South Africa's Grasslands are in danger! I came across this article that discusses the Grey Crowned Crane, one of South Africa's most beautiful and majestic birds. This crane is losing its habitat, and is currently critically endangered in South Africa. There are less than 260 birds remaining in the wild, and habitat destruction is a major issue!
The biggest threat is mining t this time. Apparently open-cast coal mining destroys large areas. Crop agriculture is also a major issue, because the diversity of the land is reduced greatly when large plots of land are used for farming. Saving the landscape of South Africa is not necessarily the focus of many conservation corporations, which usually focus on the more majestic safari animals.
Grasslands are 80 percent herbaceous plants and forbs, and only 20 percent grasses. The forb is critical to the ecosystem, and it is typically the first to be destroyed. There are thousands of plant species that thrive in grasslands, and much of the ecosystem is dependent on the health of these habitats.
Here is the article if you'd like to check it out:
http://www.wildlifesouthafrica.com/news/show_news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1365919624&archive=&template=
-Brittany Bankston
Friday, 17 May 2013
Monday, 13 May 2013
Another possible solution for the rhino
Continuing on the rhino poaching topic, with the Black Rhino, Northern White Rhino, and Javan Rhino nearing extinction in the wild, it is high time for conservationists to enact programs to save these species. Historically, species like the Southern White Rhino, Przewalski's Horse, and bison have returned from the brink of extinction due to successful captive breeding programs in which species are bred in zoos and nature preserves, then reintroduced to their original habitats. If poaching cannot be shut down and habitats protected effectively over the next couple years, the same approach may be necessary to keep the critically endangered species of rhinoceros alive.
Captive breeding and reintroduction programs are criticized because they do not prioritize the need to restore habitat, and they are costly and sometimes fail. Most of all, people argue that we should rescue species before they reach the brink of extinction. But when the strongest efforts to save the rhino have not been able to keep their numbers from declining, there may be no choice but to work with the captive rhinos we have left. The IUCN Species Survival Commission chair Simon Stuart said, "Human beings are stewards of the Earth and we are responsible for protecting the species that share our environment." In response, I would argue that we are responsible for protecting not all species, but the species that we have directly or indirectly caused to decline. If the last straw for protection means captive breeding, then we have no choice but to try it!
-MA
Captive breeding and reintroduction programs are criticized because they do not prioritize the need to restore habitat, and they are costly and sometimes fail. Most of all, people argue that we should rescue species before they reach the brink of extinction. But when the strongest efforts to save the rhino have not been able to keep their numbers from declining, there may be no choice but to work with the captive rhinos we have left. The IUCN Species Survival Commission chair Simon Stuart said, "Human beings are stewards of the Earth and we are responsible for protecting the species that share our environment." In response, I would argue that we are responsible for protecting not all species, but the species that we have directly or indirectly caused to decline. If the last straw for protection means captive breeding, then we have no choice but to try it!
-MA
http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/pb-101216-blackRhino-cheng-01.photoblog900.jpg
Meerkat Manor: Mobs at War
Check out this awesome video depicting two meerkat mobs at war in the wild!
http://animal.discovery.com/tv-shows/meerkat-manor/videos/mobs-at-war.htm
This show is awesome, there are lots of really interesting episodes, and it is almost as addicting as any reality show on MTV. The Whiskers mob is full of different personalities and dramatic interactions. Each meerkat has their own name, and the communities display quite a few human qualities in the wild! There are irresponsible teens, loyal friends and families, and rival mobs. Check it out if you have some free time!
The show has fantastic ratings, and has done really well in the documentary community. It has won countless awards, and more importantly, it has won over the hearts of America. This particular video shows some intense never before seen footage of Meerkats, and presents them in a way that is breaking ground in the documentary community.
Happy Weekend,
Brittany
http://animal.discovery.com/tv-shows/meerkat-manor/videos/mobs-at-war.htm
This show is awesome, there are lots of really interesting episodes, and it is almost as addicting as any reality show on MTV. The Whiskers mob is full of different personalities and dramatic interactions. Each meerkat has their own name, and the communities display quite a few human qualities in the wild! There are irresponsible teens, loyal friends and families, and rival mobs. Check it out if you have some free time!
The show has fantastic ratings, and has done really well in the documentary community. It has won countless awards, and more importantly, it has won over the hearts of America. This particular video shows some intense never before seen footage of Meerkats, and presents them in a way that is breaking ground in the documentary community.
Happy Weekend,
Brittany
Sunday, 12 May 2013
don't feed the birds!
hannah rusk and i went down to the waterfront this weekend and had a fun time hanging out near the docks with the seagulls. the birds were so bold, they come right up to you and stare you down until you give them food, and if you don't after a few minutes they give these hilariously annoyed squawks and stalk away toward other people!
i thought it was an interesting situation—seagulls eat a huge range of foods in the absence of humans, but these birds were clearly surviving mostly on scraps tossed to them by tourists. i thought it just couldn't possibly be a healthy situation for the birds so i looked into it a little, and humans tossing food is a way bigger problem than i thought.
bread (the most common food we saw tourists offering) is a pretty nutritionally poor food, and when tourists provide enough of it that it becomes seagulls' primary food source, the birds can become malnourished. ducklings learn to rely upon human handouts and fail to learn to forage for themselves properly. the yeast in bread can cause a condition called sour crop, which is a fungal infection that can lead to putrifaction of food within the birds' digestive tract and severe illness. eating moldy bread can cause aspergillosis, a fatal lung infection. tossing bread also attracts pests like rats and insects, which nobody wants to have around. finally, rotting bread in smaller bodies of water (this happens more often in ponds with ducks) can alter oxygen levels and lead to algae blooms that can harm the birds. for a complete list of detrimental effects, look here:
http://birding.about.com/od/birdfeeders/a/feedingducksbread.htm
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/9783928/Bloated-ducks-in-danger-after-over-indulging-on-white-bread.html
so do the birds a favor the next time you have food with you—don't give them any!
alec
i thought it was an interesting situation—seagulls eat a huge range of foods in the absence of humans, but these birds were clearly surviving mostly on scraps tossed to them by tourists. i thought it just couldn't possibly be a healthy situation for the birds so i looked into it a little, and humans tossing food is a way bigger problem than i thought.
bread (the most common food we saw tourists offering) is a pretty nutritionally poor food, and when tourists provide enough of it that it becomes seagulls' primary food source, the birds can become malnourished. ducklings learn to rely upon human handouts and fail to learn to forage for themselves properly. the yeast in bread can cause a condition called sour crop, which is a fungal infection that can lead to putrifaction of food within the birds' digestive tract and severe illness. eating moldy bread can cause aspergillosis, a fatal lung infection. tossing bread also attracts pests like rats and insects, which nobody wants to have around. finally, rotting bread in smaller bodies of water (this happens more often in ponds with ducks) can alter oxygen levels and lead to algae blooms that can harm the birds. for a complete list of detrimental effects, look here:
http://birding.about.com/od/birdfeeders/a/feedingducksbread.htm
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/9783928/Bloated-ducks-in-danger-after-over-indulging-on-white-bread.html
so do the birds a favor the next time you have food with you—don't give them any!
alec
Monday, 6 May 2013
What happens when 15000 Crocodiles escape from captivity?
Back in January 2013, a South African reptile farm located along the border of Botswana released 15000--repeat: fifteen thousand--crocodiles into the Limpopo River. After torrential rains caused the Limpopo River to flood, the farm owners decided to open their gates so as to avoid destruction of the walls of their home. Consequently, 15000 crocodiles were let loose into the Limpopo River. Most of the crocodiles were discovered in the brush and water of the surrounding area, while some were found in very unusual places such as a school's rugby field. The son-in-law of the farm owner was reported to have saying, "There used to be only a few crocodiles in the Limpopo River. Now there are a lot." Oh.Read more about the escape:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/26/world/africa/15000-crocodiles-escape-from-south-african-farm.html?_r=0
Map of South Africa and Botswana:
http://www.zulinyatisafaris.co.za/africa_map_large2.gif
Poni
Sunday, 5 May 2013
News Article: Swallowed by a Hippo
Yesterday, May 4th, 2013, a news article was written about a hippo attack survivor. An alarming story of a 27 year old man who had a business taking clients down to the Zambezi river. He describes his attack being very sudden, where he found himself noticing half of his body had been engulfed in something very slimy, a hippo's mouth!
The man was able to wriggle around and escape, but the hippo attacked again! He was thrown around and badly wounded. He had been told he would have lost both arms and a leg, but fortunately they were able to save 2 out of 3 of his mangled limbs. This man was lucky, but his friend Evans was killed. What an experience! Reading this article made me really think about the place of humans in a wild environment. Are we really welcome into the homes of these wild animals, and should we continue to enter into their territory? This man was able to leave with his life, but many humans each year are not so lucky.
Here is the article I found about this man's remarkable story!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2013/may/04/i-was-swallowed-by-a-hippo
I also decided to do some follow up research about human deaths by hippo attacks. I stumbled upon a website that counted hippo deaths at a whopping 2,900 people per year in Africa! WOW!
Happy Sunday,
Brittany
The man was able to wriggle around and escape, but the hippo attacked again! He was thrown around and badly wounded. He had been told he would have lost both arms and a leg, but fortunately they were able to save 2 out of 3 of his mangled limbs. This man was lucky, but his friend Evans was killed. What an experience! Reading this article made me really think about the place of humans in a wild environment. Are we really welcome into the homes of these wild animals, and should we continue to enter into their territory? This man was able to leave with his life, but many humans each year are not so lucky.
Here is the article I found about this man's remarkable story!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2013/may/04/i-was-swallowed-by-a-hippo
I also decided to do some follow up research about human deaths by hippo attacks. I stumbled upon a website that counted hippo deaths at a whopping 2,900 people per year in Africa! WOW!
Happy Sunday,
Brittany
a rat asleep in the street
hi guys—
we were walking back from salt river this last week and came across a rat asleep right out in the open on the sidewalk. i thought it was a pretty strange sight, mainly because most of the rats i've seen living in cities are incredibly skittish and avoid confrontation at pretty much all cost.
i was wondering if there might be something wrong with the rat and decided to look into it a little—turns out there are a variety of parasites that rats can get that actually modify their behavior to optimize conditions for the survival of the parasite. one parasite in particular, toxoplasma gondii, prefers to live in cats, and so will form cysts in the rat's brain causing loss of inhibition and increased exploration of novel stimuli, resulting in higher chances of being eaten by a cat and passing the parasite on. more here:
http://www.ratbehavior.org/WildRatDisease.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxoplasma_gondii
not sure if that was what was happening to the little guy we saw on the street, but the whole parasite thing is fascinating—unbelievable how some organisms adapt to survive!
alec
we were walking back from salt river this last week and came across a rat asleep right out in the open on the sidewalk. i thought it was a pretty strange sight, mainly because most of the rats i've seen living in cities are incredibly skittish and avoid confrontation at pretty much all cost.
i was wondering if there might be something wrong with the rat and decided to look into it a little—turns out there are a variety of parasites that rats can get that actually modify their behavior to optimize conditions for the survival of the parasite. one parasite in particular, toxoplasma gondii, prefers to live in cats, and so will form cysts in the rat's brain causing loss of inhibition and increased exploration of novel stimuli, resulting in higher chances of being eaten by a cat and passing the parasite on. more here:
http://www.ratbehavior.org/WildRatDisease.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxoplasma_gondii
not sure if that was what was happening to the little guy we saw on the street, but the whole parasite thing is fascinating—unbelievable how some organisms adapt to survive!
alec
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