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Tattoo by Gareth Putter

Although white rhinos are the most plentiful of the five rhino species today, they haven’t always been. In fact, they were even considered extinct until 1895, when a small population of less than 100 was found in South Africa. A century of intense conservation efforts was able to bring the species back from the brink of extinction. Now listed as ‘Near Threatened’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, white rhinos are once again facing uncertain future.

Numbering around 17,000 individuals today, their population is quickly dwindling. Hundreds were poached in 2010, highlighting an exponentially increasing trend that has been observed over the last few years. They are killed for one reason only: their highly valuable horn. The demand for their horn comes almost exclusively from Asia–especially from China and Vietnam–where it is used in traditional medicine to treat a variety of conditions, even the common cold and devil possession. This practice continues despite scientific studies that have proven the keratinous horn–made of the same substance as our own hair and nails–to be void of any curative properties.

Made up of two subspecies, the Northern and the Southern, the former has been effectively wiped out. Today, only four Northern White Rhinos remain, all of which live in Kenya’s Ol Pejeta Conservancy. The white rhino is especially targeted by poachers because it has the largest horn of all rhino species. The situation is desperate and the outlook is grim. Although these animals are largely confined to “protected areas”, like national parks and reserves, their safety is gravely compromised by this illegal trade.

To learn more, click here. Also, check out 25 rhino-tastic facts here!

See all of these rhino tattoos and more by clicking here.

Remember: Tattoos are forever… and so is extinction. To see all of the FANTASTIC art featured on Bush Warriors Tattoo of the Day, and to learn more about this initiative, please click here. You can also share photos of your own wildlife tattoos and enjoy others’ at our Facebook group, Bush Warriors Inked Nation for Conservation.

Brought to you in partnership with Inked Magazine

Today is World Rhino Day!

Photo credit: Pam Krzyza

The fascinating rhino facts below are brought to you by International Rhino Foundation. Enjoy!

1. A group of rhinos is called a ‘crash’.



A crash of white rhinos! (Photo credit: Laura Cornish)

2. White rhinos aren’t white (and black rhinos aren’t black). The white rhino’s name is taken from the Afrikaans word describing its mouth: ‘weit’, meaning ‘wide’. Early English settlers in South Africa misinterpreted the ‘weit’ for ‘white’.
3. Rhinos are fast! They can run up to 30–40 miles per hour, which may not sound like much, but if one is running straight towards you it feels like a NASCAR race car is coming your way.



Photo credit: Chris Wildblood

4. Rhino pregnancies last 15-16 months. Wow!



Photo credit: Pam Krzyza

5. A rhino’s skin is much softer than it looks, and is actually quite sensitive to sunburns and insect bites (that’s why rhinos like rolling in the mud so much – it helps to protect them from the sunburns and insects).



Photo credit: Nobby Natalie Clarke

6. Contrary to the common myth, there is no evidence that rhinos stamp out forest fires!
7. The white rhino is the largest rhino (and the largest land mammal after the elephant). They can weigh up to 6,000 pounds. The Sumatran rhino is the smallest rhino, weighing in at a mere 1,300–2,000 pounds.
8. Rhinos have poor eyesight, but very well-developed senses of smell and hearing. They will charge at you when startled–the best way to escape is by climbing a tree, if one is handy!



A Greater One-Horned Rhino (Photo credit: Bhatti Ijaz)

9. African rhinos have a symbiotic relationship with oxpeckers, also called ‘tick birds’. In Swahili, the oxpecker is called ‘askari wa kifaru’, which means ‘the rhino’s guard’. The oxpecker eats ticks and other insects it finds on the rhino, and creates a commotion when it senses danger.



Photo via game-reserve.com

10. Most rhinos use piles of dung to leave ‘messages’ for other rhinos. Nuances in the smell of dung can tell a rhino a lot about others in the area. Each rhino’s smell identifies its owner as unique. The smell is different for young vs. adult animals, for males vs. females, and females in estrus vs. non-reproductive females. Combined with urine left along trails, dung piles create invisible ‘borders’ around a rhino’s territory.



Photo credit: Pam Krzyza

11. Rhinos have existed on earth for more than 50 million years, and once roamed throughout North America and Europe (as well as Asia and Africa).

12. Throughout their history, rhinos have been a very diverse group. The extinct rhino, Paraceratherium, was the largest land mammal that ever lived and resembled a big, muscular giraffe. Telecoeras was a single-horned, hippo-like grazer common in North America.



Paraceratherium was ginormous! (Photo via robbychen.com)

13. The book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, written by L. Frank Baum and illustrated by W.W. Denslow, differs a lot from the classic movie and actually has a reference to rhinos. Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Lion each get to meet the Wizard individually and he appears differently to each of them. To Dorothy, he appears as a huge head, to the Scarecrow as a beautiful woman, to the Lion as a great ball of fire, and to the Tin Man as a terrible beast. The beast is described as such: ‘It was nearly as big as an elephant, and the green throne seemed hardly strong enough to hold its weight. The Beast had a head like that of a rhinoceros, only there were five eyes in its face. There were five long arms growing out of its body and it also had five long, slim legs. Thick woolly hair covered every part of it, and a more dreadful-looking monster could not be imagined.’

    Somehow, this never made it to the film version.

14. Three of the five surviving rhino species–black, Javan, and Sumatran–are Critically Endangered, which means there is at least a 50% chance that these species will become extinct within three generations (for rhinos, this means about 30-60 years).



There are only about 48 Javan Rhinos left! (Photo via rhinoresourcecenter.com)

15. The ancient woolly rhino, whose entire body was covered in a thick, shaggy coat, was hunted by early humans and is depicted in cave paintings dating back more than 30,000 years ago. The Sumatran rhino is the closest living relative of the extinct woolly rhino, and they’ve got the hair to prove it!



The very hairy, critically endangered Sumatran Rhino (Photo via National Geographic)

16. The black rhino has a prehensile lip which allows it to feed on trees and shrubs (the other African species, the white rhino, has a long, flat lip for grazing on grasses).



17. The Javan rhino is the rarest land mammal in the world. Less than 50 individuals survive in the wild!
18. Not all rhinos are solitary. Both black and white rhinos commonly live in extended family groups, typically comprised of females and calves.
19. Although science has proven rhino horn to be void of any curative medicinal properties, it is still illegally used in traditional Chinese medicines to treat a variety of ailments–from fevers to boils, liver dysfunction, cancer, and even devil possession. Contrary to a common misconception, one of the few things rhino horn is not used for is libido. The burgeoning demand for the horn stems almost exclusively from East and Southeast Asia–predominantly from China and Vietnam–and has fueled unprecedented poaching of these magnificent animals. As a result, they are now poached at a rate of at least one per day. In 2010, at least 333 rhinos were killed by poachers in South Africa alone. Already this year, the country has lost over 280!



20. Sumatran, black and white rhinos all have two horns, Javan and greater one-horned rhinos have one horn (and some female Javan rhinos don’t appear to have a horn at all).
21. The most famous piece of rhino artwork is Albrecht Durer’s woodcut, ‘The Rhinoceros’, printed in 1515. It (not entirely accurately) depicts a greater one-horned rhino sent as a gift from the King of Portugal to Pope Leo X, and has been reprinted countless times over the past 500 years.



22. The word rhinoceros comes from the Greek words, rhino (nose) and ceros (horn).
23. Depending on the species, rhinos can live to between 35 and 50 years old.



Photo credit: Bhatti Ijaz

24. Rhino horns are made of keratin, the same material that makes up your hair and fingernails.



Photo credit: Fred von Winckelmann

25. The closest living rhino ‘relatives’ are tapirs, horses and zebras.

Click here to read more about rhinos!

Photo credit: Ruben Barquez

The Golden Vizcacha Rat, Pipanacoctomys aureus, is listed as ‘CRITICALLY ENDANGERED‘ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™. It is known only from one small area at Salar de Pipanaco in the Catamarca province, Argentina, where it inhabits a narrow band of halophytic (salt-tolerant) plant habitat, and specializes on feeding on the halophytic plants.

The main threat to the Golden Vizcacha Rat is habitat loss due to the expansion of olive plantation. Its global population is confined to a single location and occupies less than ten square kilometers. Therefore any threats as this site have the potential to wipe out the entire species,

There are no known specific conservation measures currently in place for the Golden Vizcacha Rat, and the species dies not occur in any protected areas. With such a small and declining area of habitat, urgent conservation action is likely to be needed if the species is to be saved from extinction.

Geographic Region of the Golden Vizcacha Rat

Credit: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™

To learn more about Golden Vizcacha Rat, click here. Or visit the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ by clicking their logo below.

To learn more about the Bush Warriors “Species of the Day” feature, please click here and read up on our initiative to raise awareness about the loss of earth’s biodiversity.

Tattoo by Tim “Victim” Pangburn

Armadillos are some of the most interesting creatures on our planet. These animals belong to the Order Xenarthra, which also includes anteaters and sloths. There are about 20 species of armadillo in existence today, all of them found only in North, Central, and South Americas. Here’s some amazing facts about these mammals:

• 35% of all armadillo species are currently threatened with extinction. Of these, four species are listed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as ‘Vulnerable’–the same classification as the great white sharke, African elephant, lions, cheetahs, and polar bears.
• They live in underground burrows, usually in moist soil near a creek, stream, or arroyo.
• The biggest species is the Giant Armadillo, which can reach lengths of up to 150 centimeters (59 inches) and weigh as much as 59 kilograms (about 130 pounds)! This is one of the four species listed as ‘Vulnerable’.
• These animals mainly feed on grubs, insects, and other invertebrates. Some primarily consume ants and termites. Armadillos have been know to eat carrion, but it does not make up a large portion of their diet.
• Their ‘armor’ is made of dermal bone plates that are covered in overlapping ‘scutes’. The armor seems to have evolved to serve as a defense against predators. However, modern armadillos tend to evade predators by fleeing or digging to safety. Only South America’s Three-Banded Armadillo relies heavily on its armor for protection, rolling into a ball when it feel threatened. Most other species are unable to do this, due to having too many armor plates.
• The smallest species is the Pink Fairy Armadillo, which only grows to about 12-15 centimeters (about four to six inches) and usually weighs less than a pound. It was first listed as endangered in 1996, before being re-classified as ‘near threatened’ in 2006. Today, their numbers are thought to be in decline; however, not enough data exists to determine their conservation status.
• Armadillos are nocturnal and have poor vision.
• Only one species is found in the United States: the Nine-Banded Armadillo. It’s range has been expanding across North America, as predator populations–that would naturally control armadillo numbers–have been dramatically reduced.
• These animals are one of only very few that can become infected with leprosy. It was first introduced to them by European settlers hundreds of years ago. Humans can contract the disease from armadillos when handling them and through consuming their meat.
• When armadillos feel threatened, they will often jump straight up into the air. This behavior is thought to confuse predators, but also seems to be a knee-jerk reaction to fear. Unfortunately, doing this also puts them at the perfect height to be smashed by oncoming vehicles. As they are hard to see at night and are attracted to roads by the smell of roadkill, this causes many to be killed in collisions with automobiles.
• The Nine-Banded Armadillo is one of the only mammals on earth that exhibits a phenomenon known as ‘polyembryony’, which is the development of multiple, genetically-identical embryos from a single fertilized egg. In humans, this is seen in identical twins, triplets, or other sets of multiples. Most often, this species gives birth to identical quadruplets in each litter, but can have as few as three or as many as five at a time. No matter the number, all of the young in the litter are genetically identical.
• The biggest threats to armadillos are habitat loss and poaching. They are poached for their meat and their shells (which have been used to make musical instruments, called ‘charangos’).

Remember: Tattoos are forever… and so is extinction. To see all of the FANTASTIC art featured on Bush Warriors Tattoo of the Day, and to learn more about this initiative, please click here. You can also share photos of your own wildlife tattoos and enjoy others’ at our Facebook group, Bush Warriors Inked Nation for Conservation.

Brought to you in partnership with Inked Magazine

Like so many Bush Warriors around the world, Jane Goodall has been a role model, an inspiration, and a hero to me for most of my life. As a child, I was fascinated by her work with chimpanzees and, as I’ve gotten older, I’ve been mesmerized by her many significant and impressive triumphs in making the world a better place and changing the way humans view animals. I’ve never had an opportunity to see her in person, nor to listen her speak in public. So, when I heard she would be making an appearance in nearby Washington DC, I knew it was something I could not miss.

The event, “Jane Goodall’s Town Hall Meeting: A Conversation on Peace”, took place at American University this past Sunday. Appropriately, it was held outside at the school’s amphitheater and the weather was perfect! As the crowd waited for this international icon to enter, you could feel the excitement all around.

Dr. Goodall was led into the amphitheater by youth carrying her "Doves of Peace" (Photo via AU Ambassadors' Blog)

Being amongst so many like-minded people, all concerned with the health of our planet, was very powerful. You could feel the sheer power that only a small group of people is capable of. Although all of these people were together in one area, I began to think that locality is not what created their combined potential. Instead, it was their common goal and their determination to achieve it. I realized that it’s not our bodies that all need to be in a single area to make a difference, but rather our minds and our passion.

When the event began, Dr. Goodall was ushered in by the future of our world: children. As this woman walked within an arm’s reach of me, my dreams of one day seeing her materialized before my eyes. She gracefully passed in front of the crowd, went up onto the stage, and the atmosphere was instantly and magically charged.

Photo credit: Bush Warriors

Though I clung to every word that left her mouth, she made a few key points that really hit home for me. The host—a local TV news anchor—asked this special guest how she was able to fight so hard for conservation, day in and day out, in a world that is so filled with horribly negative news. Dr. Goodall explained that it’s urgency of the matter that kept her going.

She said that since she first began her work with chimps, each day has passed with an increasingly pressing need for change and that it was now more important than ever before. We don’t have all the time in the world to address global issues in peace and conservation anymore. We are quickly running out of time. It was something I could deeply relate to and that I hope more people will see, understand, and act on.

Photo credit: Bush Warriors

Dr. Goodall also discussed the critical importance of investing in children, which is at the core of the Jane Goodall Institute’s (JGI) ‘Roots and Shoots’ program. She reminded us of that old saying about how we are only borrowing the natural world from future generations. However, she quickly pointed out that, with regard to the way humanity is continues to destroy our planet, we are rather now stealing from future generations. Borrowing, she said, means that you give something back. As it is now, we are have little, if anything, left to return.

To change this, she recommends that we start planting seeds. Not just seeds planted in soil to grow trees and vegetation, but also—and perhaps even more importantly—seeds of change planted within younger generations. Seeds that value nature and conservation and that understand that, without the environment, we simply couldn’t be here. It is our duty, our job on this planet to protect the very thing—the gift—that allows us life.

Photo via University of Montana

JGI’s Roots and Shoots program is incredibly successful and unique. It’s an initiative that remains somewhat unstructured, giving the power to those that wish to take it and use it to make a difference. The program is now in 126 countries around the world, each group comprised of concerned citizens striving to be the change they want to see. People of all ages—and especially children—coming together to do something positive for the environment through various local projects. Click here to learn more about this extraordinary movement and to see how you can get involved.

Photo via JGI’s Roots and Shoots

At one point, Dr. Goodall was asked how we can break through the minds of people who are so closed off to this vital need for conservation—those who tend to believe that animals are only here to serve us and that the planet will always be able to restore itself. Her answer may have been one of the most important things I’ll ever hear in my lifetime, as this is an issue I personally struggle with. It is often challenging to maintain our patience and emotions when dealing with this type of mentality and that inhibits our ability to help them understand the current situation faced the environment—one that has largely been created by this very line of thought.

Dr. Goodall explained that when we enter conversation with these kinds of people, we tend to do so with an “I’m right, your wrong” mindset. Though, for many of us, this stems from our deep passion and concern for the environment, Goodall explained that this immediately destroys any chance of impacting others’ viewpoints. Rather, she says, we should strive to change these people with stories. Of course, she then used a story to help us understand just how powerful a story can be. Indeed, people are generally more willing to listen to a story than an argument.

Recall an article we published last week about international involvement in the illegal bear bile trade. In it, we highlighted a troubling account of a mother bear held captive in a bear bile farm in China that, to many, seems to have ‘committed suicide’ and to have killed her own offspring to prevent the life of torture that would’ve surely lain ahead for it. Consider the power of that story when trying to convey the deep concerns about bear bile farming. It would certainly have more effect than trying to explain to someone why the farming is wrong, don’t you think?

Finally, perhaps the most important point that Dr. Goodall made throughout the entire event, was that each and every human makes an impact, each and every day that we are here. Whether that is positive or negative, helpful or destructive, conscious or ignorant; it is up to us. Jane Goodall strives to get the world to be aware of the consequences of our own actions and asks us all what kind of impact we want to have. She reminds us not to think about whether these influences we have are small or large—something is more than nothing. This holds true, no matter what kind of an impact you’re having—good or bad. It’s all a matter of choice.

Photo via Kikumae on deviantart.com

So next time you think, “I’m just me, I can’t do enough to make a difference,” or, “I’m just too busy to do anything”, remember that every single thing you do—and that you don’t do—has an impact. It’s up to you what kind of impact that’s going to be.

One of my most favorite qualities about Jane Goodall is her selflessness. This is a woman who has not boasted about being conservation hero. Her ego is not involved in her work in any way and this is truly seen in her hard work. Jane Goodall sets a standard that should be followed by all. There is no room for ‘self’ in efforts as pure and honest as her own. She has one thing in mind only: to change as much of the world as she possibly can. I’d say she has done extraordinary job so far, as she’s certainly changed the way humans view animals through the past 50 years of her work. I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to personally hear her speak and to have learned so much from this exemplary global citizen!

As each attendee at Jane Goodall’s town hall meeting entered the amphitheater, they were handed a paper feather. On it, we were asked to write what we pledged to do for peace and for our planet for the next year. Each feather was then placed on the ‘peace dove’ (above). Jane pledged that she would continue to strive for a peaceful world where humans and animals live in harmony. On mine, I wrote: “I pledge to fight for peace and unity between humans and wildlife.” What’s your pledge?

After the event, my sister and I did a ‘Bush Warriors: Walking on Wildlife’ display for pangolins at a high traffic area on the American University campus. Why not do one in your own town? Click here to learn how!

Did you see this?

At American University in Washington DC

Then read this:

Superstitions are fueling the demise of the world’s pangolins, which are being poached at a rate of at least one per hour in 2011–an eco-tragedy overshadowed by the plight of more charismatic species.

Pangolin killed in poacher's trap in a national Park in Vietnam (photo via lookatvietnam.com)

Days ago, Customs officers at Indonesia’s Sukarno-Hatta airport seized over two tonnes of dead pangolins and pangolin scales. It was the nation’s second major bust this year, following an even larger one less than two months ago, in which nearly seven and a half tonnes of these animals and their body parts were seized at the nation’s largest port. The illicit trade in these endangered forest mammals is fueled by an insatiable, superstition-based demand from the world of traditional Asian medicines. Yet, even when not being sought for trade, some superstitious beliefs seem to be further threatening their already challenged existence on this planet. Being less charismatic than animals like tigers, elephants, and rhinos, their loss is largely overlooked, which may be one of the most concerning issues surrounding their plight.

Photo via lookatvietnam.com

Possibly Over 8,000 Pangolins Reflected in Known Seizures Over Past Seven Months

When the Indonesian Customs officers cracked opened Singapore-destined cargo labeled “fresh fish” on the 10th of July, they discovered 1,732 kilograms (over 3,810 pounds) of de-scaled pangolin bodies and another 382 kg (over 840 pounds) of their scales. That totals over two tonnes of these rare creatures and their body parts, which equates to as many as more than 700 animals. Wildlife trade monitoring network, TRAFFIC, reports that one suspect was arrested in connection with the illicit cargo and, if convicted, faces a possible five year sentence.

Photo via Environmental News Network

Earlier this month, the Jagran Post reported that over 200 kilograms of pangolin scales have been seized at India’s Guwahati and Kolkata Airports, and at the India-Myanmar border. They say poaching of Indian pangolins has risen sharply in recent times, all of them being smuggled out of the country. The Director General of the nation’s Wildlife Crime Control Bureau says traffickers use a variety of means to do this, including railways, planes, and vehicles.

Weeks ago, a neighborhood watch committee officer in Malaysia obtained two pangolins believed to be destined for the black market trade and surrendered them to the Sarawak Forest Corporation. The mother and baby were quickly released at a nature reserve. It seems, no suspects have been linked to the crime yet.

Photo via alltheworldanimals.blogspot.com

In mid-June, Malaysia’s Penang Department of Wildlife and National Parks seized 35 pangolins from men believed to be attempting to smuggle the animals out of the country. They were moving the animals from one vehicle to another when officials swooped in. A 40 year-old man was successfully apprehended in the incident, but the others escaped. Department staff estimate their load to be worth over US $16,800 and believe the syndicate had been using a nearby temple as a transit point for their operations. They confiscated two vehicles, which they said had been modified to hide reptiles.

Wanted: dead or alive--Pangolins ripped from the wild are often kept alive until the very moment they are prepared for a dinner plate (Photo via wildlife-conservation-officer.blogspot.com)

Less than two months ago, Customs authorities at Indonesia’s largest port intercepted a shipment—attempted to be disguised as “frozen fish”—containing nearly seven and a half tonnes (almost 16,500 pounds) of pangolin carcasses and scales. En route to Vietnam, this haul alone likely translates to well over 1,500 pangolins. (Read about it here.)

Photo via Reuters

Bush Warriors knows of fourteen pangolin seizures that have occurred worldwide in 2011 and there are likely others that have not been reported on, in addition countless numbers of these animals that have entered the black market undetected. The fourteen that we know about may well represent over 8,200 individual pangolins. This, over the span of less than seven months—an average as high as over 1,200 per month, 40 per day, and at least one every hour. These figures are likely much higher in reality, as they obviously don’t account for the amount of trade that slips past authorities. (Click here to view how we calculated these rates.)

8 Things You Need to Know About the Burgeoning Trade in Pangolins

It’s quite possibly, and even likely, that poaching is now the biggest threat to these insectivorous animals. The extent of illegal pangolin trade is shocking and some experts say the most endangered species could go extinct within ten years, if current trends continue. Here are eight things everyone needs know about this burgeoning black market:

Dried pangolin scales (photo via The Star)

1. The demand for pangolins and their body parts stems almost exclusively from East and Southeast Asia, and especially from China and Vietnam.

 

2. Pangolin meat is consumed as a delicacy, while their scales, blood, and fetuses are used to make traditional medicines. Subscribers of this ideology superstitiously use these substances to treat a number of health issues; for example, to reduce swelling, improve liver function, boost weight loss, stimulate blood circulation, increase fertility, and to enhance lactation in breast-feeding women. Stuffed pangolins are sold as souvenirs and ornamental displays, and their skin and scales are also used to make fashion accessories.

 

3. There is no scientific evidence to support the medicinal claims surrounding the use of pangolin scales or body parts. In fact, the scales—which are one of the most sought after parts of the animal—are made of keratin, the same protein that our own hair and nails, horse hooves, and rhino horn are comprised of. Scientific studies on rhino horn have repeatedly proven it to be void of any medicinal properties, which suggests the same is true of pangolin scales.

 

4. All eight species of pangolin are currently listed on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) Appendix II, which means only limited trade is permitted. However, a zero annual export quota has been established for all four Asian species, which means no pangolins can be exported from any country in the world. Many countries have also established legislation to further protect these animals from poaching.

 

5. Pangolins do not survive well in captivity, which means essentially all of these animals in the illegal trade have been sourced from the wild. This has devastating impacts for remaining populations.

 

6. As with most illegal wildlife trade, organized crime syndicates have commercialized the exploitation of these animals and are the largest suppliers of this black market industry. As pangolins are fairly slow in reproduction, they are being harvested at rates far above what they are capable of replenishing populations at.

 

7. All four Asian are threatened with extinction. The Chinese and Sunda pangolins are listed as endangered, while the Indian and Malayan species are both classified as ‘Near Threatened’.

 

8. There are, currently, no reliable estimates for population sizes, as their elusive, nocturnal nature challenges researchers’ ability to study them in their habitat. Basically, we have no firm idea of how many may remain in the wild, meaning the most endangered species may be perilously close to extinction.

“We keep them alive in cages until the customer makes an order. Then we hammer them unconscious, cut their throats and drain the blood. It is a slow death. We then boil them to remove the scales. We cut the meat into small pieces and use it to make a number of dishes, including braised meat and soup. Usually the customers take the blood home with them afterwards.” ---Guangdong Chef (Photo credit: National Geographic)

This illicit trade has become extremely lucrative. In the early 1990s, pangolins were reportedly worth around US $10 per kilo. By 2009, their value had increased to US $175 per kg, and in 2011, the Wildlife Alliance’s Suwanna Gauntlett says they are now fetching around US $200 per kilogram. Director General of the nation’s Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, Reena Mitra, claims just one kilo of scales can fetch over US $1,500.

(Click here to read more about the extent of the pangolin trade.)

Pangolin scales are often ground up to powdered form and used to make derivative medicinal concoctions. (Photo via National Geographic)

Sticks and Stones Don’t Just Break Bones, They Kill

Late last month, The Nation reported that a mob of ‘terrified villagers’ violently bludgeoned a pangolin to death with sticks, bricks, and stones in India. The article claims the people became terrified of, what they perceived to be, ‘a very dangerous and strange animal’ emerging from under the debris of a collapsed building. After killing the creature, they dragged its body into the streets to display their ‘brave’ accomplishment, where they then continued beating it with shoes. The villagers claim they did this to punish the animal for terrifying everyone.

Photo credit: tworeimers on Photobucket

The incident underscores an absolutely critical need for public awareness and education programs about these animals, in rural communities where humans are living amongst them. Although pangolins can inflict injury if handled, due to their razor sharp scales, the scaly anteaters are toothless creatures that pose virtually no threat to humans. Awareness-raising and educational efforts should also target the poaching issue in these areas and encourage people to combat pangolin poaching and report offenders.

(Angry mobs of people attacking and killing wildlife is not an uncommon occurrence in India. Click here to read more.)

Being Less Charismatic Has Its Consequences

How many people even know what a pangolin is? Ask some of your friends, colleagues, or family members and take note of the number of them that don’t have a clue. Yet, almost everyone knows about tigers, rhinos, elephants, and other more charismatic endangered animals. Society’s tendency to focus on individual species conservation, and the fact that most attention is directed at widely known, aesthetically pleasing creatures, has serious repercussions for animals like pangolins.

Photo credit: Frank Solomon

Greater awareness is desperately needed for these less appealing animals, and this can begin by educating others on what they actually are. While there is a growing number of efforts to shed light on the plight of animals like tigers and rhinos (though still not nearly enough), other species are largely forgotten about. A shift from species-focused conservation to a larger scope that embraces habitat preservation will greatly benefit the less charismatic, yet vitally important components of the ecosystem. Simultaneously bringing awareness to the direct destruction of these animals, such as poaching, is likely to have the biggest gains for securing the future of earth’s biodiversity.

A pangolin lies dead beside a road near, what appears to be, a palm oil plantation. Habitat loss and everyday human activities are some of the biggest threats to these animals. (Photo credit: LezY on Flickr)

How Can You Help?

1) One of the most important things you can do to help pangolins, is to help us raise awareness about what they are and, most importantly, about their plight. Try these suggestions:

-Make a goal for yourself to teach one new person about pangolins each day.

-Share links to our pangolin stories (see below for related stories) on social media networks, emails, forums, and any other social platform you use.

-You can make an even bigger impact and reach a far greater number of people by participating in our ‘Walking on Wildlife’ campaign. So, get out there and make some BIG noise for pangolins! Materials needed are minimal—some sidewalk chalk and your imagination and passion—and requires very little of your time. Check out Bush Warriors: Walking on Wildlife HERE!

2) If you (or someone you know) live in areas where pangolins live and/or are poached or traded, report any suspicious or illegal wildlife activities to authorities! You can contact your local police, forest department or environmental ministry, or the region-specific hotlines listed below:

-Cambodia: Wildlife crime hotline 012 500 094 / 023 224 758
-Vietnam: Education For Nature (EFN) Hotline 1 800-1522 or email hotline@fpt.vn
-Kuching, Malaysia: Sarawak Forestry Corporation 019 885 9996
-Sibu, Malaysia: Sarawak Forestry Corporation 019 829 0992
-Bintulu, Malaysia: Sarawak Forestry Corporation 019 826 6096
-Miri, Malaysia: Sarawak Forestry Corporation 019 829 0994

3) You can also support the on-the-ground work of organizations committed to halting the booming illegal pangolin trade. Ones like the Wildlife Alliance, Wildlife Conservation Society, TRAFFIC, Education for Nature Vietnam, Conservation International-Cambodia, and ASEAN-WEN.

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An Unseen Atrocity: Will Pangolins Go Extinct Before Rhinos?

Pangolins in Peril: Surge in ‘Scaly Anteater’ Poaching Evidenced by Recent Rash of Seizures and Arrests

Pangolin Poaching Pandemic: At Least 22,200 Lives Claimed in Malaysia in Less Than Two Years

Chinese Officials Seize Ten Tonnes of Dead Pangolins and Pangolin Scales At Sea

Making Them Wild Again

“Me So Sleepy”

Photo credit: Kevin Jeffery

Squirrels belong to a family of rodents, called ‘Sciuridae’, which is thought to be 35-40 million years old and includes tree squirrels, ground squirrels, flying squirrels, chipmunks, marmots (also called woodchucks), and prairie dogs. This family contains around 280 species. They are native to North, Central, and South America, Europe, Eurasia, and Africa. They were also introduced to Australia with the arrival of European settlers. Here’s some interesting facts about these little critters:

• Of the 279 Sciuridae species identified by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), roughly 20% (56 species) are considered threatened with extinction. There are 23 considered ‘Near Threatened’, fifteen ‘Vulnerable, 16 ‘Endangered, and the following two are listed as ‘Critically Endangered’:
  1. The Namdapha Flying Squirrel is found only in one very small location in India and are known only from a single specimen collected in 1981. It’s quite possible, and even likely, that this species may already be extinct. Their biggest threats are poaching and habitat loss and degradation. Despite their dire situation, these animals are not protected by legislation.
  2. -The Vancouver Island Marmot is one of the most threatened mammals of North America and now has fewer than 130 individuals remaining. Most of these are being held in a captive breeding program. Their plight has been driven by habitat disruption through logging, which has negatively influenced many of the ecosystem’s dynamics.
• The smallest squirrel species is the African Pygmy Squirrel, which is only about seven to ten centimeters (2.8-3.9 inches) in length and weighs around ten grams (.35 ounces). They are found in Cameroon, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon, and although they are currently classified as ‘Least Concern’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, they are thought to be threatened by deforestation.
• Squirrels have four to five toes on each foot and most species have an underdeveloped ‘thumb’ on their forefeet.
• Although they are mainly herbivores and mostly eat nuts and seeds, squirrels also eat fruits, fungi, insects, and small vertebrate animals. When food is scarce, hunger will drive these cuties to consume more meat. Varieties living in tropical rainforests have been found to include more insects in their diet compared to those living in other ecosystems.
• The biggest squirrel species is the Alpine Marmot, which weighs in at about five to eight kilograms (11-18 pounds) and reaches lengths of around 53-73 centimeters (21-29 inches). They are found throughout Europe and are currently listed as ‘Least Concern’. However, some people hunt them for fun and for their meat, fur, and fat. Some populations are also threatened by habitat loss and hybridization with another marmot species.
• Squirrels live in all kinds of ecosystems, from tropical rainforests to semi-arid deserts. The only places they are not found are those that with more extreme conditions, such as in the polar regions and in extremely dry deserts.
• These rodents have superb vision and sense of touch. Some species have special hairs, somewhat like whiskers, on their heads and limbs to increase their tactile sensations. These traits are especially useful for arboreal squirrels, as they help in maneuvering around the trees.
• They have continuously growing incisors, like other rodents, that must be constantly ground down.
• Squirrels breed once or twice per year, have a gestation that lasts three to six weeks (depending on species), and reach sexual maturity by the end of their first year of life.
• Ground-dwelling squirrels are more social and often live in colonies. Tree dwellers are more solitary. Both are diurnal (mostly active during the day). However, flying squirrels are nocturnal, except for lactating females and their young, which tend to be more diurnal for a period of time.

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Tattoo by Lenny Renkin

Worldwide, there are around 20,000 species of bee. These insects pollinate half of the environment’s flowering plants around the globe and a third of all agricultural plants. Honey bees make up just a tiny fraction of the bee family, with a total of only seven recognized species and 44 subspecies. Here are some interesting facts about the globally important honey bees:

• There are no honey bee species native to either North or South America. These bugs are native only to Africa, Europe, and Asia.
• They were first introduced to North America in the 1600s, when they arrived with European settlers who brought them to pollinate their crops and to harvest their honey and beeswax. As the humans moved westward across the continent, so did these insects. ‘Escaped’ swarms established populations, or ‘feral colonies’, in the wild. The Rocky Mountains blocked them from naturally reaching the western states, but when more arrived by ship in California, the honeybees colonized that region as well.
• Although all species have been exploited or cultured for their wax and honey, only two have been successfully domesticated. The European variety has been ‘farmed’ since ancient Egyptian times and is the only one that has been introduced beyond its native geographic range. It is also the most commonly cultured honey bee. The other has remained where it originated, within Asia.
• North America’s honey bee populations–both domesticated and feral–have been declining since the early ’70s. However, their declines have taken a steep nose dive over the last two decades and this has especially intensified over the past five to ten years. ‘Colony Collapse Disorder’ (CCD) is the term that has been coined to describe this phenomenon. As a result, today, feral populations in this continent are almost completely gone.
• There are a number of things thought to be behind these losses, which are also now occurring in Europe. The use of chemical pesticides and herbicides, radiation from increasing numbers of cellphone towers, detrimental impacts from genetically modified crops, and fungal and viral diseases are among the many possible causes of CCD. It’s believed that the synergistic effects of all of these factors combined is taking a toll on the honey bees.
• In the North America, honey bee colonies have been reduced by as much as 70% over the years, decreasing by an estimated 17-20% each year since the 1990s. Parts of Europe, such as in the Northern Ireland Assembly, report declines of over 50%.

Honeybees represent a human-environment dilemma in the places where they’ve been introduced, as they have been found to have negative impacts on some native bees and other insect species. For example, honey bee-keeping has introduced fatal diseases to some native bee populations. In fact, such pathogens are thought to be the largest factor behind the decline of the critically endangered Franklin’s Bumble Bee. This species is found only in the states of Oregon and California, and experts fear it may actually already be extinct.

On the other hand, humans have become dependent on honey bees for the pollination of agricultural crops globally–including areas where honey bees are not naturally found. As humans have sprawled across the planet, they’ve taken their food-providing plants with them, which require specific pollinators (like honey bees) to make them multiply. It’s one of the biggest examples of humanity’s footprint on the environment. Through our worldwide expansion, we’ve introduced plant and animal species all around the planet and this has had devastating ecological consequences.

Ultimately, while honey bee-keeping has had negative impacts in some places, we currently rely on their presence to feed the nearly seven billion people on earth. If honey bees are lost entirely, humanity will suffer tremendously. The longer we continue leading unsustainable lifestyles, so detached from the natural world, the closer we become to causing our own extinction. The time to change is yesterday.

“If the bee disappears from the surface of the earth, man would have no more than four years to live. No more bees, no more pollination … no more men!” —Albert Einstein

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