#endnagered

Due to their habit of hanging around in caves for long periods of time there is a dramatic increase in bat deaths in the US. A fungus found in caves, which is said to target hibernating species, is shown to cause White Nose syndrome which is deadly amongst bats, and as it is not a virus or bacteria, is difficult to combat thus spreading quickly.

Picture Courtesy of Ryan Von Linden, New York Department of Enivronmental Conservation

White nose syndrome has been shown to have killed almost 7 million bats to date in the US since first being discovered in 2006 in New York State. Since this time science has come a long way in becoming more sensitive in tracking the presence of the fungus before it causes the disease. Even with this head start though, it is proving difficult to stop the disease as there is no vaccine or antidote and the only defence is through preventative measures, such as closing the caves off to the public to prevent widespread infection.

The way this disease affects the bats is that it disrupts the hibernation process therefore the increase of energy causes the bats to lose weight and ultimately die from starvation. The major visible symptom is white fungus which can be seen growing on anything from their face to their wings, but this cannot be used as a primary indicator of infection. Studies have been carried out that show they have a lower immunity when roosting therefore becoming more susceptive to the fungus and as it is not a virus or bacteria the body doesn’t build up immunity. This can result in re-infection when the bats return to the same spot a year on.

As bats are long living mammals and only have an average of 5 pups in one lifetime, there is also the added problem of their ability to come back from a disease outbreak. Along with the fact that their reproduction cycle falls in conjunction with their roosting cycle therefore putting their offspring smack bang in the middle of the most likely time for the disease to thrive. With all these factors against them is it any wonder the deaths are increasing?

So you would think, as these bats have an important place in the ecological system, that there would be an added stress in finding a way to stop the progression of the disease. Of course there is a certain amount of funding going into finding a way but not as much as is needed. The US government allocated a mere 10% of what was actually needed in the most recent studies and as it stands the scientists are a long way off finding a way to treat and stop the disease completely. It needs to be an ongoing study as already results have shown a timeline in which the fungus is first detected and then where the disease develops. So maybe with increased funding and studies, scientists can finally find a way to prevent these continuous deaths of natures amazing creatures.

By Kelly Gimson

The population of tigers in Nepal has risen by 63 percent since 2009, according to a census by Nepalese government. Whilst this rise is promising, the big cat is still under immense threat.

Nepal declared that it would double its tiger population by the year 2022, but the illegal trade in China and India alongside uncontrolled poaching and habitat disturbance has made the conservation of tigers a major concern. It is estimated that there are only 3200 tigers left in the entire world, which is a staggering 95% fewer than 100 years ago. The poaching of wildlife for medical trade is the biggest threat to the survival of these big cats, particularly because the value of animal skins and body parts, used in traditional Chinese medicines, have rocketed in the past few years.

Nepal and India embarked on a joint tiger survey in January. They conducted field surveys followed by months of data analysis in order to reach their final predictions. Promisingly, the results revealed almost triple the amount of Tigers at the Bardia National Park, rising from 18 in 2009 to 50. Overall, the results have shown that Tiger numbers are increasing and that big cats are making a comeback.  Anil Manandhar, who is the representative of WWF Nepal, stated that "While we celebrate the positive results from this tiger survey, WWF calls on the government of Nepal to redouble efforts to protect these conservation gains that could easily be lost as human-tiger conflict increases and illegal wildlife trade empties our forests". He added that "Tigers are an iconic symbol of wild nature, and WWF will continue to work closely with the government, conservation partners and local communities in Nepal".

Poaching, despite some efforts, is still prevalent in Nepal: some poachers use guns made out of wood and bullets of crushed glass, whilst others lay down poison. Diwakar Chapagain, the WWF Nepal's co-ordinator for wildlife trade monitoring, said: "It is hard to know if a tiger has been poached, because nothing is left behind. Each part of the animal has a sale value – eye-balls for drinks, the penis for soup to boost virility, its teeth for jewellery and its bones for good luck charms. Stuffed tiger cubs and rugs made from skins are also seen as status symbols."

International gangs will offer large payments to local Nepalese poachers. They can achieve up to £1,700 per kilogram of bones and £5,000 for the skin. To put this in context, the average wages in Nepal is 150 Nepalese rupees, which is about £1, and therefore illegal poaching appears extremely attractive and lucrative. The government needs to work harder to prevent this illegal trade in order to protect the wildlife. Furthermore, restoring the tiger’s habitats and the pathways between different reserves and parks is essential to increasing their population. Tigers need to be able to move freely, in order to find mates and catch prey. So, while the results are promising, drastic measures still need to be taken in order to save tigers in the wild. 

By Camilla James