Observations and opinions concerning zoos, evolution, nature conservation and the way we treat/support the ecosystems which are supposed to serve us.

 

 

 

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201402Jun22:47

Could selfishness prevent the 6th mass species extinction?

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published 02 June 2014 | modified 03 October 2024

Dodo-by-FrohawkAbout a month ago, researchers from the University of St. Andrews challenged the idea that we are on the brink of the 6th mass species extinction event. The findings of their research were not consistent with the common opinion that extinction rates have been accelerating - leading to biodiversity loss. The researchers didn't observe consistent loss of species through time, but found as many surveys with a systematic loss as well as gain in the number of species recorded through time. They were surprised, given the current concerns of a biodiversity crisis and abnormally high extinction rates.

Well, should they do their homework again? A more recent publication also published in the journal Science, led by researchers from SavingSpecies, and already regarded as a highly significant paper is more consistent with communis opinio of esteemed experts in the field. The paper reports on the current loss of biodiversity. It presents a dramatically increased estimate of the rate of human-caused extinctions. The paper represents a milestone in conservation science. The key findings are:

  1. current extinction rates are 1,000 times the natural rate, higher than previously estimated,

  2. scientists know more than ever before about where...

201408Mar19:11

Shipping African rhinos to Australia for survival is not enough

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published 08 March 2014 | modified 03 October 2024

In an ultimate effort to protect the endangered rhinoceroses of South Africa a project was launched in December 2013 to establish an insurance population of these large and magnificent pachyderms in Australia. But will this 'safe house' prevent the rhinos from going extinct?

Black rhino poached RRCAs everybody could be well aware of, the major threat to African rhino species (black as well as white) is poaching. In South Africa there's nowhere the rhino is safe from being poached, an illegal and economically driven...

201314Dec17:55

Tiger Temple management shows the worst of buddhist monks

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published 14 December 2013 | modified 18 December 2016

Tigers are being exploited by buddhist monks in Thailand, which proves that these monks have similar desires as the common man, one of them: being independent from charity. Unfortunately, they use deception and abuse tigers to achieve this independency.

It has been a while since I first read about the Tiger Temple and its business. I couldn't believe what I read and I was astonished by the video footage available on the web. Until then, the relaxed attitude of buddhists towards life and their...

Goal: 7000 tigers in the wild

Tiger range countries map

 

"Tiger map" (CC BY 2.5) by Sanderson et al., 2006.

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about zoos and their mission regarding breeding endangered species, nature conservation, biodiversity and education, which at the same time relates to the evolution of species.