Impacts of Wood Poaching on Vegetation Structure and Composition in Mukuvisi Woodland, Zimbabwe

Our study focused on the effects of wood poaching on the vegetation structure and composition in Mukuvisi Woodland, Zimbabwe. Mukuvisi Woodland, located within the precincts of Harare urban area, Zimbabwe, suffers from high illegal wood utilization pressure stemming from the need to fulfill alternative energy demands created by persistent electricity shortages and an unstable economic environment, particularly between 2000 and 2008. This results in a continuous flux of vegetation and a disturbed animal habitat driven mainly by anthropogenic activities. Due to the heterogeneity in vegetation utilisation trends, we used the stratified systematic random sampling technique, where the site was divided into two strata, central and boundary. Twelve 30 × 20 m permanent plots were established in which species name, species diversity, height, basal area, plant status, fire evidence, number of stems and saplings were recorded and assessed in April and May 2012. A total of 968 woody plants were assessed representing 47 woody plant species. All woody vegetation variables recorded and assessed showed no significant difference (P > 0.05) between the two strata, i.e., central and boundary, in Mukuvisi Woodland, except sapling density (P = 0.022). Principal Component Analysis indicated evidence of fire impacts on vegetation structure. The study concludes that illegal wood harvesting in Mukuvisi Woodland has not yet reached alarming proportions and can be contained. The study recommends collaborative arrangements with key stakeholders, promotion of the use of alternative energy sources and increased environmental education and awareness campaigns.

Asian Crocodile Poaching:A Review of Molecular Techniques Developed for Forensic Identification

Crocodiles,gharials and alligators(order Crocodilia),are aquatic reptiles that live in the tropics of Asia,America,Africa,and Australia.Asian countries such as India,Indonesia,Malaysia,and tropics of Australia are the stronghold of the family Crocodylidae.Among all 23 crocodile species,nine species occur in Asia and its surroundings,including the only member of Gavialidae and Alligatoridae family.They are“mugger”or“Crocodylus palustris,”“saltwater crocodile”or“Crocodylus porosus,”“Philippine crocodile”or“Crocodylus mindorensis,”“New Guinea crocodile”or“Crocodylus novaeguineae,”“Siamese crocodile”or“Crocodylus siamensis,”“gharials”or“Gavialis gangeticus,”“false gharial”or“Tomistoma schlegelii,”and“Chinese alligator”or“Alligator sinensis.”All of these species have been encompassed in“Appendix I”and“Appendix II”of the“Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora,”which prevents any kind of trade involving crocodilian species.However,it has been observed that these crocodiles are illegally poached and trafficked for their lucrative skin,meats,eggs,snouts,and bones in medicinal and cosmetic industries.Although many molecular biologists have come forward for the conservation of these species,lack of knowledge about the available,fast,and dependable techniques makes it difficult for forensic identification of seized or confiscated.It has been a major problem for the implementation of the“Wildlife Protection Law”on illegal trade.This article focuses on molecular techniques developed till date for the rapid and reliable species identification and conservation study of them.

Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) and Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) Activities in Selected Tissues of Rats Fed on Processed Atlantic Horse Mackerel (<i>Trachurus trachurus</i>)

Trachurus trachurus (locally called kote) is a table fish that has become increasingly important in the Nigerian diet because of its low price. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of processed kote on the activities of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in selected tissues of weaned male albino rats using standard methods. Chemical analyses were carried out on processed fillet, skin, head & bone (SHB) diets under standard conditions. 40 male rats (40.76 ± 2.42 g) were fed with processed fillet or SHB diets for 14 days to assay for the activities of ALP in harvested samples of brain, liver, kidney, heart, stomach, small intestine and spleen;ALT and AST in the liver and heart. All data were subjected to analysis of variance by Duncan’s multiple range test and considered significant at a minimum of p < 0.05. Levels of ALP & AST in the liver, heart, kidney and brain were reduced (p < 0.05) in rats fed on test diets compared with the controls, but within accepted limit. The level of ALT in the kidney, stomach and small intestine were elevated (p < 0.05) compared to the controls, but within the accepted limit. In conclusion, coal smoked fillet and SHB greatly improved healthy growth of the rats, followed by the wood smoked and poached diets. Results suggested that processed kote SHB could be a veritable source of valuable nutrients for human food and animal feed.

Optimal Control of a Threatened Wildebeest-Lion Prey-Predator System in the Serengeti Ecosystem

We develop a two-species prey-predator model in which prey is wildebeest and predator is lion. The threats to wildebeest are poaching and drought while to lion are retaliatory killing and drought. The system is found in the Serengeti ecosystem. Optimal control theory is applied to investigate optimal strategies for controlling the threats in the system where anti-poaching patrols are used for poaching, construction of strong bomas for retaliatory killing and construction of dams for drought control. The possible impact of using a combination of the three controls either one at a time or two at a time on the threats facing the system is also examined. We observe that the best result is achieved by using all controls at the same time, where a combined approach in tackling threats to yield optimal results is a good approach in the management of wildlife populations.

浅谈中餐菜名的英译及其分类

我国经济飞速发展 ,国际交流不断增多 ,酒店业日益兴旺发达。但由于各种因素 ,许多星级宾馆、高档饭店餐厅里的菜单中仍没有相应的英文名称 ,或是不完整 ,或是译文不一致。在此根据中餐特点和烹调方法把常用菜名的英译文加以归纳分成五类 :(1 )deep -fried ,pan -fried ,sauteed ;(2 )poached ,boiled ,steamed ;(3 )stewed ,braised ;(4)roast,baked ;(5 )grilled ,smoked。

Contribution of Former Poachers for Wildlife Conservation in Rwanda Volcanoes National Park

This study assessed the contribution of former poachers to wildlife conservation in Volcanoes National Park, the main causes of poaching activities in Volcanoes National Park. The results indicated that the main causes of poaching and other illegal activities are associated with poverty, ignorance and culture and commercial purposes. The results further illustrated that poaching cases decreased in the Volcanoes National Park where, from 2018, the snares removed from the park reduced from above 1000 to 600 snares. In the same year, only 3 poachers from Kinigi and Shingiro Sectors were arrested. The findings illustrated that introducing of revenue sharing scheme where, 10% of the park’s revenues are shared to the local communities living adjacent to the park, and constructing a buffalo wall stone around the Volcanoes National Park are of the important measures which contributed to solve completely the problems of poaching and human-wildlife conflicts in the volcanic area. However, some respondents reported that the construction of buffalo wall did not prevent animal from escaping the park, they have proposed the construction of strong fence such as electrically fenced wall.

Sustainable use of wildlife resources in Central Asia

Initially,hunting was the primary means for getting food for the survival of ancient people.As time passed,people started to breed livestock and develop agriculture,gradually reducing their reliance on unpredictability of hunting.People,however,continued to hunt and,even though their survival did not depend on hunting.During the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics(USSR)period,attitudes toward the use of natural resources fluctuated significantly,and after the establishment of new reserves for wildlife protection,the government soon weakened protections it had introduced.In the current,the organizations in dependent countries of the USSR that are chartered to protect areas with wildlife diversity are very weak and have no sufficient material resources to provide any real control of poaching,especially when hunting weapons and ammunition are easily available.Trophy hunting companies exploit wildlife resources but do not make protecting wildlife from poaching as a priority in their work;they just use whatever resources are available as if they are unlimited.To help solve this problem,we suggest to organize the local people to join the wildlife protection societies and give them official rights to benefit from the development of hunting tourism in the future.There are numerous examples of successful and very profitable hunting businesses in different countries in the world.In Central Asia,all the prerequisites exist for organizing highly effective trophy hunting tourism,maintaining the richness of biodiversity,and at the same time providing a sustainable and significant income for local communities as the country as a whole.The sustainable use of wildlife resources is a very tangible challenge in the countries of Central Asia,and the most important consideration is to establish and enforce hunting laws equally,irrespective of a person’s social status or financial assets,otherwise no laws will work.

Local Community Participation in Rhino Conservation-Key to Conservation Success

A robust framework to guide community engagement in sustainable wildlife conservation and illegal wildlife trade is lacking.Virtually all conservation bodies and players believe that local communities are key to the success of rhino conservation but they are not equally walking their talk.Bottom-up community-based initiatives help to curb poaching especially level one poachers.The multifaceted problem of the African rhinoceros poaching on the continent is approaching calamitous proportions,with astounding,sobering statistics revealing the sheer extent of the illegal practice today.Poverty,greediness,superstition,rampant corruption,unchecked social injustice,ruthlessness,and ignorance are fuelling the interplay of rhino horn demand and supply.In order to save the remaining rhinoceros species there is need for economic transformation which will benefit both the communities and wildlife.Communities should get direct financial benefits from rhinoceros conservation,capacitate them and always engage them in rhinoceros conservation matters.Rhino protection should be incentivized,increasing the number of local people benefiting from conservation,and decreasing hostility towards wildlife will motivate local people to fully embrace conservation efforts.These conservation efforts should first target level one poachers who are vulnerable and exposed,by developing a comprehensive profitable and lucrative community participation packages in all rhino properties.Conservationists should walk their talk and genuinely work with local communities to build support for rhino conservation through education,awareness,self-sustaining business ventures and employment.

The African Elephant (<i>Loxodonta africana</i>): Mini-Review of an Endangered Species

Humankind is responsible for conditioning the distribution of species, including the African elephant. From its great physical form to its fascinating social behaviour, Loxodonta africana can trigger an admiration in some and be undervalued by others, often ending up being a victim of human activities. Increasingly, the apparent impossibility of the coexistence of these two species represents a problem for the conservation of the large African mammal. Here it was reviewed the published bibliography about the African savannah elephant (L. africana), between July 2015 and December 2019. The Web of Science (WoS) database enabled the search for the words “Loxodonta africana”. From this research, we obtained 310 articles, 149 of them were analysed. Elephants have characteristics that define its uniqueness that are constantly reported, such as: its cognition and extraordinary memory, factors that influence its movements and its distribution, its specific vocalization and the strong dependence on social connections. Threats to the conservation of the species and the urgency of interventions are also an important subject of discussion. Poaching for ivory represents a major obstacle on conservation and has been drastically reducing the number of elephant populations and causing future consequences for those who thrive. Law enforcement in reducing/prohibit poaching has proven to be insufficient, so there is an urgent need to combat the demand for ivory. Also, it is necessary to bypass the conflict, promote tolerance and enable cohabitation. We believe that educating human populations to better understand the species may be the difference to guarantee a future for the species. Conservationists may be the enablers of these educational actions, however, to make the difference, it is necessary to know the species in detail. Mastering knowledge in these behavioural areas will contribute to improve mitigation strategies, which could make the difference to guarantee a future for the species.

Assessment of Hunters and Other Rate of Illegal Activities in Afi-Mbe-Okwango Division, Cross River State, Nigeria

Bushmeat hunting is one of the greatest pressure to wildlife alongside habitat fragmentation, deforestation, land use change and climate change. Despite the interventions from government and Non Governmental Organization to reduce or divert the attention of rural people from the wild by providing alternative livelihood, the level of hunting either remains the same or kept on increasing. However, there is need to categorize and understand the types of hunters in different locality for better design and management of whatever alternative to be provided. The study assessed hunters’ types and their income made from hunting in Afi, Mbe and the Okwango Division of the National park and the rate of poaching activities. The snowball sampling was adopted for gathering data. A descriptive and inferential statistical tool was used to analyze the data collected. The respondents were interviewed with a view to obtaining information on the regularity of their hunting activities, the income made per month and reasons why they hunt and also their views on best alternative. Results revealed that majority of the respondent fall within the age of less than or equal to 40 years with primary and secondary school qualification in which are married with 3 - 12 children. Consequent to this fact hunting activities is effective and prevailing. It further revealed that despite numerous conservation efforts in these areas, poaching activities still prevail owing to the fact that the income made from poaching is much better than the alternative provided for hunters. Furthermore, the assessment also revealed that there are different types of hunters and this makes their income varies greatly. Thus, there are fulltime or core hunters (36.9%), occasional hunters (58.3%), Holiday hunters (2.9%) and social hunters (1.9%). It is therefore paramount to have a better view and understanding of the target group (Poachers) for better alternative and implementation.

Mortality of Amur tigers:The more things change,the more they stay the same

Poaching as well as loss of habitat and prey are identified as causes of tiger population declines.Although some studies have examined habitat requirements and prey availability,few studies have quantified cause-specific mortality of tigers.We used cumulative incidence functions(CIFs)to quantify cause-specific mortality rates of tigers,expanding and refining earlier studies to assess the potential impact of a newly emerging disease.To quantify changes in tiger mortality over time,we re-examined data first collected by Goodrich et al.(2008;study period 1:1992–2004)as well as new telemetry data collected since January 2005(study period 2:2005–2012)using a total of 57 tigers(27 males and 30 females)monitored for an average of 747 days(range 26–4718 days).Across the entire study period(1992 to 2012)we found an estimated average annual survival rate of 0.75 for all tigers combined.Poaching was the primary cause of mortality during both study periods,followed by suspected poaching,distemper and natural/unknown causes.Since 2005,poaching mortality has remained relatively constant and,if combined with suspected poaching,may account for a loss of 17–19%of the population each year.Canine distemper virus(CDV)may be an additive form of mortality to the population,currently accounting for an additional 5%.Despite this relatively new source of mortality,poaching remains the main threat to Amur tiger survival and,therefore,population growth.