scholarly journals Trade in Asian elephant ivory in Sri Lanka

Oryx ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 176-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles Santiapillai ◽  
Ajith Silva ◽  
Champika Karyawasam ◽  
Shameema Esufali ◽  
Salila Jayaniththi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Endangered Species ◽  
Turn Of The Century ◽  
Elephas Maximus ◽  
Sri Lankan ◽  
Recent Past ◽  
Term Survival ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Elephant Ivory

AbstractElephants Elephas maximus have declined in range and number in the wild in Sri Lanka, from c. 12,000 at the turn of the nineteenth century to c. 4000 today. While in the distant past the decline in elephant numbers was due largely to indiscriminate killing by sportsmen and trophy hunters, today elephants are being killed primarily because they interfere with agriculture. Human-elephant conflicts have increased substantially in the recent past and ivory poaching has become a byproduct of such conflicts. Elephant tusks have been used traditionally in the ivory-carving industry in Sri Lanka since the time of the ancient kings. Until the turn of the century, very little ivory was imported from Africa because there was a plentiful supply of tuskers locally available. Sri Lankan ivory carvers started to use African ivory in 1910. Today ivory and fake-ivory products are sold openly to tourists in some 86 shops in the island. Before the listing of the African elephant in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), the value of raw ivory in Sri Lanka used to be $US228–285 per kg. After the listing, the price fell to $US72 per kg, reflecting a drastic drop in the demand for ivory from tourists. Many ivory carvers have switched to other jobs or are using substitutes (such as bone and horn) to produce fake-ivory carvings. Only about 7.5 per cent of bulls in Sri Lanka are tuskers and they are under poaching pressure outside protected areas. Given the rarity of tuskers in Sri Lanka, promotion of trade in ivory products, even locally, may pose a serious threat to their long-term survival in the wild.

scholarly journals Sri Lanka and the Covid 19 Crisis: Strategies and Future Challenges

2020 ◽  
pp. 147-158
Author(s):  
Asantha Senevirathna
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Economic Impact ◽  
Global Economy ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Developing Nations ◽  
Sri Lankan ◽  
Recent Past ◽  
Government Response ◽  
The World ◽  
Future Challenges

 COVID-19 pandemic has become a major crisis in 2020. The pandemic has claimed thousands of lives and is spreading a negative economic impact around the global economy. The pandemic has caused a devastating impact on human life in many of the countries without a clear distinction among developed or developing nations. Sri Lanka is facing the heat of the pandemic gradually since January and has taken various measures to combat the situation. The COVID-19 pandemic forwarded a greater challenge to Sri Lanka since the country has faced various disasters in the recent past and question marks remain about the government’s response. The Sri Lankan government response to the current COVID-19 crisis has been largely successful and is ranked among the best responsive countries in the world. This paper discusses Sri Lanka’s strategies in dealing with COVID-19 pandemic and possible future challenges related to the issue.

scholarly journals The Critically Endangered Myanmar snub-nosed monkey Rhinopithecus strykeri found in the Salween River Basin, China

Oryx ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 134-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yin Yang ◽  
Ying-Ping Tian ◽  
Chen-Xiang He ◽  
Zhipang Huang ◽  
Shao-Hua Dong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
River Basin ◽  
Infrared Camera ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
Term Survival ◽  
Transect Sampling ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Disturbed Forest ◽  
Endangered Status ◽  
Salween River

AbstractThe Myanmar snub-nosed monkey Rhinopithecus strykeri was discovered in 2010 on the western slopes of the Gaoligong Mountains in the Irrawaddy River basin in Myanmar and subsequently in the same river basin in China, in 2011. Based on 2 years of surveying the remote and little disturbed forest of the Gaoligong Mountains National Nature Reserve in China, with outline transect sampling and infrared camera monitoring, a breeding group comprising > 70 individuals was found on the eastern slopes of the Gaoligong Mountains in the Salween River Basin. Given the Critically Endangered status of this primate (a total of < 950 individuals are estimated to remain in the wild), efforts to protect the relatively undisturbed habitat of this newly discovered population and to prevent hunting are essential for the long-term survival of this species.

scholarly journals PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT OF WAVE ENERGY IN SRI LANKA

2020 ◽  
pp. 21
Author(s):  
Kusalika Ariyarathne ◽  
Pavithra Jayarathne
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Wave Energy ◽  
Sri Lankan ◽  
Energy Potential ◽  
Wave Data ◽  
Density Maps ◽  
South West Monsoon ◽  
Near Shore ◽  
Directional Wave

Preliminary results of a numerical model developed to detail spatial and temporal assessment of theoretically available near shore wave energy, and potential wave energy extracting sites, along the Sri Lankan coast is presented in this paper. Wave energy is estimated applying Danish Hydraulic Institute's Mike 21 Spectral Wave (SW) module. The model is developed and applied covering an area along the coast line of entire country extending from 315000 to 640000 mE, and 602000 to 1164000 mN. Model was run with boundary inputs of wind and wave, based on long term measured, and long term hindcast directional wave data available at seven locations, which are well distributed around the country. Model calibration and validation are carried out based on long term measured directional wave data at Colombo, Sri Lanka. Based on the estimated wave energy density maps, and spatial and temporal energy variations, Hambantota, in South East coast is identified as the most feasible location for wave energy harnessing. Annual and seasonal availability of the wave energy, for Hambantota area, at 25 m depth, were looked into in detail. In the above area, mean annual energy potential was estimated as 10 kW/m at 25 m depth, whereas maximum annual potential energy was estimated as 36 kW/m. During South West monsoon, where high waves are present, the mean energy potential is estimated as 15 kW/m.Recorded Presentation from the vICCE (YouTube Link): https://youtu.be/dPa9istaB7A

No long-term effect of intracoelomic acoustic transmitter implantation on survival, growth, and body condition of a long-lived stenotherm in the wild

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justin A. G. Hubbard ◽  
Brendan E. Hickie ◽  
Jeff Bowman ◽  
Lee E. Hrenchuk ◽  
Paul J. Blanchfield ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Lake Trout ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Term Survival ◽  
Acoustic Transmitter ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Surgical Implantation ◽  
Fish Survival

A fundamental assumption of biotelemetry studies is that there are no adverse consequences from the surgical implantation or presence of the acoustic transmitter. In fisheries, most studies have evaluated this assumption over only short time periods (<2 y) in a laboratory setting. Here we compared the survival, growth, and body condition of populations of Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush) in three lakes containing tagged and untagged individuals over a 12-year period (2002-2013). We found no significant negative effects of acoustic telemetry tagging on the long-term survival of fish (estimates of combined annual survival ranged from 67% to 91%), and no negative effect of surgical implantation on growth or body condition for fish of either sex. Additionally, we found no significant effect of transmitter:fish mass ratio on fish survival, growth (with the exception of smaller-bodied fish in one lake), or condition. All implanted fish received tags weighing <1.25% of their mass (in water), indicating that this criterion is desirable for larger-bodied adult Lake Trout. Our findings support the assumption that long-lived fish species tagged with acoustic transmitters via intracoelomic surgery survive, grow, and maintain body condition similar to un-tagged conspecifics over the long-term in the wild.

Sri Lanka is likely to face early elections

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Prime Minister ◽  
Political Influence ◽  
Sri Lankan ◽  
National Party ◽  
Legislative Elections ◽  
National Unity ◽  
Party Discipline ◽  
Content Type

Subject Political instability in Sri Lanka. Significance Parliament resumed early last month after being prorogued by President Maithripala Sirisena. Sri Lanka’s National Unity Government (NUG), formed after the 2015 legislative elections, is a coalition between Sirisena’s Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s United National Party (UNP). Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) leads the Joint Opposition (JO). According to the constitution, a two-thirds parliamentary majority would be required for Sirisena to bring forward the next legislative elections due in 2020. Impacts The breakdown in party discipline in parliament suggests instability will be a long-term feature of Sri Lankan politics. Judicial campaigns against the Rajapaksa family will intensify, despite its sustained political influence. Political uncertainty will cause the Sri Lankan rupee to fall further against the dollar.

scholarly journals Play in Elephants: Wellbeing, Welfare or Distraction?

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 305 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Elizabeth Webber ◽  
Phyllis C. Lee
Keyword(s):  
Social Play ◽  
Feeding Time ◽  
Term Survival ◽  
Diverse Range ◽  
Active Time ◽  
Object Play ◽  
Welfare Indicator ◽  
Potential Indicator ◽  
In The Wild

We explore elephant play behaviour since (a) play has been proposed to represent a potential welfare indicator; and (b) play has been associated with long-term survival in the wild. We categorised play into four types, and investigate both social (gentle, escalated-contact) and non-social (lone-locomotor, exploratory-object) play from observations made on wild (Asian N = 101; African N = 130) and captive (Asian N = 8; African N = 7) elephant calves ranging in age from birth to five years. Social play was the most frequent type of play among immature elephants, accounting for an average of 3%–9% of active time. Non-social play accounted for an additional 1%–11% of time. The most time spent in play was seen in captive Asian calves, particularly at the ages of 1–6 months, while wild African calves spent the least time in play overall, even though they had the greatest number and most diverse range of play partners available. We assessed calf energetics using time spent suckling, resting, moving and independent feeding. Time spent playing was unrelated to time spent suckling but negatively associated with time spent independently feeding. There were no associations with time spent moving or resting. Maternal energy via lactation was unrelated to play early in life, but energy acquired independently may constrain or enable play. Play, while a potential indicator of compromised welfare for many species when absent, can act as a highly stimulating activity for captive elephants in the absence of other forms of arousal.

The effect of familiarity and mound condition in translocations of the western pebble-mound mouse, Pseudomys chapmani, in the Pilbara region of Western Australia

2001 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stuart Anstee ◽  
Kyle Armstrong
Keyword(s):  
Endangered Species ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Site Fidelity ◽  
Iron Ore ◽  
Reproductive Activity ◽  
Significant Loss ◽  
Burrow System ◽  
Term Survival ◽  
Conservation Of Endangered Species

Translocations play an important role in the conservation of endangered species, and successful translocations are dependent on research into their response to such manipulations. The development of Hamersley Iron’s Yandi Iron Ore Project in the Pilbara region of Western Australia provided a unique opportunity to study the response of the western pebble-mound mouse, Pseudomys chapmani, to translocation. The translocation tested the effect of levels of individual familiarity within translocation groups on translocation success. A key part of the translocation involved the use of competent burrow systems in empty mounds. Success was measured by comparing the long-term survival, reproductive activity and site fidelity between treatments. Of 101 mice translocated, 65% were recaptured at least once post-release. Both the translocated and resident non-translocated groups had experienced a significant loss of individuals after 35 days; however, estimates of rates of survival after 176 days had increased to levels equivalent to those immediately following release. Eight mice were recaptured at, or close to, their points of release 6 months post-release. Reproductive activity was recorded in 13 of the 29 (44%) translocated females recaptured post-release, which was equivalent to that observed in non-translocated mice. Familiarity within translocation groups did not appear to affect translocation success as all treatments had similar rates of survival. This study demonstrated that successful translocations of P. chapmani are possible given a competent burrow system.

scholarly journals To Be or Not to Be a Hero

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 96-114
Author(s):  
Matti Weisdorf ◽  
Birgitte Refslund Sørensen
Keyword(s):  
Civil War ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Sri Lankan ◽  
Post Injury ◽  
Ethnographic Fieldwork ◽  
The Social ◽  
Material Benefits ◽  
Struggle For Recognition ◽  
Collective Narrative

Based on long-term ethnographic fieldwork in and around a so-called War Hero Village (Ranavirugama) in northwestern Sri Lanka, this article traces the social (un)becomings of Sri Lankan Army veterans injured during the civil war with the Tamil liberation front. It argues that such veterans have long been able to draw on a materially rewarding narrative of sacrifice and carnal capital—epitomized in the honorific ranaviru (war hero)—in order to produce a particular kind of veteran citizenship, let alone subjectivity, and thus to pursue socially meaningful post-injury existences. In the eyes of the veterans themselves, however, this celebratory narrative is eroding and a “collective narrative” characterized by a kind of social forgetting of the injured veteran is emerging. Material benefits notwithstanding, this narrative contestation entails a “struggle for recognition” that threatens to leave them not only disabled but also with no one to be, or become.

scholarly journals Telomere dynamics rather than age predict life expectancy in the wild

2009 ◽  
Vol 276 (1662) ◽  
pp. 1679-1683 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre Bize ◽  
François Criscuolo ◽  
Neil B Metcalfe ◽  
Lubna Nasir ◽  
Pat Monaghan
Keyword(s):  
Life Expectancy ◽  
Telomere Length ◽  
Good Evidence ◽  
Chronological Age ◽  
Term Survival ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Telomere Dynamics

Despite accumulating evidence from in vitro studies that cellular senescence is linked to telomere dynamics, how this relates to whole-organism senescence and longevity is poorly understood and controversial. Using data on telomere length in red blood cells and long-term survival from wild Alpine swifts of a range of ages, we report that the telomere length and the rate of telomere loss are predictive of life expectancy, and that slow erosion of relatively long telomeres is associated with the highest survival probabilities. Importantly, because telomere dynamics, rather than chronological age, predict life expectancy, our study provides good evidence for a mechanistic link between telomere erosion and reduced organism longevity under natural conditions, chronological age itself possibly not becoming a significant predictor until very old ages beyond those in our sample.

scholarly journals Betting the farm: A review of Ball Python and other reptile trade from Togo, West Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 40 ◽  
pp. 65-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neil D'Cruze ◽  
Lauren A. Harrington ◽  
Délagnon Assou ◽  
Jennah Green ◽  
David W. Macdonald ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
West Africa ◽  
Source Code ◽  
Turn Of The Century ◽  
Term Survival ◽  
Long Term Survival ◽  
Degree Of Protection ◽  
Commercial Use ◽  
Reptile Species ◽  
The Usa

Our review of the CITES trade database confirmed that the ball python is the most exported species by Togo; with 1,657,814 live individuals – comprising 60% of all live reptiles – reported by importing countries since 1978 (almost 55,000 annually since 1992). In total, 99% of the ball pythons legally exported from Togo under CITES were intended for commercial use, presumably as exotic pets. Since the turn of the century, wild-sourced snakes exported from Togo have been largely replaced with ranched snakes, to the extent that in the last 10 years 95% of these live exports were recorded using CITES source code “R” with the majority destined for the USA. We found discrepancies in the CITES trade database that suggest ball python exports were consistently underestimated by Togo and that both ranched and wild-sourced ball python annual quotas have been exceeded on multiple occasions including as recently as 2017. Furthermore, our field visits to seven of these “python farms” revealed that they are also involved in the commercial trade in at least 46 other reptile species, including eight that are already involved in formal CITES trade reviews due to concerns regarding their sustainability and legality. Ranching operations in West Africa were once thought to provide a degree of protection for the ball python; however, in light of recent research, there is growing concern that ranching may not confer any significant net conservation benefits. Further scrutiny and research are required to ensure the long-term survival of wild ball python and other reptile species populations in Togo.

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