The Tasmanian Devil in Trouble

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Let’s stretch our ‘Australian Week’ by just one more day…

We’ve all heard of the Tasmanian Devil, but surprisingly few people know what they actually look like (I blame a certain popular cartoon character). Even fewer people know that since 2000, the wild Tasmanian Devil population has been affected by a mysterious cancer which is threatening to wipe them out entirely in the years to come.

We love the work done by the Tasmanian Devil Conservation Park, a place I had the privilege to visit in 2010.

Tasmanian Devil at the Tasmanian Devil Conservation Park, by Anna Tinker

Does the Tasmanian Devil deserve its fearsome reputation? We think it does! Have a look at these little devils fighting over their lunch…

You can’t not be drawn to Tasmanian Devil! They’re unique and special and we want more than anything to keep them around.

Here are some quick facts on the disease currently spreading through the the wild Tasmanian Devil population (taken from the small print on the sign pictured below), directly from the Tasmanian Devil Conservation Park.

- The Tasmanian Devil is now an endangered species

- More than half of all wild devils have perished

- Tasmanian Devil Facial Tumour Disease is a unique contagious cancer

- It affects only Tasmanian Devils and is always fatal

-  The cancer is transferred directly by biting during feeding and mating

- Preventing Direct contact is the best way to stop the disease from spreading

- The disease was first noticed in 2000 and has spread across most of Tasmania

- There is no barrier to stop it reaching the west coast

- Its origin is not known

Beautiful and wild Tasmanian Devil habitat, by Anna Tinker

Unfortunately, this mysterious cancer is just one of the many threats faced by Tasmanian Devils. According to IUCN, more than 2,200 are killed each year on Tasmania’s roads.

The Tasmanian Devil (Sarcophilus harrisii)
is on the IUCN Red List for Threatened Species as “endangered“
population trend: decreasing

Photo of the Day: Northern Hairy-Nosed Wombat

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Northern Hairy-nosed Wombat

Northern Hairy-nosed Wombat, photo by Jade, details below

The Northern Hairy-Nosed Wombat may have a funny name, but it’s plight is deadly serious: it’s one of the rarest large mammals not only in Australia but in the world.

In 2003 the total population consisted of 113 individuals, including only around 30 breeding females.

Their historic range used to extend across 3 states, but they are now found in a tiny 3 km² area within the Epping Forest National Park in Queensland.

This photograph was taken in a museum.

The Northern Hairy-Nosed Wombat (Lasiorhinus krefftii)
is on the IUCN Red List for Threatened Species as “critically endangered”
Population trend: stable 

(Photo by “Jade” used under a Creative Common licence)

Photo of the Day: Tawny Frogmouth

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You aren’t allowed to argue with us on this one (although there’s nothing wrong with starting a debate) –The Tawny Frog mouth is Australia’s most charming bird.

It’s a pleasure to introduce you to ‘Kermit’, the friendly Frogmouth at the Tasmanian Devil Conservation Project in Tasmania.

Kermit the Frogmouth, by Anna Tinker

And here’s a very sweet video of Kermit working for his snack:

The Tawny Frogmouth (Podargus strigides)
is on the IUCN Redlist for Threatened Species as “least concern“

Photo of the Day: Numbat

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Numbat

Numbat by Aussie Matt, details below

Like so many Australian animals, this sweet little guy is a marsupial, meaning their young are born relatively undeveloped and are raised in a pouch.  Numbats live on a diet of termites, and have a long sticky tongue especially adapted for this.

The Numbat is under threat from habitat loss through land clearing and fire, and are killed by introduced predators such as feral foxes and cats.

It is estimated that there are fewer than 1,000 Numbats alive today.

The Numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus)
is on the IUCN Red List for Threatened Species as “endangered“
Population trend: decreasing

(Photo by “Aussie Matt” used under a Creative Common licence)

Nona’s story: a young gorilla saved

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The video is shocking.  Out of a squalid hut, a man is carrying a tiny, dark-skinned baby.  The baby is completely naked and is so distressed its little body is rigid and it doesn’t make a sound.  Its eyes are open but it’s completely non-responsive.  I’m not even sure if it’s alive.  I can barely watch – and then suddenly I realise the “baby” is not human, but a tiny gorilla.  And it is alive!

She’s a little girl – Nona – and she was only around 2 months old when her mother was killed by poachers for meat.  Clinging to her mother as baby gorillas do, Nona was shot through the hand when her mother was shot, and was discarded by the hunters and left for dead - too little meat on her tiny body for them to be interested.  At the time she was rescued, she had been left for days without food or water.  But Nona was one of the lucky ones: many baby gorillas in this situation would have been sold into the illegal pet trade.

She was discovered by the manager of a logging concession and Ape Action Africa were called in to help, and the video was recorded during her rescue.

Ape Action Africa’s Director, Rachel Hogan was there at her rescue, and from that point forward, Nona was cared for by either Rachel and the other staff at the facility 24 hours a day for the next few months.  Here, a delicate balance is required: gorilla babies need the care and attention a human baby does but for Nona to grow up as a healthy gorilla adult, it’s vitally important to minimise her time with humans.

Luckily for Nona, another infant gorilla arrived just after Nona, a little boy called Yeba.  Nona was introduced to Yeba, and they soon bonded and started to play like little gorillas should.

After many months of round-the-clock care, Nona fully recovered from her injuries and her traumatic start in life.

She now enjoys her days with other gorillas in Mefou Primate Park in Cameroon, in the care of Ape Action Africa and their team of 40 staff.  Ape Action Africa’s facilities are in the forest so it’s a wonderfully rich and natural environment for the apes.  Nona now lives in a huge enclosure with 10 other gorillas: as natural an environment as possible.  The gorillas sleep in satellite cages so the staff know they’re ok (and to stop them destroying the enclosure’s plants making night nests!) but after they’re fed in the morning, they literally disappear into their own private forest for the day and only come back for food in the evening!

This series of pictures show Nona’s growth from that distraught abandoned infant to a happy, healthy adolescent with a cheeky and confident personality.  She is now 8 years old.

(You can watch the video Nona’s story here)

Nona injured hand

Nona in the early days - her injured hand was where she was shot by the poachers, photo by Ape Action Africa, details below

Nona and Yeba

Nona and Yeba have become fast friends and now play together as young gorillas should, photo by Caroline McLaney, details below

Nona happy and healthy

Nona happy and healthy, photo by Caroline McLaney, details below

Nona

Nona today, photo by Ian Bickerstaff, details below

FSC logo

FSC: The Mark of Responsible Forestry

What Can I Do: Hunting of gorillas and chimps is largely for the illegal bushmeat trade.  The meat isn’t openly seen in restaurants or markets, it’s an underground trade.  But there are ways you can help: logging is a major issue in Cameroon and as loggers build roads deeper and deeper into the forests, the forests (and the gorillas themselves) are opened up to poachers.  So be careful about the source of wood products and look for the FSC label (shown) when you buy, which ensures the products you are buying is only from forests which are managed in an environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable manner.

Caroline McLaney
Chief Executive, Ape Action Africa

Ape Action AfricaApe Action Africa is committed to ape conservation in Africa – protecting Cameroon’s great apes through direct action, including rescuing orphaned gorillas, chimpanzees and monkeys, giving them a safe forest sanctuary home where they can live with their own kind.

Join Ape Action Africa:
web:  www.apeactionafrica.org
facebook: www.facebook.com/ApeActionAfrica
twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/ApeActionAfrica

Photos are from Ape Action Africa, taken at their project in Cameroon
and are used with their kind permission

Photo of the Day: Two Young Gorillas playing

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Two young gorillas, photo by Hjalmar Gislason, details below

Did you know: despite popular portrayal as being aggressive, Gorillas are actually very gentle and highly social animals.

Gorillas have a complex variety of communications, including grunts, coughs and hoots.  Like humans, they also communicate with one another though facial expressions and body postures.

This photo was taken in the wild in Rwanda.

The Eastern Gorilla (Gorilla beringei)
is on the IUCN Red List for Threatened Species as “endangered“
Population trend: decreasing 

(Photo by Hjalmar Gislason used under a Creative Common licence)

10 Things You Might Not Know About Gorilla Conservation

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Emma Hawkins

by Emma Hawkins

1.  Did you know: Gorillas are only found in a few countries in Africa, including Uganda, Rwanda, Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

2.  You probably know that human activity is creating habitat loss through agriculture, logging and animal grazing but did you know that when humans live in forests and draw their resources (fuel, wood and food) from the forest, this also destroys habitat and puts further pressure on the forest.

3.  Only 20% of wild gorillas live inside protected areas.

Gorilla4.  Sadly, the countries where Gorillas are found are not very stable politically. This can cause civil unrest which can cause further problems for the majestic gorillas – of course no-one is going to be concerned about protecting wildlife if their own homes or family or livelihood is under threat.

We’ve already seen this in the DRC, where Eastern Lowland Gorillas have been losing habitat faster than any other Gorilla population

5.  Ecotourism can be hugely beneficial, however it’s important to make sure the positive impact of new financial income and increased education outweighs the negative impact on the local gorilla population and the fragile high-altitude vegetation that they call home.

6.  Gorillas – especially babies and youngsters – are often hunted for private “zoo” collections or the illegal pet trade.

7.  Gorillas are also targeted for the bush meat trade.

Gorilla8.  Poachers have been known to destroy an entire troop, killing the adults to sell for meat and taking the youngsters to sell to the pet trade.

9.  Unfortunately roads established for the logging industry are being used by poachers to gain access to the dense areas of the forest where the Gorillas are found.

10.  The bad news is 3 of the 4 subspecies of Gorilla are still critically endangered, however, there are many people supporting and watching out for our primate relatives and in some areas, gorilla populations are starting to stabilize and even increase.

(All photographs are by Rowena Edwards, and are used here with her permission)

Photo of the Day: Silverback Gorilla

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Silverback Gorilla, photo by Hjalmar Gislason, details below

“Silverback” gorillas are not different species, but mature adult males with a band of silver (grey) hair across their backs.  A large silverback gorilla can weigh up to around 250kg (around 550 lb).

Gorillas live in family groups (called “troops”) consisting of one (or sometimes more) silverback males and between two and ten females and their young.

This photo was taken in the wild in Rwanda.

The Eastern Gorilla (Gorilla beringei)
is on the IUCN Red List for Threatened Species as “endangered“
Population trend: decreasing 

(Photo by Hjalmar Gislason used under a Creative Common licence)

Gorillas: the bad news, the good news and what you can do

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Shufai

"Shufai", 6-year-old male, photo by Ian Bickerstaff, Ape Action Africa

These beautiful animals are under threat.  We all know about climate change, deforestation and habitat loss, but it may surprise you to know that gorillas are still being hunted and eaten: gorilla meat is regarded as a delicacy by many.

Where once it may have been subsistence hunting to feed families, nowadays the trade is not limited to Africa, and is driven by wealthy patrons worldwide who are prepared to pay ridiculous sums for gorilla meat.

Gorilla

"Nona", 8-year-old female, photo by Caroline McLaney, Ape Action Africa

But this week the focus should be on celebrating the life of Dian Fossey, who did so much to conserve these magnificent animals, and to bring an appreciation of their plight to so many of us.

The good news is things are slowly starting to change, and in Uganda and Rwanda, gorillas are seen as an iconic species and locals are working to protect them.  At Ape Action Africa, our dream is for Cameroonians to love their gorillas, and that one day, it will be socially unacceptable to eat them.

FSC logo

FSC: The Mark of Responsible Forestry

What Can I Do: Hunting gorillas and chimps is illegal so the meat isn’t openly seen in restaurants or markets, it’s an underground trade.  But there are ways you can help:  logging is a major issue in Cameroon and as loggers build roads deeper and deeper into the forests, the forests (and the gorillas themselves) are opened up to poachers.  So be careful about the source of wood products and look for the FSC label (shown) when you buy, which ensures the wood you are buying is only from forests which are managed in an environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable manner.

Caroline McLaney
Chief Executive, Ape Action Africa

Ape Action AfricaApe Action Africa is committed to ape conservation in Africa – protecting Cameroon’s great apes through direct action, including rescuing orphaned gorillas, chimpanzees and monkeys, giving them a safe forest sanctuary home where they can live with their own kind.

Join Ape Action Africa:
web:  www.apeactionafrica.org
facebook: www.facebook.com/ApeActionAfrica
twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/ApeActionAfrica

Photos are from Ape Action Africa, taken at their project in Cameroon
and are used with their kind permission