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A PUBLICATION OF THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE HSUS WILDLIFE LAND TRUST Volume 8, Number 4, Fall, 2004 Conservation Medicine:

/ Tackling the Root Causes of Emerging Infectious

WNV

/

BIRD Diseases and Seeking Practical Solutions

/

ORG

. By Lisa M. Schloegel and Peter Daszak,

AUDUBON

.

WWW Consortium for Conservation Medicine, Wildlife Trust, NY

AFFREY

C

AROLEE

C West Nile virus was first detected in North America in the summer of 1999, in New York City, when a dead crow with the disease was vironmental degrada- emerged. Most likely the disease has ex- found at the Bronx Zoo. Within three months, WNV had spread to tion. Over the past 50 isted in some amphibian populations for Connecticut and New Jersey, killing tens of thousands of birds, and it years, frog populations many years until recent habitat alterations has continued to spread across the continent. have experienced die- (e.g., habitat fragmentation, species intro- ecause of their vulnerability to en- offs and declines globally. Some of the ductions, climate change, etc.) led to op- vironmental change, amphibians drops in frog populations can be attrib- portunistic infections of new hosts. An- are often viewed as good indica- uted to deforestation, others to the drain- other theory suggests that the pathogen tors of environmental health, ing of wetlands, and still others to the ef- piggy-backed on the international trade revealing the initial effects of en- fects of pollution. In the late 1980s, how- in wildlife as food and pets across inter- B ever, scientists began to notice increas- national boundaries, allowing the fungus ingly significant population declines to spread to naïve populations. Recent and extinctions in amphibians inhabit- studies have shown that the bullfrog (Rana ing relatively pristine habitats. Research- catesbiana), which is transported interna- ers later discovered that these events co- incided with outbreaks of a previously Continued on page 3 unknown disease, chytridiomycosis, which is caused by a fungal pathogen, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis.1 This dis- See Inside ease has been implicated, for example, as the proximate cause of extinction of Conservation Medicine, cont. 3 In Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea, the golden toad of Costa Rica (Bufo individuals of the green tree frog species have been periglenes) and two species of Australian It’s a Bear Market 8 found to be sick with the chytrid fungus, a gastric brooding frogs (Rheobatrachus previously unknown disease. Outbreaks of the silus and R. vitellinus). disease have coincided with increasingly Green Pages 12 significant population declines and extinctions in Nobody knows with certainty when, amphibians inhabiting relatively pristine habitats. where, and why this pathogen first

H E L P I N G G R O U P S B E C O M E M O R E E F F E C T I V E I N P R O T E C T I N G W I L D L I F E A N D T H E I R E C O S Y S T E M S Letter from the Editor Wildlife Tracks Mission and Goals: Over 5,000 wildlife and habitat pro- ne of the things we humans do best— tection organizations nationwide are working to stop the rapid disappearance changing our environment to make our of wildlife and the destruction of their lives easier—can have serious conse- habitat. Wildlife Tracks combines the O power of information, the power of net- quences for animal welfare and conservation, working and the power of people to even if unintentional. strengthen local, state and national Urban development and the conversion of grassroots movements to preserve and re- store wildlife and the ecosystems they land to agricultural uses destroys habitat, but need for their survival. it also brings humans and domestic animals into contact with wildlife. Species already im- ground world of poaching and illegal trade Goals: • To expedite the exchange of expe- periled by habitat loss can be further jeopar- in American black bears. But this trafficking rience and information between dized when close proximity to humans, domes- is not restricted to the U.S. or to black bears; wildlife and habitat organizations, tic animals, or captive wildlife results in the it has a global reach, threatening populations while increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of their efforts. transmission of novel diseases to wildlife. of many bear species world-wide and even • To empower the grassroots by shar- Human encroachment into wildlife habitat resulting in bear “farming,” in which captive ing the successful efforts to preserve wildlife and ecosystems and to in- can also trigger the emergence of new infec- bears are “milked” for their bile. spire them to expand their vision tious diseases in human populations. The international trade in wildlife is not and strategy to achieve long-term International travel by humans, and inter- the only way in which human alterations to solutions. • To assist in building responsible and national trade in wild and domestic animals the environment can affect the conservation credible organizations by providing and plants, can result in the introduction of and welfare of wildlife. Lisa Schloegel and information and guidance. exotic plants and animals, as well as the dis- Peter Daszak from the Wildlife Trust’s Con- Staff: ease organisms they may carry. This can jeop- sortium for Conservation Medicine provide John W. Grandy, Senior Vice President, ardize native wildlife populations with possible a cautionary tale of the role of human-in- Wildlife Programs, HSUS exposure to a novel disease; it also has the duced ecosystem alterations on the emer- Bette Stallman, Senior Editor Debra Firmani, Managing Editor potential to threaten human health. When gence and spread of diseases in wildlife and Tanya Mulford, Associate Editor there is profit to be gained from the interna- in humans. The resulting disease outbreaks, Andrea Cimino, Editorial Assistant Jenni Haas, Designer tional trade in wildlife—i.e., where wild ani- such as SARS or West Nile virus, are clearly a mals or their parts are sold for food, medicine, threat to human health; now, however, there Board of Advisors: exhibition, or as part of the pet trade—such is increasing awareness that such emerging Danielle Bays, Kevin Bixby, Henry Brzezinski, David Carle, activities often result in over-exploitation of diseases can threaten the viability of wildlife Linda Hatfield, Anne Miller, wildlife populations, as well as the inhumane populations and the integrity of ecosystems. Ruth Musgrave, Diane Nixon, treatment of the wild animals held in captivity To suggest future WT article topics or to Allen Rutberg, Louisa Willcox or transported. comment on past topics, please write to: Wildlife Tracks Office: In this issue of Wildlife Tracks, Adam Rob- Bette Stallman The Humane Society of the erts, executive director of the Animal Welfare [email protected] United States Wildlife and Habitat Protection Institute, illuminates the global trade in bears The Humane Society of the 2100 L Street, NW and their parts—primarily their gall bladders United States Washington DC 20037 and bile—for medicinal purposes. Media cov- 2100 L Street, NW Phone: 301-258-3147 Fax: 301-258-3080 erage of recent undercover investigations by Washington, DC 20037 E-mail: [email protected] U.S. federal and state wildlife and law enforce- phone: 301-258-3147 © The Humane Society of the United States and The ment authorities exposed a shocking under- fax: 301-258-3080 e HSUS Wildlife Land Trust, 2004. To reprint any or all of Wildlife Tracks, please contact Bette Stallman at The Hu- mane Society of the U.S. at the above address. Permis- sion will generally be granted if credit is given to The Humane Society of the United States. Look for in Future Issues

The views expressed in these articles represent those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Live-Trapping and Relocating “Nuisance” Wildlife: The Humane Society of the United States or those of The HSUS Wildlife Land Trust. The HSUS and The Exploring the Pros and Cons HSUS Wildlife Land Trust encourage the grassroots use of all actions that educate and encourage the humane and proper treatment of human and non-human ani- Protecting Wildlife in Your Own Backyard mals; however, we do not promote or support the use of any action that violates federal, state, or local laws Gopher Tortoise Conservation and regulations in this process. werty Current Coyote Issues

W I L D L I F E T R A C K S • F A L L 2 0 0 4 2 CONSERVATION MED., cont. from front page tant tuberculo- tablishing such proof may continue to sis), and others prove elusive, because it requires data on emerging lo- population biology, as well as on the health cally (e.g., and pathology of at least one individual Ebola, of the last remnant group. Some evidence Hantavirus) suggests that chytridiomycosis led to the without known extinction of the sharp-snouted day frog therapies, cures, (Taudactylus acutirostris) in Australia. Analy- or vaccines. sis of one of the last known individuals of Despite enor- this species revealed infection by the mous interest in chytrid fungus. In 2001, the status of the EIDs that di- sharp-snouted day frog was assessed and rectly affect subsequently listed as critically endan- people, scien- gered on the IUCN (World Conservation There have been no recorded cases of transmission of brucellosis—a disease tists have only Union) Red List of Threatened Species. originally transmitted to bison from livestock—from wild bison back into recently begun This assessment is conservative; its status livestock; however, the perceived risk has led to conservation concerns for bison. to show that is likely to change to extinct within the tionally for both the food and wildlife pet wildlife also suffers from EIDs. This follows next ten years. trades, has all the characteristics of a car- a number of high profile outbreaks of wild- rier of this disease: It is capable of being life diseases—such as amphibian Potential Causes of Pathogen infected with the pathogen but suffers only chytridiomycosis—causing population Emergence and Spread minimal effects itself. declines or even contributing to extinc- Approximately 75% of emerging hu- Deforestation, species introductions, tions. In January 1996, the last individual man diseases are zoonoses, meaning that chemical pollution, globalization, and cli- of a Polynesian tree snail (Partula turgida) they are infectious to both humans and mate change—all of these human-induced died in a lab in the London Zoo. Once an animals. In particular, zoonotic EID patho- ecosystem alterations threaten the survival inhabitant of the Society Islands, this spe- gens often emerge when they spread from of wildlife populations. But when such cies began to decline after a predatory an animal reservoir—in which pathogens ecosystem alterations also result in patho- snail (Euglandina rosea) was introduced for live and multiply but rarely or never re- gen pollution (the movement of patho- biocontrol purposes. Pathological exami- sult in illness or mortality—to another host gens or hosts to new locations), additional nations of the last individuals, however, re- that is susceptible to the disease. This ecological disturbance can occur due to vealed that death of the makes it difficult to pre- the potentially devastating impacts on wild- last population was the dict which wildlife patho- life health. result of infection by a gens will emerge next. In microspor-idian para- some cases, pathogens Emerging Infectious Diseases site (Steinhausia sp.). move from wildlife to Emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) are To date, the loss of P. humans, and then evolve diseases that have recently increased in turgida is the only to become serious global prevalence or geographic range, have proven case of extinc- infections—such as moved into new host populations, have tion by infection (albeit HIV/AIDs. In almost all been recently discovered, or are caused by in captivity); however, cases, the emergence of newly evolved pathogens. The seriousness EIDs are suspected in a these zoonoses is a result of this threat to wildlife, as well as to hu- number of other ex- of human-mediated al- mans, has been made apparent by the re- tinctions. For example, terations to natural eco- cent emergence of Severe Acute Respira- although introduced system processes. tory Syndrome (SARS), monkey pox, West pathogens are thought Understanding EIDs Nile virus (WNV), and other diseases. As to be the proximate requires an understand- humans venture into previously undis- cause of the extinctions ing of the environmental turbed habitats, cut down forests, transport of many of the original Increased intensification of pig changes that cause them wildlife, and travel across great distances, endemic Hawaiian farming adjacent to fruit bat colonies, to emerge and spread— this threat is amplified. The result is an birds and some other along with other human-caused changes in human be- factors, may have contributed to the alarming number of newly discovered species, definitive proof emergence of Nipah virus. havior; travel of humans, EIDs, some causing human mortality on a has not been, and may wildlife, and domestic global scale (e.g., HIV/AIDS, drug resis- never be, obtained. Es- livestock around the

H U M A N E S O C I E T Y O F T H E U N I T E D S T A T E S A N D T H E H S U S W I L D L I F E L A N D T R U S T • F A L L 2 0 0 4 3 and pig farmers, killed 100 number of generations per annum, and people in a single outbreak the pathogen’s transmission rate; it may and led the Malaysian govern- also enhance winter survival of pathogens ment to cull 1.1 million pigs or modify host susceptibility to infection. in an effort to stop the epi- As northern latitudes warm, winter survival demic. Researchers later dis- and the upward movement of carrier hosts covered that fruit bats are the or vectors (e.g., the northward movement reservoirs for this disease.2 of ticks carrying Lyme disease) may push The virus was transmitted EIDs into new regions. from infected fruit bats to It is important to note that, while cli- pigs, which acted as “ampli- mate change may lead to the emergence fier” hosts for the disease, in- of pathogens, it could also lead to the dis- creasing the transmission and appearance of certain pathogens that nor- prevalence of the virus. In- mally play a role in regulating the size or fected pigs developed a bark- density of host populations. In the absence ing cough, at which time the of certain pathogens, the relative size of Research has shown that the disappearance of African wild virus became an airborne host populations can increase; this can dogs from the Serengeti that occurred in 1991 was caused by the transference of canine distemper and rabies in domestic pathogen that was then trans- result, for example, in greater predation dogs of that area to wild dogs. mitted to humans. The emer- on prey species or increased competition gence of Nipah virus may have over resources with other species. world; agriculture and livestock produc- been triggered by any number of anthro- tion; and encroachment of human com- pogenic or other changes, such as human Pathogen Pollution and Globalization munities into wildlife habitat. The causal encroachment into fruit bat habitat (i.e., Analyses suggest that pathogen pollu- pathway by which these environmental intensification of pig farming adjacent to tion may account for 60 percent of the changes may affect wildlife health, human fruit bat colonies), climatic factors, forest emerging diseases of wildlife. It has been health, and aspects of disease ecology fires and drought, or land-use change. linked to outbreaks of elephant herpes vi- (e.g., species extinctions and increased rus in zoos; crayfish plague in Europe; transmission of pathogens to humans) is Climate Change avian malaria and pox disease in Hawaii; under current investigation, but case stud- Recent research indicates that global and West Nile virus in North America. With ies can illustrate the close correlation be- climate change may be another contrib- the continuing globalization of trade in tween human-induced ecosystem changes uting factor in the emergence and/or domestic animals and their products, wild and disease emergence. movement of diseases. Climate-induced animals and their parts (e.g., as pets, food, changes in temperature, rainfall, and hu- or for hunting), and contaminated pro- Live Animal Markets and SARS midity may alter the dynamics of host- duce and materials, pathogen pollution is The recent outbreak of SARS has been pathogen ecology for many emerging dis- likely to become an even more significant traced back to markets that deal in diverse eases. For example, increased water tem- burden to human and animal health, en- wild mammals, birds, and reptiles for perature can have negative consequences vironmental health, and the economy in food. Molecular evidence suggests that for two species of commensal the future. masked palm civets (“civet cats”) present chaetogasters inhabiting the mantles of For example, it is believed that West Nile at these markets were infected by the vi- aquatic snails. Research has shown that virus reached North America in 1999, via rus that caused SARS in humans, although these commensals act as predators, attack- infected international travelers. Whether many experts believe there may be an ad- ing and ingesting the infective stages of the travelers responsible were of the hu- ditional wildlife reservoir. Locating that parasites attempting to infect a snail host. man, avian, or mosquito variety is still un- reservoir could give scientists insight into With an increase in temperature, the known. It is clear, however, that the intro- the reasons behind the emergence of this chaetogasters abandon the snail and die, duction of WNV to the Americas was most disease and could have important impli- resulting in an increase in the rate of para- likely a result of human activity: the trans- cations for preventing future outbreaks. sitism on the snails.3 port of infected humans, birds, or mosqui- For vector-borne pathogens (i.e., those toes. Since the time of its introduction, Nipah Virus: At the Interface Between transmitted from one host to another via WNV has swept across the country at an Farming and Wildlife Habitat an insect or other animal) such as den- alarming rate, killing thousands of native Nineteen ninety-eight marked the gue, malaria, Lyme disease, and West Nile birds. Researchers now fear that the virus emergence of the Nipah virus in Malay- virus, temperature increases may increase will spread to the Hawaiian and Galapagos sia. This lethal virus, first identified in pigs the development rate of the pathogen, the islands. If the virus reaches these remote

W I L D L I F E T R A C K S • F A L L 2 0 0 4 4 wild popu- a multidisciplinary science dedicated to lations of understanding how wildlife, human, and bison in ecosystem health are related and to deal- North ing with the threats that diseases pose to America via ecosystems. An ecological health collabo- domestic rative, the Consortium for Conservation cattle in the Medicine (CCM), was created to tackle early 1900s. the root causes of emerging diseases and Since that the global spread of microbes. The CCM time, a na- is a collaboration among Harvard Medi-

EDICINE M tional eradi- cal School’s Center for Health and the cation pro- Global Environment, Johns Hopkins

ONSERVATION C gram in the Bloomberg School of Public Health, Tufts

FOR

United University’s School of Veterinary Medi-

ONSORTIUM States, cine, the USGS National Wildlife Health

C along with Center, and Wildlife Trust (not associated

OURTESY C an exten- with The HSUS Wildlife Land Trust). It A high diversity of species in small areas, such as at this live bird market in sive vaccina- brings together key experts from the fields China, increases the opportunity for pathogen transmission. tion pro- of veterinary medicine, public health, and gram, has conservation to form think-tank research areas, it could be devastating to the avian practically eliminated the threat of serious groups that search for the causes of eco- species inhabiting those islands, many of epidemics of brucellosis in cattle. The dis- system-wide health problems and formu- which are already at risk. ease, however, still persists in some popu- late practical solutions for a healthier lations of bison, elk, and other wildlife. planet. Spill-Over and Spill-Back Ranchers now fear that the disease will be The CCM and its partner institutions Domesticated animals (pets and live- transmitted from the bison to livestock, are involved in a variety of ongoing re- stock) and captive wildlife are often res- making the livestock industry in certain search projects. For example, the CCM is ervoirs for disease that can “spill-over” states economically unviable. There have currently investigating the factors that led into free-roaming wildlife. Such events been no recorded cases of such transmis- to the emergence of Nipah virus in Ma- could be particularly devastating to en- sion in the wild so far, but it is clear that laysia and a closely related virus, Hendra dangered species. Small, isolated popu- the perceived risk is enough to cause seri- virus, which emerged in Australia. Addi- lations are more vulnerable to the effects ous conservation concerns for bison.4 tional CCM projects include a study on of environmental stressors, including the dynamics of SARS in Asian wildlife, disease. For instance, since the 1960s, Conservation Medicine how human and environmental factors populations of the African wild dog Our traditional definition of conserva- affect the prevalence and emergence of (Lycaon pictus) have experienced signifi- tion entails the preservation or manage- WNV, and ground-breaking research to cant declines and are now considered en- ment of natural lands and their resident aid in predicting how pathogen pollution dangered. In 1991, wild dogs disap- plants and animals to prevent exploitation, might drive future emerging diseases. peared from the Serengeti, an event that habitat loss, and species extinctions. To- Several recent, widely publicized EID coincided with outbreaks of canine dis- day, scientists are beginning to realize that outbreaks in humans and in wildlife popu- temper and rabies in domestic dogs in this definition only scratches the surface lations around the world should serve as that area. Researchers have shown that of what conservation must become in the a wake-up call for public health experts, the cause of the disappearance was out- 21st century. The reality is that people are wildlife disease specialists, and conserva- breaks of these two diseases, which destroying ecosystems globally, and the tionists. It is clear that diseases such as jumped to wild dogs from domestic dogs. shockwave this destruction creates threat- SARS, Nipah virus, and Ebola virus have The current focus of conservationists is ens not only the habitat so vital for species the potential to cause widespread human to encourage widespread vaccination of survival and ecosystem integrity, but the suffering and death. However, our increas- pet dogs around wild dog habitat, and health of all species: wildlife and plants, as ing awareness of the potential for the dev- they are beginning to win the battle well as humans and domestic animals. astating effects these and other emerging against this wildlife EID. A new field of study has emerged in re- diseases may have on sensitive wildlife Of similar concern is the reverse of sponse to the growing impact of human- populations must now inspire concen- spill-over: spill-back. For example, bru- induced environmental degradation on trated and coordinated research and ac- cellosis was most likely introduced into disease ecology. Conservation medicine is tion from multiple fields to inform and

H U M A N E S O C I E T Y O F T H E U N I T E D S T A T E S A N D T H E H S U S W I L D L I F E L A N D T R U S T • F A L L 2 0 0 4 5 Examples of Emerging Infectious Diseases and Their Effects on Wildlife, Ecosystems, and Human Health5

Disease and/or Pathogen Effects Emergence and/or Spread

BRUCELLOSIS Caused by any of several Wildlife Health: Many wild mammals B. abortus was most likely introduced to strains of the bacterium, Brucella. The strain worldwide are susceptible to brucellosis, in- the United States with the importation of found in bison and cattle in the United States cluding ungulates. Brucellosis is usually not infected European cattle, which later came is Brucella abortus. fatal in adult mammals but can cause repro- into contact with wildlife resulting in a “spill- ductive dysfunctions such as spontaneous over” event. abortions. It is not clear whether brucellosis Human exposures to brucellosis generally is adversely affecting the viability of infected occur when people come into contact with wildlife populations. Attempts to eradicate tissues of infected livestock (e.g. at slaugh- the disease may have an impact on conser- terhouses or laboratories) or ingest unpas- vation that goes well beyond that of the dis- teurized dairy products from infected ani- ease itself. mals.

CHYTRIDIOMYCOSIS Caused by the fun- Wildlife Health: Evidence suggests that First identified in 1998, chytridiomycosis gus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. chytridiomycosis caused the extinction of the was associated with amphibian mass mortal- sharp-snouted day frog in Australia and prob- ity events and population declines in Panama ably contributed to the extinction of the and Australia. The disease has since been golden toad in Costa Rica and two species of reported in North America, South America, gastric brooding frogs in Australia. Africa, and Europe. International trade in wildlife, such as the bullfrog, may have con- tributed to the spread of this disease.

EBOLA HEMORRHAGIC FEVER Ebola is Human Health: Ebola is often fatal in hu- Ebola virus was first isolated in the Demo- caused by infection with one of several strains mans. The 2000–01 outbreak in Uganda sick- cratic Republic of the Congo. The Ebola vi- of the Ebola virus, which belongs to the ened 425 people, more than 50% of whom rus is thought to have originated from the Filoviridae family of viruses. died. The 2001–02 outbreak in Gabon and African continent. Though the natural res- the Republic of the Congo sickened 122 ervoir of the disease is unknown, the first hu- people, nearly 80% of whom died. man infection in an outbreak probably fol- Wildlife Health: Often fatal in non-hu- lows human contact with an infected animal. man primates, Ebola has contributed to the Researchers are still looking for possible trig- rapid decline of gorilla and chimpanzee gers—such as human encroachment into ape populations in western Africa. A 2002 out- habitat—that may bring apes into greater break in the Rep. of the Congo resulted in contact with the virus. the deaths of about 50% of the 1,200 goril- las found in a protected sanctuary between two infected villages. The regions most af- fected by Ebola are home to 80% of the world’s remaining gorillas and most chim- panzees.

MONKEYPOX Caused by the monkeypox Human Health: In the 2003 United States Monkeypox was isolated for the first time virus, which belongs to the orthopoxvirus outbreak, 37 confirmed cases of monkeypox in North America in 2003 when infected Af- group of viruses. in humans in 6 states were reported. No hu- rican rodents were shipped from Ghana to man deaths were reported from the U.S. out- the United States to be sold as pets. break. In rural areas of central and west Af- Monkeypox was transmitted to North Ameri- rica, mortality ranges from 1% to 10%. can prairie dogs—also captured for sale as Wildlife Health: Some scientists feared pets—that were housed nearby. Human con- that infected pet prairie dogs might be re- tact with infected prairie dogs appears to leased into the wild, potentially resulting in have been the primary route of transmission disease transmission to wild prairie dogs and to humans. other wildlife. To date, there are no reports that this has occurred.

NIPAH VIRUS ENCEPHALITIS A member Human Health: In the 1998–99 Malaysia Nipah virus was unrecognized until an of the Paramyxoviridae family. outbreak, Nipah virus caused encephalitis in outbreak from September 1998 to April 1999 265 people, killing 105. in Malaysia. Encroachment of farming into Wildlife Health: The initial outbreak of fruit bat habitat may have triggered the out- the virus led to the culling of 1.1 million pigs. break. Fruit bats appear to have transmitted Several species of fruit bats are known to Nipah to domesticated pigs, which then carry the virus while exhibiting no adverse transmitted the disease to humans. effects from infection.

W I L D L I F E T R A C K S • F A L L 2 0 0 4 6 Disease and/or Pathogen Effects Emergence and/or Spread

SEVERE ACUTE RESPIRATORY SYN- Human Health: In the 2003 outbreak, Wild animals, including masked palm civ- DROME (SARS) Caused by a coronavirus, SARS sickened 8,098 people worldwide and ets, raccoon-dogs, and Chinese ferret bad- known as SARS-associated coronavirus. resulted in the deaths of 774 people. gers, held at live animal markets (for sale for Wildlife Health: The Chinese govern- human consumption) in southern China ment responded to the outbreak, in part, by were found to have been exposed to SARS ordering the killing of as many as 10,000 cap- or a similar coronavirus. These live animal tive masked palm civets (or “civet cats”), de- markets probably played a role in the trans- spite uncertainty among health experts as to mission of SARS to humans. the need or effectiveness of this move. The direct effect of the virus itself upon civets or other wildlife is not yet known.

WEST NILE VIRUS (WNV) Caused by a Human Health: The CDC reports that WNV was isolated for the first time in the flavivirus closely related to St. Louis encepha- WNV sickened 9,862 people in the United United States (and in the Western Hemi- litis. States and resulted in 264 human deaths in sphere) in Nassau County, New York, in Au- 2003. Infections in humans in the United gust 1999. The virus is thought to have States have been documented in 40 states reached North America via infected interna- and the District of Columbia. tional travelers (i.e. humans, birds, or mos- Wildlife Health: Infections in birds (225 quitoes). Researches now fear the virus may wild and captive species to date) and other spread to the Hawaiian and Galapagos is- animals have been reported in 47 states, the lands in the same way it reached the shores District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Ef- of North America. fects on bird populations are unknown at this time, but WNV may pose a significant risk to threatened and endangered bird species.

drive public policy in the United States change and the emergence of infectious (Endnotes) 1 and abroad. Time is of the essence in diseases in wildlife.” Acta Tropica 78: 103-116. Berger, L., Speare, R., Daszak, P., et al. Daszak, P., Cunningham, A.A., and Hyatt, 1998. “Chytridiomycosis causes amphibian responding to known disease threats and A.D. 2000. “Emerging infectious diseases of mortality associated with population de- in preparing for the effects, on both hu- wildlife: threats to biodiversity and human clines in the rain forests of Australia and man health and wildlife, of as yet undis- health.” Science 287: 443-449. Central America.” Proceedings of the National covered diseases that are certain to Patz, J., Daszak, P., Tabor, G., Aguirre, Academy of Sciences, USA, 95: 9031 – 9036. 2 emerge in the near future. A.A., Pearl, M., Epstein, J., Wolfe, N.D., Johara, M., Field, H., Rashdi, A., Kilpatrick, A.M., Foufopoulos, J., Molyneux, Morrissy, C., Van der Heide, B., Rota, P., Azri, Sources for Additional D., Bradley, D.J., and Members of the Work- A., White, J., Daniels, P., Jamaluddin, A., and Information ing Group on Land Use Change and Dis- Ksiazek, T. 2001. “Serological evidence of Website of the Consortium for Conser- ease Emergence. 2004. “Unhealthy Land- infection with Nipah virus in bats (order vation Medicine: www.conservation scapes: Policy Recommendations on Land Chiroptera) in Peninsular Malaysia.” Emerg- medicine.org. Use Change and Infectious Disease Emer- ing Infectious Diseases, 7: 439 – 441. gence.” Environmental Health Perspectives 3 Sankurathi, C.S. and Holmes, J.C. 1976. Selected Publications 112(10): 1092. “Effects of thermal effluents on parasites and EcoHealth: Conservation Medicine – Hu- commensals of Physa gyrina Say (Mollusca: man Health – Ecosystem Sustainability Books Gastropoda) and their interactions at Lake An international, peer-reviewed journal Aguirre, A.A., Ostfeld, R.S., Tabor, G.M., Wabamun, Alberta.” Canadian Journal of Zo- launched in 2004. The journal provides a House, C., and Pearl, M.C. 2002. Conserva- ology, 54: 1742. timely forum for research, policy, and prac- tion Medicine: Ecological Health in Prac- 4 See Brister, D. 2003. “The Yellowstone tice that integrates the ecological and health tice. New York: Oxford University Press. buffalo slaughter.” Wildlife Tracks, 6(1): 7 – sciences. EcoHealth is the merger of the Pokras, M., Tabor, G., Pearl, M., Sherman, 10. complementary journals Ecosystem Health D., and Epstein, P. 1997. “Conservation Medi- 5 Sources for mortality statistics and other and Global Change and Human Health, and a cine: An Emerging Field.” In Raven, P.H. data: Centers for Disease Control and Pre- planned journal of the Consortium for Con- (ed.), Nature and Human Society: The Quest for vention (www.cdc.gov); World Health Orga- servation Medicine. For more information, a Sustainable World, pp. 551-556. Washington, nization (http://www.who.int/en/); U.S. Geo- visit www.ecohealth.net. DC: National Academy Press. logical Survey’s National Wildlife Health Anderson, P.K., Cunningham, A.A., Tabor, G.M., Ostfeld, R.S., Poss, M., Dob- Center (http://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/); Wildlife Patel, N.G., Morales, F.J., Epstein, P.R., and son, A.P., and Aguirre, A.A. 2001. “Conser- Conservation Society (www.wcs.org). Daszak, P. “Emerging infectious diseases of vation Biology and the Health Sciences.” In plants: pathogen pollution, climate change, Soulé, M.E. and Orians, G.H. (eds.), Conser- Lisa M. Schloegel and agrotechnology drivers.” Trends in Ecol- vation Biology, pp. 155-173. Washington, DC: Peter Daszak ogy and Evolution 119(10): 535-544. Island Press. Consortium for Conservation Medi- Daszak, P., Cunningham, A.A., and Hyatt, e A.D. 2001. “Anthropogenic environmental cine, Wildlife Trust, NY

H U M A N E S O C I E T Y O F T H E U N I T E D S T A T E S A N D T H E H S U S W I L D L I F E L A N D T R U S T • F A L L 2 0 0 4 7 The illicit international bear parts trade not only puts endangered Asiatic bear species in further danger, but it has put a price on the head of every black bear in America.

It’s a Bear Market: Widespread Exploitation and Inadequate Protections Press Bears Toward an Uncertain Future

By Adam M. Roberts, Executive Director, Animal Welfare Institute laska State Trooper Gary Pacolt, years to investigate the illegal commercial- in America. The resulting bear poaching dressed in civilian clothes, dined at ization of bear parts in the region. “Op- could threaten the long-term viability of Athe Front Street Café in the rural eration VIPER” (Virginia Interagency Ef- some states’ resident bear populations. southwest Alaskan town of Bethel. This is fort to Protect Environment Resources), Globally, laws and regulations regarding a “damp” community—it is legal to pos- according to Department press state- bear hunting and possession or sale of sess alcohol for personal use, but illegal ments, “uncovered evidence that whole bear parts vary substantially from species to buy, sell, or trade it. Trooper Pacolt, in bears, gall bladders, bear paws, and other to species, country to country, and even town as part of a sting operation to un- bear parts originating in Virginia are be- state to state in the United States. This cover an illegal underground trade in bear ing trafficked to Washington, DC, Mary- complicates wildlife law enforcement con- gallbladders, noticed Jung Ho Yi also din- land, West Virginia, North Carolina, New siderably. Poaching (illegal killing of wild- ing, although Yi appeared to be a restau- Jersey, New York, and Cali- life) is never justified—even rant employee. fornia, as well as overseas. when a wildlife population can According to court documents, Operation VIPER has es- withstand certain levels of law- Trooper Pacolt “removed a bear gallblad- tablished the existence of ful hunting—and strenuous ef- der from his shirt pocket and asked Yi if a direct connection be- forts should always be made to he was interested in buying.” Yi apparently tween Virginia and South deter this criminal wildlife

WSPA knew that Alaska Administrative Code bars Korea, and has obtained PERHAPS THE MOST slaughter. But it is quite clear the purchase of bear gallbladders, but he evidence of links to other PERVASIVE ILLEGAL that because of the financial in- mistakenly thought (or feigned igno- foreign countries.” Opera- GLOBAL centive for bear poaching in rance) that bartering two bottles of whis- tion VIPER uncovered EXPLOITATION— particular, greater efforts key for the gallbladder would be okay. Yi nearly 700 state and federal FACING THE VAST should be extended nationally also picked up the tab for the trooper’s violations perpetrated by MAJORITY OF EXTANT and internationally to protect meal. A month later, Trooper Pacolt more than 100 people. BEAR POPULATIONS— bears from poachers and profi- traded another gallbladder for three On the black market, IS THE TRADE IN BEAR teers. bottles of vodka. Yi was ultimately indicted bear parts, particularly the GALLBLADDERS AND Wildlife Tracks readers surely for violating both state liquor and wild- gallbladder and bile, liter- BILE. will be well versed in the pano- life laws. ally are worth their weight ply of exploitative uses to which Some 4,000 miles away in the in gold and can fetch more than gems or bears are subjected globally. Bears face Shenandoah Mountains area of Virginia, drugs. The illicit international bear parts population threats and individual cruelty the Virginia Department of Game and trade not only puts endangered Asiatic as a result of habitat destruction. They are Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) was concluding bear species in further danger, but it has hunted for trophies, their hides are used its second undercover operation in four put a price on the head of every black bear to adorn living room floors, and their teeth

W I L D L I F E T R A C K S • F A L L 2 0 0 4 8 and claws are turned into jewelry. Captive cubs are taught to avoid painful treatment by “dancing” for gawking tourists, or they are forced to fight, de-clawed and de- fanged, to defend themselves against dogs bred and trained to attack. Bears are also incarcerated in zoos or circuses and forced to perform “tricks;” and they are kept as pets in the ever-increasing and dangerous exotic pet trade.

HUNTING FOR GALLS; MILKING FOR BILE While the legal global trade in bear tro- phies, meat, skins, teeth and claws, or live

/WSPA animals is widespread, perhaps the most

ASTHAM pervasive illegal global exploitation—fac- E

AVE ing the vast majority of extant bear popu- D

OUTESY lations—is the trade in bear gallbladders C and bile. The international trade in parts Bears captured so that their bile can be extracted and sold are incarcerated in small iron and products of Asiatic black and brown cages, which restrict their movement almost completely. bears is prohibited. However, North Ameri- can black bear parts can be exported le- considered a “cold” medicine used to treat Other countries in the region, such as Viet gally from Canada and the United States “hot” ailments such as fevers, burns, swell- Nam, Laos, and Cambodia, have smaller (even though some individual states pro- ing, and sprains. According to the Hand- bear farming industries. More than 7,000 hibit commercialization of bear parts). book of Traditional Tibetan Drugs, Their No- bears are thought to languish in bear According to trade data compiled by the menclature, Composition, Use and Dosage farms in China according to groups such United Nations Environment Programme’s by T. J. Tsarong, bear bile in one remedy as the World Society for the Protection of World Conservation Monitoring Centre, is used to treat stomach pains and the pass- Animals (WSPA) and Animals Asia. more than a thousand bear gallbladders ing of blood in one’s stool. In another, it Bears are incarcerated in small iron were exported legally from Canada be- is distilled in water and used for eye drops. cages, which restrict their movement al- tween 1997 and 2002, but inexplicably, very The active ingredient in bear bile is most completely. Usually, a steel catheter few (eight) have left the United States le- ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), which is a is inserted into the gallbladder and used gally with the appropriate export permits, naturally occurring bile acid found in to extract the bile. Some bears are forced easily attained from the United States Fish mammals, including humans, but in to wear an iron corset to prevent move- and Wildlife Service. This is particularly larger quantities in certain species of ment during (painful) bile extraction. noteworthy given the thousands of bears bears. There are synthetic alternatives to Bears in these barren enclosures receive poached in the United States specifically bear bile in medicinal prescriptions, and little or no veterinary care; have numer- for their gallbladders—while some bears more than fifty herbal alternatives, many ous open wounds, not only to the abdo- may be poached for meat or hides or sim- of which conform to traditional medicine men from the bile extraction, but to their ply taken illegally out of season, there is practices. Increasingly, though, bear gall- heads and bodies from rubbing against the little evidence to suggest that the trade in bladder or bile is found throughout Asia cage bars; and engage in stereotypic be- bear gallbladders is not the most significant in cosmetic items such as shampoos, ton- haviors indicative of their suffering. When cause of bear poaching nationwide. With ics, throat lozenges, and hemorrhoid they are too old to produce sufficient so many bears poached in America, and so creams. The potential market for medi- quantities of bile, they are killed for the few legally exported, it seems evident that cines and luxury cosmetics containing whole gallbladder, and their paws are sold there is both heavy domestic demand and bear parts is, of course, enormous to restaurants that serve bear paw soup. a sophisticated intercontinental smuggling throughout Asia and Asian communities WSPA investigators have been told that network. globally. bear paws may be cut off if customers re- Bear gallbladder (and bile) has a long In a misguided effort to meet public quest a fresh paw. history of use in traditional Asian medi- demand and reduce further decline of the Notwithstanding the unacceptable cru- cines, first prescribed some three thou- wild Asiatic black bear (in China specifi- elty involved in bear farming, there is no sand years ago. In the traditional medicine cally), the Chinese government has advo- evidence whatsoever that bear farming has pharmacopoeia, the bear gallbladder is cated bear “farming” for two decades now. reduced the pressure on wild bear popu-

H U M A N E S O C I E T Y O F T H E U N I T E D S T A T E S A N D T H E H S U S W I L D L I F E L A N D T R U S T • F A L L 2 0 0 4 9 lations. In fact, a ready supply of bear gall- The study found that in bladders from illegally bladder and bile products has most likely these cities, 91% of the killed bears can be sold stimulated market demand, placing more, 32 traditional Chinese in one state, simply by not less, pressure on wild populations. medicine shops sur- fraudulently claiming Additionally, wild bear parts are popularly veyed sold some form of them to be from bears le- considered to be more valuable than bear part or derivative gally killed elsewhere. farmed products, putting global empha- including manufac- From state to state, regu- sis on poaching. tured bile medicines, latory discrepancies farmed bile powder, or make enforcement diffi- AMERICAN MARKET AND LEGAL intact galls. Hemor- cult. Only five states al- LOOPHOLES EXPLOITED rhoid pills sold for be- low the unfettered com- As evidenced by the sting operations tween $1.30 and $4.00; mercialization of bear in Alaska and Virginia, described in the bile crystal powder sold /WSPA parts (Idaho, Maine, opening of this article, the illegal bear in San Francisco for $50 ASTHAM New York, Vermont, and

E

AVE parts trade has come to America. Further, a bottle; and intact bear D Wyoming). Three states,

the sale of bear parts in the United States galls sold for $129 in OUTESY not having resident bear

C occurs nationwide; similar illegal bear San Francisco (claimed In operating theaters such as this populations, have no parts busts are known to have occurred to be from a wild bear one, a steel catheter is inserted into specific regulations re- in many other states, including Arizona, in China), $50 in Chi- the bear’s gallbladder and used to garding such trade (Ha- California, Maryland, Minnesota, New cago, and $350 in Wash- extract their bile. waii, Illinois, and Iowa). Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Wash- ington, DC. The remaining 42 states ington. With a robust national bear popu- Part of the difficulty in regulating the either prohibit the trade completely, or, lation (an estimated 350,000 black bears, bear parts trade in the United States (and for fewer than ten of them, allow the trade one-third of them in Alaska), Asian com- worldwide) is that different species have in bear parts provided that the bear was taken munities in major cities nationwide, and different levels of protection. Even within in another state. This creates an enforce- an elaborate underground wildlife trade, the United States, individual states have ment nightmare for wildlife officials and the United States offers supply, demand, different laws regarding commercializa- prosecutors who must prove the origin of and remarkable opportunity for those tion of bear parts and products, based on a bear part in question. The gallbladder wanting to profit by commercializing bear the species of bear and where it is found. from a bear in Idaho would be visually in- parts. Bear gallbladders from different species distinguishable from the gallbladder of a From coast to coast across America, are visually indistinguishable, facilitating bear from Oregon. bear carcasses have been found with the the fraudulent sale of bear parts and com- Some state statutes are unambiguous. gallbladders removed (and sometimes the plicating prosecution. For example, highly For instance, in Colorado, it is simply ille- paws lopped off). There is also significant endangered Asiatic bear species can be gal to “sell, trade, barter or offer to sell, evidence of attempts to smuggle bear gall- killed and the parts sold in Asia or any trade or barter bear gall bladders or ed- bladders and bear bile into the country other country; if the traffickers are appre- ible portions of bears.” Maine, on the to supply domestic demand—in this case, hended, they pass off the parts as being other hand, prohibits the buying, selling, American demand for the parts of more from legally hunted North American or bartering of bears, but has a specific endangered bear species such as black or bears. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s exception allowing trade in the bear’s brown bears in Asia, which can fetch National Fish and Wildlife Forensics Labo- head, teeth, gall bladder, claws, and hide. higher prices on the domestic market. ratory in Ashland, Oregon has made great West Virginia once was the sixth state to Smugglers have been apprehended at air- strides in forensically analyzing gallblad- allow full commercialization of bear parts, ports in the western United States (Los ders or derivatives to determine whether but as a result of region-wide poaching, Angeles and Anchorage, for instance) at- or not they contain bear (sometimes, pig amended its state law in 1999 to allow only tempting to smuggle wild bear gallblad- gallbladders are deceptively sold as bear the hide, head, and skull of a legally killed ders from Russia or bear bile from caged galls). However, this technology is not black bears to be sold. Gallbladders used bears in China. readily and cheaply available to law en- to be included in that state’s list of parts A 2002 report by the WSPA, The Bear forcement officials in most countries. Fur- available for sale legally. Bile Business, reveals the findings of an in- ther, there are limitations in the ability of Efforts have been made over the past vestigation into the (illegal) sale of Chi- this technology to identify the actual state decade in the United States Congress to nese bear bile and gall products in the from which a bear part or product may bring uniformity to the legal framework United States, specifically, San Francisco, have originated. that governs the commercialization of Chicago, Washington, DC, and New York. Similarly, in the United States, bear gall- bear gallbladders or bile. The Bear Pro-

W I L D L I F E T R A C K S • F A L L 2 0 0 4 10 tection Act, most recently GLOBAL ligent in sharing important information introduced in the 107th ATTENTION TO A about restrictions on commercialization of Congress by Senator GLOBAL bear parts, remains a nation of serious Mitch McConnell (R-KY) PROBLEM concern in Southeast Asia, maintaining and Congressman Elton Protecting bear farms to supply the markets in Viet Gallegly (R-CA), had ter- bears from the Nam and China, and witnessing bear rific bipartisan support. trade in their poaching in the wild. The legislation would parts requires glo- A number of countries, including Indo-

WSPA have simply prohibited bal cooperation. nesia, Malaysia, the Republic of Korea, and the importation, exportation, and inter- The Convention on International Trade in Singapore, remain in need of stricter do- state trade of bear viscera and items, prod- Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and mestic controls on the trade in bear parts. ucts, or substances containing, or labeled Flora (CITES), the United Nations Treaty WSPA investigations found that nearly or advertised as containing, bear viscera. responsible for regulating the global trade 63% of drug stores surveyed in eight large The legislation, narrowly crafted to deal in wildlife, has spoken unequivocally on Indonesian cities sold medicines contain- exclusively with the trade in bear viscera, the dangers of the ongoing trade in bear ing bear bile, often reportedly imported would have made it clear that the United parts. (illegally) from China. In Malaysia, the States would not participate in the trade In 1997, in Zimbabwe, a resolution was percentage was 78%. in bear parts or provide cover for those passed unanimously on the Conservation The Republic of Korea remains one of around the world who wish to profit by of and Trade in Bears. The Resolution the most prominent destinations for ille- such exploitation. Violators would have (Conf.10.8), notes “that the continued il- gal bear parts shipments in the world. been subject to criminal penalties of up legal trade in parts and derivatives of bear There have been some positive develop- to a year in prison and civil penalties of species undermines the effectiveness of ments in detecting illegal bear shipments up to $25,000 per violation. the Convention and that if CITES Parties through the use of sniffer dogs, a program House Resources Committee Chair- and States not-party do not take action to implemented by a nongovernmental orga- man, Don Young (R-AK), a strident oppo- eliminate such trade, poaching may cause nization, Animals Asia, in cooperation with nent of the bill (and most animal protec- declines of wild bears that could lead to the Korean Customs Department. In two tion measures) prevented any action from the extirpation of certain populations or years, Detective Dog Simba has uncovered being taken, despite the House bill amass- even species.” well over 100 shipments of illegal wildlife ing 191 bipartisan cosponsors. In the Sen- The Resolution further “URGES all contraband. The problem is that few of ate, with 51 cosponsors and the bill hav- Parties, particularly bear range and con- these discoveries result in prosecution by ing been passed in the previous Congress, suming countries, to take immediate ac- Korean authorities. a successful effort was made to attach the tion in order to demonstrably reduce the Additionally, Viet Nam should be con- Bear Protection Act as an amendment to illegal trade in bear parts and derivatives sidered a country in need of special inter- the Senate Agriculture, Conservation, and by the 13th meeting of the Conference national attention. The government of Rural Enhancement Act, known as the of the Parties, by: a) confirming, adopt- Viet Nam itself has recognized that bear “Farm Bill.” But during the Conference, ing or improving their national legislation farming has “adversely affected wild popu- where the House and Senate bills are to control the import and export of bear lations” in the country. A report prepared melded, the Bear Protection Act was parts and derivatives, ensuring that the by the Animal Welfare Institute, WSPA, stripped through pressure from Congress- penalties for violations are sufficient to Japan Wildlife Conservation Society, Ani- man Young. Congressman Young’s oppo- deter illegal trade.” The Bear Protection mals Asia, and Environmental Investiga- sition was all the more confusing since Act would have enabled the Unites States tion Agency for CITES notes that many Alaska already prohibits the commercial- to uphold this obligation to adopt or im- bear farms continue to operate in Viet ization of bear parts, yet still has bear prove national legislation to control the Nam, outside of government control. With poaching and illegal trade. This suggests bear parts trade. few bears left in the country, live bears for the usefulness of a national policy on the The United States, of course, is not farms come from China, Laos, and Cam- matter, one that would reinforce state en- alone in needing to do more to stop the bodia, despite the CITES prohibition on forcement efforts. trade in bear parts and derivatives. Bear international commercial trade in these Although the bill was not reintroduced poaching, for instance, appears to remain Asiatic bears. in the 108th Congress (2003-2004), animal problematic in the former Soviet state of While the CITES Secretariat has recog- advocates and conservationists are hope- Georgia, and Georgia has not provided nized in recent documents that “illicit ful that we will have another chance to end the CITES Secretariat with information trade in live bears and in bear parts and America’s role in this exploitative and un- about its legislation and efforts to control derivatives continues,” there is little sustainable wildlife trade in 2005. the bear parts trade. Cambodia, also neg- continued on page 16

H U M A N E S O C I E T Y O F T H E U N I T E D S T A T E S A N D T H E H S U S W I L D L I F E L A N D T R U S T • F A L L 2 0 0 4 1111 Wildlife Green Pages ert

Books y rected education that alienates people Reports y from life, prematurely focuses students Crimes Against Nature, by Robert F. upon how to make a living before they Techno-Fixing Sea Turtles: How the Bush Kennedy, Jr. and John Moyers, details the know who they are, overemphasizes eco- Administration’s Manipulation of Science is Bush administration’s undermining of en- nomic and professional success, separates Driving the Leatherback Sea Turtle Towards vironmental protections for air, water, feeling from intellect and the practical Extinction, published by the Sea Turtle public lands, and wildlife, as well as pub- from the theoretical, and deadens the Restoration Project, documents how an lic health, national security, and democ- sense of wonder. With a new introduction admittedly flawed and incomplete report racy in favor of private profit and personal and essay by the author, the book defines by government scientists has provided the power. The administration’s methods of the crisis we face as one of mind, percep- basis to reopen fisheries that are the high- effecting these rollbacks are revealed, in- tion, and values. PB, 224 pp. $19.95. Is- est source of adult mortality for leather- cluding deception, suppression of scien- land Press, 800-282-1302, mention code backs. For a copy of the report, go to tific data, intimidation of enforcement 2EIM. www.islanpress.org/earthinmind/ www.seaturtles.org/pdf/ACF4E.pdf or con- officials and other civil servants, and book.html. tact Robert Ovetz, PhD, 415-488-0370, doublespeak. HC, 256 pp. $21.95. The Western Confluence: A Guide to Gov- x106. www.harpercollins.com. erning Natural Resources, by Matthew Citizens’ Guide to the Endangered Species International Directory of Institutions Ac- McKinney and William Harmon, offers Act, published by Earthjustice and the tive in Environmental Law, published by strategies for resolving natural resource Endangered Species Coalition, is a 56- IUCN Environmental Law Centre in co- disputes. Tracing the principles of natu- page color booklet outlining the history operation with the International Council ral resource governance across the history of wildlife-preservation efforts in the of Environmental Law (ICEL), provides of western settlement, they offer practical United States and examining the sections contact information for all institutions suggestions for resolving current and fu- of the ESA that call for citizen participa- that are active in environmental law. The ture disputes by fully integrating the val- tion to ensure that the law is implemented directory is complemented by CEL Mem- ues of interest-based negotiation into ex- properly. Download a PDF of the report bers Portal, the IUCN-UNEP Judicial Por- isting public decision-making strategies. at www.earthjustice.org/policy/rider/ tal and an extensive links page, accessible PB, 256 pp., $30. Island Press, 800-282- display.html?ID=39. through the IUCN-ELP website, along 1302, mention code 2TWC. Decision-Makers’ Guide to GMO Issues, with the CEL Directory. For further infor- www.islandpress.org/western/book.html. published by IUCN Environmental Law mation visit www.iucn.org. Marine Reserves: A Guide to Science, De- Programme, provides unbiased back- Alien Species and Evolution: The Evolu- sign, and Use, by Jack Sobel and Craig ground information and a framework for tionary Ecology of Exotic Plants, Animals, Dahlgren, is the first guidebook on no- evaluating new evidence concerning the Microbes, and Interacting Native Species, by take marine reserves. It provides a synthe- potential ecological impact of the release George W. Cox, reviews and synthesizes sis of information on the underlying sci- of genetically modified organisms into the emerging information on the evolution- ence of no-take marine reserves and ex- environment, focusing especially on ary changes that occur in plants, animals, amines how reserves can be designed to biodiversity, socio-economic impact, and and microbial organisms when they colo- achieve specific objectives. It also identi- food security. An advance version of the nize new geographical areas, and on the fies research needed to address gaps in document, available online at evolutionary responses of the native spe- knowledge. PB, 336 pp., $35. Island Press, www.iucn.org, will soon be replaced by a cies with which alien species interact. With 800-282-1302. www.islandpress.org/ published version. examples from all parts of the world and marinereserves/book.html. Second Natuare: Improving Transportation all major ecosystem types, the author of- State of the World 2004, the latest edi- Without Putting Nature Second, published fers insight into the patterns of evolution tion of Worldwatch Institute’s highly re- by Defenders of Wildlife and recently that are likely to result from the massive spected flagship annual, examines con- named best publication by the Natural Re- introduction of species to new geographic sumer thinking and behaviors and the sources Council of America, provides a regions. PB 400 pp., $40.00. Island Press, impact of our consumption choices on the groundbreaking approach to reduce the 800-282-1302, mention code 2ASE. planet and other people. Specific topics impact of roads and highways upon wild- www.islandpress.org/alienspecies/book.html. include food, water, energy, the psychol- life and habitat, outlining realistic, work- Earth in Mind: On Education, Environ- ogy of consumption, and an assessment able recommendations that factor in ment, and the Human Prospect, Tenth An- of the potential for cultivating a less con- growth. Read an online copy of the report niversary Edition, by David W. Orr, focuses sumptive society. PB, $16.95 + S/H. at www.defenders.org. on the problem of inadequate and misdi- www.worldwatch.org. e

HW U M IA N EL S OD C I EL T Y IO F FT H EE U N I T E D T S T AR T E SA A NC D TK H E S H S U S W I• L D L I F E FL A NA D LT R UL S T • S U 2M M E0 R 02 0 0 44 1212 BEAR MARKET, cont. from page 14 and provide the U.S. Fish and global emphasis on exerting additional ef- Wildlife Service with funds to fort to stop this destructive trade. A mul- carry out undercover opera- tinational, multidimensional effort is re- tions in coordination with quired to ensure that the trade in bear state game agencies to un- parts does not push already endangered cover the poaching and smug- bear species over the brink of extinction gling networks. The United or decimate certain bear populations in States can set a practical and the United States and Canada. Although effective example for the rest the continent-wide black bear population of the world on how to pro- in North America may appear stable, cer- tect bears from the trade in gallbladders and bile. Notwithstanding the unacceptable cruelty involved in bear tain individual state populations, such as farming, there is no evidence whatsoever that bear farming Connecticut, Kentucky, Florida, Louisi- • Outreach and education to has reduced the pressure on wild bear populations. ana, and Mississippi, are extremely small traditional medicine commu- and vulnerable. Grizzly populations are nities worldwide must continue. Prac- 600,000—driven to this perilous state pri- still at risk, especially in British Columbia.1 titioners need to understand the im- marily by the international trade in ivory. pact that prescribing bear parts rem- At the start of the 20th century, roughly edies can have on the species and that 100,000 tigers (of all species) roamed in CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS After the announcement of the results there are numerous herbal alternatives the wild. A century later, 5,000 or so re- of Operation VIPER, the Virginia Depart- that can be employed, while still con- main—decimated by the trade in their ment of Game and Inland Fisheries forming to traditional medical prac- skins as well as their bones and organs in (VDGIF) issued a statement in which tices. traditional Asian medicines. Though VDGIF Director Bill Woodfin noted, • CITES Parties must continue to recog- bears rarely get the same international “These ongoing investigations indicate an nize the ongoing threat posed by the attention as elephants or tigers, there is extensive black market trade that can only international trade in bear parts and now an invaluable opportunity to learn be addressed by working closely with all urge individual member nations to from our historic conservation mistakes our federal, state, and local partners as strengthen their domestic bear protec- and to protect bears from the trade in well as with wildlife conservation groups tion laws and to emphasize the need their parts before it’s too late. committed to protecting our natural re- to implement strict enforcement sources.” Regional, national, and interna- against the illegal bear parts trade. (ENDNOTES) 1 tional cooperation is crucial if we are to The world stood by idly in the 1970s See Strickland, M. and Elliot, W. 2004. ensure the long-term viability of all bears. and 1980s while the continent-wide popu- “Deciding the Fate of North America’s

Printed on 100% postconsumer paper with soy-based ink. • The United States Congress should lation of African elephants was cut in Grizzly Bears.” Wildlife Tracks, 8(1): half—from an estimated 1.3 million to 1, 3 – 7. enact the Bear Protection Act in 2005 e

Wildlife Tracks NON-PROFIT ORG. THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE US POSTAGE UNITED STATES PAID Wildlife Department and THE HUMANE The HSUS Wildlife Land Trust SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES 2100 L Street, NW Washington, DC 20037

H U M A N E S O C I E T Y O F T H E U N I T E D S T A T E S A N D T H E H S U S W I L D L I F E L A N D T R U S T • F A L L 2 0 0 4 13