Steve Backshall's Reaction to the Badger Cull

Okay, so this is a little bit of a lazy post but I read this response to the badger cull on Facebook and really wanted to share it because it really underlines WHY the badger cull is scientifically invalid. 

The post is from Steve Backshall who is a wildlife presenter for BBC, probably best known for his work on the children's show 'Deadly 60' (a great show not just for kids!!). He has a great understanding of our wildlife and clearly has researched in depth to understand the full extent of the badger cull. 

Do take the time to read - it is really very enlightening. 

I am doing my best not to base my reaction to the badger cull on childhood nights sat by our local setts praying for a black and white face to emerge, or on the joy every time I find a thick guard hair clinging to low-slung barbed wire, that bear-like pawprint in my local woods, the Christmas morning excitement of looking through my camera traps or a greasy latrine of beetle bits. My passion for having something truly wild, yet rarely seen in our countryside makes me emotional and therefore biased. For this reason, neither I, nor any farmer whose livelihood depends on cattle should be making this decision. Instead, we must rely on science. Good, solid, impartial, means-tested science.

We all have a vested interest in the correct and long-term solution of this problem. In 2007 when Krebs was completed; 'The cost to the taxpayer of the TB controls, including testing, compensation, badger control and related activities is currently about £16 million a year'. 'The cost to farmers with infected cattle averaged about £8700 a year'. More recent reports suggest that in 2012 about £100million of public money was paid to farmers in compensation for destruction of infected cattle.

Under pressure from lobbyists, Conservative politicians such as environment secretary Owen Paterson are now looking away from the Krebs report for justification, so they can claim 'the science' supports the cull. He refers to 'Other countries, where a cull has had results'. More specifically to The Republic of Ireland, where the period of the cull coincided with a reduction of BTB. However, he ignores the fact that what was effectively the control, done across the border in N.Ireland in the same time period achieved comparable results without a single badger being killed. The other two countries he refers to are Australia and New Zealand. Two countries with entirely different biomes, which DO NOT HAVE BADGERS. Results were achieved in NZ by culling invasive possums and ferrets. This is NOT RELEVANT science. The independent Krebs report with data compiled from 1973-2007, completed in this country with our farms and our animals, paid for by British taxpayers is totally specific to OUR countryside, and is the only science that should be referred to. Anyone who queries its independence should note that the study culled over 21,000 badgers, many by gassing setts. It was led by an eminent Oxford professor and was carried out despite strong public opinion against it.

These are some of the facts represented in the report verbatim. (M.bovis is Bovine TB).

The sum of evidence strongly supports the view that, in Britain, badgers are a significant source of infection in cattle. MAFF investigations detected M. bovis in the following species other than badgers: moles, foxes, mink, rats, wild deer; red, roe, fallow and sika and ferrets. (infection rate in ferrets is 3.85%, compared to 4.05% in badgers). Although the prevalence of M. bovis in the sampled badgers is higher than in the other sampled species, the sample suffers from unquantifiable biases. Farmed deer are highly susceptible to M. bovis.

Removing badgers from an established population is likely to affect the behaviour of the remaining animals, and these changes may influence the transmission of M. bovis between badgers or from badgers to cattle. In undisturbed populations, the rate at which male badgers disperse between social groups is highest at low density (Woodroffe et al.
1995). Reducing population density through badger control may therefore lead to more frequent dispersal, increasing the rate at which M. bovis is transmitted between groups. Such perturbation might have an important effect upon the spatial dynamics of M. bovis.

The effect of badger removal on transmission is likely to be greatest when social groups( are disrupted rather than removed entirely. Studies of dispersal behaviour suggest that if a badger removal operation reduced a group to members of a single sex, for example, the remaining animals might leave the territory, or others might move in from elsewhere to re-form a breeding group. Movement of animals between territories, and the resultant fighting over breeding positions, are both Iikely to increase the transmission of M. bovis.

Small-scale badger removals may not substantially reduce contact between cattle and infected badgers because partial removal of social groups causes disruptions in territorial and dispersal behaviour. Altered territorial behaviour may increase the risk of transmission to cattle, since urine and faeces are deposited directly onto pasture rather than being concentrated in latrines on territory borders. Furthermore, changes in dispersal behaviour might lead to spread of the disease among the remaining badgers.

The conclusion of the Krebs report is this:

We need an experimental comparison of the impact of a small number of simple husbandry techniques. Husbandry may well play an important role as part of the long-term solution. In the long run, the best prospect for control of bovine TB is to develop a vaccine for cattle. We recommend that the development of a cattle vaccine and an associated diagnostic test to distinguish infected from vaccinated cattle shouId be a high priority for MAFF's long-term research strategy. A badger vaccine, although posing greater technical problems in terms of both development and delivery, should also be kept as an option.

NB. Something really important which is being overlooked; This present cull; 70% of badgers in the study area to number around 5000animals is being done NOT to impact on BTB or achieve any data on transmission, but to assess what methods of killing the animals is most humane. This science has been done already, over larger areas, with bigger study groups, and better controls. This is not science, it is appeasement.

If you, like so many others, want to make your voice heard and tell the governement that this is NOT what we want then please sign the petition here:
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/38257

The Most Incredible Year

Mariepskop Mountain Sunset - South Africa

Today is an important day to me because it marks a year since I first stepped foot on African soil. Ever since that moment my life has changed dramatically and I know I will never go back to the way I was before. Africa has taught me so much, showed me so much beauty but also a lot of horror. I'm not trying to paint some kind of unrealistic picture - there is a lot wrong with Africa and a huge amount that needs to be done to keep it, it's people and its wildlife safe. 

But Africa to me is where the world, and I, come alive. I have witnessed some of the greatest wilderness the world has to offer, listened through the night to lions roar and woke in the morning to a Southern Boubou singing it's soul away. I have seen hunger, indulgence, fear, joy and death amongst the animals I have watched. I have learnt the bush to know its sounds, smells, sights, taste and feel. I trained as a Field Guide of Southern Africa and achieved a place on the course of my dreams. Africa has been everything to me and more.

I want to share on here a few stories of some special days in Africa.

A Shy Male Leopard

A shy male leopard.

What an incredible day this was at GVI Karongwe when we found a shy male leopard. That morning we had visited our neighbours, Daktari Bush School and Wildlife Orphanage, who take in orphaned and injured animals that cannot be released back into the wild. Alongside this each week they have 8 underprivileged children stay with them where they teach them basic lessons, but also a vital lesson in working with animals and protecting them. After our visit we headed to follow up on our female cheetah who had been found to be limping badly. We found her where she had been seen before - she couldn't walk and was clearly distressed so we called in the vet and waited with her until he arrived. He came in and darted her straight away... And who did he call on to carry her out of the bush? Only the five volunteers standing around waiting! I had never expected such a slim-line and quick animal to be so heavy! We got her out of the bush and onto the back of our waiting bakkie... she was in bad shape and lucky we had found her. She had a large stick wedged into her leg which, untreated, would surely have killed her. But the vet worked quickly and managed to remove it with little damage. We left him to take her to the nearest boma (a enclosed area where she could recover out of danger), and headed on for the rest of our afternoon. 
(The cheetah recovered well and has recently had a litter of four cubs! I'm so glad she has survived and is continuing to breed for this endangered species). 
We sat by the fence line of the reserve wondering what to do - during our time with the cheetah all our focus animals had been found and data recorded, so we were free to bump around the reserve and find what we liked. As we discussed our options a car pulled up beside us on the other side of the fence, a woman rolled down her window and called to us that she had just been sat watching a leopard who had been lying right by the fence! Now, a leopard sighting isn't something to be taken lightly - they are elusive by nature and rarely hang around long. Oh, and possibly the most magnificent of creatures on this planet. So we sped off to where it had been spotted! It was gone. We could see by the spoor on the ground where it had lay, and the prints of its paws were fresh - but often that is all you see of a leopard. We moved carefully around the area and every so often someone would swear they had seen something... we would backtrack and find nothing. We continued our search for around half an hour before one of us turned, just in time, to see it crossing the road behind us! We stopped and pulled back - it had hid itself in the bushes and was moving slowly ahead, almost invisible but for a couple of glimpses of it's rosette pattern, or the flick of a tail. Lucky for us it eventually crouched down in the bushes, visible enough for us to get a few photographs. But it was uneasy, a young male obviously disturbed by our presence. So we moved on and headed home in utter disbelief of what an incredible day we'd just had. 

The Stolen Kill

The stolen kill! 

That night, on Shamwari Game reserve where I had been studying for my FGASA Level One, we had the evening off to do with as we liked. We could stay at the base and relax, watch TV, use the internet, have a drink. Or we could go on a night drive. For me there was no option. Night drives are my favourite - no other vehicles about, a beautiful night sky and a totally different world comes alive under the shroud of darkness. We usde it as a practice for our final exam and took with us a couple of very willing volunteers from the conservation group we shared our space with. We entered the reserve just as the light was beginning to fade and most of the game vehicles were heading home: giving a call on the radio we found the last vehicle out following a pair of cheetahs who looked as if they were hungry. We caught up with them literally just in time as the two cats casually sauntered out amongst an enormous herd of antelope. All we could do was sit and watch as the hunters sped off and an enormous cloud of dust rose in the air. They had made a kill! This was the first time I had actually witnessed a kill! It was so quick, and as the light was fading I couldn't see much but still my heart raced. This is true life and death in the African bush. We caught up with the animals just as they began to open the carcass, but unfortunately couldn't see much... Cheetahs are not nocturnal animals and so shining a bright light on them in the night is not an option - it would impair their vision against potential danger and possibly damage their eyesight. Photographs were also impossible. But as we listened to the sounds of cracking bones and tearing flesh we quickly realised the cheetahs had made a mistake, another sound had joined, the unmistakable and haunting cry of the jackal. Jackals are small, and even though several were surrounding the feeding cats we knew they wouldn't dare attempt to steal the kill. The problem was the noise they were making. Before our tutor had finished explaining to us that these calls were likely to attract other creatures I spotted a dark shadow approaching. We shone the light out to take a look and there, weaving its way towards us, was a Brown Hyena. These animals are pretty rare, often being out competed by their spotted cousins, but have managed to make a strong home at Shamwari. They share a den together but hunt and scavenge alone. They have a strong, powerful build with a bite equivalent to that of a great white shark. Cheetahs are no match for them - with their slim build they are built for speed not strength. Despite this at the approach of the hyena trying to steal his hard won dinner one of the cheetahs lashed out and managed to slam the hyena's head to the floor. It was a brave move, but he knew it wasn't worth the risk of a fight and took flight instead. All the cheetahs energy and exertion was wasted - they had taken just a few bites of their meal and now they would have to rest up again before they would have the energy to make another kill. They had taken a risk killing at dusk, and they had lost. Now with a hyena as our main sighting our light was allowed - their eyes are adapted better to the night and don't react to the light shining at them (although never directly in it's face). It didn't take it long to tear the carcass apart with its powerful jaw and soon one brave jackal came in close and began hassling it for abandoned pieces of meat. We watched for a long time, laughing at the jackals attempts and the hyena's growing annoyance. In the end the jackal did manage to run off with a small piece of the prize, and when we returned to the site the next day there was nothing but a patch of stained ground and stomach contents remaining. 

Elephants in our camp! 

Not from the same day as the story but the same herd!

Working with EHRA (Elephant Human Relationship Aid) in Namibia was hard work. We had just spent an entire week building a stone wall using no machinery - just our bare hands. We'd been living a very basic lifestyle - slept under a canvas on a sleeping role, we cooked over a fire, had a long drop toilet and not a shower in sight! Why do this? You might ask. Well the work of EHRA is based around building walls to surround water pumps of the local people in attempt to prevent elephants from damaging and destroying their precious supply. That week we had driven out to one of the sites (on a year-long waiting list) and begun the work on their wall. The next week was patrol week in which we seek out those that cause the damage and keep track on their health and movements. But at this moment we had come back to the base camp for a restful weekend. For our safety from the various animals that roamed the area we slept in a tree on a large platform and on this particular morning had the most wonderful wake-up call. Elephants are not loud animals, you don't hear their footsteps and they rarely trumpet like in the movies... But having spent some time in Africa at this point I was familiar with that you can hear, and as I began to stir from my surprisingly restful sleep I heard a familiar branch snapping sound... and a warm, deep rumbling. My eyes flew open and I did my best not to shout out "Elephant! Elephant!!" A couple of the early rising volunteers had seen them first, and quickly made their way up into the tree house as we had been instructed in such a situation (one had been sat on the toilet which had a nice open view across the riverbed). Soon we were all awake and had the wonderful privilege to watch a herd of twelve individuals pass by our camp and make their way up the dry river. I've had a range of different wake up calls throughout my lifetime but none, I can safely say, have ever come near to beating this... I doubt they ever will.  

EARTH OVERSHOOT DAY

This week, on the 20th August, we hit Earth Overshoot Day. 

This is an approximate date which each year calculates the moment when we have used more natural resources than the planet can re-absorb/reproduce in a year. This means that from now until the end of the year we are using "borrowed" resources from the future. 

We first began to overshoot in around 1975 when it was calculated that on the 31st December we had used too much. Since then the overshoot day has moved forwards on average of two to three days a year. This is inevitably down to population growth - since then the population has exploded from 4.1 billion to 7.3 billion people. As we continue to grow we put more and more pressure on our precious planet and it won't be long before we exhaust it. The question is, will we do something before it is too late? 

The problem is that we are unwilling to adapt and change our life-styles. Ironically our success has come from our ability to adapt and change, but have we come so far that we can no longer adapt? It is likely that if we do not we will, eventually, destroy our own species. 

The thing is, it only takes a few minor changes in our lifestyles to make a huge difference, like cutting back on the meat we consume, turning the tap off when brushing our teeth, wrapping up gifts creatively (use gift bags, old newspaper etc), not washing clothes until they need it, banning use of the tumble dryer. These are small changes that would make little difference to our lives, but so many people are too self-important to even consider it. 

If people don't make these changes themselves there will have to be limitations set upon us: meat rations, a set amount of water per person each day... Although it would have to be desperate before the government sets this, because lets face it, when we're not using these resources they are making less money!!! 

It is frustrating, yes, when you are limiting yourself and you see people all around you burning up resources like there is no tomorrow. But we need to stop this mindset of "It wont make any difference if I do it" because if every person who thought that actually made the changes we would be in a much better situation today!!

So the next time you go to put your washing in the tumble dryer take a look outside... Is the sun shining? When you go shopping - remember the bags! Ask your bank to stop your paper statements and receive them online instead. Lets stand up and make our changes. Lets make next years Earth Overshoot day a little later. Lets not destroy our beautiful world. 

Please comment with ideas on small changes that could be made - lets talk about it and get the ball rolling! 

A response from Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust

After writing my previous post ("My Struggle with Zoos Part Two: A Zoo that is good for Wildlife) I had a wonderful message from Rick Jones at Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust which I wanted to share on this blog. For me it really underlines what Durrell is (whilst correcting some of my errors) and the incredible difference that they have made to our wild world. So read, enjoy and then visit Durrell Wildlife Park if you ever get the opportunity... I sure will when I can! 

Hi Ida-May,
Thanks for the message and the blog post, and, also don't be sorry... you'll actually find that most of the staff here at Durrell also have 'a problem with zoos' - myself very much included.
We really aren't a 'zoo' - the closest thing to cages you'll see here are the internal structures in the gorilla and orangutan houses - and they are for climbing on, not constraining. Most of our animals - let's take mammals for an example - live in open plan areas of parkland, some with a fence to keep the public and them separated (macaques, various lemurs), some with a moat (bears, howler monkeys, coatis) and some with no constraint whatsoever (tamarins and marmosets - we use their natural territorial behaviour to manage where the groups go, the very best form of enrichment).
It's also worth mentioning that Ian Singleton is just one of over 3,500 conservationists from 135 countries to have passed through Durrell and now running their own conservation org. Yes, 3,500! The founders of IPE - http://bit.ly/14Ovrw4 are Durrell graduates, Limbe Wildlife Centre in Cameroon, the WCS 'Gorilla Guardians' in Nigeria, untold Herpetologists and bird experts around the world - including Professor Carl Jones MBE and Dr. Glyn Young (the world's foremost duck species expert) all feed back their expertise and research, so we can train the people following them through Durrell's unique conservation facilitation system. We provide much of the research that is the foundation of many of the world's most critical species restoration projects, and we never charge any NGO to access any of it if they are carrying out important work.
As for the 'zoo' issue, Gerald Durrell's was the first ever animal collection set up with the express purpose of captive breeding species that could disappear. Other zoos commendably took that model, and a very recent example of it literally being lifesaving is the case of the Waldrapp or bald ibis (Geronticus eremita). Surveys of the original, wild population this year found only 1 bird. It would be functionally extinct, but the captive breeding program across several zoos (our wildlife park included) has allowed semi-wild reintroduction populations in Morocco and Northern Spain - traditional historical habitats of these once sacred birds.
If you ever have the chance to visit Jersey, I'd be delighted to show you around, and you'd be able to see for yourself what makes Durrell unique.
Kind Regards,
Rick Jones

MY STRUGGLE WITH ZOO'S PART TWO: A ZOO THAT IS GOOD FOR WILDLIFE

Last month I wrote a post about my struggle to decide whether zoos do more good or harm to wildlife - despite their conservation promises many do not live up to actually preserving the species that need saving, and many more of animals kept in zoos are in little danger or extinction. You can read that post here: 
http://wildida.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/my-struggle-with-zoos-are-they-good-or.html

However since having written that post I have discovered a zoo that really does appear to stick to its promises, and it's main focus above and beyond money making is:

"Saving Species from Extinction" 

This is the Durrell Wildlife Park based in Jersey.

I first heard of the zoo through a BBC program "Refugees of the Lost Rainforest" which was made to mark 50 years since the founding of the park. The program, centred around conserving the highly threatened Orang-utan species, followed the work of Durrell in both Jersey and Sumatra. Dr Ian Singleton, who trained at Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, is working in Sumatra to save orang-utans from problems such as deforestation, and has committed himself to a basic lifestyle in Sumatra with all his energy focused on these great apes. 

Durrell Wildlife Park (formally Jersey Zoo) was established in 1958 by naturalist Gerald Durrell who began his career capturing animals for other zoos. He had his doubts about the way zoos operated and thought the focus needed to be more on animal conservation rather than mere entertainment; his way of thinking was far ahead of his time and this idea was very controversial. Upon setting up his own zoo rather than collecting animals that would bring in huge numbers of visitors he brought in creatures such as "the volcano rabbit" (which Durrell referred to as "the little brown jobs") which are, although perhaps boring to look at, critically endangered.

The Little Brown Jobs

And still today the zoo lacks emphasis on large show-stopping mammals but rather focuses it's energy and attention on those that are critically in danger no matter how small: with breeding projects and training people in the animals' local environments it is by far the most exciting zoo I have heard of.

I haven't had the chance to visit the zoo, but it is clear from the zoo's website that conservation is by far the most important topic. The first link you can click on is not to book up and visit the zoo, but a link named "Conservation" which leads you to an explanation of how Durrell chooses it's focus species to concentrate on saving. And when you do get on to the part about visitor costs it outlines how each price can be used:

Durrell prides itself on the species it can confidently say it has saved such as the Mauritius Kestrel which, before Durrells intervention, was down to 4 individual birds: the species is now up to 350 individuals, and the Echo Parakeet which had only 10 left but are now numbering 500.  

Despite it's lack of large mammals and it's far-out of the way location Durrell receives around 169,000 visitors per year, a fact which I think truly shows the way people feel about conservation. 

My thoughts and feelings for zoos in general have not changed - I still hate to see a captive animal that could be free and wild. But Durrell have hit the nail on the head and done just what needs doing. Their focus is not on the biggest most exciting animals but the ones that most critically need our help, however boring to look at. I hope that one day the rest of the zoos will follow suite and change their focus from being a place of entertainment to being a place for true conservation. 

You can see the Durrell Wildlife Park Website here: http://www.durrell.org/

If you ever find yourself in Jersey do take the opportunity to visit! Because this is place is one in a million. 

WOULD YOU EAT MEAT GROWN IN A LABORATORY?

On Monday 5th August 2013 the first ever laboratory grown burger was put to the test:

"There's some quite intense flavours... It's close to meat... It's not that juicy but the consistency is perfect."

This was the response of Hanni Rutzler - the Austrian food researcher who was the first to take a bite of the £215,000 burger. 

The burger, following six years of research by Mark Post (professor of physiology at Maastricht University in the Netherlands) was put together from a few stem cells extracted from a slaughtered cow. These cells were grown into 20,000 strands of muscle and then made into a burger (mixed with red beet juice and saffron to enhance the colour, and some bread crumbs and a binder). The future prospect of this burger means that from just a few stem cells taken from an animal it is possible that meat could be grown and sold in supermarkets in replacement of meat from thousands of slaughtered animals. 

Mark Post with his stem-cell burgers

Of course there are many debates going on about the reality of laboratory grown meat making it into our supermarkets. Would people actually want to eat it? Could it become economically viable? Would it fix the unsustainable issues of mass-produced meat? 

There are huge problems associated with the future of stem-cell burgers, and it is certainly many years off being a regular diet for anyone. For a start the cost is currently off the scale - who in their right mind would pay £215,00 for a burger? It would also destroy the jobs and livelihood of millions of farmers across the globe. There is also an issue with peoples mindsets, could the mass population overcome the idea of eating a burger out of a test tube (although I doubt this would be an issue considering how people have overcome eating a McDonald's burger)? 

But by far and over all I can see is the benefits that this could reap. 

Although not a vegetarian myself I have long been aware of the issues behind being a meat eater. One of the major impacts which concerns me is the environmental problems which producing enough meat to feed the world causes. It is estimated that between the year 2000 and 2050 global meat consumption may double, mostly as a consequence of increasing populations. As it is sustaining the meat industry is putting enormous strain on our environment. 

Currently 26% of ice-free terrestrial land is dedicated to grazing animals, and feed crop production (food grown to feed animals) uses about one-third of arable land. This land does not pop up out of nowhere, and much of it is in areas which used to be vast rainforests - we are continually losing rare plant species and safe habitats for some of our rarest species of animals in order to have enough land to sustain meat production.

As well as this it is estimated on a global scale that livestock contribute (both directly and indirectly) to a total of 9% anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions, 37% of anthropogenic methane emissions and 65% of anthropogenic nitrous oxide emissions. 

Another impact of meat production is the cruelty and suffering that these animals face. Although there has been an increase in free-ranging meat produce there is still an enormous amount of produce coming from cruel farming institutes. Many cows never step outside throughout their entire lives. Alongside this live animals are transported to slaughter in small cramped carriers... There is little doubt of the stress that must be caused. 

Lamb to the slaughter

The production of lab-grown meat could mean the end of this. Hundreds of acres of land could be returned to their natural state, there would be more space for vegetable growth which in turn could contribute to eradicating world hunger. We would massively decrease our carbon emissions and hopefully put a stop to animal suffering. 

Why not just turn to vegetarianism? It is unquestionable that if the entire world became vegetarian the same benefits could be reaped. But in reality I cannot see this happening. I cannot see the world stopping eating meat - but I do see a possibility of converting people to stem-cell meat. 

I would love to know what you think. If it does ever become viable would you be happy to exchange your regular meat for laboratory grown meat? If you are a vegetarian would you consider giving it a go?

THE KING OF THE JUNGLE UNDER THREAT

Today is officially "World Lion Day" - a day to think about these magnificent creatures and spread the word... 

The King of the Jungle is under a serious threat. 

King of Karongwe Game Reserve

When most people think of Africa the first creature that comes to mind is the lion... He is an indestructible strength and beauty. None can overpower him. 

When most people think of threatened species they think of pandas, elephants, rhinos... Vegetarians... Relatively defenceless.  But lions? Lions are fierce,powerful, predators! How can lions be under threat? 

So here are a few facts and figures for you. In 1975, just thirty-eight years ago, there was an estimated population of 250,000 lions roaming wild in Africa. Today the population stands between 25,000 - 30,000 individuals. It doesn't take a genius to see that this is unsustainable.

Lions are threatened by a range of factors... 

• Habitat loss
• Prey loss
• Human - Wildlife conflict
• Poaching
• Disease
• Inbreeding
• Trophy Hunting

But at the end of the day, once again, it boils down to one source - Humans. Humans have destroyed their habitat. Humans have over-hunted their prey. When under threat humans kill. Humans poach for money. Humans spread disease. Humans, in blocking off movements, have forced inbreeding. Humans has an insatiable thirst to dominate. 

I think of all the threats lions face the most destructive (and strangely enough probably the most easily stopped) is trophy hunting. It absolutely shocks me to know that trophy lion hunting is still a popular ongoing "sport". For some reason people get a great amount of pleasure from having the ultimate dominance over an animal that can kill you in an instance... but in the most cowedly way imaginable... hidden off in a bush with a gun. 

But it gets worse - canned hunting. This is a practise in which a lion cub is raised in a small enclosure (and often petted and taken out by unsuspecting paying members of the public... see earlier post: http://wildida.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/false-pretences-lion-breeding-projects.html), and when it grows big enough is put out into an enclosure and shot by a hunter who has paid thousands of dollars for the privilege. This is beyond cowardice, beyond animal cruelty... This is slaughter. 

Unfortunately this practise is not widely known about, and so not much is being done to stop it. So today, World Lion Day, is your chance to do something... Spread the word... #WorldLionDay .... Make sure all your friends and family know and join petition groups. If we can stop Trophy Hunting perhaps we can save our King. 

The stigma of being a bird-nerd!

Hunched back, greasy hair, socks and sandals with big binoculars hanging around the neck - this is the stereotypical image that comes to mind when thinking of a twitcher! 

I used to laugh at my parents getting excited when they saw a kestrel... or when they saw something they didn't recognise and ran home to I.D. it in their bird books. 

And then something happened...

I became one of them!  

It all began, as much did, on my journey in Africa. During my first three months of volunteering I noticed birds, learnt to recognise a few calls but not too much more... But whilst training as a field guide on Shamwari Game Reserve my transformation happened. Okay... so I didn't form a hunch back, I rarely let my hair get greasy, and socks and sandals will ALWAYS be a no no! But binoculars became a regular necklace and I rarely left for a drive without my bird book. 

Birds, once you really stop and look, are incredible! Their variety is beyond anything a human could imagine - they can be as big as an ostrich or as tiny as a bee hummingbird which is so small it can easily be mistaken for an insect. Their colours go beyond our visual spectrum: inflorescence is the most beautiful thing I've seen. They can make beautiful song, or horrible screeches, they live during the day or during the night! 

Did you know that female ostriches are brown
because they sit on the eggs during the day, whereas
 males are black so they can be more camouflaged
 when they sit on the eggs during the night?

And here is the nerdy part: spotting a bird and identifying it correctly is one of the most exciting things on African Safari! Of course seeing the big African animals, the lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants.. That never, ever gets old. But in between, when you spend long hours driving around, bird watching is incredible! I once spent a good hour following a bird trying to I.D. it... and eventually it was confirmed as a Long Legged Buzzard, a species of bird that has been identified less than 10 times in Southern Africa! (Unfortunately I don't have any decent photographs to show you).

The Secretary Bird falls into its own category:
 it has the head of an eagle and the legs of a crane.
Unlike most birds of prey it hunts on the ground.  

So why is there all this stigma around being a bird nerd? What is it that makes us recoil, laugh and mock? 

I think people having a passion for something is beautiful and however manifests... however nerdy it may seem, we should embrace their love and excitement!  

So I leave this post with a few photographs of some of the birds I managed to capture on camera... And hope that in the future you don't fear the stigma of being a bird nerd! 

Pale Chanting Goshawk 

Crowned Lapwing

Lesser Striped Swallow

Blue Crane

Southern BouBou
(This bird sang outside my tent every morning for two months!)

Are you a secret bird-nerd? What got you into it? Do people treat you like you're weird? Please comment and reshare, I'd love to know :)