Cotton top tamarin of Columbia, South America

  These cute and charming primates are about the size of a squirrel with a shocking tuff of white hair. Due to deforestation and illegal pet trade, the cotton top tamarin is critically endangered in Columbia and numerous efforts are being made to conserve them. One of the biggest conservation dedicated to them is Proyecto titi.

Like many other conservation organizations, Proyecto titi knew that the best way to ensure the cotton top tamarin’s continuing survival is educating the public and ensuring the economic independence of rural communities that live around the forests where the cotton top tamarin lives.

 

Deforestation is one of the many threats to the Cotton top tamarin.

Because the forest is the source income and resources for these communities, the forests surrounding these villages are in danger of being depleted and destroyed. One big resource is wood for fuel. The average family uses 15 logs of wood a day for cooking.

Through trial and error, the people at Proyecto titi built a small cook stove made out of clay called a binde. Traditional bindes are made from termite mounds, but these are difficult to harvest and have the potential of destroying the eco system. Clay was used as a substitute instead.

With the clay bindes, the usage of wood is cut down dramatically. Instead of 15 logs a day, a family uses only 5! Another advantage with the clay bindes is the ability to use other material as fuel, such as corn husks, coconut shells, etc.

Clay bindes. Photo courtesy of Proyecto titi.

 Trying to find other ways of improving the quality of life and enabling economic independence, Proyecto titi works with local villages to put a new spin in something traditional: Eco-mochilas. 

 

Echo mochilas, plastic bag style. Photo courtesy of Proyecto titi

Mochilas are traditional bags made in Columbia. But Eco-mochilas are unique, they are made from recycled plastic bags which women villagers collect from the rainforest, roads, etc. Besides making these bags, the women take the role as teachers as well, educating others about the critically endangered cotton top tamarin and the importance of conserving them and the rainforest.

           

Money made from these bags are given back to the community, enabling the women villagers to continue to educate, support their families and communities, and reducing their dependency on the forest!

So check out and support Proyecto titi and learn more about what they do, how to build your own binde, and Eco-mochilas: Proyecto Titi: Conserving the Cotton-top Tamarin in Columbia

If you have time, do check out this great presentation of Proyecto titi at the Wildlife Conservation Network 2012 expo: http://vimeo.com/55315132

Earth Focus Episode 51 - Shades of Gray- Living with Wolves

Nope, this "Shades of Gray" isn't about passion or romance....it's about the plight of the gray wolves in the United States.

"Shades of Gray: Living With Wolves" is a 27 minute film about the current and future status of gray wolves after they were stripped of their Federal Protection under the Endangered Species Act. This film was done very well and there were good arguments on both sides of the fence: conservationists dedicated to saving these very important keynote species and the farmers whose livelihood depend on their livestock (which the wolves hunt).

A quick recap on the facts and figures presented in the film:

On April 14, 2011, gray wolves lost their Federal Protection under the Endangered Species Act in some Western States in America. Hunters are able to shoot, snare, and trap wolves in Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana.

Over 1,000 wolves were killed in the Northern Rockies since they lost Federal Protection in 2011.

Hunting quotas in Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming are set to reduce the wolf population from 1,650 to 300.

Wolves were hunted to almost extinction until Congress enacted the Endangered Species Act in 1973.

Cattle ranchers and farmers with livestock are the ones that suffer most from predators such as wolves. With each livestock killed, farmers are loosing money and retaliate by killing wolves and other predators.This enforces the present issue of predator and livestock conflict.


But with groups like Predator Friendly, an organization dedicated to humane practices and wildlife stewardship developed between ranchers and conservationists, they are able to lower the incidents of livestock killings caused by wolves and other predators such as bears and mountain lions. They do this by enforcing certain practices such as:

1. Pasture management strategies.
2. Utilizing guardian animals such as dogs and llamas to watch and protect livestock (although Llamas might look a bit goofy/adorable, they are great protectors!).
3. Vigilant observation and monitor of wolves and other predators, thereby alerting ranchers and farmers when wolves and other predators are within their vicinity.

So definitely check this film out and help support gray wolves:
Earth Focus Episode 51: Shades of Gray...Living With Wolves

And when you're done, check out Predator Friendly and support their mission!
Predator Friendly

And when you're done with that, check out Defenders of Wildlife, an organization dedicated to the protection of native animals and plants in their natural habitats.
Defenders of Wildlife

Saiga antelope

I had the honor of seeing Elena Bykova’s presentation on the saiga antelope at the 2012 Wildlife Conservation Network Expo held in San Francisco. Prior to this, I had no idea what was a saiga. When I saw a picture of them through WCN’s website I was struck by their odd looking nose.

            Intrigued, I read more about them and was shocked to hear their numbers dwindled by 96% in the past ten years. It is the fastest decline ever recorded in a mammal species.

Naturally, her presentation about saiga was one that I had to see. What struck me about Elena was that she was extremely compassionate and passionate about her country’s native saiga.

            Elena has a lot of challenges in the fight for the saigas and I hope the population may stabilize in the future. In May 2010, 12,000 saigas were found dead from a deadly disease. Most were females who had recently given birth, and both mother and calve perished. In 2012, another 1,000 saigas were found dead in May as well. It’s numbers like these that can be disheartening and hopeless.

Other hardships include the gas pipeline that is being built right through their migratory route and the massive fence border between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. These are all hindering saiga’s main migratory route. With these blockades, they are exposed to the dangers of poachers. Male saigas are especially in danger, since their horns are poached for traditional medicine.

While there are a lot of challenges, there is still hope. A new nature reserve will be designated within saiga population in Kazakhstan. The new reserve, Altyn Dala, will be over 500,000 hectares, roughly 1,931 square miles, of steppe habitat, sandy areas, and wetlands. This area is very important for the saigas as this is where they raise their young.

            In addition, the fate of the saiga antelope is in the hands of future generations. Saiga Day is held in April and celebrated in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Russia. Hundreds of children participate in events educating them about saigas and what they can do to help.

Some quick facts about these unique looking creatures:

The saigas live in the steppe and semi-desert of Central Asia and Russian, specifically: Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russia, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

Their unusual and almost comedic shaped nose is believed to filter out dust particles during their summer migrations and to warm cold winter air before it reaches their lungs.

The saiga’s lifespan is an average of 6-10 years. This is another reason why it’s hard for the population to stabilize.

They live in a herd consisting of 30-40 saigas, but during migration tens of thousands travel together.

They migrate in the summer and winter.

Saigas can run up to 80 km per hour (50-55 miles per hour).

They are about the size of a goat or sheep, around 28 inches (or 70 cm).

Saigas are herbivores, eating grass, herbs, and shrubs found at the steppes.

What you can do about the Saiga:

The best way is to spread awareness. Tell your friends, co-workers, and family about their plight and visit the Saiga Conservation Alliance website to learn more about the Saiga antelope and what you can do to help. Their Saiga Spotlight newsletter is a great read.

http://www.saiga-conservation.com/

Another useful site to learn more about earth’s wildlife is Arkive.org.

Check out Saiga Conservation Alliance's page on WCN Wildlife Conservation Network: http://wildlifeconservationnetwork.org/