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Paignton Zoo Curator Returns From a Gruelling Quest to the Wilds of Africa
Paignton, UK - Two Devon conservationists have returned home from a gruelling quest to the wilds of Africa. Mike Bungard, Curator of Lower Vertebrates and Invertebrates at Paignton Zoo Environmental Park, and Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust Overseas Conservation Officer Andy Bowkett spent ten days in Tanzania on a field trip designed to pave the way for vital work with endangered amphibians. Mike’s first trip to mainland Africa featured elephants on the roadside, sharing breakfast with giant African millipedes and losing a wheel off his four by four while out in the bush. Mike said: “We went to the Udzungwa Mountains in Tanzania to look at setting up conservation projects and partnerships to help East African amphibians. Andy’s experience in the country proved really useful. One of the hardest things is building trust with local communities and establishing a network – it makes life much easier when you are already known in the country. “The Udzungwa Scarp Forest Reserve is a small, remote, poorly protected upland forest area. Very little is known about the species there, except that there are frogs found nowhere else in the world. The Udzungwa Mountains are a biodiversity hotspot due to their isolation.” The trip was an amazing introduction to the country and the continent. “Driving in a busy African city was an experience,” recalled Mike. “But travelling in the bush brings its own problems – including elephant, giraffe and buffalo on the roadside! We drove a lot on rough tracks that really take it out of vehicles. At one point we got a flat tyre and had to flag down a passing truck. On another occasion, we were on our way back to base when we lost a wheel off our four by four!” They set up a base camp at the Udzungwa Ecological Monitoring Centre and spent a couple of days sorting out permits and guides before venturing into the remote scarp region. The trek was long and steep in hot and humid conditions: “We climbed to 1400 metres above sea level in 30 degrees and then, because time was short, went right into a night survey of the area. It was difficult terrain – we were in rainforest with tumbling streams, large boulders – and nocturnal venomous snakes!” They then climbed up to 1700 metres. “The views were fabulous. We heard more than we saw – the amphibians were loud but elusive. Unfortunately, the late rains meant that frogs were more difficult to find than normal so we were very lucky to see some of the highly localised threatened species.” They also saw extraordinary insects, weird catfish, wild bees and a species of ant with a golden rump. “It was a very productive trip, well worth doing. It gives us a good idea of just how hard it is to get around in the area. There is a huge opportunity – and an urgent need - for conservation work there.” In addition, the pair held talks with local conservationists. Mike: “That was exceedingly useful. We could see Paignton Zoo and the Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust taking on the assessment of particular endangered species and helping to map their distribution. There are only a few conservationists working in the area, so it is great that we can step in to help. It’s a terrific opportunity.” Paignton Zoo’s Amphibian Ark species rescue and reintroduction centre, which opened in August 2009, was built to help save species in Madagascar, Tanzania and Trinidad. The work will include a mix of field work and conservation breeding at the Zoo. Out of the world’s 6,000 known amphibian species, 32% are threatened with extinction, compared to 22% of mammal species. Paignton Zoo Environmental Park is a registered charity. For more information go to www.paigntonzoo.org.uk or ring (01803) 697500. To view Paignton Zoo's web page on Zoo and Aquarium Visitor, go to: http://www.zandavisitor.com/forumtopicdetail-783-Paignton_Zoo_Environmental_Park |
By Philip Knowling
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Unusual to have three snow leopard cubs
Congratulations to ABQ BioPark and the proud cat parents on the birth of three snow leopard cubs. That's fantastic news and we look forward to these three playing an important role in snow leopard survival breeding and also helping educate people about their endangered cousins in the wild.
Snow leopards live in some of the most extreme environments on earth - in high altitudes and freezing temperatures. If we don't do a lot of work with communities and governments in snow leopards 12 range countries, these beautiful cats may be extinct in the wild in our life time.
Sibylle Noras
Founder and Publisher
“Saving Snow Leopards” website. See how conservationists and zoos are working to help these rare and elusive cats avoid extinction.
http://www.snowleopardblog.com
Love penguin fluffballs.
I especially liked if you go to the zoo's homepage and click on the info about naming the baby, the winner says she'd like to be able to tell her dad that a penguin was named after him for his birthday. Adorable!
If you have any interest in reading a new blog, featuring conservation of adorable animals and their habitats, please check out my website...
Conservation:Cute
http://conservationcute.blogspot.com/
Thanks!
World Oceans Day
For more information about World Oceans Day and a list of other events in your area you can visit www.WorldOceansDay.org
Elephants
Asome news on the new baby! I agree with everyone here on the fact that animals should not be in captivation. If you want to check out a really cool place in Thailand where you can care for elephants check out http://www.elephantstay.com this place is a sanctuary for retired working elephants, it's an amazing place and they do so much good for the animals who live there. I went a few months ago and it was amazing.
Kimberly Juchnowski
Publisher, http://www.tikikiki.com
zoo animal diet's
It's ridiculous to try extrapolate zoo animals diet to human beings, and it flies in the face of all science of the last 30 years that looked into nutrition and health research. Maybe Rudy Socha was being sarcastic? I hope so.
response to starseed
I fully agree with you when it comes to the captivity of orcas. These animals live considerably shorter, unhealthier lives than they normally would have in the wild. I am disgusted by what I have seen at Sea World. They claim to be trying to educate people on the animals when really it is all nothing but a circus with the animals being made to perform to attract customers. I am a little more on the fence however when it comes to some other species of dolphins, such as the ones they keep at Vancouver Aquarium. While I do not support the capture of wild dolphins, I do recognize the fact that there are species that actually live longer and perhaps healthier lives in captivity than in the wild. One of the neat things at the Vancouver Aquarium is that none of the dolphins were captured for the purpose of entertainment: they were all animals that were rescued after getting caught and injured in fishing nets and are unable to return to the wild due to their injuries. I have seen the shows and the aquarium are truly focused more on educating visitors than trying to entertain them at the animals' expense.
Christian's Award
I know that Christian is dedicated to her aquarium job and to the rehab of sea turtles. I am proud of her.
Dry Tortugas National Park
The seashore, our accredited Summer Learning Adventure Camps merge scientific exploration Dry Tortugas National Park with hands-on fun and learning. Campers investigate marine habitats, create ocean art projects, learn about careers in oceanography, and combine the science and sports of surfing and snorkeling, all while making new friends and memories.
hey
http://www.deafmatching.com is an online community for deaf, ASL and hearing-impaired friends and singles!
Have fun with photos, message boards, chat, blog and more.
Don't support it anymore
I think we should move on from having dolphins in captivity now - we all know this isn't good for them.
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diabetes
pacaya samiria national reserve
The Pacaya Samiria National Reserve is a magical place. The flora, fauna, remoteness and beauty are exquisite. Another interesting aspect is how the indigenous people there live. To learn more and see photos taken by indigenous children in the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, you can visit ninosdelaamazonia.org
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