#wildlifeconservation — Public Fediverse posts

In breaking news, CNN reveals that the long-extinct Tasmanian tiger had a unique bite that CNN desperately hopes you'll find more interesting than their video player's loading speed 🐅💁‍♂️. Meanwhile, the elusive 'relevance' of ads remains as extinct as the tiger itself. 🦖📺
https://www.cnn.com/2026/09/02/science/tasmanian-tiger-skull-bite-force #TasmanianTiger #ExtinctSpecies #CNNNews #DigitalMedia #AdsRelevance #WildlifeConservation #HackerNews #ngated

In 2021, ‘Air Jaws’ photographer Chris Fallows bought a South African farm with his wildlife-art earnings and combined land formed a 3,200-acre nature reserve | World News

Portrait of the photographer Chris Fallows along with the great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias)…
#NewsBeep #News #Artsanddesign #Arts #ArtsAndDesign #AU #Australia #biodiversityprotection #CapeInfanta #ChrisFallows #Design #Entertainment #SouthAfricannaturereserve #wildlifeconservation
https://www.newsbeep.com/au/882064/

In 2021, ‘Air Jaws’ photographer Chris Fallows bought a South African farm with his wildlife-art earnings and combined land formed a 3,200-acre nature reserve | World News

Portrait of the photographer Chris Fallows along with the great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias)…
#NewsBeep #News #Artsanddesign #Arts #ArtsAndDesign #AU #Australia #biodiversityprotection #CapeInfanta #ChrisFallows #Design #Entertainment #SouthAfricannaturereserve #wildlifeconservation
https://www.newsbeep.com/au/882064/

Want to See a Sloth? Here’s How to Do it Responsibly

This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). High in the jungle canopy, a three-toed sloth is…
#Conflict #Conflicts #War #conservation #cuteanimals #Latinamerica #rainforest #rescueanimals #sloths #SouthAmerica #wildlifeconservation #WWF
https://www.europesays.com/3236252/

https://www.europesays.com/ie/675179/ In 2021, ‘Air Jaws’ photographer Chris Fallows bought a South African farm with his wildlife-art earnings and combined land formed a 3,200-acre nature reserve | World News #BiodiversityProtection #CapeInfanta #ChrisFallows #Éire #IE #Ireland #Science #SouthAfricanNatureReserve #Wildlife #WildlifeConservation

https://www.europesays.com/people/217177/ In 2021, ‘Air Jaws’ photographer Chris Fallows bought a South African farm with his wildlife-art earnings and combined land formed a 3,200-acre nature reserve | World News #BiodiversityProtection #CapeInfanta #ChrisFallows #JeffBezos #SouthAfricanNatureReserve #WildlifeConservation

Trump signs order to remove endangered species protection for grey wolves

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62k677d4lzo

Comments: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49583144

#HackerNews #Trump #EndangeredSpecies #GreyWolves #WildlifeConservation #PolicyChange

Trump signs order to remove endangered species protection for grey wolves

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62k677d4lzo

Comments: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49583144

#HackerNews #Trump #EndangeredSpecies #GreyWolves #WildlifeConservation #PolicyChange

Trump signs order to remove endangered species protection for grey wolves

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62k677d4lzo

Comments: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49583144

#HackerNews #Trump #EndangeredSpecies #GreyWolves #WildlifeConservation #PolicyChange

Trump signs order to remove endangered species protection for grey wolves

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62k677d4lzo

Comments: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49583144

#HackerNews #Trump #EndangeredSpecies #GreyWolves #WildlifeConservation #PolicyChange

Trump signs order to remove endangered species protection for grey wolves

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62k677d4lzo

Comments: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49583144

#HackerNews #Trump #EndangeredSpecies #GreyWolves #WildlifeConservation #PolicyChange

Scientists Could Soon Lose a Key Tool For Studying Antarctica’s Melting Ice Sheets As Climate Risks Grow

https://onlinemarketingscoops.com/2026/09/01/scientists-could-soon-lose-a-key-tool-for-studying-antarcticas-melting-ice-sheets-as-climate-risks-grow/

These Are The Best Bike Paths in National Parks

https://onlinemarketingscoops.com/2026/08/18/these-are-the-best-bike-paths-in-national-parks/

Big Bear Eagle Jackie Shows Signs of Recovery After Health Setback

📰 Original title: After a setback, Big Bear eagle Jackie's health improves: she's 'much more feisty'

🤖 IA: It's clickbait ⚠️
👥 Users: It's clickbait ⚠️

View full AI summary https://en.killbait.com/big-bear-eagle-jackie-shows-signs-of-recovery-after-health-setback.html?utm_source=mastodon_world&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=killbait.mastodon_world

#environment #wildlifeconservation #eaglehealth #environmentalprotection

#SouthAmerica’s First Continental #WildlifeCorridor

By: Tompkins Conservation, October 9, 2025

"The #JaguarRiversInitiative is the first multi-country effort to create a massive wildlife corridor in the heart of South America. Uniting successful grassroots nonprofits in #Argentina, #Bolivia, #Brazil, and #Paraguay, the initiative will restore #ecosystems, bring back #KeySpecies, and develop #NatureBasedEconomies in a new cross-border model that addresses the mass #ExtinctionCrisis and climate instability on a global scale.

"In a groundbreaking announcement during #ClimateWeek in September [2025], an alliance of grassroots South American nonprofits launched South America’s largest continental-scale rewilding endeavor. The Jaguar Rivers Initiative plans to reconnect #FragmentedEcosystems across the vast #ParanáBasin using #RiverCorridors as the connective tissue. 'We all know the urgency of the #biodiversity and climate crises,' said Kristine Tompkins of Tompkins Conservation. 'This bold initiative underlines the need for coordinated, large-scale action before it’s too late. I’d call it a lifeline to our planet.'

"South America is in the midst of an unparalleled ecological crisis. #Wildlife populations across the region have declined by 94 percent since 1970—the steepest drop in the world. The drivers of this collapse—#deforestation, river degradation, #fragmentation, fire, and #overexploitation—are intensifying in the face of #ClimateChange.

"The Jaguar Rivers Initiative will restore, protect, and connect #ecosystems throughout the heart of South America, covering nearly one million square miles, an area almost twice the size of Alaska. According to Deli Saavedra, the director of the initiative, 'We’re undertaking a very strategic act to safeguard one of the largest river systems in the world. By restoring its ecological integrity, diverse species and communities currently under threat in four countries have the opportunity to thrive, using a model of nature restoration combined with regenerative economies that has been tested and proven successful in places like the #BrazilianPantanal and the #IberáWetlands of #Argentina.'

The initiative will be centered around four pillars:

• Arks: Large intact ecosystems with keystone species, restored and rewilded to become sources of wildlife dispersal.

• #BufferAreas: Surrounding zones where restorative economies promote coexistence and extend protection.

• Stepping Stones: Smaller wildlife refuges along corridors, often private reserves, that enable safe dispersal and reduce human-wildlife conflicts.

• #Rivers and #Floodplains: Vital corridors for connectivity, requiring healthy ecological flows; safeguarded through citizen guardianship, monitoring, and strong policies."

Learn more:
https://rewilding.org/south-americas-first-continental-wildlife-corridor/

#SolarPunkSunday #RewildingInstitute #LandIsLife #WaterIsLife #EndangeredSpecies #WildlifeConservation #HabitatConservation #PreserveNature

Which is the Best Tiger Safari in India to Spot Tigers? A Complete Guide for 2026-27

https://indiasafaristrends.wordpress.com/2026/06/30/which-is-the-best-tiger-safari-in-india-to-spot-tigers-a-complete-guide-for-2026-27/

New review: Boiling over with thought-provoking observations, The Savage Landscape offers a discomfiting yet necessary look at the tensions and contradictions that underlie nature conservation.

https://inquisitivebiologist.com/2026/06/15/book-review-the-savage-landscape-how-we-made-the-wilderness/

#Books #BookReview #Bookstodon #Bookstodon #Scicomm #EnvironmentalHistory #EnvironmentalProtection #WildlifeConservation #NatureConservation @[email protected] @fsgbooks

Cal Flyn has done it again! Candidate for my top 5 this year? Do think so. Review coming soon to https://inquisitivebiologist.com!

#Books #BookReview #Bookstodon #Bookstodon #Scicomm #EnvironmentalHistory #EnvironmentalProtection #WildlifeConservation

Ecologist ‘bursts into tears’ seeing endangered gliders using replacement nests

https://web.brid.gy/r/https://www.upworthy.com/glider-endangered-replacement-nests-ex1/

Platypus Numbers Surge in Royal National Park

Twenty platypuses counted in Royal National Park. This is good news for the vulnerable species, showing signs of recovery in its freshwater home.

#PlatypusCount, #RoyalNationalPark, #WildlifeConservation, #AustralianAnimals, #EndangeredSpecies

https://newsletter.tf/royal-national-park-platypus-population-reaches-20/

Good news for platypuses! The number in Royal National Park has reached 20, which is more than before. This shows they might be doing better there.

#PlatypusCount, #RoyalNationalPark, #WildlifeConservation, #AustralianAnimals, #EndangeredSpecies
https://newsletter.tf/royal-national-park-platypus-population-reaches-20/

#Signs by the nature house & along boardwalk at #SwanLakeNatureSanctuary.

#ConservingWater - #MicroIrrigation
#NativePlantGarden - #PreservingHabitats
#WesternPaintedTurtle - citizens' monitoring & reporting information.

#Saanich #VictoriaBC #NatureEducation #LearnAboutNature #WildlifeConservation #CommunityEducation #nonprofit #NatureConservation #stewardship #ProtectNature #VancouverIsland #VanIsle #VisitAndLearn #NaturePark #BirdsEstuary #NoDogsAllowed #WaterConservation

It's our favorite time of the year.
Happy Visdeurbel season everyone!!

https://visdeurbel.nl/en/

.
#hwatweekly #fishdoorbell #visdeurbel #wildlifeconservation #sciencenews

#Oregon #ecologist on state’s efforts to create safe #WildlifeCorridors over busy #roadways

By Malya Fass (OPB)
Jan. 7, 2026 11:38 a.m.

Image: "This undated artist's rendering from the Oregon Department of Transportation shows the design of an overpass crossing for wildlife spanning above four lanes of traffic on I-5, looking southwest. ODOT is expected to begin construction on the crossing in 2028 in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument, less than two miles north of the California border."

"The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife estimates 14.5 million wild vertebrate animals are killed on Oregon’s roadways each year. Data shows it’s difficult to control driver behavior with things like road signs and traffic regulations. A more effective way to mitigate animal fatalities is by redirecting the animals themselves.

"#WildlifeCrossings — human-made structures that allow animals to safely pass through habitats near roadways — have been a successful tool in preventing animal-motor fatalities. States like #Montana, #Colorado and #California have over 100 wildlife crossings, while Oregon has only six.

"Rachel Wheat is a spatial ecologist who serves as the wildlife connectivity coordinator for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. She joins us to discuss her work and tactics for improving transportation infrastructure for wildlife in Oregon."

Learn more:
https://www.opb.org/article/2026/01/07/wildlife-corridors-oregon/

#SolarPunkSunday #OregonPublicBroadcasting #Nature #WildlifeConservation #NatureCorridors #Roadkill #Highways #GreenSpace

🌍 The diversity of brown bears is astonishing. From Kodiak giants in Alaska to desert‑adapted Gobi bears in Mongolia, one species (Ursus arctos) shows many faces shaped by landscape, history, and survival.

Discover their story: 📖 https://TPC8.short.gy/tzZzzdOF

🐻 A living legacy across continents.

#BrownBear #UrsusArctos #Bears #Wildlife #Conservation #WildlifeConservation #EndangeredSpecies #Biodiversity #Nature #WildlifePhotography #NaturePhotography #TPC8

✨ Aujourd'hui je vous montre un poster sur les Petits #mammiferes ! Réalisé à partir d'illustrations que j'avais faites pour le Groupe Mammalogique Normand... Pour aider à l'identification de ces petites bêtes 🤗
✨ Vous les connaissiez tous ?? 🤔
✨ Il est disponible au format A2, à 5€ !
https://clairemotzart.etsy.com/listing/740311838
°°°°°°°
#micromammiferes #rat #campagnol #souris #musaraigne #crocidura #poster #nature #naturaleza #naturaliste #illustration #naturedrawing #NatureDaily #naturelovers #naturephotography #animalrights #AnimalDrawing #smallmammals #dessin #mastodon #MastoArt #mastodonart #artiste #GMN #procreate #procreateart #sciart #wildlife #WildlifeConservation

Let’s Talk About Europe’s Wolf Protection Laws

As you may have heard, the Standing Committee of the Berne Convention (an international legal instrument for nature conservation) decided to lower the protection status of wolves. This opens the way to lower their protection status across the EU through the Habitats Directive.

The move had been on the cards for over a year, and I covered it extensively on my podcast in episode 163 last November. Back then, I spoke to five experts: scientists working in the fields of biology and social sciences, hunters, environmentalists and even a goat breeder, in an attempt to get the full picture of the situation. As it was then, it still is clear to me that a topic so complex and emotional as killing wolves cannot be fully covered with the opinion of only one podcast guest.

However, in light of this recent development and hearing the chorus of voices it provoked, I decided to write this piece to give you my take on this issue. Is it all that terrible for the wolves in Europe? Of course, given how emotive this topic is, I need to be careful with my words here, not to be accused (again) of spreading the ‘strong nothing to worry about’ vibes. Please hear me out.

First and foremost, the potential move of wolves from Annex IV to Annex V of the Habitats Directive would lower their protection status from ‘strictly protected’ to ‘protected’. Let’s be clear: wolves are still protected. It’s not, as some commentators would have us believe, that a wholesale slaughter of wolves in Europe is imminent. The conservation outcome requirements remain unchanged. Member States still need to recover wolf populations and maintain them in a favourable conservation status.

I disagree with the frequently repeated claim that there is no scientific basis for lowering wolf protection status. I take issue with how a complex body of evidence, including data, observations, predictions and modelling, is often presented as a single, easily interpreted result. In most cases, the reality is more nuanced. Everyone acknowledges that wolves have made a remarkable comeback across Europe. It’s a great conservation success story! So you have to ask yourself a question, why do we have this system of annexes in the Habitats Directive? Isn’t it supposed to reflect species’ conservation status? Why does moving a species to another annex to reflect its recovery cause so much fuss? The answer is politics.

While decisions about moving species from one annex to another should be left to scientists, downlisting an animal (as in this case, wolves) involves an unnecessarily bureaucratic process that requires approval from the EU’s heads of state. This not only creates a very static system where species cannot be easily moved up and down, but it also politicises the process, creating fertile ground for politicians to signal to their voters. And I have said it many times before, when conservation gets politicised, nature and wildlife are the losers. The resulting system rigidity is considered a major flaw in the Habitats Directive. It’s in stark contrast with other dynamic processes of conservation status assessment. Take the example of the IUCN Red List system, where conservation status is periodically reviewed based on the best available scientific data on population size and density. Species status changes without political involvement. Similarly, the US Endangered Species Act is more dynamic, with species being uplisted and downlisted as they become threatened or recover.

But is wolf recovery in Europe sufficient to justify downlisting?

You have probably heard one of two main arguments. First, wolves are still missing from the majority of their historic range. I dealt with this argument and the concept of historic range in another article titled ‘The Myth of Historic Range in Wolf Conservation’. So, I’m not going to repeat that here. Second, most populations are still in unfavourable conservation status. This is where things become more interesting.

It is always a question of scale. When you look at the individual populations within countries’ borders they might indeed appear small. However, when we zoom out and look at the population as a whole, then it suddenly becomes quite large. Wolf populations in Europe are mixing in ways that haven’t happened for centuries. For example, wolves from the Baltic states are mixing with wolves heading up from Italy. This constitutes a strong argument that wolf conservation should be considered in the context of a European metapopulation. It shows a more robust picture of wolf conservation status, especially given the much improved connectivity. And as we know in conservation, connectivity is everything.

There is one more scientific argument, this time from the realm of social sciences. As anyone interested in conservation should know, social science is likely the most important part of conservation science. Wolves can be inconvenient neighbours. There is no doubt that the increase in wolf numbers, range and density has resulted in increased human-wildlife conflict. Yes, I am aware of all the arguments about livestock protection measures and the need to learn to coexist with wildlife. They are all valid, though not without its flaws. Yes, killing wolves does not necessarily prevent attacks on livestock, nor is it the most effective way of managing conflict. But it gives people something else, a feeling of agency. I remember a discussion with Helen Arusoo, the leader of Estonia’s National Animal Working Group (the wolf is the national animal of Estonia), who said that when people feel they lack this sense of agency, they will “hate the wolf in their heart”. During that conversation, she made an excellent point that perhaps it would be a good idea for the EU to look, for once, at smaller countries like Estonia, which are running gold-standard wolf conservation programmes, and learn from their experience. I would definitely recommend listening to my conversation with Helen in episode 168.

So is it all good?

Not quite. Even though it is unlikely that downlisting will pose a threat to the wolf population in Europe, many wolves will be killed in the EU as a result. That is, after all, the whole purpose behind the move. I have no doubt that in some regions and cases, the killing will be excessive, resulting in the removal of too many individuals, leading to pack structure disruption and even local extirpation. Furthermore, pack disruption leads to more lone wolves on the landscape through the loss of pack leaders and disruption of social learning. These solitary individuals are more likely to come into conflict with humans, which can create a vicious circle of wolf killing. The wolves will be especially vulnerable in the regions where anti-wolf sentiments have been embraced by politicians who have managed to get into government in recent election cycles.

Controlling wolf numbers based solely on human tolerance rather than their ecological function has serious ecological impacts. Wolves play a key role not only in controlling the numbers and grazing behaviour of ungulates but also in regulating mesopredator populations, such as foxes. It is a well-known fact that current mainstream farming practices are a cause of the overabundance of generalist mesopredators, which leads to various ecosystem imbalances. The precarious state of ground-nesting birds is a good example. To reinforce this point, ground-nesting bird populations are in a much better shape (with less severe decline) in Eastern Europe, where wolves are present in greater numbers and, in some regions, were never extirpated, unlike in Western Europe.

The downlisting of wolves in the EU may also have broader geopolitical implications. It could pave the way for further politically motivated modifications of the Habitats Directive or changes to the protection of other species that are, in one way or another, incompatible with immediate human interests. The downlisting could also send a problematic message to the world. If a rich European society cannot coexist with relatively harmless predators like wolves, how can it expect other, poorer nations to coexist with much more dangerous and problematic animals like lions or elephants (see ‘trophy import ban’)? That is a blatant display of double standards by European politicians.

Finally, and this argument might seem out of place to some, there is the potential negative impact on hunting and hunters. I can already see the public outcry over wolf hunts organised by the ossified, old-school hunting organisations in Europe. Along with thoughtless hunters posting photos of the wolves they killed. This would only further undermine the social acceptance of hunting, giving anti-hunting organisations ammunition to advance their objectives. Hunters and hunting organisations need to be careful not to let their reputation be further tarnished.

Despite the potential for negative outcomes, the optimist in me wants to see the positives that could follow this decision. Primarily, there is potential to depoliticise the Habitats Directive by implementing Article 19, making it a scientific and flexible tool for classifying species conservation status. I also hope that overall, this move will improve the coexistence and acceptance of wolves on Europe’s landscape. The symbolism of wolves’ strictly protected status, especially in the current political climate, has caused wildlife conservation matters to become entangled in both populist right-wing and hard-left politics. And this is more damaging than shooting a few wolves as the price for coexistence.

If you enjoyed this article, please sign up for my newsletter for more: newsletter.tommysoutdoors.com. To listen to exclusive interviews about the proposal to reduce the protection of wolves in the EU, click here.

#bernConvention #conservationPolitics #conservationScience #ecologicalImpact #environmentalPolicy #environmentalProtection #europeanUnion #HabitatsDirective #humanWildlifeConflict #Hunting #predatorConservation #wildlifeConservation #wildlifeManagement #Wolves

Let’s Talk About Europe’s Wolf Protection Laws

As you may have heard, the Standing Committee of the Berne Convention (an international legal instrument for nature conservation) decided to lower the protection status of wolves. This opens the way to lower their protection status across the EU through the Habitats Directive.

The move had been on the cards for over a year, and I covered it extensively on my podcast in episode 163 last November. Back then, I spoke to five experts: scientists working in the fields of biology and social sciences, hunters, environmentalists and even a goat breeder, in an attempt to get the full picture of the situation. As it was then, it still is clear to me that a topic so complex and emotional as killing wolves cannot be fully covered with the opinion of only one podcast guest.

However, in light of this recent development and hearing the chorus of voices it provoked, I decided to write this piece to give you my take on this issue. Is it all that terrible for the wolves in Europe? Of course, given how emotive this topic is, I need to be careful with my words here, not to be accused (again) of spreading the ‘strong nothing to worry about’ vibes. Please hear me out.

First and foremost, the potential move of wolves from Annex IV to Annex V of the Habitats Directive would lower their protection status from ‘strictly protected’ to ‘protected’. Let’s be clear: wolves are still protected. It’s not, as some commentators would have us believe, that a wholesale slaughter of wolves in Europe is imminent. The conservation outcome requirements remain unchanged. Member States still need to recover wolf populations and maintain them in a favourable conservation status.

I disagree with the frequently repeated claim that there is no scientific basis for lowering wolf protection status. I take issue with how a complex body of evidence, including data, observations, predictions and modelling, is often presented as a single, easily interpreted result. In most cases, the reality is more nuanced. Everyone acknowledges that wolves have made a remarkable comeback across Europe. It’s a great conservation success story! So you have to ask yourself a question, why do we have this system of annexes in the Habitats Directive? Isn’t it supposed to reflect species’ conservation status? Why does moving a species to another annex to reflect its recovery cause so much fuss? The answer is politics.

While decisions about moving species from one annex to another should be left to scientists, downlisting an animal (as in this case, wolves) involves an unnecessarily bureaucratic process that requires approval from the EU’s heads of state. This not only creates a very static system where species cannot be easily moved up and down, but it also politicises the process, creating fertile ground for politicians to signal to their voters. And I have said it many times before, when conservation gets politicised, nature and wildlife are the losers. The resulting system rigidity is considered a major flaw in the Habitats Directive. It’s in stark contrast with other dynamic processes of conservation status assessment. Take the example of the IUCN Red List system, where conservation status is periodically reviewed based on the best available scientific data on population size and density. Species status changes without political involvement. Similarly, the US Endangered Species Act is more dynamic, with species being uplisted and downlisted as they become threatened or recover.

But is wolf recovery in Europe sufficient to justify downlisting?

You have probably heard one of two main arguments. First, wolves are still missing from the majority of their historic range. I dealt with this argument and the concept of historic range in another article titled ‘The Myth of Historic Range in Wolf Conservation’. So, I’m not going to repeat that here. Second, most populations are still in unfavourable conservation status. This is where things become more interesting.

It is always a question of scale. When you look at the individual populations within countries’ borders they might indeed appear small. However, when we zoom out and look at the population as a whole, then it suddenly becomes quite large. Wolf populations in Europe are mixing in ways that haven’t happened for centuries. For example, wolves from the Baltic states are mixing with wolves heading up from Italy. This constitutes a strong argument that wolf conservation should be considered in the context of a European metapopulation. It shows a more robust picture of wolf conservation status, especially given the much improved connectivity. And as we know in conservation, connectivity is everything.

There is one more scientific argument, this time from the realm of social sciences. As anyone interested in conservation should know, social science is likely the most important part of conservation science. Wolves can be inconvenient neighbours. There is no doubt that the increase in wolf numbers, range and density has resulted in increased human-wildlife conflict. Yes, I am aware of all the arguments about livestock protection measures and the need to learn to coexist with wildlife. They are all valid, though not without its flaws. Yes, killing wolves does not necessarily prevent attacks on livestock, nor is it the most effective way of managing conflict. But it gives people something else, a feeling of agency. I remember a discussion with Helen Arusoo, the leader of Estonia’s National Animal Working Group (the wolf is the national animal of Estonia), who said that when people feel they lack this sense of agency, they will “hate the wolf in their heart”. During that conversation, she made an excellent point that perhaps it would be a good idea for the EU to look, for once, at smaller countries like Estonia, which are running gold-standard wolf conservation programmes, and learn from their experience. I would definitely recommend listening to my conversation with Helen in episode 168.

So is it all good?

Not quite. Even though it is unlikely that downlisting will pose a threat to the wolf population in Europe, many wolves will be killed in the EU as a result. That is, after all, the whole purpose behind the move. I have no doubt that in some regions and cases, the killing will be excessive, resulting in the removal of too many individuals, leading to pack structure disruption and even local extirpation. Furthermore, pack disruption leads to more lone wolves on the landscape through the loss of pack leaders and disruption of social learning. These solitary individuals are more likely to come into conflict with humans, which can create a vicious circle of wolf killing. The wolves will be especially vulnerable in the regions where anti-wolf sentiments have been embraced by politicians who have managed to get into government in recent election cycles.

Controlling wolf numbers based solely on human tolerance rather than their ecological function has serious ecological impacts. Wolves play a key role not only in controlling the numbers and grazing behaviour of ungulates but also in regulating mesopredator populations, such as foxes. It is a well-known fact that current mainstream farming practices are a cause of the overabundance of generalist mesopredators, which leads to various ecosystem imbalances. The precarious state of ground-nesting birds is a good example. To reinforce this point, ground-nesting bird populations are in a much better shape (with less severe decline) in Eastern Europe, where wolves are present in greater numbers and, in some regions, were never extirpated, unlike in Western Europe.

The downlisting of wolves in the EU may also have broader geopolitical implications. It could pave the way for further politically motivated modifications of the Habitats Directive or changes to the protection of other species that are, in one way or another, incompatible with immediate human interests. The downlisting could also send a problematic message to the world. If a rich European society cannot coexist with relatively harmless predators like wolves, how can it expect other, poorer nations to coexist with much more dangerous and problematic animals like lions or elephants (see ‘trophy import ban’)? That is a blatant display of double standards by European politicians.

Finally, and this argument might seem out of place to some, there is the potential negative impact on hunting and hunters. I can already see the public outcry over wolf hunts organised by the ossified, old-school hunting organisations in Europe. Along with thoughtless hunters posting photos of the wolves they killed. This would only further undermine the social acceptance of hunting, giving anti-hunting organisations ammunition to advance their objectives. Hunters and hunting organisations need to be careful not to let their reputation be further tarnished.

Despite the potential for negative outcomes, the optimist in me wants to see the positives that could follow this decision. Primarily, there is potential to depoliticise the Habitats Directive by implementing Article 19, making it a scientific and flexible tool for classifying species conservation status. I also hope that overall, this move will improve the coexistence and acceptance of wolves on Europe’s landscape. The symbolism of wolves’ strictly protected status, especially in the current political climate, has caused wildlife conservation matters to become entangled in both populist right-wing and hard-left politics. And this is more damaging than shooting a few wolves as the price for coexistence.

If you enjoyed this article, please sign up for my newsletter for more: newsletter.tommysoutdoors.com. To listen to exclusive interviews about the proposal to reduce the protection of wolves in the EU, click here.

#bernConvention #conservationPolitics #conservationScience #ecologicalImpact #environmentalPolicy #environmentalProtection #europeanUnion #HabitatsDirective #humanWildlifeConflict #Hunting #predatorConservation #wildlifeConservation #wildlifeManagement #Wolves

Let’s Talk About Europe’s Wolf Protection Laws

As you may have heard, the Standing Committee of the Berne Convention (an international legal instrument for nature conservation) decided to lower the protection status of wolves. This opens the way to lower their protection status across the EU through the Habitats Directive.

The move had been on the cards for over a year, and I covered it extensively on my podcast in episode 163 last November. Back then, I spoke to five experts: scientists working in the fields of biology and social sciences, hunters, environmentalists and even a goat breeder, in an attempt to get the full picture of the situation. As it was then, it still is clear to me that a topic so complex and emotional as killing wolves cannot be fully covered with the opinion of only one podcast guest.

However, in light of this recent development and hearing the chorus of voices it provoked, I decided to write this piece to give you my take on this issue. Is it all that terrible for the wolves in Europe? Of course, given how emotive this topic is, I need to be careful with my words here, not to be accused (again) of spreading the ‘strong nothing to worry about’ vibes. Please hear me out.

First and foremost, the potential move of wolves from Annex IV to Annex V of the Habitats Directive would lower their protection status from ‘strictly protected’ to ‘protected’. Let’s be clear: wolves are still protected. It’s not, as some commentators would have us believe, that a wholesale slaughter of wolves in Europe is imminent. The conservation outcome requirements remain unchanged. Member States still need to recover wolf populations and maintain them in a favourable conservation status.

I disagree with the frequently repeated claim that there is no scientific basis for lowering wolf protection status. I take issue with how a complex body of evidence, including data, observations, predictions and modelling, is often presented as a single, easily interpreted result. In most cases, the reality is more nuanced. Everyone acknowledges that wolves have made a remarkable comeback across Europe. It’s a great conservation success story! So you have to ask yourself a question, why do we have this system of annexes in the Habitats Directive? Isn’t it supposed to reflect species’ conservation status? Why does moving a species to another annex to reflect its recovery cause so much fuss? The answer is politics.

While decisions about moving species from one annex to another should be left to scientists, downlisting an animal (as in this case, wolves) involves an unnecessarily bureaucratic process that requires approval from the EU’s heads of state. This not only creates a very static system where species cannot be easily moved up and down, but it also politicises the process, creating fertile ground for politicians to signal to their voters. And I have said it many times before, when conservation gets politicised, nature and wildlife are the losers. The resulting system rigidity is considered a major flaw in the Habitats Directive. It’s in stark contrast with other dynamic processes of conservation status assessment. Take the example of the IUCN Red List system, where conservation status is periodically reviewed based on the best available scientific data on population size and density. Species status changes without political involvement. Similarly, the US Endangered Species Act is more dynamic, with species being uplisted and downlisted as they become threatened or recover.

But is wolf recovery in Europe sufficient to justify downlisting?

You have probably heard one of two main arguments. First, wolves are still missing from the majority of their historic range. I dealt with this argument and the concept of historic range in another article titled ‘The Myth of Historic Range in Wolf Conservation’. So, I’m not going to repeat that here. Second, most populations are still in unfavourable conservation status. This is where things become more interesting.

It is always a question of scale. When you look at the individual populations within countries’ borders they might indeed appear small. However, when we zoom out and look at the population as a whole, then it suddenly becomes quite large. Wolf populations in Europe are mixing in ways that haven’t happened for centuries. For example, wolves from the Baltic states are mixing with wolves heading up from Italy. This constitutes a strong argument that wolf conservation should be considered in the context of a European metapopulation. It shows a more robust picture of wolf conservation status, especially given the much improved connectivity. And as we know in conservation, connectivity is everything.

There is one more scientific argument, this time from the realm of social sciences. As anyone interested in conservation should know, social science is likely the most important part of conservation science. Wolves can be inconvenient neighbours. There is no doubt that the increase in wolf numbers, range and density has resulted in increased human-wildlife conflict. Yes, I am aware of all the arguments about livestock protection measures and the need to learn to coexist with wildlife. They are all valid, though not without its flaws. Yes, killing wolves does not necessarily prevent attacks on livestock, nor is it the most effective way of managing conflict. But it gives people something else, a feeling of agency. I remember a discussion with Helen Arusoo, the leader of Estonia’s National Animal Working Group (the wolf is the national animal of Estonia), who said that when people feel they lack this sense of agency, they will “hate the wolf in their heart”. During that conversation, she made an excellent point that perhaps it would be a good idea for the EU to look, for once, at smaller countries like Estonia, which are running gold-standard wolf conservation programmes, and learn from their experience. I would definitely recommend listening to my conversation with Helen in episode 168.

So is it all good?

Not quite. Even though it is unlikely that downlisting will pose a threat to the wolf population in Europe, many wolves will be killed in the EU as a result. That is, after all, the whole purpose behind the move. I have no doubt that in some regions and cases, the killing will be excessive, resulting in the removal of too many individuals, leading to pack structure disruption and even local extirpation. Furthermore, pack disruption leads to more lone wolves on the landscape through the loss of pack leaders and disruption of social learning. These solitary individuals are more likely to come into conflict with humans, which can create a vicious circle of wolf killing. The wolves will be especially vulnerable in the regions where anti-wolf sentiments have been embraced by politicians who have managed to get into government in recent election cycles.

Controlling wolf numbers based solely on human tolerance rather than their ecological function has serious ecological impacts. Wolves play a key role not only in controlling the numbers and grazing behaviour of ungulates but also in regulating mesopredator populations, such as foxes. It is a well-known fact that current mainstream farming practices are a cause of the overabundance of generalist mesopredators, which leads to various ecosystem imbalances. The precarious state of ground-nesting birds is a good example. To reinforce this point, ground-nesting bird populations are in a much better shape (with less severe decline) in Eastern Europe, where wolves are present in greater numbers and, in some regions, were never extirpated, unlike in Western Europe.

The downlisting of wolves in the EU may also have broader geopolitical implications. It could pave the way for further politically motivated modifications of the Habitats Directive or changes to the protection of other species that are, in one way or another, incompatible with immediate human interests. The downlisting could also send a problematic message to the world. If a rich European society cannot coexist with relatively harmless predators like wolves, how can it expect other, poorer nations to coexist with much more dangerous and problematic animals like lions or elephants (see ‘trophy import ban’)? That is a blatant display of double standards by European politicians.

Finally, and this argument might seem out of place to some, there is the potential negative impact on hunting and hunters. I can already see the public outcry over wolf hunts organised by the ossified, old-school hunting organisations in Europe. Along with thoughtless hunters posting photos of the wolves they killed. This would only further undermine the social acceptance of hunting, giving anti-hunting organisations ammunition to advance their objectives. Hunters and hunting organisations need to be careful not to let their reputation be further tarnished.

Despite the potential for negative outcomes, the optimist in me wants to see the positives that could follow this decision. Primarily, there is potential to depoliticise the Habitats Directive by implementing Article 19, making it a scientific and flexible tool for classifying species conservation status. I also hope that overall, this move will improve the coexistence and acceptance of wolves on Europe’s landscape. The symbolism of wolves’ strictly protected status, especially in the current political climate, has caused wildlife conservation matters to become entangled in both populist right-wing and hard-left politics. And this is more damaging than shooting a few wolves as the price for coexistence.

If you enjoyed this article, please sign up for my newsletter for more: newsletter.tommysoutdoors.com. To listen to exclusive interviews about the proposal to reduce the protection of wolves in the EU, click here.

#bernConvention #conservationPolitics #conservationScience #ecologicalImpact #environmentalPolicy #environmentalProtection #europeanUnion #HabitatsDirective #humanWildlifeConflict #Hunting #predatorConservation #wildlifeConservation #wildlifeManagement #Wolves

Tsahaukuse, George Quocksister Jr. is a #HereditaryChief of the #Laichkwiltach Nation and the son of Elizabeth and George Quocksister. He is a passionate advocate for the protection of #WildSalmon as a crucial part of his culture and the food security of his people, and is working to ban the practice of #SalmonFarming on the west coast. He lives in Campbell River, BC.

This is from our 2020 #DiscoveryIslands flotilla protest & restocking patrol with George & 2 other BC Indigenous Chiefs(Darren Blaney & Bill Wilson) from North Island regions.

The fight to get fish farms out of BC waters started in the late 80s & continues.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/video-appears-to-show-disfigured-farmed-salmon-1.4261637

#VancouverIsland #BCIndigenousChiefs #NativeChiefs #IndigenousLeaders #BCFirstNations #NativeBC #IndigenousBC #NativeLeaders #FishFarmsOut #DirectAction #WildSalmonAlliance #ProtectTheWild #WildFirst #SaveWildSalmon #DemandMPAs #BCpoli #CDNpoli #OceanGuardians #SalmonPeople #KeystoneSpecies #ecology #WildlifeConservation #ProtectEcosystems #environmental

#Bilbies, #bandicoots, #bettongs, and #quolls are making a comeback on these arid plains! Australia has the highest mammal extinction rate globally, but the Wild Deserts program is working hard to reverse that, with a dedicated team of scientists leading the charge. #WildlifeConservation #AustralianAnimals #Biodiversity #Extinction #australia

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-09-22/wild-deserts-program-saving-native-animals-from-extinction/104371626

Learn more about this unique skink, and the efforts to conserve it: https://ausgeo.co/tjakura 🦎

Have you heard of the Tjakuṟa? Also known as the great desert skink, this species is not only special for its beautiful sunset colours and unique family units and burrows – it is also an important Tjukurrpa (Creation) animal for many Indigenous desert communities.

The Tjakuṟa is facing a difficult battle for survival, but thankfully, Indigenous rangers across the Australian desert have joined forces with Resilient Landscapes Hub and Indigenous Desert Alliance to protect the iconic species.

📷 Indigenous Desert Alliance & Kate Cranney

#australia #lizard #skink #wildlife #nature #conservation #outbackaustralia #greatdesertskink #firstnations #wildlifeconservation #australiananimals #NAIDOC2024 #NAIDOCWeek
#environment #biodiversity #ecology #rewilding #biology #indigenous #indigenouspeoples #nature #wildlife #photography

You can find yourself living with quirky characters when looking for a sharehouse, but we bet this wombat didn't think it would end up with a fox and her cub for burrow-mates!

What makes this situation so unique is that foxes generally predate on wombats, but the pair documented by WWF-Australia seem to be making it work.

Learn more about this unlikely housemate situation… https://ausgeo.co/wombatfox

#australia #wombat #wombats #fox #foxcub #animal #animals #babyanimal #animalconservation #wildlifeconservation #cuteanimal #science #conservation
#environment #academia #research #academicchatter #nature #wildlife

Check out the Australian Wildlife Conservancy team in the field and learn about the wonderful ways they protect Australia's iconic and adorable numbats (Myrmecobius fasciatus)!

Unfortunately, numbats are one of Australia's most threatened mammals, but our latest fundraiser, in collaboration with AWC, seeks to save this special species. https://youtu.be/tCQyM1-CLEk

Discover how you can get involved… https://ausgeo.co/savenumbats

🎥 Brad Leue
📷 Alexandra Ross

#conservation #wildlifeconservation #conservationphotography #animalconservation #wildlifeplanet #wildlifephotographer #naturephotography #naturelover #naturegram #australia #seeaustralia #australiagram #australian #naturelovers #nature #wildlifeonearth #wildlifephotography #wildlife
#environment #globalwarming #biodiversity #ecology #rewilding #biology #nature #wildlife

EU envoys to discuss lowering protection status of wolves amid NGOs’ concerns https://www.euractiv.com/section/agriculture-food/news/eu-envoys-to-discuss-lowering-protection-status-of-wolves-amid-ngos-concerns/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon #BernConvention #EU #habitatdirective #wildlifeconservation

EU envoys to discuss lowering protection status of wolves amid NGOs’ concerns https://www.euractiv.com/section/agriculture-food/news/eu-envoys-to-discuss-lowering-protection-status-of-wolves-amid-ngos-concerns/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon #BernConvention #EU #habitatdirective #wildlifeconservation

EU envoys to discuss lowering protection status of wolves amid NGOs’ concerns https://www.euractiv.com/section/agriculture-food/news/eu-envoys-to-discuss-lowering-protection-status-of-wolves-amid-ngos-concerns/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon #BernConvention #EU #habitatdirective #wildlifeconservation

EU envoys to discuss lowering protection status of wolves amid NGOs’ concerns https://www.euractiv.com/section/agriculture-food/news/eu-envoys-to-discuss-lowering-protection-status-of-wolves-amid-ngos-concerns/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon #BernConvention #EU #habitatdirective #wildlifeconservation

EU envoys to discuss lowering protection status of wolves amid NGOs’ concerns https://www.euractiv.com/section/agriculture-food/news/eu-envoys-to-discuss-lowering-protection-status-of-wolves-amid-ngos-concerns/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon #BernConvention #EU #habitatdirective #wildlifeconservation

Excellent news! 5 #GreyWolves were just released back into the Colorado’s Rocky Mountains wilderness. 10 - 15 more wolves will be released into the area by mid-march 2024.

The wolves were originally captured in the state of Oregon, examined by a veterinarian, deemed healthy, then released back to their native land.

I’m celebrating!

#Wildlife
#ApexPredators
#WildlifeConservation
#AsItShouldBe
#WeAreAllConnected

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-us-canada-67759377

African woolly-necked stork or African woollyneck (Ciconia microscelis) is a species of large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. It breeds singly, or in small loose colonies. It is distributed in a wide variety of habitats including marshes in forests, agricultural areas, and freshwater wetlands across Africa.
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🦩 Masai Mara | Kenya
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#birdextreme #wildlifephotographic #discoverwildlife #wildbirds #weareallexplorers #wildlifeconservation #bestbirds #birdvibrance #bownaankamal

One of great Tano Bora Boys…Those days are gone | Masai Mara | Kenya
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#africa #wildlifesafari #visualsofearth #wildcat #bigcatdiary #raw_africa #animalsaddict #africanamazing #africaphotoreview #wildlifephotographer #wildlifeconservation #nikonnofilter #africancheetah #bbcwildlife #yourshotphotographer #africatravel #natgeoafrica #nature_brilliance #wildlifeweekers #lovecheetahs #masaimaranationalpark #earthlovers #cheetah #bns_nature #natgeowildlife #bownaankamal

Mother Cheetah have a check on the tree to embark her cub safely prior heading for a hunt.
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🐆 Serengeti | Tanzania
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#cheetahenthusiast #bigcatsofafrica #earthfocus #safari #wildlifephotography #discoverwildlife #bhfyp #tanzaniaparks #liveyourwild #menseselense #safariupdate #jawsafrica #wildlifeonearth #wildlifeconservation #animallover #natgeowild #iamnikon #naturewildlifephotography #serengeti #naturephotography #wanderlust #bbcwildlife #africatravel #planetearth

Wild Couples | Manyara | Tanzania
Advanced Happy New Year Wishes to All
#natgeoyourshot #nikon #lion #wildlifelovers #wildlifeseekers #wildlifeconservation #africanwildlife #safari #wildlifeperfection #bownaankamal #discoverwildlife #lions #wildlifephotos #bigcatlover #kingofjungle #africanamazing #wildlifephotographer #animalplanet #wildlifesafari #wildlife_perfection #earthinfocus #manyaranationalpark #yourshotphotographer #masaimara #wildlife_seekers #wildanimals #kenya #explore_wildlife