The Houston Zoo began the development of the El Valle Amphibian Conservation Center (EVACC) in El Valle de Anton, Panama in 2005 as a response to the decline in amphibian populations due to habitat loss, overcollection and the imminent threat from a fungal epidemic known as “chytrid“. Today, it is believed that nearly 30% of the 6,000+ known amphibian species are threatened with extinction.
On a recent visit to El Valle de Anton, we took the opportunity to head out to one of the field sites where a frog known as the Harlequin Frog (Atelopus varius) had once existed in large numbers. The chytrid fungus had reached this area a number of years and a small population was brought into a captive setting at the El Valle Amphibian Conservation Center for safeguarding against the threat of extinction.
Approximately 2 hours from El Valle de Anton is El Cope National Park and one of the few sites where this species may still exist. El Cope rises over 3,000 feet above sea level with the park first being created in 1986, acting as a watershed between the Pacific and the Panamanian Caribbean. Home to jaguar, mountain lion, tapir, monkeys and numerous birds, it is the amphibians which once made this place unique. Although a glimpse ofthe areas mammals and birds was always special. It was the nenver ending sound of dozens of amphibian species calling in the late afternoon and early evening hours which brought this cloud forest alive.
A Somber Silence. But now that is all but gone. There were 2-3 species of amphibians seen on this visit but it is a vastly different forest today than it was just 5 years ago. The same fate has taken amphibian species across the Central America corridor from Costa Rica down through Panama and heading upwards from Colombia.
Until the time comes when conservation biologists can determine it is safe to return amphibians to their native habitat, the Houston Zoo and partners will coninue to maintain assurance colonies of amphibians in their native countries, and spend time in the field surveying remaining amphibian populations. If you would like to support our amphibian efforts in Panama, you can follow the link to http://www.houstonzoo.org/amphibians/
Panamanian Golden Frog Atelopus zeteki
Marsupial Frog Hemiphractus fasciatus
Craugastor tabasarae with eggs. El Valle Amphibian Conservation Center
We are much too impatient these days. When was the last time you spent a few extra minutes at the grocery store looking at an ingredient label? Those extra few minutes can help protect orangutans in the wild.
Due to its low cost, Palm Oil has replaced many of the saturated fats and other vegetable oils that at one time were part of many of the processed foods we purchase in the store. Oil Palms produce more oil per hectare of land than any other oil producing crop – clearly it is the cheaper alternative for companies. But many of these companies look away at the removal of both wildlife and forest to produce palm oil products. Although large companies such as Unilever and Nestle’s have suggested they are moving to a sustainable palm oil product, there are still dozens of large companies who are not, and in turn, fuel the trade in palm oil from poorly managed plantations who will kill wildlife and burn forests to clear land for production.
Orangutans are found only on the islands of Sumatra (Indonesia) and Borneo (made up of Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei). 85% of the worlds plam oil comes out of Indonesia and Malaysia. The third largest forest nation with 120 million hectares, Indonesia is subsequently the world’s third largest carbon polluter and loses more than 1 million hectares per year due to illegal logging, illicit land clearing and forest fires. About 90 percent of the approximately 40,000 wild orangutans live in Indonesia, between Sumatra and Borneo islands, while the remaining 10 percent can be found in Sabah and Sarawak, Malaysia. Both species of orangutans have been place on the red list of The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) with The Sumatran species listed as critically endangered.
Palm oil plantation and habitat loss
Orangutans are potentially disappearing at the rate of up to 2,000 individuals per year due to loss of habitat and hunting pressures. Loss of habitat is specifically due to increasing plam oil plantations as well as pulp and paper concessions.
I was in Walgreens last week and picked up two bags of a similiar product. One had plam oil in the ingredient, the other did not and was the same price or less. The decision was easy, and only added a few seconds to my trip. Is it worth it? Take a look at your food and even health care packaging (Dove, shampoos, etc.) at home. What percentage of the product you now buy contains palm oil?
Palm oil production has been documented as a cause of substantial and often irreversible damage to the natural environment. It’s impacts include deforestation, habitat loss for critically endangered species, and a significant increase in greenhouse gas emissions. Make a statement with your shopping habits, it is the only way left in keeping orangutans off the extinction list.
Have you ever thought about changing electricity providers? No, because it was much too confusing? You pay by the Kilowatt hour (Kwh) used which makes about as much sense to us as a British Thermal Unit (BTU).
What in the world is a Kilowatt hour anyway? I think I understand so here is an example: For every hour of electricity you run the lights, washer, computer, and air-conditioner in your home, divide the amount of time you spend worrying about your budget, subtract number of people in your household, add the square root of your pets, divide by pie (3.14 – cherry or apple pie works best here) and add the number of slugs you find on your patio when the Houston humidity is 88% or higher.
In Algebra it looks like this: A(Kwh x 4)-3+2b2d(3.14 cherry) + 8 slugs @88% = 0.112 cents per Kwh. Simples!
Two years ago and with much consternation, I made the leap to a green energy supplier and freaked out when my monthly bill went down. How is this possible in a free society? My bill went down, really? A few weeks ago I found a site which makes switching even easier than my leap of faith (which is also the title of an excellent video on amphibians) at http://www.powertochoose.org or http://www.saveonenergy.com
You just click on a button and it gives you not only all the companies and their rates in the area but shows how much 1,000Kwh would cost you so you can see actual dollars and decide if you want the company that cost you $109 per 1,000Kwh or $130 per Kwh. It does not matter if you know how many hours you use, the price is the price and you can find your current company to compare. Benefit here is you can look at green energy (wind, solar, water) suppliers and will see their costs are only a few dollars more which is a bonus to you and the environment.
Benefits – no speaking to humans on the other end of a phone – we all love this. Save money on your monthly bills. Find a green company and use less coal based electricity. Can be done from the comfort of your air conditioned home regardless of how many slugs are outside your door. Did I mention you could Save Money?
Tune in next time to learn about BTU’s and why British wearing Thermals is related to how cold your air conditioner is. I can tell you a BTU is equal to about 1 kilojoule which means another Algebra equation is on it’s way, this time featuring dormice.
Looking for a new experience working with children at the base of a volcano where half the world’s Mountain Gorillas remain? If so, you can volunteer with Art of Conservation in Rwanda.
Art of Conservation, Inc. educates Rwandans about conservation and the importance of maintaining a healthy environment for both people and animals while instilling in them an understanding and respect for themselves, their peers, and the natural world. The Houston Zoo is a proud supporter of the Art of Conservation program in Rwanda
Art of Conservation (AoC) is seeking a dedicated, experienced administrative support intern to work directly with AoC Director Julie Ghrist. Interns must commit at least six weeks to the position. After six weeks, the intern position may be extended at the discretion of the Director. For a description of the position and application – link here
Rushubi Primary School 5th grade class
AoC also occasionally accepts volunteers (link here for application) for short- to medium-term volunteer placements. Their needs vary depending on the staffing situation and class schedule. In general, they seek honest, hard-working individuals who can offer support in one or more of the following areas:
Teaching the English-language portion of our conservation education curriculum. We are particularly interested in volunteer teachers who have a background in conservation, biology, agriculture, medicine, or public health.
Teaching the English-language portion of our art curriculum. We are particularly interested in volunteer teachers who have a background in drawing, painting, music, or drama.
Administrative work including memo writing and grant research.
English-language training for non-English speaking staff.
Computer skills training for staff.
Ready for an experience of a lifetime? Well, here is one where you can both learn and give at the same time.
I wonder if Art of Conservation will let me volunteer with them this week...maybe I will just eat some bamboo instead
First a story from Botswana: Cheetah Conservation Botswana works with local communities to keep their livestock guard dogs healthy. The livestock guard dogs are used to keep predators away from the community herds thus removing the need to shoot animals such as cheetahs and leopards which would normally prey on goats and cows. A little health prevention for domestic animals will go a long way in protecting wildlife in the region.
This week Cheetah Conservation Botswana (CCB) commenced a sterilization and vaccination mobile clinic for livestock guarding dogs. CCB offers free veterinary care for working guard dogs protecting livestock against predators. The mobile clinic is assisted by two overseas vets and will be visiting towns across Botswana travelling 600 miles over 4 days.
Earlier in the month of June, CCB launched its 4th annual ‘ Best livestock guarding dog in Botswana’ competition. Livestock guarding dogs are used with sheep, goats and cattle to alert them and protect them against predators. Every year CCB holds a competition to find the best dog in the country. The 2010 competition has just begun and is being …advertised on local radio. Winners win veterinary,hardware and dog supplies, and a trip for the family into the Okavango Delta.
What does that have to do with you? It’s all about you isn’t it? I will tell you anyway. Keeping your domestic pets healthy here at home can also help protect wildlife. We have all seen the stray cat and dog on the street – and they eventually are forced to eat native wildlife such as birds and small mammals when they can.
There is no need for the massive surplus in pet dogs and cats and they do not need to end up in shelters – spay and neuter your pets (unless you are breeding registered pets for competitions), there are plenty of kittens and puppies out there for every household and shelters would love for you to adopt today. Another great option here is H.O.P.E. (Homeless and Orphaned Pets Endeavor) which is a is an all-foster, no kill adoption group based in the Houston area. You may see them out at the local PetSmart on weekends.
Bonus question: To win a free small plush animal from the Houston Zoo – tell us what tv personality always ended his show “Don’t forget to spay and neuter your pets”. Three winners will be notified next week.
Travel to the Galapagos: Land of Darwin with the Houston Zoo April 24th to May 4th, 2011
Celebrate Darwin’s legacy by walking in his footsteps on a trip to the Galapagos Islands with the Houston Zoo and Terra Incognita Ecotours. These islands are home to some of the most interesting and accessible wildlife anywhere. Swim and snorkel with sea lions, come within mere inches of the blue-footed booby, galapagos tortoises or a marine iguana.
Your trip will include a visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station, world famous for its research and tortoise breeding programs, where you learn about the vital work being done to study and preserve Galapagos wildlife. Visit nests of the magnificent frigatebirds, search for giant tortoises in the wild, experience the diversity of the legendary finches.
The Houston Zoo has been supporting the work of Cheetah Conservation Botswana since 2008, offering funding for operating support and educational programming. Cheetah Conservation Botswana (CCB) aims to preserve the nation’s cheetah population through scientific research, community outreach and education, working with rural communities to promote coexistence with Botswana’s rich diversity of predator species.
The project was formed in 2003 to address the threat to the nation’s cheetah population. The major challenge for the project, funded by grant aid and donor support, is one of improving community perceptions towards predators and ensuring that retaliatory killings do not continue to threaten cheetah numbers, while, at the same time, supporting and protecting rural community welfare. Your generous support is already helping us to achieve that.
Only by working together with communities who live side-by-side with predators, with initiatives tailored to meet their needs and priorities, do we hope to foster the attitudes of coexistence that will see cheetahs remain as an essential component in this remarkable ecosystem and as a flagship species for the rich biodiversity of Botswana.
Over the next few days, we thought we would update you on some exciting news surrounding the release of two orphaned cheetahs. The two cubs named Tlotlo (Respect) and Kgotso (Peace) came to CCB when they were 6 months old. The cubs had been caught by a community in Southern Botswana and whilst efforts were made to locate their mother, they were not successful. So the brothers moved to the CCB Ghanzi camp in March 2009 and have since been raised with minimal human contact, preparing them for eventual release into the wild.
We are going to spend the next few days getting to know some of the wildlife veterinarians and staff who have some of the most difficult jobs, and most rewarding jobs in the profession. The Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project dedicate every minute of the day to their amazing patients, the critically endangered Mountain Gorillas of Rwanda, Ugandan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. This is not a captive setting, these wildlife veterinarians routinely trek hours into the fields and mountains to check on the health of individual groups of mountain gorillas.
There are approximately 720 Mountain Gorillas left on earth; they live only in two small parks, one in Uganda and one that includes a corner of Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. In order to ensure ahealthy future for this special animal, wemonitor the gorillas on a regular basis; provide life-saving medical care, conduct health studies, and do all we can to buildlocal capacity in veterinary medicine and ecosystem health.
MGVP’s veterinary staff—collectively, the Gorilla Doctors—are a unique, diverse, and interesting group of people. They differ in terms of nationality, training, and experience, as well as in the territory they cover. The in-country field vets are stationed in their home countries, either Rwanda, Uganda, or the DRC, while the regional vets and project director move about. MGVP’s regional headquarters are located in Ruhengeri (Musanze), Rwanda for two main reasons: most of the world’s habituated mountain gorillas live in Rwanda, and Ruhengeri itself is about halfway between the border with Uganda to the northeast and Congo to the west.
Please check in with us over the next few days as we highlight the Gorilla Doctors blog and introduce you to one of the world’s most amazing wildlife programs.
African wild dogs (aka; painted dogs) are one of the rarest carnivores in Africa. They face intense persecution by humans, often shot, snared, poisoned, or hit by cars. Wildlife conservation biologist, Dr. Greg Rasmussen, is a world authority on predator conflict issues and has studied the African painted dogs for more than twenty years. He has spent much of that time living among the communities in Zimbabwe endeavoring to understand their needs as well as the conflicts with the dogs.
In 1992, he founded and became Director of African Painted Dog Conservation (PDC) in Hwange National Park. His research has lead him to base PDC on the following five components: Research; Direct conservation of the dogs; Conservation education; Capacity building for the future; Community development. PDC employs over 60 local people and its ecology-based education program sees over 1000 rual village childern go through each year. As a result of the awareness PDC has generated, the population of Africa painted dogs in Zimbabwe has doubled since the project began. Your participation in this event will make a lasting contribution to the future of African painted dogs and the lives of the local people.
We are excited to announce that a wild female Bornean elephant was fitted with a satellite collar on May 26, 2010 within the Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary as part of a collaborative project between the Sabah Wildlife Department, the NGO HUTAN and the Danau Girang Field Center.
The Houston Zoo funded this effort along with several other wildlife organizations including the Columbus Zoo, Mohamed bin Zayed Conservation Fund, Elephant Family and USFWS Asian Elephant Fund. The aim of this project is to collect crucial information on the movement of the elephants to contribute to the long-term conservation management of the species in Borneo.
The 35 year old matriach was named Sunda and the satellite data from the collared individuals will provide important information on the available suitable habitat in the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary
This elephant below was collared previously during the initiation of the program in 2008-2009.
On a recent visit to El Valle de Anton, we took the opportunity to head out to one of the field sites where a frog known as the Harlequin Frog (Atelopus varius) had once existed in large numbers. The chytrid fungus had reached this area a number of years and a small population was brought into a captive setting at the El Valle Amphibian Conservation Center for safeguarding against the threat of extinction.
Approximately 2 hours from El Valle de Anton is El Cope National Park and one of the few sites where this species may still exist. El Cope rises over 3,000 feet above sea level with the park first being created in 1986, acting as a watershed between the Pacific and the Panamanian Caribbean. Home to jaguar, mountain lion, tapir, monkeys and numerous birds, it is the amphibians which once made this place unique. Although a glimpse ofthe areas mammals and birds was always special. It was the nenver ending sound of dozens of amphibian species calling in the late afternoon and early evening hours which brought this cloud forest alive.
