ISSN 2051-6703 November 2012 wildlife Number 2

wpeople’s trust for endangeredrld species |

The BIG idea Large carnivores as flagships for conservation

UK OVERSEAS British beavers – the latest The last Ethiopian wolves Horrid ground-weaver spiders Rockhopper penguins Recognising pure Scottish wildcats Sun bears in Sumatra Bats and streetlights Madagascan carnivores

NEWS update A lasting difference Build a Bug hotel

The latest on threatened How legacies to PTES are DIY invertebrate wildlife, at home and used to offer new hope for houses for overseas troubled species your garden from the editor

Hello, and welcome to the second edition of Wildlife World. From closer to home, you’ll find news of UK bat Firstly, I need to thank all of you who have contacted projects, exciting developments regarding the future PTES with feedback on our first issue. It’s been heartening of beavers in Britain and ways to help our precious to receive your overwhelmingly positive comments, and invertebrates weather the coming winter in your garden very helpful to read one or two constructive criticisms, if you have one or, if not, on the walls of your home. which we’ve been pleased to take on board. In particular Why not give yourself a warm glow as the cold sets in some of you found large blocks of text overlying faint by offering refuge to these tiny but vital members of our background images slightly tricky to read, so you have my fauna? word – that won’t happen again! For a feel good factor that lasts ever longer, take a look In this edition, you’ll be able to enjoy a four-page at our legacy item on p15. Jill Nelson explains how the feature on our work with big cats. That’s where you’ll find thoughtfulness of some wonderful people no longer with an update on the snow leopard work we’re funding in us has transformed the provision PTES can make for Mongolia and Nepal. Everyone in the PTES office was species we all love. I hope you enjoy the issue, it comes with all our best blown away by this spectacular image of one of these wishes for the festive season and the coming year. incomparable cats, caught mid-leap by one of the remote cameras paid for with your support. It is a glimpse of perfection. I could write at length about this exceptional animal, but a photograph like this says more than words ever could. Emmanuelle Keller

1 wildlifeworld wildlife world

21 21 Make this magazine work harder... When you’ve finished with this copy of Wildlife World, please pass it on to someone else or donate it to a waiting room 17 collection – you might find us a new supporter! If you’ve picked up this 18 magazine and enjoyed reading about the projects PTES funds, you can support us for just £3 a month and receive two 16 issues of Wildlife World every 5 year. Please contact us at the addresses below for details. 18 11 15

Registered Charity No. 274206

Editor: Dr Amy-Jane Beer Editorial team: Jill Nelson, Zoe Roden Nida Al Fulaij Design: wildstory.co.uk In this edition ... Print: Lonsdale Direct Solutions

ISSN 2049-8268 November 2012 wildlife Number 2 Get involved Get closer to the wildlife Cover image: people’s trust for endangered species 17–20 ptes in action w rld| 3you love by joining one of our Wildlife Istockphoto.com/ compassandcamera The Encounters or helping with one of our ground- 17 The bear necessities in Sumatra Malayan BIG idea large carnivores as flagships UK for conservation British beavers – the latest breaking volunteer surveys. Horrid groundweaver spiders OVERSEAS The last Ethiopian wolves sun bears serve as an indicator species in this Recognising pure Scottish wildcats Rockhopper penguins Bats and streetlights Sun bears in Sumatra NEWS updatE Madagascan carnivores a laStiNg diffE rENcE The latest on threatened Build a Bu wildlife, at home and How legacies to PTES are g hotEl overseas. used to offer new hope for troubled species DIY invertebrate houses for PTES funded survey of protected forests. your garden Frontline Hugh Warwick wears his Inset: iStockphoto.com/ 4conservation allegiances not on his sleeve, 17 Where have you been? Tracking the winter Antagain; AlasdairJames; Julichka but on his ankle. Read the story of one movements of southern rockhopper penguins. The opinions expressed in this magazine hedgehog lover’s mid-life crisis. are not necessarily those of People’s Trust 18 Saving the Highland tiger, a molecular for Endangered Species. 5–8 news approach Using genetic markers to identify the last remaining pure-bred Scottish wildcats. Conservation news from home and abroad, including grave concerns for bats and dholes 18 Seeking a hairy rarity A PTES intern is and some encouraging news for beavers, scouring Cornwall for the world’s rarest spider. dormice, cheetahs and Kenyan elephants. Plus, PTES CEO Jill Nelson explains the value of 19 Facing extinction in the roof of Africa flagship species. The fight to save Ethiopian wolves continues with efforts to map remaining habitat. Scrapbook A collection of news, comment and updates from PTES 9-10 19 Dark night returns Monitoring the effect of people and their projects worldwide. new low-energy streetlights on Cornish bats.

11–14 main feature 20 A hotspot within a hotspot With help from Contact us: PTES, ecologists are surveying Madagascar’s PTES Wildlife World Magazine Thinking big for cats extraordinary Masoala-Makira landscape. 15 Cloisters House Conserving the iconic big cats of Africa 8 Battersea Park Road and Asia means addressing human-wildlife 20 Our latest grants News of PTES funding, London SW8 4BG conflict. Amy Dickman introduces the including internships and continuation grants, Tel: 020 7498 4533 PTES projects aiming to strike this delicate that will benefit species on five continents. www.ptes.org balance. [email protected] DIY... Bug hotels Focus on funding 21-22Vanessa Amaral-Rogers of 15-16Contributions from ordinary Buglife – The Invertebrate Conservation Trust, people fuel the achievements of PTES. We shares an easy guide to building refuges for some salute our loyal donors and generous legators. of the smaller visitors to your garden this winter. wildlifeworld 2 get involved

A passion iStocvkphoto.com/Elenathewise for foxes Since our cities began to expand over rural territories, foxes have developed a complex and often ambiguous relationship with humans. Welcomed by many ‘householders, foxes are feared and misunderstood by others. Most are indifferent and simply see foxes as harmless neighbours. And that’s a logical position to take. Foxes aren’t going away. Nothing man can do – or has ever done – makes much difference to this self-regulating wild species. So we should enjoy them, but with an educated eye. It’s good to know one’s neighbours. Foxes weigh the same as an adult domestic cat, but lack the feline’s aggressiveness. They are opportunist feeders that benefit from our wasteful ways and help to control the rodent

populations that our waste encourages. They are intelligent,

resourceful and beautiful. In fact, they should be the UK’s national symbol rather than the inbred and unhealthy British bulldog or the categorically non-British lion. Seeing a fox up close is a magical experience. ‘ My fascination for the species began with the mystical flash of orange fire Trevor williams Director, The Fox that erupted from beneath a tree when, as a child on a Herefordshire farm, Project I disturbed a dozing fox. Thousands of foxes later, I’m still enthralled.

Walking with wolves 23rd January, 17th April, 13th May and 17th June 2013 The UK Wolf Conservation Trust provides a unique experience of walking with their socialised wolves through beautiful woodland. The wolves are

handled by an experienced team and will interact with you as you walk. Project Fox The £30/35 Fox Rescue 14th April and 12th May 2013 The lower prices shown are for supporters of Join Trevor Williams for a tour of the The Fox Project, an organisation PTES. For further details and booking, please dedicated to the protection, rescue and advocacy of foxes in Britain. See call Zoe on 020 7498 4533, visit www.ptes.org/ rescued, injured and abandoned foxes undergoing rehabilitation. At this events or scan this code to go direct to our time of year there may be cubs in the unit. £20 /£24 Wildlife Encounters web page.

Citizen scientists, British wildlife needs you! Join a PTES volunteer survey and make a difference. Living with mammals... Record the mammals you see close to home

MAMMALS ON ROADS... Use our smartphone app or online form to record sightings as you travel

To join in, please visit www.ptes.org hedgehog street... or scan this code Become a champion for the hedgehogs that to go direct to our visit your neighbourhood surveys page.

3 Herrera iStockphoto.com/Saul wildlifeworld a commitment etched on skin ... New from PTES Frontline Urban Mammals: a there are any number of ways to support wildlife causes. consise guide David So what made mild-mannered hedgehog enthusiast Hugh Wembridge warwick advertise his allegiance with a hedgehog tattoo? We’ll admit £9.99 to being was never planning on having a tattoo. Not biased, but we highly Ithat I have anything against tattoos, it was just recommend our new guide to the the permanence and the pain that put me off. mammals seen in and around But then I was contacted by ExtInked, a project the cities and towns of the UK. It’s being put together by Manchester art collective, the perfect reference for anyone the Ultimate Holding Company. They had chosen planning to participate in our one hundred species from the UK’s Biodiversity Living with Mammals survey. Action Plan (a list of organisms of conservation Available direct from PTES. concern) for lead artist Jai Redman to draw, and they wanted information to accompany the images. So far, so ordinary, but the element of PTES 2013 carnivore calendar this project that made it stand out was that for

people’s trust for the opening weekend, the gallery was going to endangered Because there will surely species be set up as a temporary tattoo parlour. And the be conversations. ExtInked 2013 Calendar purpose of ExtInked was to find one hundred did not stop with the needle. volunteers to become permanently tattooed In fact that was only the species ambassadors. £5.99 beginning, as we formally adopted our species I offered up the depressing news we have about with the statement, ‘I hereby commit myself to the state of Britain’s hedgehogs and ways in which IDEAL supporting and promoting awareness of my we can help (for the detail, please see the PTES/ christmas species and playing my part in reversing its BHPS report available on the PTES website or gift decline in the UK.’ scan the QR code below). I then noted that PTES I’ve taken my experience with ExtInked out on was one of the partner organisations for ExtInked inset: iStockphoto. Warick; Hugh com/UroshPetrovic the road with me; it features in the talks I give People’s Trust for Endangered Species is championing carnivore a conservation. These predators at the top of the food chain are often and began to find myself thinking odd source of human-wildlife conflict. We believe it is time to change that! and I re-joined the team for events thoughts. These centred around in Manchester, Edinburgh, and the idea that if I was to have Rugby. We’re proud to be championing a midlife crisis, now seemed ‘If I was to have Perhaps the most surprising carnivore conservation. These appropriate and what a midlife crisis, what result (other than the look on specialised species at the top of better way of celebrating the faces of Women’s Institute the food chain are often a source than getting my first (and better way of celebrating members when I go to take of human-wildlife conflict. Help last) tattoo? than getting my first (and off my trousers after each us support carnivore conservation That is how I found myself request to see the tattoo in the by buying our 2013 calendar, on a small stage in front of a last) tattoo?’ flesh) was getting my second (and featuring 12 stunning carnivore crowd of gallery-goers experiencing most definitely last) tattoo. I had been the strange sensation of a needle entering photographs, with information planning my new book, The Beauty in the Beast, my flesh over 100 times a second as the outline of on each species and how we are for some time. I wanted to meet other animal a hedgehog appeared above my left ankle. helping them. Size A4 with room obsessives and see if anyone could challenge The team at ExtInked had worried that they to write in each date. my assertion that the hedgehog was the most might not be able to recruit one hundred important creature on the planet (something I volunteers, but were thrilled to find themselves ...and if you’re doing a spot still stand by, read A Prickly Affair and you’ll see I’m massively oversubscribed. From all over the of Christmas shopping, don’t right!). And it just seemed a good thing to do, to country people came for everything from the forget the PTES shop for commit to taking on board the animal with which predictably charismatic raptors to the rarer wildlife-themed gifts and cards I was most charmed. But you will have to read the fungi. I watched as Green Party London Mayoral that make a difference. book to find out which one it is. www.ptes.org/shop candidate Jenny Jones had a shrill-carder bee etched on her shoulder. A friend of mine has a sand lizard on her back and has been raising Hugh Warwick is an ecologist, writer money for herpetological research. And I would and broadcaster. In his second book, have loved to meet the ambassador for the boring The Beauty in the Beast (published by Simon and Schuster) he meets millipede – that really is its name – what a fantastic enthusiasts whose conversation starter! passion for other species matches his own for hedgehogs. On the way he discovers things you’d never suspect about sparrows, moths, foxes, bees and toads, among others. Scan the code to read the Hugh’s entertaining, informative and moving look at British wildlife is hard to beat as a PTES/BHPS repor t ‘The State fireside read this winter. £2.50 of Britain’s Hedgehogs 2011.’

wildlifeworld 4 ptesNEWS on your doorstep / further afield

beavers

Right: Bechstein’s bat, the subject of a newly published survey. Below left: Grafton Wood is thought to be on the northern limit of the species’ breeding range in Britain.

Scottish Trial Beaver Reintroductions gather momentum There was good news in August did not survive. Its scavenged remains Two of this year’s native-born beavers begin to explore Loch Dubh in Knapdale. The population will from the Scottish Beaver Trial (SBT) with were discovered in September, with be monitored until 2014 when an assessment will the announcement of a bumper litter of early indications being that it was killed be made regarding its future. The Scottish Beaver Trial is a partnership between the Scottish Wildlife three babies born on Loch Dubh, Argyll by a large predator such as a dog, fox Trust, the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland and as part of the reintroduction supported or badger. Such losses are sad, but very host partners, Forestry Commission Scotland. by PTES. Field Operations Manager Roisin much part of life in the wild, and naive Campbell-Palmer said: ‘All three kits are youngsters are always more at risk. wetland habitats and helping to clean and part of the same family, which has bred Meanwhile, in Wales, the conclusions control water resources. As in Scotland, every year since release, but previously of a five-year investigation led by the it is thought that there would also be a only giving birth to one kit each year. six Welsh Wildlife Trusts and co-funded boost to local economies through wildlife Unfortunately last year’s kit didn’t by PTES, have been published. The tourism. The report finds that suitable survive, so seeing three newly emerged Welsh Beaver Project (WBP) report habitat is widely available in Wales. kits is a boost.’ Video footage and still An investigation into the feasibility of Speaking about the plans, Welsh images of the kits can be seen on the SBT reintroducing European beaver to Wales Minister for Environment and Sustainable website, www.scottishbeavers.org.uk. puts forward a strong case for a managed Development, John Griffiths, said: ‘I By late summer the beaver count was reintroduction and heralds the start of support the ongoing work of the WBP. at a new high of 15, including six born on further consultation and investigation to Research and experience from mainland site. SBT coordinators realised that the identify suitable release sites. Europe and elsewhere shows that the expanding family was getting complex, Apart from the considerable benefit reintroduction of beavers to Wales could so they published a family tree to help beavers bring in terms of biodiversity, a offer a range of prospective benefits for visitors to both Knapdale and the website reintroduction into Wales is considered Wales. I welcome the intention to consult keep track of who’s who. appropriate because of the important widely on this issue and on potential Sadly another kit, born on Loch Linne role beavers can perform in managing sites, so that views of all parties can be considered’.

See for yourself: SBT staff will be leading a Wildlife Encounter next season. Please check our website or call 020 7498 4533 Species notes for latest information.

Common name: European beaver

Scientific name: Castor fiber iStockphoto.com/DavidBukach Size: Head and body 75-90cm long, tail about 30cm Habitat: Rivers, lakes and floodplains in wooded landscapes Lifestyle: Lives in family groups in burrow or lodge constructed from timber and mud; eats wide range of plant material; fells small trees for food and building materials; engineers water levels by constructing dams; active night and day Scottish Wildlife Trust Scottish Wildlife

5 wildlifeworld Advances for dormice in 2012

The road access at Scotney Castle traverses the only bridge in Britain designed to carry wildlife as well as vehicular traffic. Habitat strips either side of the road act as corridors for land animals and plants.

too. However 200 wooden nest boxes have also been sited throughout the woodland so that we can check on the animals in the coming years reintroductions and, hopefully, record the success of the project as they breed and the population expands and establishes bridge success A key part of our long-term PTES itself throughout the site. conservation strategy for dormice There’s exciting dormouse news from is to return the species to areas of further south too. In Kent, volunteers their former range in which they had have recorded evidence of dormice become extinct, but where sympathetic breeding on Britain’s first wildlife habitat management and restoration bridge. The green bridge, which was are now being undertaken. On 20th completed in 2005 and built to keep June 2012, 41 captive-bred dormice historical access to the National Trust’s were released into a private woodland Scotney Castle, crosses the busy A21. in Warwickshire. The semi-natural, Shrubs and vegetation have become ancient woodland contains a mixture dense enough on the bridge to support of tree and shrub species including a host of wildlife. Hopefully now hazel, oak, hawthorn, bramble, ash, that we have the evidence that the elder, silver birch, field maple and wild investment really is worthwhile, more service tree. These will provide a varied green bridges will follow, and some of food supply throughout the seasons our fragmented wildlife habitats can be and hopefully plenty of nesting sites reconnected.

bats Disease worry for Britain’s bats

Bat biologists remain on perhaps on the clothing of a high alert for signs of a fungal visiting tourist or the fur of an disease known as white nose imported animal. syndrome (WNS), which Bats suffering WNS become has killed an estimated 6–7 coated in white fungus, HicksAl million bats in North America especially on the face, but organisations from Europe deaths occur, limiting the since 2005. The epidemic is also on the wings and tail. and the US, including the spread of the fungus. becoming one of America’s The condition causes them Bat Conservation Trust BCT is aiming to raise most pressing wildlife to wake from hibernation (BCT), has drafted a Eurobats awareness of WNS among concerns, and the loss of so three times as often as usual. resolution recommending bat workers and other cave many bats is destabilising This extra activity wrecks the that steps be taken in four users and asks that anything whole ecosystems. bats’ tight energy budgets key areas: preventing the suspicious be reported The fungus that causes and they starve before spring. North American strain from immediately via the Bat WNS, Geomyces destructans, Exactly why the fungus affects reaching European bat Helpline on 0845 1300 228. is endemic in European American bats so badly, while hibernacula; monitoring Even licensed bat handlers bat populations. Indeed, European bats are unaffected European hibernacula for are warned not to touch researchers now think that is not understood, but there is the presence of the fungus; suspect bats. Guidelines for the American strain arrived no room for complacency. referring suspect fungus for bat handlers and carers are from Europe very recently, A consortium of bat investigation and then, if bat available on the BCT website.

wildlifeworld 6 ptesNEWS on your doorstep / further afield Hope for Kenyan elephants

PTES is delighted to have helped fund the development of a new ten-year conservation and management strategy for elephants in Kenya. There are now an estimated 35 000 elephants in Kenya and the species continues to return to areas where it hasn’t been seen for nearly 30 years. But over the same period the human population has grown dramatically and

LWRF the challenges for elephant conservation lesula are significant. Human settlement and cultivation, human-elephant conflict and fragmentation of habitat conspire to make things difficult. Reports also New primate ‘already vulnerable’ suggest an upsurge in poaching, driven by demand for ivory in Asia. A new species of African guenon said ‘We knew the landscape was This timely and important strategy discovered in the Lomami River essentially unexplored but we did not is appropriately bold, ambitious and region of the Democratic Republic expect to find a new species, especially forward-thinking. It targets wide-ranging of Congo (DRC) is probably already in a group as well known as the areas of Kenya’s infrastructure and at risk, say conservationists. The new African guenons.’ takes account of climate change, local species, Cercopithecus lomamiensis, known The lesula is thought to have a livelihoods and the sensitive balance that locally as a lesula, was described in the relatively small range of about 17 000 is needed in an emerging economy. online journal Public Library of Science. km2 and its discovery highlights the The animal came to the attention need for large-scale habitat protection of a research team from DRC’s in this region. Lukuru Wildlife Research Foundation ‘The challenge is to intervene before when a local primary school teacher losses become definitive,’ said Dr showed them one he kept in a cage. Hart. ‘Species with small ranges like On further investigation the team the lesula can move from vulnerable found several other captive individuals to seriously endangered over the and eventually saw the species for course of just a few years.’ Happily themselves in the wild. Speaking to the Lomami River region is soon to

the BBC, project leader Dr John Hart be declared a National Park. iStockphoto.com/oversnap

asiatic cheetahs Three good things

The Iranian Cheetah Society, well grown, was captured on ‘This is the best news for the area for almost ten years, whose work is part-funded camera in Miandasht Wildlife our cheetahs in 2012’ said but this is the first record of a by PTES, recently reported a Refuge in northeastern Iran. ICS co-founder Mohammad cheetah and three cubs. It’s a rare case of Asiatic cheetah The female is a familiar animal Farhadinia ‘I cannot hide my big reason for optimism.’ triplets being born in the to ICS researchers, who are excitement. ICS has been wild. The family, already delighted with the discovery. working with cheetahs in Iranian Cheetah Society

7 wildlifeworld NELSON’s COLUMN Hope for Kenyan Tracking dholes in danger zone What shall we save elephants asian wild dogs dogs and a lack of understanding of today? their general needs. Dholes are persecuted throughout The high altitude protected area of People often ask me their range even though they rarely Kangchenjunga Conservation Area how we decide which take domestic livestock or harm provides a wildlife corridor across to species to help when so humans – only one attack on a person Sikkim and Tibet. PTES has asked many are endangered. has ever been reported. There are It’s a very good Ambika Khatiwada to look at how thought to be fewer than 2 500 dholes question. Pick one or dholes are surviving in this remote remaining in the wild and they are two and you’re neglecting all the rest, area and at finding ways to stop local officially endangered. try and tackle them all and you risk people intent upon eliminating them Dholes are remarkable, pack- achieving little. altogether. Information garnered hunting members of the dog family, through camera trapping, interviews, We regularly review our priorities to widely distributed across Asia at low surveys, digital mapping and get the biggest ‘bang for our buck’, densities, withstanding climates from community workshops will provide and manage to reach pretty widely freezing cold to tropical heat. In the proper basis for a conservation both across the world and across Nepal they are severely threatened by plan for the future of the species in species. We try to select projects with ever patchier habitat, declines in their the area. far-reaching outcomes. We often pick prey, diseases from feral and domestic a top-of-the-food-chain carnivore, such as the leopard or wild dog, as a cheerleader, but we aim to cascade benefits to species lower in the hierarchy. Watch out for the launch of our carnivore recovery campaign Waning Big Cats and Wild Dogs in the New Year (and see p14).

Closer to home, in 2012 we refocused our British mammal grants by encouraging applicants to address the conservation of our priority species. For some species we need better methods for estimating distribution Ambika Khatiwada and abundance and more sensitive ways of assessing population change. seahorses For others we must do more to assess the ability of landscapes to Action for the West support dormice, bats, wildcats and so on. We want to understand the African seahorse effects of changing climates and of habitat losses, of non-native species Seahorses are exploited globally for traditional introductions and of diseases, toxic medicines, aquarium display and curiosities. West chemicals and pollution. Answers Africa only recently began exporting seahorses, as to these questions will make our supplies from southeast Asia began to decline in the conservation effort more efficient, late 1990s. Somewhere around a million seahorses effective and sustained. By identifying are exported annually from Senegal, Guinea and the pivotal things we need to know, Togo. Most end up in Hong Kong, China and Taiwan. and compiling the evidence, we really Such a burgeoning trade creates an urgent need for can make a lasting difference. increased understanding of this particular seahorse species and of the associated trade so as to anticipate Thank you for supporting us and shifts in supply and demand. happy 2013. PTES is helping experts at Project Seahorse, who have successfully secured trade controls on seahorses elsewhere, to find out exactly what is going on with the West African seahorse and its exploitation. A great deal of information is required to convince the authorities to act and then to police trade bans but Project Seahorse has all the right contacts to do the Jill Nelson, Chief Executive PTES Project Seahorse Project

job and put a stop to this destructive practice. iStockphoto.com/roverto

wildlifeworld 8 SCRaPBook Whether you’re a suppor ter of PTES , a volunteer, or one of our funding recipients, we love to hear from you. Keep us posted on your experiences and projects, and don’t forget to send pictures!

Gilber t sails for th: Marine Conservation Society PTES recently granted fur ther TCI Turtle Project urks and funding to the T Turks and Caicos Islands Caicos Islands Tur tle Project. West Indies Project coordinator Peter Richardson sent this update.

We tagged three sub-adult green turtles last year, hoping to track their little-known migration from sub-adult foraging site to adult foraging site. Gilbert (named after the turtle fisherman who helped catch him) made our wish come true. In May and June he migrated north from the TCI, then entered an oceanic eddy and took a sharp left towards the continental shelf. Time and the satellite tag will tell us where he is heading next. You can follow Gilbert’s journey as it happens at http://www.mcsuk. org/conservation_in_action/Marine%20turtles/ Tracking%20turtles/Gilbert Project officer Amdeep Sanghera is promoting Gilbert’s journey amongst islanders, and Gilbert is showing us all that local fishermen have a regional role to play, managing turtles wisely in order to sustain this shared and precious resource.

Schoolboys show off their awesome stag Not so fast, Mo... beetle wristbands, made at the PTES stand at Bristol Festival of Nature. Meet Mo the slow loris. PTES suppor ters were offered the chance to name a radio- collared slow loris in Indonesia by conservationist Anna Nekaris, whose scientific work on the species we are suppor ting. Mo (in honour of London 2012 hero Mo Farah) was one of five names put to the vote on our Facebook page.

Lucky flowers for PTES Jean Davies, Lynn Anderson and Cheryl Wilde (above), with Jackie We’re delighted to announce the Holton, raised £200 for PTES marriage of our Dormouse and with their lucky flower game at Reserves Officer, Ian White, to Diane Maidenhead Duck Derby. Customers Nicolle, Farmland Bird Advisor at the RSPB. A [conservation] match made paid £1 to choose from 100 hand- in heaven, and we wish them every made blooms, with prizes for all. happiness. The ladies are part of 4 Legged

Friends, a group set up by Cheryl Evans Jessica and Ginny Williams to fundraise for animal charities. Thank you ladies! 9 wildlifeworld We were delighted recently to Meet the team.... meet Amanda Vincent, Director PTES is run by 13 dedicated members of staff, guided by a board of five of Project Seahorse and trustees. This time, meet David, one of our longest-serving members of coordinator of the PTES-funded staff, and Emma, one of our newest. project to curb international trade in seahorses from Thailand. After many years of working with Emma-Jane Sadler both international authorities and Orchard Mapping Officer local communities of fishermen After completing an MSc in biodiversity survey at Sussex who accidentally or otherwise extract seahorses University, Emma-Jane joined PTES as a volunteer, dealing from the oceans, Amanda is uniquely placed to with noble chafer and dormouse data. In January she influence the Thai government to enact the ban on became a full-time member of the team, working on the seahorse trade. Welsh Orchard project. Emma liaises with volunteers, handles data and identifies orchard sites on aerial photos – a task she really enjoys, as she often spots intriguing landscape features. In her spare time, Emma-Jane enjoys a bit of botanising and looking after her two barmy goldfish. Onwards & upwards Peter embridge It was nice to hear from Peter King, one of our 2011 David W mammal interns. He told us, Mammal Surveys Coordinator After graduating in biology from King’s College London, ‘Having completed my otter project, I was offered David took a career detour, gaining a MSc in molecular a post as project consultant for the Ouse and Adur genetics at Imperial College London and working for Rivers Trust, working with the Environment Agency. some years in biomedical research. Returning to his first Over eight months I was involved with 13 river loves of ecology and conservation, he joined PTES in restoration projects on the Sussex Ouse and recently 2003, managing our two annual volunteer surveys of Living with Mammals. begun a project on the Sussex Adur.’ wildlife, Mammals on Roads and He particularly enjoys the collaborative nature of Thanks in part to the kudos and experience gained his role, working alongside supporters, academics, during his internship, Peter was recently voted Chair government agencies and other NGOs. of Sussex Reptile and Amphibian Group and asked to sit on the Sussex Mammal Group committee. His progress shows how valuable these placements can Julie Hatcher: Frankie’s prickly party be in launching aspiring conservationists on the ‘Had a great day Frankie Phillips, aged 9, was inspired by the joint PTES/BHPS career ladder. Good luck Peter. taking the children to campaign, Hedgehog Street. With Walk with Wolves help from sister Sadie, aged 7, today – what Frankie spent three months planning an experience – a hedgehog fair in her garden, stroking a wolf!’ in Maidenbower, West Sussex. The entertainment included a ‘Lucky Chryssa Spines’ game (pictured) with Brown: ‘I chocolate prizes. Frankie raised heard about PTES £250, a sum matched by law firm via the internet; Clifford Chance, where Frankie’s Mum and have been Maz works. Thank you all very much! receiving updates on Facebook. I wish to thank the Excitement at PTES’ Briddlesford Woods on the team for providing such beneficial Isle of Wight earlier this year with a visit from and fascinating TV presenter, survival & bushcraft exper t, Ray articles everyday; Mears. Ray joined us for a dormouse box check I know that many & recorded footage for his ITV1 series Wild Britain people, including with Ray Mears, to be broadcast this Autumn. myself, very much appreciate it’ PUBLICATIONS Andrew Kittle of the Wilderness & Wildlife Conservation Trust, Sri Lanka, has published his work funded by PTES on Sri Lankan leopards in CATnews, the IUCN Cat Specialist Group’s peer-reviewed journal. See CATnews 56 Spring 2012

PTES fundee Dr Declan O’Mahony’s work mapping the distribution of pine martens in Ireland is about to be published. See Mammalian Biology 77 (5), September 2012 pp351-357 iStockphoto.com/kamisoka wildlifeworld 10 big cat feature

Thinking BIG for CATS iStockphoto.com BirdImages iStockphoto.com

the long coexistence of humans with big cats has been far from harmonious, and many iconic species are now in serious trouble. Amy Dickman explains how A PTES-funded project in tanzania is tackling the problem.

Big cats are among the most their daunting size and ferocity – tigers Unsurprisingly, people often kill big fascinating and evocative animal can weigh over 300kg, while leopards cats to prevent or retaliate against species, admired throughout history for can pierce a human skull with a single attacks on people or livestock, and their power, beauty and sheer wildness. bite. Their singular dependence upon this, along with habitat loss, has An admiration for big cats has meat means that big cats frequently been a major driver of worldwide echoed down the ages – they were the prey on livestock, imposing huge declines. Lions have dwindled from playthings of early kings, and feature costs on local people, especially in over a million animals to perhaps significantly in heraldry, literature and pastoralist communities where cattle 25 000 today; tigers have crashed mythology. The 16th-century Indian have high cultural value in addition to to fewer than 5 000 individuals, and mogul Akbar the Great kept over their economic worth. Some species many other big cats also show severe 39 000 cheetahs during his reign – occasionally also prey upon humans – declines. Conflict with humans and more than three times the entire global a single tiger in India reportedly killed habitat loss are not the only reasons population of today. But despite our over 400 people, while lion attacks – spotted cats were avidly hunted fascination, big cats have always made occur with increasing regularity in for their skins, while tigers have uncomfortable neighbours. Partly it is southern Tanzania. long been threatened by hunting 11 wildlifeworld big cat feature

for body parts used in traditional PTES to help improve the outlook for medicines. Meanwhile, increasing carnivores in this globally important human populations degrade habitats landscape. and deplete prey, making for a gloomy outlook. RCP’s first priority is reducing the costs that big cats impose on However, this is not a hopeless local people, which in turn reduces situation, and there is a global interest retaliatory and preventative killings. in maintaining wild populations of The project helps villagers construct big cats. Ultimately, the majority of predator-proof enclosures to prevent big cat killings occur because of costs attacks at night, and is working imposed on local people and the with the Cheetah BIG CATS perception that they are worth more Conservation Fund dead than alive. Maintaining habitat in Namibia to place for big cats is seen as less profitable guard dogs to reduce than other land uses. Protected areas daytime attacks. Living alongside big cats, even rare ones, is far where key ‘source’ populations can from easy. The RCP is helping to smooth the relationship between local people and wildlife. persist are a vital part of the long- It is not enough just to

term solution. But, for many big cats, reduce attacks though. tracking and monitoring, changing Harrington Andrew much of their range falls outside Communities need to them from lion killers to paid reserve boundaries, so we also need see that big cats bring benefits. conservationists and spreading a to develop effective conservation RCP asked villagers to vote on which powerful conservation message strategies for human-dominated land. benefits they would most appreciate within their communities. This is difficult, time-consuming from big cat presence, and they chose work, and it requires true partnership healthcare, school equipment and All of RCP’s work is extremely with local people, as they are the veterinary medicines. The project locally-driven, and is proving ones who will decide whether big cat has helped equip a healthcare clinic successful – livestock attacks and conservation is worth the risk. and is twinning village schools with carnivore killings have declined, developed-world ‘sister’ schools, while peoples’ attitudes towards Ruaha Carnivore Project which help provide equipment and carnivores, the Park and the project Tanzania’s Ruaha landscape holds books. It has also initiated a ‘Simba have improved. The project currently around 10% of the world’s remaining Scholarship’ programme, enabling operates in a relatively small area, but lions, one of only four large cheetah children from poor pastoralist families has plans to eventually work in all 21 populations left in East Africa, to obtain secondary education, and villages around Ruaha National Park. and globally important leopard is providing subsidised veterinary With help from PTES, RCP hopes populations. However, village land medicines. In addition, the project uses to continue and extend its work, with abuts the Ruaha National Park, and community meetings, DVD nights significant benefits for both people large carnivores impose significant and Park visits to help teach people and predators in one of the world’s costs on local people, while providing about carnivore ecology, conservation most important big cat hotspots. very few tangible benefits. As a and the role of protected areas, and result, big cats are frequently speared, to allow them to watch carnivores in snared or poisoned, while young a non-threatening situation. Perhaps

warriors often hunt lions to gain most importantly, RCP is working Amy Dickman of the Wildlife cultural prestige. To help reduce this with Panthera and Lion Guardians Conservation Research Unit at Oxford University is conflict, the Ruaha Carnivore Project to engage young warriors in lion coordinator of the RCP. (RCP) was established in 2009, and has received annual funding from Andrew Harrington Andrew

Scan the QR code to visit the RCP website www.ruahacarnivoreproject.com wildlifeworld 12 big cat projects

we asked PTES-FUNDED BIG CAT researchers for some personal thoughts on their projects and on the predators whose survival hangs in the balance

Name: Arezoo Sanei conservation projects in collaboration North-Khorasan in order to address the Position: Executive Director with local authorities and experts. priorities identified through the PTES- Organisation: ALSS North Khorasan province is located funded project. ‘ (Asian Leopard Specialist in northeastern Iran, a neighbour to Society) Turkmenistan. We developed a one What is your Location: Tehran, Iran year project in the province to assess favourite aspect leopard distribution in relation to of your work? What makes Persian leopards special? human pressures and prey resources, to ‘Fieldwork is my ‘Leopards have a long history in our identify conflict hotspots and to make favourite. Any sign of a culture. The importance of saving them recommendations for mitigating human- wild leopard is extremely goes beyond the ecological reasoning of leopard conflicts and developing an area- encouraging for all the scientific papers and research proposals. specific conservation strategy. We have research team members. Simply, they are the kings of our mountains also conducted camera trapping surveys It’s wonderful to see that and their habitats are empty without them.’ in the region to estimate the number of leopards are there and leopards inhabiting the main conflict feel that our efforts could How has PTES funding been spent? hotspots. help them survive in their ‘ALSS conducts research and We plan to continue our efforts in natural habitats. ‘

Name: Annie Beckhelling Why do cheetahs need our help? What have you been able to achieve Position: Founder & Trustee ‘With a total known population of with PTES funding? ‘PTES funding is G lobalP iStockphoto.com Organisation: Cheetah approximately 7 500 adult animals, this pivotal to our work developing highly Outreach flagship African predator is classified as effective working dogs. Studies with Location: Stellenbosch, Vulnerable by the IUCN. In1975 there the Durrell Institute of Conservation South Africa were an estimated 15 000 cheetahs in and Ecology and the University of Kent Africa, indicating a decline in the ensuing showed that following dog placement, What is Cheetah 35 years, due to habitat loss, population predation events were eliminated Outreach? fragmentation, and persecution of on 91% of farms, and there was an ‘A not-for-profit suspected livestock predators. ‘ average reduction in predation of 98%, conservation compared with previous years. Our organisation What is an Anatolian Shepherd dog? placement of Anatolian Shepherds has dedicated to the ‘Anatolian Shepherd dogs originated in been shown to alter farmers’ attitudes protection of free- Turkey where they have been used for to predators on their land, leading to ranging cheetahs. five millennia to guard livestock against increased acceptance. These findings Our work focuses wild predators. Studies in Namibia were published as an MSc on environmental showed Anatolian Shepherds were thesis (Rust, 2011) and a education and effective in mitigating conflict between scientific article is being the reduction of farmers and free-ranging cheetahs, considered for publication wildlife-human reducing the perceived need for in the Journal of Wildlife conflict. persecution. ‘ Management.’ iStockphoto.com G lobalP iStockphoto.com Name: Bayarjargal Why are snow leopards threatened? important snow leopard prey species. In Agvaantseren ‘Habitat loss to farming is one reason. time we hope to begin monitoring and Position: Founder Life is hard for the people who share stabilizing the population in one of the Organisation: Snow mountains with snow leopards too. They world’s most important snow leopard Leopard Enterprises (SLE) are challenged by poverty and may habitats.’ Location: Khovd, Mongolia kill predators in retaliation for attacks on livestock. In addition, the profits of What do you hope to see in the Why do you work with snow leopards? poaching are a constant temptation.’ future for snow leopards? ‘Growing up in northern Mongolia, ‘I would like to see snow leopards where there are no snow leopards, I did How is PTES funding spent? no longer threatened and existing in not foresee this career. In fact I was a ‘In 2009 we undertook a mapping harmony with local people in language teacher. Then in 1996, I worked project aimed at defining the regions their natural habitat.’ as a translator for Dr Tom McCarthy, who managed by herders and involving 26 was conducting a study in the Gobi Altai herder communities in a conservation Mountains, exploring attitudes to snow programme. In 2012 we took the next leopards among herder families. The step, to improve communities’ capacity

depth of conflict between people and to protect snow leopards in their area. Andyworks iStockphoto.com the predator moved me to help, and in Another project aims to understand 1998 we created the SLE programme to the impact of livestock grazing on the benefit both people and snow leopards. ‘ abundance and population dynamics of

13 wildlifeworld carnivore campaign

Saving cats & dogs: G lobalP Istockphoto.com The PTES carnivore campaign PTEs devotes a lot of resource to conserving big cats and wild dogs around the world. Over the coming year we’ll be highlighting this fascinating group, aiming to build on what has already been achieved.

You might think that our enthusiasm for carnivores and, as such, they play a very weasels, racoons, hyenas, mongooses, big cats and wild dogs has something to important role in nature’s hierarchy civets and sometimes the seals and do with their charismatic good looks or The word ‘carnivore’ tends to conjure sealions. appealing character. In fact, it’s because up cats, big or otherwise, dogs, wild or There are seven widely distributed of the important role they play at, or not, and maybe dinosaurs. The term species (and of course more sub- near, the top of the food chain. If these ‘carnivore’ simply means meat-eater, species) of ‘big cat’. These are lions, species are in trouble, the chances are derived from the Latin carne for ‘flesh’ tigers, leopards, jaguars, snow leopards, that the species they prey on and live and vorare for ‘to devour’. It describes a clouded leopards and cheetahs. More alongside are also threatened in one living thing adapted to derive energy and than 30 species are referred to as ‘small way or another. The plight of many top nutriment from a diet consisting mainly cats’ including our own wildcats, which predators highlights the struggle for or exclusively of animal tissue, either by are still hanging on in Scotland. living space faced by so many species predation or scavenging. Some animal Meanwhile in the dog camp there are on our crowded planet, and they often carnivores depend solely on animal flesh, 35 species: wolves (grey, red, maned become embroiled in difficult human- others consume non-animal material too. and Ethiopian), coyotes, dingos, jackals wildlife conflict. Carnivorous plants capture and digest (3), foxes (22 including our own native Not all big cats and wild dogs are insects and carnivorous fungi capture variety), African wild dogs, dholes, classified at risk or endangered, but many microscopic animals. racoons and bush dogs. are, which is one reason why they appear In mammal classification we also use In January you will be able join our regularly in the list of species that we the term carnivore to mean members efforts to help these flagship species, are actively working on. One thing they of the order Carnivora. This includes watch out for details on our website and do all have in common is that they are not only cats and dogs but also bears, other communications.

More carnivore projects we’re funding...

Lions and wild dogs, Wild dogs, leopards Wild dogs in Dholes in Nepal Dholes in eastern Ethiopian wolves Tanzania Bernard & lions, Malawi Emma northern Kenya In Nepal, dholes face Cambodia Dholes in the northern Kissui (African Stone (University of Rabies and canine a fragmented habitat, require large areas highlands Jorgelina Wildlife Foundation) Bristol) is working distemper virus (CDV), shrinking prey base, of habitat and the Marino (WildCRU) has is recruiting and with Malawian are ravaging the persecution and Cambodian landscape used satellite images training herdsmen National Parks and remaining wild dogs disease spread by is highly fragmented. to track changes in to guard livestock on others to assess the of West Africa. Tests feral dogs. Ambika In a GPS tracking land use and the the Maasai Steppe. wild dogs, leopards of rabies vaccine are Khatiwada (Alumni study of four packs, habitat degradation This will benefit the and lions in Kasungu encouraging, but a Association for Jan Kamler (WildCRU) that threaten lions and wild dogs National Park, which vaccine for CDV is Conservation and is calculating the Ethiopian wolves. After that are suffering from links populations being tested by Rosie Development) minimum size of interviewing local loss of living space, between Malawi and Woodruffe (Zoological is working in reserve required to people, Jorgelina has persecution and Zimbabwe. The team Society of London) Kangchanjung support a dhole pack ranked the threatened retaliations to livestock is also working to on 18 dogs over two National Park, and the optimum areas and highlighted kills and unsustainable relieve human-wildlife years to see if it will be involving local number of prey that damaging activities in levels of trophy conflict in this key safe and effective in villagers in protecting will be required within the hope that solutions hunting. habitat corridor. the field. the dholes’ prey base. each reserve. can be found.

More on p8 More on p19 reg Rasmussen; G reg Ambika Khatiwada; Nickgarbutt.com; M . Harvey ichol Farina; iStockphoto.om/bucky_za; M iStockphoto.om/bucky_za;

wildlifeworld 14 focus on fundraising

Laurie Campbell The enduring effects of a legacy

Legacy contributions are a lifeline to PTES, and we can often multiply their value further. PTES Chief Executive Jill Nelson tells the story of one generous gift and its far-reaching effects.

TES is fortunate to have very many PTES quickly established a partnership with money to help launch our hugely successful Ployal and generous supporters. But times BHPS, pooling our resources to boost the Hedgehog Street campaign. This has already are tough and since the start of the economic value and effectiveness of the money we had prompted over 23 000 people to request our downturn we have been seeing much received. PTES had initially received the larger practical ideas pack on how to make your greater variance in our donation income than sum, but BHPS swiftly agreed to match our neighbourhood hedgehog-friendly. we did before, making it harder to plan ahead amount from their own resources so almost with confidence. It’s at these times that we immediately we had almost doubled the size A carefully crafted programme of public appreciate more than ever the enormous of the fund available to spend on hedgehogs. engagement, scientific research and training importance of income from legacies. for land managers is making a real impact The generous gift arrived just when our for hedgehogs. And there is more to come. Dilys Breese, reknowned television and concern for hedgehogs was mounting and The second phase of the campaign will be radio producer, was best known for her we set to work immediately. Together with launched in the New Year with further funds work at the BBC Natural History Unit. Her BHPS we consulted various experts, notably committed by both PTES and BHPS. personal enthusiasm for natural history Dr Pat Morris, a biologist formerly at Royal inevitably drew her to wildlife programme Holloway University of London and an expert making. She made many delightful films and on hedgehogs, to work out what we could perhaps most memorably, was executive do most effectively. It was clear we needed producer of the famous and award-winning action on several fronts. The legacy led Meerkats United (1987) and The Great directly to our extensive campaign to help Hedgehog Mystery (1982) which attracted an hedgehogs, which is now the biggest-ever extraordinary audience of over 12 million coordinated effort to help hedgehogs in this viewers when it was first broadcast. country.

Following Dilys’ death in 2007 we were The multiplier effect was applied again contacted by the executor of her will. Dilys’ when the campaign funds were swelled fondness for hedgehogs gave her a strong still further by our successful application desire to make a lasting difference for the to the BBC Wildlife Fund (fittingly) for more species. She made provision in her will to this effect and both PTES and the British Dilys Breese began her career as a BBC trainee Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS) were studio manager in the mid 1950s. She went on to grateful beneficiaries. become an award-winning producer of wildlife documentaries for the Natural History Unit. Paul Reddish Paul 15 wildlifeworld focus on fundraising A brighter future for hedgehogs and dormice

Every pound we receive for wildLife is appreciated but, now and then, PTES receives an exceptionally generous gift that allows us to really forge ahead.

PTES is very proud to report ‘When a most generous gift of £50 000 someone who is donated by supporter Mr Jonathan a UK tax payer Choat. makes a donation When we asked Jonathan what had to charity, there inspired this marvellous decision he are certain tax told us that it lay in his ‘…admiration advantages both to the charity for the efficient and practical way and the individual and these are worth PTES goes about measuring and then noting,’ explained Shakunt Shah, The enduring effects of a legacy pragmatically supporting endangered Tax Partner at KLSA LLP London. species in the wild – particularly ‘Taking the £50k donation above, raising notice of the issue when, PTES is able to claim Gift Aid from G lobalP iStockphoto.com/ as has happened with hedgehogs, the Inland Revenue which, at 25p for Dilys Breese’s thoughtful act of kindness disaster suddenly threatens the every £1 donated, will increase this towards hedgehogs has led to an delicate balance of wildlife, living in gift to £62 500, which is very exciting. entire campaign of action, instigated a sometimes grotesquely unbalanced, So long as the donor confirms a fantastically productive and cost- human needs dominated world.’ their status as a UK tax payer, all effective partnership between two PTES is immensely grateful to PTES has to do is complete a claim wildlife charities, and helped lever further Jonathan for his faith in our work. form and keep a note of the donor funding from other sources. It’s a prime example of how a legacy has made The funds will be divided between our confirmation on the files – all very something good and important happen hedgehog campaign and work to help simple and certainly worth it. And the that otherwise would not have been harvest mice and will help our efforts donation is free of tax to the donor – possible. Her legacy will undoubtedly be significantly. so it’s a win-win all round!’. a lasting one and we remain very grateful.

Legacies of all sizes help to increase our impact and strengthen our resolve A special thank-you to conserve endangered wildlife. If the natural world has given you great During the year we have been sad to say goodbye to a number of our loyal pleasure over your lifetime, please supporters, some of whom remembered PTES in their will. We would like to consider leaving us a legacy to make acknowledge the people who during the last year have been so generous in a lasting difference leaving us funds for vital conservation work. to wildlife. There is people’s trust for further information on endangered suceed species our website at www. Mr Geoffrey Arnold Mr Ray Kirkwood Kinross ptes.org/legacies or Miss Hester Mary Atkinson Mrs Ruth Anne Kite see our Leave a world Mrs Rosetta Violet Bosher Mr Richard Martin Lee worth living in leaflet,living in Mrs Eileen Ethel Bray Mrs Barbara Jessy Meny-Gibert circulated with this Dr Allan J M Campbell Miss Audrey Elizabeth Standing Mills edition ofensure Wildlife that we Mr Richard Lawrence Dalton Mrs Betty Muriel Nuttall World or available on Mrs Mildred Maude Davies Miss Barbara Picard request by phoning Mrs Y P Fearne Mrs Mary T Piper Mrs Jean Florence Felgate Patricia Sinclair 020 7498 4533. It youis never easy to make a Mrs Gladys Fullbrook Dr Arthur Henry Stamp Miss Hildred Maude Grey Miss J V Stanley real difference to the Leave world, but wonderful Miss Catherine Gertrude Marion Mrs Diana Mary Thomson a world when you do. worth living in Hingston Mr Barry Reginald Wybrow

wildlifeworld 16 PTES in Action malayan sun bears Seeking bear necessities in Sumatra sun bears are protected in indonesia, but remain at risk from habitat loss and

DICE human encroachment. Batang umatra’s vast Kerinci Seblat remain widely distributed in the area, but Hari SNational Park incorporates swathes they avoid or are absent from deforested 50 km Protection of forest – some of it protected, the rest areas and places close to roads or human Forest dominated by logging concessions, palm disturbance. The data was used to produce oil plantations and smaller scale farming. a habitat suitability map, which showed Kerinci The region should be a haven for large clearly that the best areas for sun bears are Seblat wildlife, but poaching is a problem in the well within protected areas. Unfortunately, National Park more accessible areas, and the whole of however, even these are at risk from illegal Sun bear habitat Sumatra faces a deforestation crisis. logging and agricultural encroachment. suitability map of Kerinci The Malayan sun bear is a useful Significantly, the study site with the Seblat, Sumatra. Suitable areas are green, least suitable indicator species. As a large-bodied greatest rate of recent deforestation also zones are red and yellow. mammal it requires plenty of good quality showed the biggest decrease in sun bear habitat. Land that suits sun bears probably occupation, a worrying 9% per year. also suits other threatened large mammals, Local farmers reported frequent damage such as tigers and tapirs. to crops and property by sun bears, but A team led by Wai-Ming Wong of the most knew the species is legally protected Durrell Institute for Conservation and and, encouragingly, over 87% thought that Ecology carried out a camera trap survey this protection was deserved. Wai-Ming of the area and questioned local farmers to hopes to build on this tolerant attitude ascertain levels of conflict with sun bears. to target protection where it will be most

DICE The camera survey showed that the bears effective.

rockhopper penguins Where have you been? Sarah crofts of falklands conservation has been tracking an incredible journey. Southern rockhopper penguins breed on the Falkland Islands between October and March and spend the whole winter (April–September) at sea. Our two-year Rockhopper Penguin Project used state-of-the-art satellite trackers to follow the journeys of penguins from breeding colonies at Steeple Jason and Beauchêne Islands. The trackers are glued to the bird’s feathers and drop off during the next moult. The map shows the journey of eight tracked penguins. The individual shown in red set off in April and travelled directly to the coast of South America, where it foraged until the end of May. It then headed north, following currents along the Patagonian Shelf. By mid-July it was 1 340km from home – further than any of the others. The bird began to travel back towards the Falklands in July and August. By the time the

batteries in its tracker gave up, this penguin had clocked up oogle Earth; Conservation Inset Falklands 4 500km in four months and utilised more than 500 000km2 of ocean. The next phase of the project will be to analyse summer

and winter data from all our tracked penguins, including details Survey/eological G

of their diet. US G 17 wildlifeworld Scottish wildcats Saving the Highland tiger: a molecular approach The ‘tigers’ that prowl the forests, hills

and moors of the , Buglife Scottish Highlands are arguably even more threatened than those horrid ground-weaver remaining in Asia. The Scottish wildcat is the only feline native to our shores; our only wild cat. The lives of these feisty predators are shrouded in folklore, but PTES-funded scientists are using genetic Seeking a hairy rarity techniques to cut through some of the The name might not be appealing, but the horriD mystery and answer the tricky question of what exactly is a Scottish wildcat. ground-weaver spider is a holy grail for invertebrate The tiger of the Highlands dates back millions of years before man. intern Duncan Allen, as Melanie clayton found out. But persecution, habitat loss and now You’d be very lucky to have a hybridization with feral domestic cats have horrid ground-weaver spider cross ACTUAL SIZE! brought it dangerously close to extinction. your palm. Not only would this It’s currently almost impossible to know how many pure wildcats remain, and relation of the money spider be an omen of riches, but you’d be holding recent changes to the quarry, there’s shockingly little is being done to save no reason to believe the species is the species because of the difficulty in what may be the world’s rarest distinguishing pure wildcats from hybrids. spider. The only extinct. The survey also confirmed Dr Paul O’Donoghue of the University of places the species the presence of another rare spider, Chester is conducting research he believes has ever been seen Episinus maculipes, which had never is vital to the species’ conservation. The aim (most recently in been recorded on the site. of the project, which is due to report back 1995), are two old Duncan plans to use the efficient in February 2013, is to develop a genetic limestone quarries in surveying methods he has developed marker system to accurately identify pure Plymouth. to assess the sites again. The wildcats. The evocatively- experience has also been very positive The marker system will be central to for his professional development: the success of a planned campaign to named horrid ground-weaver (‘horrid’ comes from the Latin ‘This internship has helped me trap, neuter and re-release mixed-blood develop a range of skills that I would wildcats, and the outcome will also horridus, meaning ‘bristly’) would be influence captive breeding projects. difficult to spot even if it weren’t so not have had the chance to gain by Dr O’Donoghue hopes the fight to uncommon. Its body is just 2.5mm volunteering alone,’ he says. ‘It’s really save the wildcat will promote wider long and it buries itself in rock helped me feel confident in working conservation of the Highlands: ‘As Britain’s crevices, coming out after dark. in the conservation sector and has only wild felid, Scottish wildcats are high Project officer intern Duncan Allen directly led to me working on another profile and charismatic, making them an rose to the challenge of surveying project, Plymouth’s Buzzing! ’ ideal flagship species, which can promote two sites, with the aim of shedding the conservation of the regions they light on this UK priority species. inhabit.’ We wish him every success. The project was partly funded Species notes MELANIE CLAYTON by PTES and was a partnership between Buglife – The Invertebrate Common name: Horrid Conservation Trust and Plymouth University. ground-weaver Of the two sites where the spider Scientific name: has been recorded, one has since Nothophantes horridus been built on. Duncan and volunteers Size: 2.5mm long surveyed the remaining site, Radford Habitat: Limestone Quarry, and another, at Plymstock Royal Mail depot. crevices Unfortunately, the team have yet to Lifestyle: Secretive, nocturnal, spot a horrid ground-weaver. But all preys on even tinier inver tebrates

iStockphoto.com/Andrew_Howe is not lost. Since there have been no wildlifeworld 18 PTES in Action ethiopian wolves Facing extinction in the roof of Africa ptes-funded work in the ethiopian highlands aims to improve prospects for the world’s rarest species of dog. In the Ethiopian highlands, wolves The team has measured changes in land persist in fragmented ‘island’ populations use from satellite images and amassed at the mercy of human communities data about local human and livestock needing land for their crops. The threat of populations, traditional management climate change is likely to increase pressure systems, and the extent of conflict and on habitat further, as agriculture is pushed retaliatory killings of wolves. higher up the mountains. It appears that the best areas for wolves A mere 200 wolves remain in five are above 3 000m, with mild and relatively small, isolated populations; two other wet climates. Only half of the most populations have recently gone extinct. suitable land is above the level used for WildCRU’s Jorgelina Marino is working agriculture, so much has been converted with the Ethiopian Wolf Conservation to cropland, including important habitat Programme to establish current and corridors between wolf populations. projected rates of habitat loss, predict Jorgelina has used this knowledge to extinction risks for remaining populations identify the best places to reconnect and devise a rescue plan that also ensures habitat fragments, giving wolves a chance

sustainable livelihoods for local people. to recolonize lost areas and interbreed. M . Harvey

bats and streetlights Dark night returns wildlife action hero Andy wakefield reports on his PTES mission to monitor bats in darkest cornwall. A summer camping in Cornwall sounded efficient technology. But relatively little fantastic. Combine that with the chance to is known about the impacts of this new Andy’s summer Batcave work with bats, supervised by University of ‘green’ technology on local biodiversity and Bristol experts and I was excited to embark ecosystem functions . ‘To the batmobile!’ I on a mammal internship funded by PTES. hear you cry... at a slightly different frequency and in a Back in 2010 I began investigating the I recorded bat activity around existing slightly different way, I could also identify impact of streetlights on bat activity in sodium lights and then again after new them. After a year and 70 000 graphs I have Cornwall. In particular my study compared white lights had been installed. Using become pretty fluent in the nuances of the existing low pressure sodium lights (those bat detectors in custom-made Cornish common pipistrelle accent. with a familiar dull, orange glow) and the housings fitted to carefully The statistical analysis of my data new energy-efficient, white light type. chosen lamp posts meant that is still ongoing, but I’m confident the Why? Well Cornwall County Council had instead of staying up counting results will show an encouraging recently implemented their Invest to Save bats as they whizzed past the level of bat activity in urban areas of project whereby existing sodium street lights each night, I was free to Cornwall. I have learnt a huge amount lights are being replaced with new energy- fight crime dressed in black during the course of my internship spandex. Or just to get some and I hope that results from my study sleep. will influence future decisions with Each of the high frequency bat calls respect to bats and lighting. recorded on my detectors was uploaded BIFF! ZAP! KA-POW!! Thank you PTES. to my computer and translated into pixels on scatter graphs. I was able to count the Andy Wakefield is leading a Wildlife number of bat passes each night, and Encounter on 2nd May 2013. See our since each species of bat echolocates website or call 020 7498 4533 for details.

Andy Wakefield Andy New streetlights save energy - but how do bats react?

19 wildlifeworld PTES in Action madagscan carnivores Our latest grants: MAMMAL INTERNSHIPS impact of livestock grazing on prey l The conservation management of pine abundance of snow leopards, Mongolia marten in fragmented landscapes, Tara and Nepal, Bayarjargal Agvaantseren, Curry, University of Stirling Snow Leopard Conservation Foundation l Are eels a declining food source for l Proactive conservation actions to save otters in Scotland? Heather Beaton, from extinction the direct development Edinburgh Napier University mode of reproduction of marsupial frogs in the Ecuadorian Andes, Luis Coloma, Invertebrate Centro Jambatu de Investigacion y internsHIPS Conservacion de Anfibios l Towards the conservation of European l Project Fireface: saving the Javan slow A hotspot eel and management of Chinese mitten loris through ecology, education and crab populations: testing new types of empowerment, Anna Nekaris, Oxford within a net on the Thames, Stefanoudis Paris- Brookes University Vasileios, Natural History Museum l Understanding seahorse ecology

Wildlife Conservation Society Wildlife hotspot l Conserving the streaked bombardier and extraction in West Africa: critical beetle, Ellie Passingham, Buglife contributions to a global trade, Amanda The Masoala-Makira landscape is at l The impact of peatland restoration on Vincent & Kate West, Project Seahorse the epicentre of Madagascar’s biodiversity. specialised invertebrate assemblages at It is one of two protected areas capable of Forsinard Nature Reserve and implications worldwide supporting sustainable populations of the for conservation, Lisa Becker, The James continuation grants island’s largest carnivore, the fossa, and several Hutton Institute l Addressing human-orangutan conflict other species such as the striped Malagasy l Status and conservation of the bog in agricultural landscapes in Northern civet, the mongoose-like falanouc (above), the hoverfly on Dartmoor, Tarryn Castle, Sumatra, Panut Hadisiswoyo, Orangutan ring-tailed mongoose and the Indian civet. Buglife Information Centre Despite its importance, the region l Empowering communities towards faces serious threats from slash-and-burn Small worldwide sustainable land management through agriculture, poaching and illegal logging, grants Community Responsible Areas, fragmenting the forest and severely l A toolkit to conserve endangered Bayarjargal Agvaantseren, Snow diminishing the quality of the forest habitat, African wild dogs threatened by viral Leopard Conservation Foundation, restricting the movement of animals and pathogens, Kenya, Rosie Woodroffe, ZSL Mongolia causing greater in-breeding. l Assessing the status of African wild l Making CITES work for seahorses: With PTES support, the Wildlife dogs in Malawi – building a long-term increasing in-country capacity in Thailand Conservation Society has been investigating conservation strategy, Emma Stone, for seahorse monitoring, management the effects of fragmentation, human University of Bristol and conservation, Amanda Vincent, encroachment and poaching in Madagascar l Carnivore ecology, demography Project Seahorse and calculating the first population and and conservation: human-carnivore l One-horned rhinoceros conservation home range estimates of these unique conflict mitigation on the Massai Steppe, in gap areas of Manas Biosphere Reserve, carnivores in their rainforest habitat – a vital Tanzania, Bernard Kissui, African Wildlife Pranjal Bezbarua, Grasshopper, India first step towards ensuring their future. Foundation, Tanzania l Supporting ongoing public Remote cameras have collected over l Conservation of the Barbary macaque engagement as a foundation for the 25 000 photographs and the characteristics through a community-based ecotourism conservation of steppe wildlife in of each landscape were GIS mapped to project in the High Ourika Valley, west Kazakhstan, Russia and Uzbekistan, E.J. work out what influences the densities of central Morocco, Mohammed Znari, Cadi Milner-Gulland, Saiga Conservation each type of animal. The team has captured Ayyad University Alliance glimpses of Madagascar’s most enigmatic l Conserving the endangered dhole in l Turks and Caicos Islands Turtle Project, animals including the first evidence of Cambodia: minimum reserve size and prey Peter Richardson, Marine Conservation brown-tailed mongooses in the region, a rare numbers, Jan Kamler, WildCRU Society photo (below) of the silky sifaka, one of the l Hungry herds? Understanding the world’s top 25 most endangered primates, and almost certainly the first photo of an infant fossa in the wild. l

ll l l ll l l l l l l ll l lll ll iStockphoto.com/pingebat Wildlife Conservation Society Wildlife wildlifeworld 20 Do it yourSelf...

Vanessa Amaral-Rogers is Bug hotels... Conservation Assistant for Buglife – The Invertebrate Conservation Trust. with Buglife exper t Vanessa Amaral-Rogers www.buglife.org

Provide refuges for a host of overwintering invertebrates in your Garden this year by creating one of these easy bug houses.

We help take care of the birds and other As the days get colder, many beneficial animals such as hedgehogs in our gardens during invertebrates are trying to find a safe, warm place the winter by putting out food, or supplying to overwinter. Having a hibernaculum (a place to places for them to hibernate, so why not look shelter in the cold weather) will give your bugs a after the bugs they depend on for food as well? greater chance of surviving the winter and they’ll Invertebrates are important for a healthy garden: be ready to start work immediately in the spring. many of them pollinate our flowers or prey on There are many ready-made bug homes for sale common garden pests. Other wildlife is likely to but Buglife can show you how cheap and easy it be attracted to a bug-filled garden too. is to make your own.

Freya Knapp Freya Star ter homes... Basic bug houses like the two shown here are fun to build and make the perfect place for solitary bees and spiders to hibernate. Start by nailing together a surround made from four similar-sized pieces of untreated timber. Leave the back empty but make sure the top piece is slanted slightly to create an overhang that deflects rainwater. Next, drill holes of various sizes (between 2mm and 1cm) into blocks of wood or small logs and fix them firmly into the surround. When you’ve finished, place it a few feet off the ground, on a south-facing wall where it will be

warmed by the sun. Buglife Amaral-Rogers, Vanessa

...to the last word in bug luxury! If you have plenty of space, why not go all out and build a bug mansion? This one was created from old pallets and will provide refuge for many creatures. Stacking the pallets upside down leaves open holes at the base, great for hibernating hedgehogs, frogs and toads. Build on a flat surface, not so high that the tower becomes unstable, and fill the gaps with varied materials to entice all manner of beasties. Dead wood low down will attract earwigs, centipedes and wood- boring beetles. Leaves at the base are ideal for hedgehogs, while stones and tiles will create cool conditions perfect for frogs and toads. Encourage hibernating ladybirds and lacewings by bundling dry sticks such as willow or rolling a piece of corrugated cardboard into a plastic soft drink bottle and wedging that in. Add other materials such as old pine cones, bits of broken terracotta pot, old bricks, straw and stones. Cover the top with plastic sheeting or an old bit of roofing felt and you have a waterproof mansion, ready for a host of guests! Jamie Robins, Buglife Jamie Robins,

You don’t have to stick to a template. Be creative with your own design. Bug homes come in all shapes and sizes, and can fit into the design of any kind of garden. London Permaculture Flickr Permaculture London

21 wildlifeworld Istockphoto.com/Barcin recyclers oforganic material. crustaceans are important These land-dwelling Woodlouse before flying away. like wasps feed onthebee grubs ofthesejewel- the larvae bees, holes ofsolitary eggs inthenest Parasites that lay Ruby tailedwasp If you it,theywillcome... build Scottish Charity No:SC040004 Scottish Charity Registered No:1092293 Charity Company No:4132695 plastic plantpot. wedge abunch ofthemintoa with gardenor twineorwire Bundlethetubes own burrows. which beesmaketheir tiny and rosestemshave pith into exposed. Bramble sections are thehollow can becutsothat canes have sealednodes which into 10-20cmsections. Bamboo orfairly toughherbs shrubs cut hollowplantstemsfrom T o make bug nestingtubes,o makebug centipede has30. 100 legs–thecommon centipedes have fewer than slugs andsnails, most Voracious predators of Centipedes

Masonry bees often nest in old walls and ensure pollination of your garden plants. Avoid re-pointing or repairs to walls until spring when the bees have woken from hibernation. invertebrates! willow, whichdoeswell inmoistsoils, upto canattract 450different been found to have more than400specieslivingonthem,whereas of invertebrate species. pedunculate Both andsessileoakshave on these. you If have thespace, avast number oaktrees support all great ofahedgerow to andmany plant aspart bugs are dependent than introduced trees. Speciessuchashawthorn, beechandgorseare choose native species, whichare beneficial for invertebrates, rather The winter tree months are planting. thebesttimeto start Try to Plant a living bug house Plant alivingbug Kevin Robinson matter. decaying organic one, millipedeseat segment, instead of pairs oflegsper centipedes by two Distinguished from Millipedes food for birds andbats. themselves important pests, lacewings are devour garden that insects Dainty Lacewings each inayear. to 5 ladybirds eat up Adult andlarval Ladybird 000 aphids larvae theneat. larvae wood, which the are laidindead year life cycle. Eggs beetle hasaseven- largestOur native Stag beetle

Jamie Robins. Buglife

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Badgers are instantly recognisable staples of the British countryside but sadly find themselves in the eye of a storm at present. They aren’t endangered in the UK but are legally protected because of persecution historically. Research that PTES helped to fund suggests that culling badgers will not reduce the spread of bovine TB and could even exacerbate it. We support other means of controlling this awful disease and the havoc it wreaks among livestock, wildlife and human livelihoods. We continue our urgent work to understand better the social behaviour of our badgers which is more complex and differs from that of their continental cousins.

Your support is vital.

Thank you.