as a shark, skate, or ray, you must be a fish with a skeleton made of cartilage rather than bones, and have no swim bladder. As you've seen from the introduction, the stereotypical image of a shark is the great white shark, or a similar one like the bull or tiger shark. You'd be forgiven for thinking that these represent the entire shark and ray family, but in fact, there are well over 300 species of shark and 600 types of ray, and as the photos in this article show, they come in an astonishing range of shapes, sizes and variance.

Bull huss in the National Marine Aquarium (September 2015- taken
today in fact!)

Small spotted catshark in the National Marine Aquarium (February 2015)

Small-eyed ray in the National Marine Aquarium (today)

In fact, the UK has a pretty rich diversity of sharks and rays: you can find over 30 species here, including some of the largest and rarest. In these waters, the following can be found:

- Blue shark
- Shortfin mako shark
- Basking shark (the world's second largest fish and is as gentle as anything)
- Thresher shark
- Tope
- Smooth hound
- Porbeagle
- Small spotted catshark
- Bull huss
- Small-eyed ray
- Thornback ray
- Common stingray
- Blonde ray

You can even infrequently find smooth hammerheads here, too, as rare vagrants.

Shark Attacks

The Truth

It's true that occasionally, someone will be bitten by a shark, and a small minority of these are fatal. 

However, it's of vital importance to note that we are not prey, and that a lot of these "attacks" are purely a case of mistaken identity and the unfortunate way in which sharks "test" what's in front of them. You're far more likely to die from a lightning strike, a vending machine falling on you, a bee sting or even from falling off your bed than you are from a shark attack!

To a shark lurking the depths, anyone splashing around at the surface against the sun on a surfboard

The mermaid's purse of a small spotted catshark.
You can see the developing embryo- it's the orange
shape at the top of the case. NMA,
February 2015

will look like a seal (and it really doesn't help that the surfer splashes, which further makes the shark think that the victim is a seal), the main prey to great whites. The truth is, we're not fatty enough for sharks, so we're really not number one prey.

 In addition to this, sharks "test" what is in front of them using their mighty teeth, as they obviously lack hands to reach out and wonder "hmmm, I wonder what this is!" and it's most unfortunate that, in humans, this results in an injury that can sometimes be fatal.

Only around 20 species of shark will attack you out of the well over 300 species, but even these attacks are extremely rare. Three types of shark- the bull, tiger and great white- are responsible for most of the attacks, but again, these incidences are rare!

Why Do Sharks Matter?

The short version...

IN 2014, SHARKS KILLED THREE PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD. EVERY YEAR, WE KILL IN EXCESS OF 100 MILLION SHARKS

As keystone species and apex predators, sharks are of utmost importance to the worldwide oceanic ecosystems.  This means that they keep the ecosystem in perfect proportions, from the little corals and polyps to the fish and marine mammals to even themselves. Therefore, if we are to keep oceans healthy (and therefore, our very own existence!) then keeping the sharks in place is crucial. In places where sharks are all but gone, new predators are replacing them, with untold damage, as this video (Last Chance To See, 2009) shows.

As I have discussed in other articles, coral reefs are hugely important. As the shark numbers continue to plummet, there are coral reefs that are thought to be suffering as the number of coral-eating predators has increased due to lack of predation by sharks.

In addition to this, sharks can bring economic benefits, as there are people who will travel to areas where sharks can be found in high numbers in order to swim or cage dive with them (and I vow to do so at least once in my life!). These experiences can bring in huge amounts of money to local economies, so of course removing sharks would make them would have devastating affects to these economies.

Sharks have been patrolling our waters since before the dinosaurs even evolved. 

How Can I Help Sharks?

And what's happening to them?

- First of all, it'll really help to reiterate: Sharks are not bloodthirsty maneaters. Spread the word. 

- Next, don't buy shark meat! It's legal in the UK to do so, as well as several other nations around the world. Not only is it bad for the poor shark, but it's not healthy for you, either; as sharks are top predators, they have bio-accumulated a heck of a lot of mercury. Warn others, too!

- Be very careful if you eat fish. Only buy sustainably caught fish (see the MCS guide here), as a significant portion of sharks that die every year are killed through bycatch and "ghost fishing". This also helps other animals such as dolphins, turtles and sea birds.

-   Never eat shark fin soup. Tens of millions of sharks are killed just for their fins every year, often alive (so the poor animal dies a slow, painful death as they're thrown back into the sea), to turn into soup. This is very wasteful, and has had devastating affects on shark populations in Asia. 

- There are also more ways to help here

PLEASE HELP TO SAVE THESE BEAUTIFUL FISH BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE!

Thank you <3 Sand tiger shark, NMA, February 2015

The Thing About Endangered Species...

Young Western lowland gorilla at Port Lympne Reserve (the sister park to Howletts),
July 2015. His species, like with all gorilla subspecies, is Critically Endangered

...Is That They Really Do Matter!

Okapi at Marwell Zoo (July 2015). This beautiful ungulate, found
in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is now Endangered
due to destruction of its rainforest home and hunting

I've  heard so many times in my life (and you probably have, too):

"But it's just an animal."

"It doesn't matter if a species goes extinct."

Now, everyone is entitled to their opinion, and I fully understand that not everyone is an animal lover. However, what I want to get through is that it's never just an animal, and that it really does matter if a species goes extinct. Most people are aware that a heck of a lot of species are threatened with extinction due to mankind and our ways of life, and last year a major report by the WWF and ZSL concluded that we have lost half of the vertebrates that lived on this planet fifty years ago! Just some quick statistics...

... 1 in 4 mammals...

... 70% of plants...

... 1 in 3 amphibians

... 1 in 5 reptiles....

... 4 out of 5 arachnids...

... 90% of lemurs... 

... 1 in 10 sharks...

... an eighth of birds

... and all but one of the great apes (humans, of course) are threatened with extinction, and there's not even enough data to show how many of the fish and insect species are endangered, but there are several listed as such. 

Arina the Amur tiger at Howletts (June 2015)

What's The Deal!? 

There are well over 7 billion of us on the planet, and only, for example, 140 Eastern mountain bongos, three northern right rhinos, forty wild Amur leopards, a hundred kakapo parrots and twenty-eight Hainan gibbons in existence (I can think of so many more species that can be listed here as dangerously low). As our population grows, and the demand for technology, fuel, food, shelter, space and resources follows, the last existing wild strongholds are further pushed to the brink and the rate of habitat loss is alarming. Huge swathes of rainforest, especially in South East Asia, are being cleared for palm oil (found in several items, from shampoo to biscuits), and the trees that are felled are then sold for timber. Madagascar has lost over 90% of its rainforest cover, Britain 99% of its wildflower meadows and 80% of Caribbean reefs are now gone. 

Indah, the female Sumatran tiger at Howletts (June 2015), one of the rarest
subspecies of tiger, threatened by palm oil plantations

Baby Borneo orang-utan, Paignton Zoo (August 2014), which, along with
its Sumatran cousin, is also threatened by your biscuits!

Philippine crocodile, Paignton Zoo (May 2015). Only 250
of these are left in the wild, making it Critically
Endangered

 Obviously, it's not just the habitat loss that has put so many species at risk. Several species are targeted just for being them! The rhino is a famous example, with all species being frighteningly close to extinction (we now have already lost the western black, 5000 blacks, forty Javans, two hundred Sumatrans, three northern whites which cannot breed due to ill health, 20,000 southern whites and 2000 Indian rhinos). Even more sadistically, the horn for which a rhino is poached (used in Oriental traditional medicine), worth more than its weight in gold, is basically a giant finger nail or hair as it's made of keratin! An average of 96 elephants is poached in Africa every day for the tusks to turn into ivory trinkets. Several wild cats, from tigers to margay, are taken for their beautiful fur coats to turn into clothing. There are several species of crocodile that are endangered partly due to hunting for their hides, birds threatened due to the pet trade and amphibian populations at least partially threatened because of the pet trade.

Why Does It Matter?

What About the Economy?

I've also heard several times (and I'm sure you have, too) that environmental destruction is justified by the need for economic growth, which is something that is absolutely making me tear my hair out. Yes, building in place of a wetland may provide short term economic benefits. However, in the long run, environmental damages end up costing the global economy billions USD every year and looking

You wouldn't have water, air, food, medicine,
shelter or the economy without nature!
Taken on a field trip to the Eden Project,
October 2014

after the environment certainly reaps the benefits. Just some examples...
... spending billions on flood defences when natural habitats (bogs, marshes, coral reefs, mangroves, etc) can do it naturally and for free .
... charismatic species in their natural wild habitats attract tourists from all around the world to various countries.
... Soil degradation due to inadequate care and use costs the UK around £1billion a year
...Healthy fish stocks provide jobs and staple foods for millions around the world
... Rainforests are home to communities, provide plants for some pretty important medicines for deadly diseases, and are carbon sinks
... Vultures are worth millions to the Indian economy as carrion eaters, preventing the potential for disease and the incoming of pests such as rats.
... Insects and soil-dwelling creatures such as earth worms are natural recyclers, improving the quality of the soil and so increasing agricultural capacity
... Pollinators such as bees and butterflies provide the food on your table

I really could talk about this for ages, but I won't. I really don't like the idea of putting a price on nature as I think it should be protected in its own right, but if it's the only way of making a strong incentive to save our planet, then I'm in. To look after our environment, and the species that live in it, is absolutely vital.

What Can I Do?

- Be very careful of things like timber, paper, palm oil, and coffee. Where you can, buy a certified product (FSC for timber and paper, Fair Trade and Rainforest Alliance for coffee). There are a few companies that are palm oil free, one of the many reasons I adore Lush! There's also this awesome guide from The Rainforest Foundation that informs you about your consumer choices and palm oil.

- Stay clear of exotic pets. Even if they're legally sourced, it's creating a demand somewhere along the line (and with pets such as the primates, is generally awful for their welfare).

- Similarly, NEVER buy animal skin, especially not from reptiles and big cats

- Stay well away from genuine ivory

- Go on a wildlife trip. It doesn't have to be anywhere expensive or exotic; even your local RSPB reserve will help raise much-needed funds

- If you eat fish, check out this guide by the Marine Conservation Society

- Recycle, recycle, recyle! We know about recycling paper and cardboard, but what about your old phone, your food cans, etc? The demand and mining for fresh metal can be devastating for ecosystems. 

The Eden Project freshers field trip again <3