Health monitoring of wild bears in the Nature Park Skakavac, Canton Sarajevo

Abstract Many wild animal populations are considered endangered due to anthropogenic activities. Wildlife and nature habitat preservation requires holistic and science based approaches supported by adequate regulations. One of the means for wildlife preservation is undoubtedly heath monitoring and investigation of infectious diseases of the wild animal populations, particularly if spillover effects are considered. Even though the theoretical background is well researched, implementation of disease prevention and control measures in wildlife populations entails more challenges than in domestic animal populations. Immediate signs of health disorders in wildlife often become evident when the infectious agent is well established in an area. Additionally, due to unrestricted and often long-range movement of wildlife, diseases are easily spread across borders. Brown bears, indigenous in Europe, are classified by EU regulations as endangered, almost extinct and rare. The wild bear population in Bosnia and Herzegovina shares a genetic lineage with bear populations of neighbouring Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro and is one of the few remaining fragments of bear populations in Europe. The aim of this paper is to describe implemented activities for health and telemetric monitoring of wild bears in the Nature Park Skakavac, Canton Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

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A Review of Zoonotic Babesiosis as an Emerging Public Health Threat in Asia

Pathogens ◽

10.3390/pathogens11010023 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 23

Author(s):

Sabir Hussain ◽

Abrar Hussain ◽

Muhammad Umair Aziz ◽

Baolin Song ◽

Jehan Zeb ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Case Reports ◽

Human Case ◽

Wild Animal ◽

Control Measures ◽

Babesia Microti ◽

Babesia Species ◽

Animal Populations ◽

Prevalent Species ◽

Human Babesiosis

Zoonotic babesiosis poses a serious health risk in many parts of the world. Its emergence in Asia is thus a cause for significant concern, demanding that appropriate control measures are implemented to suppress its spread in this region. This study focuses on zoonotic Babesia species reported in Asia, offering an extensive review of those species reported in animals and humans. We reported 11 studies finding zoonotic Babesia species in animals and 16 in humans. In China, the most prevalent species was found to be Babesia microti, reported in both humans (n = 10) and wild and domesticated animals (n = 4). In Korea, only two studies reported human babesiosis, with a further two studies reporting Babesia microti in wild animals. Babesia microti was also reported in wild animal populations in Thailand and Japan, with evidence of human case reports also found in Singapore, Mongolia and India. This is the first review to report zoonotic babesiosis in humans and animals in Asia, highlighting concerns for future public health in this region. Further investigations of zoonotic species of Babesia in animal populations are required to confirm the actual zoonotic threat of babesiosis in Asia, as well as its possible transmission routes.

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Effects on non-target animal populations of a rabbit trail-baiting campaign with 1080 poison

Wildlife Research ◽

10.1071/wr9910315 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 18 (3) ◽

pp. 315 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

JC Mcilroy ◽

EJ Gifford

Keyword(s):

Vulpes Vulpes ◽

Oryctolagus Cuniculus ◽

New South ◽

New South Wales ◽

Control Measures ◽

Pest Species ◽

Target Animal ◽

South Wales ◽

Animal Populations ◽

Exotic Pest

Populations of non-target birds and mammals on a semi-cleared grazing property near Braidwood, New South Wales, did not appear to be affected by a trail-baiting campaign against rabbits, Oryctolagus cuniculus, using pellet bait and 1080 poison. Rabbit numbers were reduced by about 90% and those of the fox, Vulpes vulpes, another exotic pest, by about 75%. Populations of both pest species began recovering soon after the campaign, indicating the need for continued control measures.

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Biological Consequences of Marine Energy Development on Marine Animals

Energies ◽

10.3390/en14248460 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (24) ◽

pp. 8460

Author(s):

Lenaïg G. Hemery ◽

Andrea E. Copping ◽

Dorian M. Overhus

Keyword(s):

Anthropogenic Activities ◽

Energy Systems ◽

Energy Development ◽

Knowledge Gaps ◽

Marine Animals ◽

Natural Habitats ◽

Holistic View ◽

Energy Devices ◽

Marine Energy ◽

Animal Populations

Marine energy devices harness power from attributes of ocean water to form a sustainable energy source. Knowledge gaps remain about whether marine energy systems can affect the environment, adding another threat to animal populations and habitats already under pressure from climate change and anthropogenic activities. To date, potential environmental effects have been studied under the scope of stressor–receptor interactions, where moving parts of, or emissions from, a system could harm the animals, habitats, and natural processes. While crucial for understanding effects and identifying knowledge gaps, this approach misses a holistic view of what animals may experience in the presence of marine energy systems. We look at six biological consequences and forces that drive the health of an animal population and the effects expected from marine energy development: success of early life stages; changes in competitive capabilities; growth and survival based on food availability; susceptibility to predators; injury or death; and reproductive success. We use case studies to develop this approach, focusing on a variety of marine animals. An approximate level of risk is assigned for each interaction based on the biological consequences. This work highlights the need to examine the effects of marine energy development on animal populations within their natural habitats.

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GEOTOURISM IN BOSNIA AND HERZGOVINA - STATE AND DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVES

JOURNAL OF TOURSIM AND HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT ◽

10.35666/25662880.2018.4.99 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 99-110

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Economic Development ◽

Bosnia And Herzegovina ◽

Legal Framework ◽

Local Communities ◽

Geological Heritage ◽

Global Level ◽

The World ◽

Nature Park

Geodiversity presents overall diversity of relief shapes, processes and the diversity of landscape. It basically consists of geological, geomorphological and pedological diversity. The most interesting for tourism valorisation are karstic areas that cover over 50% of the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina. When it comes to geoparks, it is necessary to emphasize that such forms of protection have not yet been established in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The European Geopark Network exsist since 2000 and currently there are 140 geoparks in the 38 countries in Europe. Three geoparks stand out in our region; in Slovenia, Idrija and Karavanke (together with part in Austria) and Papuk in Croatia. Their main goals are promotion of geoheritage, protection of geodiversity and support of economic development through geotourism, with the inevitable participation of local communities. In the meantime, this initiative has been raised to a global level by including these areas in the newly adopted UNESCO program - International Geodetic and Geopark Program, which now has over 130 parks in 33 countries of the world. In our country, Blidinje Nature Park and the Protected landscape of Bijambare, have potential for becoming geopark. These parks would be based on promotion of the geological heritage, the geodiversity of the karst zone of Bosnia and Herzegovina, preservation of biodiversity and the protection of specific karst hydrography of this area. The plan for protecting these areas and potential admission to the European geopark network should primarily be based on a new legal framework and a plan that would include sustainable development of geotourism in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

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Enhancing dietary specialization metrics in observational studies of wild animal populations

Ecosphere ◽

10.1002/ecs2.3255 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (9) ◽

Author(s):

Caitlin E. Andrews ◽

John G. Ewen ◽

Rose Thorogood

Keyword(s):

Observational Studies ◽

Wild Animal ◽

Dietary Specialization ◽

Animal Populations

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New Answers for Old Questions: The Evolutionary Quantitative Genetics of Wild Animal Populations

Annual Review of Ecology Evolution and Systematics ◽

10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.39.110707.173542 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 39 (1) ◽

pp. 525-548 ◽

Cited By ~ 225

Author(s):

Loeske E.B. Kruuk ◽

Jon Slate ◽

Alastair J. Wilson

Keyword(s):

Quantitative Genetics ◽

Wild Animal ◽

Animal Populations

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Spatiotemporal Evolution of Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions Transferring via Trade: Influencing Factors and Policy Implications

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17145065 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (14) ◽

pp. 5065 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Zhangqi Zhong ◽

Xu Zhang ◽

Weina Gao

Keyword(s):

Greenhouse Gas Emissions ◽

Greenhouse Gas ◽

Global Climate ◽

Anthropogenic Activities ◽

Spillover Effects ◽

Economic Benefits ◽

Policy Implications ◽

Energy Structure ◽

Gas Emissions ◽

Factors Influencing

Global climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) from anthropogenic activities have already become the focus of the world. A more systematic and comprehensive analysis on the factors influencing the changes of global GHGs transferring via trade have not been fully discussed. To this end, employing spatial econometric regression models and multi-regional input-output models, this paper reveals factors influencing the GHGs transferring via trade changes in 39 major economies, so as to develop the relevant GHGs reduction policies. The results indicate that regions with the highest net outflow of GHGs transferring via trade are primarily Russia and Canada, and the adverse effects of promoting GHGs reduction on the national economy could be avoided by these regions owing to trade relations. Additionally, factors influencing the changes in GHGs transferring via trade have significant spatial autocorrelation, and population size and energy structure exert significant spatial spillover effects on the changes in the GHGs transferring via trade. On this basis, this paper suggests that one more effective way to prevent trade from the rigorous demands of environmental governance measures while preserving the economic benefits of international trade may be to facilitate cooperation between countries on GHGs mitigation. Further, we articulate more balanced environment governance policies, including conducting the sharing of advanced energy technologies and developing clearer production technologies.

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Plant-Derived Natural Compounds for Tick Pest Control in Livestock and Wildlife: Pragmatism or Utopia?

Insects ◽

10.3390/insects11080490 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (8) ◽

pp. 490 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Danilo G. Quadros ◽

Tammi L. Johnson ◽

Travis R. Whitney ◽

Jonathan D. Oliver ◽

Adela S. Oliva Chávez

Keyword(s):

Natural Compounds ◽

Tick Control ◽

Wild Animal ◽

Private Companies ◽

The Road ◽

Chemical Treatments ◽

Animal Populations ◽

The Right ◽

Promising Avenue

Ticks and tick-borne diseases are a significant economic hindrance for livestock production and a menace to public health. The expansion of tick populations into new areas, the occurrence of acaricide resistance to synthetic chemical treatments, the potentially toxic contamination of food supplies, and the difficulty of applying chemical control in wild-animal populations have created greater interest in developing new tick control alternatives. Plant compounds represent a promising avenue for the discovery of such alternatives. Several plant extracts and secondary metabolites have repellent and acaricidal effects. However, very little is known about their mode of action, and their commercialization is faced with multiple hurdles, from the determination of an adequate formulation to field validation and public availability. Further, the applicability of these compounds to control ticks in wild-animal populations is restrained by inadequate delivery systems that cannot guarantee accurate dosage delivery at the right time to the target animal populations. More work, financial support, and collaboration with regulatory authorities, research groups, and private companies are needed to overcome these obstacles. Here, we review the advancements on known plant-derived natural compounds with acaricidal potential and discuss the road ahead toward the implementation of organic control in managing ticks and tick-borne diseases.

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Intrasample variation and the effect of storage delay on faecal metabolite concentrations in the southern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus latifrons)

Australian Mammalogy ◽

10.1071/am11047 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 34 (2) ◽

pp. 217 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Kristin A. Descovich ◽

Allan T. Lisle ◽

Stephen Johnston ◽

Tamara Keeley ◽

Clive J. C. Phillips

Keyword(s):

Wild Animal ◽

Initial Increase ◽

Sample Storage ◽

Metabolite Analysis ◽

Adrenal Hormone ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Animal Populations ◽

Metabolite Concentrations ◽

Hormonal Fluctuations ◽

Over Time

Faecal hormone metabolite analysis offers a non-invasive alternative to blood sampling that is particularly relevant to wild animal populations. It has been used for reproductive and adrenal hormone monitoring in captive wombats, but no information exists on its accuracy when sample storage is delayed or on whether variation exists within samples. This study aimed to quantify the effect of storage delay and intrasample variation on faecal metabolite concentrations of testosterone, progesterone and corticosterone in southern hairy-nosed wombats. For all metabolites, intrasample variance was 15% or less of total variance. Delays in storage significantly changed metabolite concentrations, with progesterone showing a progressive decrease over time (0–72 h: t24 = 2.14, P = 0.05), testosterone showing a significant increase after 6-h delay (0–6 h: t21 = 2.83, P = 0.01), and corticosterone showing an initial increase (0–6 h: t48 = 3.60, P = 0.001), followed by a reduction to original concentrations by 72 h (0–72 h: t48 = 0.91, P = 0.38). Although changes caused by storage delays may not obscure large hormonal fluctuations, this study outlines the importance of immediate storage and consistent sampling to allow the most accurate results to be obtained.

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