DOCSLIB.ORG

IUCN SSC Wild Pig Specialist Group

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

IUCN SSC Wild Pig Specialist Group 2016-2017 Report Erik Meijaard Chair Mission statement ii. The genetic collaboration with the University Erik Meijaard (1) The SSC Wild Pig Specialist Group (WPSG) has of Oxford to study Javan and Bawean warty pigs not yet defined a mission statement. Key com- continues. (KSR #43) Red List Authority Coordinator ponents of such a statement would be: (1) via- iii. Taxonomic research of Giant Forest hog and Kristin Leus (2) ble wild pig populations, (2) all wild pig taxa, Wild boar ongoing. (KSR #43) (3) threat management, (4) conservation breed- iv. Surveys of Common warthog and Ethiopian Location/Affiliation ing, (5) habitat management and (6) resolution warthogs in Kenya were done and articles are (1) Borneo Futures/Brunei Darussalam, of conflicts with people. Most wild pig species being published. (KSR #43) Indonesia are in decline, especially the various species Communications (2) and subspecies in Indonesia and the Philip- Scientific Department, Copenhagen Zoo, L Research activities pines. The WPSG uses a combination of strat- Denmark i. Publication Suiform Soundings. (KSR #43) egies to try reduce these population declines. ii. Publication of the first worldwide scale book Number of members This primarily includes (1) research on taxonomy and distribution (the cornerstone of any conser- on wild pigs. (KSR #43) 70 vation management); and (2) management of Conservation action captive and wild populations to prevent the ex- L Research activities Social networks tinction of the most threatened species. i. Two interview-based surveys were conducted Website: on Buru assessing the status of Moluccan https://sites.google.com/site/wildpigspecialist- Main activities by Key Priority Area Babirusa. (KSR #12) group/home (2016 & 2017) ii. We have conducted surveys in different pro- Barometer of life tected areas of Uganda to evaluate the status of L Red List the Giant Forest hog populations. (KSR #12) i. All wild pig species were assessed and Red L Technical advice List assessments completed, except for Sus i. Babirusa GSMP plans for and coordinates scrofa, which is pending. (KSR #1) implementation of ex situ contributions to the L Research activities conservation of Babirusa - collaboration with WAZA, PKBSI, EAZA, AZA and Asian Wild Cattle i. Java-wide surveys were conducted in 2017, SG (Anoa and Banteng). The first master plan was updating the previous survey conducted by produced, organisational structures for coopera- Semiadi and Meijaard in 2003. Javan warty pigs tive ex situ programs by Indonesian zoos were have disappeared from a number of previous established by Ministry and PKBSI, first breeding locations, and their survival in the wild seems and transfer recommendations in PKBSI were much threatened. Studies continue in an area in issued, training on husbandry and education for West Java, where the species was recently zoos and Sulawesi ex situ centers was conducted, hunted. Research findings will be written up in funding for Hairy Babirusa in situ surveys was 2018. (KSR #12) secured and Buru survey conducted, Ministry and PKBSI staff attended EAZA, AZA and WAZA conferences, newsletters produced. (KSR #27) Babirusa (Babyrousa babyrussa), Vulnerable Photo: Chester Zoo Team of the Tamaraw Conservation Program and Chester Zoo setting a camera trap to find Oliver’s warty pig, as a preparation for a planned project on Oliver’s warty pigs Photo: Scott Wilson Acknowledgements Research activities: (1) status update of the Projected impact for the quadrennium We thank Alexandria Zoo, Audubon Zoo, Hairy Babirusa; (2) Javan warty pig status 2017-2020 surveys; (3) genetics of Javan and Bawean Cologne Zoo, Leipzig Zoo, Los Angeles Zoo, San We aim to safeguard the small populations of the warty pigs; (4) taxonomic research on Giant Antonio Zoological Society, San Diego Zoo, and two Critically Endangered suid species, Pygmy Forest hog and Wild boar; (5) Giant Forest hog Saint Louis Zoological Park for supporting the in hog and Visayan warty pig and continue the status in Uganda; (6) Warthogs research in situ small grants projects for Hairy Babirusa on captive breeding and release programs. The Kenya; (7) Red river hog ecological research in Buru and Maluku Islands and supporting patrols target for Pygmy hogs is to ensure a population of Sierra Leona; (8) Sulawesi ungulate project for the conservation of the babirusa in the the wild of at least 250 individuals. For Visayan (phylogenetic/taxonomic research); (9) Nantu Forest. We thank Antwerp Zoo, Centre warty pig, we still need to confirm that the Philippines pigs program 4: Mindoro warty pig for the Conservation of Tropical Ungulates, species survives in the wild, as no such informa- -survey 1 and 2; (10) comprehensive surveys for Chester Zoo, Global Wildlife Conservation, tion has been forthcoming. For all other species, all species of pigs in Philippines and Indonesia. Leipzig Zoo, Opel Zoo, Wilhelma Zoo, Hogle Zoo, we are still in the stage of assessing population Utah, and the Zoological Society of London for Scientific meetings: African Pigs Conference on status and trends, and we do not have conserva- supporting the implementation of the Global status of the five species of African suids by tion programs that can realistically aim to stabilize Species Management Plan for Babirusa. We country at the continent wide scale. populations in the wild. For Sus scrofa, we aim to thank Chester Zoo and Jersey Zoo for support- Bolster work at national scales revise the taxonomy of the current 18 subspecies. ing and coordinating conservation activities in Agreements: new MOU between WPSG, the Philippines, Indonesia and Assam. We thank Government of Assam and Jersey Zoo. Summary of activities (2016-2017) Copenhagen Zoo for their ongoing support of Conservation activities: EAZA Tapir and Suiform Key Priority Area ratio: 3/7 the activities of the Wild Pig Specialist Group Regional Collection Plan. Key Priority Areas addressed: and on-the-ground implementation of conser- Capacity building vation programs, and WCS and Fondation Segré • Barometer of life (5 activities) for supporting the Babirusa conservation Conservation activities: collaborative captive • Communications (2 activities) breeding of Javan warty pigs. project in North Sulawesi. We are indebted to • Conservation action (3 activities) ZGAP and Wroclaw Zoo which contributed Communications Main KSRs addressed: 1, 12, 27, 43 funding to the Javan warty pig, Bawean warty Communication: publication Suiform Soundings. KSR: Key Species Result pig, Visayan warty pig and Pygmy hog projects. Research activities: publication of the first And finally, we thank the Talarak Foundation in worldwide scale book on wild pigs. Negros as the driving force behind the local Conservation action implementation of Visayan warty pig captive Conservation activities: (1) Conservation Needs breeding, and the Cikananga Wildlife Center and Assessment and Planning Strategy with CPSG; Taman Safari as the local partners in the Javan (2) Babirusa Global Species Management warty pig, and Taman Safari also for hosting Plan; (3) release program for Javan warty pig; some of the Global Species Management (4) Philippine pigs programs 1, 2 and 3 of captive meetings. breeding of Visayan warty pigs; (5) collaborative captive breeding of Javan warty pigs. Targets for the quadrennium 2017-2020 Barometer of life Red List: Red List assessment of all pig species Babirusa (Babyrousa babyrussa), female and offspring in captivity completed. Photo: Chester Zoo.
Recommended publications
  • About Pigs [PDF]

    About Pigs [PDF]

    May 2015 About Pigs Pigs are highly intelligent, social animals, displaying elaborate maternal, communicative, and affiliative behavior. Wild and feral pigs inhabit wide tracts of the southern and mid-western United States, where they thrive in a variety of habitats. They form matriarchal social groups, sleep in communal nests, and maintain close family bonds into adulthood. Science has helped shed light on the depths of the remarkable cognitive abilities of pigs, and fosters a greater appreciation for these often maligned and misunderstood animals. Background Pigs—also called swine or hogs—belong to the Suidae family1 and along with cattle, sheep, goats, camels, deer, giraffes, and hippopotamuses, are part of the order Artiodactyla, or even-toed ungulates.2 Domesticated pigs are descendants of the wild boar (Sus scrofa),3,4 which originally ranged through North Africa, Asia and Europe.5 Pigs were first domesticated approximately 9,000 years ago.6 The wild boar became extinct in Britain in the 17th century as a result of hunting and habitat destruction, but they have since been reintroduced.7,8 Feral pigs (domesticated animals who have returned to a wild state) are now found worldwide in temperate and tropical regions such as Australia, New Zealand, and Indonesia and on island nations, 9 such as Hawaii.10 True wild pigs are not native to the New World.11 When Christopher Columbus landed in Cuba in 1493, he brought the first domestic pigs—pigs who subsequently spread throughout the Spanish West Indies (Caribbean).12 In 1539, Spanish explorers brought pigs to the mainland when they settled in Florida.
  • Distribution, Utilization and Management of the Extra-Limital Common Warthog (Phacochoerus Africanus) in South Africa

    Distribution, Utilization and Management of the Extra-Limital Common Warthog (Phacochoerus Africanus) in South Africa

    Distribution, utilization and management of the extra-limital common warthog (Phacochoerus africanus) in South Africa Monlee Swanepoel Dissertation presented for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Conservation Ecology and Entomology) in the Faculty of AgriSciences, Stellenbosch University Promoter: Prof Louwrens C. Hoffman Co-Promoter: Dr. Alison J. Leslie March 2016 Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za Declaration By submitting this thesis electronically, I declare that the entirety of the work contained herein is my own, original work, that I am the sole author thereof (save to the extent explicitly otherwise stated), that reproduction and publication thereof by Stellenbosch University will not infringe any third party rights and that I have not previously submitted it, in its entirety or in part, for obtaining any qualification. Date: March 2016 Copyright © 2016 Stellenbosch University All rights reserved ii Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za Acknowledgements I wish to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to the following persons and institutions: My supervisors, Dr. Alison J. Leslie and Prof. Louwrens C. Hoffman for invaluable assistance, expertise, contribution and support and patience. The Meat Science team of Department of Animal Sciences at Stellenbosch University, including the technical and support staff for their extensive assistance, support and encouragement Academics, staff and colleagues of this institution and others for their contribution and assistance. An especial thank you to Prof. Martin Kidd, Marieta van der Rijst, Nina Muller, Erika Moelich, Lisa Uys, Gail Jordaan, Greta Geldenhuys, Michael Mlambo, Janine Booyse, Cheryl Muller, John Achilles, Dr.
  • Spread Oaks White-Tailed Deer and Wild Pig Opportunities

    Spread Oaks White-Tailed Deer and Wild Pig Opportunities

    Spread Oaks White-tailed Deer and Wild Pig Opportunities Welcome to the great outdoors at Spread Oaks Ranch! We have a typical mid-latitude fall/winter, meaning our weather can vary from hot to cold, dry to wet. You’ll hunt along the Colorado River floodplain and its river bottom hardwoods and savannahs that provide a remarkably scenic backdrop to your hunt from one of our deer and pig blinds. In addition to a morning waterfowl hunt, your Spread Oaks Lodge hunting season package includes an afternoon hunt with the option to take one doe and an unlimited numbers of wild pigs and coyotes. Costs. The opportunity to shoot a doe at the ranch is part of the hunting season package. All whitetail bucks 130” or less are priced at $500. If rack is >130” we use standard high fence pricing: 131 to 139” @ $2,000; 140 to 149” @ $3,500; 150 to 159” @ $5,000; 160 to 169” @ $5,500; 170 to 179” @ $6,500; 180 to 189” @ $7,500; 190 to 199” @ $8,500; racks greater than 200” priced at $10,000. Pricing for bucks is the same for both river bottom “low fence” and high fence deer. Our $100 guide fee is designed for safety and to ensure that the “right” deer are harvested, however, experienced hunters can elect not to use a guide for either deer or hog. Staff will help you decide who, if any, in your group will need a guide. If you wish to take your harvest with you, all you need is a cooler and we’ll handle the rest.
  • Pending World Record Waterbuck Wins Top Honor SC Life Member Susan Stout Has in THIS ISSUE Dbeen Awarded the President’S Cup Letter from the President

    Pending World Record Waterbuck Wins Top Honor SC Life Member Susan Stout Has in THIS ISSUE Dbeen Awarded the President’S Cup Letter from the President

    DSC NEWSLETTER VOLUME 32,Camp ISSUE 5 TalkJUNE 2019 Pending World Record Waterbuck Wins Top Honor SC Life Member Susan Stout has IN THIS ISSUE Dbeen awarded the President’s Cup Letter from the President .....................1 for her pending world record East African DSC Foundation .....................................2 Defassa Waterbuck. Awards Night Results ...........................4 DSC’s April Monthly Meeting brings Industry News ........................................8 members together to celebrate the annual Chapter News .........................................9 Trophy and Photo Award presentation. Capstick Award ....................................10 This year, there were over 150 entries for Dove Hunt ..............................................12 the Trophy Awards, spanning 22 countries Obituary ..................................................14 and almost 100 different species. Membership Drive ...............................14 As photos of all the entries played Kid Fish ....................................................16 during cocktail hour, the room was Wine Pairing Dinner ............................16 abuzz with stories of all the incredible Traveler’s Advisory ..............................17 adventures experienced – ibex in Spain, Hotel Block for Heritage ....................19 scenic helicopter rides over the Northwest Big Bore Shoot .....................................20 Territories, puku in Zambia. CIC International Conference ..........22 In determining the winners, the judges DSC Publications Update
  • Boselaphus Tragocamelus</I>

    Boselaphus Tragocamelus</I>

    University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln USGS Staff -- Published Research US Geological Survey 2008 Boselaphus tragocamelus (Artiodactyla: Bovidae) David M. Leslie Jr. U.S. Geological Survey, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usgsstaffpub Leslie, David M. Jr., "Boselaphus tragocamelus (Artiodactyla: Bovidae)" (2008). USGS Staff -- Published Research. 723. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usgsstaffpub/723 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the US Geological Survey at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in USGS Staff -- Published Research by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. MAMMALIAN SPECIES 813:1–16 Boselaphus tragocamelus (Artiodactyla: Bovidae) DAVID M. LESLIE,JR. United States Geological Survey, Oklahoma Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit and Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078-3051, USA; [email protected] Abstract: Boselaphus tragocamelus (Pallas, 1766) is a bovid commonly called the nilgai or blue bull and is Asia’s largest antelope. A sexually dimorphic ungulate of large stature and unique coloration, it is the only species in the genus Boselaphus. It is endemic to peninsular India and small parts of Pakistan and Nepal, has been extirpated from Bangladesh, and has been introduced in the United States (Texas), Mexico, South Africa, and Italy. It prefers open grassland and savannas and locally is a significant agricultural pest in India. It is not of special conservation concern and is well represented in zoos and private collections throughout the world. DOI: 10.1644/813.1.
  • Bantengbanteng Populationpopulation Inin Cambodia:Cambodia: Thethe Establishedestablished Baselinebaseline Densitydensity © FA / WWF-Cambodia

    Bantengbanteng Populationpopulation Inin Cambodia:Cambodia: Thethe Establishedestablished Baselinebaseline Densitydensity © FA / WWF-Cambodia

    FACTSHEET 2011 BantengBanteng PopulationPopulation inin Cambodia:Cambodia: TheThe EstablishedEstablished BaselineBaseline DensityDensity © FA / WWF-Cambodia Between 2009-2011 in dry seasons, the research team of WWF-Cambodia conducted the first vigorous surveys on population abundance of large mammals which includes wild cattle, deer, and wild pig in the Eastern Plain Landscape (EPL) of Cambodia covering an area of approximately 6,000km2. Banteng: Globally Endangered Species Banteng (bos javanicus) is a species of wild cattle that historically inhabited deciduous and semi- evergreen forests from Northeast India and Southern Yunnan through mainland Southeast Asia and Peninsular Malaysia to Borneo and Java. Since 1996, banteng has been listed by IUCN as globally endangered on the basis of an inferred decline over the last 30 years of more than 50%. Banteng is most likely the ancestor of Southeast Asia’s domestic cattle and it is considered to be one of the most beautiful and graceful of all wild cattle species. In Cambodia, banteng populations have decreased dramatically since the late 1960s. Poaching to sell the meat and horns as trophies constitutes a major threat to remnant populations even though banteng is legally protected. © FA / WWF-Cambodia Monitoring Banteng Population in the Landscape Knowledge of animal populations is central to understanding their status and to planning their management and conservation. That is why WWF has several research projects in the EPL to gain more information about the biodiversity values of PPWS and MPF. Regular line transect surveys are conducted to collect data on large ungulates like banteng, gaur, and Eld’s deer--all potential prey species for large carnivores including tigers.
  • The Threads of Evolutionary, Behavioural and Conservation Research

    The Threads of Evolutionary, Behavioural and Conservation Research

    Taxonomic Tapestries The Threads of Evolutionary, Behavioural and Conservation Research Taxonomic Tapestries The Threads of Evolutionary, Behavioural and Conservation Research Edited by Alison M Behie and Marc F Oxenham Chapters written in honour of Professor Colin P Groves Published by ANU Press The Australian National University Acton ACT 2601, Australia Email: [email protected] This title is also available online at http://press.anu.edu.au National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry Title: Taxonomic tapestries : the threads of evolutionary, behavioural and conservation research / Alison M Behie and Marc F Oxenham, editors. ISBN: 9781925022360 (paperback) 9781925022377 (ebook) Subjects: Biology--Classification. Biology--Philosophy. Human ecology--Research. Coexistence of species--Research. Evolution (Biology)--Research. Taxonomists. Other Creators/Contributors: Behie, Alison M., editor. Oxenham, Marc F., editor. Dewey Number: 578.012 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher. Cover design and layout by ANU Press Cover photograph courtesy of Hajarimanitra Rambeloarivony Printed by Griffin Press This edition © 2015 ANU Press Contents List of Contributors . .vii List of Figures and Tables . ix PART I 1. The Groves effect: 50 years of influence on behaviour, evolution and conservation research . 3 Alison M Behie and Marc F Oxenham PART II 2 . Characterisation of the endemic Sulawesi Lenomys meyeri (Muridae, Murinae) and the description of a new species of Lenomys . 13 Guy G Musser 3 . Gibbons and hominoid ancestry . 51 Peter Andrews and Richard J Johnson 4 .
  • A National Park in Northern Rhodesia 15

    A National Park in Northern Rhodesia 15

    A National Park in Northern Rhodesia 15 A NATIONAL PARK IN NORTHERN RHODESIA By a Proclamation dated 20th April, 1950, the Governor of Northern Rhodesia has established a National Park, to be known as the Kafue National Park. This new park covers some 8,650 square miles roughly in the central Kafue basin, between latitudes 14° and 16° 40' S. It contains a wide range of country from the comparatively drv sandy lands of the south to the big rivers, swamps, and heavy timber of the northern section. The magnificent Kafue River dominates the whole central portion, adding scenic beauty to the attraction of wild life. The park contains representatives of most species of the fauna of Northern Rhodesia. Primates are represented by the Rhodesian Baboon, the Vervet Monkey, and the Greater and Lesser Night-Apes. There are Elephant and Black Rhinoceros, Buffalo, Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, and numbers of the smaller carnivora. Antelope include Eland, Sable, Roan, Liehtenstein's Hartebeest, Blue Wildebeest, Kudu, Defassa Waterbuck, Bushbuck, Reedbuck, Puku, Impala, Oribi, Common, Blue, and Yellow-backed Duikers, Klipspringer, and Sharpe's Stein- buck. There are Red Lechwe and Sitatunga in the Busango Swamp in the north, Hippopotamus in numbers in the Kafue and its larger tributaries. Zebra are common, Warthog and Bushpig everywhere. Birds are abundant. The park is uninhabited apart from certain small settle- ments, on a limited section of the Kafue River, belonging to the indigenous Africans under their tribal chief Kayingu. These people must be accorded their traditional local hunting rights, but such will affect only a small fraction of the whole vast wild area.
  • Safari Drive Bingo

    Safari Drive Bingo

    Safari Drive Bingo myfreebingocards.com Play Print off your bingo cards and start playing! If you can't get to a printer you can also play online - share this link with your friends: myfreebingocards.com/M/VrQeb and they can play on their mobiles or tablets. On the next page is a sheet for the bingo caller that contains of all the words that appear on the cards. To call the bingo you can cut the sheet up and pull the words out of a hat. Share Pin these bingo cards on Pinterest, share on Facebook, or post this link: myfreebingocards.com/S/VrQeb Edit and Create To add more words or make changes to this set of bingo cards go to myfreebingocards.com/E/VrQeb Go to myfreebingocards.com/bingo-card-generator to create a new set of bingo cards. Have Fun! If you have any feedback or suggestions about the bingo card generator, drop me an email on [email protected]. Bingo Caller's Card Cheetah Elephant Lion Buffalo Ostrich Birds Insects Zebra Giraffe Hyena Wild Dog Leopard Impala Hippo Gazelle Rhino Monkey Other Butterfly Antelope Wildebeest Mongoose Snake Jackal Warthog Snake Porcupine Squirrel myfreebingocards.com Safari Drive Bingo Safari Drive Bingo Mongoose Wildebeest Impala Zebra Porcupine Other Birds Giraffe FREE Porcupine Rhino Hippo Wild Dog Jackal Monkey Snake SPACE Monkey Elephant Squirrel Hyena Squirrel Insects Antelope Hyena FREE Insects Ostrich Birds Warthog Wildebeest Hippo Butterfly SPACE myfreebingocards.com myfreebingocards.com Safari Drive Bingo Safari Drive Bingo Hippo Other Snake Gazelle Birds Other Monkey Gazelle FREE
  • Vega Etal Procroyalsocb Synchronous Diversification

    Vega Etal Procroyalsocb Synchronous Diversification

    Canterbury Christ Church University’s repository of research outputs http://create.canterbury.ac.uk Please cite this publication as follows: Frantz, Laurent A. F., Rudzinski, A., Mansyursyah Surya Nugraha, A., Evin, A., Burton, J., Hulme-Beaman, A., Linderholm, A., Barnett, R., Vega, R., Irving-Pease, E., Haile, J., Allen, R., Leus, K., Shephard, J., Hillyer, M., Gillemot, S., van den Hurk, J., Ogle, S., Atofanei, C., Thomas, M., Johansson, F., Haris Mustari, A., Williams, J., Mohamad, K., Siska Damayanti, C., Djuwita Wiryadi, I., Obbles, D., Mona, S., Day, H., Yasin, M., Meker, S., McGuire, J., Evans, B., von Rintelen, T., Hoult, S., Searle, J., Kitchener, A., Macdonald, A., Shaw, D., Hall, R., Galbusera, P. and Larson, G. (2018) Synchronous diversification of Sulawesi’s iconic artiodactyls driven by recent geological events. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. Link to official URL (if available): http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2017.2566. This version is made available in accordance with publishers’ policies. All material made available by CReaTE is protected by intellectual property law, including copyright law. Any use made of the contents should comply with the relevant law. Contact: [email protected] Synchronous diversification of Sulawesi’s iconic artiodactyls driven by recent geological events Authors Laurent A. F. Frantz1,2,a,*, Anna Rudzinski3,*, Abang Mansyursyah Surya Nugraha4,c,*, , Allowen Evin5,6*, James Burton7,8*, Ardern Hulme-Beaman2,6, Anna Linderholm2,9, Ross Barnett2,10, Rodrigo Vega11 Evan K. Irving-Pease2, James Haile2,10, Richard Allen2, Kristin Leus12,13, Jill Shephard14,15, Mia Hillyer14,16, Sarah Gillemot14, Jeroen van den Hurk14, Sharron Ogle17, Cristina Atofanei11, Mark G.
  • Species of the Day: Banteng

    Species of the Day: Banteng

    Images © Brent Huffman / Ultimate Ungulate © Brent Huffman Species of the Day: Banteng The Banteng, Bos javanicus, is listed as ‘Endangered’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM. A species of wild cattle, the Banteng occurs in Southeast Asia from Myanmar to Indonesia, with a large introduced population in northern Australia. The Banteng has been eradicated from much of its historical range, and the remaining wild population, estimated at no more than 8,000 individuals, is continuing to decline. Habitat loss Geographical range and hunting present the greatest threats to its survival, with the illegal trade in meat and horns www.iucnredlist.org still being widespread in Southeast Asia. www.asianwildcattle.org Help Save Species Although the Banteng is legally protected across its range and occurs in a number of www.arkive.org protected areas, the natural resources of reserves in Southeast Asia often continue to be exploited. The northern Australian population may offer a conservation alternative, although genetic studies hint that the stock may originate from domesticated Bali cattle. Fortunately, a captive population is maintained worldwide which, if managed effectively and supplemented occasionally, can provide a buffer against total extinction, and offer the potential for future re- introductions into the wild. The production of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is made possible through the IUCN Red List Partnership: Species of the Day IUCN (including the Species Survival Commission), BirdLife is sponsored by International, Conservation International, NatureServe and Zoological Society of London..
  • Why Lizards Need Elephants to Survive

    Why Lizards Need Elephants to Survive

    Why lizards need elephants to survive May 22, 2015 Somewhere in Africa, a lizard survives thanks to an elephant. Ecosystems are nuanced arrangements, and it isn’t always obvious how the different pieces of the ecological puzzle snap into place. Lizards, it turns out, rely on the debris created by elephants as they trample trees. Shards of wood and leaves haphazardly left behind by marching pachyderms provide good cover for a small lizard to escape the piercing talons of a hungry raptor. Kill the elephants, and the lizards could suffer. Some 10,000 years ago as the Pleistocene unfolded across the planet, 80 percent of mega- herbivores – those critters larger than 1,000 kilograms, like modern elephants – would become wiped out. Some of them suffered due to climate-related changes that swept across the globe, but many of them were ultimately driven to extinction through overhunting. In the late Pleistocene, there were some 42 such mega-herbivores. Today, only eight remain. Together with other large herbivores (between 100 and 1,000 kilograms), Earth’s plant eaters are in serious decline. Indeed, the waves of extinction and biodiversity loss that began in the Pleistocene may be continuing today in Africa and in Southeast Asia, where the very recent extinction of Western black rhinos is a salient reminder of our own species’ disproportionate affect on our planet’s wildlife. Today, there are 74 herbivores larger than 100 kilograms still grazing and browsing the leaves, branches, and stems of our pale blue dot. Earlier this month in the journal Science Advances, a group of researchers led by Oregon State University ecologist William J.