By Herp News

Carl Safina has created a literary career writing books about the ocean, whether tracing the life of an albatross named Ameila, chasing after sea turtles in the Pacific, or following the seasons at his beachside home on Long Island.But his newest book,

Employing the newest science, personal observation and unapologetic reason, Safina abolishes the centuries-long view that animals are somehow unthinking automatons. Instead, he paints a picture of a wild world populated by emotional, cognitive, social and political beings—incredibly similar to our own inner lives, and yet…very different.“I wanted to make the case for conservation in a new way,” said Safina in an interview with Mongabay (read in full below). “We hear status reports about  ‘nature’ in statistics like: 60 percent of the habitat gone, 15 percent of a population remaining, 3,000 endangered individuals left… Anyone can read about how much we are losing. I wanted to show who these creatures are. I want us to feel, beneath our ribs, why they must live.”

Beyond Words cover.

In the book’s four sections, Safina employs his clear-headed, conversational, but often beguilingly beautiful prose to illuminate the lives of elephants, canines (both wild and domestic) and killer whales. In the process, we begin like Safina to view these animals not as cogs in an ecosystem’s wheel or as commodities for our use, but as individuals with distinct personalities and vital roles in their community.“We have no trouble saying that an animal who’s vigorously eating is hungry, and one resting after exertion is tired; yet we can hardly force ourselves to acknowledge that when they’re playing they’re having fun, or that when they’re acting affectionate they’re feeling the bond,” Safina said. “Why? Because denying them all experience reinforces our favorite story: that we are so very special.”But, refreshingly, Safina isn’t writing this book from a doe-eyed animal rights activist point of view, but from a PhD scientist’s perspective. He weaves the science of animal emotion, intelligence and personality throughout the book, and remains fearless in his skepticism. That said, his experiences with these unique creatures, and the stories he hears, changes him.

Reintroduced wolf in Yellowstone National Park. Photo by: Barry O’Neill.

“Before I encountered these stories, I was dismissive,” he writes in Beyond Words. “Now I feel shaken out of certainty. I’ve suspended disbelief. It’s an unexpected feeling for me. The stories have forced open doors I had shut, doors to that greatest of all mental feats: the simple sense of wonder.”In an August, 2015 interview, Safina discusses the childhood origins of his new book, whether or not some animals may be wiser than humans and gives his take on the outrage over the recent killing of Cecil the Lion.AN INTERVIEW WITH CARL SAFINAMongabay: Your past books have largely focused on …read more
Read more here: herpetofauna.com

By Herp News

[dropcap type=”2″]A[/dropcap] wildlife trafficker was arrested in a sting in Indonesia’s Aceh province after trying to sell three baby Sumatran orangutans through Facebook.Authorities apprehended the 29-year-old man, a student at a local state-run university, after conservationists from the Centre for Orangutan Protection engaged him on the social media platform and learned where the critically endangered animals were being stored.Besides the orangutans, the suspect was found with two red-backed sea eagles (Haliastur indus); a great argus (Argusianus argus), which is a type of pheasant; and a taxidermied Sunda clouded leopard (Neofelis diardi).

This baby orangutan was one of three rescued from a wildlife trafficker in Indonesia’s Aceh province over the weekend. Photo: Sumatran Orangutan Society

Trafficked Sumatran orangutans (Pongo abelii) usually come from Aceh, according to Daniek Hendarto, manager of the COP’s wildlife crime unit.The creatures, he said, are usually bought locally for 1 million rupiah ($74) and then resold in Medan, the capital of neighboring North Sumatra province, for from 5 million to 10 million rupiah. “In Java they can fetch from 40 million to 100 million rupiah,” he added. “If they’re sold outside the country, like in Singapore or Malaysia, they can go for 400 million rupiah.”Mirwazi, spokesman for the Aceh Police, said that the trafficker had confessed to selling two orangutans in July for 7.5 million rupiah each and that the man would be prosecuted under the 1990 Conservation Law.According to the Facebook page of the Sumatran Orangutan Society, a U.K.-based organization that assisted in the sting, the orangutans’ mothers would have likely been killed to capture the babies, “a terrible reality of the illegal pet trade.”

The suspect (center, wearing mask) is photographed with the animals he was caught trying to sell. Photo: Junaidi Hanafiah

Aceh’s orangutan population is waning due to hunting and habitat destruction, said Genman Hasibuan, head of the Aceh branch of the Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), which estimates that 6,000 of the great apes remain in the wild.“One orangutan habitat in Aceh is the Leuser Ecosystem,” he explained. “If the hunting continues and the forests continue to be destroyed, the number of orangutans will certainly decrease.”­­Produced in English by Philip Jacobson.Citation: Junaidi Hanafiah. “Berawal dari Facebook, Penjual Bayi Orangutan di Aceh Dibekuk.” Mongabay-Indonesia. 4 August 2015.

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I think I really don’t need to describe how much a snake lover is fascinated by albino snakes because, all my reptile lover friends reading this blog know that awesome feeling very well when we see an albino snake.
In a country like India, where you can’t keep reptiles as pets, it is very rare for a snake lover like me to see an albino snake or else you really need a ‘strong luck’. As I said strong luck, I still can’t believe I was so lucky for a while when I saw this beautiful snake.

It was 2012 and my friend had rescued a snake and he decided to give me a surprise, so he called me up and said “Sachin I have rescued a cobra so come to my place we’ll go and release it”.

When I reached his place I asked him to show the cobra and he showed me the jar, when I closely observed the jar and literally shouted “WTF is it an albino grass snake?” Yes! It was an albino green keelback Macropisthodon plumbicolorwhich I was sure when I regained my senses after going crazy.

I am very thankful to that friend for doing me such a big favor. I called my friend Riyaz Khoja to click this beauty and as usual Riyaz is always at his best for capturing amazing shots. I really wish my life gives me such moments again and again where I can call myself lucky.

Photos: Riyaz Khoja
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A fatal fungal disease that has been running rampant in snake populations on the east coast and has been found as far west as Illinois has now been identified in at least nine states. The disease can cause crusty scabs and lesions, sometimes on the head. Although it affects a number of species, it’s especially threatening to rattlesnakes that live in small, isolated populations. It’s unclear if this fungal disease was brought to the United States from elsewhere, or if it has always been present and for some unknown reason is now infecting snakes.

“I think potentially this could overwhelm any conservation effort we could employ to try to protect this last remaining population,” said Doug Blodgett, a biologist with the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife

In New Hampshire, the disease helped halve the population of rattlesnakes, now estimated at only several dozen. In Illinois the disease infects about 15 percent of the population of about 300 of massasauga rattlesnakes every year with a mortality rate of 80 to 90 percent.

To read the whole AP story click here!.

Gallery photo by herpermike1 …read more
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Dumping unwanted reptile pets will just lead to more intrusive laws regulating keeping them.

From the Long Island Press:

A “very aggressive” three-foot-long crocodile was found inside a cardboard box left in the parking lot of a Melville office building Tuesday, officials said.

The unusual discovery was made at about 11 a.m. at 25 Melville Park Road following an anonymous call to the Town of Huntington Animal Shelter, according to Suffolk County SPCA Chief Roy Gross.

The worker who took the call was suspicious at first, Gross said, because hoaxes are not uncommon in their experience. But when the shelter employee went to investigate the box in the parking lot of the industrial area, it had a crocodile inside it.

Gross noted the crocodile was feisty, and difficult at first to corral. But the crocodile was safely captured and transported to the animal shelter before it was turned over to the Suffolk SPCA.

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Reptile collector Gerard Kruse plead guilty in a New York Federal Court to 13 violations of the Lacey Act for his role in illegally collecting and transporting native snakes.

Arrested as part of a sting dubbed “Operation Kingsnake” Kruse admitted to the illegal collection, transport and receipt of 59 snakes that were collected from and protected by various states, such as New Jersey, California and Oregon.

“All of our protected species, including reptiles, are important to our ecosystems and must be shielded from such illegal trafficking. The Justice Department will continue to vigorously support efforts against domestic wildlife trafficking.” – Assistant Attorney General John C. Cruden

According to the terms of the plea agreement, the government will seek 13 months of home confinement with electronic monitoring. In addition, Kruse has agreed to be placed on probation and subject to special conditions such as forfeiture of his snakes and being banned from the collection, sale and trade of reptiles and amphibians.

To read the full news release from the U.S. Department of Justice click here.

Gallery Photo by DeanAlessandrini
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For the past 2 weeks Milwaukee WI has been under siege with a rumored lion running wild on the streets. As yet only one video has emerged of the lion that is plausible and the media and police blotter are reporting different things. Adult female African lion, Juvenile male African Lion, adult Mountain Lion, some even report cubs being present.

You might be asking yourself, as a reptile keeper, who cares about a stupid lion! What does this have to do with me? When regulation rears it’s head reptiles are usually lumped in with big cats and primates, and Wisconsin is one of the few states that does not currently have extensive exotics legislation at the state level. That is for now.


The Humane Society of the United States working with politicians are crafting legislation soon that will likely parallel the strict regulations introduced in Ohio after the Zanesville tragedy.

According to Wisconsin State Sen. Van Wanggaard in an interview with WISN Milwaukee:

“This bill would codify exotic animals as being something that would not be allowed to be owned in personal residential areas,” Wanggaard said.
…

He said that people who currently own exotic animals will be grandfathered in until the animal dies, but they would have to register the pet and get a permit.


Of course to really push the law, they need the lion and that will means more than a grainy video. The Milwaukee Police Department however is running the search and with other more pressing priorities, most Milwaukeeans doubt they have the ability to actually capture a lion, if it really exists.

Supporters of the bill, including Van Wanggaard, are hopeful they will have the law in place by the end of the year. Reptile keepers however are preparing for a long battle.

Inset photo is of Gypsy, an adult female lioness under the care of Forever Wild Animal Sanctuary in California. …read more
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This stunning grayband helps us kick off the weekend in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user trevid ! Go out and find some beauty this weekend and share it with us! Be sure to tell trevid you liked it here!

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Although many frogs and toads are known to be poisonous, i.e. deadly if their toxins are ingested, two frogs from Brazil are now known to be venomous as well, delivering their toxins through spines and spikes on their heads, a first for the four legged amphibians. Scientists that made the discovery said calculations suggest that a single gram of the venom from the more toxic species, Aparasphenodon brunoi, could kill more than 300,000 mice or about 80 humans.

The strength of toxicity of the skin secretions is remarkable, and to say we were surprised by that is an understatement,” Brodie said. “Amphibians have a wide array of skin toxins that have been well-studied, but this sort of mechanism — transmitting the toxin as a venom — has not been found before. It moves the study of amphibian defenses to a new level.

Although their venom packs a wallop, scientists are convinced it is only used as a defensive mechanism as opposed to using it to hunt their prey. Since neither frog has any known predators, that is certainly a likely scenario.

To read more, check out the full article on LiveScience

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By Herp News

It’s no surprise that some frogs secrete poison from glands in their skin. But researchers have discovered the first two species of frog, both living in Brazil, that are actually venomous. Not only do the frogs produce potent toxins, but they also have a mechanism to deliver those harmful secretions into another animal using bony spines on their heads.

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The community of Chilliwack has constructed an amphibian tunnel to stave off deaths of frogs and toads during periods of mass migration.

From the Chilliwack Progress:

There’s a spot on Elk View Road where tiny toadlets no bigger than a dime were getting crushed by vehicles as they tried to migrate across the road.

A new amphibian tunnel completed in June in the hills above Chilliwack should help.

“One of the really neat aspects is this is a solution that other communities can implement as well,” said Joanne Neilson, executive director of Fraser Valley Conservancy.

There’s province-wide concern about declining amphibian species in areas where development is spring up around wetlands, so the tunnel structure is being touted as a potential model for others to follow to reduce mortalities.

B.C. communities might one day look at culvert replacement in a more toad-friendly way.

Last month special fencing was used to guide the toads and frogs through the newly built culvert for the first time.

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“Snake!” Both Jake and I voiced the single word simultaneously.

Ahead of us, nearing the edge of the pavement, was the unmistakable form that we had been hoping to see. There were no other vehicles in sight on the roadway. As we neared, we both said “canebrake.” I stopped a couple of dozen feet before reaching the snake and Jake piled out of one door and I from the other. The snake lying quietly stretched out, merely kinked a bit as we neared and never rattled.

The canebrake rattlers, Crotalus horridus atricaudatus, of this region vary noticeably in ground color with most being tan or dead-leaf brown. A few, though, are a beautiful purple or pink and we were elated to see that this 30 incher was one of these latter.

Since there was still no traffic we took a few pictures, gently touched the rattler’s tail with a slender stick, and watched for a few moments as the snake slowly crawled from the pavement and disappeared without disturbance into the roadside greenery.

A canebrake had been our goal for the evening but having found this beauty we decided to continue road-hunting for another half hour. In that 30 minute time frame we saw 3 additional snakes: a corn, a juvenile yellow-gray rat snake, and a Peninsula ribbon snake.

All in all it was a great evening, one that we both would remember favorably, and we were home before dark!

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How high can you stack your dragons? Another pic overloaded with cuteness, uploaded by kingsnake.com user dedragons! Be sure to tell dedragons you liked it here!

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We dare you to not think these Dwarf Crocoldiles(Osteolaemus tetraspis) are some of the cutest things on the interwebs today, uploaded by kingsnake.com user Paul Bodnar ! Be sure to tell Paul Bodnar you liked it here!

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India is a land of vast number of reptiles and as I have been writing and researching about them, I would definitely say I am fortunate to be part of a country where Mother Nature has showered such a tremendous number of its beautiful creation. Another beautiful gift by Mother Nature to India is the Phipson’s shield tail, Uropeltis phipsonii.

For many non-Indian readers, it may seem to be a new fellow. The name of this non-venomous snake symbolizes its tail, which seems to have a sliced tail, strange but pretty amazing! While examining them I came to know that these snakes are short with the maximum length of 28-30cm, and mainly dine on earthworms. The most interesting fact about them is that being so tiny, these snakes are viviparous and give birth to 5-7 young ones at the onset monsoon.

It’s always a pleasure to meet these snakes on herpings and trekking’s but the sad part is that these snakes, being so harmless and sensitive, are the major victims of road kills. It’s a very disturbing truth for a reptile lover, but the fact is nobody can be blamed in such circumstances because unlike other snakes, shield tail snakes are heard to spot and thus fall victims to cars.

I would like to conclude by saying be alert while driving. This will not only benefit you but also protect the environment. As we always say, “Brake for snakes.”

Photo: Ryaz Khoja

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More than 600 sea turtle babies were released near Boca Raton, Florida, after almost missing their one chance at survival.

From the Fort Myers News-Press:

With the odds against them — only about 1 in 1,000 sea turtles survive to adulthood — the hatchlings had missed their instinctual dash to the ocean and had been collected after routine beach nest inspections by the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center in Boca Raton.

Stored in several plastic bins and cramped on top of each other as when they first hatch, the tiny turtles about 3 inches long were brought on board by members of the Coast Guard.

Most of the hatchlings were baby loggerhead sea turtles, but four young sea turtles that had been rehabilitated at the nature center also made their way back into the ocean.

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By Herp News

Amphibian experts recommend an immediate ban on salamander imports to the U.S. to prevent the spread of a deadly salamander fungus that is wreaking havoc on European salamanders. In an article published today in the journal Science, the authors warn that without this ban the pathogen represents a major biodiversity threat.Two years ago, European scientists observed that a highly virulent fungus, Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal), was causing mass die-offs in European salamanders. They hypothesized that Bsal was introduced to native salamanders through the trade of Asian salamanders as pets, with continued Bsal spread throughout Northern Europe. Scientists worry this fungus could be boarding ships bound for the U.S., hitching a ride on salamanders destined for people’s homes.North America is a biodiversity hotspot for salamanders, with 48 percent of the world’s 676 salamander species. In the U.S., salamanders are predicted to be particularly vulnerable to Bsal in the southern Appalachians, California coast and the Sierra Nevada. In Mexico, mountainous regions near Mexico City are at particular risk of infection.For Professor Vance Vredenburg, the study’s primary investigator, it is déjà vu. Bsal is closely related to a frog fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). The most devastating infectious wildlife disease on record, Bd has led to extinctions and near extinctions of more than 200 amphibian species worldwide, according to the authors.  Vredenburg was at ground zero during the Bd outbreak in the Sierra Nevada a decade ago: “never in all my life have I seen such a terrible sight. Bodies of dead frogs scattered by the tens of thousands across the most beautiful and apparently pristine landscape you’ve ever seen”.

This is what Vance Vredenburg saw in 2008 in California’s Sierra Nevada: thousands of dead, endangered Sierra Nevada mountain-yellow legged frogs (Rana sierrae formerly R. muscosa). Photo by Vance Vredenburg.

An endangered Sierra Nevada mountain-yellow legged frog (Rana sierrae formerly R. muscosa) sick with Bd. Photo by Vance Vredenburg.

Similar to the Bsal outbreak, it is thought that trade of the African clawed frog was a major pathway for the introduction of Bd. Professor Vredenburg hopes to prevent a similar fate for salamanders.“Unlike when we first figured out what was going on with Bd, we now know that a single pathogen can damage all these different species,” Vredenburg said. “So with Bsal, we actually have an opportunity to act before it is too late: imagine equipping the Titanic with radar.”In their Science article, Vredenburg and co-authors analyze the past five years of salamander trade data and find that 98 percent of pet salamanders in the U.S. originate from Asia. They estimate that more than …read more
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By Herp News

[dropcap type=”5″]T[/dropcap]he open-air truck braked to a halt and we jumped down, rushing out onto the road. Our guide beckoned us to move quickly, but quietly. In the dense canopy of the Sumatran jungle, a large male ape boomed, it’s urgent hooting almost deafening.The smaller female and juvenile had already fled the approach of our vehicle, but the male stayed back to distract us – according to our guide – as the others fled to safety. We rushed into the pathless forest, crashing through a tangle of jabbing, slashing, spiny branches, struggling with cameras and binoculars.We stopped and tilted our gaze up, way up.The giant gibbon – the siamang – peered down at us, still howling. His massive throat-sac bulged. We watched for several minutes as he used long, lean and super-strong arms to fling himself through the canopy with athletic abandon, stopping periodically to shake the branches and stare down at us with a steely gaze that said, “Yes, I see you, intruders – and I’m not afraid.”

We didn’t stay long, not wanting to disrupt family life in the treetops. Nor did we glimpse siamangs again on our explorations of Way Kambas National Park, though we heard them every morning as we headed into the jungle. Their dawn songs boomed around us like a wild orchestra. It’s a sound I’ll never forget. And I’m not alone.Singing, swinging apesTim O’Brien, a senior scientist and primatologist with the Wildlife Conservation Society, recalled that it was the siamang’s “amazingly beautiful morning chorus” that first “hooked” him on the species.Susan Lappan, an anthropologist with Appalachian State University, explained that these “mesmerizing songs” are usually a duet between male and female partners “woven together into an elaborate vocal display, and to their acrobatic movement through the trees.” Researchers believe that gibbons, like the siamangs, sing to mark their territory, fortify family bonds, protect the best fruiting trees and advertise for a mate – reasons to howl with which humans can mostly relate.Gibbons’ talent for exotic music – with vocal tones ranging from haunting Japanese flute to blaring police siren – along with amazing gymnastic abilities, have caused this primate family to be dubbed the “singing, swinging apes,” according to Lappan.

The steely gaze of a male siamang in Sumatra, telling the author, that “Yes, I see you, intruders – and I’m not afraid.” Photo credit: Tiffany Roufs.

But all that virtuosity has not brought siamangs, and other gibbons species, to the world’s attention. …read more
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We are bringing in the cute in our herp photo of the day with this adorable pile of baby dwarf crocodiles, uploaded by kingsnake.com user Paul Bodnar !

Be sure to tell Paul Bodnar you liked it here!

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Fear of the Caiman runs high in the fishing waters of Colombia. But conservationists are working to preserve the species and end the hunting of the endangered species, and trafficking in their skins.

From the City Paper Bogota:

Even though crocodile attacks are fewer are further between these days, local fishing communities still remain fearful of coming into contact with the grey-skinned reptile and which feeds on prey and in the same mangroves where fishermen gather molluscs and fish.


In the Bay of Cispatá, near San Antero, Sucre, marine biologists have been studying the Magdalena Caiman to be able to give this creature a fighting chance for survival. Last February, a team of international biologists visited the fresh- water lagoon to see first hand how a 10 year-long project by the Asociación de Caimaneros de Cispatá, Asocaimán, has farmed 3,000 eggs and returned to the wild some 4000 baby crocs.


Part of the responsibilities of Asocaimán is to work closely with local communities to dissuade them from hunting the endangered creature in order to sell their skins on the global black market.

Colombia is one of the world’s leading exporters of exotic leathers and legal exports of local crocodile skins totaled USD $12 million in 2014. According to the Colombian Association of Zoo Farms, Azoocol, some 600,000 alligator skins are sold every year to luxury brands, especially in Asia where demand for legally-farmed alligator handbags and accessories remains high.

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I was a few steps ahead of Patti walking that mid-May evening on a trail in the newly opened Sweetwater Wetlands Park. My nose in the air, I was looking for a nearby white-eyed vireo that was caroling loudly and persistently from the low trees.

Suddenly Patti said “You better stop and look at what you just walked by.”

I stopped, turned and looked down. About 10 feet behind me, lying unperturbed by my passing and our presence, half its 30″ body length on the path, was a beautiful juvenile eastern diamond-back rattlesnake, Crotalus adamanteus.

Stretched fully out and except for its flickering tongue and lying absolutely motionless, the little snake had just left the woodland and begun crossing the trail. With other folks approaching, we decided it would probably be best to move the little snake out of sight.

Picking up a slender stick I slid it beneath the snake and moved him to the side of the path. Within seconds he had completed the effort and moved quietly and completely from view.

We happily bade it adieu.
Continue reading “Strolling by a diamond back on beautiful spring day” …read more
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A nice find of a viperine water snake (Natrix maura) found in Morocco takes center stage in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user bzissurfing ! Be sure to tell bzissurfing you liked it here!

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It’s not often you get to see a snake swallowing a lizard, but photographer Nicolas Cegalerba got some beautiful shots of just that.

From The Daily Mail:

These incredible photos capture the stomach-churning moment a snake sneaks up on a lizard and swallows it whole.

The white-spotted cat snake, measuring about 1.8m in length, spent around half an hour consuming the lizard after slithering up on it as it slept.

The chameleon forest dragon, also known as a Javan humphead lizard, usually sleeps at the ends of branches which makes it an easy target for predatory snakes.

The unlucky reptile, which was around 25cm long, was resting on a branch 3m off the ground in Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park in South Sumatra, Indonesia.

See the rest of the amazing photos here…
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The krait, a venomous snake I consider to be one of the deadliest creatures on our planet, is widely spread on the Indian subcontinent, where nine species of krait can be found. I love kraits because of their behavior and their color which is dark shiny black with thin bands of white dotted spots.

I have already written in one of my previous blogs about the common krait, bungarus caerulus, and explained why it is known to be deadly. Now I would like to write about the next member of the krait family, which is also luckily found in my city.

The Wall’s sind krait, bungarus sindanus walli,is a species of a krait with almost same features of a common krait. The best way to differentiate between these two kraits is, the Wall’s sind krait has a yellow lip and throat while the common krait has white. The maximum length of Wall’s sind krait is 5ft and it mainly feeds on other snakes, including cobras and other kraits.

I have rescued this snake only once because it is found in the outskirts of my city and rare to find during the day. Experts say this snake is more aggressive and prone to bite than the common krait. However, kraits are always attractive to me, and whenever I look at the Wall’s sind krait, its beauty makes me feel that a common krait has applied a yellow lipstick.

Photo: Riyaz Khoja

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This “Grumpy Skink” is preparing for the start of a long week in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user ilovemonitorliza ! Be sure to tell ilovemonitorliza you liked it here!

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By Herp News

The status of Jericho, the brother of Cecil the lion, who was gunned down by an American dentist in an organized hunt last month, is in question after a conservation group said he was shot and killed today in Zimbabwe, according to the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force.”It is with huge disgust and sadness that we have just been informed that Jericho, Cecil’s brother has been killed at 4pm today,” the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force said Saturday in a Facebook post. “We are absolutely heart broken.”The Task Force said Jericho, like his brother Cecil, was killed by a hunter operating illegally. Jericho was apparently shot inside Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park, while Cecil was coaxed outside the park using an animal carcass as bait.However Reuters and the Associated Press are reporting that Brent Stapelkamp of the Hwange Lion Research Project says Jericho appears to be “alive and well” according to data from his GPS tracking device.

Cecil the lion in Zimbabwe. Photo courtesy of WildCRU

Whatever Jericho’s status, international outrage over Cecil’s killing continues to grow. A petition to the White House to extradite his killer, Minnesota dentist Walter James Palmer, to Zimbabwe for prosecution has surpassed the 100,000 needed to get a U.S. government response.Palmer, who paid $50,000 for the hunt, asserts that he believed the hunt to be legal at this time of the killing. His hunting guides were subsequently arrested by Zimbabwean authorities.

Cecil (right) with Jericho. Photo by Ken Watkins.

While hundreds of lions are killed every year, the killing made international headlines because Cecil was part of a long-running study by researchers at Oxford University’s Wildlife Conservation Research Unit.Currently estimated at under 35,000 individuals, Africa’s lion population has plunged by more than 90 percent since the 1950s primarily due to habitat loss, conflict humans, and hunting.

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Rising seal levels may spell the end for green sea turtles.

From the New Zealand Herald:

An experiment has shown green sea turtle embryos are much more likely to die when they are inside eggs that go underwater for six hours.

Scientists say the study shows the turtles, which rely on low-lying coastal habitats, are likely to feel the early impacts of rising sea levels.

“In some places it only takes a small rise in sea levels, when combined with a storm or a king tide, to inundate what had previously been secure nesting sites,” said lead researcher Dr David Pike of James Cook University.

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Do not try to grab the worm from this snapper in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user deadend!

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By Herp News

In research that could lead to protective probiotics to fight the ‘chytrid’ fungus that has been decimating amphibian populations worldwide, researchers have grown bacterial species from the skin microbiome of four species of amphibians.

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By Herp News

Nabiré, a 31-year-old female northern white rhino died on Monday, July 27 at the Dvůr Králové Zoo, Czech Republic. To those who cared for her, she was known for having one of the gentlest demeanors of the rhinos to be bred at the Czech zoo.

 Her loss was indeed a tragic one, not just because of the shared sentiment for her among the zoo’s staff, but due to the fact that she was one of the remaining five northern white rhinos in the world.

 “It is a terrible loss. Nabiré was the kindest rhino ever bred in our zoo. It is not just that we were very fond of her. Her death is a symbol of the catastrophic decline of rhinos due to a senseless human greed. Her species is on the very brink of extinction,” Přemysl Rabas, Dvůr Králové ‘s director, stated on the zoo’s website.

Nabiré was born on November 15, 1983 and lived her life at the Dvůr Králové zoo, located just under 90 miles northeast of Prague. Her death was due to a ruptured cyst.

“The pathological cyst inside the body of Nabiré was huge. There was no way to treat it,” said Jiří Hrubý, a rhino curator of the zoo.

Northern white rhinos were last seen in the wild in central Africa in 2007, as they have been poached to extinction. Their disappearance has been driven by demand for their horns, which are used for medical and cultural purposes in some countries of East Asia and the Arabian Peninsula.

The Dvůr Králové Zoo was able to prolong the very presence of northern white rhino on our planet due to their 40 years of breeding efforts. The last surviving male lives in Kenya with two females, Nájin and Fatu. One other female, Nola, lives in San Diego, according to the Czech zoo.

Nola, one of four northern white rhinos left in the world. She currently lives in San Diego. Photo courtesy of Jeffrey Keeton via flickr.

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Read more here: herpetofauna.com

Long, long, ago and far, far, away I found my first Arizona treefrog, Hyla wrightorum (then Hyla eximia) hopping slowly across a monsoon-swept highway somewhere in the mountains of central Arizona. It was a beautiful example of the green phase and I took many photos. But over time the photos, all slides, were misplaced or defaced and I found myself wanting to see and rephotograph the taxon. Well, monsoon season was again drawing close, so…

The more I thought about it the plainer it became that if I wanted to see this pretty frog once more a trip to wcNM or cAZ would need to be undertaken. Because I knew the area at least a little I chose the Coconimo National Forest as my destination.

Patti thought this to be a spontaneous decision. I didn’t. In my mind spontaneity was to hop in the car and with hardly any thought head off to the western “wooly-wags.” In this case I had thought about the trip for at least a couple of weeks and actually had a destination in mind before hopping into the car and heading westward. No spontaneity there at all. Merely a long drive. But heck, I was always heading to Texas or California or Idaho, so central Arizona would be a snap.

It seemed that almost as soon as I had made my decision a friend called to inform me the monsoons had started and I was spontaneously in the car heading towards I-40 and then west.

Two days (and twenty two hundred miles) later I was sitting on a stump at the edge of a newly formed pool , being bombarded by fat raindrops, surrounded by woodlands redolent with the scent of spruce and pine and juniper, and listening to the burry quacking of the Arizona form of the mountain treefrog complex. Hmmmph. Spontaneity indeed! The search from start to finish had worked like a well oiled machine.

More photos under the jump…
Continue reading “The Arizona treefrog” …read more
Read more here: King Snake

Endangered iguanas were re-introduced to the Fijian island of Monuriki two months ago, and appear to be doing well.

From the Guardian:

Scientists have welcomed the first results of a captive breeding program aimed at saving a group of critically endangered Fijian crested iguanas, the first such attempt to reintroduce a species in that country.

Some of the iguanas that were introduced to the Fijian island of Monuriki two months ago have been tracked down by scientists and appear to be healthy.

A total of 32 iguanas were microchipped and released, with tiny radio transmitters glued to the tails of 11 for tracking purposes. Nine were recovered on Sunday.

US Geological Survey biologist Robert Fisher reported all had increased in length and lost their excessive weight. A lean diet of native plants had evidently “sorted them out,” he said. There was no evidence of trauma or other health issues.

Read the full story here… …read more
Read more here: King Snake

By Herp News

In response to growing concerns about elephant poaching, President Obama today announced a new push to limit the ivory trade in the United States.

In a joint press conference held with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, Obama said the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing a new regulation that “bans the sale of virtually all ivory across state lines.” The move follows a near-complete ban on the commercial ivory trade enacted by the administration last year.

The new rule, which will be published Wednesday for a 60-day public comment period, would make it harder for ivory traffickers to use loopholes sell product, according to Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe.

Baby African elephant in South Africa. Photo by Rhett A. Butler

“By tightening domestic controls on trade in elephant ivory and allowing only very narrow exceptions, we will close existing avenues that are exploited by traffickers and address ivory trade that poses a threat to elephants in the wild,” Ashe said in a statement. “Federal law enforcement agents will have clearer lines by which to demarcate legal from illegal trade.”

The announcement was immediately welcomed by conservation groups.

“The United States has a global obligation to help stop wildlife trafficking,” said WCS President and CEO Cristián Samper in a statement. “We applaud President Obama’s remarks emphasizing the need for a ban on ivory sales in the United States. While some states such as New York and New Jersey have recently enacted laws banning ivory sales, we are delighted that the President is calling for a national ban – which will help prevent the illegal killing of elephants and the trafficking in their ivory.”

“We’re thrilled the Obama administration has taken this important step to reduce the domestic trade in ivory,” added Tara Easter, a scientist at the Center for Biological Diversity. “The United States has one of the largest markets for ivory in the world and reducing demand here will go a long way toward saving elephants in Africa.”

Young elephant in South Africa. Photo by Rhett A. Butler

Scientists estimate that more than 100,000 African elephants were killed for their ivory by poachers between 2010 and 2012. Populations in some countries, like Tanzania, have plunged as a result.

The government of the world’s largest market for ivory — China — recently announced it would ban the ivory trade at an unspecified date.

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Read more here: herpetofauna.com

By Herp News

In response to growing concerns about elephant poaching, President Obama today announced a new push to limit the ivory trade in the United States.

In a joint press conference held with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, Obama said the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing a new regulation that “bans the sale of virtually all ivory across state lines.” The move follows a near-complete ban on the commercial ivory trade enacted by the administration last year.

The new rule, which will be published Wednesday for a 60-day public comment period, would make it harder for ivory traffickers to use loopholes sell product, according to Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe.

Baby African elephant in South Africa. Photo by Rhett A. Butler

“By tightening domestic controls on trade in elephant ivory and allowing only very narrow exceptions, we will close existing avenues that are exploited by traffickers and address ivory trade that poses a threat to elephants in the wild,” Ashe said in a statement. “Federal law enforcement agents will have clearer lines by which to demarcate legal from illegal trade.”

The announcement was immediately welcomed by conservation groups.

“The United States has a global obligation to help stop wildlife trafficking,” said WCS President and CEO Cristián Samper in a statement. “We applaud President Obama’s remarks emphasizing the need for a ban on ivory sales in the United States. While some states such as New York and New Jersey have recently enacted laws banning ivory sales, we are delighted that the President is calling for a national ban – which will help prevent the illegal killing of elephants and the trafficking in their ivory.”

“We’re thrilled the Obama administration has taken this important step to reduce the domestic trade in ivory,” added Tara Easter, a scientist at the Center for Biological Diversity. “The United States has one of the largest markets for ivory in the world and reducing demand here will go a long way toward saving elephants in Africa.”

Young elephant in South Africa. Photo by Rhett A. Butler

Scientists estimate that more than 100,000 African elephants were killed for their ivory by poachers between 2010 and 2012. Populations in some countries, like Tanzania, have plunged as a result.

The government of the world’s largest market for ivory — China — recently announced it would ban the ivory trade at an unspecified date.

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…read more
Read more here: herpetofauna.com

By Herp News

Snakes are impressive predators. They have ) and cat-eyed watersnake (Gerarda prevostiana), for example, tear apart crabs into smaller bite-sized pieces before eating them.

But blindsnakes and crab-eating snakes are not close relatives. They are in fact far apart on the evolutionary tree. How did they then develop similar behavior?

According to the authors, this trait would have evolved independently in the two groups of snakes. But the common feature that links crab-eating snakes with blindsnakes is that they all feed on arthropods – segmented animals that include insects, spiders and crustaceans.

“The legs of most species of crabs break off quite easily, and for a wide variety of arthropods the bodies of the animals break much more easily at the joints between different parts of the exoskeleton, rather than within a single part of the exoskeleton,” Bruce Jayne, a professor at the University of Cincinnati in the U.S., told mongabay.com. “Such weaknesses appear to be exploited both by blindsnakes in the current study and both species of crab-eating snakes.”

Despite this common feature between the distantly related snakes, their behaviors have some interesting differences, he added.

For example, crab-eating water snakes usually pin down hard-shelled crabs to the mud, break their legs off, and then swallow each leg one by one. For these snakes, the hard-shelled crabs are too large and awkwardly shaped to swallow whole. So it makes sense to eat the crab legs first, since these are easier to break off. On the other hand, blindsnakes are physically capable of swallowing the small termite prey whole. But they choose not to, on most occasions.

The cat-eyed water snake shows another interesting variant, Jayne said. This snake often rips apart the external shell of freshly-molted or soft-shelled crabs in places that do not necessarily correspond to the easily-detachable joints, he added.

But whatever the differences, discovery of blindsnakes’ strange eating habits tells us that there is a whole lot about snakes that we still don’t know.

“This study is a nice example of how much basic natural history we still have to learn,” Jayne said. “Who knows what other fascinating secrets remain to be discovered in the future?”

Citation

• Mizuno, T. and Kojima, Y. (2015), A blindsnake that decapitates its termite prey. Journal of Zoology. doi: 10.1111/jzo.12268

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Read more here: herpetofauna.com

By Herp News

Snakes are impressive predators. They have ) and cat-eyed watersnake (Gerarda prevostiana), for example, tear apart crabs into smaller bite-sized pieces before eating them.

But blindsnakes and crab-eating snakes are not close relatives. They are in fact far apart on the evolutionary tree. How did they then develop similar behavior?

According to the authors, this trait would have evolved independently in the two groups of snakes. But the common feature that links crab-eating snakes with blindsnakes is that they all feed on arthropods – segmented animals that include insects, spiders and crustaceans.

“The legs of most species of crabs break off quite easily, and for a wide variety of arthropods the bodies of the animals break much more easily at the joints between different parts of the exoskeleton, rather than within a single part of the exoskeleton,” Bruce Jayne, a professor at the University of Cincinnati in the U.S., told mongabay.com. “Such weaknesses appear to be exploited both by blindsnakes in the current study and both species of crab-eating snakes.”

Despite this common feature between the distantly related snakes, their behaviors have some interesting differences, he added.

For example, crab-eating water snakes usually pin down hard-shelled crabs to the mud, break their legs off, and then swallow each leg one by one. For these snakes, the hard-shelled crabs are too large and awkwardly shaped to swallow whole. So it makes sense to eat the crab legs first, since these are easier to break off. On the other hand, blindsnakes are physically capable of swallowing the small termite prey whole. But they choose not to, on most occasions.

The cat-eyed water snake shows another interesting variant, Jayne said. This snake often rips apart the external shell of freshly-molted or soft-shelled crabs in places that do not necessarily correspond to the easily-detachable joints, he added.

But whatever the differences, discovery of blindsnakes’ strange eating habits tells us that there is a whole lot about snakes that we still don’t know.

“This study is a nice example of how much basic natural history we still have to learn,” Jayne said. “Who knows what other fascinating secrets remain to be discovered in the future?”

Citation

• Mizuno, T. and Kojima, Y. (2015), A blindsnake that decapitates its termite prey. Journal of Zoology. doi: 10.1111/jzo.12268

Go to Source

…read more
Read more here: herpetofauna.com

By Herp News

[dropcap]N[/dropcap]ine months into the landmark presidency of Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, Indonesia’s first head of state to emerge from neither the political elite nor the military, the hope that ran to such a fever pitch during his campaign has dimmed somewhat, eroded by his handling of tussles with the police and his political party and by questions over his commitment to human rights and environmental issues. At times he has seemed overwhelmed, his lack of experience the impediment voters feared it would be even as the soft-spoken man who got his start in the furniture business galvanized them into making him their president.

Still, and whether for better or worse, in the arena of issues related to the environment and Indonesia’s vast natural resources, Jokowi has made some significant moves. He undertook a major restructuring of the environmental and forestry bureaucracies. He authorized several permit reviews and has sought to simplify licensing procedures. He extended a moratorium on logging in many of the archipelago’s forests and peatlands. He ventured to cut the fuel subsidy and has taken steps to reduce dependence on oil imports. He has endeavored to increase maritime strength and consolidate control over Indonesian waters; he has literally blown illegal foreign fishing vessels out of the sea.

In January,

Chevron oil fields in Riau, Sumatra. Photo by Rhett A. Butler

Indigenous rights

The issue: Indigenous Indonesians have suffered a long history of abuse and discrimination at the hands of the state. During the Suharto regime, they enjoyed little recourse against powerful interests that came for their land and forests. After the 1998 fall of Suharto, these communities formed the Indigenous Peoples Alliance of the Archipelago (AMAN) to push for recognition of their rights. But even after nearly two decades, the government has yet to enact such a law or establish any kind of dedicated institution for indigenous issues.

Neither has the government been quick to follow up on the Constitutional Court’s landmark 2013 decision that took customary forests out of state forests, paving the way for indigenous communities to lay legal claim to millions of hectares of land (AMAN puts the figure at 40 million, a fifth of the national land base). In part to spur government action on the ruling, the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) embarked last year on a national inquiry into land conflicts affecting indigenous peoples in forest areas. The final report is forthcoming, but the hundreds of individual testimonies featured throughout the inquiry, from dozens of separate cases, affirmed that indigenous rights continue to be trampled on.

Jokowi’s approach: AMAN supported Jokowi’s campaign, but he has been slow to act on his promises to indigenous communities. AMAN did find it encouraging that during a meeting with the president and some of his ministers in June, he reaffirmed his commitment to the indigenous cause, saying he would prioritize passing a draft law on their rights, set up a long-awaited task force on indigenous issues, address widespread criminalization of indigenous citizens involved in land conflicts and issue a presidential instruction to follow …read more
Read more here: herpetofauna.com

By Herp News

Indri Lemur. Photo by David Cook.

Good news on the environmental front in Madagascar has been rare and fleeting in recent years, but today the Indian Ocean island’s Prime Minister gave conservationists a bit of hope by officially decreeing seven new reserves that target critical habitats for endangered lemurs, chameleons, and frogs.

The seven reserves, which span 30,277 (74,816 acres) of Madagascar’s highly threatened eastern rainforest, were established thanks to an initiative by the U.S.-based Rainforest Trust and its local partner, Madagasikara Voakajy.

“By protecting population strongholds of various lemur species, such as the Indri, Aye-aye, Fossa, Tarzan Chameleon and Madagascan Flying Fox, Rainforest Trust and Madagasikara Voakajy will help save these unique species from extinction,” said Rainforest Trust CEO Paul Salaman in a statement. “This is indeed a great day for the spectacular and wondrous wildlife of Madagascar.”

Green Bright-eyed Frog (Boophis viridis).
Photo by Robin Moore

The Mangabe Reserve protects 60% of the remaining Golden Mantella frog population. Photo by Robin Moore

Female Parson’s Chameleon (Chamaeleo parsonii). One of the world’s largest chameleons, Parson’s Chameleon can grow up to 27 inches in length, the approximate size of a cat. Caption courtesy of Rainforest Trust; photo by Robin Moore

“The creation of these reserves is the result of a six-year process that has involved the close collaboration of a diverse group of stakeholders, including local communities, government entities, and private sector entities,” added Julie Hanta Razafimanahaka, Director of Madagasikara Voakajy. “Working together, we have found a sustainable conservation solution for some of Madagascar’s most threatened species.”

The new reserves — which include Ambatofotsy, Mangabe-Ranomena-Sahasarotra, Ampotaka/Ankorabe, Mahialambo, Ampananganandehibe-Behasina, Analalava and Analabe — protect habitat for at least seven species of lemurs and 60 percent of the range of the critically-endangered Golden Mantella frog.

Global Forest Watch map showing 2001-2013 forest loss in and around Mangabe Reserve.

The designation comes at a critical time for Madagascar: environmental degradation is on the rise. According to data presented on Global Forest Watch, forest loss in Madagascar’s eastern rainforests topped a million hectares between 2001 and 2013, increasingly sharply since a 2009 coup, which was accompanied by an orgy of illegal rosewood logging and a surge in commercial poaching.

Still, most of Madagascar’s forest loss is linked to subsistence activities, namely clearing for rice paddies and cattle pasture as well as charcoal production.

Illegal mining. Officials survey the abandoned site of an illegal gold mine. Photo by Madagasikara Voakajy

Ignoring traditional taboos, hunters are increasingly poaching lemurs for sale as bushmeat. Caption courtesy of Rainforest Trust; photo by Darwin Initiative

Slash and burn practices pose a dire threat to rainforest in eastern Madagascar. Caption courtesy of Rainforest Trust; photo by Dawa
That makes inclusion of local communities a critical component to any conservation strategy, a point recognized in the development of the new reserves, according to Rainforest Trust.

“An inclusive conservation strategy ensures the permanent protection of the new reserves, reduces pressure on natural habitats, and improves human livelihoods for the local community,” said the group. “[Madagasikara Voakajy] has already succeeded in collaborating with surrounding communities to develop reserve management plans.”

“Madagasikara Voakajy is also helping to stop destructive trends by teaching surrounding populations about the importance of conservation through educational activities and the creation of wildlife-themed festivals.”

Ending those destructive trends is critical for the future of Madagascar’s wildlife, which is famed for its uniqueness. More than 80 percent of the island’s plants and animals are endemic. But the clock is ticking fast for Madagascar’s biodiversity. The island has lost significant portions of its forest cover over the past 50 years and 90 percent of its 100-plus species of lemurs are considered vulnerable or endangered.

Indri Lemur. Photo by David Cook.

Good news on the environmental front in Madagascar has been rare and fleeting in recent years, but today the Indian Ocean island’s Prime Minister gave conservationists a bit of hope by officially decreeing seven new reserves that target critical habitats for endangered lemurs, chameleons, and frogs.

The seven reserves, which span 30,277 (74,816 acres) of Madagascar’s highly threatened eastern rainforest, were established thanks to an initiative by the U.S.-based Rainforest Trust and its local partner, Madagasikara Voakajy.

“By protecting population strongholds of various lemur species, such as the Indri, Aye-aye, Fossa, Tarzan Chameleon and Madagascan Flying Fox, Rainforest Trust and Madagasikara Voakajy will help save these unique species from extinction,” said Rainforest Trust CEO Paul Salaman in a statement. “This is indeed a great day for the spectacular and wondrous wildlife of Madagascar.”

Green Bright-eyed Frog (Boophis viridis).
Photo by Robin Moore

The Mangabe Reserve protects 60% of the remaining Golden Mantella frog population. Photo by Robin Moore

Female Parson’s Chameleon (Chamaeleo parsonii). One of the world’s largest chameleons, Parson’s Chameleon can grow up to 27 inches in length, the approximate size of a cat. Caption courtesy of Rainforest Trust; photo by Robin Moore

“The creation of these reserves is the result of a six-year process that has involved the close collaboration of a diverse group of stakeholders, including local communities, government entities, and private sector entities,” added Julie Hanta Razafimanahaka, Director of Madagasikara Voakajy. “Working together, we have found a sustainable conservation solution for some of Madagascar’s most threatened species.”

The new reserves — which include Ambatofotsy, Mangabe-Ranomena-Sahasarotra, Ampotaka/Ankorabe, Mahialambo, Ampananganandehibe-Behasina, Analalava and Analabe — protect habitat for at least seven species of lemurs and 60 percent of the range of the critically-endangered Golden Mantella frog.

Global Forest Watch map showing 2001-2013 forest loss in and around Mangabe Reserve.

The designation comes at a critical time for Madagascar: environmental degradation is on the rise. According to data presented on Global Forest Watch, forest loss in Madagascar’s eastern rainforests topped a million hectares between 2001 and 2013, increasingly sharply since a 2009 coup, which was accompanied by an orgy of illegal rosewood logging and a surge in commercial poaching.

Still, most of Madagascar’s forest loss is linked to subsistence activities, namely clearing for rice paddies and cattle pasture as well as charcoal production.

Illegal mining. Officials survey the abandoned site of an illegal gold mine. Photo by Madagasikara Voakajy

Ignoring traditional taboos, hunters are increasingly poaching lemurs for sale as bushmeat. Caption courtesy of Rainforest Trust; photo by Darwin Initiative

Slash and burn practices pose a dire threat to rainforest in eastern …read more
Read more here: herpetofauna.com

By Herp News

Indri Lemur. Photo by David Cook.

Good news on the environmental front in Madagascar has been rare and fleeting in recent years, but today the Indian Ocean island’s Prime Minister gave conservationists a bit of hope by officially decreeing seven new reserves that target critical habitats for endangered lemurs, chameleons, and frogs.

The seven reserves, which span 30,277 (74,816 acres) of Madagascar’s highly threatened eastern rainforest, were established thanks to an initiative by the U.S.-based Rainforest Trust and its local partner, Madagasikara Voakajy.

“By protecting population strongholds of various lemur species, such as the Indri, Aye-aye, Fossa, Tarzan Chameleon and Madagascan Flying Fox, Rainforest Trust and Madagasikara Voakajy will help save these unique species from extinction,” said Rainforest Trust CEO Paul Salaman in a statement. “This is indeed a great day for the spectacular and wondrous wildlife of Madagascar.”

Green Bright-eyed Frog (Boophis viridis).
Photo by Robin Moore

The Mangabe Reserve protects 60% of the remaining Golden Mantella frog population. Photo by Robin Moore

Female Parson’s Chameleon (Chamaeleo parsonii). One of the world’s largest chameleons, Parson’s Chameleon can grow up to 27 inches in length, the approximate size of a cat. Caption courtesy of Rainforest Trust; photo by Robin Moore

“The creation of these reserves is the result of a six-year process that has involved the close collaboration of a diverse group of stakeholders, including local communities, government entities, and private sector entities,” added Julie Hanta Razafimanahaka, Director of Madagasikara Voakajy. “Working together, we have found a sustainable conservation solution for some of Madagascar’s most threatened species.”

The new reserves — which include Ambatofotsy, Mangabe-Ranomena-Sahasarotra, Ampotaka/Ankorabe, Mahialambo, Ampananganandehibe-Behasina, Analalava and Analabe — protect habitat for at least seven species of lemurs and 60 percent of the range of the critically-endangered Golden Mantella frog.

Global Forest Watch map showing 2001-2013 forest loss in and around Mangabe Reserve.

The designation comes at a critical time for Madagascar: environmental degradation is on the rise. According to data presented on Global Forest Watch, forest loss in Madagascar’s eastern rainforests topped a million hectares between 2001 and 2013, increasingly sharply since a 2009 coup, which was accompanied by an orgy of illegal rosewood logging and a surge in commercial poaching.

Still, most of Madagascar’s forest loss is linked to subsistence activities, namely clearing for rice paddies and cattle pasture as well as charcoal production.

Illegal mining. Officials survey the abandoned site of an illegal gold mine. Photo by Madagasikara Voakajy

Ignoring traditional taboos, hunters are increasingly poaching lemurs for sale as bushmeat. Caption courtesy of Rainforest Trust; photo by Darwin Initiative

Slash and burn practices pose a dire threat to rainforest in eastern Madagascar. Caption courtesy of Rainforest Trust; photo by Dawa
That makes inclusion of local communities a critical component to any conservation strategy, a point recognized in the development of the new reserves, according to Rainforest Trust.

“An inclusive conservation strategy ensures the permanent protection of the new reserves, reduces pressure on natural habitats, and improves human livelihoods for the local community,” said the group. “[Madagasikara Voakajy] has already succeeded in collaborating with surrounding communities to develop reserve management plans.”

“Madagasikara Voakajy is also helping to stop destructive trends by teaching surrounding populations about the importance of conservation through educational activities and the creation of wildlife-themed festivals.”

Ending those destructive trends is critical for the future of Madagascar’s wildlife, which is famed for its uniqueness. More than 80 percent of the island’s plants and animals are endemic. But the clock is ticking fast for Madagascar’s biodiversity. The island has lost significant portions of its forest cover over the past 50 years and 90 percent of its 100-plus species of lemurs are considered vulnerable or endangered.

Indri Lemur. Photo by David Cook.

Good news on the environmental front in Madagascar has been rare and fleeting in recent years, but today the Indian Ocean island’s Prime Minister gave conservationists a bit of hope by officially decreeing seven new reserves that target critical habitats for endangered lemurs, chameleons, and frogs.

The seven reserves, which span 30,277 (74,816 acres) of Madagascar’s highly threatened eastern rainforest, were established thanks to an initiative by the U.S.-based Rainforest Trust and its local partner, Madagasikara Voakajy.

“By protecting population strongholds of various lemur species, such as the Indri, Aye-aye, Fossa, Tarzan Chameleon and Madagascan Flying Fox, Rainforest Trust and Madagasikara Voakajy will help save these unique species from extinction,” said Rainforest Trust CEO Paul Salaman in a statement. “This is indeed a great day for the spectacular and wondrous wildlife of Madagascar.”

Green Bright-eyed Frog (Boophis viridis).
Photo by Robin Moore

The Mangabe Reserve protects 60% of the remaining Golden Mantella frog population. Photo by Robin Moore

Female Parson’s Chameleon (Chamaeleo parsonii). One of the world’s largest chameleons, Parson’s Chameleon can grow up to 27 inches in length, the approximate size of a cat. Caption courtesy of Rainforest Trust; photo by Robin Moore

“The creation of these reserves is the result of a six-year process that has involved the close collaboration of a diverse group of stakeholders, including local communities, government entities, and private sector entities,” added Julie Hanta Razafimanahaka, Director of Madagasikara Voakajy. “Working together, we have found a sustainable conservation solution for some of Madagascar’s most threatened species.”

The new reserves — which include Ambatofotsy, Mangabe-Ranomena-Sahasarotra, Ampotaka/Ankorabe, Mahialambo, Ampananganandehibe-Behasina, Analalava and Analabe — protect habitat for at least seven species of lemurs and 60 percent of the range of the critically-endangered Golden Mantella frog.

Global Forest Watch map showing 2001-2013 forest loss in and around Mangabe Reserve.

The designation comes at a critical time for Madagascar: environmental degradation is on the rise. According to data presented on Global Forest Watch, forest loss in Madagascar’s eastern rainforests topped a million hectares between 2001 and 2013, increasingly sharply since a 2009 coup, which was accompanied by an orgy of illegal rosewood logging and a surge in commercial poaching.

Still, most of Madagascar’s forest loss is linked to subsistence activities, namely clearing for rice paddies and cattle pasture as well as charcoal production.

Illegal mining. Officials survey the abandoned site of an illegal gold mine. Photo by Madagasikara Voakajy

Ignoring traditional taboos, hunters are increasingly poaching lemurs for sale as bushmeat. Caption courtesy of Rainforest Trust; photo by Darwin Initiative

Slash and burn practices pose a dire threat to rainforest in eastern …read more
Read more here: herpetofauna.com

By Herp News

Last month, we highlighted wildlife tracking hardware and software that allows

An RFID chip worn on a triathlete’s ankle strap at right is read by the receiver on the left to record their start, finish, and passing by of course markers. Photo: rupp.de, Wikimedia Commons

Commercial applications of RFID technology have been common since the 80’s – it is found in badges worn by medical or security staff, electronic toll readers, and hotel or office entry key cards. Only recently have scientists begun to apply RFID to wildlife research beyond merely mark-recapture purposes. Bridge has created a website that provides information and instructions to build the reader system, ranging from a list of parts to a complete circuit board design and accompanying instructional videos. The website is directed specifically at animal researchers with limited budgets.

“People are sometimes surprised when I say that I started with no engineering background and figured out how to build an RFID reader by surfing the Internet,” said Bridge. “But that sort of thing is becoming commonplace. I’ve corresponded with several people, also non-engineers who have done the same thing.”

How does the RFID work?
RFID technology requires three main components: a uniquely identifiable tag, a reading device with an antenna, and software. A passive integrated transponder (PIT) tag is activated as it comes into contact with the electromagnetic field created by the antenna. When the tag passes near a reader, it is activated to send its unique alphanumeric code to the reader module that is then stored in a memory chip.

The system uses radio waves to capture data from the tag, so while the tag must be relatively close to the reader to be recognized, it doesn’t need to be in line of sight.

Use in the field
To integrate this technology into a biological study, a researcher attaches the tag to an animal and places the tag reader in a spot that is regularly and reliably visited by tagged individuals, such as a nest, den, or birdfeeder. The researcher sets the amount of time the unit will spend reading (probing the antenna’s range for a tag) and resting (intervals in between read attempts) to best balance the collection effort and energy use. The more time the system spends reading, the more battery it will use. If you are placing the antenna at the entrance to a nesting cavity where birds typically pass by through quickly, intervals will have to be set shorter. If you are looking at tortoise movement through culverts, you will have a little more time!

Waterproofing on the cheap: the DIY RFID ready for the field Photo: Eli Bridge, University of Oklahoma

Although Bridge and his colleagues designed this do-it-yourself reader with birds in mind, it can be applied to a wide range of taxa. The tag does not require batteries and so is both lightweight and …read more
Read more here: herpetofauna.com