Out in the Wilderness

For the next 10 days I will be travelling to wilderness areas inconnction with my recce of Nilgiri Tahr areas. There is absolutely no possibility of getting internet access

Saola the Rare Asian Animal Facing Extinction

The Saola (Pseudoryx nghetinhensis) the rare Asian animal is staring in the face of extinction. Saola inhabits remote valleys of the Annamite Mountains along the border of Lao PDR and Vietnam. It was discovered only in 1992 and is restricted to a small range. The wild population is not more than a few hundreds. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species lists Saola as critically endangered

Saola resemble the desert antelopes of Arabia, but are more closely related to wild cattle. Saola have rarely been seen or photographed by scientists. None is held captive in any zoo, anywhere in the world. The white facial markings and long tapering horns makes the animal a picture of beauty.

The direct threat to the species is hunting. Snaring and hunting with dogs is adopted by poachers.

Conservation biologists under the auspices of the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Species Survival Commission (IUCN SSC) met in Vientiane, Lao PDR, from August 19-21, to address the extinction threat.
At the meeting the following points were highlighted for the conservation of the species

• Improved methods to detect Saola in the wild;
• Radio tracking to understand the animal's conservation needs;
• Heightened awareness in Lao PDR, Vietnam and within the world conservation community of the perilous status of the species; and
• Markedly increased donor support for Saola conservation.

It would be a shame if this beautiful animal goes extinct.

Chimpanzees that have developed multiple tool kits

Chimpanzees in the Congo have developed tool kits to feed on army ants. The finding is the outcome of the research led by Dr Crickette Sanz. Dr Sanz recovered 1,060 tools and collected 25 video recordings of chimpanzees using the tools. Till now there have been no reports of regular use of more than one type of tool. 36% of recovered tools sets contained two types of tools, nest perforating tools and ant-dipping probes.

The new research suggests that chimpanzees are selecting tools depending on the characteristics of the ant species. The researchers think these techniques' ensure sustainable harvesting as the ants will stay in that location allowing the chimpanzees to revisit this renewable source of food. Chimps have been observed re-using tools which have been discarded by other individuals during previous visits.

Details of the research appears in the latest issue of the journal American Journal of Primatology.