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Conservation & Communities
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 (08-22-2020, 10:14 PM)Sully Wrote: Top 10 countries best at conservation according to the megafauna conservation index SULLY Interesting list. Africa is well represented, but the efforts of some countries in Asia seem to have been underestimated. Using tigers as an example, India, Russia and China did and do quite well. Yes, China is included. At least, in my dictionary. In spite of the much-discussed cultural tradition that resulted in destruction of the natural world and wildlife (both in China and quite a few neighbouring countries), the Chinese try to change the tide. Reforestation is taken serious. In the northeastern part of China, a very large reserve will be created soon. China now has a small, but breeding, population of Amur tigers. We would like to hear a bit more about the dozen tigers in central parts of China (referring to the situation in 2011), but in some regions conservation is on the agenda. Talking about Amur tigers. In the first decade of the 20th century, Arseniev (in 'Dersu the trapper', published in 1941, renewed in 1968 and reprinted by McPherson & Company in 1996) thought the great wilderness of Sichote-Alin would be gone in a few decades only. Such was the destruction he (and Dersu) saw. Just before the outbreak of World War Two, as they predicted, tigers had all but disappeared. Kaplanov rang the bell again. Fortunately, his advice was taken serious. After World War Two, conservation became a priority. At least, in the Russian Far East (in southwestern Russia, like in central China, tigers were eradicated in the fifties and sixties of the previous century). In spite of the odds and the set-backs, the Russians were able to change the tide. Today, there are about 600 Amur tigers in the Russian Far East. Against all odds, they even succeeded in creating a 'rehabilitation' program. A program that yielded results as well: tigers (and other orphaned big cats), in contrast to what many thought, can be 'rewilded'. Is this something that deserves special attention? Most definitely. If you want an apex-predator as a neighbour, you need to restore a complete ecosystem. You also need to overcome (often tough) opposition and, on top of that, you need room. Lots of room. In the Russian Far East, Amur tigers now have the room they need. Corridors have been created as well. Russia and China are co-operating and locals have been involved. It was, and still is, something special. In India, tigers were on their way out as well. In the late sixties of the last century, when only a few thousand were left in isolated patches of forest, a program was started to save them. In spite of the enormous population and countless issues many consider to be much more important in a country in which hundreds of millions struggle to make a living, they, too, succeeded. Same for Nepal. And Bhutan. A great achievement without doubt. But surely this conclusion is a bit, ehh, exaggerated no? Absolutely not. Tigers and humans compete for space just about everywhere. Where they co-exist, tigers not seldom kill domestic animals. In India in particular, they kill dozens of humans every year. Every biologist knows tigers and humans don't mix. But in regions that have pristine forests, room and protection, incidents are few and far between. In most countries in western Europe, massive reforestation, depopulation of isolated regions and the re-introduction of wolves, let alone lynxes and other 'dangerous' predators, is close to undebatable. In Russia, India, northeastern China, Nepal and Bhutan, humans, not seldom struggling with poverty, and tigers are neighbours. Once again. Quite something, I think. In my dictionary, these countries are in the top ten as well. Most unfortunately, only few of us will be able to travel to a faraway paradise. A pity, as the natural world is a place of great beauty. Thanks to the internet, however, those unable to realize their goal always have the opportunity to visit a forum like Wildfact. Quite a few members are able to find great pictures taken by people who know when to be where. Visitors, if interested, can also read interviews, articles, studies and books. A room with a view then? In a way, it is. The reason we're able to offer you something special is it's still there. For this, we need to thank the people of Russia, China, India, Nepal and Bhutan. They decided to give it a try. Yes, it was a decision. Same for the people of Botswana, Namibia, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, the Central African Republic, Zambia and Rwanda. Thanks to them, those interested in the natural world still have an opportunity to see something most of us only saw in books published a long time ago. |
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