LATEST CaRNIVOre NEWS from around the globe - By Region
Africa
Africa
Africa
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Large African carnivores research explores effects of prey depletion on populations
[Phys.org - January 28, 2025]
"Two recently published studies by a Montana State University ecologist reveal new findings about the relationship between population dynamics of two species of large African carnivores and the availability of their prey."
Photo Credit: Tom Skeele
Asia
Africa
Africa
The Indigenous Range of the Tiger (Panthera tigris)
[Diversity and Distribution - January 18, 2025]
"Indigenous range maps are fundamental documents in biogeography, phylogeny and conservation. We define the indigenous range of a species as ecoregions (or parts of ecoregions) where the species was likely found before humans became a major factor shaping the species' distribution, beginning at a time when the geographical alignment of the continents and the prevailing climate are (or at least were) roughly consistent with current conditions. We developed a structured, generally applicable method to map a species' indigenous range and applied this process to the tiger (Panthera tigris)."
Photo Credit: public domain image from Adobe Stock
Europe
Africa
Latin America
The paradox of balancing conservation efforts for Himalayan wolves and snow leopards [A commentary by Naresh Kusi]
[Mongabay - January 15, 2025]
"The Himalayan wolf (Canis lupus chanco) and snow leopard (Panthera uncia) are apex predators in alpine ecosystems. By controlling the numbers of meso-predators and herbivores, these top predators can have cascading effects on plant and animal species at different trophic levels. Their predation activities create intricate trophic interactions that help stabilize food webs and promote a balanced ecosystem. These predators support nutrient cycling by helping scavengers through carrion provisioning and dispersing essential nutrients across the ecosystem. Furthermore, these carnivores attract global tourism, providing local communities with valuable ecotourism opportunities."
Photo Credit: from Mongabay commentary.
Latin America
Latin America
Jaguars and Artificial Intelligence: A New Era. Can Technology Save These Majestic Cats?
[Tumirador news - January 26, 2025]
"In an unprecedented blend of wildlife conservation and cutting-edge technology, artificial intelligence (AI) is stepping up to help protect jaguars, the elusive yet majestic big cats of the Americas. Jaguars, now listed as near-threatened due to habitat loss and illegal poaching, may find an unlikely ally in AI-driven surveillance and tracking technologies."
Photo Credit: from article
NOrth America
NOrth America
Why Wolves Still Matter for Northeastern Forests
[The Rewilding Institute - January 22, 2025]
"State environmental agencies across the Northeast insist that wolves are extirpated, or gone from the landscape. Yet every once in a while, a wolf turns up in the region, usually because a coyote hunter shot it. These unfortunate events point to the possibility that wolves are returning to the Northeast, as well as the new reality—borne out by recent genetic studies—that wolf-coyote mixes are evolving. Nadia Steinzor, Northeast Carnivore Advocate for the Rewilding Institute, discusses these issues and the implications for policy and ecology on From the Forest, a podcast of the Catskill Forest Association in New York State."
Photo Credit: screenshot from The Rewilding Institute blog.
LATEST News by theme: COMMENTARY, SCIENCE, POlicy, prACticE
Commentary
Commentary
Commentary
Mountain lions are an important species in Nevada — they deserve better protections - OpEd by Dana Kilroy
Reno Gazette Journal (Nevada, USA) - January 22, 2025]
"Nevada is home to one of the richest and most diverse groups of wildlife in the United States. From bald eagles and sidewinders, and from wild mustangs to mountain lions, we are lucky to have 900 different species of fish, birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles living in our habitats.
"As part of their publicly stated mission, Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) commits 'To protect, conserve, manage and restore wildlife and its habitat for the aesthetic, scientific, educational, recreational, and economic benefits to citizens of Nevada and the United States, and to promote the safety of persons using vessels on the waters of Nevada.'
"It sounds noble.
"And yet, some species, especially mountain lions, are maimed or killed because of NDOW’s refusal to amend trapping regulations to match public sentiment, best management practices, and the policies of other states."
Photo Credit: Marilyn Newton, RGJ File, from Op Ed.
Science
Commentary
Commentary
Jaguars and Artificial Intelligence: A New Era. Can Technology Save These Majestic Cats?
[Tumirador news - January 26, 2025]
"In an unprecedented blend of wildlife conservation and cutting-edge technology, artificial intelligence (AI) is stepping up to help protect jaguars, the elusive yet majestic big cats of the Americas. Jaguars, now listed as near-threatened due to habitat loss and illegal poaching, may find an unlikely ally in AI-driven surveillance and tracking technologies."
Photo Credit: from article
Policy
Why Wolves Still Matter for Northeastern Forests
[The Rewilding Institute - January 22, 2025]
"State environmental agencies across the Northeast insist that wolves are extirpated, or gone from the landscape. Yet every once in a while, a wolf turns up in the region, usually because a coyote hunter shot it. These unfortunate events point to the possibility that wolves are returning to the Northeast, as well as the new reality—borne out by recent genetic studies—that wolf-coyote mixes are evolving. Nadia Steinzor, Northeast Carnivore Advocate for the Rewilding Institute, discusses these issues and the implications for policy and ecology on From the Forest, a podcast of the Catskill Forest Association in New York State."
Photo Credit: screenshot from The Rewilding Institute blog.
Practice
For Ranchers In Costa Rica, Jaguars And Pumas Become Unexpected Allies
[MONGABAY - October 3, 2024]
Commentary by Tom Skeele, CCC
This story is yet another example of how promoting coexistence with predators, or all wildlife for that matter, remains a critical, cutting-edge strategy in the global wildlife conservation community. And here is the backstory on why I enjoy reading about such efforts.
In 1991, when I co-founded Predator Conservation Alliance (PCA), the question was “if” some of the larger carnivores would be able to fulfill their critical role in the natural world of the U.S. Northern Rockies. For wolves, it was a question of if we were going to allow for their return to all corners of the five-state region. For grizzly bears, the question was not only if they would survive where they existed, but would they be allowed to thrive throughout the region.
During the next decade or so, PCA joined with many advocacy organizations to secure the reestablishment of wolves and expansion of grizzly bears in the region. This success led to a shift in how we viewed the long-term viability of these species in the region. No longer was it a question of “if” they would be on the land. Increasingly, the question was “how” were we going to live, or
coexistence, with these animals now that they were on the land.
This shift inspired PCA to launch a “Coexisting with Predators” program, where we addressed four existing or emerging types of human-carnivore conflict: [1] Livestock: grazing and other agricultural pursuits; [2] Residential: reducing residential attractants at the “urban-wildlands interface”; [3] Human Safety: living and recreating in predator country; and [4] Hunting: competition and conflicts between hunters and predators.
While leading the design and implementation of this new program, I was also a co-founder of Predator Friendly, Inc. – a coalition of sheep producers, conservationists, wildlife ecologists, and clothing manufacturers developing a “green market” certification program for woolgrowers using non-lethal predator control practices. As I mentioned in another recent post, this project was one of the initial efforts that led to what is now a worldwide "wildlife friendly" movement.
Fast forward to today and it is very encouraging to see how coexisting with wildlife has become a leading focus of the global conservation community. Enough so that within the rewilding movement, many advocates – including The Rewilding Institute, with whom I work part time – have expanded the original “three C’s” of rewilding (cores, connectivity, carnivores) to include a fourth “C” – coexistence.
All this leads me to want to share this article about the work being done by Panthera, Costa Rican conservation authorities, and ranchers in Costa Rica.
Photo Credit: from Mongabay article.