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 !
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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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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 (1983-2015). Photo by Jan Robovský. Licensed under CC BY 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons.
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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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…
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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.
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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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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.
…read more
Read more here: herpetofauna.com
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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
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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
…read more
Read more here: herpetofauna.com
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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
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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.”
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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.”
.jpg?w=560)
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
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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.”
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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.”
.jpg?w=560)
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
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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
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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
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Clean, simple and classic. What other way could we describe this Anery Boa in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user pythonas !
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Upload your own reptile and amphibian photos photos at gallery.kingsnake.com, and you could see them featured here! …read more
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Follow the lead of these Water Dragons in our herp photo of the day and spend hump day with someone you love, uploaded by kingsnake.com user cochran !
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I’m sure a person who is very passionate about breeding reptiles would consider crossbreed reptiles as a major part of his passion, and even a reptile lover is always fond of seeing some crossbreeds. In India, luckily you can find a crossbreed snake known as The Whitaker’s Boa, Eryx whitakeri, named after the renowned herpetologist Romulus Whitaker.
The Whitakers Boa is a cross of the common sand boa, Gongylophis conicus, and the red sand boa, Eryx johnii, and it shows the characteristics of these two snakes. It has blotches on its body and a similar head like common sand boa and smooth scales, short tail and reddish body color are the characteristics of the red sand boa.
The maximum length of this snake is 80cm, and it is viviparous by nature, giving birth to 5-9 young ones.
I’ve found this snake twice on herping. The last time was last summer while herping in a sanctuary of Goa with a group of people. We saw a bison grazing, so we moved back and changed our direction. After reaching a safe distance we sat on a rock and saw this Whitaker’s boa snake beside the rock. It was around 40-50cm in length and a beautiful one. “Sometimes, changing your path has great benefit.”
Photo: Riyaz Khoja
…read more
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Zoo Atlanta is set to release nine threatened Eastern indigo snakes in Alabama woodlands where they once ranged.
From the Atlanta Business Journal:
“A collaborative effort by Zoo Atlanta, the Central Florida Zoo’s Orianne Center for Indigo Conservation and Auburn University will result in the latest release of this iconic reptile in Conecuh National Forest in southern Alabama,” Zoo Atlanta said in a prepared statement.
Sign Up for Newsletters & AlertsThree of the nine snakes were reared at Zoo Atlanta, which has reared around 60 eastern indigo snakes for release since the program’s inception in 2008, the zoo said.
Read the full story… …read more
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You go to the campground and the frogs will be at the pond. Of course, the fact that the campground and pond were a couple of thousand miles west of home in Colorado complicated the search for a while. But then on a late summer day I decided to make the drive and search for the frog.
“The frog” was a high elevation population of wood frogs, the ones that were once known as Rana maslini. They were dark of color, somewhat warty, a little short-legged and squatty, but overall they were quite pretty — or at least interesting.
Although wood frogs are widely distributed from Labrador and Newfoundland to northeastern Georgia to northwestern Alaska, in the continental west they are found in only a few small montane populations in CO, adjacent WY, northern WY, and northern ID.
The fact that they were geographically isolated and seemingly genetically incompatible with other populations prompted systematists of the day to name them Rana maslini. It was later found that they could interbreed successfully with other populations of wood frogs and this led to Rana maslini being considered a synonym of Rana sylvatica. With today’s concept that the ability to interbreed is a primitive characteristic, I must wonder whether the status of these frogs will be revisited.
But anyway, there I was in Colorado. I found the pond. But after two days of not finding any frogs I declared myself a failure and drove back home. Three days later I was discussing the frog with a friend and learned I had been at the wrong pond. The one I really wanted was about 3/4 mile farther, down a road closed by nearly impenetrable mazes of fallen trees. So what could I do?
I drove back. I parked the car in the same spot as before, made the hike and found the frog. It only took a week and a half and a few miles over 10,000 to succeed. I’d call that dedication.
More photos under the jump…
Continue reading “The Colorado Wood Frog” …read more
Read more here: King Snake
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First a rattlesnake took a bite out of Todd Fassler. Then the bill for the antivenin that saved his life took another.
From the Washington Post:
The bulk of his hospital bill — $83,000 of it — is due to pharmacy charges. Specifically, charges for the antivenin used to treat the bite. KGTV reports that Fassler depleted the antivenin supplies at two local hospitals during his five-day visit. Nobody expects antivenin to be cheap. But $83,000?
There’s currently only one commercially available antivenin for treating venomous snakebites in the United States — CroFab, manufactured by U.K.-based BTG plc. And with a stable market of 7,000 to 8,000 snakebite victims per year and no competitors, business is pretty good. BTG’s latest annual report shows CroFab sales topped out at close to 63 million British pounds, or $98 million dollars, last fiscal year. The antivenin costs hospitals roughly $2,300 per vial, according to Bloomberg, with a typical dose requiring four to six vials. In some cases multiple doses are needed, according to CroFab’s promotional Web site.
BTG has fought aggressively to keep competitors off the market. A competing product, Anavip, just received FDA approval this year and likely won’t be on the market until late 2018. This lack of competition is one reason that snakebite treatments rack up such huge hospital bills — $55,000. $89,000. $143,000. In May of this year, a snakebit Missouri man died after refusing to seek medical care, saying he couldn’t afford the bill.
Read the rest here. …read more
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A keen eye will pick up this well camouflaged Garter in the field, but thankfully we make the job easy for you in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user snakekate !
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By Herp News
A new collaborative study examined predator-prey interactions between tiger sharks and sea turtles off the Northwestern Atlantic Ocean. The research team used long-term satellite tagging data from large tiger sharks and adult female loggerhead sea turtles, common prey of tiger sharks, to examine their movement patterns and evaluate if turtles modify their behaviors to reduce their chances of a shark attack when turtle and shark home ranges overlapped.
…read more
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By Herp News
Up until recently there was a single known species in the only vertebrate family endemic to West Africa, the torrent tooth-frog. Based on morphological and molecular results, however, four new species are now described. Unfortunately, they might all be at a risk of extinction. Their habitat needs and small distribution range call for immediate conservation measures.
…read more
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The fossil record tells us an ancient snake had four feet — but he wasn’t using them to run any marathons.
From Mashable:
The roughly 120 million-year-old snake, dubbed Tetrapodophis amplectus (literally, four-legged snake), likely didn’t use its feet for walking. Instead, the appendages may have helped Tetrapodophis hold onto a partner while mating, or even grip unruly prey, said study co-researcher David Martill, a professor of paleobiology at the University of Portsmouth in the United Kingdom.
Previous research has detailed two-legged snake fossils, but this is the first known snake ancestor to sport four legs, he said. It likely evolved from terrestrial-burrowing creatures, and was a transitional animal that lived during the shift from ancient lizards to modern-day snakes, he added.
Read the full story… …read more
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When a snake lover imagines seeing a cat snake, he or she probably expects to see a thin snake on a tree with beautiful color pattern and vertical eye pupils. That was my expectation when my friend Riyaz Khoja called me up and said, “Sachin, I have rescued a Forsten’s cat snake! Come to my place right away!”
I accelerated my bike toward Riyaz’s house and was trying to picture the cat snake while on the way. I had never seen a Forsten’s cat snake, boiga forsteni, so even I was expecting a thin cat snake with a length of 3-4 ft.
But when I reached his place and saw the snake I was like, “OMG!!! Bro, are you serious? This is a species of cat snake, are they really so big?”
The size of that cat snake was 6 ft, and it was fat like a rat snake. It had a triangular body like a cat snake with vertical eye pupils and rest of the characteristics of the cat snake family.
That happened three years ago, and I still remember each and every moment of that beautiful scenario. After that I came across many species of cat snakes but never found any of them as big as a Frsten’s cat snake. I would definitely call this snake “the boss of the serpentine cats.”
Photo: Riyaz Khoja
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This Ambilobe Panther Chameleon is all fired up in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user vinniem1210!
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The last surviving female turtle of her species has laid only infertile eggs.
From Scientific American:
Two months ago the world’s conservationists crossed their collective fingers and waited to find out if a 100-year-old female Yangtze giant softshell turtle (Rafetus swinhoei), the last of her gender, would—after artificial insemination—finally lay fertile eggs and save her species from extinction.
I’m sorry to say that those hopes have, at least temporarily, been dashed. The Turtle Survival Alliance reported this week that the centenarian did lay 89 eggs, but all were infertile.
That doesn’t mean the quest is over, however. The female is expected to lay one or two more clutches of eggs this year. They’ll try to inseminate here again before then.
Read the full story, and more about turtle reproduction, here. …read more
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What a beautiful shot to end our week! But really it is hard to not see beauty when you look at the Asian Vine Snake (Ahaetulla prasina) our Herp Photo of the Day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user 13lackcat! Be sure to tell 13lackcat you liked it here!
Upload your own reptile and amphibian photos at gallery.kingsnake.com, and you could see them featured here! …read more
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By Herp News
An “absolutely exquisite” fossil of a snake that had four legs has been discovered by a team of scientists and may help show how snakes made the transition from lizards to serpents.
…read more
Read more here: herpetofauna.com
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More Florida sea turtle adventures, this time with a guy who loved them so much he brought them home. Too bad that’s totally against the law.
From Tech Times:
Officers from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission visited the home of William Henry Jowett after receiving a tip that he was keeping two of the threatened reptile at home.
The 53-year old eventually received a misdemeanor citation after he was discovered keeping two loggerhead sea turtle hatchling. The penalties for this included up to one year imprisonment and a potential fine of up to $1,000.
Jowett reportedly obtained the animals from the canal in his backyard two months ago and decided to place these in a saltwater aquarium to show to his daughter. He said that he had plans to release the turtles but became attached to the animals.
The animals were taken from the aquarium and moved to the Loggerhead Marine Life Sanctuary Center. The turtles were later released offshore.
Read the full story here. …read more
Read more here: King Snake
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Kansas is a state about which I know very little. I have driven across it a couple of times on my way home from Colorado and I’ve driven to it another couple of times to look up some exotic lizards. But I had never visited the state to witness the great snake emergence from hibernation that I had so often heard about.
So when Kenny said, “This spring it’s Kansas,” I said OK. It was past time, and Kenny is a great field companion. So when the time came we loaded the car and were on our way.
Kenny knew just where we should be so when once in the state, after a couple of false turns, I was staring in awe at a rock-strewn series of hills that seemed to stretch forever. Fortunately it was not necessary to go to “forever” to find the snakes we sought. The first 50 or so rocks that we flipped produced nothing, but following that dry start it seemed that every second rock sheltered a lizard or snake.
We found prairie ringnecks by the score, a fair number of lined snakes, some Great Plains skinks were seen, and then, in quick succession, 2 Central Plains milk snakes, Lampropeltis triangulum syspila. I’m told that we actually missed the major herp emergence but as far as I’m concerned we just couldn’t have done better.
In fact, I liked it so well I may actually try it again.
More photos under the jump…
Continue reading “Mid-Kansas Herping” …read more
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