Spreading Awareness About Water Voles To Help Stop Their Decline

The following is a Guest post by Ross Stevens, on behalf of Total Ecology who undertake surveys for water voles and otters at http://www.totalecology.com/mammal-survey/. Thanks Ross!

Water voles finish their breeding season in October. From then on, throughout the autumn and winter, all the territories that have been created and defended throughout the spring and summer cease to exist. Many of the tell tale signs of water vole activity disappear, including latrines. Latrines are piles of flattened droppings that an adult will uses to mark its territory and these are maintained throughout the breeding season.

Water Voles don’t hibernate. They remain active through out the cold months, however they spend most of their time underground within their nest chambers. In winter the colony will often contract, so that adults that were previously territorial now live side-by-side within the same burrow system. They normally choose a place where they will be safe from flooding, where they can dig burrows higher up the bank sides away from the waters edge. If winter grounds are not chosen wisely then a severe winter flood can result in a whole colony of water voles being flooded out and lost. In this situation, if they don’t actually drown, then they are usually picked off by one of the many animals that feed on them. The most famous water vole predator is the American Mink, which escaped or was released from fur farms during last century and is now widespread throughout the country. 

Flooding is not the only problem a colony will face over winter. Less vegetation means less cover to protect them from predators, but more importantly it means less food. Water voles will eat a wide variety of plants, however tree bark, especially willow, provides an important food source in winter. It’s at this time of year that water voles will also turn to the roots and bulbs of plants in order to survive the winter months and in autumn fallen fruits are a favourite. 

A whole colony living in one place makes them far more susceptible to persecution. Water voles are far larger then field voles, bank voles and mice. They are only slightly smaller then a rat, so are far too often mistaken for one. Colonies of water voles are often dug out, or poisoned, or killed by terriers. Thought to have undergone a 94% decline, the water vole is now one of the most threatened mammals in the country. This harmless vegetarian does not spread diseases like rats do, so please think carefully before putting poison next to a watercourse or any water body. 

It is thought that a water vole needs to obtain a weight of at least 170g in order to survive the winter. This means that those born earlier in the year have better chance of survival. A water vole rarely survives more then one winter, but very occasionally they may survive 2 or even three. All in all, it seems that winter is a hard time for a water vole. It is actually thought that up to 70% of a colony is lost over winter, leaving just a few individuals to set up breeding territories again in March.

Get Us Out of Here!

Giant Ditch Frog (Leptodactylus fallax), Critically Endangered

The Giant Ditch Frog, also known as the Mountain Chicken by locals due to its size and the taste of its flesh, is confined to two small islands in the Carribbean: Montserrat and Dominica. Although it used to inhabit several other nearby islands, it's total current range on the two islands is less than 50 km squared.

What caused it's decline? Environmental factors such as hurricanes and volcanoes may have played a part, as well as over-harvesting for food, with an estimated annual take of 8,000-36,000 (the government imposed a hunting ban on this former national dish, when populations started to decline).

Adding to the dilemma of this critically endangered amphibian is the world wide chytrid fungus crisis, a disease that is decimating frog populations around the globe. Although the island of Dominica has been infected since 2002, the island of Montserrat managed to remain disease free--until recently. In late 2008 or early 2009 the fungus made the jump to Montserrat and is currently decimating the Giant Ditch Frog population there, killing hundreds in just the past few weeks.

Fortunately, Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust and the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) have stepped in to help save this rare animal. Going into an area of healthy frogs where the disease had not yet reached, conservationists have successfully removed 50 individuals and airlifted them to Europe for use in a captive breeding program. Twelve of the Frogs will go to the ZSL, 12 to Durrell Wildlife, and the remaining 26 will go to Parken Zoo in Stockholm. The frogs will be kept in special biosecure housings to prevent infection by the chytrid fungus.

The goal is to breed the frogs and reintroduce individuals to disease-free areas of Montserrat within two years. Although the frogs have been bred in captivity before, it is a difficult process, as they have huge appetites and have unusual breeding habits for frogs. After digging a hole in the ground and filling it with foam, the female deposits 15-50 tiny eggs. The eggs hatch and develop into tadpoles, all in this isolated foam nest. For food, the mother deposits unfertilized eggs every few days for the young to feed on.

Although the captive breeding program promises hope for the Giant Ditch Frog, more needs to be done. Durrell Wildlife is currently raising funds to build an additional bio-secure facility to house these endangered frogs. For as little as 10 pounds (15 USD, 18 CAD), you can support the care of a Giant Ditch Frog. Donate or shop online or call Natalie Ranise on 01534 860013 (UK).

Short Snouts are Back

Short-snouted Seahorse (Hippocampus hippocampus), Data Deficient

Earlier this month, conservationists from the Zoological Society of London announced that several Short-snouted Seahorses (which are actually fish, for those who wondered) had been found in the Thames River. Though they had been found earlier, the announcement was delayed, until official protection for the Seahorses came into effect on April 6, 2008, under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981. Conservationists believe that the rediscovery of the Short-snouted Seahorse illustrates the improving health of the Thames as habitat for marine life.

The conservation status of Short-snouted Seahorses is unknown, and the IUCN classifies them as Data Deficient. They could be abundant and plentiful . . . or they could be teetering on the brink of extinction.

The Seahorse Trust works worldwide to conserve Seahorses, and you can donate to their cause from their website.

Incremental Increase

Iberian Lynx (Lynx Pardinus), Critically Endangered



Three Iberian Lynx kittens have recently been born in captivity, boosting the population of the worlds rarest cat.

Saliega, raised in captivity since birth, has produced her fourth litter in as many years. Three kittens were born, but only two survived, which is often the case in the wild. However, Brisa, Saliega's daughter, produced two kittens of her own within days of her mother. Of those two, one was still-born, and the other is being cared for by staff at the breeding center in Huelva, Spain.

Azahar and Frans, another pair of Iberian Lynx at a zoo in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, are expected to have a litter in mid-April.

There are currently only about 150 Iberian Lynx living in the wild, and scientists have estimated that there is a 95% chance the they will be extinct within 32 years, without drastic measures. A captive breeding program is underway, and additional centers are being constructed, but the problems of habitat loss and fragmentation continue to plague the recovery of Europe's last large feline.

Support efforts to save the lynx through petitions, donations, and other methods.

Cats!

Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus), critically endangered

I've been away from the world of computers and internet and news in general for quite some time, having been limited to 10-30 minute spurts of online time, every week or so. So it was a nice surprise that one of the first pieces of news I stumbled upon was good. The critically endangered Iberian Lynx, found mainly in southern Spain, has been reduced to about 100 individuals, in two isolated populations. Recently, however, a previously unknown population has been discovered in central Spain, offering a bit of hope for the survival of "Europe's Tiger." Still, the Iberian Lynx is a long way off from stability or full recovery, still being threatened by habitat and prey loss, and accidental death by vehicles.

Tyger! Tyger! burning bright

Tiger (Panthera tigris)

The WWF and twenty-nine tiger conservation groups have joined forces to send a message to the Chinese government, as China considers lifting its ban on tiger trade under pressure from wealthy breeders set to profit from sales of tiger bone wine, meat, and skins. The conservation organizations are creating a huge photomosaic of a tiger, which will be composed of individual and group pictures of tiger supporters, to be unveiled at the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) meeting in
The Hague, Netherlands.

Help end the tiger trade. Go here to add your photo to the mosaic and show your support

Got Sperm?

Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus)

In an effort to find new methods to help save the Iberian Lynx, scientists have successfully inseminated domestic cat eggs, with sperm from male Lynxes. No, they're not trying to create cross-breeds, they are actually testing the sperm's fertility--without wasting any eggs from the rare Iberian cat.

Using this new method, scientists can try to develop methods to inseminate female Lynxes, without dealing with any of the problems associated with such a process-capturing, moving, and holding animals, being some of the main ones. It will also hopefully allow them to use sperm from male cats killed on the roads near their confined habitat. Roadkilled Lynx is one of the biggest contributors to the species decline, and by preserving their sperm, it's possible that their genes will not be lost from the population.

Another initiative addresses the Lynx's declining food supply, another major problem threatening the Lynx.

Got Rabbits?

Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus)

The Iberian Lynx is, perhaps, the most endangered species of large cat. With only about 200 individuals, the species hovers dangerously near to extinction. According to some, if this species disappears, it will be the first large cat to become extinct since the sabertooth.

Doñana National Park in Andalusia, southern Spain, is where most of them live. Unfortunately, there is currently a short supply of wild rabbits in the park, and the cats have been venturing further and further, putting them in the path of cars and roadways, which have killed many. If the population continues to fall at the current rate, the Iberian Lynx will disappear within 10 years.

Now, scientists and park wardens are attempting to keep the cats in the park, by supplementing their diet of wild rabbit with their domestic cousins. By increasing the food supply, they hope to keep the Lynx in the park, and give them a better chance for survival.

Support efforts to save the Iberian Lynx.

Rhino Baby Born

Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis)

Viewers watched from across the world as a baby Black Rhino was born at England's Paignton Zoo. The pregnancy and birth of this new baby were available online via webcam, and became quite a popular stopping site. Check out the videos or submit a suggestion for a name for the youngun.

Cotton Crown

Cotton-top Tamarin (Saguinus oedipus)

A pair of Cotton-top Tamarin twins were born recently at the Marwell Zoo, in the UK. These small squirrel-sized monkeys are native to Colombia, where they have become endangered due to deforestation and exportation for research. These little furry creatures have the coolest headdresses. They remind me of some sort of Mayan Prince, or the Emperor, from the Emperor's New Groove.

Big Babies

Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus)
One-horned Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis)

Whipsnade Wild Animal Park, a division of the Zoological Society of London, has recently welcomed two new infants--an Asian Elephant and a One-horned Rhinoceros. Both are listed as Endangered on the IUCN's Redlist. Both babies were born in January, and can be viewed in a video here.

Endangered Eating - Fish and Chips

Spiny Dogfish (Squalus acanthias)
Porbeagle (Lamna nasus)

What do Schillerlocken, Saumonette, Fish and Chips, Zeepaling, and Rock Salmon have in common? All of them are foods made from the meat of the Spiny Dogfish, a species of shark listed as Vulnerable, on the IUCN’s Redlist of Endangered Species.

In Germany, Schillerlocken is a smoked meat delicacy. In France, it is sold as saumonette, which translates to little salmon. In the UK, order some Fish and Chips, and Rock Salmon, another name for the shark, is what you’ll get. Or go to Belgium and dine on zeepaling, aka sea eel. Another way to enjoy this endangered species is as shark fin soup in Chinese cuisine.

Another shark, the Porbeagle (also listed as Vulnerable on the Redlist), is eaten fresh, frozen, dried, and salted throughout Europe. Both species are declining, mainly as a result of overfishing to meet demand.

A proposal is being spearheaded by the German government, to add these two species to Appendix II of the CITES agreement, which would require that international trade in these species be sustainable and non-detrimental to the species or their ecosystems. However, the success of the proposal is questionable, as it requires the support of the rest of the EU member countries.

Help spread the word about the dangers of overfishing sharks through the Shark Alliance, or donate to Oceana, an organization active in preserving many ocean species, including sharks.


References here, here, here, and here. And here and here.