wildlife conservation – envirobites

Friday, April 19, 2024

Boredom Will Be the Death of Me: The Power of Animal Enrichment in Big Cat Conservation

April 1, 2024April 1, 2024 Andrea Valcarcel 0 Comments animal behavior, animal enrichment, behavior, carnivora, conservation biology, wildlife conservation

Zoos and rehabilitation centers play vital roles in big cat conservation efforts, serving as research centers and rescue facilities that contribute to both captive and wild conservation strategies. Animal enrichment is integral to the daily care of captive animals, stimulating cognitive abilities, encouraging natural behaviors, and enhancing overall welfare, thus aiding in conservation efforts. A recent study evaluated biological factors such as sociality and body weight, as well as husbandry factors like group size and enrichment provision, in relation to zoo animal welfare indicators such as playtime and engagement with the environment. The study found that animal enrichment, rather than biological factors, significantly reduces stereotypical anxious behavior, increases activity, and promotes interaction with the environment, thereby enhancing the animals’ quality of life.

Animal behavior Case Studies Ecosystems Environmental Science

How Many Ways Can You Count Wolves?

November 10, 2022November 9, 2022 Lauren Otolski 0 Comments endangered species, wildlife conservation, wolves

Although radio-collaring is often used to monitor wolf populations, scientists are turning their attention towards methods that do not require live-capture of animals. What are some of these options, and how do they stack up against radio-collaring?

Animal behavior Cities Environmental Science Human Exposure and Public Health

Cat-agorizing Cat Owners to Reduce Environmental Harm caused by Domestic House Cats

January 6, 2021February 16, 2023 Brianne Palmer 0 Comments Cats, humans and wildlife, invasive species, Sociology, wildlife conservation

According to conservationists, domestic cats belong indoors for their safety and the safety of other animals. But, some cat owners disagree, causing rifts between pro-outdoor and pro-indoor cat parents. In a new study, researchers interviewed cat owners across the United Kingdom and cat-agorized cat owners into six distinct groups. Depending on the cat owner’s views , conservationists may have a larger impact if they target their message towards the emotional connection owners have with their feline friends.

Case Studies

There Are More Tigers in the USA Than in the Wild. Should We Really Be the Tiger King of the World?

May 6, 2020May 8, 2020 Ashley Riane Booth 0 Comments captive breeding, Cats, endangered species, endangered species act, policy, regulations, tiger, tiger king, wildlife, wildlife conservation, wildlife trade

Tiger King may not be on Netflix’s Top 10 anymore, but that doesn’t mean issues with the tiger trade in the United States have gone away.

Environmental Science

Moving Closer to Plenty Of Fish In The Sea: Gradual Recovery Of A Critically Endangered Fish Species

January 24, 2020January 24, 2020 Munim Deen 0 Comments caribbean, conservation practices, fish, marine conservation, spawn, wildlife conservation

The Nassau grouper has long been critically endangered due to overfishing throughout its Caribbean range. The Cayman Islands government instituted a comprehensive program to boost Nassau grouper numbers, and partnered with scientists and conservation organizations in a project to monitor the grouper population. Over the fifteen year program, the fish population has increased. The program and project provide successful models for marine conservation partnerships.

Environmental Science

Recycling Old Cell Phones to Benefit Gorillas

March 26, 2019March 26, 2019 Katelyn Szura 0 Comments recycling, Technology, wildlife conservation

Do you have an old cell phone at home that is simply sitting in a drawer collecting dust? In fact, roughly eighty percent of us do. While there are many reasons we may feel the need to hang onto our relic devices, there are important reasons to recycle them. One reason is our phones contain valuable materials that are finite in nature. As we continue to mine for these materials, we lose habitat and endanger wildlife. One program in Australia worked to collect cell phones over a six year period, highlighting the importance of recycling efforts while bringing awareness to how recycling can help species, like gorillas, to survive.