It’s True – Time Really Does Fly When You’re Having Fun

The celebration of my 15 year anniversary as a Zoo Volunteer is fast approaching and it’s got me feeling reflective. 15 years...I almost can’t believe it’s been that long. One my longest commitments so far! So much has happened in my life during this time: marriage, divorce, watching my nephew grow into an amazing teenager, finding family I didn't know I had, phenomenal travel opportunities, meeting some of the best people I've ever known who have (thankfully) become great friends and finally, finding my passion in life and being able to transform it into a career.

Most of the above list has no direct link with my volunteering at the zoo except for the last one. I've been asked many times over the years how it was I got into conservation as a career and it’s not a quick answer because it certainly wasn't a linear path. You could definitely say I took the long way around!

It was about 19 years ago that I was working for a marketing company and feeling utterly lost; I just couldn't fathom that this was what I was supposed to be doing with my life. I knew I had to do something to change that but didn't know what or how. I met with the woman in charge of Human Resources to explore different career options. To this day I’m eternally grateful to her for expanding our ‘career conversation’ beyond opportunities within the company. She asked me if I could do anything in the world, what is it that I would do? That was a no brainer – I’d work with wildlife in some capacity. But I told her that because I hadn't taken the ‘science’ path in university, I wasn't qualified. She suggested something that, at the time, was just so foreign to me: why didn't I volunteer somewhere with wildlife, maybe the zoo? I hadn't grown up in a family that did volunteer work and volunteerism as a whole wasn't as prevalent then (at least not in my peer group) as it is today. I had never considered volunteering as a way to explore my interest in wildlife. Talk about life-changing moments!

I left my meeting and immediately found out what I could about the zoo’s volunteer program. As luck had it, they were taking applications for the new volunteer class right then. I applied, had an interview, was invited to join the training program and 12 weeks later I ‘graduated’ and have been volunteering ever since.

I know many people out there think zoos are terrible places, and I agree that some definitely are. Over the years, many have told me they can’t believe I would be involved with a zoo in any capacity. I posted an entry last October about my feelings regarding zoos, and as I won’t go into detail about that now, if you’re interested, you can read it here. 

What I will say simply is this: my professional career in conservation was greatly influenced by my time volunteering and learning at the zoo. It’s been said that zoos have no role in the conservation of species or in the education of the public but I’m proof that statement is false. If it weren't for my time there, I’m not sure I would have ended up finding a way to transform my passion into a career. If I hadn't learned so much about wildlife conservation and been so inspired from my time volunteering, I’m not sure I would have been able to take the next step. And while it took a few years, I was finally able to land a job at a conservation organization I had dreamed of working for since I was a child. Since changing my career, I've had the great privilege of working for 4 conservation organizations and have volunteered for another 7.

I've had the good fortune of being told by many zoo visitors during the past 15 years that their interactions with me, learning about the zoo animals and their wild counterparts, is what made them change many aspects of their lives to help in the conservation of wildlife and the planet. I can't tell you what a blessing that feedback has been. Who knows if I’ll make it another 15 years, but for however long I’m there, I just hope I can continue to inspire zoo visitors with the wonders of wildlife and nature.

Polar Bear Musings

Maybe it's the fresh snow fall outside covering the trees and rooftops, maybe it's the sight of everyone bundled up in their warm coats, or maybe it's just this time of the year in general...but whatever the reason, the great white bears have been on my mind a lot.

© Lenore Nadeau

I've mentioned in previous posts that polar bears are definitely one of my favourite animals, always have been. Anyone who knows me, knows this. What's been on my mind lately though is just how much these bears have given me.

I spent many years as a child obsessing over them, pouring over picture books, staring at photos family members had taken of zoo bears for me and imagining what it would be like to visit them in their Arctic home.

As I got older, other things took precedence in my life but I never forgot about them and my dream of visiting them in the wild. And then one day, fate came knocking.

During my time working at WWF-Canada, I had the extreme fortune of travelling to Churchill, Manitoba to help Canadian wildlife biologists put satellite radio collars on two females with cubs. No words can really do justice to that experience - to say it was incredible doesn't even begin to describe it. That trip led to two more Churchill opportunities through a partner organization called Polar Bears International. Thinking back on these experiences, I still have trouble believing my life with these bears came full circle - even with the pictures to prove it!

As a child, this almost mystical creature gave me countless hours of stories while I pictured them in their faraway frozen land. As a teenager they gave me the dream of seeing them in the wild someday. And as an adult, well, as an adult they've given me the most. I've had the amazing privilege of seeing them in Churchill three times and was able to fulfill my lifelong dream of doing so. They've given me a majestic icon to draw on to tell the story of our planet's unnaturally fast warming while educating zoo visitors about conservation (though I'd be happier not to have to tell this story). They've given me the opportunity to meet some of the top bear scientists in North America, one of those being Dr. Ian Sterling, godfather of polar bear science in Canada - this is my kind of rock star. He even wrote pieces of those books I mentioned reading as a child, so finally meeting him after years of following his work was an extreme honour. And last but not least, polar bears have given me some amazing friends, brought into my life because we all love them and share the common goal of wanting to help them survive.

I'm not sure I can ever repay these beautiful bears for all they've given me, but my promise to them is that I will never stop fighting on their behalf. I will continue to tell their story and hope that I help influence people to change the way they live so polar bears - and all wildlife - will continue to be a part of our world.

As we near the end of this year and get ready to ring in a new one, my wish for everyone is that, like me, you are lucky enough to find a special connection with an animal that will bring you joy and rekindle your wonder of the natural world.

Some of the most amazing people I've ever met:

 



Jaime, Julie and me












The amazing Youth Arctic Ambassadors of 2008











PBI founders Robert & Carolyn Buchanan











Some of the incredible 2008 facilitator team (Julie, Krista, Matt, Kathy and Bill)










Polar bear Pete and Heather






 

Shari and me on a tundra buggy

Stacey, Shari, Gavin and Rachel 

The Zoo Debate From My Perspective

It’s been too long since I've made an entry in my blog and I'm afraid I've chosen a rather contentious topic to get things going again. Not all will agree with me and I understand that. Emotions are certainly involved in many of the discussions that occur around zoos, as I believe is right and proper. As you know from this blog or because you know me personally, I'm very passionate about wildlife and that passion fuels an emotional response to issues that involve them. So I can say with honesty that I understand the concerns people have about zoos. I also think it’s important to look at all sides when it comes to an issue, any issue, and I don’t believe that always happens in the case of zoos - especially when I hear things said like, "better dead than in a zoo". 

I've said it before, many times, and I’ll say it again: I do not believe people should paint all zoos with the same brush. Not only do I think it’s a mistake, but irresponsible to do so. There are some good zoos and some bad zoos, with others falling somewhere in between. Just as there are some good sanctuaries and bad sanctuaries, some good wildlife rehabilitation facilities and some bad ones. Just because a captive facility decides to call itself a sanctuary doesn't automatically make it a good place. Do I support all zoos and captive facilities? No. Do I think any individual zoo does everything right? No. Do I think we should look to constantly improve things? Yes, always. Would I prefer to see an animal in the wild? Of course. Do I understand the benefits of a good, modern day zoo and the positive contributions they can and do make to conservation and education? YES. I think it’s extremely important to acknowledge this in order to really understand the issues and have an informed discussion. Even the well-respected, world-renowned primatologist, Dr. Jane Goodall takes the view that some zoos do a good job of public education.

When I think about the debate, those most often against zoos are animal welfare organizations. And while I believe these organizations are very important, the captivity issue is one where I don't agree with everything they believe. I support many animal welfare campaigns because there is terrible, disgraceful animal suffering going on around the world and those organizations have an important and positive role to play. I have and will continue to support campaigns to move a specific animal or group of animals from a bad zoo or other bad captive facility to a healthier, kinder and more suitable place. I fully believe that ANY place that holds captive animals – whether that is a zoo, a sanctuary, a wildlife rehab facility or somewhere else – should be constantly reviewed and held to the highest standards possible; improving the standards of care and housing should be of the utmost importance. And animal welfare organizations work hard to make that happen. But I don’t believe that being against all zoos helps with the bigger picture.

In a perfect world, all animals would be free to live in the wild without interference from humans and everyone would respect their rights as living beings to exist as part of a balanced ecosystem. We also wouldn't be carving up the planet for gain, greed and consumption for an ever-growing human population to the detriment of every living being, including us, on the planet. Until there is a drastic shift in how we do business, ‘the wild’ isn't as safe a place for wildlife as it once may have been, and good zoos play an important role in helping to conserve global species.  

Welfare organizations don’t believe animals should be used for entertainment and I agree one hundred percent. I avoid movies that use wildlife animal 'actors', I despise places like circuses and Marineland where animals are abused in order to perform tricks that make humans laugh, and I definitely don’t support bad zoos. To welfare organizations though, all zoos are considered equal and as bad as those places I just listed; all entertainment, devoid of conservation and education. But good zoos are definitely not on my list of “places of entertainment”. In good zoos animals don’t perform tricks for the crowd and are not abused in order to bend to a keeper’s will. Good zoos strive to provide a healthy captive environment, they strive to contribute to wild conservation efforts, and they strive to educate visitors on the important conservation issues. 

During my extensive years as a zoo volunteer I have learned many things that have helped shape my understanding of wildlife and global conservation issues. I have learned about captive breeding and the role zoos have played in saving many notable wildlife species that were successfully returned to the wild. I have learned that some of the top wildlife biologists & researchers are using studies done by zoos to help them fill in the blanks for wild species that might not be easily studied. I have learned that good zoos work with Universities to enhance their students' areas of study. I have learned that good zoos monetarily support conservation projects in the wild. I have learned about the illegal wildlife trade and about how devastating it is to wildlife populations. I have learned about wildlife taxonomy, species relationships and amazing facts about many animals across the globe. I have learned how to talk to people about wildlife conservation and what they can do to help. I have learned where I draw my personal moral lines. And, maybe most importantly, I have learned that in many situations there is a lot more ‘grey’ than black or white.

I have loved animals since I was a kid but was never sure of how to bridge the gap between how I felt about them and working to help them until I started volunteering at the zoo in my mid-20s. My professional career in conservation was greatly influenced by my time volunteering and learning at the zoo. So, it is personally insulting to hear it said that zoos have no role in the conservation of species or in the education of the public; I’m proof that statement is false. And I've had the good fortune to have been told by many zoo visitors over the years that their interactions with me, learning about the zoo's animals and their wild counterparts, are what made them change many aspects of their lives to help in the conservation of wildlife and the planet. This is why I still believe there is a place for good, modern zoos to play an important role in wildlife conservation and education.

Interview

A couple of months ago I was interviewed by Evelyn Senyi about my experience as a volunteer for Polar Bears International. Below is the interview taken from her blog, The Green Ink Pot (http://evelynsenyi.wordpress.com/).

Polar Bears and Churchill – the real deal

Churchill Wildlife Management Area © Lenore N

A Conversation with Lenore Nadeau

I recently had the opportunity to sit down with one very lucky woman – Lenore Nadeau – who has traveled to Churchill, Manitoba not once but three times. She was able to share some of her experiences, impressions and insights with me as to the state of polar bears in Churchill.

Q: I understand that you were able to travel to Churchill, Manitoba to work with polar bears on three different visits; can you talk a little bit about your time there?

A: My first time was in 2007 when I was working with WWF and we were helping the biologists that are tracking polar bears through satellite tracking collars. We spent three or four days in the town and one day out with the researchers collaring bears. My second trip was in 2008 when I went up in association with Polar Bears International.

Q: How did you get involved with Polar Bears International?

A: That was through my work with WWF. Polar Bears International (PBI) is interested in conserving polar bears and their habitat world-wide through research, stewardship and education. They are amazing in that they have made many different partnerships to help them reach their goals. They work with the eminent polar bear scientists, they have great partnerships with the American Association of Zoos and Aquariums and other zoos in Australia and Europe, and also work with other charitable groups like WWF.

In 2008 PBI was interested in having someone from WWF go to their arctic ambassador camp for teens and I was fortunate enough to be that person. We stayed out in a hotel for five days where the wild bears were gathering, just snoozing outside your window. It’s an amazing way to immerse these teens in this culture and environment. We also had some elders from the Cree nation, who still work the trap lines, come and talk to the students about their way of life and how it is very different from the way of life in the south. The camp not only exposes the teens to the issues that are happening in Churchill and globally with climate change and obviously with the polar bear, but it also exposes them to many other points of view. It’s a very different way of life up there.

Once I started the relationship with PBI I always stayed in touch with them even when I was no longer working with WWF. In 2010 they asked me to volunteer in Churchill for three weeks to help with bear season. I basically just helped them with logistics and anything they needed. But it was a really interesting role because I got to meet some of the people that I had never met on my prior two trips from zoos all across U.S. and Canada and some of the polar bear scientists.

Q: There is a big debate going on as to the health of the polar bear population world-wide and specifically the Western Hudson Bay population. What were your impressions of the health of that population?

A: From just visually seeing them at that time of the year they are skinnier anyways because they are fasting. The Western Hudson Bay population, which are the Manitoba bears, has always been forced ashore just based on the geographic area they live in so that’s not really the issue. The extension of the off-ice period is now three weeks longer and that’s the issue. So yes, I was seeing thinner bears my third trip then I was on my first but I can’t say that is scientific. You only see a number of bears and it’s really tough to say for certain.

Q: Do you think that the population is stable?

A: All the data says that the Western Hudson Bay population is actually fairing the worst. The scientists maintain that unless major changes are made we will lose certain populations.

Q: A lot of money is being spent on what’s being termed “conservation efforts” by WWF, PBI, Greenpeace and a lot of other organizations. How do you think that money is translating into actual help for the polar bears?

A: That’s a tough question because it depends on the organization that’s spending the money. Everyone has different efforts that they are working on. I think where PBI has had a lot of success is in their partnerships; they have access to the wild researchers, relationships with zoos and other like-minded organizations so their efforts to educate the general public with this information has spread. I think you need to educate people and inspire them to take action. It’s at the next level up where I think we are getting stuck, with the bigger picture conservation. I don’t want to give the impression that I believe that conservation efforts have failed because obviously I wouldn’t do what I do if I believed that. I think we have been successful in getting the word out, on some protection efforts and in research. But as far as going farther towards greater protection it hasn’t really gotten to the level it needs to get.

Q: Then do you think the polar bear should be listed as a species at risk?

A: The U.S. has listed them as a threatened species, Canada has not done that. Canada is a bit more complicated because we have aboriginal people who still hunt polar bears and that’s their recognized cultural right. If the polar bear were to be listed in Canada in any sort of category that meant no more hunting then we would potentially be taking away those cultural rights. On the other hand, we may get to a point where polar bear numbers are too low to sustain even subsistence hunting.

Q: So you support aboriginal subsistence hunting?

A: I support subsistence hunting, yes. People who live in the arctic don’t have the same kinds of things we have here, they live off the land and use the resources that the planet gives them.

Q: There is a lot of money and attention being paid on the polar bear and a lot of people would argue that while they may become endangered in the future due to climate change, there are other species that are disappearing at a much faster rate and are far more endangered, say amphibians for example, for which not enough attention is being paid. Where do you think our conservation dollars dollar should be spent?

A: That’s a tough question for me to answer. I’m a huge advocate of conserving all wildlife because my belief is that every single species that lives on this planet has a place and if it’s taken out of the ecosystem it throws everything off balance. I don’t think that any conservation dollars we spend are a waste. The way that PBI frames their work in the arctic is that by protecting the polar bear, this iconic mega fauna, they will protect its habitat and everything else that lives in it. So you hope that by taking one animal and making it the iconic species for whatever that cause is that even the smallest microorganism that lives in that ecosystem will be protected if their habitat is protected.

Lenore Nadeau has worked in conservation for over ten years with organizations such as World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Canada, Ontario Nature and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority. She is also a long-time volunteer with the Toronto Zoo and Polar Bears International (PBI).

For more information on Polar Bears International please visit their website: www.polarbearsinternational.org

Celebrate National Wildlife Week!

Did you know...

...that the burrowing owl gets its name from its habit of using abandoned burrows of mammals like prairie dogs and badgers in which to build its nest?
 
...that the wood turtle is known to stomp its feet on the ground, mimicking rainfall and drawing earthworms out for a meal?
 
...that the cougar requires significant unbroken stretches of habitat as its territory may be as broad as 50 square kilometres?

Burrowing owl in Chinook Ranch (Photo by Nature Conservancy of Canada)

Canada is home to many incredible wildlife species and you can help the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) celebrate National Wildlife Week from April 8 - 14 by getting to know some of our country’s amazing animals.

Since 1962, NCC and its partners have helped to protect more than 2.6 million acres of important, biologically diverse natural lands from coast to coast. By protecting these areas for the long term, NCC is making sure that our natural world remains a home for the plants and animals that live there.

Visit NCC’s website to learn more about Canada’s wildlife and how you can help protect them: http://www.natureconservancy.ca/en/what-you-can-do/promotions/nat_wildlife_wk.html

Grizzly bear (Photo by USWFS)

Beware the (Wildlife) Tourist Trap

On a recent trip to the carribean, I was reminded of how many animal-related attractions there are for travellers wherever you go. The minute we located the bus that was to take us to our hotel, every passenger was handed a bunch of brochures outlining all the fun activities to do while visiting the island. As I flipped through the various pieces I saw things like shopping tours, island tours, cultural tours, and then, Dolphin Cove. Visitors can pet, play and swim with dolphins...sounds fun, right?! There were actually a few in our group interested in this particular day-trip too because really, who can resist dolphins?

Not having done any research on Dolphin Cove itself, I cannot say what kind of place it is, and I can't paint every place that has captive animals with the same brush because some are quite good. There are those that house non-releasable wildlife (usually because of an injury they've suffered) who have become ambassadors for their species and the facility educates visitors about the animal's plight in the wild and what they can do to help. But the majority of the places you can visit while on holiday, including some zoos, are not at all reputable.

One of the people travelling with us mentioned how disappointing it was that our resort's beach didn't have any vendors with animals that will pose for pictures with you like they do in Mexico because that's really fun for the kids. I just about fell off my chair when I heard this because I was shocked that ANYONE would want to pose with some poor animal on a beach (either carted around in a cage or on a leash) given that I know how they are aquired and what usually becomes of them in the end. But this was the lesson for me: not everyone is aware of how these animals get to that beach in Mexico – or wherever you happen to be vacationing – or of how they are treated in order to get their cooperation to pose for a photo, or do a trick, whatever it is the vendor is selling.

The reality for most of these 'attractions' is that they have acquired these animals either from non-reputable places, through illegal means or even snatched from the wild. The animals are subjected to less then adequate treatment at best; at worst, they are treated horribly and are discarded when no longer performing, making money or behaving. And 'discarded' most often means killed because it's the easiest and cheapest way of no longer having to deal with them.

I remember visiting Chimpanzee Eden in South Africa (http://www.chimpeden.com/) – a sanctuary for chimps rescued from horrid situations – and learning about the individuals and how they came to be there. One story that really stuck with me was that of Cozy, a chimp born in America and sold to an entertainer in Italy. Living the life of a Gypsy, his owner traveled constantly and Cozy was made to strike certain poses so that tourists could have their picture taken with him. If he did not cooperate, he was hit in the back of the head, which of course, caused some mental damage. 

After his owner died, he lived in the dark and was confined to a 1.5m by 1.5m cage for such a long time (about 10 years) that most of his muscle mass had disappeared and he could hardly walk. Thankfully, he ended up at Chimp Eden and after months of rehabilitation work, he can now walk, climb trees and lives with a chimp family. For Cozy, the story ended happily, but this is not the case for SO MANY animals used at attractions or for entertainment.

 

It's not that I don't understand the desire to interact with an amazing animal, truely I do. But not under those horrible circumstances and not at the high cost they usually pay. My best advice is to do your research before going on vacation and find out as much as you can about animal-related attractions. Their websites will give you information but I would encourage you to dig deeper. Ask people you know if they've heard of the place you're interested in, email an animal welfare organisation for information, do the due diligence before you blindly support a place that makes animals 'perform for visitors'. And if you see someone with an animal on a leash (or in some kind of constraint) offering the chance of a picture, please, PLEASE walk away and don't support that. Above all, tell your friends and family about these issues and hopefully we can help put an end to this kind of suffering.

Take Only Pictures, Leave Only Footprints

Whenever I’m fortunate enough to encounter wildlife in its natural habitat I’m always struck by what a privilege it is that I get to spend a little part of their day with them. It’s an amazing experience to see a shorebird catch a crab, watch a weaver building its nest, catch a snake sunning itself on a rock, or observe a mother raccoon with her babies searching for food in the waters of an urban park. No matter what species of wildlife I’m watching, rural or urban, it’s important to me that my presence not disturb that animal from going about its business of living. Unfortunately, not everyone feels the same and I’ve seen many people behave in ways that not only disturbed the wildlife they encountered but was at times terribly detrimental.

While I’m always glad to hear someone tell me they love animals, I’m happier to hear them say they also respect them. With respect comes much better behaviour then with love alone; all kinds of crazy things are said and done in the name of love and most often it results in the suffering of the very animals people have professed to love, even when that might not be their intent. Maybe you’ve heard the expression ‘killing with kindness’? Sometimes we think we are doing something beneficial for another being because in human terms it would be kind but in fact it ends up being detrimental to that animal, like feeding wildlife for example (and yes, this includes the ducks and geese that live around your local pond). Human food is not part of a wild animal’s natural diet – in fact it is often bad for their health – so while someone may think that feeding it is helping, or just a fun activity to do with your kids, it will likely end up causing more problems for that animal. Feeding wildlife creates unnatural behaviours such as viewing humans as a source of food. When this happens you have more wildlife approaching people, which is not a natural behaviour, and it can often result in injuries to both wildlife and humans.

There’s one experience I had while in Africa that I’ll never forget. We were visiting Ngorongoro Crater and we came upon a cheetah that was hunting some Thompson’s gazelle. We were not the only safari vehicle to find this cheetah so there were a few groups around. Of course, African safaris are not inexpensive trips to take so I had assumed that people who take these trips are interested in and respectful of wildlife. Well, you know what they say about assuming, right? While the majority of visitors remained quiet, unfortunately the people in the jeep next to us started yelling and ‘cheering on’ the cheetah. This loud, disruptive and utterly disrespectful behaviour cost the cheetah his or her kill by scaring the gazelles away. Do I know with 100% certainty that the cheetah would have made a successful kill if everyone had been respectful and silent? No. But I do know with 100% certainty that their horrid behaviour did indeed cost the cheetah the opportunity of a meal. I also don’t know when the cheetah had last eaten or whether it was a female with cubs waiting for her somewhere, so the people who scared away the gazelles might have cost some cubs their meal as well.

It doesn’t matter if you’re on a tour to view wildlife or you’re sitting in a local park with urban wildlife –like squirrels and geese...don’t forget that these are wild animals just because they live in the city – respecting their right to go about their business without being disrupted by you is extremely important. The outdoors is where they live. I’m not sure you’d like it very much if someone came into your personal space, like your home, and started harassing you so why should it be any different for an animal’s home? Teach the children in your life that things like chasing or touching wildlife are not ok and may result in someone getting hurt. Sitting and observing wildlife quietly and respectfully is the best approach to learning about them and how amazing they are. And having your camera ready is a great way to capture some special moments you can share with your friends and family later.

The Unity of Peace and Power

One of my favourite childhood stories is that of Tarzan. As a child I saw an old black and white movie, Tarzan of the Apes, and was amazed –  a child being raised by apes...um, how cool is that? When I was older, I read most of the Tarzan novels by his creator Edgar Rice Burroughs and loved them; I’d highly recommend them to anyone. While the species of ape in Burroughs’ books is fictitious, I always pictured them as gorillas. Later came Disney’s animated film in 1999 and the story was introduced to a whole new generation of children. In this version, it is gorillas that raise Tarzan. My nephew was about 3 when the movie came out on video and I watched it with him...over and over again the way kids do! But that was fine with me; I’d sit through it 1,000 times it’s so great and with the soundtrack by Phil Collins, how can you lose? My fascination with gorillas continues to this day and admittedly they are my favourite primate.

As mentioned above, gorillas are primates – so are other apes, monkeys, lemurs and humans (that’s right everyone, these are our RELATIVES and science has the DNA to prove it). There are many, many different species of primates and different classifications within that large group, definitely way too many to discuss in this blog.  The one distinction I will make, because it is a mistake I hear often, is this: gorillas are not monkeys. Gorillas are classified as ‘great apes’ along with orangutans, chimpanzees and bonobos (pygmy chimps). Not wanting to get too complex here I will simply say that if the primate you are looking at does not have a tail, it is an ape. If it has a tail, it’s a monkey or another kind of primate, like a lemur for example.

The largest of the great apes, an average male gorilla weighs around 193 kilos (425 pounds); females are about half the size. Males have powerful jaws, huge muscular arms with an impressive span of over 2 metres (7 feet) and are about 10 times stronger than a human. Gorillas live in family groups called troops that can range in size but usually consist of one adult male, several of his females and their offspring – and the bond in these families is very strong. A sexually mature male has silvery grey fur covering his back, hence the term ‘silverback’. It’s the silverback’s job to keep his troop safe, settle any group squabbles, and it is he alone that mates with the adult females in his family. But younger males may encroach on a silverback’s territory trying to mate with his females or trying to take over his family altogether. If it comes to blows these battles can be brutal but most males try things like posturing and displays of strength to intimidate each other in hopes of avoiding outright fighting.   

Yet for all their strength and the occasional territory battle, these beautiful animals are incredibly quiet and peaceful. It only takes one look into their eyes and a few moments of study to see how similar they are to us – and it’s incredible. Amazingly, although they are the largest of the apes, they have a vegetarian diet. They eat fruit, vegetables, bamboo, thistles and other plants; occasionally they may eat some insects but that’s not a staple in their diet. They move throughout the day, constantly grazing in order to fuel their large bodies.  

As with most animals, gorillas are divided into different sub-species. Western lowland, eastern lowland and mountain gorillas are likely the most familiar to you. Gorillas live in the rainforests of Central and West Africa, although the mountain gorilla lives in montane rainforests. Unfortunately, gorillas are  critically endangered and total numbers are estimated somewhere between 120,000 - 125,000; mountain gorilla numbers are very low with only about 786 individuals. Rampant deforestation, mining and illegal hunting for their meat and trophies is pushing these incredible animals to the brink of extinction. There are many great conservation organizations working hard to save them. One you may have heard of is the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International, http://gorillafund.org/. It was Dr. Fossey who made it her life’s work to study mountain gorillas starting in 1966, and it is because of her (and those who have continued her work) that we know much of what we do today about these incredible apes.    

Another great organization is The Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project. They work tirelessly with the very small remaining mountain gorilla population helping to keep them safe and healthy. Check out their website at http://gorilladoctors.org/, it has great information and there’s even a blog you can follow.

Returning to Tarzan for a moment, I think the reason I love the story so much is because it teaches us about compassion for other beings; Kala, a female ape loses her own baby and is devastated so when she finds Tarzan she adopts him, raises and loves him the same way she would have the baby she lost. The story teaches us to celebrate our similarities and not to focus on the things that make us different. We all need a family, a safe place to live, food, and water – as Phil Collins sings on Disney’s Tarzan soundtrack ‘we’re not so different at all.’ This is not only true of gorillas, but of all other beings and if we started to think about things in this context I believe the planet would be in better shape, definitely a kinder place to live. A little something to contemplate as you put your children to sleep and dream about their futures.

The Spotted Wind

I’ve always been partial to cats. Growing up we had a family cat and as an adult I’ve had 3 feline friends to date. When it comes to their wild relatives I don’t have a favourite really – they are all amazing in their own way – but there’s no denying how absolutely fascinating I find the cheetah. During my visit to Tanzania in 2008, I was fortunate enough to see wild cheetahs; I saw them in both the Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater. And wow, are they ever beautiful!



Cheetah in Serengeti National Park ©Lenore N



Unlike lions or leopards that are built for strength, cheetahs are built for speed. They are the fastest land animal on the planet reaching speeds of about 110 kilometres per hour (70 MPH)! A few weeks ago I wrote an entry on animal adaptations. I talked about the difference between generalist species and specialist species. Cheetahs are most definitely specialists. But what is it that makes the cheetah so fast? It’s their amazing structural and physiological adaptations that allow this cat to move as fast as it does.

They have a flexible spine allowing all four paws to be off the ground at the same time, long legs to propel them forward, semi-retractable claws for gripping the ground as they run, a long tail that acts as a rudder for balance as they turn on a dime, a big chest cavity for their large lungs and heart to pump the amount of oxygen and blood needed to run at those speeds, small dentition (especially their canines) allowing for an enlarged nasal passage for taking in oxygen and small head and ears for aerodynamics.

This short video from BBC Nature Collections illustrates some of these adaptations:

Cheetahs are diurnal, meaning that they are most active during the day. Their spots provide excellent camouflage in the long African grasses as they wait for the perfect opportunity to ambush their favourite prey, Thompson’s gazelle. And because they hunt during the day, their black under-eye 'tear' markings help to reduce the glare of the sun. What, you didn’t think the NFL came up with that on their own did you?

Unfortunately, no matter how fast they are, they can’t outrun how quickly their numbers are dropping – the cheetah is endangered. At one time, these cats ranged throughout Africa and Asia. Now there are only an estimated 100 remaining in Iran and somewhere between 10,000 to 12,500 in sub-Saharan Africa; its last true stronghold is Namibia with about 3,000 individuals. Loss of habitat and conflict with livestock farmers who indiscriminately trap and kill them are severe threats to the cheetah. Add to that a decline in prey and competition with larger predators like lions and hyenas who may steal their kills and it equals big trouble for these incredible cats.  

One of the world’s leading cheetah conservation organizations is The Cheetah Conservation Fund, founded by Dr. Laurie Marker. They focus on conservation and management strategies outside of protected parks and reserves and their overall objective is to secure the survival of cheetahs in suitable African habitats. For more information on their work and for everything you could ever want to know about cheetahs, visit their website: http://www.cheetah.org/?nd=home.

It would be a tragedy to loose such an amazing and beautiful cat, one of nature's 'record breakers'. I hope to one day visit Namibia and maybe even spend some time volunteering for the Cheetah Conservation Fund. Until then, I have great memories of my time viewing wild cheetahs and I hold them close to my heart.

In The Shadow Of Giants

I fell in love with African wildlife as a kid and my dream was to one day visit the continent and see all its animals. When I got a little older and learned just how large and diverse a continent Africa actually is, I figured I’d start with the Serengeti and go from there!

In 2008, my dream finally became reality and I embarked on a 28-day trip to the land of sun. There are many, many stories to share about this trip and the three countries I visited – Tanzania, South Africa and Madagascar – but today, this story is about elephants.

Being the largest land animal on the planet, it’s hard to imagine anyone not being impressed by an elephant. An average male African elephant weighs around 6, 364 Kg (14,000 pounds) and stands about 4 M (over 13 feet) tall. Seeing one at a zoo is impressive, but seeing one in the wild is a whole different experience. I’m not sure I can accurately describe what that was like for me. Whenever I see an animal in its natural habitat, especially for the first time, I feel both excited and at peace...and I’m usually a little teary-eyed to boot. And when it’s a large animal like an elephant, the wow factor is big!

On my very first day of safari, I couldn’t wait to finally see the animals I had been waiting to observe in the wild my whole life. And I wasn’t picky; I didn’t have a check list, I wanted to see it all! I was travelling with a friend who felt the same way and we were SO excited to get going. We arrived at the first place on our tour in Tanzania, Tarangire National Park. Our guide went to check us in and I decided to use the bathroom before our drive. While in there, I heard zebras in the distance through the open window and at first it was so surreal it was like I was hearing a recording playing on a PA system rather than actual wild zebras in the park beyond the bathroom. Oh my god...I was in Africa!

The first animal we saw was a giraffe, but it was far below us in a valley and although we were ecstatic, our guide promised we would see animals much closer then that as we drove on. We then came upon an African fish eagle sitting in a large tree and again were thrilled because we weren’t sure how many birds of prey we’d end up seeing during our visit. It wasn’t too long after we’d said goodbye to the eagle that it happened – we saw our first elephant!

Bull elephant in Tarangire National Park © Lenore N

 It was a male and he was alone walking through the tall grasses. He saw our jeep stop and he watched us calmly as we scrambled for our cameras all the while whispering excitedly. He was magnificent and beautiful and yes, I got a little teary. For such a large creature, he was amazingly quiet. The thing I find challenging when seeing a wild animal is the desire to capture as many pictures as I can while balancing that with just sitting and observing. But since this was my first wild elephant encounter ever, the camera won out and I snapped picture after picture – gotta love digital! Fortunately, we had many opportunities as the trip went on to sit and observe these amazing giants.

Mom and baby in Serengeti National Park © Lenore N

Over our planet’s history, there have been 252 identified species of proboscidea (the taxonomy order to which elephants belong) which includes the prehistoric woolly mammoth. Today, there are only 2 species of elephants left, African and Asian. As I’m sure you’re well aware, those 2 remaining species have been driven to the brink of extinction for their ivory tusks. And although the trade is illegal, it continues to thrive. Add habitat destruction and human-elephant competition for space to the mix and these animals have got huge odds stacked against them. They are large, far roaming species that need lots of space to survive. The elephant population in Africa is not as low as that in Asia, where they only number somewhere between 25,000 to 35,000 wild individuals. There are about 600,000 African elephants across 37 countries – and this number is largely due to vast conservation efforts over the past 30 years. But while they may be stable in certain areas where protected, they are far from being safe with all the pressures on them. 

One organization doing amazing work is the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/) in Kenya. They take in young orphaned elephants whose families have been killed by poachers or have ended up affected by some other human-elephant conflict that has left them alone. Regardless of the reason, these young elephants wouldn’t stand a chance without the help of the Trust. The individuals who work there are truly some of the most caring and compassionate people on the planet. They spend day and night with these orphans nursing them back to health with the goal of one day releasing them back in the wild. 60 Minutes and The Nature of Things have both run programs on this organization so if you think it sounds familiar, that could be why.  Please visit their website and learn more about their work. It’s very expensive to care for these animals and they have a great foster program you might be interested in. I fostered an elephant in the past and loved getting photos and updates; it was very rewarding to hear about her progress.

© David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust 

 Everyone has the power to help elephants whether by avoiding products made from ivory, donating to an organization working on elephant conservation and/or educating other people about the issues threatening these amazing animals.   

The experience of spending some time with wild elephants in Africa is one for which I am eternally grateful and one I will remember forever. 

Breaking The Ice

I thought I would share a story about bars and pickup lines because I think this one is very funny. You may be wondering, “What could this have to do with wildlife and conservation?” Read on and you’ll see the connection.

In May of 2007, I went to Halifax for a few days. The organization I was with at the time has an office there and I was promoting our new teacher resources by visiting a couple of schools and talking to elementary children about wildlife conservation.

This was my first visit to Halifax and I was really excited. First, because I LOVE to travel and second because two colleagues from Toronto had gone to work at our office in Halifax for a year and I was going to hang out and explore the city with them.

If you’ve ever been to Halifax, you’ve no doubt been to the Lower Deck. As I learned, it’s THE pub to visit and have a pint or two while listening to one of Nova Scotia’s many fantastic local bands. We had a great night with lots of laughs, but what made this night particularly memorable for me was an exchange that took place between me and some random guy. Apparently, there is a pickup line that goes like this:

Guy: Do you know how much a polar bear weighs?

Girl: No

Guy: Neither do I, but it’s enough to break the ice!  

Now if you’ve been following my blog entries, you’ll know that one of the species I’ve been lucky enough to work with is the polar bear. So in my mind - because I hadn’t yet heard this line - this guy had been chatting with one of my colleagues, found out what we do and decided to talk to me about polar bears. Poor guy! And keep in mind that the music is loud so we’re yelling over it. Here’s how the exchange went:

Guy: Can I ask you a question?

Me: Sure.

Guy: Do you know how much a polar bear weighs?

Me:  Yes, do you want that in pounds or kilos?

Pause...

Guy: (looking at me like I’m crazy) What?

Me: What?

Guy: Never mind.

Me:  (confused): Wait...what?

Guy: Nothing. (tries to walk away)

Me: (still confused): What just happened here? Did one of my colleagues tell you to ask me that question?

Guy: (still looking at me like I’m crazy) No. I don’t know what you’re talking about.

Me: Well then why would you ask me that question?

Guy: (slightly annoyed) Well why would you answer it like that?

Me: Because I work for a conservation organization and polar bears are one of the key animals I work on.

Guy: Oh, that’s weird.

Me: So, what response were you looking for?

So then the poor guy goes on to tell me about the pickup line, completely embarrassed by this time. Needless to say, he left abruptly after that while I was laughing – at the situation, not him...well ok, maybe a little at him for trying that line in the first place – and looking for my friends to tell them what had just happened. I mean, what are the chances of that?

And that is by far the BEST line I’ve had used on me! I often wonder if that guy ever got the nerve to use it again. Oh, and in case you were wondering, the weight of a polar bear depends on age, sex, the season and which subpopulation we're talking about (especially for those fasting during their time on land). There's a wide range, but on average an adult male bear weighs around 400 kilos or 880 pounds – some weigh more and some weigh less. Females usually weigh about half of what males weigh.

  

Polar bears have the amazing ability to displace

their weight evenly so they can walk across ice

that wouldn't even hold the weight of a human

© Lenore N



A Time to Sleep

As autumn moves along and winter approaches, many animals are preparing for their winter sleep so I thought it would be the perfect time to talk about hibernation.

Most of you probably have some idea of what it is from learning about it in school. And I would guess that the example that comes to mind when you think of an animal that hibernates – especially if you live in North America – is a bear. Am I right? I remember that was the example used when I was in school but it turns out that bears are actually not true hibernators.  Surprised?

There are actually different types of hibernation but often science can be thought too complex for the general public (and with good reason sometimes!) so if a term is explained, understood and then used by non-science types, it tends to stick. And for the record, it isn’t wrong – hibernation is the umbrella term for the physiological process - but in recent years more accurate terms have been introduced and are being used more and more.

But let’s start with a definition. Wikipedia defines hibernation as a state of inactivity and metabolic depression in animals, characterized by lower body temperature, slower breathing, and lower metabolic rate. A true hibernator does not wake up during the winter season and due to its lower metabolic rate, lower body temperature and slower breathing, the animal could be mistaken as dead. There is no movement and it takes a long time for the animal to wake up enough to begin moving again. True hibernators are animals like bats, chipmunks, ground squirrels, groundhogs and marmots.

Hibernation is an adaptation to temporary changes in an animal’s environment; in North America it’s associated with winter when an animal’s food source becomes too scarce for it to survive the season. So during the fall, animals that hibernate will eat more food than usual to bulk up so they can live off their extra fat through the winter.

In the case of bears, there are eight different species globally; giant panda, sloth bear, Asiatic black bear, sun bear, spectacled bear, American black bear, brown bear (grizzly) and polar bear. Of these eight species, only four will enter a den during winter months – American black bears, grizzly bears, Asiatic black bears and pregnant female polar bears.

Like a true hibernator, when a bear goes into a den, its heart rate, metabolism and breathing all slow down and they survive the winter months off their fat reserves. The big difference is that bears can and do wake up, and even leave the den for short periods –sometimes looking for food, sometimes stretching their legs. The more specific term for what happens with bears is that they go into a ‘state of torpor’ but because that may sound very complex, when explaining it I say that bears go into ‘a period of dormancy’.  Again, they are inactive and live off their fat reserves – like true hibernators – but can wake up and leave the den. If it’s a pregnant female, she won’t leave the den until the spring because she has to stay with her young.

Polar bears are another case altogether. As they live in the Arctic and need the sea-ice from which to hunt seals, they don’t need to go into a period of dormancy in the winter because their food source is abundant. The exception to this, as I mentioned above, is a pregnant female; she enters a den, has her cub(s) and stays put with her young until the spring.

So, question: ‘hibernation’, ‘torpor’ – why does it matter what word is used? I mean, isn’t it just semantics? There are those who would certainly agree with that. But to me, it’s important to know that there is a difference. Many people run, hike and camp during winter months in bear country and may not consider the fact they could encounter one at that time of the year because they were taught bears hibernate for the entire season. In many parts of British Columbia for example, the weather doesn’t get very cold so bears are likely more active during winter months then you might think. I say the more you know, the better prepared you’ll be!

Animal Adaptations

As someone who focuses on wildlife education both professionally and in my volunteer role, a topic I speak of often is that of animal adaptations. So today that’s what this blog is about, animal adaptations: what are they and how does a species adapt?

One of the questions I get asked quite a lot when the topic of climate change and polar bears comes up is, “Can’t they just adapt to a warmer climate?” Unfortunately, it’s not at all that simple. This is just a basic overview but some content may be a little technical so please bear with me – no pun intended! 

Ok...what are adaptations? In simple terms, an adaptation is a specific characteristic (or set of characteristics) that allows a species to live and reproduce in a particular environment. There are three types of adaptations:

Behavioural:  instinctual or learned behaviours that help a species thrive in its environment.

Physical or structural: parts of a species’ body structure that help it thrive in its environment.

Physiological: parts of a species’ biology (inner workings of the body/organism) that help it thrive in its environment.

Still with me? I hope so.

So, how does a species adapt? Specific adaptations don’t happen overnight, they often take thousands of years to evolve into exactly what each species need to survive and compete successfully within their unique environment.

Because I brought up polar bears above, I’m going to use them as my example here. Polar bears evolved from grizzly bears (somewhere between 250,000 to 400,000 years ago) in order to occupy and thrive in an Arctic environment as the top predator. They went from being an omnivorous, terrestrial animal (grizzly) to a carnivore that is specifically adapted to life on sea-ice, relying on the marine food chain (polar bears eat seals).

Now, if a species’ environment changes can it adapt? Well, rates of change are very important and there will always be different scenarios and variables that prevent a definitive answer. But there is something important to keep in mind when thinking about adaptations – a species is usually considered either a ‘generalist’ or a ‘specialist’, and this can play a key role in their ability to adapt successfully to rapid and/or big changes in their environment.

A generalist is a species whose behavioural, structural and/or physiological adaptations allow it to survive and thrive in various types of environments. A great example of a generalist is a raccoon. These animals can live in many different types of habitats and, as I’m sure you know, even do very well in urban settings. Their adaptations are flexible and general enough that they would likely survive if their environment changed (unless the change was extreme). So don’t hate the raccoon because he was able to adapt to the changes we made!

A specialist on the other hand is a species whose adaptations allow it to survive in a very particular environment and/or with specialized dietary needs. Removing it from or changing that specific environment or food source can make it very challenging and often times impossible for this species to survive.

Back to my polar bear example - you now know they are of course a specialist species and you also know the answer to the question, “Can’t they just adapt to a warmer climate?” They are supremely adapted to their cold, Arctic home. So as climate change melts and alters their sea-ice habitat, it’s not hard to see how increasingly difficult it becomes for these specialists to survive. Remember – adaptations take thousands of years to evolve.

There are almost as many different adaptations as there are animals. As I continue to write about different species of wildlife, I will definitely highlight some really cool and extraordinary examples of their adaptations so you can appreciate just how amazing animals really are! 

The Ice Bear: It’s In My Blood

Fact: I love polar bears. I have since I was a kid. And it’s not just because they are super cool with awesome adaptations to withstand their Arctic habitat, but of course that’s part of it! I had pictures and posters and books about them all over my room growing up. I think I was around 8 years old when I started hearing stories about the three years my dad lived in Churchill (as a boy with his parents & brother) and I was fascinated with the thought of a place, that in my estimation at the time, was the farthest north you could get, was so cold and covered in ice and yet somehow so full of life. Thus began my love affair with the great white bear.

My grandfather was in the military and he was stationed in Churchill from 1954 to 1957. What I heard about most from my grandmother was how cold it was and how the spring and summer seasons were too short for her liking. And while the ice slowly broke up and melted in the spring, you could hear cracks louder than thunder through the whole town. What my dad told me about were his explorations with his brother, looking everywhere for polar bears. He was unfortunate on one hand because he never saw any despite all his time spent outside. On the other hand, he was fortunate not to have ended up nose-to-nose with a bear while exploring the rocky outskirts of town. Many of the rocks are light in colour and it’s easy to mistake them for a slumbering bear; it’s equally as easy to mistake a slumbering bear for a rock and inadvertently end up too close! Still I was surprised to hear that in the ‘polar bear capital of the world’, where tens of thousands of visitors now travel every fall to see these huge carnivores, my dad and uncle never saw even one bear. What I realized later was that while the military was operating in Churchill, the town’s population was around 5,000 people. With all the activity and noisy military vehicles around it makes sense that bears mostly stayed out of town.




Aerial View of Fort Churchill in the 1950s © Lenore N

 



Hudson Bay Shoreline © Lenore N



Years after the military left, the scientists showed up. The southern-most polar bear populations are forced ashore in late spring/early summer when the ice breaks up and they live off their fat reserves until the ice forms again in mid to late fall and they can get back out on the ice to hunt seals. Because there was a town, an infrastructure in place, and above all, polar bears, it was – and still is - the perfect location to study them. To this day, there is more chronological data about Churchill’s polar bears (referred to as the western Hudson Bay sub-population) than any other sub-population in the world. Now of course, scientists are studying polar bears throughout their circumpolar range around the globe and they have become the iconic species for climate change because the Arctic is changing more rapidly than any other ecosystem on the planet.

What I’d like to stress here is that while polar bears are struggling with their changing habitat because of climate change, scientists still have hope that we can save certain sub-populations if we all make a concerted effort to reduce our energy consumption and our dependence on fossil fuels NOW. One organization doing amazing work on polar bear conservation is Polar Bears International (PBI) and I would encourage you to visit their website to find out about their work. In the coming weeks top bear scientists will even be broadcasting live from the tundra in specially equipped vehicles while wild bears roam at the edge of Hudson Bay waiting for the ice to freeze.  Check it out at http://www.polarbearsinternational.org/.

Churchill Wildlife Management Area © Lenore N

Because these bears are still a favourite of mine, this is only the first of my blogs about them. There are way too many stories and cool facts to write about at one time! And as I mentioned in my previous blog, I have had the amazing privilege to observe and work with wild polar bears in Churchill, Manitoba three times in my career. The experiences themselves were very special, but what made them even more special was being able to share my stories and pictures with my dad and grandparents 50 years after they lived there.