Passive surveillance of African Swine Fever (ASF) in wild boars as an effective tool for prevention, control and eradication of ASF: A new approach

The latest recommendations of the European Commission and the scientific opinions of the EFSA and other bodies define the passive surveillance of ASF in wild boars as a key means of epidemiological surveillance and a basic tool for the eradication of the ASF virus from the natural environment in the areas where this disease occurs, especially in the early stage of its development. The key to eradication is the management of the wild boar population and its reduction to a low and controlled number, so as to diminish the virus pressure in the environment and lessen the risk to pig farms. Wild boar hunting should take place in a planned manner that is adapted to the epizootic situation (as part of centrally managed hunting and sanitary culling). The most intensive hunting should take place in ASF-free areas, with the use of tailored methods and the latest technologies. Periodic hunting moratoria and restrictions on any activity in newly infected zones are necessary. This approach provides for phased eradication of the infectious agent by culling or capturing wild boars, as well as identifying and safely removing their carcasses and remains. When passive ASF surveillance in wild fauna is undertaken, data on the incidence of the disease in wild boars are obtained by the Veterinary Inspectorate without its active participation. The inspectorate is notified of any suspicion or occurrence of the disease, including discoveries of carcasses of animals of susceptible species. Then it acts according to an established plan including clinical examination of suspected or sick animals, anatomopathological examinations and sample collection for laboratory tests. The article describes the use of passive ASF surveillance in wild boars as a tool to prevent, control and combat ASF in Poland.

Vertebrate diversity at Margalla Hills National Park, Pakistan

The Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP) in Islamabad, Pakistan, is an important site for the conservation of many plants and animals. The present study aimed to determine the status of fauna diversity and richness, and environmental threats to the animals. A field study was conducted and the point count method was used to determine vertebrate diversity. The survey showed that the MHNP is home to 117 species of birds, 27 reptiles (including species such as the saw–scaled viper, Russell’s viper and the Indian cobra) and 30 mammalian species, such as barking deer, wild boar, golden jackal, red fox, Asiatic leopards, monkeys, fruit bats, and pangolins. The results showed a maximum count of 9,076 birds of 117 species belonging to 48 families. According to the Islamabad wildlife management board, one of the unique species, the grey goral (Nemorhaedus goral), has become extinct at the MHNP as no single specimen has been recorded since 2018. It was also been observed, however, that the numbers of the endangered species of common leopard (Panthera pardus) and pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) have increased, possibly due to the wildlife management board’s strategy for conservation. Nevertheless, greater conservation and protection of wild fauna at the MHNP is still needed. During the visits, threats such as habitat degradation, climate change, and over hunting were recorded. Dataset published through GBIF (Doi: 10.15470/hf1s9i)

Trichinella spp. Y EL CICLO SALVAJE EN LA PROVINCIA DE SANTA FE

Trichinellosis in a zoonotic parasitism of worldwide distribution caused by nematodes of the genus Trichinella. Argentina is considered an endemic country for this zoonosis and so far four species have been identified, spiralis, patagoniensis, britovi and pseudospiralis. It can affect both domestic animals such as pigs, dogs, horses, or wild animals such as cougars, armadillos, wild boars, and wild pigs. With the aim of knowing if any species of Trichinella circulates among the wild fauna of the province of Santa Fe, 22 samples of muscle from pigs between wild and wild boars were analyzed by Artificial Digestion, five from aguará guazú (Chrysocyon brachiurus), one of cat wild (Leopardus geoffroyi), one of weasel (Didelphis albiventris) and one of an equine (Equus caballus). All samples were negative.

Vascular flora of Ruy mountain (Znepole region) and its medicinal plants

As a result of the performed research of the Ruy mountain flora, 261 plant species were found and established. These refer to 176 genera and 57 families. There was a floral analysis performed, which determined 116 medicinal plants species. The examined local flora has 12 Balkan endemites and 19 relict species. There is one species with endangered conservation status – Galanthus elwesii Hook. f. There were 7 species determined, which fall within the scope of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The plant species found were examined and determined in terms of biological types. The floral complex of this local flora was also determined.

Colonial Wildlife Conservation and National Parks in Sub-Saharan Africa

Colonial wildlife conservation initiatives in Africa emerged during the late 19th century, with the creation of different laws to restrict hunting as well as with the setting up of game reserves by colonial governments. Key influential figures behind this emergence were aristocratic European hunters who had a desire to preserve African game populations—ostensibly protecting them from settler and African populations—so that elite sports hunting could persevere on the continent. These wildlife conservation measures became more consolidated at the turn of the 20th century, notably due to the 1900 Convention for the Preservation of Animals, Birds and Fish in Africa—an agreement between European imperial powers and their colonial possessions in Africa to improve wildlife preservation measures—and with the establishment of the Society for the Preservation of the Wild Fauna of the Empire in 1903. This Society, made up of aristocrats, hunter-naturalists, and former government officials, used the influence of its members to advocate for greater wildlife conservation measures in Africa. The wildlife preservation agenda of the Society was largely geared around restricting hunting praxis (and land access) for African populations, while elite European hunting was defended and promoted as an imperial privilege compatible with environmental outcomes. Starting in the 1920s, members from the Society played a key role in setting up Africa’s early national parks, establishing a key conservation praxis that would continue into the late colonial and postcolonial periods. After World War II, colonial wildlife conservation influence reached its zenith. African populations were displaced as national parks were established across the continent.

Reaching Our Roots: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Promoting Sustainability of the African Blackwood Tree

Prized by instrument makers for its tone and resiliency since the early nineteenth century, the African Blackwood tree (Dalbergia melanoxylon), also known as granadilla or mpingo (Swahili), faces an uncertain future. Often overharvested and inefficiently used, African Blackwood has been on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s “near threatened” red list since 1998 and is categorized by CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) in Appendix II, which restricts and controls trade. As instrument manufacturers, makers, and musicians continue to purchase the wood, there is little recognition of the sustainability issues around the tree. Furthermore, many communities that harvest the wood are unaware of the musical nature of the product. The purpose of this presentation is to introduce an interdisciplinary approach to conservation of and education about African Blackwood. Since 2010, Daraja Music Initiative (DMI), a 501(c)3 nonprofit and a Tanzanian NGO, has provided music and conservation education in the Kilimanjaro Region of Tanzania, where mpingo is the national tree. By bridging seemingly divergent disciplines, DMI has raised awareness of sustainability issues both in Tanzania and internationally through the global clarinet community. This presentation will give a brief historical overview of African Blackwood trade, highlight the major conservation issues, and provide information about developing partnerships for increased sustainability in a community setting.

Survey of wildlife rescued and treated from 2014 to 2016 in Joinville (SC), Brazil

Natural ecosystems are in constant conflict with the growing and disordered urban expansion, arising from the mismanagement of human developments and infrastructure, facing an accelerated rate of deforestation and defaunation. The intense pressure on natural environments impacts the local fauna through various incidents, generating high mortality, such as hit-and-run, window-crashing, attacks by domestic animals, dissemination of diseases and electrocution. The purpose of this study was to carry out a retrospective survey of the wild fauna rescued and treated at a clinic associated with the environmental police in the region of Joinville - SC. A total of 379 wild animals were treated at the clinic from 2014 to 2016. Of these, 262 (69.13%) were birds, 107 (28.23%) mammals, 9 (2.37%) reptiles and 1 (0.26%) amphibian. The main causes of referral for clinical care were due to trauma (50.66%), seizures (1.32%) and other causes (48.02%), such as home invasion and orphaned puppies. Among the reasons for traumas, pedestrian accidents were the most prevalent, representing 39.58% of the cases treated, followed by animals found to be debilitated without a defined cause (31.77%), attack by domestic animals (14.58%) and window-crashing (9.89%). The data obtained in this study show a rich diversity of species in Joinville. These species are exposed to several anthropogenic challenges and barriers derived mainly from intense displacement and human invasion, causing many animals to move in order to adapt to urban areas.

The interplay of spatial scale and landscape transformation modulates the abundance and intraspecific variation in the ecomorphological traits of a phyllostomid bat

Land use intensification imposes selective pressures that systematically change the frequency of wild population phenotypes. Growing evidence is biased towards the comparison of populations from discrete categories of land uses, ignoring the role of landscape emerging properties on the phenotype selection of wild fauna. Across the largest urban–rural gradient of the Colombian Orinoquia, we measured ecomorphological traits of 216 individuals of the flat-faced fruit-eating bat Artibeus planirostris. We did this to evaluate the scale of effect at which landscape transformation better predicts changes in phenotype and abundance of an urban-tolerant species. Forest percentage at 1.25 km was the main predictor affecting negatively bat abundance and positively its wing aspect ratio and body mass. Landscape variables affected forearm length at all spatial scales, this effect appeared to be sex-dependent, and the most important predictor, forest percentage at 0.5 km, had a negative effect on this trait. Our results indicate that landscape elements and spatial scale interact to shape ecomorphological traits and the abundance of A. planirostris. Interestingly, the scale of effect coincided at 1.25 km among all biological responses, suggesting that species’ abundance can be linked to the variation on phenotype under different environmental filters across landscape scenarios.

An overview of international trade of Macaca fascicularis from Indonesia based on the CITES trade database

Wildlife trade is one of the main constraints in biodiversity conservation. International wildlife trade is regulated by The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Approximately 34,000 plants and animals are grouped into three Appendices related to the degree of threats posed due to international trade. Annually, CITES provides global trends in wildlife trade through its official website. However, there are some limitations demonstrated by the CITES database, which may indicate unsustainable trade. Using the CITES trade database, we offer an overview of the international trade of crab-eating Macaca (Macaca fascicularis) from Indonesia. Results show that Indonesia had recorded 440 transactions of M. fascicularis in both live animals and non-live forms for 30 years (1990-2019). A total of 117,193 live M. fascicularis had been traded, with the United States being the primary importer. There were challenges in using the CITES trade database in analyzing M. fascicularis trade, including a mismatch between trade volume reported by the exporters and importers, undefined trade purposes, and unitless reports. We hope that our findings can help the community understand international M. fascicularis trade and guide future conservation efforts and policy changes.

Dynamics of the global trade Asiatic Softshell Turtle (Amyda cartilaginea Boddaert 1770): Shifting trends in commerce and consequences for sustainability

Biodiverse countries such as Indonesia provide the exotic Asiatic Softshell Turtle (Amyda cartilaginea Boddaert 1770) for the wildlife trade. Deciding which trade model is detrimental to species survival in the wild can be a major challenge for Management Authorities (MA) in implementing CITES. The consequences for conservation, long-term use, and livelihoods are uncertain. The study used the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) trade database. The collection of raw data is based on trade reports for the species of freshwater turtles (testudinidae) for the period 2011 to 2021, export countries from Indonesia, export destinations for all countries and sources of harvested turtles from the wild. This research aims to study the freshwater turtle trading trends over the decade, compare total quotas to actual harvest, and recognize how the precautionary principle is applied in harvesting A. cartilaginea. Harvesting and trading are following the quota regulated under the Indonesian government. However, conservation efforts were less emphasized, so it is feared that there will be a population decline and even extinction in the future, while the population in the wild cannot be ascertained. The larger the harvest quota set and the shorter the harvest period, the larger the natural population that must be available.