Thanks to national parks in Africa, rhinos on the rise, but Northern white nears extinction

White rhinos have increased from 14,540 in 2005 to 17,480 in 2007. Photo A & S Toon

June 28, 2008.  African rhinos have reached record numbers for the first time in decades, but the Northern white rhino (Ceratotherium simum cottoni) is on the brink of extinction.

The figures, complied by the IUCN Species Survival Commission African Rhino Specialist Group, show there are now more than 21,000 African rhinos. 

According to the results, the white rhino (Ceratotherium simum) has increased from 14,540 in 2005 to 17,480 in 2007. It is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™, but one of its two subspecies, the Northern white rhino, is listed as Critically Endangered and is on the brink of extinction.

It is restricted in the wild to Garamba National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the only remaining population was reduced by poaching from 30 in April 2003 to only four confirmed animals by August 2006.

“Worryingly, recent fieldwork has so far failed to find any presence of these four remaining rhinos,” says Dr Martin Brooks, Chair of the IUCN SSC African Rhino Specialist Group. “Unless animals are found during the intensive surveys that are planned under the direction of the African Parks Foundation, the subspecies may be doomed to extinction.”


Northern white rhino at Garamba National Park

In contrast, the other subspecies, the Southern white rhino (Ceratotherium simum simum), is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List and continues to increase in numbers and range.

Similarly, the population of African black rhino (Diceros bicornis), has increased from 3,730 in 2005 to 4,180 in 2007, although it still remains Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. In the last two years alone, numbers have risen by about 450 animals, with several new populations being founded or enhanced through translocation, such as in North Luangwa National Park, Zambia.

“This is fantastic news for the African black rhino,” says Dr Richard Emslie, Scientific Officer of the IUCN SSC African Rhino Specialist Group. “However, these magnificent creatures are not out of the woods yet. They are still classed as Critically Endangered and face increasing threats of poaching and civil unrest. There is no room for complacency.”

The majority of African black rhino living in national parks and other protected areas can be found in just four countries – Zimbabwe, South Africa, Namibia and Kenya but with increasing numbers in a number of other range states. All countries with breeding populations have recorded increases, except Zimbabwe, whose numbers are slightly down.

Poaching for rhino horn remains the rhino’s Achilles heel, and while under control in many countries it has been responsible for significant losses in both the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zimbabwe.

“Even though protection from poaching is critical, effective rhino conservation must also include intensive monitoring and biological management to ensure annual growth rates of at least 5 % per year so that surplus rhinos are made available to create new populations,” says Dr Martin Brooks.

Learn more: International Rhino Foundation

World Heritage Committee to meet in Quebec

The World Heritage Committee will consider requests for the inscription of new sites on UNESCO's World Heritage List when it meets for its 32nd session in Québec, Canada, from 2 to 10 July.

During this year’s session, hosted by Canada to coincide with the 400th anniversary celebration of the founding of Québec City, 41 States Parties to the World Heritage Convention will present properties for inscription on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Among them are five countries that have no sites inscribed on the List: Kyrgyzstan, Papua New Guinea, San Marino, Saudi Arabia and Vanuatu.

The Committee will also review the state of conservation of the 30 World Heritage sites inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger and may decide to add new sites to that list of properties whose preservation requires special attention. The List in Danger features sites which are threatened by a variety of problems such as natural disasters, pillaging, pollution, and poorly managed mass tourism, that may have a negative impact on the universal values for which they were inscribed on the World Heritage List.

Among sites on the List in Danger, the cultural landscape of Germany’s Dresden Elbe Valley will come under particular scrutiny. In keeping with the decision it took at its last meeting, the Committee will decide whether to keep the property on the World Heritage List or whether the building of a bridge in the heart of the landscape warrants its deletion from the List.

The properties submitted by States Parties for inscription on the World Heritage List number 13 natural and 34 cultural sites (see list below), including two transboundary sites, and five extensions to properties already listed.

To date, UNESCO’s 1972 Convention on the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage protects 851 properties of “outstanding universal value,” including 660 cultural, 166 natural and 25 mixed properties in 141 States Parties.

The Convention encourages international cooperation to safeguard the common heritage of humanity. With 185 States Parties, it is one of the most widely ratified international legal instruments. When they sign the Convention, States Parties commit to preserve sites on the World Heritage List, as well as sites of national and regional importance, notably by providing an appropriate legal and regulatory framework.

The World Heritage Committee, responsible for the implementation of the 1972 Convention, is comprised of representatives of 21 countries, elected by the States Parties for up to six years. Each year, the Committee adds new sites to the List. The sites are proposed by the States Parties. Applications are then reviewed by two advisory bodies: cultural sites by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), and natural sites by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) which inform the Committee of their recommendations. The International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Conservation of Cultural Heritage (ICCROM) provides expert advice on conservation and training in restoration techniques.

The World Heritage Committee also examines reports on the state of conservation of inscribed sites and asks States Parties to take appropriate conservation and preservation measures when necessary. The Committee supervises the disbursement of over $4 million per annum from the World Heritage Fund, aimed at emergency action, training of experts and encouraging technical cooperation. UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre is the Secretariat of the World Heritage Committee.

Accredited journalists will be able to attend the opening ceremony of the 32nd session (2 July, 3 p.m.) which will include the participation of the Chairperson of the World Heritage Committee, Christina Cameron (Canada), representatives of the governments of Canada and Québec, the Director-General of UNESCO, Koïchiro Matsuura, the President of UNESCO’s General Conference, George N. Anastassopoulos (Greece), and the Chairman of UNESCO’s Executive Board, Olabiyi Babalola Joseph Yaï (Benin).

Natural properties submitted for inscription to the World Heritage List: Quarry of the Fabrica Nacional de Cementos S.A. (FANCESA), Cal Orck’O, Sucre, Departamento Chuquisaca (Bolivia), an extension to the Pirin National Park (Bulgaria), The Joggins Fossil Cliffs (Canada), Mount Sanqingshan National Park (China), Lagoons of New Caledonia: Reef Diversity and Associated Ecosystems (France), Surtsey (Iceland), Bradyseism in Phlegraean Area (Italy), Saryarka – Steppe and Lakes of Northern Kazakhstan (Kazakhstan), Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (Mexico), Hovsgol Lake and its Watershed (Mongolia), “The Putorana Plateau” Nature Complex (Russian Federation), Swiss Tectonic Arena Sardona (Switzerland), Socotra Archipelago (Yemen).

Rwanda hosts conference and  Annual Gorilla Naming Ceremony

Baby mountain gorilla, Amahoro Group, Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda by Rick LoBello.

For the first time, as part of Kwita Izina celebrations, over 150 conservationists, researchers and development partners worldwide are expected to converge and attend a high profile conference on June 19th 2008 at Hotel Novotel.

The Conference will be used a platform to raise the profile of conservation and protected areas in Rwanda including Volcanoes National Park, Nyungwe National Park, and Akagera National Park. The meeting will focus attention on the importance of knowledge based approaches for the long term conservation of wildlife.

According to Director of Wildlife agency, Ruzigandekwe Fidel, “we shall, take the opportunity to review the achievements in conservation; lessons learned and propose a framework on effective management of Protected Areas (PA) in Rwanda.”

Ruzigandekwe Fidel confirms, “despite the Rwanda being a success model in conservation, the challenge before us today, is to develop consensus on a common vision for the future of Protected Areas (PAs) and the linkages between Wildlife Protected Areas and the people of Rwanda”

Speaking about the expectations of the conference, he confirms that the participants will craft a vision statement on the future of Rwanda’s PA’s and also design the proposed approaches for integrating PA management with environmental management and community livelihoods. Recommendations for attaining a national Wildlife Policy and legal framework will be drawn.

The participants are renowned local and regional researchers, internationally recognized conservationists, policy analysts, academicians, representatives of Government, non governmental agencies and the general public.

Among the various presentations to be made include; Background of Gorilla conservation, constraints and status of conservation in Rwanda, Reconciling Protected Areas Management and Development Aspirations of the Rwandan People and set Strategies for the Future.
Registration is underway for those interested in attending the conference.

KWITA IZINA – Gorilla Naming and Launching of Sabyinyo Community Lodge at KINIGI

On Saturday, June 21st, Rwanda will once again host one of the most celebrated traditions of Banyarwanda people is the naming ceremony known as “Kwita Izina” which means ‘to give a name’. In a conscious effort to raise the profile of the gorilla naming ceremony and propel it into one of the world’s tourist premier events, ORTPN has adapted this name to celebrate the births of Gorillas in their natural habitat. Every birth is a confirmation of a successful conservation and protection program that will one day achieve its principle objective of removing the mountain gorilla off the endangered species list.

The need to evolve the identity was in line with the broader vision of this event. Rwanda was the first country to have a public Gorilla naming ceremony and intends to use this high profile event, firstly as a platform to create awareness at both national and International level and keep the momentum and enthusiasm by everybody to protect the few remaining Mountain Gorilla’s in the world. Secondly, to advise on the success of Rwanda’s conservation of the Mountain Gorillas and it’s Habitat and thirdly to attract tourists to come and visit Rwanda during the Kwita Izina ceremonies.

Independence Mine State Historical Park Opens

Alaska State Parks is pleased to announce that Independence Mine State Historical Park is now officially opened to the public.

Operating hours for the visitor center are 11:00am to 6:00pm daily until the weekend after Labor Day.

Guided tours of the mine camp are scheduled daily and will cost $5.00 per person. Tour times are 1:00pm and 3:00pm daily with an added 2:00pm geological tour on Saturdays and Sundays.

A day use parking fee of $5.00 per vehicle is charged and the State Park annual day use parking decals are honored.

For further information please contact Alaska State Parks, Mat-Su area headquarters at 907-745-3975 or the Independence Mine State Historical Park at 745-2827.

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Chimpanzee joins Face Book

June 15, 2008.  A 20-year-old male chimpanzee named Albert was the first ape to join Face book, the largest online social network. Soon after Albert joined, three other chimps named Mr. Jones, Sheena, and Britney followed. Face book must be great: over 40 million humans and four chimps can't all be wrong!

Scientists from The University of Northern Oregon have spent the last two years training Albert and his comrades, who all belong to the Pan troglodytes species, to acquire language skills necessary for their online social life.

With the help of specially designed software that recognizes sign language (ASL), and a chimp proof adapted touch screen, these leading scientists recently announced that the four apes can communicate using more than 1000 symbols, adapted to the most popular features of the online social network. They can chat online with their best friends from around the world, write text messages and even upload their favorite profile pictures. Alberts gang has become very popular among Face book’s users. Although sociologists and anthropologists have used social networks as empirical research tools, Face book will now provide a new platform for biologists to observe the chimpanzees´ social skills, claims Chief Researcher Dr. John F. Marlowe. Previous studies have revealed that chimpanzees and humans use the same brain region to communicate verbally and non-verbally. The neurobiological connection between chimps and humans was realized after years of observing chimps at the National Primate Research Center in Atlanta, USA. These results can be interpreted to show that chimps have a brain designed for language, and use it to produce symbols that build their communicative repertoire, claims Dr. Marlowe. Albert is a prodigious exemplar of our closest genetic relative. This genetic closeness supports comments made by Professor of Anthropology and Biology, Dr. Robin Dunbar who claims that, chimps should be considered human due to our biological proximity. Professor Marlowes new challenge is to train Albert in the use of more sophisticated social networks like palabea.

China’s Wolong Nature Reserve hit hard by quake

June 1, 2008.  Last month's catastrophic earthquake in China caused major damage at the Wolong China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda.  The reserve is close to the epicenter of the quake that has killed over 55,000 people.  Three people from the Wolong Nature Reserve Management Bureau were killed. The infrastructure in the reserve has been seriously damaged including 32 sets of giant panda enclosures, 14 of which were destroyed.  One panda is missing. 

An estimated 1,600 giant pandas live in nature parks in three Chinese provinces.  There are 239 in captivity, 86 of those registered to Wolong.

According to reports from the Chinese website "Sohu" six giant pandas were evacuated from the reserve on Friday due to food shortages and damage to their enclosures.  Eight other pandas were flown to the Beijing Zoo earlier in the week to go on display during the Olympics.  The transfer was planned before the quake.  

The Chinese government has started making shipments of bamboo-shoot rations for the pandas at the reserve since there is no one available to collect food for them.

More: National Geographic Video Report

Kenya Wildlife Service gives up famous Amboseli National Park

For some reason this hasn’t hit the mainstream press, but according to the East African newspaper,  the KWS have given up Amboseli National Park.This story goes back to  2005 when the president in his wisdom gave away the reserve to the local Maasai in what many believe was an attempt to buy support  for constitutional referendum. They accepted the land which overlooks Mt Kilimanjaro, and voted against him anyway.

Local NGO’s Nature Kenyaand Eastern African Environmental Network took the government to court to squash the ministers decision to actually gazette the presidents declaration. The case is still in court. Despite this KWS have apparently given up and the newspaper claim that they have a copy of an agreement to that effect. It seems that the agreement puts KWS in a contracted position to manage the park on behalf of the council who can boot them out if they are not happy.

Why does this matter?   More

Rare leopards found in Siberia’s Kedrovaya Pad Reserve

April 25, 2008.  A camera trap in Kedrovaya Pad reserve has captured rare footage of one of the world’s most endangered cats.

Eight Far Eastern (Amur) Leopards were photographed in the reserve, located in the Primorsky Krai, during a census being conducted by WWF-Russia and the Institute for Sustainable Use of Nature Resources.

For Pavel Fomenko, coordinator of the biodiversity conservation program at the Armur branch of WWF-Russia, “the confirmed stability of the leopard population living in the territories of Kedrovaya Pad biosphere reserve and Barsovyi wildlife refuge warm our hearts and give hopes.”

“But this is only a small part of the leopard’s habitat in the southwest Primorsky. The remaining 70 per cent of leopard’s habitat are in precarious conditions.”

“The goal of utmost importance to create a unified federal protected area for the Far Eastern leopard has not yet been achieved in Primorsky”, said Fomenko.

Over the past years, scientists have been monitoring the rare cat’s plight using camera traps to develop effective measures to its conservation.

As tigers and leopards’ coloration is individual, the pictures are a way to compare and identify specimen. “The information we receive from camera traps can be processed through mathematic methods. So, by comparing the different photographs taken at different intervals, we can estimate the real number of leopards living in a certain area”, said Vladimir Aramilev, Head of the Institute for Sustainable Use of Nature Resources.