Wildlife Protection Measures

Tigers 🐅 are rebounding in Thailand. July 29th is International Tiger Day, so here's some positive news for the big cat out of Thailand: Camera trapping data has revealed a steady recovery of tigers in the country's Western Forest Complex over the past two decades. The results were recently reported in a paper published in Global Ecology and Conservation. According to the paper, the tiger population grew on average by 4% per year in Hua Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, which has the highest population of the cat in Thailand. "At the beginning, we didn’t have much confidence that it would be possible [to recover tiger numbers], but we’ve been patient,” anak pattanavibool, study co-author and Thailand country director at the Wildlife Conservation Society, told Carolyn Cowan of Mongabay News. The tiger recovery has been mirrored by a simultaneous increase in the numbers of the tigers’ prey animals, such as sambar deer and types of wild cattle. Why are tigers bouncing back? Experts cite several factors: 🌳 Conservation efforts: Long-term conservation actions, including systematic ranger patrols to control poaching and efforts to boost tiger prey populations, have shown positive results. ⚖️ Law enforcement: The arrest and prosecution of several tiger-poaching gangs indicated that authorities were serious about addressing poaching. 🖥️ SMART Wildlife monitoring system: Thailand's implementation of the SMART (Spatial Monitoring And Reporting Tool) system has improved wildlife monitoring and antipoaching measures. 🍃 Investment: The Thai government invests significantly in conservation efforts, including protected areas. 🦌 Boosting prey populations: The recovery of prey species such as sambar deer, banteng, and muntjac deer within protected areas has supported the tiger population's growth. 📸 Camera trap surveys: Extensive use of camera traps has provided valuable data, documenting a steady increase in tiger numbers over the years. 🌿 Habitat Connectivity: Efforts to ensure extensive connected networks of safe forests facilitate tiger movement across landscapes, aiding genetic diversity and adaptability. The rebound in Thailand could help tigers recover in neighboring countries, says Anak. “Some NGOs set camera traps over the border in Myanmar, and they find some [tigers], but not in enough abundance to come into Thailand,” Anak told Cowan. “In reality, it will be the opposite situation, that tigers from here might be able to recover the tiger populations in Myanmar.” Worldwide, there are thought to be around 5,600 wild tigers, according to the Global Tiger Forum. 📰 Thai tiger numbers swell as prey populations stabilize in western forests https://lnkd.in/gbie9yXt 🔬 Duangchantrasiri at al 2024. https://lnkd.in/gXT8riyN

Read this for more tips on reducing wildlife disruption. --> Red light, ...has a longer wavelength than white, blue, or green light, thus making it less visible to many nocturnal creatures. This reduced visibility helps in several ways:... For insects, ..most species are less attracted to red light compared to standard white or blue light. This means fewer insects will be drawn to your porch, thus reducing the likelihood of them becoming disoriented, exhausted, or falling prey to predators. Since insects form the base of many food chains, this small change can have positive ripple effects through local ecosystems. For birds, red lighting is significantly less disruptive to migration patterns. Many birds migrate at night using celestial navigation, and bright white lights can disorient them, causing collisions with buildings or exhaustion as they circle illuminated areas. Red light interferes less with their navigation systems. For sea turtles specifically, ..red lights are crucial near nesting beaches. The Hatchlings instinctively move toward the brightest horizon (naturally the ocean reflecting moonlight), ..but, ..artificial white lighting can lead them inland instead of to the sea. Red lighting, ...is much less likely to cause this fatal disorientation. Here's a kicker on the insect-eating Bat front, .. some certain bat species can still see red light fairly well, .. so, while it's healthier for them,.. it doesn't entirely fix the issue. If wildlife protection is your goal, the most effective approaches are to: 1. Use red light when illumination is necessary 2. Keep lights dimmer rather than brighter 3. Use motion sensors so lights aren't continuously on 4. Direct light downward rather than outward or upward These simple adjustments can significantly reduce your home's impact on local wildlife while still providing the illumination you need.

Wildlife rangers play a pivotal role in achieving global biodiversity goals, such as those outlined in the Global Biodiversity Framework. Here are some keyways in which rangers contribute to these global commitments: 1. Biodiversity Conservation ●     Habitat Protection: Ranger’s safeguard critical habitats from illegal activities like poaching and logging, ensuring the survival of diverse species. ●     Species Monitoring: They conduct regular surveys and monitoring to track the health and population of endangered species, providing essential data for conservation efforts. 2. Law Enforcement ●     Anti-Poaching Efforts: Rangers are on the front lines in the fight against poaching, enforcing wildlife protection laws and apprehending offenders. ●     Illegal Trade Prevention: They help prevent the illegal trade of wildlife and wildlife products, which is crucial for maintaining biodiversity. 3. Community Engagement ●     Education and Awareness: Rangers educate local communities about the importance of biodiversity and sustainable practices, fostering a culture of conservation. ●     Conflict Resolution: They mediate human-wildlife conflicts, helping communities coexist peacefully with wildlife. 4. Climate Change Mitigation ●     Forest Protection: By protecting forests and other natural habitats, rangers help sequester carbon, contributing to climate change mitigation. 5. Data Collection and Research ●     Scientific Research: Rangers collect valuable data that supports scientific research and informs policy decisions at local, national, and global levels. ●     Technology Use: They utilize advanced technologies like drones and GPS for effective monitoring and data collection. 6. Policy Implementation ●     Local and National Policies: Rangers ensure that local and national conservation policies are implemented effectively on the ground. ●     Global Agreements: Their work supports the fulfillment of international agreements and commitments, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity. 7. Sustainable Development Goals ●     SDG 15 (Life on Land): Rangers directly contribute to achieving SDG 15 by protecting terrestrial ecosystems and promoting sustainable use of natural resources. ●     Interconnected Goals: Their efforts also support other SDGs, such as poverty reduction (SDG 1) and climate action (SDG 13), by maintaining healthy ecosystems that provide essential services. By fulfilling these roles, wildlife rangers are indispensable in the global effort to conserve biodiversity and achieve sustainable development. Their work not only protects wildlife but also supports the well-being of human communities and the health of our planet. #rangerwellbeing #supportrangers #forwildliferangers #forcefornature #wildliferangers #wildlifehero #wildlifeconservation #biodiversityconservation #lawenforcement #communityengagement #globalenvironmentalfacility #globalbiodiversityframework #sustainabledevelopmentgoals #climatechangemitigation 🌿🌏🤝

The Future of Kenya's Wildlife Corridors: Legal Protection and Challenges. Kenya’s vast wildlife corridors are integral for the migration and survival of its diverse species. Yet, increasing urbanization and infrastructure projects are threatening these vital pathways. For instance, the Nairobi National Park is under threat from multiple construction projects, including the expansion of highways and railways. The Wildlife Conservation and Management Act of 2013 aims to protect these corridors, but enforcement is limited. A notable example is the Tsavo-Amboseli Corridor, which is critical for elephant migration. Despite its importance, human settlement and agricultural expansion have significantly encroached on this corridor. Research by The Wildlife Conservation Society shows that over 70% of Kenya's large mammals, such as elephants, giraffes, and lions, rely on these corridors for survival. The loss of these corridors could lead to increased human-wildlife conflict, threatening both wildlife and local livelihoods. Solutions must include better land-use planning, greater community involvement, and stricter enforcement of wildlife protection laws. Kenya must balance development with conservation, ensuring that its iconic wildlife continues to thrive for future generations.

Over the last five years, there has been a noticeable increase in animal welfare throughout Asia. While the region continues to encounter problems, there have been some encouraging developments in a variety of areas. Here are a couple such examples: Legislation and regulations that are better: - China: In 2020, China revised its Wildlife Protection Law, outlawing wildlife consumption and toughening punishments for unlawful wildlife trading and poaching. - Taiwan was the first Asian country to outlaw the slaughter and consumption of dogs and cats in 2018, encouraging a more humane approach to animal care. Stopping the Trade in Dog Meat: - South Korea: In recent years, the dog meat industry has experienced substantial opposition. The city of Seongnam shut down the country's largest dog butcher in 2018, raising public awareness and reducing the dog meat trade. - Vietnam: The Vietnamese government submitted a draft law in 2021 to prohibit the consumption and trade of dog and cat meat, reflecting evolving attitudes toward animals. Marine Life Protection: - Thailand: To safeguard marine ecosystems and prevent bycatch, Thailand banned the use of certain fishing gear, such as trawling nets, in 2019. The government has sponsored public awareness initiatives regarding the need of marine conservation. - Japan: New restrictions were enacted in 2020 to strengthen control over the capture and trading of dolphins and other small cetaceans, with the goal of reducing their exploitation in the entertainment business. Education and Awareness about Animal Welfare: - India: In 2020, India made animal welfare a mandatory subject in school curricula to teach youngsters the value of treating animals with care and compassion. - Singapore has made attempts to improve animal welfare awareness through public campaigns and initiatives, promoting responsible pet ownership, and condemning animal cruelty. Conservation of Wildlife: - Nepal: Thanks to enhanced conservation efforts, stricter law enforcement, and community engagement, Nepal achieved two consecutive years of zero poaching for rhinos, tigers, and elephants in 2018. - Malaysia: Efforts have been made to safeguard endangered species, including the creation of wildlife corridors to ensure habitat connection and the enforcement of harsher penalties for wildlife trafficking. While these instances show improvement, it is crucial to recognize that there are still problems and geographical variances. However, the achievements described represent a rising awareness of animal welfare issues and the deployment of steps to remedy them. https://lnkd.in/gzqiRuzp https://lnkd.in/gnb_fBbF #education #engagement #community #animalwelfare #farming #animalrights #improving

Raptor protection in Spain was boosted by royal degree in 1432/2008 which introduced legislation to direct Power Utilities to protect wildlife from powerline electrocution and collisions. It resulted in an improved collaboration between Utilities, NgO's, the Spanish public and government departments with a united goal to protect wildlife and reduce outages & fires related to wildlife interaction. Since 2008, Spanish utilities invested ~€120 million euro in wildlife mitigation measures & have dramatically reduced the electrocution mortality in raptor populations in the areas that have been insulated. While this is extremely positive in the context electrocution and electrocution related fire ignition risk, Spain still has a lot of unprotected structures and some challenges remain..... a) Current collision prevention methods have limitations as illustrated in the attached photos... b) Not all structures in Spain have implemented insulation yet. Photo 1: Illustrates an bird safe structure using extended bird safe insulators (>900mm), insulation of live components and best practice of dropping the conductors underneath the tower cross arm. Photo 2: Illustrates another insulated tower in foggy conditions. In this case the spiral bird flight diverters are visible but difficult to see. Photo 3: This photo demonstrates the poor visibility of the conductors and the spiral bird flight diverters behind the first structure travelling into the distance in the fog. Photo 4: Not all structures are insulated, within the flight ranges of the conservation areas. All of the above photos were taken within 1km of each other. Please reply and feed your thoughts and comments underneath.... #wildlifeconservation #wildlifeelectrocution #powerlinecollisions #birdflightdiverter #overheadlinecollision #migration

Strategic Planning for Wildlife: Managing Grizzly Bear Dens in British Columbia and Alberta Identified as key wildlife features in both British Columbia and Alberta, these dens, are among the high-value wildlife features that must be located and managed effectively to minimize impacts from industrial and development activities. A Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos) den means an excavated hole that descends below ground or under a tree root system or is a naturally occurring tree cavity that either (1) is currently used for winter denning, or (2) is habitually used and still capable of providing for winter denning (BC GOV) General Features of Bear Dens Grizzly Bear Dens: 1. Typically located on moderate to steep mountain slopes in alpine, subalpine, or montane environments. 2. Found on cooler north or east-facing slopes where snow accumulates, providing better insulation. 3. In flat areas, they often choose raised spots or knolls for easier digging. Optimal conditions (slope, soil, snow cover) may result in multiple dens in a small area (1-2 ha), with grizzlies returning to the same site year after year. Buffer Zones for Bear Dens Both BC and Alberta have established guidelines for buffer zones around identified grizzly bear dens. British Columbia: Grizzly Bear dens are protected under the Environmental Protection and Management Guidelines (BCER), with a recommended 500m setback from high-impact activities, such as multiwell pads and facilities, at all times. Linear disturbances, including seismic lines and pipelines, must maintain a minimum setback for active bear dens of 250m between Nov 1 and April 15th. If inactive dens are found a 100m setback is required from April 16th – Oct 31st. Alberta: Bear dens are considered a key wildlife feature under Alberta’s Master Schedule of Standards and Conditions (MSSC) and the Wildlife Sweep protocol. A buffer is required around active grizzly bear dens between Oct 1 – April 30th and varies in size from 200m to 750m for high disturbance activities. Pre-Development Surveys for Bear Dens To the greatest extent possible, all potential bear dens should be identified during wildlife sweeps or targeted den surveys and mapped out to avoid disturbance. If bear dens are identified during planned surveys within close proximity to the project right of way or within the buffer setback here are a few key methods of determining if it is active. 1. General den condition, recent digging, tracks, active trails leading to den, bear sighting. 2. FLIR Thermal Cameras to detect internal den temperature. ·3. Camera Trap, installing traps OutFront of entrance to determine bear use.

*A Priori Biodiversity Assessment (PBA)* #PBA is a systematic process used to evaluate the #biodiversity of a specific area before any major development or #land-use change. The goal is to #identify and quantify the presence of various species and ecosystems, understand their conservation status, and assess potential #impacts on biodiversity. #Steps! *Literature #Reviews* Gather existing data on local biodiversity from studies and databases. *Field #Surveys:* Conduct surveys to collect data on flora and fauna using methods like transect walks and camera trapping. *Habitat #Mapping:* Map and classify habitats using remote sensing and GIS. *Species #Inventory:* Identify and inventory species, focusing on endangered and endemic ones. *#Conservation Status:* Assess species and habitats using criteria like those from the #IUCN, identifying critical areas for protection. *Impact #Assessment:* Analyze potential impacts of development on biodiversity, considering direct and indirect effects. *#Mitigation Measures:* Develop strategies to avoid, minimize, or compensate for negative impacts, such as habitat #restoration. *#Reporting:* Compile findings into a report with recommendations for conservation and management. *#Monitoring:* Establish a plan to monitor biodiversity changes and the effectiveness of mitigation measures, adapting practices as needed.