Mammal Monday -- Photo Ark

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I was checking out my instagram feed the other day and saw Joel Sartore's post about Tasmanian devils, which I wrote about back in May.  These endangered mammals were featured on Sartore's page, Photo Ark, and are threatened by a cancer called Devil Facial Tumor Disease (DTFD).  The Save the Tasmanian Devil Program is working to conserve these incredible little carnivores (they actually eat their ENTIRE prey, bones and all).  To help, visit the program's website.

If you love wildlife and haven't seen Photo Ark, you should definitely check it out.  Sartore has spent the last 25 years trying to document every species in human care, to photograph species before they disappear, and to get people to care about these species.  I was lucky enough to see his Photo Ark exhibit at the National Geographic in Washington DC, and you can see the photos in his book. Here's a look at a day at the office for the Photo Ark crew:

A Life Well Lived

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Today's Sunday TODAY included a really nice tribute to Lincoln Brower, the scientist who studied and taught all of us about monarch butterflies and their incredible annual migration.  If you plant milkweed in your garden, you can thank Lincoln Brower for helping to encourage protection of these beautiful insects.  Take a few minutes to watch this tribute and celebrate a life well lived.

Changes to the ESA

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Over the past couple of weeks, we've seen some proposed changes to the Endangered Species Act from Congress and the Executive Branch. Conservation organizations are fighting many of the proposed changes, while oil and gas, ranching, and private land rights groups see these proposals as progress. One of the big changes will allow economic impacts to be considered when deciding whether to list a species as endangered -- current regulations say that economic impacts can be considered when deciding management, but not when considering the initial listing.  The current process allows science to be the basis of listing decisions, and should not be changed.

There is a middle ground -- it's in the proposals from the folks who are focusing on species recovery.  These groups think we should better fund recovery efforts and try new and creative partnerships that prevent the regulatory enforcement (the "hammer") of the Endangered Species Act.  We saw this in some of the 4(d) rulings passed under the Obama administration, such as the exemption for the greater sage grouse.  If you'd like to learn more about this issue, so that you can contact your elected officials during the current comment period, start by listening to this NPR On Point program regarding the new proposals.  The accompanying reading list is a great place to learn more about the ESA.

Is this really sportsmanship?

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I don't hunt.  I don't have any desire to try hunting.  In fact, I don't even understand why someone might find hunting enjoyable.  That said, I know that many people enjoy hunting, and that hunters have significantly contributed to conservation in the U.S. (check out the valuable conservation work done by Ducks Unlimited).  Conservationists often work with hunters to preserve habitat, because hunters have the desire and expertise that makes them great teammates on conservation projects.

Unfortunately, today's political climate (and yes, I'll say it -- lead by and encouraged by our President) separates people who might be able to work toward common goals.  The latest example is the new policy on hunting in Alaska which goes against the opinions of scientists and land/wildlife managers to allow unethical measures to hunt bears and wolves on Federal land.  These practices are not only unsportsmanlike, they will damage the Alaskan ecosystem upon which these and other species rely.  Two conservationists and hunters, Dan Ashe (former director of US FWS) and Jon Jarvis (former director of NPS) recently outlined the problems with the proposed program.  I hope you'll read their piece and contact your elected leaders.

Mammal Monday -- rhinos

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We've celebrated rhinos before on Mammal Monday, but today I realized we need to take another look.  Last night, CBS Sixty Minutes included a fascinating report about black rhino relocations -- why conservation experts feel it's necessary and why it's so difficult.  Here's a little clip on the background which causes these veterinarians think these relocations are necessary:

But this process isn't easy or risk-free.  Just last week, the Washington Post reported on the death of 8 endangered black rhinos that died after relocation to a sanctuary in Kenya.  Relocations of endangered species are not the best solution, but it's sometimes necessary.  The best solution is what conservationists call the "precautionary principle." Basically, we want to prevent harmful actions before they happen, rather than trying to fix disasters afterward.  While relocations are a valuable last-gasp effort, the ultimate conservation goal is to directly address the threats to rhinos -- habitat loss and poaching.  Want to learn more or help out?  Save the Rhino and World Wildlife Fund are both active in rhino conservation -- check out how you can help!

Mammal Monday -- koalas

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In ecology, we talk about "generalist" species and "specialist" species.  A generalist is a species that is able to eat lots of different foods, can bed down in a variety of different places, and is relatively flexible in its lifestyle strategy.  If a generalist were a human (which we are), she'd be a good travel companion.  On the other hand, the specialists usually won't eat many different types of foods and are very choosy about habitat.  As Billy Crystal said in "When Harry Met Sally", they're "high maintenance."

Koalas are most definitely specialist species.  They're a marsupial that is able to eat eucalyptus leaves, which most animals find toxic.  Thanks to their unique genetics, koalas can produce an enzyme that breaks down the toxins in the leaves.  And although there are about 600 different types of eucalyptus, koalas focus on about 120 of these types of trees.    Koalas have many other unique characteristics, such as very limited genetic diversity.  To learn more about koalas and their evolution, check out this Washington Post article about koalas by Joel Achenbach.

Specialist species are often at greater risk of extinction, simply because they can't easily adjust to environmental changes.  So what's being done to protect koalas?  Check out this video and visit the Australian Koala Foundation website where you can learn about koala protection and help out by donating, planting a tree, or adopting a koala.

Meat-free Friday -- Peach Gazpacho!

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If you’re a gazpacho lover, here’s a fun twist using the fruit that seems to be everywhere this time of year – peaches!


Peach Gazpacho

Ingredients

• 1 28 oz can diced tomatoes
• 3 lbs fresh peaches, pitted and chopped
• 1 cup water
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons white vinegar
• 2 tablespoons tarragon, chopped
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions
1) In a blender, puree the tomatoes, half of the peaches, 1/2 cup water, 1/2 of the onion, 2 tblsp olive oil, 1 tblsp vinegar, 1 tblsp tarragon, salt and pepper. Make sure the mixture is very smooth.
2) Add remaining peaches, water (you may need to add a little more), olive oil, vinegar, onion, and tarragon. Refrigerate for at least two hours.
Enjoy with some bread and a side of your favorite veggies!