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