#endangered elephants

[thepastisalreadywritten]

https://www.theherdofhope.com

🩶🐘🩶

[reasonsforhope]

"Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo has a lot to celebrate.

The park, which celebrated its 30th anniversary on December 31 of 2023, also shared an exciting conservation milestone: 2023 was the first year without any elephant poaching detected.

“We didn’t detect any elephants killed in the Park this year, a first for the Park since [we] began collecting data. This success comes after nearly a decade of concerted efforts to protect forest elephants from armed poaching in the Park,” Ben Evans, the Park’s management unit director, said in a press release.

Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park was developed by the government of Congo in 1993 to maintain biodiversity conservation in the region, and since 2014, has been cared for through a public-private partnership between Congo’s Ministry of Forest Economy and the Wildlife Conservation Society.

Pictured: Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park. Photo courtesy of Scott Ramsay/Wildlife Conservation Society

Evans credits the ongoing collaboration with this milestone, as the MEF and WCS have helped address escalating threats to wildlife in the region. 

This specifically includes investments in the ranger force, which has increased training and self-defense capabilities, making the force more effective in upholding the law — and the rights of humans and animals.

“Thanks to the strengthening of our anti-poaching teams and new communication technologies, we have been able to reduce poaching considerably,” Max Mviri, a park warden for the Congolese government, said in a video for the Park’s anniversary. 

“Today, we have more than 90 eco-guards, all of whom have received extensive training and undergo refresher courses,” Mviri continued. “What makes a difference is that 90% of our eco-guards come from villages close to the Park. This gives them extra motivation, as they are protecting their forest.”

As other threats such as logging and road infrastructure development impact the area’s wildlife, the Park’s partnerships with local communities and Indigenous populations in the neighboring villages of Bomassa and Makao are increasingly vital.

“We’ve seen great changes, great progress. We’ve seen the abundance of elephants, large mammals in the village,” Gabriel Mobolambi, chief of Bomassa village, said in the same video. “And also on our side, we benefit from conservation.”

Coinciding with the Park’s anniversary is the roll-out of a tourism-focused website, aiming to generate 15% of its revenue from visitors, which contributes significantly to the local economy...

Nouabalé-Ndoki also recently became the world’s first certified Gorilla Friendly National Park, ensuring best practices are in place for all gorilla-related operations, from tourism to research.

But gorillas and elephants — of which there are over 2,000 and 3,000, respectively — aren’t the only species visitors can admire in the 4,334-square-kilometer protected area.

The Park is also home to large populations of mammals such as chimpanzees and bongos, as well as a diverse range of reptiles, birds, and insects. For the flora fans, Nouabalé-Ndoki also boasts a century-old mahogany tree, and a massive forest of large-diameter trees.

Beyond the beauty of the Park, these tourism opportunities pave the way for major developments for local communities.

“The Park has created long-term jobs, which are rare in the region, and has brought substantial benefits to neighboring communities. Tourism is also emerging as a promising avenue for economic growth,” Mobolambi, the chief of Bomassa village, said in a press release.

The Park and its partners also work to provide education, health centers, agricultural opportunities, and access to clean water, as well, helping to create a safe environment for the people who share the land with these protected animals. 

In fact, the Makao and Bomassa health centers receive up to 250 patients a month, and Nouabalé-Ndoki provides continuous access to primary education for nearly 300 students in neighboring villages. 

It is this intersectional approach that maintains a mutual respect between humans and wildlife and encourages the investment in conservation programs, which lead to successes like 2023’s poaching-free milestone...

Evans, of the Park’s management, added in the anniversary video: “Thanks to the trust that has been built up between all those involved in conservation, we know that Nouabalé-Ndoki will remain a crucial refuge for wildlife for the generations to come.”"

-via Good Good Good, February 15, 2024

[dandelionsresilience]

Dandelion News - November 1-7

Like these weekly compilations? Tip me at $kaybarr1735 or check out my Dandelion Doodles on Patreon!

1. Climate Initiatives Fare Well Across the Country Despite National Political Climate

“[California voters approved] a $10 billion bond measure to boost climate resilience across [the] state[…. Hawai’i] voters cast their ballots in favor of establishing the [climate] resiliency fund, with money for the project coming from existing property tax revenue.“

2. ‘You have to disguise your human form’: how sea eagles are being returned to Severn estuary after 150 years

“[… To avoid imprinting,] the handlers will wear long robes and feed the young eagles chopped rabbit and other meat with bird hand-puppets. […] Williams hopes that restoring eagles to the top of the food chain in the estuary will create a more balanced, thriving ecosystem.”

3. 10 states voted on pro-abortion referendums. 7 of them passed

“New York voters overwhelmingly approved the Equal Rights Amendment, adding [… among other characteristics] gender expression, pregnancy, and pregnancy outcomes to anti-discrimination laws. […] In deep-red Missouri and Montana, voters also enshrined abortions protections in their state constitutions.”

4. Giant rats could soon fight illegal wildlife trade by sniffing out elephant tusk and rhino horn

“”Our study shows that we can train African giant pouched rats to detect illegally trafficked wildlife, even when it has been concealed among other substances[.…] They can easily access tight spaces like cargo in packed shipping containers or be lifted up high to screen the ventilation systems of sealed containers,” Szott explained.”

5. Sarah McBride wins Delaware U.S. House seat, becoming the first out trans member of Congress

“McBride spearheaded Delaware’s legislation to ban the “gay and trans panic” defense as a state senator [… and] helped to pass paid family and medical leave, gun safety measures, and protections for reproductive rights.”

6. Critically endangered Sumatran elephant calf born in Indonesia

“Indonesian officials hailed the births and said they showed conservation efforts were essential to prevent the protected species from extinction. […] Sumatran elephants are on the brink of extinction with only about 2,400-2,800 left in the world, according to the World Wide Fund for Nature.”

7. Sin City is Going Green

“[Hotels there] have conserved 16 billion gallons of water since 2007, thanks to […] replacing grass with desert-friendly landscaping, installing water-efficient taps across all properties, and reusing water at aquariums and in the Bellagio Fountain.”

8. Gray squirrel control: Study shows promise for effective contraceptive delivery system

“[… T]he feeders have a very high level of species-specificity. […] The bait and monitoring system developed and tested in the study demonstrated that […] “spring was the only season tested where female squirrels were more likely to visit bait feeders than males. Spring coincides with a peak in squirrel breeding and is therefore a good time to deliver a contraceptive."”

9. Returning Grazing Land to Native Forests Would Yield Big Climate Benefits

“[… S]trategically regrowing forests on land where cattle currently graze […] while intensifying production elsewhere could drastically cut greenhouse gas emissions, with little hit to global protein production, a new study shows.”

10. Interior Department Strengthens Conservation of American Bison Through New Agreement with Canada and Mexico

“Approximately 31,000 bison are currently being stewarded by the United States, Canada and Mexico with the goal of conserving the species and their role in the function of native grassland systems, as well as their place in Indigenous culture.”

October 22-28 news here | (all credit for images and written material can be found at the source linked; I don’t claim credit for anything but curating.)

[natureisthegreatestartist]

[389]

Andy Warhol, Endangered Species Series

[sitting-on-me-bum]

Rarest Animals In The World That Are On The Brink Of Extinction

Borneo Pygmy Elephant (Elephas Maximus Borneensis)

Wikimedia Commons

[orcinus-veterinarius]

The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee is a wonderful, amazing place but wow the comments on their social media make me uncomfortable.

[tilbageidanmark]

Elephant herds used to be so much larger. Photo by Peter Beard.

[jostoys]

Spring has Sprung, AG 24: Endangered Species

Liv loves elephants! She is hoping to help raise awareness of the plight of her favorite animal. Both species of African elephant (savanna and forest) have been listed as endangered since 2021. Their populations have declined during the last few decades due to poachers seeking ivory and loss of habitat.

Liv’s friend, Kira, has come over to help brainstorm ideas for a “Protect the Elephants” campaign.

[rinusuarez]

Sumatran Elephant Elephas maximus maximus Family: Elephantidae Genus: Elephas Conservation Status: Critically Endangered

Working on this one was a real challenge. The lighting of the photo was difficult to figure out, and the shapes on the head were at an angle that I wasn't familiar with. Anyway, the outcome got me satisfied. I had no idea about this subspecies until I got to study elephants. Very interesting subspecies. Join the club to know more about this and more animals. Also, you can get access to the book in the making and the Esticker album. Click here ____________________________________________ Thank you guys for your support. If you like the content please like and subscribe. Deeping into animals that we think we know every week

[lizardsaredinosaurs]

Golden-rumped Sengi (Rhynchocyon chrysopygus) AKA Golden-rumped Elephant Shrew

Status: Endangered

East Kenya

Threats: habitat fragmentation, trapping

[thepastisalreadywritten]

Victory! 🐘

Canada has officially banned the elephant ivory and rhino horn trade, which includes the import of hunting trophies containing these parts!

@HSI_Canada has been at the forefront of the battle to protect these endangered species, working with Environment and Climate Change Canada to ensure these measures pass.

We also want to thank YOU and the tens of thousands of supporters who signed our action alerts to help make this happen.

🩶🎉🩶

[runawaymun]

btw to anyone who missed it the Oregon Zoo is doing amazing conservation work. The Black Rhino is a critically endangered species, and they only breed in captivity if they have really good conditions.

[arx-aru]

🎵 where are all the fucked up horses in the 🎼

🎶 in the lands between 🎶

🎵 there's only tons of fucked up dogs and 🎵

🎶 carrion birds that are also fucked up 🎶

🎵 i would like some fucked up horses please 🎶

[hotapplekai]

It's #cafezootober Day 12: Forest Elephant & Apple

Cool forest elephant fact: Forest elephants are found in dense forests and are essential for the germination of many rain forest trees. The seeds of these trees only germinate after passing through the elephant’s digestive tract.

Participating in #cafezootober helps to spread the word about critically endangered species, as well as provides the world with much-needed art featuring these beautiful animals.

[Click to learn more about Forest Elephants and how you can help]

[realinfo25]

#Indianelephant, #rhinoceros #Horn #Wildlifetrafficking #BigFive #Savannah #TuskProtection #Nationalparks #Wildlifereserves #Biodiversity #Africanwildlife #Asianwildlife #Wildlife #sanctuaries #Elephant #calves #Rhinocalves #Wildlifepoachers #Conservation #efforts #Wildliferehabilitation #Antipoaching #measures #AnimalRights #Wildlifedocumentaries #Wildlifephotography, #Elephantbehavior #rhinobehavior #Conservation #organizations #Wildlifetracking #Wildliferangers #Wildlifeeducation #Ecotourism #Conservationbiology #Wildlifehabitats #Elephant #intelligence #Rhinointelligence #Wildlifeextinction #Wildlife protection #lawsAnimal #welfare #Wildliferesearch #Wildlife migration #Wildlife #populationtrends

A matchup between an elephant and a rhinoceros would be quite the spectacle! Both are massive animals with unique features and strengths.

In terms of sheer size, African elephants are the largest land animals, weighing several tons and standing up to 13 feet tall at the shoulder. Rhinoceroses, on the other hand, are smaller but still formidable, with the largest species, the white rhinoceros, weighing around 2.2 to 3.6 tons.

In a confrontation, the outcome would likely depend on various factors such as the species of elephant (African vs. Asian), the species of rhinoceros (white, black, Indian, etc.), the individuals involved, and the circumstances of the encounter.

Elephants are known for their intelligence, social structure, and formidable strength. Their tusks can be used as weapons, and they have powerful trunks that can push over trees and fend off predators.

Rhinoceroses, while not as agile or intelligent as elephants, possess thick, armor-like skin and formidable horns. Their charge can be incredibly powerful, and they have been known to flip vehicles in confrontations.