London Zoo, home to 18,000 animals, appeals for donations

4 days ago Tony Gary Jones

An Asiatic lion lies subsequent to a measuring scale throughout a photocall at London Zoo on August 22, 2019. (Picture: ISABEL INFANTES/AFP through Getty Pictures)

THE world’s oldest zoo has been shut to the general public for the primary time since World Conflict Two, as UK is underneath lockdown to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

London Zoo, opened to scientists in 1828 and to the general public in 1847, is likely one of the British capital’s most-loved sights, however like every part else within the metropolis it has been impacted by the continuing disaster, elevating concern in regards to the animals’ welfare.

The zoo is house to about 18,000 animals. Thus, in contrast to a museum or an artwork gallery, it’s not only a case of locking the doorways.

Captive animals are needy, whether or not huge beasts resembling lions, gorillas, zebras and giraffes or the Madagascan hissing cockroaches, or every part else in between.

It’s a pricey, and labour-intensive, enterprise, and with out the income from every day tickets gross sales—value £27.eight million kilos final yr from London Zoo and ZSL’s Whipsnade Zoo—a protracted shutdown is a nightmare state of affairs.

Add within the logistical issues posed for the small military of zookeepers, vets, safety and floor employees (none categorised as key staff) in attending to the Regents Park website, in the event that they haven’t been pressured to self-isolate, and it’s unsurprising London Zoo is interesting for donations.

“Ordinarily, we’re completely reliant on public assist, so with out individuals coming via the gates the earnings isn’t coming in,” ZSL’s chief working officer, Kathryn England, informed Reuters.

“We’re actually having to search out different methods for individuals to point out their assist for us and donate as a substitute.

“What’s essential is that we’ve been planning for this, in order that we will ensure that our employees can preserve coming in and placing the well being and welfare of our animals first,” she stated.

“Our animals eat lots and we’ve to verify our provide chains proceed, with top-quality meals. Whether or not that’s fruit and veg from Covent Backyard, or meat, we want a steady provide.”

To make sure they will get to work, most of the zoo‘s 50 every day employees have opted to stay within the zoo‘s Lion Lodges that often home in a single day visitors experiencing a “zoo sleepover”.

“They aren’t categorised as key staff however they’re completely important to us,” England stated.

“They’re a group of astonishingly devoted employees,” she stated. “Some are staying on website to verify the animals get the care they want. We’d like to verify we’ve all of the employees in.”

To safeguard the well being of the animals, zookeepers put on protecting clothes, resembling face masks and gloves.

With no crowds wandering round, some may recommend the animals might be having fun with some uncommon peace and quiet. However that additionally brings challenges.

Squirrel monkeys of their enclosure at London Zoo. (Picture: DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP through Getty Pictures)

“The zookeepers are usually not solely feeding them, mucking them out but additionally offering the enrichment that they want as nicely as a result of that is very completely different atmosphere that they’re in with no guests,” England stated.

“The large cats don’t appear to be bothered in any respect, like Bhanu our huge lion. He’s simply lounging round within the solar. However the pigmy goats and penguins are a bit confused.”

Whereas England is assured the shutdown is not going to endanger any of the animals, she stated the lack of income was one of many largest challenges the zoo has confronted.

“The (public’s) response has been overwhelming to this point, however we’re a charity and, in a very good yr, we’d have a million individuals coming via the gates.

“We’re actually lacking the crowds and we actually need individuals to assist us via our web site (https://www.zsl.org/zsl-london-zoo).”

(Reuters)

 https://thewhitworthgazette.com/2020/03/26/london-zoo-home-to-18000-animals-appeals-for-donations

Himanshu Kaushik

TNN

Mar 27, 2020, 00:30 IST

A month and a half before the lion census starts in Gujarat, the government has rejected experts from WII and technology to conduct the head count

In Gujarat, where lion population is widely speculated to have touched the 1,000-mark, Lion Census 2020 was pegged to be different.
It was proposed to be more tech-driven with 3,000 camera traps in place and supervised by the prestigious Wildlife Institute of India. A month and half ahead of the exercise, Gujarat has reportedly rejected both WII and technology to know the exact headcount of Asiatic lions in Gir and its periphery.
Top officials in state forest department said that instead of electronic eyes, lion census will take place using the age-old method of direct sighting involving over 3,000 forest personnel and volunteers from the civil society.
“Gujarat government has written to WII stating that they have not accepted special research ahead of lion census. It has also communicated that WII will not be part of Lion Census 2020 as the state is not using the tiger census model of counting,” said a top WII source.
Shyamal Tikedar, principle chief conservator of forest (wildlife), said, “Camera traps will not be used as unlike tigers, lions are not elusive. Direct sighting is effective in counting lions in Gir and its periphery.”

Camera traps will not be used as unlike tigers, lions are not elusive. Direct sighting is effective in counting lions in Gir and its periphery

Shyamal Tikedar, principal chief conservator of forest

The 2015 Lion Census revealed 523 big cats in Gir and its periphery. However, the lion population is reported to be burgeoning as is visible from the rising number of lion movement in villages and even towns.
Lion footprints are now widely recorded in 22,000 sq km area in seven districts of Gujarat. While CM Vijay Rupani in 2017 had pegged Gujarat to have 600 lions, the numbers are speculated to have crossed 1,000.

Gujarat: The last abode of Asiatic lion

Once widespread, in the early 20th century the lion population shrank to a dozen due to hunting and drought.

Nawab Mahabat Khanji of then Junagadh state, an animal lover banned lion hunting and preserved the big cat.

Today, lions are found across the 25,000 sqkm area of the Saurashtra region - which includes Junagadh and 10 other districts - and are routinely spotted on private farms and near village homes

The lion census is carried out every five years. This year it will be spread across 25,000 sqkm spanning seven districts as against 15,000 sqkm area in 2015. The number of lions are expected to rise this census from 523 in 2015.

Forest officials and wildlife experts said that there is more to the change of plan than meets the eye in not including WII in lion census.
A senior official termed this as a result of “political considerations in wildlife management” where the state is loathe to admit “real numbers”. “Involvement of WII and cameras would have put pressure to record real numbers,” said a top source in the forest department.
"Officially high number of lions can create panic in people. Secondly, it could lead to pressure on the state to shift lions to Madhya Pradesh. Thirdly, it could undermine its census methods,” said a senior wildlife expert.
Sources said that government, at best, is keen to show 30% rise in lion numbers.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/gujarat-want-to-count-its-lions-minus-the-tech/articleshow/74590755.cms

Did we bring COVID-19 on us?

Ranjit Lal

The Indian Express22 March 2020

The animal kingdom reacts to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As the dreaded COVID-19 rampages through the world, ‘Down in Jungleland’ (DIJ) interviewed a leading animal kingdom representative (AKR), considering the virus is thought to have spread from certain members of that kingdom to us. The location of this interview and the identity of the AKR is confidential.
DIJ: So, what’s your take on this whole appalling situation? Do you guys feel in the least bit responsible?
AKR: What appalling situation?
DIJ: Come, come, the economy of the entire world has been hamstrung and lies in tatters. Stock markets are jumping off skyscrapers. Not to mention millions of ordinary god-fearing people being locked up in their own homes. No one’s traveling anywhere, cruise ships have become floating Petri dishes. You can rob a bank by sneezing at the cashier.
AKR: Well, frankly, you had it coming, don't you think?
DIJ: What?
AKR: Well, it’s poetic justice, isn’t it? Think of the country of origin: it’s considered the world’s leading power, and, yet, they believe that if they eat a tiger’s private parts, they’ll become supermen. And that bear bile can make their pimples go away. We get it that all living creatures must eat other living creatures in order to survive. Those are the laws of nature — kill or be killed, eat or be eaten. We even accept that your species specially rear us in millions for that purpose. But you guys come after us for no good reason — how do you explain that?
DIJ: What do you mean?
AKR: You come after us in SUVs, armed with powerful rifles, so that you can mount our heads on your drawing room walls and think you’ve been very brave. You wear our pelts. You make and sell ‘medicines’ from our body parts. You rip out our tusks so you can make trinkets and ornaments out of them. For God’s sake, if you must hunt us, come after us with your bare hands: see where that gets you. Even a mosquito or worm can take you down.
DIJ: But most of these activities have been declared illegal. Also, we have national parks and sanctuaries where you guys can live safely.
AKR: Gimme a break! Sure, you can put a poor sod in jail for seven years for accidentally running over a peafowl, but you have no issues with ramming a 16-lane expressway through our prime habitats or drowning millions of acres of rainforest, so you can construct a stupid dam which is going to clog up even before you finish building it. Protected areas barely cover five per cent of the country — and even these you can’t leave alone.
DIJ: But we’ve also brought several species back from the brink of extinction. The Californian condor, the pygmy hog, the giant panda, the Asiatic lion, the tiger…
AKR: And who took them to the brink of extinction in the first place? Besides, haven’t you heard about the Sixth Great Extinction that is now under way, and, for which, your species is entirely responsible? We, in the animal kingdom, have come to the conclusion that the only species that justifiably needs to be made extinct is you: Homo sapiens. The planet would get on just fine without you guys — in fact, much better.
DIJ: So, you think you’re justified in spreading this terrible virus all over the world?
AKR: Hey, hey, don’t blame us for everything. We just gave it to one person — and after that, well, you guys did the rest. Our work was done. That’s the beauty of it.
DIJ: This is mass bio-terrorism. And don’t forget, we’re the smartest species on earth — we’ll find a vaccine soon.
AKR: Do your worst. You think we’re not working on improved and more potent versions? Viruses love proving their immunity to vaccines; they think it’s macho.
DIJ: If there was to be a truce, what would your demands be?
AKR: Leave us and our habitats alone. Stay out of our forests: they are sacrosanct. Stop pumping noxious gases into the air. Clean up every toxic water body on the planet. Take the plastic out of the oceans. Stop hunting for ‘trophies’ because it is an ‘ancient tradition’. If there had been a tradition of cutting off the head of your firstborn that was practised thousands of years ago, would you continue with it today? And remember, we are really running the planet. Not you. You are dispensable. You mess with bees, for example, and see where that gets you. You kill off microscopic fig wasps and you’ll bring down entire forests — and, with them, yourselves. You may like to believe otherwise, but willy-nilly, you depend on us. Destroy us and destroy yourself. It’s what you like to call MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction). You have been warned.
https://in.news.yahoo.com/did-bring-covid-19-us-052701600.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAADGVtRv0S7tpjunRlg7_4dlllXW0DfmPBbTNFm8rFHJ3qff1I6zp6wlm4aymX9IDXRu3FEk1DibhqT727VvvSubE1qKfqeYahv5oZWkDGLJkVMALEhXJUGvBU0VoItdd8Swn3G-hJnJT6FDWNG_Yr6SVGgznZ8lgQuW1Bljum5Gg

Monitoring Method May Help To Conserve Lions in India

 In the new study, Keshab Gogoi and his colleagues have demonstrated an alternative method for monitoring Asiatic lions

By

 NewsGram Desk

 -

February 20, 2020

Conserving this sub-specie of lions with the use of best scientific methods is a global priority and responsibility, according to authors of the study from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII). Pixabay

An alternative method of monitoring endangered lions in India can help improve estimates of their numbers and also in making informed conservation policy and management decisions.

New conservation practices have helped increase the number of Asiatic lions from 50 to 500 in the Gir Forests of Gujarat.

Accurate estimates are needed for better conservation efforts, according to a study published in the journal PLOS ONE.

The existing methods, particularly a technique known as total counts, can miss some and double-count others. Also, they provide limited information on the spatial density.

Conserving this sub-specie of lions with the use of best scientific methods is a global priority and responsibility, according to authors of the study from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII).

In the new study, Keshab Gogoi and his colleagues have demonstrated an alternative method for monitoring Asiatic lions.

“Our research addresses this priority by developing a robust approach to their population assessment and monitoring, which can be used for all lion populations across the world,” said an author.

Gogoi and colleagues used whisker patterns and permanent body marks to identify lions using a computer programme, and analysed the data with a mathematical modelling method known as ‘spatially explicit capture recapture’ to estimate the lion density.

They also assessed the prey density and other factors that could influence the lion density.

An alternative method of monitoring endangered lions in India can help improve estimates of their numbers and also in making informed conservation policy and management decisions. Pixabay

The researchers identified 67 lions of the 368 sightings within the 725 sq km study area in the Gir Forests, estimating an overall density of 8.53 lions per 100 sq km. They found the prey density didn’t appear to influence the lion density variations in the study area.

The lion density was higher in the flat valley habitats (as opposed to rugged or elevated areas) and near sites where food had been placed to attract lions for tourists to see them.

The study suggests that baiting lions for tourism affects their natural density patterns, in line with other researches that baiting disrupts lion behaviour and social dynamics.

The authors said the alternative monitoring method could be used to assess lions across their range (in India and Africa) and better conservation efforts. (IANS)
https://www.newsgram.com/monitoring-method-conserve-lions-india

What about our ‘pride’?

Updated: Mar 18, 2020, 06:00 IST

RS MP Parimal Nathwani

RS MP Nathwani seeks information on steps being taken for conservation of Asiatic lions, tigers; Babul Supriyo responds

Rajya Sabha MP Parimal Nathwani enquired about the steps being taken by the ForestDept for conservation of Asiatic lions. “The data of fund released for lion conservation doesn’t include the fund released by the Government of Gujarat.

The state govt had sanctioned Rs 350 crore for long-term conservation of lions in Gujarat. But, the Centre needs to increase funding for Asiatic lions as they are found only in Gir and nearby areas in Gujarat, while tigers are spread across India and Asia,” Nathwani said. Union Minister of State in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Babul Supriyo, responded to his queries in the Rajya Sabha.

The minister revealed, “The Centre released Rs 4.98 cr, Rs 5.59 cr and Rs 21.42 cr in the year 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19 respectively under DWH Scheme for Gujarat, which inter alia includes conservation of Asiatic lions. In the same three years, for Project Tiger, the Centre released Rs 342.25 cr, Rs 345 cr and Rs 323.17 cr respectively.”
https://ahmedabadmirror.indiatimes.com/news/india/what-about-our-pride/articleshow/74680496.cms

Coronavirus: Gujarat orders closure of national parks, sanctuaries

A circular issued by the Chief Wildlife Warden Shyamal Tikadar said the state's national parks, sanctuaries, and conservation reserves will remain closed till March 29.

Press Trust of India 

Ahmedabad

March 16, 2020

UPDATED: March 16, 2020 20:45 IS

T

Gujarat government on Monday ordered closure of national parks, sanctuaries and conservation reserves in the state in view of coronavirus threat.

A circular issued by the Chief Wildlife Warden Shyamal Tikadar said the state's national parks, sanctuaries, and conservation reserves will remain closed till March 29.

It said the sites under lockdown include Sakkarbaug Zoological Park in Junagadh, Devaliya Safari Park and Ambardi Safari Park, which attract large crowds eager to sight the Asiatic lion.

The newly-built Sardar Patel Zoological Park at Kevadiya, close to the Statue of Unity, will also remain closed, it said.

As per powers vested in the Chief Wildlife Warden, vide the provisions of Section 27 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, all national parks, sanctuaries, and conservation reserve of Gujarat shall remain closed for visitors from March 17 to March 29, it said.

It added that permissions granted under Section 28 of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, for film shooting, research etc shall also remain suspended till March 29, and fees paid for the same online will be refunded.
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/coronavirus-gujarat-orders-closure-national-parks-sanctuaries-1656152-2020-03-16

No gauge conversion of Talala-Visavadar line

TNN | Mar 14, 2020, 04:00 ISTRajkot: The railway ministry is not planning to broad guage conversion of the Talala-Visavadar meter gauge line. The broad gauge was a part of Veraval-Talala-Visavadar conversion project, but the ministry has dropped this plan in order to protect the Asiatic lions in Gir.
This was informed by minister of railways and commerce and industry, Piyush Goyal, in Rajya Sabha on Friday. Goyal said this in response to a question from Rajya Sabha MP Parimal Nathwani who sought to know whether the gauge conversion of 72 km track between Talala and Visavadar passing through Gir wildlife areas will pose danger to the Asiatic Lions. Nathwani also wanted to know whether the government is mulling retaining the meter gauge railway line as a heritage railway line in view of its rich wildlife.

“Presently, it has been decided to retain this section as meter gauge due to forest issues as the alignment is passing through Gir reserve forest,” Goyal stated in his reply.
Railway has also reduced the speed of the train from 50km per hour to 30kmph between Talala and Veraval stations in Gir forest area so that driver can apply breaks to on seeing wild animals crossing the track. Goyal also said that the ministry is closely working with the the forest department regarding information of lion’s movement near the track.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/rajkot/no-gauge-conversion-of-talala-visavadar-line/articleshow/74619235.cms

India to take initiative towards green economy, focus on renewable energy: PM Modi

The Prime Minister continued that the international solar alliance, the coalition for disaster-resilient infrastructure and industries transition leadership have seen encouraging participation from countries worldwide

• ANI
 
• February 17, 2020, 12:17 IST
• • Gandhinagar: Mentioning that India has a population of almost 2,970 at present, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that the country would take a leading role in promoting green economy including conservation of mountain ecology with people's participation.
    
    "India has the distinction of having a population of almost 2,970 tigers. India has achieved its target of doubling the number of targets two years before the committed date of 2022. India would be taking a leading role in promoting green economy including conservation of mountain ecology with people's participation," Modi said while addressing a convention on 'Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals' at Gandhinagar via video conference. 
    
    Highlighting that India's forest cover has increased significantly, the Prime Minister said, "The present assessment also indicates that the total forest cover is 21.67 per cent of the total geographical area of the country. The number of protected areas has increased from 745 in 2014 to 870 in 2019 with an area coverage of nearly 1.7 lakh square km."
    
    "The range of our initiatives includes an ambitious target of 450 megawatts in renewable energy, a push towards electric vehicles, smart cities, conservation of water and more," he said. 
    
    The Prime Minister continued that the international solar alliance, the coalition for disaster-resilient infrastructure and industries transition leadership have seen encouraging participation from countries worldwide.
    
    Stressing on initiatives taken by India to set standards for the conservation of Asian elephants leopards and Asiatic lions, he said, "India is supporting more than 60 per cent of the global Asian elephant population. 30 elephant reserves have been identified by our states."
    
    "We have launched Project Snow Leopard, to protect the animal and its habitat in the Upper Himalayas. The Gir landscape in Gujarat is the only home for the Asiatic lion and the pride of the country. We have initiated an Asiatic Lion conservation project since Jan 2019 to protect them. Today, the population of Asiatic Lions stands at 523," he said. 
    
    The Prime Minister added that the Government of India has launched the National Conservation Strategy for the Indian one-horned rhinos, which are found in Assam, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal, in 2019. 
    
    The UN conference, which started today in Gandhinagar, will conclude on February 22.
    
    The summit is said to bring together 1200 delegates from over 110 countries to deliberate on the alarming decline of migratory species.
    
    Topics such as the impact of infrastructure development on the migratory patterns of animals will be discussed in the conference. 
https://energy.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/renewable/india-to-take-initiative-towards-green-economy-focus-on-renewable-energy-pm-modi/74170511

Gujarat rejects Wildlife Institute of India, camera traps for lion census

Himanshu Kaushik | TNN | Updated: Mar 12, 2020, 16:35 ISTGANDHINAGAR: In Gujarat, where lion population is widely speculated to have touched the 1,000-mark, Lion Census 2020 was pegged to be different.
It was proposed to be more tech-driven with use of 3,000 camera traps and supervised by the prestigious Wildlife Institute of India. A month and half ahead of the big exercise, Gujarat has reportedly rejected both WII and technology to know the exact headcount of its coveted population of Asiatic lions in Gir and its periphery.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/gujarat-rejects-wildlife-institute-of-india-camera-traps-for-lion-census/articleshow/74585711.cms

In Gir, not sharing is caring for the lions and leopards

Spoorthy Raman

Read time: 4 minsBengaluru Mar 11, 2020, (Research Matters):

Researchers explore how the two predators coexist by preferring different habitats in Gir

The vast expanse of the Gir National Park in Gujarat is home to the endangered Asiatic lions—the only place where they are found in the wild. The population of these majestic cats has soared from a handful in the 19th century to about 600 in 2017, charting one of the success stories in India's conservation history. Apart from the Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica), Gir also has a sizeable number of another elusive cat—the Indian leopard (Panthera pardus fusca). For centuries, both these apex predators have coexisted, without much competition for survival despite their high numbers. What factors could be fostering this coexistence?

In a new study, researchers at the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Aligarh, have looked into how lions and leopards divide time and space in Gir to coexist. The study is a result of a collaborative effort between the Gujarat Forest Department and the Department of Wildlife Sciences, AMU. The findings of the study, funded by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, was published in the journal PLOS One.

"AMU is monitoring the leopard ecology in Gir from last 18 years under different projects," says Mr Rohit Chaudhary, the corresponding author of the study. Previous efforts at AMU, led by Prof Jamal Ahmad Khan, had resulted in a database of leopard ecology in the past. "These records indicate that both the lions and leopards have high overlap in their diet. It led us to believe that there must be some spatial or temporal partitioning of resources between them," he adds, talking about the motivation of the present study.

Previous studies on tigers and leopards in Asia, and lions and leopards in Africa, had indicated that being active at different times of the day (temporal partitioning) or sharing different habitats (spatial partitioning) helped these cats coexist. However, there was no study on lions and leopards in India so far, and this is the first such study to assess spatiotemporal partitioning between them.

The researchers used camera traps in an area of 200 square kilometres in the western part of Gir. They continuously captured sightings of lions and leopards, and their prey animals, during the summer and winter months of 2017. After sanitising their data and removing duplicates, they had 2003 trap nights, with more leopard sightings than lions. Among prey animals, chital had the highest captures, followed by sambar, wild pigs and nilgai.

A lion and lioness in Gir [Image Credits: By Shiv's fotografia - Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0]

The study found that both lions and leopards were nocturnal animals, indicating that there was no significant temporal partitioning. However, there was a considerable difference in the types of habitats they preferred. The lions were mostly found in open and dense habitats. On the contrary, the leopards preferred dense habitats and avoided open habitats. The researchers opine that dense habitats create a good cover, thus reducing the encounters between leopards and lions.

The researchers also analysed how lions and leopards overlapped with the prey species, both spatially and temporally. Sambars are the preferred prey of both leopards and lions, while lions also preferred wild pigs. The study found that leopards shared their habitats with sambars and wild pigs while lions shared their habitat with chital and nilgai. So how then do lions hunt their favourite prey?

"Prey animals may venture into lion habitats, which could provide the lions with an opportunity to kill," explains Mr Choudhary. Since the lions, sambars and wild pigs are all active during the nights, it may increase the chance of encounters between a lion and its prey.

The findings show how habitat preference could play a significant role in fostering coexistence between two large carnivores.

"Both lion and leopard exist at high densities in Gir. Habitat heterogeneity has an important role in the coexistence of both predators," remarks Mr Chaudhary. "However, habitat preference and its use are not the sole reason for coexistence between leopards and lions. There might be other reasons too," he cautions. The researchers stress the need for thorough monitoring of the habitats inside Gir as habitat changes have severe implication on this coexistence. “Any change in the future could have implications on this balance," he signs off.This article has been run past the researchers, whose work is covered, to ensure accuracy.

https://researchmatters.in/news/gir-not-sharing-caring-lions-and-leopards