Continents across the globe are replete with a vast variety of flora and fauna, which are endemic to these different geographical locations. Africa is no exception as it’s filled with a fascinating array of rich plant and animal species. Let’s take a look at some of these fascinating animals.
Author: Ebere Idiaye
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Collaboration by tech giants, regulators, conservationists vital to intercepting online wildlife trade
Tech giant Facebook on the average attracts about 2.89billion active subscribers who every minute upload hundreds of thousands of statuses, comments and discuss a plethora of subjects that could range from lifestyle to extremist views to the sales of endangered species across continents.
Social media platforms have provided a convenient leverage on which both legal and illegal wildlife traders connect and transact business as never before. While some operate legally within the confines of international laws, others use private chats and groups to bypass middlemen and exchange information on how to evade law enforcement. Both private and public channels alike are used on social media platforms to sell wildlife as pets or luxury artefacts. Traders connect with a vast global customer base via public posts, however arrangements regarding payment, shipping and conversations about other available wildlife can be quickly carried out through private messaging services.
Some social media platforms have adopted strong community regulations that ban any attempt to sell or by endangered wildlife and private sales of live animals. Nevertheless it takes only a few seconds of searching to find posts featuring sales of endangered animals captured from the wild for export in wholesale quantities, which is in clear violation of international laws.
Combating this is of the essence as wildlife trade poses a great threat to global biodiversity and could contribute to the spread of infectious zoonotic diseases.
The journal Conservation Biology recently published a study where the online behaviour of wildlife traders based in West Africa was examined and also an exploration of how researchers and moderators can use information scattered across different parts of social media platforms to detect posts selling wild birds.
Some of the trade studied are allowed under international trade agreements. However its scale and extent of the trade is a source of concern to conservationist. The trade in wild parrots from West Africa has traced to the global spread of infectious diseases.
Data analysis gathered from the study while working with ornithologists, conservationists, and legal analysts revealed about 80 different species in trade some of which are highly threatened and prohibited from commercial trade under international laws. Those species ranged from parrots and hornbills to song birds and doves.
There were about 400 social media posts made by known bird traders featuring birds in trade.
Majority of the posts did not contain clear messages that could be used to ascertain whether the posts were aimed at the sale of wildlife, violating platform community standards.
The application of simple algorithms searching for keywords such as “for sale”, or the names of target species, would help detect some of this activity. But administration in some closed Facebook groups have advised their members to avoid using certain key word algorithms.
The research further found that the triangulation of information available elsewhere both within and beyond social media platforms could be used to make strong inferences about how posts facilitate trade, violate platform standards and signpost illicit activity. Such information may be found in elements such as images, profile pictures or comments. Thus it is necessary that e parts are involved in monitoring social media for potentially illegal trade, they have the knowledge in identifying the species involved and contextualising the activity within international and domestic regulations.
There is no standard procedure for detecting wildlife trade online as different wildlife are bought and sold in different locations online and in different ways let alone illicit or harmful trade.
The study, however, establishes a framework for thinking about how different sectors of illicit or harmful activity can be understood and monitored and moderated more effectively. Careful analyses led by experts in specific fields can help in the design of algorithms and approaches to moderation tailored to the situation.
It is noteworthy that new regulatory legislation is being planned or coming into play in major economies including China, the US, the EU, Australia and the UK, aimed at cajoling and coercing big tech to do more to protect users from harmful content.
Carefully designed algorithms that can intelligently triangulate across multiple data sources will be part of the solution. Manual analysis will also be critical. Knowing which species were in trade and the relevant local legislation is critical for understanding legality.
But such tasks are beyond the abilities of artificial intelligence and machine learning.However collaborations between tech firms and subject matter experts remain in their infancy.
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Rare Tree-Climbing Lion Pride Appear again in Uganda
It’s been six months since six lions were killed and mutilated in the Ishasha section of Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP) Uganda.
These lions popularly know as Ishasha lions have been seen lazing around on the numerous branches of sky high fig trees. This pride of lions is one among the two populations of lions known to be tree climbers thus making these amazing animals captivating subjects for study and a source of tourist attraction. Unfortunately, though these lions face a great number of threats to their lives which include habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, illegal wildlife trade, traffickimg of lion body parts and snaring.
However on account of these threats the number of the Ishasha lions have reduced to only 69 lions; as the threats to these beasts continue to increase, tourism revenues which make up about 8% of Uganda’s gross domestic product before the pandemic are also threatened. In order to provide protection to these population of lions, they have been categorised by the global Red List of threatened species maintained by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as “vulnerable” to extinction. While Uganda’s National list places them in the “critically endangered” category.
Nevertheless, the Ishasha lions have in recent times richly endowed the country with several cubs that now require the collective effort of all to protect them so they may grow to adulthood. According to Bazil Alidria, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Carnivore Officer who regularly monitors the lions, the lion cubs are fortunate to have six other full grown lions in the pride to offer a measure of protection to them. Among these lions are Sultan and Sula (the fathers of the cubs), Jacob (a snare survivour), and three other adolescent brothers who are ready to protect and groom them.
Sadly, knowledge about lion population dynamics and threats in Uganda remains limited. In 2005 and 2008, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) carried out monitoring efforts for the lions in the Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP) and in Uganda’s Murchison Falls National Park (MFNP) using Global Positioning System (GPS) enabled collars.
This work was based on the groundwork previously done by Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) Veterinary Doctor Margaret Driciru (2001) and Ludwig Siefert of the Uganda Carnivore Program. In the 0rocess of monitoring the lions WCS also got rid of snares from the parks that are a threat to this unique animals and worked to curtail human-lion conflicts by constructing Carnivore proof pens to prevent lions from attacking livestock thereby forestalling retaliatory attacks from angry herders.
A study carried out in 2010 by WCS of three National parks involved in lion conservation- Queen Elizabeth NP, Murchison Falls NP, and Kidepo Valley NP- gave an estimate of the lion population to be about 408 individuals.
Although it’s been 10 years since the last census was conducted, the monitoring work carried out by WCS, the Uganda Carnivore Program (UCP) and UWA in the Queen Elizabeth National Park showed lion sightings which implies that the lion population trend is relatively stable, according to Simon Nampindo, WCS Uganda country director. According to a 2021 research commissioned by the WCS indications show that the greatest threat to lions today are human-unduced mortality which include retaliatory attacks by herders for the killing of their livestock, worsened by assumption in Uganda that parts of these lions have medicinal value and the customary beliefs that lion body parts should be kept in homes and shops as a source of power and wealth.
In the 2021 study Nampindo noted that an increased demand for lion body parts by community members, traditional rulers, business people, religious leaders, poachers and cattle herders were the triggers and motivations for lion killings. This therefore calls for a more comprehensive approach to stopping this crime.
The lions also face various challenges to their survival occasioned by climate change and variability which favours the growth and spread of invasive species in most of Uganda’s national parks this thus results in the loss of suitable habitat for both prey and predators. Hence forcing both lions and elephants alike to move outside the parks into communities. Thus influx into the communities has resulted I livestock predation and crop damage, thereby exercebating the human-wildlife conflicts occurring in these areas.
The Wildlife Conservation Society has called upon stakeholders which include local governments, conservation organisations, individuals and even companies in the private sector to join hands to address these threats before their natural heritage is lost.
Inspite of the multifaceted challenges the Ishasha lions remain resilient. The WCS along with the Uganda Wildlife Authority, the private sector and other devoted conservation organisations will continue to monitor the lion populations and remove wire snares and traps to save the lion populations and ensure that the tourism sector thrives.
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FG to Partner with the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) on climate disclosure, data
The Minister for Environment Chief Sharon Ikeazor said at the Digital Closing Gong Ceremony that the Federal Government of Nigeria will continue to collaborate with the Nigerian Exchange Limited to build a framework that will help issuers navigate climate data available to the investment and finance community. The ceremony was hosted by NGX to mark the end of trading for the year 2021.
Chief Ikeazor noted that NGX has played an admirable role in Nigeria’s dedication to alleviate the effects of climate change. She added that climate change is a serious and long term threat to which the country has shown commitment to the the goals of Paris Agreement on Climate Change with its revision of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) pre-COP 26
Ikeazor further stated that “with the step taken immediately after COP26, Nigeria has further demonstrated its commitment towards the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. As part of measures to comply with the National Determined Contributions (NDC) in emissions reduction to climate change in Nigeria, the Federal Government launched the Nigeria Deep Decarbonization Project.” She also mentioned that investors are increasingly working together in response to climate change and added that the Federal Government would continue to engage NGX on climate disclosure and data.
The Minister added saying “I hope there will be a continuous collaboration between NGX and the Federal Ministry of Environment to build a framework that will help issuers navigate climate disclosure, associated engagement with their shareholders, and ultimately improve the climate data available to the investment and finance community. Partnership with NGX will provide investors with important new tools to enable capital reallocation.”
The Chief Executive Officer, NGX, Temi Popoola in welcoming the Minister mentioned that NGX remains resolute in its commitment to promoting sustainable finance because it recognises that urgent action is required to combat climate change and its impact as incorporated in the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and Goal 13 of the Sustainable Development (SDGs).
He further said, “We are committed to fostering the growth of sustainable financial products which integrate the financial risk and opportunities associated with climate change and other environmental challenges. NGX has shown strong commitment to sustainable finance over the years.
In 2016, NGX collaborated with the Ministry of Environment and Debt Management Office (DMO) to deepen the Green Bond market. This effort led to the issuance if the maiden N10.69 billion ($25.8million) 13.48 percent 5 year Green Bond in 2017 to fund projects to develop renewable energy. The second tranche, N15billion ($36.1million) 14.5 percent 7 year Green Bond was issued in June 2019 and was over subscribed.”
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Nigerian Park Ranger Wins The 2021 Wildlife Ranger Award worth £30,000 At The Tusk Conservation Awards
Sulieman Saidu, a Nigerian, emerged winner of the 2021 Tusk Conservation Wildlife Ranger Award worth £30,000.
The award ceremony was held at the BFI Southbank in London The Tusk Conservation Award which was established in 2013 has since then been celebrating African-based Conservation leaders and Wildlife Park Rangers for their significant impact in the field.
A recognition Sulieman Saidu is well deserving of as a Senior Game Guard Ranger at the Yankari National Park whose hard work and tenacity in monitoring elephant population, combating poaching and helping to reduce human-elephant conflict is not only protecting a gravely endangered speices but is also helping to maintain the rich biodiversity of the environment.
The Yankari Game Reserve situated in Bauchi State home to one of the largest remaining elephant populations in West Africa and Nigeria’s richest wildlife site would not be the Park it is today without the Sulieman Sadiu.
The Nick Morgan Foundation the official sponsors of the Tusk Wildlife Ranger Award, believe that recognising the unsung heroes of our time will be a source of motivation to future conservationist leaders. Founder of the Nick Morgan Foundation and Board Member of Tusk, Nick Morgan, said: ” There are times when it is important to single out the work of one individual to serve as an example for others who contribute to conservation, or who might want to contribute to conservation in the future.
He added that Saidu should be rightly recognised for his achievement and should be considered as a true hero of our times, one that richly deserves the Tusk Wildlife Ranger Award for 2021 and that he was proud that the Nick Morgan Foundation is the official sponsor of the Tusk Wildlife Ranger Award and hopes that it will continue to be for many years to come.
Also speaking at the event, the Duke of Cambridge Prince William who presented the awards paid tribute to those risking their lives to protect the threatened speices in Africa.
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Godfather of Biodiversity Thomas Lovejoy Dies at 80
Thomas Lovejoy one among the world’s leading conservation biologist died on Saturday, December 25. Lovejoy had enjoyed a 50 year long career which carried him round the world as a conservation proponent. He was the first to use the term “biodiversity” and also among the world’s foremost experts on biodiversity in the amazon.
Dr Lovejoy served as a University Professor within the Department of Environmental Science and Policy in the Mason’s College of Science in 2010. He also served as a scientific director for Mason’s Institute for a Sustainable Earth.
Thomas Lovejoy was a colossus among world leaders in environmental management. Being also a good and decent person, his loss is devastating to humanity and indeed the planet and he will be sorely missed.
Dr Thomas was both Founder and President of the non-profit Amazon Biodiversity Center and the Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project in the central Amazon (with INPA, Brazil’s National Insitute of Amazon Research).
He served on science and environmental councils under the administration of Presidents Reagan, Bush, and Clinton and as Science Envoy for Presidents Obama and Biden. He was also a Senior Fellow at the United Nation Foundation.
As an international climate scientist of high esteem, Professor Lovejoy focused on the critical importance of sustainability, he also made many consequential contributions to our understanding of climate change as we know it today and employed a cross disciplinary approach to finding solutions to the greatest and grandest challenges to our era.
In April 2021 Dr Lovejoy joined an elite group of scholars recognised for their contributions to Science and research upon his induction into the National Academy of Sciences. Also in 2019 he was named one of Virginia’s Outstanding Scientists, honouring him for his globally significant contributions to the field of science.
For many decades Lovejoy associated with the National Geographic Society, since receiving his first grant to study the ecology of rainforest birds in the Amazon in 1971. He also served as a member of the society’s Committee for Research and Exploration, Ocean Restoration Advisory Council; he chaired the Big Cats Initiatives Grants Committee and the Advisory Committee of the Great Energy Challenge; also as a scientific advisor to the Society’s Chief Scientist and its Perpetual Planet Expeditions.
“To know Tom was to know and extraordinary scientist, Professor, advisor, and an unyielding champion for our plantet” said Jill Tiefenthaler, Chief Executive Officer of National Geographic in an online statement. He further added that Dr Thomson was a consummate connector, helping bring people and organisations together to preserve and protect some of our most fragile ecosystem and cornerstone speices”
In 2019, he was selected as a National Geographic Explorer at Large, a title he held until his demise. -
‘WeNaturalists’: First-ever global digital ecosystem for nature lovers
WeNaturalists, an online platform is innovating in the nature conservation space.
The online platform provides a mobile and web application interface for people and organizations associated with nature with the aim of bringing together the organizations and professionals who work passionately for the betterment of planet.
Founded by entrepreneur and nature enthusiast Amit Banka, in 2019, WeNaturalists is geared towards giving a purpose to people’s passion for nature.
“WeNaturalists is the ecosystem that allows you to connect and interact with millions of people from around the world, find job opportunities in nature, manage long-term and short-term projects and much more. It caters to people from varied backgrounds like forest rangers, nature guides, environmentalists, conservationists, climate change specialists, wildlife and nature photographers, researchers, botanists and zoologists, academicians, media professionals, eco-businesses, organizations, institutions, and charities working towards education, conservation and eco-tourism, and many more,” the organisation explained in a statement obtained by ConservationsNG on Tuesday.
“With an easy-to-use interface and custom-made tools, the mobile and web applications have been welcomed by the People of Nature from over 150 countries including Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa, UK, USA, Canada, India since its launch in November 2020.
“Bringing this community together for collective action is the most critical requirement of today, and WeNaturalists is making it a reality.
“WeNaturalists can be distinguished by its vision to be an ecosystem with the potential to become a unified voice for nature, and a catalyst for key decisions and discussions that could determine the future of nature.”The Application
The application is user-friendly and in addition to the common social features, there are many specialized tools like Circles, which is an exclusive invite-only community feature for like-minded people to engage; Explore, which aggregates global nature news in a single place; Projects, which helps in finding jobs or assignments or attending events or trainings; Storybook, where storytellers can catalogue their photos and videos in an interactive format; Experience Showcase, which is a visual timeline of the work done by someone on an assignment in collaboration with multiple people; Causes, where everyone believing in an environmental cause can express opinions, exchange solutions and talk about their work for that cause and many more features like forums, polls, private and public messaging rooms.World People of Nature Day
On the same day, to honor the People of Nature, WeNaturalists introduced People of Nature Awards, which recognized individuals with path-breaking initiatives in climate action from all over the world. In its first edition in 2021, 10 people were awarded.
The mobile application is now available on Google Play Store and Apple Store. -
Panic Erupts in Changi Airport Singapore as Lions Break Free From their Container
History repeated itself in Singapore on Sunday the 12th of December as two full grown lions thought to be part of a pride of seven lions escaped from their container in Changi airport while in transit to some “overseas facility”.
One of them was found laying on its travel crate.
“A stand off ensued” at the Changi Airpot, the Strait Times, newspaper reported. This led to sedating the animals with a tranquilliser gun. They were then taken to the care of the Singapore zoo and are recovering from the effects of being sedated.
Commenting on the need for the lions to be sedated, a representative from the Mandai Wildlife Group which is in charge of managing the Singapore Zoo and which was contacted by the Singapore Airlines (SIA) stated that “the sedation was required in order for the vets to safely transport the big cats to their facility in the North of the state and that all Lions have recovered adequately from the anaesthesia.” “Our veterinary and quarantine teams are closely monitoring the animals, making sure they are comfortabke” they further added
Questions about the circumstances surrounding the shipment of the lions were only met by the response of the spokesperson of the Singapore Airlines (SIA) who restated earlier made comments that the lions “remained secured by the safety netting that was around the container during the entire time”
SIA’s spokesperson also added that “while the incident is being investigated, the immediate priority is the well-being of the lions”. The airline also added that there was no disruption to its operations. Nevertheless there were no clarifications as to where the carnivores were coming from or where their destination was.
Singapore is known to be a major conveyance point for wildlife trafficking in Southeast Asia consequently its being named by the global wildlife trade monitoring network TRAFFIC as being one of the world’s top ten illegal smuggling axis.
As far apart and rare as the incidents have being, Singapore tends to have a record of exotic animals breaking free from their various enclosures. In 2004 Ramba the chimpanzee drowned in the Upper Seletar Reservoir after escaping from its cage in the Singapore zoo.
In 2005 about 500 visitors were evacuated from the zoo after Angel, a jaguar escaped through its feeding tube. It was however sedated and recaptured half an hour later. In the same year an African Wild Cat strayed off the stage at the Night Safari during an animal show.
Ms Lin from Beijing was attacked by the wild cat, leaving her with a bleeding and swollen right foot.
2014 saw an African Wild Dog escaping from its confines which lead to a temporary closure of the zoo’s front entrance while the zookeepers hunted down the Wild Dog half an hour later.One of the lions was found in its crate after two of them escaped at the Singapore airport