» Listings for October 2020

1. Good news from Spectacled Bear Conservation in Peru

   Posted on 9:00pm Thursday 8th Oct 2020

   I’m very excited by news from Spectacled Bear Conservation who work in Peru. A camera trap has confirmed bear presence in an area known as Pan de Azucar, which means Sugar Loaf in English. Spectacled Bear Conservation has monitored spectacled bears in the dry forest area of northern Peru for 12 years.  They were amazed to see the photo of a bear, because the area is very dry indeed.   The camera was on an arid mountain ridge where water sources are limited and it had been thought that it was too dry for animals to exist there. Image ©Spectacled Bear Conservation After finding the photo, five more camera traps were put up.   Sapote and overo trees were discovered – they are key food sources – and bear scat was also found, which suggests that more than one bear had used the area. This shows the mountain to be a likely place for bears to find food fruits in the summer and possibly even the winter season.  The more signs of bears being in the area the better – it means Spectacled Bear Conservation have more reason to protect the land. What’s more, finding bears in the Sugar Loaf gives the chance to create one big habitat range for them.  This includes two national protected areas, Bosque de Pomac and the Laquipampa Wildlife Refuge. This find comes with better news:  the national park authorities are keen on the idea of linking the park with habitat outside protected areas.   Bears need big areas to roam.  They won’t stop at the park boundary.   And the parks are giving Spectacled Bear Conservation camera traps to put up so that it can monitor bears in Pan de Azucar. Spectacled Bear Conservation is also working with the Peruvian national forestry authority, SERFOR.   The aim is to designate the area as “Habitat Critico” so that key habitats are protected for endangered species – including the spectacled bear! And to think – it all started with a photo! It just shows how important camera traps and long term monitoring are in protecting a species.  Visit Spectacled Bear Conservation’s website Donate to Spectacled Bear Conservation

    

2. Protecting marine sanctuaries on the island of Siquijor in the Philippines

   Posted on 5:00pm Saturday 3rd Oct 2020

   There are some amazing people doing great things for nature and conservation.   On the island of Siquijor in the central Philippines, Women have got together to protect marine sanctuaries from poachers and illegal fishers, even though they only have paddles and kayaks.   They are prepared to risk their lives to protect there are. The waters are full of rich coral reefs and fish diversity – but they are being impacted by both illegal fishing which has impacted on the coral reefs and reduced fish diversity and its abundance, and climate change. This video tells the story of the women.  One woman has been shot at – but she is determined and her efforts resulted in the arrest of the person shooting at her. Watch and be inspired… The video was supported with a grant from the Earth Journalism Network. Source:  Mongabay.com

    

3. Be an Orangutan Guardian during October 2020 and help the Sumatran Orangutan Society protect orangutans!

   Posted on 10:00am Saturday 3rd Oct 2020

   Knowing regular funds are coming in makes a huge difference to wildlife charities.  It can help in all sorts of ways. It can enable the charity to respond to situations demanding urgent action – they don’t have to wait until they have raised the money.  In the case of wildlife conservation, this could enable a charity to rescue an animal (or a group of them) or put a deposit on a piece of land to save it from loggers, or restore it.  It can also help them plan for the future whilst carrying out their current work. The Sumatran Orangutan Society (SOS) are looking for Orangutan Guardians.  What does the Sumatran Orangutan Society do? The society supports high impact frontline projects and also deliver hard-hitting campaigns to ensure a good future for Sumatra’s orangutans, forests and people.  They rescue orangutans, they save forests and so protect their homes, and they work with local communities so that they understand why the forests are important and embrace them in the role of protecting them. Orangutan Guardians are critical because they help SOS do all these things mentioned above. And if you sign up for a monthly donation of £10 or more during October 2020 you will be entered in a draw.  The lucky winner will win a limited edition Lush orangutan soap.  10 winners will be drawn at random and will receive their soap shortly after that. This could be a great way to help save orangutans who currently need all the help they can get. £10 a month could support SOS’s longer-term goals of training local people to become guardians of the forest £20 a month could support SOS’s campaigns to tackle the root causes of deforestation. Swing over to SOS and donate for Orangutans! You could also treat a loved one to something from SOS’s online and rainforest friendly shop

    

4. Please support the #WildlifeRangerChallenge on 3 October 2020

   Posted on 9:00pm Friday 2nd Oct 2020

   Unite to support Africa's wildlife rangers Wildlife rangers throughout Africa are incredibly brave men and women and they all deserve our support and help as they battle to protect wildlife. Unfortunately, they are facing severe cuts in salaries their resources.   This means that their families may be destitute – often some rangers won’t see their families for months – and it also means that wildlife may be helpless against poachers. #ForWildlifeRangers So what do rangers do? Rangers undertake varying responsibilities but overall they may: protect and conserve wildlife, habitats, and ecosystems. counter poaching monitor wildlife manage infrastructure control invasive species oversee burning programs provide environmental education maintain community relations. So what is the Wildlife Ranger Challenge all about? On October 3rd, 88 teams of wildlife protectors are going to compete in a 21 km race through the varied terrain of their patrol regions.  They will carry their typical 25kg backpack and equipment as they go. Their aim is to raise awareness and funds for their colleagues who are dedicated to defending wildlife and supporting local communities.  The Wildlife Ranger Challenge website is the place to go for more information and there are social media streams as well you can follow the event on. Join a global community of wildlife rangers and their supporters who are running, walking and riding around the world #forwildliferangers.  Wildlife are depending on all of us.  Please share the event with #forwildliferangers  It’s not too late to take on the Challenge and to fundraise or donate. You can donate through Just Giving and GoFundMe (the latter is if you’re in the US and want to make a tax deductible donation). Every dollar donated will be matched by the Scheinberg Relief Fund, doubling your generous contribution. Visit the website for the Wildlife Ranger Challenge

5. #SavetheChocó - an Appeal from the World Land Trust

   Posted on 12:00am Thursday 1st Oct 2020

   The World Land Trust is known for its fundraising efforts to rescue vital parts of the natural world.  It works with local conservation groups around the world. Every year it runs a Big Match Fortnight, in which donations are matched.  And this year, the World Land Trust are fundraising for its partner Fundación Jocotoco who protect  vital rainforest.  For the last 2% of Ecuador’s Chocó forests is approaching an extinction cliff. The Big Match Fortnight is running from 1 to 14 October 2020 and it is a great chance to make donations go twice the distance.  There are just 500 brown-headed spider monkeys who are thought to be alive in the wild on the planet.  On one hike, 60 to 70 were counted in the tropical rainforest between the Pacific coast and the Andean peaks – about 15% of the single global population in a day.    It’s not an easy place to work in – rangers have to handle constant downpours, rugged terrain, and slippery ground.  Over 80 years ago, the forest stretched all over Ecuador’s west.  Ecuador has lost 98% of this natural wonder to oil palm plantations and others.   A new plan could mean that such a loss has numbered days.   Jocotoco has a chance to buy and protect 57,000 acres of Chocó forest from one company. The appeal from the World Land Trust will support at least 1,667 acres and other organisations will help fund the total too. The area has the same reptile and amphibian diversity as the Amazon; it’s got the highest plant diversity of the Americas and more bird species in 100 square miles than across all Europe.   25% of its flora and 10% of its fauna is found nowhere else on earth. Logging could destroy the last 2% of this forest.   Support the World Land Trust’s “Saving Ecuador’s Choco Forest” appeal and you can help it last forever. Find out more and donate