You may not have ever considered keeping bees but information regarding the dwindling Bee populations may have made you wonder if beekeeping could be considered a new way to help save the planet.

A recent report states that there will be several new studies to look at just why Bee populations around the world are dwindling. These studies will look at things like pesticides, disease and loss of habitat. The reason why this is so important may not be apparent to a lot of us, but when you see that in some parts of the world manual pollination of certain food producing plants is already taking place, it soon becomes apparent that we need to get an understanding of this problem very soon.

These projects are to be funded by the Insect Pollinators Initiative (IPI), and will look into the decline of other pollinators such as wasps and butterflies. Others are trying to get businesses to realise the future financial problems that could occur if this decline in pollinators is not stopped, by calculating just how much the produce that we rely upon will increase if manual pollination needs to become more widespread. It is thought that by introducing financial information into the picture businesses will be helped to understand the importance of projects like the one funded by the IPI.

Information regarding Bees and other pollinators will also help us to understand the wider ecological issues. Wild plants rely on these insects for pollination and these plants then feed other species further up the food chain. These plants are also involved in promoting fertile soil conditions for future planting.

Whatever these studies eventually produce it seems obvious that the use of more and more pesticides, insect diseases and loss of habitat all contribute to the decline of honeybees and other important pollinators. This means that it is important that we make our own gardens more appealing to such insects or maybe even consider joining the ranks of those who keep bees as a hobby or even a small business.

Endangered Wildlife: A Global Issue

Across the globe, more and more animal species face extinction. From the rhinos and great apes in Africa, the elephants in Asia, to the tigers in India, animals are becoming increasingly endangered. Conservation organisers have now developed the concept of gap years for adults where people volunteer to do animal conservation work and take some time out from their jobs. Here are just 4 animals in need of a serious wildlife conservation strategy.

Where Have all the Tigers Gone?

It is estimated that there are only about 4000 tigers remaining in the wild worldwide, making them one of the most threatened species. The habitat of the tiger stretches across South East China, and from the Russian Far East all the way to Sumatra in Indonesia. However, tigers can mostly only be found in tiny isolated pockets.

Despite wildlife conservation efforts, tiger population numbers continue to decrease. Tigers are dying because they are being killed for use within the illegal wildlife trade. They are being shot, poisoned and trapped to sell on this market, and it will take the best efforts of those involved with animal conservation work to counter this effect.

The habitat of the tiger is also diminishing because of the expanding human population. The poor local communities also need the land to sustain themselves, and are depleting the vegetation and prey in the tigers’ habitat. Wildlife conservation projects will therefore need to carefully consider how to reduce the need of the local populations to depend on the environment in a destructive way.

Rhinos No Longer Roam in the Wild

Almost no rhinos are still found surviving in the wild. But not so long ago, these creatures were roaming across the entire African continent, and the Southern parts of Asia. There are five species of rhino in existence, two of which are indigenous to Africa, and three to Asia. Volunteers involved with animal conservation work are trying hard to preserve all of these species, some of which face imminent extinction.

The northern white rhino is now on the critically endangered list, and a subspecies of the black rhino is now thought to be extinct. There are some wildlife conservation success stories, however, with the populations of the southern white and northern Indian rhinos now on the increase.

The Great Apes Face Extinction

Found in both Africa and Asia, the great apes once had a mighty population. Now, these majestic creatures are under threat, and it will take concerted wildlife conservation efforts to save these gentle giants.

In Africa, bonobos, eastern and western gorillas face losing their habitat to humans. Human action is degrading and fragmenting their habitat, with civil wars making it difficult for volunteers doing animal conservation work to access the areas in need of protection. Poaching and disease is causing a serious threat to the populations, and wildlife conservation efforts need to be somehow increased.

The orang-utan is the only ape found in Asia, with its last remaining habitats being the Sumatran rainforests and the island of Borneo. These areas are diminishing rapidly, because of illegal logging, oil palm plantations and forest fires caused by human activity. A great way to give something back to nature and attempt to reverse human impact is to take a gap year for adults and help save animals such as these.

The Ivory Issue

Elephants were once the giants of the African and Asian continents, but now their numbers are dwindling, and in Asia and they face extinction. Wildlife conservation projects can only do so much to help these creatures, as people continue to illegally poach elephants for their ivory, meat and hides.

In Africa, elephants are primarily poached for their ivory, and poaching, alongside habitat loss, is placing them under threat. Wildlife authorities do not have the capacity to implement adequate wildlife conservation projects on their own, and volunteers to do animal conservation work are in high demand.

Elephants in Asia are nearing extinction, with the remaining elephant populations being small and fragmented. The biggest problem faced in Asia is the disruption and destruction of their migratory routes and habitat. Poachers also have their role to play, with poaching for ivory, meat and hides being widespread.

Distribution of Endangered Species

Hawaii lists 56 animals and 273 plant species.  

California lists 130 animals and 170 plant species.

Alabama lists 99 animals and 18 plant species.

Florida lists 59 animals and 55 plant species.

Texa lists 65 animals and 28 plant species.

For more information about the Endangered Species Database, visit the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service website.

Outlined below are a few endangered and threatened species of North America that are in jeopardy of being lost forever.

Mexican Wolf (Canis lupus baileyi) – Besides being the smallest subspecies of North American gray wolf, the Mexican Wolf is also the most endangered. Found within Mexico and the Southwest United States, the Mexican Wolf numbers have dwindled to a population of around 300. Due to pressure from a declining food source and eradication efforts, this wolf has been close to extinction since 1950.

Efforts have been made recently to introduce Mexican Wolves back into the wild and increase their numbers. These efforts have been successful, but the majority of animals still live in captivity.To help recovery efforts of the Mexican Wolf, readers are encouraged to check out the Wildlife Adoption & Gift Center to learn how one can Adopt a Wolf.

American Crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) - Listed as endangered by both federal and state laws, the male American Crocodile averages averages 13 feet and nearly 400 pounds.  It is estimated that roughly 2000 American crocodiles inhabit the coastal wetlands that cover the southeastern United States, Mexico and northeastern South America.

Over-hunting, habitat loss and even automobile collisions have contributed to their decline.  Recent conservation efforts such as those at Turkey Point nuclear power plant have helped ensure the continuation of the American Crocodile as a species.

More information on American Crocodiles can be found at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Forida Manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostrus) – The Florida Manatee is currently protected under federal and state endangered species laws.  Boat strikes and man made structures in waterways are the leading threats to manatees.  Poor water quality poses problems to manatees and all marine animals that inhabit the southeastern United States.

Low reproductive rates due to long gestation periods and a single offspring give the Florida Manatee a disadvantage in reversing the dwindling population caused by humans.  Each manatee can live up to 60 years and grow to become 12 feet in length.  With a weight of 1800 pounds, the Florida Manatee consumes and controls marine and freshwater plants throughout their habitats.

The Save the Manatee Club has many resources and links to assist you with gathering more information.

photo credit: Phil Romans

On Friday, November 21, 2008, park rangers returned to Congo gorilla park after a year’s absence. The reserve in Congo is home to nearly a third of the world’s population of mountain gorillas. Over a year ago rebel fighting forced the rangers to abandon the park and its occupants but fortunately, the fighting has ceased and they were allowed to return.

Moreover, UN agreed to send additional 3000 armed forces to the camp in Congo (making it 17000-strong) to ensure some semblance of stability and enable rangers, who are neutral in the conflict, to do their job.

The Virunga National Park is home to 200 out of 700 of the world’s mountain gorillas and the re-establishment of the rangers in crucial to protection of both fauna and flora of the region. Park authorities state that the animals (gorillas, elephants, hippos, antelopes) inhabiting Virunga (on the border of Uganda and Rwanda) have been facing many dangers from the rebels and other armed groups as well as poachers, squatters and coal burners. During 2007 repeated attacks 10 mountain gorillas were killed, among many other animals.

Therefore, it is vital to the survival of the species and the preservation of the ecosystem in the region for the rangers to return to work and hopefully forces on both sides of the conflict will agree that (at least in this case) preserving the hills of Virunga is beneficial for all.

Source: Environment

Sunday, September 7th, the annual Pelican Festival was held at Saylorville Lake near Ankeny, Iowa. Though the day was overcast and even the rain visited a couple times, a few thousand pelicans could be seen resting and catching small fish throughout the mud flats of Saylorville Lake at Jester Park.

Every year, thousands of pelicans make their way from northern breeding grounds through Iowa on the way to warmer temperatures in the south. The perfect place to catch fish and rest their giant wings, Jester Park is a great place to see these wonderful birds in action. Sunny, warm days are the best time to view these birds due to warm thermal uplifts that make flying long distances a breeze.

With a wingspan up to 9 feet, pelicans nest in northern lakes of the United States. North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Canada are prime breeding grounds and provide a wide range of fish for feeding. The White Pelican is able to hold up to 3 gallons of water in their throat pouch, which they scoop up along with small fish before filtering the fish down their throat and the water back to the lake. Pelicans hunt for fish in groups and gather the fish in shallow water before scooping them up with their large mouths. They are known to travel up to 100 miles a day in search of food.

Nesting takes place within a colony of over 20,000 birds. The nests are placed a few feet apart and 2-3 eggs will be laid in each nest. Newly hatched chicks will form “pods” or groups to protect themselves from predators. After 7-10 weeks, the young birds will be able to fly and care for themselves.

Though in 1972, the American white pelican was placed on the threatened species list, in 1987 it was removed due to measures taken to protect these birds. Today, there is an estimated 250,000 adult pelicans and 150,000 immature birds in the United States.

Marine turtle populations have declined drastically over recent years and now of the known 7 species, all are considered protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). By acknowledging the bleak situation we have created for sea turtles, multi-national programs have began to collaborate resources in an effort to protect the nesting grounds and ocean habitats needed for a recovery of marine turtle populations.

Many factors have contributed to the decline including the over harvesting of eggs, destructions of habitats, pollution, fishing nets, and contact with ocean vessels. These actions combined with the low survival rate of hatchlings due to predators, have escalated the need to provide a working program to address the situation.

In the Philippines and Indonesia, Green turtle eggs are being poached and collected at unsustainable record highs. Entire ecosystems deteriorate with the loss of sea turtles as eggs and even decaying hatchlings help provide nutrients to areas that lack other natural means of plant production. Also, marine grasses are dependent on grazing animals such as sea turtles, to maintain a healthy production of wide spread grass beds, as opposed to taller blades that block out sunlight to the ocean floor. These sea beds provide shelter and sustenance to many other marine animals and the decline of the sea turtle has consequences for them all.

Some species, like the Pacific leatherback, are at a critical level with fewer than 500 females coming home to nest on the beaches of Mexico and Costa Rica. Alongside natural threats, poaching appears to be the top cause of their decline. Because some females take 30 years to mature, the effects of over harvesting and fishing can take years to remedy.

Although sea turtles have struggled recently, many conservation groups are putting in time and resources to help their plight. A new agreement has been laid out to coordinate efforts to increase and protect turtle populations. 27 signatories to the agreement are giving a broader picture of efforts and accomplishments being put forth to meet population goals.

The United Nations Environment Programme’s, Douglas Hykle, states “Participating countries have made progress in many areas, but there is still room for improvement. Many have yet to clearly describe their resource needs and to mobilize sufficient funding for domestic implementation; and only a few are carrying the burden of supporting international coordination efforts.”

One effect of sea turtle conservation can be seen in the increase in population of the Kemp’s ridley sea turtle. Though, down to just 700 nests in 1985, the Kemp’s ridley turtle has made a comeback thanks to efforts by the Mexican government to curb illegal harvests and lower the effects of shrimp trawlers.

Loggerhead turtles, off the coast of South Africa, have increased greatly over the past four decades with some 1,750 nests compared to a low of only 250. Loggerhead and other sea turtles are important because they have been known to carry as many as 100 different species of plants and animals in and upon their shells, being directly responsible for the survival of many different marine species.

Over the course of Earth’s history, many animals and plants have become extinct and it is only natural. Recently, though, dramatic changes created by humans are forcing the rapid decline in many vital species of marine plants and animals. As outlined above, many of these animals are vital to the health and future of thousands of other marine species. By acknowledging the problem exists, we can begin to address beneficial steps to change the course of current events. The Bali conference that is taking place shortly, will help to further examine the recent UNEP report about sea turtles and being to change the communication of participating countries and organizations.