Wildlife news #1

A summary of the latest wildlife news, the good and the bad.

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I’m excited to be sending out the first post of my new series Earth Exposure: Wildlife News!

Wildlife News will summarise some of the latest wildlife news from around the world. This will be one post a month in addition to my usual wildlife photography content.

Let me know if you found this informative and would like me to keep this series going by leaving a comment or a donation in the Earth Exposure tip jar.

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1. COP16 updates.

   • A key outcome of COP15 back in 2022 was the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. This framework included 23 targets including the conservation of 30% of land and waters by 2030 (30 by 30). However, is this 30 by 30 target doing enough to encourage holistic protection of wildlife?

   • At last weeks Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Colombia, leaders gathered to measure the progress on preventing biodiversity loss.

   • While it is urgent to protect biodiversity loss, biodiversity has been found to be declining even faster in protected areas. There are a few reasons for this; Even protected areas are not immune to climate change and protected areas are often designed to protect species of interest rather than the whole ecosystem.

   • This serves as a warning that policymakers and enforcers of legislation need to rethink how we are protecting biodiversity.

2. Russia and China are currently working together to challenge fishing restrictions in the Antarctic.

   • The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) held its annual meeting this October from the 14th to the 25th in Hobart, Australia.

   • Fishing restrictions have been encouraged by scientists and member countries of the CCAMLR since 2009 to ensure that fishing practices are sustainable.

   • Krill is an important food source for keystone species like penguins, seals and whales. The CCAMLR recently tried to renew the restrictions on krill fishing in the Antarctic but China and Russia vetoed this which is expected to have detrimental impacts on the ecosystem as it will allow for the expansion of destructive fishing practices.

   • Members also failed again at the latest meeting to reach agreement on creating any new marine protected areas (MPA’s).

3. Critically endangered macaws from London Zoo returned safe and sound.

   • 2 blue-throated Macaws (Lily and Margot) did not return to their enclosure on the 21st of October after their usual free flying session.

   • They went missing for 6 days but were found in a family garden 60 miles from the Zoo.

   • They immediately recognised the keepers and flew to them, they were quickly rewarded with an assortment of nuts.

   • These vibrant blue and yellow macaws are rare, with fewer than 500 individuals left in the wild due to habitat loss and illegal pet trade pressures in Bolivia. The ultimate goal of conservation programs for Blue-throated Macaws, including those at London Zoo, is to support their eventual return to the wild but this will only be sustainable if the reasons they are endangered are addressed.

4. Seabird conservation success story.

   • There is a record high of over 40,000 seabirds now nesting on the island of Lundy in the South of England.

   • In 1939, Lundy had 80,000 seabirds, including Puffins and Manx Shearwaters, but by 2000, the population had dropped to just over 7,000 due to factors like food shortages and rats (which are not native to Britain).

   • Due to conservation efforts by the RSPB and Natural England, Lundy became rat free in 2006, aiding seabird recovery.

   • Puffins were close to local extinction but similar declines were seen in other places as Puffins face threats to nesting sites and food sources due to rising sea temperatures. The IUCN still lists puffins as vulnerable but on Lundy there are now 1,335 Puffins, up from just 13 in 2000.

   • Puffins Other notable species that are thriving on this island are Storm Petrels, Razorbills and Common Guillemots.

   • The island is now internationally-important for breeding birds, one of England’s largest seabird colonies. This incredible recovery showcases the potential for species and landscape restoration when organisations, local governments and communities work together.

   

   Image from a pit stop in the mountains of Taiwan, 2023