One month to consume all wild meat*

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Just the fear of big predators can alter an entire ecosystem

Try telling raccoons that barking dogs don’t bite. The fear of large carnivores, such as dogs, can have knock-on effects throughout an ecosystem.

Predators don’t control populations of their prey just by killing them. They also paint what is termed a landscape of fear, inhibiting prey from feeding and turning parts of their habitat into no-go zones. Now it appears that this has far-reaching effects throughout the food web.

Domestic dogs are the main predators of raccoons on the Gulf Islands of British Columbia, Canada. Justin Suraci and his colleagues at the University of Victoria in Canada wondered what would happen if they stoked the raccoons’ fear of dogs without increasing predation. They set up speakers along the shoreline on two islands and played either the calls of dogs, or of seals and sea lions, which also live here but are not a threat to raccoons........................

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Bracing for the bush fires

With the Met Office forecasting a particularly arid Dry Season, conservationists are begging citizens to not set bush fires which the Acting Chief Fire Officer said numbered more than 4,000 last year.

Acting CFO Kenny Gopaul said on December 1, 2015 the official fire season began, and he was hoping there would be no repeat of last year.

He said the fire service intends to increase its patrols and fire guardians have already been hired for the purpose of patrolling and monitoring areas.

Gopaul is asking that those who intend to set fires obtain a licence to do so. He said the licence cost $10.

He also advised that if setting fire it should be done at night, in small heaps and when the wind is down.

Gopaul said the public should understand that they can be charge for setting fires without a licence.

The licence can be obtained at any fire service station.

Conservationists: It destroys habitat

Founder of the El Socorro Centre for Wildlife Conservation Ricardo Meade said bush fires are habitat destruction in its worst form.

Meade said just as human lives and homes are lost to fires, the same occurs with animals.

He said the consequences of bush fires pose a great threat to the environment and ecology.

Meade said: “many protected animals are injured or die when the blaze cannot be contained. Their homes are lost, families are scattered and the young ones remaining have to fend for themselves”.

He said this is a criminal offence to set fires without a licence.

Forestry officer and founder of the Wildlife and Environmental Protection of Trinidad and Tobago (WEPTT) Kishan Ramcharan said forest and bush fires were an annual tragedy.

He said there are several hot-spot areas including parts of Caura, Lopinot, St. Benedict’s hill and Lady Young in Port of Spain, where fires occur.

Ramcharan said: “the fires not only destroy the homes and habitats of animals, but also causes soil erosion and landslides when the vegetation is burnt so bad”.

He said the cause of the fire include slash and burn agriculture, improper burning of rubbish and debris, fires started by campers and hunters who try to “smoke-out” the wildlife from the forest.

Ramcharan is calling on the public to observe the law and not to become reckless to endanger the lives of others.

He said his organisation will be conducting an education drive to make the public aware of the dangers of fires to the environment.

• Published: Jan 21, 2016, 9:31 am AST
• On: www.trinidadexpress.com
• By: Sandhya Santoo

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Caiere Chase does not claim to own any rights to this article. All rights to this article belongs to the writer and the original publisher. This article is reproduced here for news, critique and archival purposes. 

MOSSY OAK PAYS TRIBUTE TO HUNTER AND SHOOTING SPORTS ADVOCATE JUSTICE ANTONIN SCALIA

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Crafty Dog Thieves At Large

Govt working on $$ for forestry staff

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CAIERE CHASE Editors Note: As I have said on many occasions, none of the past governments held any respect or importance for the environment.

Updated 16/12/15

Wildmeat “leprosy” warning

Carlton Pope show off his big wild meat catch a armadillo and an agouti for sale along Prince Town Main Road. Photo: Innis Francis.

For those Trinbagonians who hunt and consume wild meat, particularly armadillos (Tatoo) a word of caution.

Cases of the leprosy have been surfacing in South America and Florida where people who handle and consume the creature are suffering the effects of the disease. The carcass of the armadillo is known to be smuggled into Trinidad from South America.

Armadillos are in the medical study of leprosy as they are the few species which can contract the leprosy disease. This is because of their low body temperature is similar to humans.

Human contact of the creature through handling or consumption can spread the disease.

According to conservationist with the Wildlife and Environmental Protection of Trinidad and Tobago (WEPTT) Kristopher Rattansingh, armadillos are natural reservoirs for the leprosy organism, besides humans.

Rattansingh said, he consulted Dr. Janelle Johnson of the University of the West Indies School of Veterinary Medicine, who said the last research was conducted in 1980, by Tota Maharaj.

According to Johnson, there were no cases of leprosy organism in the animal locally and there has been no research since.

Rattansingh said, it is now believed the animal ( the local 9 banded armadillo) is not a carrier, but can be infected, with visible lesions.

Rattansingh also consulted Dr. Carla Phillips of the UWI Veterinary Medicine on the issue, who described the organism as a slow growing, chronic disease.

He said, “This means that it can be present for many years and can go undetected. She (Phillips) stated, “unless tests were done to prove they (armadillos) were negative for the leprosy organism, or some other factor that I am not readily familiar with has proven them to be negative, then we cannot assume they are negative. I do not know the status of the local armadillo population”.

Rattansingh also said if a person comes into contact with the infected tissue or body fluid (blood) that contains the leprosy organism, transmission can occur. He said, “This can be a cause of concern for hunters in Trinidad as they often come into contact with the animal. It’s blood and tissue, and since there are no visual effects or identifiers on the outside of the animal, hunters are very susceptible to being infected with no way of negating the transmission”.

Wildlife and Environmental Protection of Trinidad and Tobago makes a statement

Rattansingh also commented on behalf of the conservation group.

He said, “Without knowing the current status of Armadillos locally, we recognize the dangers and risk of being exposed to the leprosy organism. The research is ongoing and we await for research on the species and the effects. In consultation, if it is proven we will take necessary precautions and advice local agencies such as the forestry division and customs. We recognize that there is an influx of imported species and we don’t know if it is nine banded or 11 banded that has been imported. We also understand that it is now being documented that the local species of nine-banded armadillo that exists in the United States, show symptoms of the disease and may not actually be carriers. Since there is no updated information since 1980, we will definitely look into it through further research, data collection and analysis. If it is a risk we will advise as necessary. However, at this point in time, we do not believe there is cause for any alarm or concern”.

President of the Zoological Society, Gupte Lutchmedial also gave his view on the issue. He said there are known cases of the armadillo carrying and transmitting the disease in South America. However in Trinidad, there is no research conducted on it.

Lutchmedial said this is something which needs closer attention given that the two-year moratorium hunting ban was lifted in October.

• Published on Dec 4, 2015, 8:20 am AST
• By: Sandhya Santoo
• On: trinidadexpress.com

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Caiere Chase does not claim any rights to this article. All rights to this article belongs to the author and original publisher. This article is reproduced here for archival critique and news purposes.