bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Freddie's Story
Authors: Brewer Stella
Published: April 2009

Freddie is a three-year-old chimpanzee born wild in the forests of Guinea. Some time in 1980 his mother was murdered so that Freddie could be sold on the black market. His captor shut him in a plywood box and firmly nailed down the lid. Barely able to move in this confined space, Freddie endured endless dusty hours of travel on the rough bush roads. He was fed any leftovers that could be pushed through the small opening in the side of his prison. Unable to move very much he was forced to sit in his own excrement and as a result his anus became badly infected. He also developed gingivitis, a painful condition which causes the gums to recede and become soft and tender.
Brunei Protects Its Wildlife
Authors: Mittermeier Russell A.
Published: April 2009

The people of Brunei know that they need to conserve the resources of their very small country. Proboscis monkey, clouded leopard, dugong, three sea turtles, eight hornbills and the earless monitor lizard are among the fully protected species; and there is little hunting. The people are Muslims, so many animals cannot be eaten. The Government controls timber extraction; no timber is exported and clear-felling is prohibited. So far there are no wildlife reserves, but, after investigating the potentialities of several uninhabited areas, including some mangrove islands, the author has made recommendations.
New Locality for the Yellow-tailed Woolly Monkey
Authors: Parker III Theodore A. , Barkley Linda J.
Published: April 2009

The authors found a small number of yellow-tailed woolly monkeys in a part of Peru 200 kilometres from where in 1974 the species was ‘rediscovered’ (having been believed extinct). As the area is also the home of a number of endemic Peruvian birds, they suggest it may have been a refugium in the late Pleistocene and should be both protected and explored for other possible undescribed species.
Whaling Bans – Another Inch Forward
Authors: Fitter Richard
Published: April 2009

At this year's International Whaling Commission meeting, where ‘horse trading’ between whalers and conservationists was again a conspicuous feature, sperm whales got a respite, but at the expense of the North Atlantic fin whales. For the British ngo-s, banded together in Wildlife Link (which includes ffPS), the main disappointment was the failure of all three major proposals to halt whaling altogether. They now look to a future where hunting has been given up for lack of whales to hunt, and whale-watching takes over. A remarkable feature of the meetings was the leadership of the Seychelles Government, which last year succeded in getting the Indian Ocean Sanctuary for whales.
Mountain Gorilla Project: Progress Report 4
Authors: Conrad  , Aveling Rosalind
Published: April 2009

Since the last report on the work of the Mountain Gorilla Project (Oryx, August 1980), all the three main programmes in Rwanda – conservation education, park protection and park development – have made substantial progress.
Moorhens for Malta
Authors: Bill  , Bourne Sheila
Published: April 2009

The slaughter and capture of hundreds of millions of migrating north European birds in the Mediterranean region have long been a major conservation problem. The worst havoc is in Malta, which subscribes to none of the bird protection conventions, and where the main recreation is to shoot anything large enough to stuff, and to catch anything smaller and put it in a cage.
Dilemma of the Abruzzo Bears
Authors: Zunino Franco
Published: April 2009

The brown bears in and around Italy's Abruzzo National Park live quite comfortably with the fairly dense human population surrounding the park. The people like the bears, even though they eat sheep, and are not afraid of them. But these same people also favour economic development, notably tourism, and tourists have now increased to the point where the disturbance they create is a serious threat to the bears. In particular tourist pressure in high summer has driven the bears to scatter into areas where they have little protection.
Restoring American Prairie
Authors: Liegel Konrad
Published: April 2009

By the end of the 19th century the vast grasslands that once covered nearly two-fifths of the US land surface had almost disappeared, turned over to cultivation. Today some of the very few surviving remnants are being saved, but they are unlikely to be enough to support the full range of prairie species, and since the 1930s efforts have been made to create new prairies. Because prairie is prime habitat for cranes, many of which are endangered, the International Crane Foundation, as part of its Ecosystem Restoration Programme started in 1979, is planting a prairie in Wisconsin. The author, who is in charge of this, describes the methods and results so far.
Pygmy Chimpanzees in Peril
Authors: Susman Randall L. , Badrian Noel , Badrian Alison , Handler Nancy T.
Published: April 2009

So far as is known pygmy chimpanzees, or bonobos, occupy only a comparatively small area in the central basin of Zaire. A large multinational company has acquired logging rights in what is believed to be the core of their range, and the authors, who have been studying the animals, believe that this could mean the end of this major population. A reserve is urgently needed, and they suggest a particular area of undisturbed primary forest where the local people would act as guardians and also continue their traditional uses.
Feral Goats in New Zealand
Authors: Rudge M.R.
Published: April 2009

New Zealand policy is to eliminate feral introduced animals, such as deer and goats, which have done immense damage to the native animals and vegetation. But an attempt to kill off the feral goats on one island in order to protect the native vegetation raised the cry that these were ‘Old English’ goats and should be conserved.
Otters in Greece
Authors: Macdonald S.M. , Mason C.F.
Published: April 2009

Nearly two-thirds of 200 sites the authors visited for an otter survey of mainland Greece early in 1981 showed evidence of otters. In some places there were signs that populations were becoming fragmented, but in some of the intensively farmed areas they were widespread in the irrigation ditches, where reeds and bramble thickets gave them cover. The study was financed by the Vincent Wildlife Trust.
Threats to the Spice Islands
Authors: Smiet Fred
Published: April 2009

The wildlife of the widely scattered islands that comprise the East Indonesian province of Maluku, formerly the Moluccas, is unique and immensely important scientifically. More than a quarter of the birds are endemic species, as well as nearly a fifth of the mammals, several reptiles and land snails and at least 25 butterflies. Seventy per cent of the islands is still untouched. But large-scale commercial logging is making increasing inroads on the forest of the north and central islands, and commercial overfishing and siltation due to the logging are affecting the sea. The Indonesian Directorate of Nature Conservation, assisted by FAO, is drawing up a conservation programme, in which the author is involved, which includes recommendations for a 180,000-ha national park on Seram Island and a 250,000-ha marine reserve in the Aru Islands.
Brazilian Tamarins on the Way to Extinction?
Authors: Márcio Ayres José , Mittermeier Russell A. , Constable Isabel D.
Published: April 2009

The pied bare-face tamarin is found only in the vicinity of Manaus, the second largest city in Brazilian Amazonia, where rapid growth in recent years has resulted in much forest destruction. The authors’ studies show that this tamarin is now endangered and they suggest an action plan to ensure its survival.
Threats to the Proboscis Monkeys
Authors: Jeffrey Sonia
Published: April 2009

The endemic proboscis monkeys in Borneo live along the rivers and coasts where people also tend to concentrate. Hitherto there has been room for both. But in Kalimantan, logging and wood-processing industries are expanding rapidly — Indonesia hopes to be self-sufficient in pulp and paper by 1984 — and this, together with the planned removal by the same date of 2½ million people from overcrowded Java, mostly to Kalimantan, could seriously affect the proboscis.
The Chinese View of Wildlife
Authors: Shen Susan , Ables Ernest D. , Qian–zhu Xiao
Published: April 2009

The Chinese regard conservation as important, more for economic than for aesthetic or moral reasons. An economic rationale is a persuasive tool in a developing country such as China. The trade in wild-animal products plus the potential of rare and endemic wildlife species to attract much-needed foreign exchange are important factors. Rational use of wildlife through domestication and sustained-yield harvesting can alleviate pressures on wild populations and help to ensure genetic diversity for the future. Rare and endemic species such as the giant panda attract foreign exchange through tourism and research, and conservation measures preserve a cultural heritage, something of increasing importance to the Chinese.

Several questions arise, however. How do economically unimportant species fit into this scheme? How can conflicts of interest created by economic incentives be resolved? Will the shortage of trained manpower undermine the conservation effort? Once these obstacles are resolved, China may become a leader i n wildlife conservation among the developing countries of the world, and show that conservation and development can co-exist.
The Cat Island Turtle
Authors: Ross James Perran
Published: April 2009

Four rare Pseudemys felis were captured and eight more turtles seen in a two-day survey on Cat Island, Bahamas, in March, 1981. A breeding population of this species persists in an area of 2.5sqkm. Cat island turtles are captured for pets and food by local people and are threatened by potential road building and land development.
A Tale of Mismanagement at Sea
Authors: Curry-Lindahl Kai
Published: April 2009

Overfishing, wasteful fishing and destructive fishing take a large toll of the fish and all other life in the sea: more than half the important commercial fish species have been overfished; every year several million tonnes offish and other animals are caught incidentally and discarded, and modern equipment such as bottom trawls and indestructible nylon nets which, lost overboard, become permanent fish traps, spread devastation. Coral reef exploitation, oil exploration, land erosion, dams on major rivers all affect the seas, while much of the agricultural pesticides and the industrial toxic wastes end up there too. Fish provide much-needed animal protein for humans. As more than half the marine productivity is within 200 miles of the shore, which is where 98 per cent of the world’s fish catches are made, the need for good management is clearly urgent.
Driftnets Catch Leatherback Turtles
Authors: Balazs George H.
Published: April 2009

In 1979 Japanese fishing vessels began using monofilament mesh driftnets to catch squid in international waters north-west of the Hawaiian Islands, between 35° and 45° N. This new fishery threatens the survival of leatherback turtles Dermochelys coriacea in their North Pacific feeding grounds and migration routes. It is only recently that the existence of leatherbacks in this remote oceanic area has been discovered and made known.
In Search of Rare Forest Primates in Nigeria
Authors: Oates John F.
Published: April 2009

When the author visited Nigeria in 1981 to look at forests on the lower Niger, there had been no reports for 15 years of the red-bellied guenon Cercopithecus erythrogaster, and only a single specimen of the olive colobus Procolobus verus was known from the country. He found surviving populations of both monkeys, but each is threatened by widespread, intensive hunting, and by habitat destruction. If effective measures are not taken to protect the guenon and its rainforest habitat, this species could become extinct, since it occurs only in southwestern Nigeria.
Coral Reefs in the Philippines
Authors: White Alan T. , Wells Susan M.
Published: April 2009

With 44,000 sq km of coral reef surrounding its many islands and an everincreasing population that depends heavily on fish for protein food, the damage being done to the Philippine reefs is of serious concern. Silting of the water (the result of erosion following forest clearing), modern fishing methods and the collecting mania all contribute to this. A long list of suitable areas for marine reserves has been compiled, and thanks to education programmes some communities are taking conservation measures for themselves.
The huemul in Chile: national symbol in jeopardy?
Authors: Povilitis Anthony
Published: April 2009

The huemul has vanished from much of its historic range in Chile and Argentina; now perhaps only 1300 are left. Since 1976, wildlife guards have been protecting huemuls in some parts of Chile and in 1977 a huemul guard station was built at the Rio Claro with ffPS support. In 1980–81 the author censused the known huemul populations in Chile and reports on their present status, evaluates the conservation measures that are being taken and recommends further action needed to save them.
Lion tamarins' survival hangs in balance
Authors: Mallinson Jeremy
Published: April 2009

The three species of lion tamarins face extinction as the last remnants of Brazil's coastal forests are whittled away. The Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust has been directly involved in captive breeding of the golden lion tamarin and its Zoological Director is an elected member of the seven-person International Management Committee for the species. He visited Brazil in 1983 to see the conservation work being carried out and describes attempts that have been and are being made to save these spectacular New World primates.
Operation Oryx—the success continues
Authors: Fitter Richard
Published: April 2009

In the past six months there have been two notable developments in the follow-up of Operation Oryx, whose history was summarised in Oryx in 1982 (Vol. XVI, pages 406–410). A first release was made in Jordan, in October 1983 and a second one in Oman in April 1984. The Royal Jordanian Conservation Society should be most warmly congratulated for having been able to release, with substantial help from both the World Wildlife Fund and the Oman Government, no fewer than 31 oryx into the Shaumari Reserve near Azraq, which although fenced extends to 22 sq km. This herd derives from four pairs originating from Operation Oryx, sent from San Diego Wild Animal Park in California in 1978, and three more animals presented by HH the Prince of Qatar. Their release into the extensive natural habitat at Shaumari by HM King Hussein crowns a notable effort and provides further justification of the foresight of the ffPS in undertaking Operation Oryx 22 years ago. It is unlikely that Arabian oryx can be released into the open desert in Jordan in the foreseeable future, since the available areas are too close both to populated areas in Jordan and to the Saudi Arabian frontier, which they could not be prevented from crossing and where they could not be safeguarded.
The Cactaceae, a family threatened by trade
Authors: Oldfield Sara
Published: April 2009

Many people are fascinated by cacti and the trade that has grown up to meet the demand from collectors has depleted many wild populations. Threatened cacti species receive legal protection in some countries, notably the US, but attempts to control international trade through CITES are frustrated by poor enforcement. The author works at the Conservation Unit at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, which is the UK's Scientific Authority for plants under CITES.
Endangered mammals of Bangladesh
Authors: Khan Mohammad Ali Reza
Published: April 2009

Many mammal species have been exterminated in Bangladesh; many more are threatened. The author visited all the forested areas, where 80 per cent of the surviving mammals are to be found, for this survey. His report supplements and enforces the primate survey report of S.P. Gittins and A.W. Akonda in the February 1982 Oryx.
The gharial in Bangladesh
Authors: Wakefield Simon
Published: April 2009

By 1975 the gharial Gavialis gangeticus was nearly extinct due to the combined effects of habitat alteration, hunting and fishing operations and it was made a priority species for the Government of India/FAO/UNDP Crocodile Breeding and Management Project initiated that year. Successful artificial incubation and release schemes in India and Nepal have generated optimism for its future in these two countries but the situation in Bangladesh is not so promising; in 1979 the gharial was believed extinct there. In 1983 the author visited a recently reported breeding site and reports on present conditions.
Conservation in Sweden—problems and progress
Authors: Curry-Lindahl Kai
Published: April 2009

Sweden, with its small population and its wealth, is in an ideal position to practise sound conservation. Indeed, it was the first European country to enact legislation making provision for national parks. But, as is true of anywhere else in the world, there have been, and still are, conflicts between conservationists and those who exploit natural resources without thought for the future. Professor Kai Curry-Lindahl, an ffPS Vice-President, has been involved with conservation in Sweden for many years as well as being extremely active at an international level. In July 1983, the British Museum (Natural History) invited him to give a public lecture on the progress of conservation in his country and its attendant problems. Here we publish a shortened version of his talk.
Botswana's fences and the depletion of Kalahari wildlife
Authors: Williamson Douglas , Williamson Jane
Published: April 2009

Over the past 20 years or more fences have been erected around the part of the Kalahari that lies in Botswana without thought about the impact on the wildlife. Over the years the fences have taken a massive toll of animals whose traditional migration routes to water have been sealed off. The authors, who have been working in the Kalahari since 1981, examine the current situation and suggest some of the possible remedies that are so urgently needed.
Black and white rhino introductions in north-west Zimbabwe
Authors: Booth V. R. , Jones M. A. , Morris N. E.
Published: April 2009

White rhino travelled considerable distances after release and took up to two years to settle down. Black rhino also travelled widely but sightings were too infrequent to determine the full extent and duration of these movements. Both species have become established and at least seven white and one black rhino have been born. The populations of both species have been increased by immigration from adjacent populations.
A snake park as a conservation centre
Authors: Whitaker Zai
Published: April 2009

Since 1969, when Romulus Whitaker first established the Madras Snake Park, snake conservation in India has progressed a great deal and the Park has played a significant role in this achievement. His wife, Zai, who edits the tri-yearly Snake Park newsletter Hamadryad, was invited to describe the Park's development into an effective conservation force.
Black rhino in South Luangwa National Park: their distribution and future protection
Authors: Williams N. Leader
Published: April 2009

It became clear in 1979 that commercial poaching was drastically reducing the numbers of rhino in Luangwa Valley and the Zambian Government, through its National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and the World Wildlife Fund, responded by setting up Save the Rhino Trust (SRT). Neither past nor present numbers and distribution of these animals were sufficiently known to provide a baseline for monitoring the effects of the poaching and the author carried out research on behalf of NPWS and SRT during 1981–82 to assess the status of the rhinos in the Luangwa Valley; FFPS was among the financial supporters of the work. Here he describes the problems that the task presented and the development of a technique that will provide a way of assessing the effectiveness of future anti-poaching operations. The study's findings that 72 per cent of rhinos that die in Luangwa do so from poachers' bullets led to a recommendation for a change in patrol policy; this was adopted by SRT in 1983 and its success is being monitored.
Bird protection in Western Samoa
Authors: Merlin M. D. , Juvik J. O.
Published: April 2009

In a study supported by the FFPS Oryx 100% Fund, the authors investigated the impact of traditional hunting practices on native land birds in Samoa. Hunting and habitat modification have contributed to the near extinction of several endemic species. Through new hunting regulations, conservation education programmes and the development of a national park system, the Government of Western Samoa has moved to strengthen its commitment to the conservation of a unique insular biota.
The fynbos and the frogs
Authors: Simmonds Mark
Published: April 2009

The fynbos of the South African Cape is renowned for its high number of endemic plants and animals, many of which are under threat. Much effort and money are being spent to secure their future. Amphibians may be especially vulnerable due to land drainage, and amongst those facing this and other threats is the Cape clawed toad Xenopus gilli for which a conservation programme has been developed.
Public attitudes to wildlife and conservation in the Third World
Authors: Harcourt A. H. , Pennington H. , Weber A. W.
Published: April 2009

Conservationists in the West often assume that the people of the developing world are less concerned about wildlife than are people in the developed world. Recent surveys, in Tanzania, Brazil, Rwanda and the USA, have exploded this myth. The authors discuss the findings from these surveys and their implications for conservation. This paper was presented, in London in December 1985, at a symposium—Current Issues in Primate Conservation—organized jointly by the FFPS and the Primate Society of Great Britain.
Audouin's gull and the Chafarinas Islands Game Reserve
Authors: Bradley P. M. , Monaghan P.
Published: April 2009

The breeding population of Audouin's gull, a Red Data Book species, is endemic to the Mediterranean. Its population was estimated at 4000 pairs in 1985, but its restricted distribution and vulnerability to disturbance and competition necessitate active conservation measures. The gull's most important breeding colony is on Rey Island in the Chafarinas group, and in 1983 a three-year study was started to discover the factors limiting the size of the colony and to formulate a management plan.
Wildlife reserves in the USSR
Authors: Braden Kathleen
Published: April 2009

The reserve system in the USSR is complex; more than 11.4 million ha of land are involved in several categories, which afford wildlife different degrees of protection. At least 40 major new reserves are planned for the near future, but Soviet conservationists have to face demands for agricultural land, poaching, increasing pressure from tourism and organizational problems. In 1984 the author visited the USSR to study the scientific uses of the country's reserves. It was Dr Braden's third research trip to the USSR; as Vice-President of the International Snow Leopard Trust she has been involved in discussions there about the captive-breeding and exchange of snow leopards between the USA and the USSR.
A rain-forest raptor in danger
Authors: Lewis Richard E.
Published: April 2009

Living in the rain forests of the Philippines is one of the largest and rarest eagles in the world, the Philippine eagle Pithecophaga jefferyi.This magnificent bird is in danger of extinction due to the pressures of land development and human persecution. The author spent three0 years, from 1982 to 1985, helping to study the eagle, both in the wild and captivity, as part of a team dedicated to its conservation. The eagle has become the symbol of the conservation movement in the Philippines, and linked with its survival are a host of endemic species that share the same forest habitat.
Ordinary days in paradise
Authors: Webzell Bob
Published: April 2009

In 1985 the University of Kent, with the FFPS, organized a study tour to the Luangwa Valley in Zambia. The author was among the participants and describes his once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Primates and conservation priorities in Madagascar
Authors: Pollock Jon I.
Published: April 2009

Madagascar's conservation problems are many, but the Malagasy Government is working towards solutions, having recently passed into law a strategy that links development with the conservation of natural resources. The protection of the country's remaining forests is a key concern, both for the human population and for the non-human primates. The author is a primatologist and has a research background in behavioural ecology, reproduction and conservation, especially with prosimians. This article was first presented at the joint Primate Society of Great Britain/FFPS meeting on primate conservation in December 1985.
The case against tributyltin
Authors: Simmonds Mark
Published: April 2009

The use of paints containing tributyltin (TBT) to keep boat hulls clean is threatening marine life in some coastal regions, especially where boating for pleasure is popular. Research so far has shown that very low concentrations of the chemical have lethal or mutagenic effects on some marine invertebrates and stop the growth of phytoplankton. Legislation is being drawn up by many countries to control the use of these paints, but the author fears that it may be too little and too late for some populations of organisms.
The many paths to wildlife conservation in Africa
Authors: Caro T. M.
Published: April 2009

Simple solutions to wildlife conservation in Africa and elsewhere are comfortable but deceptive. This article focuses on the advantages and disadvantages of the six main methods used to conserve wildlife in Africa and argues that their effectiveness differs according to place and circumstances. The means by which we achieve conservation goals must be employed opportunistically because there is no single path to long-term wildlife conservation.
A survey for otters in Israel
Authors: Macdonald S. M. , Mason C. F. , Shalmon B.
Published: April 2009

The results of a field survey for otters in Israel suggest that the species is close to extinction in the coastal plain, where many rivers are grossly polluted. Signs of the animal were found throughout the Jordan catchment, but, because the total area occupied is very small, even this population seems vulnerable.
Logging at Bohorok
Authors: Whitten Anthony J. , Ranger Johanne
Published: April 2009

The felling of forest adjacent to the well-known Bohorok Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre in North Sumatra, Indonesia, stimulated a series of local and national government responses, the course of which is instructive for those trying to grapple with conservation problems in Indonesia and elsewhere. The authors followed the story while working as Advisor to the Centre for Resource and Environmental Studies at the University of North Sumatra, Medan, and World Wildlife Fund volunteer at the Bohorok Centre, respectively.
Continuing problems for Amazon river turtles
Authors: Johns Andrew D.
Published: April 2009

Amazon river turtles have a long history of over-exploitation, firstly for oil production, and lately as a luxury food for the expanding human population. In many areas, the populations of the two main commercial species Podocnemis expansa and P. unifilis are now so low that extinction is in sight. In 1985 a WWF-US project aimed at investigating interactions between economic development and wildlife populations conducted a case-study of the exploitation of turtles on the River Tefé in western Brazilian Amazonia.
The legacy of the dodo—conservation in Mauritius
Authors: Cheke Anthony
Published: April 2009

Over the years Oryx has published several papers on the wildlife of Mauritius and its neighbouring islands and islets, and the Oryx 100% Fund has contributed towards some of the conservation work being done there. The author, who first visited Mauritius with the British Ornithologists' Union Expedition in 1973 and has played an active role in conservation plans since, brings us up to date with conservation in the area and highlights the steps that are essential if the wildlife that remains is to be saved.
Promising future for an elephant population – a case study in Burkina Faso, West Africa
Authors: Damiba Théophane E. , Ables Ernest D.
Published: April 2009

Nazinga Game Ranch, which was established in 1979 in Burkina Faso and is the only one of its kind in the country, has achieved much success in reconciling wildlife conservation with the needs of local people. The ranch provides a refuge for elephants escaping harassment elsewhere but this creates problems for local people whose crops suffer elephant damage. Despite the problems, many villagers welcome the proximity of the ranch and its elephants and, while there are still problems to be solved – and funds needed to help solve them – the ranch is an excellent model for conservation action.
Biotope and distribution of Blanford's fox
Authors: Geffen Eli , Hefner Reuven , Macdonald David W. , Ucko Michal
Published: April 2009

Blanford's fox Vulpes cana has been considered as one of the rarest mammals in south-west Asia. Recently it has been discovered in several locations in the Middle East. The authors conducted a survey of Blanford's foxes in the mountainous desert regions of Israel and found that they are common in Israel, but restricted to a specific habitat. Additional surveys in other Middle Eastern countries are essential for the conservation of this species.
Two endemic viverrids of the Western Ghats, India
Authors: Ashraf N. V. K. , Kumar A. , Johnsingh A. J. T.
Published: April 2009

The Malabar and brown palm civets, Viverra civettina and Paradoxurus jerdoni, are both endemic to the Western Ghats of south-west India. Little is known about them and in 1990 a survey was conducted in three parts of the Western Ghats to assess their status. This revealed that isolated populations of Malabar civet still survive in less disturbed areas of South Malabar but they are seriously threatened by habitat destruction and hunting because they are outside protected areas. The brown palm civet is not immediately threatened because there are about 25 protected areas within its distribution range. Recommendations have been made for conservation action to ensure the survival of these animals.
Priorities for the conservation of mammals in the Peruvian Amazon
Authors: Bodmer Richard E.
Published: April 2009

Setting priorities for wildlife conservation in the Peruvian Amazon must deal with a variety of issues, including subsistence and commercial hunting, loss of habitat from deforestation, and the international trade in wildlife and wildlife products. However, what is the rank of these priorities for wildlife conservation in Peruvian Amazonia? One way to evaluate priorities for wildlife conservation is by determining how different human activities affect the number of animals removed from the populations. This yields a measure of the impact of these activities on animal populations and enables wildlife managers to rank priorities for wildlife conservation efforts.
Shotguns and sustainable hunting in the Neotropics
Authors: Alvard M.
Published: April 2009

The shift to the use of shotguns from traditional hunting weapons has often been mentioned as one of the factors contributing to over-hunting in the tropics. It has also been argued that indigenous people using traditional hunting methods are conservationists because they do not over-exploit natural resources. A study of two Indian communities in south-eastern Peru, one of which hunted with guns and the other with traditional weapons, found that there was little difference in the amount of meat consumed per capita in each village and that shotgun hunters were no more exploitative than the traditional hunters.
The sustainable-use debate: observations from IUCN
Authors: Allen Catherine M. , Edwards Stephen R.
Published: April 2009

Few issues in the conservation community rival the intensity of the debate over sustainable use of wild species. At one extreme, people advocate that sustainable use ensures conservation of the resource. Others view it as a guise to exploit wild species. Somewhere between these positions, scientists point out that it impossible to guarantee sustainability given the complexity of human and biological factors that must be balanced. All these points of view are represented among the membership of the IUCN.
The Ouvéa parakeet – state of knowledge and conservation status
Authors: Robinet O. , Beugnet F. , Dulieu D. , Chardonnet Ph.
Published: April 2009

New Caledonia, a French territory in the south-west Pacific has a very high number of endemic taxa. The endemic fauna include a monotypic genus of parakeets – Eunymphicus. One subspecies, Eunymphicus cornutus uvaeensis, which is endemic to the island of Ouvéa in the Loyalty Islands, is seriously threatened by degradation of its natural habitat, natural predators and capture for sale to collectors. There are now only 200–500 individuals left in the wild. The parakeet is the emblem of Ouv–a and local people, together with research scientists, have formed a society with the aims of studying the parakeet in its natural environment, making the general public aware of its conservation requirements, combating smuggling, increasing its population by breeding it in captivity and, if possible, introducing it on to a neighbouring island.
Ecological importance and invertebrate conservation
Authors: New T. R. , Yen A. L.
Published: April 2009

The immense ecological importance of invertebrate animals is discussed in relation to using ecological values in setting priorities for their conservation. The spectrum of values, from taxa that we know perform vital ecological roles to taxa that may be ecologically redundant, is outlined.
Habitat fragmentation and primate conservation in the Atlantic Forest of eastern Minas Gerais, Brazil
Authors: Ferrari Stephen F. , Diego Vânia H.
Published: April 2009

Reduced to a tiny fraction of its original area, much of the Atlantic Forest habitat remaining in eastern Brazil is distributed in small, isolated patches on private land. The potential role of these fragments in the conservation of the region's primate fauna is poorly understood. As part of a study of buffy-headed marmosets Callithrix flavicepsin Minas Gerais, forest remnants were visited in order to evaluate this potential. Marmosets were observed in one-third of the sites and may exist in up to 60 per cent of forest patches in the region. A second threatened primate, the brown howler monkeyAlouatta fusca,may occur in one-quarter of the sites visited. The muriquiBrachyteles arachnoideswas not encountered. Overall, the survey suggests that, with appropriate management, privately owned forest fragments may play an increasingly important role in the conservation of the Atlantic Forest's fauna in this and other regions.
Changes in otter numbers in Shetland between 1988 and 1993
Authors: Conroy Jim , Kruuk Hans
Published: April 2009

The otter population in Shetland has increased significantly between 1988 and 1993, with more animals being found on all coastal strata and in all parts of the archipelago except South Mainland, the only area to show a decline. South Mainland is where the tanker Braer grounded in January 1993 and the subsequent oil spill might have affected the distribution of otters there. The causes of the changes are unknown and it is not known what happened to the otters in South Mainland after the spill, but it is is highly unlikely that the large increases recorded elsewhere on the archipelago were caused by the movement of animals away from South Mainland.
Sighting of the western gentle lemur Hapalemur griseus occidentalis in north-west Madagascar
Authors: Curtis Deborah J. , Zaramody Alphonse , Rabetsimialona Olivier D.
Published: April 2009

The grey gentle lemur Hapalemur griseus is currently divided into three subspecies. Of these, very little is known about the western gentle lemur H. g. occidentalis and survey work to assess its distribution and numbers is urgently needed. The sighting of this species approximately 200 km to the south and 200 km to the north of the previously recorded populations further highlights this need. The Tsiombikibo Forest, where Hapalemur was sighted, may harbour further surprises and should be investigated more extensively in order to assess habitat condition and the species present.
Recent advances in nature conservation in the Lao PDR
Authors: Berkmüller Klaus , Evans Tom , Timmins Rob , Vongphet Vene
Published: April 2009

The Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR) has long been a white spot on maps depicting national parks and similar protected areas. This changed dramatically with the official declaration in October 1993 of 18 protected areas covering over 10 per cent of the country's land surface. Among the countries of South East Asia Lao PDR now ranks among those with the highest proportion of land under legal protection. The political climate seems favourable and additional areas may still be added. System planning and, increasingly now, the management of declared areas has been carried out by the Protected Areas and Wildlife Division of the Centre for Protected Areas and Watershed Management (PAWM), Forest Department, with funding by the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) and technical support from IUCN-The World Conservation Union. Some of the most vulnerable species, such as the Javan rhinoceros Rhinoceros sondaicus, may already be extirpated, but most species and ecosystems have good prospects of survival if management of the reserves and some wider conservation initiatives can be implemented.
Conservation status and distribution of the Alaotran gentle lemur Hapalemur griseus alaotrensis
Authors: Mutschler Thomas , Feistner Anna T.C.
Published: April 2009

The Alaotran gentle lemur Hapalemur griseus alaotrensis is found only in the marsh vegetation surrounding Lac Alaotra in Madagascar. This habitat is shrinking and becoming fragmented due to conversion to rice cultivation. In addition, lemurs are hunted for pets and food. There is no protected area within their limited range. This paper presents the results of a 6-month field study assessing the distribution, population size and conservation status of the lemur. The population consists of about 7500 animals, split into at least two subpopulations. If no conservation action is taken in the near future, drainage of the remaining 13,000 ha block of marsh vegetation will probably lead to the extinction in the wild of this primate taxon.
Threatened amphibians in the former Soviet Union: the current situation and the main threats
Authors: Kuzmin Sergius L.
Published: April 2009

Before the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, research and conservation of the region's amphibian fauna was co-ordsinated by a network of scientists. The use of similar survey methods made it possible to obtain comparable estimates of amphibian populations in different parts of the territory. Since 1991 the system of research and conservation has broken down as a result of political changes and economic crisis. The scientific community has become fragmented and there is a scarcity of funds available for essential research and conservation. There is an urgent need for the adoption and implementation of conservation measures, both within the territory of the former USSR and elsewhere, in order to prevent further declines in threatened amphibian populations. This paper presents a summary of the status of amphibians in the former USSR, the threats they face and recommended measures to protect them.
The mountain tapir, endangered ‘flagship’ species of the high Andes
Authors: Downer Craig C.
Published: April 2009

The mountain tapir has already disappeared from parts of its range in the high Andes of South America and remaining populations are severely threatened by hunting and habitat destruction. With an estimated population of fewer than 2500 individuals, urgent measures are necessary to secure a future for the species. This paper presents an overview of the species throughout its range as well as some of the main results of the author's studies on tapir ecology. Finally, a plea is made for conservation action in Sangay National Park, which is one of the species's main strongholds.
On temperate areas, basal clades and biodiversity conservation
Authors: Morrone Juan J. , Katinas Liliana , Crisci Jorge V.
Published: April 2009

It has been accepted traditionally that biodiversity is concentrated in the tropics. However, threatened temperate areas in southern South America, South Africa, New Caledonia, Australia and the Holarctic possess a significant number of unique taxa. Phylogenetic information encoded in cladograms can be used to develop indices for measuring biodiversity. Application of these indices to Asteraceae (Angiosperms) and Curculionoidea (Coleoptera) indicates the relevance of the temperate areas to biodiversity conservation: they are rich in phylogenetically valuable species and are environmentally threatened.
Distribution, ecology and status of an endemic shrew, Crocidura thomensis, from São Tomé
Authors: Dutton John , Haft Jan
Published: April 2009

The São Tomé white-toothed shrew Crocidura thomensis is endemic to the island of São Tomé in the Gulf of Guinea. This species was discovered in 1886 and since then has been recorded from fewer than 10 locations. This paper summarizes all published and unpublished information on C. thomensis. The species is currently listed by the IUCN as ‘Insufficiently Known’, but using the new IUCN Red List Categories is re-classified as ‘Vulnerable B1 + 2c’. Threats to the survival of C. thomensis include deforestation, plantation redevelopment and predation by introduced mammals.
Birds and mammals of the Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park, Sumatra, Indonesia
Authors: O'Brien Timothy G. , Kinnaird Margaret F.
Published: April 2009

Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park in south-west Sumatra is one of the largest protected areas in Sumatra and thus of considerable importance to the conservation of biodiversity in Indonesia. Until recently, little was known of the wildlife in the park. The authors' surveys document the presence of an intact community of the birds and mammals known to occur in lowland Sumatran rain forests. While hunting and collection of forest products threaten a number of plant and animal species in the park, the primary threat to the park's integrity is from agricultural encroachment and expansion of enclaves beyond their boundaries. The future survival of Bukit Barisan National Park and its wildlife requires that active measures be taken to curb non-sustainable exploitation of plants and wildlife. It will also be necessary to resolve land-use conflicts with communities in, and adjacent to, the park.
Nubian ibex in south-western Jordan (Dana Nature Reserve)
Authors: Catullo G. , Ciucci P. , Disi A. M. , Boitani L.
Published: April 2009

During a survey in Dana Nature Reserve (southwestern Jordan) carried out between November 1994 and January 1995, Nubian ibexes Capra nubiana were sighted twice on a cliff at Jebel Um-Suwwana in the Wadi Araba area. The low number of sightings and an assessment of range conditions throughout the study area suggest that the population is reduced to a low density and suffers from severe competition for food and range with goats. Further research needs are discussed in a conservation perspective.
Conservation science – a creative tension
Authors: Meffe Gary K.
Published: April 2009

Conservation science is born of an inherent conflict. On one hand it is based in science, an objective, value-free search for truth that leads to general laws, with no a priori desire for particular outcomes. On the other hand it is clearly driven by value–laden goals related to making the human–nature relationship an enduring one. In contrast to an objective science, particular outcomes – such as preservation of biodiversity and protection or restoration of functioning ecosystems – are clearly pursued in conservation. The result is a sometimes uncomfortable merging of two human endeavours – one objective and one value-laden – that are inherently antagonistic and can result in tension. To make this tension creative, rather than destructive, we need to understand how both components are necessary and synergistic in forming a complete conservation science.
The Mednyi Arctic foxes: treating a population imperilled by disease
Authors: Goltsman M. , Kruchenkova E. P. , Macdonald D. W.
Published: April 2009

By the early 1990s only 90 individuals of the endangered Arctic fox subspecies Alopex lagopus semenovi, remained. These few survivors are confined to Mednyi Island, part of the Commander Islands chain. The formerly abundant population crashed in the mid-1970s and has never recovered from only 10–15 per cent of its former numbers. In 1983 the Mednyi Island foxes were listed in the Russian Red Data Book. Their demise coincided with the arrival of mange, introduced by seafaring trappers and caused by the mite Otodectes cynotis, which was associated with devastating cub mortality. In 1994, in a unique intervention, we sought to save the population by treating cubs with antiparasitic drugs. That summer, mortality was reduced. A census in 1995 suggested that over-winter survival was at least no worse, although it is too soon to judge whether this intervention can be a route to population recovery.
Status of Tibet red deer
Authors: Schaller George B. , Liu Wulin , Wang Xiaoming
Published: April 2009

Reports of the Tibet red deer, a subspecies of Cervus elaphus, have been so few in recent years that there were fears that the animal was extinct. A survey in a mountainous region of south-east Tibet in October 1995 found evidence that a few deer survive in one small area and possibly two others in high-altitude valleys of the tributaries of the Subansiri River. The most exciting finding of the survey, however, was an estimated 200-strong population of this deer in high rolling hills near the village of Zhenqi, north of the Yarlung Tsangpo River. This is the only known viable population of the deer and, although some hunting occurs, including by professional poachers from outside Tibet, the fact that it survives is an indication of the tolerance of the local people. The Tibet Forest Bureau has agreed to fund guards and to establish a reserve for the deer in co-operation with local people.
Threats to Brazilian crocodilian populations
Authors: Brazaitis P. , Rebêlo George H. , Yamashita Carlos , Odierna Elizabeth A. , Watanabe Myrna E.
Published: April 2009

Brazilian crocodiles are threatened by gold mining and related mercury- and lead-contamination of animals and their habitat, deforestation, increasing use of land for agriculture and destructive forestry, increased human incursions, and commercial and subsistence hunting for skins and meat. Contaminated meat is consumed by local people and miners, and meat and skins are exported to global markets. Already depleted black caimanMelanosuchus nigerpopulations are seriously affected.
Conservation status of primates in Trinidad, West Indies
Authors: Hsu M. J. , Agoramoorthy G.
Published: April 2009

This paper presents the results of surveys conducted in 1994 to establish the population size and density, and conservation status of red howler monkeys Alouatta seniculus insulanus and white-fronted capuchin monkeys Cebus albifrons trinitatis in the Trinity Hills, Bush-Bush and Central Range Wildlife Sanctuaries of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies. Populations of the red howler and capuchin monkey have declined by about 25 per cent in Bush-Bush Wildlife Sanctuary over the past 25 years. This decrease was attributed to intensive hunting pressure and habitat destruction. These factors have also caused monkey population declines in the Trinity Hills and Central Range Wildlife Sanctuaries. Recommendations are presented for the local government to enhance the protection of wild monkeys and their habitats in Trinidad.