Natural Environment Blog

The Bald Eagle is one of the many endangered species to inhabit Hatchineha Ranch, which has been protected by The Nature Conservancy and Hatchineha Ranch LLC. Photo: Paul Resh..

The Nature Conservancy and Hatchineha Ranch LLC just announced that they have protected a 5,134 acre “evironmental jewel” in Central Florida in the United States. 

Hatchineha Ranch, 65 miles east of Tampa and 40 miles south of Orlando, is located within one of the highest concentrations of threatened and endangered plant and animal species in the United States.

The site had been proposed for “Hatchineha Lakes” - a development that, if approved, would have included 5,200 homes and apartments, a small commercial development and an 18-hole golf course. 

Now the land will be restored and preserved.

“This acquisition not only preserves an outstanding natural landscape from development, it connects a complex of conservation lands critical for protection of the headwaters of the Kissimmee River and the Everglades basin,” said Jeff Danter, The Nature Conservancy’s state director.

“We are grateful to the owner for helping us to implement our primary strategy for the northern Everglades, which is to protect natural landscapes with high biological diversity and opportunities for hydrological restoration.”

The Deal

The deal, which has been in negotiation for the past couple of months, has been labelled “a pretty creative deal” by Ernie Cox, Hatchineha Lakes representative. 

As part of the deal, Hatchineha Ranch LLC donated 1,130 acres of the ranch to the Conservancy and the Conservancy purchased a partial interest in the remaining 4,004 acres.

The Nature Conservancy explains that, as tenants in common, the Conservancy and Hatchineha Ranch LLC will jointly pursue multiple strategies for long-term conservation, including wetlands mitigation, conservation banking for imperiled species, and the sale of lands to government agencies as additions to adjacent public holdings.

Cox hopes the deal will provide an example for other landowners.

“If we can monetize restoration efforts, it will offer a stronger incentive,” he said.

Past Conservation Attempts

This is not the first time protection has been sought on the land. The Polk County Board of Commissioners and the South Florida Water Management District have been trying for years to purchase the land for preservation.

“This is fantastic news for environmental lands preservation in Polk County,” said Jeff Spence, Polk County Natural Resources Division director. “Due to its key location, outstanding beauty and great diversity, the county had targeted this particular piece of property for preservation more than 15 years ago. Several past attempts to acquire it were unsuccessful.”

Steve Morrison, who grew up on the Lake Wales Ridge and manages The Nature Conservancy’s Tiger Creek Preserve shares this sentiment.

“This is such great news. I’ve had my heart broken by that place so many times,” he said.

“We’ve tried for so many years to get it into conservation, and every time it would sell again for more money, I would think, ‘There it goes’.”

Numerous Restoration Opportunities

The Nature Conservancy says there are numerous opportunities for habitat restoration including:

• the restoration of cutthroat grass seeps, an imperiled natural community that has been affected by ditching for agricultural purposes 
• the restoration of Catfish Creek, a historical tributary of the Kissimmee River which was diverted decades ago for the creation of pasture and sod farming

Among the endangered species that inhabit the site include the Bald Eagle, Florida scrub-jay, sand skink, crested caracara, gopher tortoise and southeastern kestrel. Also, the Florida panther has been said to use the land at some point. 

Jeff Danter labelled the purchase as “one of the most significant acquisitions in the Florida chapter’s history,”.

Tuna is at risk of extinction following ICCAT's decision to ignore advice from its own scientists, say conservation groups.

A decision by an international organization charged with protecting tuna has been slammed by conservation groups for doing the exact opposite.

The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), a fishery organization responsible for the conservation of tunas and tuna-like species, recently implemented a catch quota as much as 60% higher than its own scientists had recommended.

ICCAT’s own scientists had recommended a total allowable catch (TAC) of 8,500 to 15,000 tonnes per year. ICCAT ignored this advice and opted for a TAC of 22,000 for 2009.

The catch quota essentially places a restriction on how much the tuna industry is allowed to catch. Without a strict quota, tuna, known for fetching high prices, would almost certainly become extinct.

Obviously, the extinction of tuna would lead to the collapse of the tuna industry so, any ICCAT decision has a direct impact on the future of tuna fisheries, as well as the survival of the species itself.

Greenpeace’s Response

Greenpeace says ICCAT has lived up to it’s reputation as an “international disgrace” and has labelled the decision as “Shameless. Disastrous.” 

It says that this year’s annual meeting in Marrakech “looked more like a bazaar, in which buyers haggled over the last remaining tuna, than an international meeting”.

Greenpeace blames the decision on the European Union.

The European Union, representing the majority of Mediterranean countries with interests in the bluefin tuna fishery,  bullied other parties in the meeting into agreeing to management proposals which completely fail to follow the advice of ICCAT’s own scientific body to substantially reduce fishing and protect the species’ spawning grounds.

“The game is over – ICCAT has missed its last chance to save the bluefin tuna from stock collapse,” said Sebastian Losada, Greenpeace Spain Oceans Campaigner, who attended the Marrakech meeting. “Bluefin tuna has become an endangered species because of ICCAT mismanagement. It’s time to take the fishery out of their hands and look to Conventions like CITES to impose trade restrictions on the species.”

“These past seven days have demonstrated that ICCAT is a farce,” Losada concluded.

Further, Greenpeace has demanded a closure of the fishery until a proper recovery plan is in place. In particular, Greenpeace wants to see:

• a Total Allowed Catch (TAC) in line with the scientific advice
• a seasonal closure covering the months of May, June and July
• the establishment of marine reserves to protect the bluefin tuna spawning grounds

WWF’s Response

WWF has labelled the decision “a disgrace”.

“This is not a decision, it is a disgrace which leaves WWF little choice but to look elsewhere to save this fishery from itself,” said Dr Sergi Tudela, head of WWF Mediterranean’s fisheries programme.

“Any alternative is preferable to an organization which boasts of its respect for science but where in a decade catches have gone from twice to four times the scientific recommendations, with massive legal and illegal overfishing. It is clear that the only thing to slow the fishery with ICCAT at the helm is running out of fish.”

As with Greenpeace, WWF has been pushing for a suspension in the tuna fishery. This option has also been endorsed by the recent World Conservation Congress and recommended by ICCAT’s own internal high-level review. 

WWF has also been pushing for more protection of bluefin tuna.

“WWF will also actively push for a listing under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in the hope that stringent trade controls tied explicitly to the survival of the species will turn around the half-hearted attempt at fisheries management shown here by ICCAT and especially its European contingent.” says Dr Tudela.

An Ongoing Problem

This is not the first time ICCAT has ignored advice from its own scientists.

In 2006, ICCAT set a TAC of 29,500 tonnes, despite its own scientists recommending a sustainable limit of 15,000 tonnes. Since then, ICCAT’s scientists estimate that actual tuna catches in 2007 were 61,000 tonnes.

Following the concerns of the international community, ICCAT appointed a panel to conduct an independent review of ICCAT [PDF document].

The panel had the following to say about ICCAT’s performance:

• Fundamentally ICCAT’s performance to date does not meet its objectives for several of the species under its purview.
• ICCAT’s failure to meet its objectives is due in large part to the lack of compliance by many of its CPCs.
• CPCs have consistently failed to provide timely and accurate data and to implement monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) arrangements on nationals and national companies.
• The judgement of the international community will be based largely on how ICCAT manages fisheries on bluefin tuna (BFT). ICCAT CPCs’ performance in managing fisheries on bluefin tuna particularly in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea is widely regarded as an international disgrace and the international community which has entrusted the management of this iconic species to ICCAT deserve better performance from ICCAT than it has received to date.
• There are concerns about transparency within ICCAT both in decision making and in resource allocation. 
• Most of the problems and challenges ICCAT faces would be simple to fix if CPCs developed the political will to fully implement and adhere to the letter and spirit of the rules and recommendations of ICCAT.

The review found that ICCAT has failed to meet its objectives, but blames this on its members (CPCs).

A simple reading of the state of the stocks under ICCAT’s purview would suggest that ICCAT has failed in its mandate as a number of these key fish stocks are well below MSY. However, the Panel is of the view that rather than ICCAT failing in its mandate it is ICCAT that has been failed by its members (CPCs).

The review concluded that the members’ attitudes need to change.

…the problems of ICCAT would be readily fixed or considerably improved if CPCs changed their attitude towards implementation of and adherence to the rules and recommendations of ICCAT and the adoption of robust Monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) processes.

The newly described Typhlops tycherus is the largest blind snake in Mesoamerica. Photo: Josiah Townsend.

A blind snake previously unknown to science has been discovered in Honduras and described in the latest edition of the Zootaxa journal. 

The new species, called Typhlops tycherus, was found dead at the side of the road in February this year.

The snake was found in the Zona de Amortiguamiento (buffer zone) of Parque Nacional Montaña de Santa Bárbara, Departamento de Santa Bárbara, Honduras.

At a total length of 371 mm, the Typhlops tycherus is the largest blind snake in Mesoamerica.

According to the authors, other factors that differentiate this snake from other Mesoamerican Typhlops is that it has 22–22–22 scales around the body and it has a dark brownish gray dorsum with a well-defined pale yellowish gray to immaculate white ventral coloration.

The snake was described by Josiah Townsend, Larry Wilson, Lorraine Ketzler, and Ileara Luque-Montes.

Rescuers help a beached pilot whale in Tasmania, Australia. Photo: Tasmanian Department of Primary Industry and Water.

Australian volunteers have helped save 11 pilot whales from death in a mass stranding on a beach in Tasmania, Australia.

Around 60 volunteers joined 15 government officers to keep the beached whales alive while transporting them to a nearby beach with deeper water. 

The whales were found stranded on Saturday at Anthony’s Beach, near Stanley on the north-west coast of Tasmania, Australia.

53 Whales Died

In total, 64 mothers and calves were stranded, but only 12 were alive when they were found.

The rescuers spent the night keeping the remaining whales from overheating by splashing water over them. Out of the 12 remaining whales, one died while being returned to the water at Godfreys Beach, around 17 kilometers away. 

An Outstanding Effort

While 11 surviving whales vs 53 dead whales might not sound like an outstanding success, whale rescue efforts are known for their low success rates. Many efforts fail to save even one beached whale.   

“The efforts of the volunteers and the Circular Head community has been outstanding.” said Parks and Wildlife Services manager Chris Arthur, who co-ordinated the rescue effort.

“They gave up a weekend. People got sunburnt. People got engaged with these animals,” he said.

“We used specially built car trailers, which we were able to put up to two whales in each. And we transported those animals 17 kilometres (11 miles) to Godfrey’s Beach,” Arthur said.

Satellite Tracking

Before the whales were released back into the sea, the team attached satellite trackers to their dorsel fins. This will help the team keep track of the whales’ progress.

The satellite trackers can transmit the whales’ location to a datacenter in France. The team is then able to access that information from Australia.  

Great Progress So Far

According to data received from the satellite this morning, the whales’ progress looks good so far. Information from the satellite showed that the whales were swimming east across Bass Strait.

“Even though we released the whales because of the weather conditions over about a three-hour period, it [the satellite data] told us that those whales did regroup at sea.” said Rosemary Gales, a scientist involved in the rescue effort.

“We can’t keep track of the whales in the boats when they power off and they disappear into the distance but we now know from the satellite information that they did regroup and they have been travelling together as a pod - which is absolutely fantastic news because it does make us think that the rescue was a success.” she continued.

Mystery

Whale beachings occur periodically across Australia and New Zealand. The reason why whales beach themselves remains a mystery. Some scientists believe that it’s due to acoustic smog - human made noise that can disorientate whales and other marine life.

If you entered the previous photo competition from The Nature Conservancy you’ll probably be interested in the next challenge. 

The next/(current) challenge is: Oceans & Seas

If you don’t know what this photo competition is about, here’s how The Nature Conservancy explains it:

Do you have a favorite photo of the natural world? We’d love to see it. Every quarter we’ll provide a topic to inspire you. If you’re up for the challenge, gear up and head out to capture the perfect photograph — or simply search your archives for a suitable submission.

Each quarter, the editors’ top picks will be published in the magazine and featured in an online slideshow at nature.org/magazine.

The deadline for the current challenge is 11 December. All you need to do is upload your photo/s to The Nature Conservancy’s Flickr page.

To learn more, check out The Nature Conservancy’s photo competition page or go straight to their Flickr page.

This dolphin is a new species of bottlenose dolphin, which was discovered off the coast of Australia. Photo: Kerstin Bilgmann.

Scientists have discovered a new species of bottlenose dolphin swimming in the southern waters of Australia.

Researchers from the Macquarie and Monash university made the discovery while collecting genetic samples from what they thought were coastal bottlenose dolphins. After DNA testing 200 dolphins, they realized that these weren’t coastal bottlenose dolphins after all. 

“They look alike but they are genetically quite different,” said Luciana Moller, of Macquarie University. ”We were surprised.”

The discovery, which was reported in Molecular Phylogenetics And Evolution, is quite significant. It’s not often that a new species of large mammal is discovered.

“Large mammals are not discovered very often. It shows we still have a lot to learn about how many marine species are out there.” said Dr Moller.

Special Protection

Dr Moller believes the new dolphin species will need protection because of its limited range.

“Due to their coastal habitat, these dolphins are also more likely to face threats such as pollution, overfishing and entanglement in nets” she said.

Previously Known Bottlenose Dolphin Species

Until now, only two species of bottlenose dolphins were known. These are:

• Common Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), also known as the Bottle-nosed Dolphin, Bottlenose Dolphin, Bottlenosed Dolphin. Lives in most tropical to temperate oceans. Its colour is grey, with the shade of grey varying among populations; can be bluish-grey, brownish-grey, or even nearly black; often darker on the back from the rostrum to behind the dorsal fin.
• Indo-pacific Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops aduncus), also known as the Indian Ocean Bottlenose Dolphin. Lives in the waters around India, northern Australia, South China, the Red Sea, and the eastern coast of Africa; back is dark-grey and belly is lighter grey or nearly white with grey spots.

The following dolphins are sometimes recognized as a subspecies of the T. truncatus:

• Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin (T. gillii or T. truncatus gillii), living in the Pacific; has a black line from the eye to the forehead
• Black Sea Bottlenose Dolphin (T. truncatus ponticus), living in the Black Sea.

The Researchers

The Macquarie University researchers are from the Marine Mammal Research Group, Graduate School of the Environment, and the Molecular Ecology Lab, Department of Biological Sciences.

The Monash University researchers are from the Centre for Environmental Stress and Adaptation Research (CESAR) and Australian Centre for Biodiversity: Analysis, Policy and Management, School of Biological Sciences.

The pygmy tarsier, a cute little primate that resembles a miniature furby, has been rediscovered after almost 80 years. Photo: Sharon Gursky-Doyen/Texas A&M University.

Scientists have discovered three specimens of a tiny primate believed by some to be extinct.

The pocket-sized creature, which has a scientific name of Tarsius pumilus, is commonly known as the Pygmy Tarsier, Mountain Tarsier, Lesser Spectral Tarsier, and Sulawesi Mountain Tarsier. 

Until recently, some scientists believed that the pygmy tarsier was extinct, as no live specimen had  been seen since 1930. In 2000, two Indonesian scientists trapped and accidentally killed a pygmy tarsier on Mt. Rore Katimbo in Lore Lindu National Park in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia.

That incident prompted a new search for the furby-like creatures, which resulted in the recent find - two males and one female.

The research team promptly placed radio collars on the animals for tracking. Unfortunately, since then, the female tarsier has been eaten by a hawk.

Pygmy tarsiers are known for their uncanny ability to turn their head 180 degrees. This made the research team’s more difficult when it came to placing the radio collars on the animals.

“I have the dubious honor of being the only person in the world to have been bitten by [a pygmy tarsier],” said  Sharon Gursky-Doyen of Texas A&M University. 

“My field assistant was holding the tarsier and I was attaching a radio collar around its neck and while I was attaching the radio collar he bit me [on the finger].”

The research was funded by National Geographic Society, Conservation International Primate Action Fund, Primate Conservation Incorporated and Texas A&M University.

Previously, only two live specimens of pygmy tarsier have ever been found. Photo: Sharon Gursky-Doyen/Texas A&M University.

Not much is known about pygmy tarsiers. In fact, the pygmy tarsier is among the least known primates in existence. 

Apart from this recent discovery, only three other specimens have ever been found (only two live specimens). The first live specimen was found in 1916 and the second in 1930. All three specimens are currently in museums.

Future infrastructure projects in Asia could cause conflict between humans and elephants. Photo: Steve Evans, Bangalore, India.

A new report released today by WWF and the World Bank warns that future large-scale infrastructure projects in southern Asia will increase human-elephant conflict.

The projects, which are often internationally funded, are likely to push elephants out of their natural habitat. Elephants are then likely to raid crop fields and break down houses to get at stored crops.

About The Report

The report, entitled Review of Human-Elephant Conflict Mitigation Measures Practised in South Asia, was compiled by WWF-Nepal, the Centre for Conservation and Research Sri Lanka (CCR) and the Nature Conservation Foundation.

It looks at the current methods used by humans to keep elephants away from their homes and farms in the southern parts of Asia. The report also looks at the positives and negatives of these methods.  

The report found that some methods, such as making loud noises, are only effective to a certain extent. Elephants typically learn that these loud humans are nothing to be afraid of and therefore continue to raid their homes and crops. 

New Strategy Urgently Needed

Because of the limited effectiveness of the many current approaches to elephant conflict, WWF says that a strategy that explains the most effective ways to mitigate the conflict is urgently needed.

“Most mitigation measures currently being used are just akin to bandaging the wounds and not treating the root cause,” said Prithiviraj Fernando, chairman of CCR-Sri Lanka. “Good land-use planning that takes both people and elephant needs into account is the only long-term solution.” 

Human-Elephant Conflict Is Expensive

WWF says that human-elephant conflict also costs money. In some countries the damage bill could be many millions per year. WWF urges investors to consider this issue when planning new developments.

“Billions of dollars lined up for regional and national level infrastructural investments such as the Trans-Asian highway project and various hydro-power and irrigation projects are going to significantly increase human-elephant conflict across Asia,” said Christy Williams, Coordinator of WWF’s Asian elephant and rhino conservation program.

“Banks and investors need to show leadership when it comes to human-elephant conflict by adding mitigation options into their large infrastructure plans in places where elephants are found from the beginning.”

Full Report [PDF, 1.69 MB]

Thousands of people attended Australia Zoo today for Steve Irwin Day - a day for celebrating the life of Steve Irwin, also famously known as the Crocodile Hunter.

The event, which was also streamed live on the Internet, was also an opportunity to raise money for Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors to help continue Steve’s conservation work and the preservation of wildlife. 

All money rasied on the day will go towards whale research equipment. Specifically:

• Satellite Tags $3000 each (24 tags needed)
• Data Recovery $18,000
• Research Vessel $18,000
• Use of research vessel $1500 (per day for 15 days)

Today’s event also marked the opening of the new Australian Wildlife Hospital at Australia Zoo. The hospital, which cost $5 million to build, is expected to treat 6,000 patients per year. Terri Irwin says that the hospital was built in memory of Steve’s mother. 

In the foyer of the new wildlife hospital presents Steve’s words about his mother. 

She was the greatest wildlife rehabilitator in the world, a true pioneer. She was my legend and in my heart she will live forever.

More than 120 local businesses have donated more than $280,000 to The Nature Conservancy this year, in order to help protect and conserve Hawaii’s natural environment.

The donations come as part of the Conservancy’s Corporate Council for the Environment.

The Corporate Council for the Environment was launched in 1987 by The Nature Conservancy to provide an avenue for local companies to help care for the environment.

Since then, more than 120 businesses have contributed more than $3 million dollars to the council, hence helping Hawaii’s natural environment.

Contributions

Companies that donated more than $10,000 each were:

• Alexander & Baldwin 
• Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc.
• Maui Land & Pineapple
• Monsanto Fund
• Outrigger Enterprises
• The Shidler Family Foundation
• Skyline Eco-Adventures

Other significant contriubtions came from:

• ABC Stores
• AES Hawai‘i
• Atlantis Submarines
• Bank of Hawai‘i
• Blue Planet Software
• Dowling Company
• First Hawaiian Bank
• Hula Grill
• First Insurance Company of Hawai‘i
• Goodfellow Brothers
• Haleakalā Ranch Company
• Kūki‘o
• Macy’s West

“We are very grateful to our local companies for their continued generous support,” said Suzanne Case, The Conservancy’s Hawai‘i Executive Director. “In uncertain economic times, protecting the environment can get deferred, but these companies know that in Hawai‘i the economy is the environment. Their vision and commitment helps us ensure a sustainable Hawai‘i – for us and for our children.”

The Nature Conservancy in Hawaii

The Nature Conservancy has been protecting native habitats and ecosystems in Hawaii for the past 28 years. It currently protects 40,000 acres of critical habitat across Hawaii. 

During that time, the Conservancy has extended it’s work from just protecting forests, to also protecting the coral reefs and marine life.

According to The Nature Conservancy, nearly one quarter of the plants and animals on the U.S. Endangered Species List are from Hawai‘i. Furthermore, more than half of the Islands’ original native habitat has already been lost

The Corporate Council for the Environment has enabled local businesses to assist The Nature Conservancy in taking their conservation efforts to the next level.