Search Results (38)

Mediterranean coastal groundwater-dependent ecosystems are among the most vulnerable environments to the combined effects of climate change and local anthropogenic pressures, yet long-term quantitative assessments disentangling these drivers remain limited. The 41-year hydro-ecological dynamics (1984–2025) of “Le Soglitelle”, a transitional man-made coastal GDE located in the Campania Plain (southern Italy), were reconstructed across three management regimes: illegal hunting via electric pumps augmentation of flooded areas (1984–2004), post-seizure transition (2005–2015), and fenced natural reserve sustained by artesian wells flow (2016–2025). A monthly multi-sensor time series of seven spectral indices was derived from cross-calibrated Landsat program Surface Reflectance products via Google Earth Engine. Spectral indices were then combined with climatic variables (precipitation, reference evapotranspiration, air temperature) and then integrated in a statistical framework including Mann–Kendall test, Pettitt test, and Principal Component Analysis. Significant breakpoints were identified for the water fraction (2007; mean decrease from 0.18 to 0.09) and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (2009; mean increase from 0.30 to 0.42), consistent with a hydrological regime shift following the interruption of anthropogenic pressures. The relationship between the water fraction and the Vegetation Soil Salinity Index was 2.7 times steeper in the last period than the first one, indicating that, for an equivalent flooded extent, osmotic stress on vegetation is substantially higher under the artesian flow alone, likely due to reduced dilution of saline inputs combined with the effect of ongoing climate change. PCA showed that PC1 reflected the transition from anthropogenic to more natural system conditions, whereas PC2 was associated with increasing ET₀, became more prominent during the last period of management, suggesting a shift toward stronger climate-driven control. Long-term satellite monitoring provides a quantitative baseline for designing targeted management interventions aimed at sustaining ecosystem functioning under ongoing Mediterranean warming. Full article

This study characterizes the pathological findings in Atlantic Cory’s shearwater (Calonectris borealis) chicks from the Canary Islands associated with illegal hunting cases. A retrospective analysis of necropsy archives, including imaging techniques (X-rays and computed tomography) and histopathological examinations, was conducted on twenty juvenile shearwaters. The study revealed significant cranioencephalic trauma as the primary cause of death in both poaching events. Differences in the methods used by the perpetrators were noted, with variations in skull fractures and associated injuries. These findings highlight the importance of understanding local hunting techniques and sociocultural factors in forensic investigations. Diagnostic imaging, standardized necropsy, and histopathology are essential tools for the forensic investigation of illegal hunting in veterinary sciences. Full article

Internationally, introduced invasive species inflict incalculable damage on native species and primary production. In New Zealand, wallabies, which were introduced from Australia, are damaging the native and agricultural environments, and their range is spreading. As a first step towards the long-term goal of eradicating wallabies from New Zealand, the Tipu Mātoro National Wallaby Eradication Programme has the immediate goal of restricting wallabies to containment areas designated in regional pest management plans and to eliminate outlier populations by 2025. The success of this strategy is put at risk if people catch wallabies and release them outside the containment areas. We sought to characterise the motivations, beliefs, and attitudes of members of the public who might engage in this illegal behaviour by surveying members of the New Zealand public. We discovered that a very small proportion of the public supported the illegal catch-and-release of wallabies. Respondents, including hunters, that supported catch-and-release believed that wallabies create economic benefits and do not severely damage the environment. They also believed that hunting helps control wallaby numbers. These results yielded a variety of specific policy implications required to reduce catch-and-release behaviour. Full article

The elongated tortoise (Indotestudo elongata), a Critically Endangered (CR) species, faces numerous threats across its range. Yet, the ecological and anthropogenic factors affecting its conservation in fragmented habitats remain poorly understood. This study integrated field surveys and community questionnaires to assess the distribution drivers and local perceptions, such as attitudes, knowledge, conservation practices, and perceived threats, in the Jalthal Forest, one of the last remnants of suitable habitat for the elongated tortoise in eastern Nepal. Using ArcMap, we established 138 randomly selected grids (500 m × 500 m) to evaluate the environmental covariates of tortoise occurrence and anthropogenic pressures. Generalized linear models revealed that tortoise occurrence was negatively associated with dense ground cover (β = −3.50, p = 0.017) and human disturbance (β = −8.11, p = 0.019). Surveys of local residents from community forest user groups (n = 236 respondents) indicated strong local support for tortoise conservation (69% willing to protect the species). Despite this, the respondents identified persistent threats, including hunting for bushmeat and traditional medicine (74%), habitat degradation (65%), and forest fires. While 60% of the respondents recognized the threatened species status, significant knowledge gaps regarding that status and ongoing illegal exploitation persisted. These findings underscore the need for targeted habitat management, reduced anthropogenic pressures, and community-led initiatives to align local attitudes with conservation actions. This study provides critical baseline data for conserving the elongated tortoise in human-modified landscapes and emphasizes the necessity of integrated ecological and socio-cultural strategies for its long-term survival. Full article

Recreational hunting is a highly regulated activity, in part because it can give rise to a variety of deleterious social, environmental, and economic harms. It provides an interesting area for those interested in community safety because of the way in which both formal (e.g., enforcement officers, proscribed areas and times for hunting, licensing, etc.) and informal (e.g., community awareness and education, conservation) methods of crime prevention are applied. And yet, the criminological literature on effective regulation is not only limited but diverse in terms of scope, types of behavior considered (e.g., poaching, wildlife trading, recreation, etc.), and the context that is considered (e.g., geographical, cultural, etc.). In this paper, we present how a crime prevention and compliance response can be used to understand the nature of the issue and the individual and socio-political processes that result in non-compliance with hunting regulations. We present an overview of the status of recreational hunting in an Australian jurisdiction and locate the regulatory issues that arise within the research literature that explores the various motivations that are known to drive illegal hunting. These are then considered in relation to how community-oriented and non-coercive measures might be employed to improve prevent criminal behavior at the primary, secondary, and tertiary levels. Full article

Conservation strategies that use sustainable use of natural resources through green-labelled markets generally do not recognize the legal sale of wild meat as appropriate due to potential overexploitation and zoonotic disease risks. Wildlife hunting is important to the livelihoods of rural communities living in tropical forests for protein and income. Wildlife management plans in the Peruvian Amazon permit hunting of wild meat species for subsistence and sale at sustainable levels, that include peccaries, deer, and large rodents. These species have fast reproduction making them less vulnerable to overhunting than other species. This study assessed the sustainability of a wildlife management plan. Populations of species were estimated using camera traps and distance transect surveys, and sustainability analysis used hunting pressure from community hunting registers. Interviews were conducted to understand hunters, perceptions of the management plan. Long-term time-series showed increases in collared peccary (3.0 individual/km² to 5.41 individual/km²) and white-lipped peccary (3.50 individual/km² to 7.00 individual/km²) populations and short-term time series showed a decline in paca populations from 8.5 individual/km² to 3.01 individual/km². The unified harvest analysis showed permitted species populations were greater than 60% of their carrying capacities and hunted at less than 40% of their production, which shows sustainable hunting. The wildlife management plan achieved its general objective of sustainable hunting and improving livelihoods. The broader question is whether sustainable wildlife use plans that allow Amazonian communities to sell limited amounts of wild meat can be a way to change illegal wild meat trade to a legal, green labelled trade with added value. Full article

Understanding the change in the habitat distributions and abundance of wildlife in space and time is critical for the conservation of biodiversity and mitigate human–wildlife conflicts (HWCs). Tibetan antelope or chiru (Pantholops hodgsonii), Tibetan gazelle or goa (Procapra picticaudata), Tibetan wild ass or kiang (Equus kiang), and Wild yak (Bos mutus) have been sympatric on the Qinghai–Tibetan plateau (QTP) for numerous generations. However, reviews on the habitat distributions and abundance of these four wild herbivores (WHs), as well as the methods examining the changes in these aspects, are still lacking. Here, we firstly review the distributions and abundance of four major WHs on the QTP across different periods, examining the underlying causes of changes and HWCs. Furthermore, we critically compare three aspects of methods: transect surveys, machine learning (ML), and deep learning (DL) methods of studying WHs. The results show that since the 1990s, the distributions and abundance of WHs have exhibited a trend of initial decline followed by recovery, largely attributed to global climate warming and a decrease in illegal hunting. However, in recent years, the primary challenge has shifted from wildlife protection to balancing the human and wildlife interests within the constraints of limited resources. In the future, we should focus on enhancing the ecological functions of habitats to achieve harmonious coexistence between humans and nature, as well as establishing a scientific compensation mechanism to mitigate human–wildlife conflicts. In order to accurately calculate the changes, we should select appropriate models to analyze the habitats of wildlife based on their specific characteristics and the environmental conditions. Additionally, with the advancement of large models, AI (artificial intelligence) should be utilized for precise and rapid wildlife conservation. The findings of this study also provide guidance and reference for addressing the issues related to wildlife habitats and abundance in other regions globally. Full article

The Philippine duck (Anas luzonica) is a vulnerable species, endemic to the Philippines. The need of local people for food and land has led to the endangerment of the Philippine duck populations through illegal hunting and the conversion of wetlands to aquaculture and farmland. This study was conducted to determine the willingness to pay (WTP) of residents (n = 500) in Maguindanao provinces for the conservation of the Philippine duck and the effects of conservation attitude and knowledge toward the Philippine duck, as well as sociodemographic characteristics, on WTP. The mean annual WTP for Philippine duck conservation was USD 0.60, and the total estimated annual amount that could be collected was USD 134 thousand when projected based on the number of households in the Maguindanao provinces. A positive conservation attitude and high knowledge increased the WTP for Philippine duck conservation. Females, pet owners, and those with higher income pledged a higher WTP than males, non-pet owners, and those with lower income. This study revealed that local residents are supportive of the conservation of the vulnerable duck populations by paying a considerable amount. These results are critical for designing and implementing outreach programs for increasing awareness and the acquisition of funds urgently needed for the protection and conservation of the remaining Philippine duck population in the area. Full article

Decades of illegal hunting (poaching) have adversely affected wildlife populations and thereby limited sustainable wildlife conservation in the Luangwa Valley, Zambia. Despite intervention efforts to address the problem, the illegal hunting of wildlife has persisted. Therefore, this study was conducted to understand the persistence of illegal hunting by investigating the drivers of poaching and intervention measures using a mixed methods approach. Stratified random sampling was used to collect data from 346 respondents through structured questionnaires. Purposive sampling was used to collect data through nine focus group discussions and three in-depth interviews with experts. The study revealed that persistent illegal hunting was mainly driven by people’s critical need for survival and sustaining their livelihoods and not by inadequate law enforcement as presumed by resource managers. Although law enforcement was the most prevalent intervention measure, it did not deter local illegal hunters because their main motivations for poaching were not effectively addressed. The key implication of these findings is that where the illegal harvesting of natural resources in protected areas by local resource users is driven by people’s critical need for survival and a livelihood, which is ineffectively addressed, illegal harvesting may persist even with increased law enforcement. This study provides empirical evidence, novel conceptual knowledge and an understanding of how prevalent drivers of poaching and other factors may have influenced persistent illegal hunting in the Luangwa Valley. Full article

Conflicts between human populations and Nile crocodiles are widespread with crocodiles posing significant threats to fisherfolk and riverine communities across r-Saharan Africa. Hundreds of deadly attacks take place annually, and mortality rates may range from 50% to 100%. Attitudes and perceptions towards crocodiles were studied using structured questionnaires among fisherfolk along the River Nile and the Sudd wetlands in South Sudan. Local communities used crocodiles for their meat and skin/leather trades. The meat is regarded to enhance longevity, sexual potency, and protection against witchcraft. Crocodiles are perceived as a main threat to lives and livelihoods as they restrict people’s freedom of movement along water bodies, attack livestock and humans, and devastate fishing equipment. To assess whether responses were influenced by the intensity of crocodile threats, published data on fatal crocodile attacks on humans and livestock were analysed using Generalised Linear Models (GLMs). This analysis indicated a direct link between the number of crocodile attacks and human attitudes. Crocodiles were generally feared and hated, and there was the agreement of the need to destroy breeding habitats. However, some attitudes were complex and nuanced as highlighted by the agreement of local communities on the need to destroy Nile Crocodile breeding habitats on the one hand and the need to establish crocodile sanctuaries as the the preferred strategy to mitigate risks and conflict on the other hand. There is a need for the creation of a crocodile sanctuary in the Sudd wetlands to minimise the risks of illegal hunting and to buffer the increasing pressure on crocodiles due to human population growth and economic upturn after the civil war. Full article

François’ langur is an Endangered colobine inhabiting limestone habitats in southern China and northern Vietnam. Its global population has been estimated to be just more than 2000 mature individuals. Populations in Vietnam are highly fragmented with reportedly fewer than 200 adults in total and 50 in a single location. Although the François’ langur in Vietnam is highly imperiled as remnant populations persist in only three to four sites, little research has been carried out to provide a reliable estimate of its remaining population. In this study, we conducted field surveys in Lam Binh District, Tuyen Quang Province, northeastern Vietnam. In total, we recorded at least 16 groups of François’ langurs, with 156 individuals, raising the total number of individuals by approximately 10% compared to a previous study. The group structure, group size, activity budget, and density of the Lam Binh population resemble those reported in François’ langurs in China and other limestone langur species. The results show that the behavior ecology of limestone langurs significantly differs from that of forest langurs probably because they occupy separate habitats with distinctly different environmental variables. During our surveys, we detected a number of direct threats to this population, namely illegal logging, hunting, firewood collecting, hydropower development, grazing, and mining. It is recommended that the protection forest be elevated to the nature reserve status to better protect the most important population of the François’ langur in Vietnam. Full article

The historical relationship between humans and dogs has involved selective breeding for various purposes, such as hunting, guarding, and service roles. However, over time, there has been a shift in preferences from functionality to aesthetics, which has influenced the diverse sizes, shapes, and coats of dog breeds. This review looks at fashionable dog breeding and questions the ethics of prioritising looks over health and behaviour. It aims to alert potential owners, breeders, and regulators to the importance of considering a dog’s overall well-being, not just its appearance, which has resulted in fad breeding, leading to genetic disorders, health issues, and a loss of biodiversity. Ethical concerns arise from breeding brachycephalic breeds with respiratory conditions, inbreeding causing inherited disorders, and overbreeding popular breeds while shelter dogs remain unadopted. Additionally, the impact of cosmetic surgeries on popular dog breeds, as well as the neglect of behavioural traits in favour of physical characteristics and strict breeding practices are also considered. The current breeding model can have a negative impact on the emotional and cognitive well-being of dogs, resulting in issues such as aggression, anxiety, and other behavioural problems that can significantly reduce their overall quality of life. Unregulated breeding practices and the demand for rare breeds can lead to illegal breeding, compromising animal welfare. Prospective owners, veterinarians, kennel clubs, and legislators all need to play a responsible role in protecting animals. Full article

The Peruvian guanaco (Lama guanicoe cacsilensis) is classified as being “in critical danger of extinction” by the government. In this study, we evaluate how the conflict between farmers and guanacos in the Susapaya and Estique Districts, Tacna Department (Southern Peru) may represent a threat to their survival. To evaluate the situation, we 1. Conducted field surveys to monitor guanaco presence, 2. Used available remote sensing data to map guanaco movement, and 3. interviewed the impacted farmers concerning their losses. Remote sensing data showed that sedentary guanaco family groups located in prime steppe vegetation habitats never entered agricultural areas, while field surveys showed that bachelor bands and solitary individuals did, perhaps seeking forage due to growing population pressure. Interview data found that 90% of community farmers felt that guanacos were a problem best resolved by better fencing (45%), hunting (19%), or increased security (16%), and 92% saw no value in the conservation of the species. Hunting is illegal, given the critically endangered status of guanacos in Peru, so additional efforts are needed to both educate those who feel guanacos are a menace and involve them in efforts to preserve the species. Full article

Forests established through afforestation are one of the most precious natural resources, especially in harsh and desert-biased conditions. Trees are often exposed to various threats that need to be addressed. Some of the threats are igniting fires, illegal lumberjacking, hunting, using, and crossing prohibited areas, etc. This article delves into the combination of advanced technologies, such as radars, thermal imaging, remote sensing, artificial intelligence, and biomass monitoring systems, in the field of forestry and natural resource security. By examining the parametric assurance technologies described in this paper, the potentials of real-time monitoring, early detection of threats, and rapid response capabilities are examined, which significantly improves the efficiency of forest protection efforts. This article deals with the presentation of advanced algorithms that include radar, thermal cameras, and artificial intelligence, which enable the automatic identification and classification of potential threats with a false alarm rate (FAR) as low as possible. The article presents a systemic solution that optimizes the answer for a parametric security system that is required to work in a complex environment with multiple triggers that can cause false alarms. In addition to this, a presented system is required to be easy to assemble and have the ability to integrate into natural areas and serve as a vulnerable aid in nature as much as possible. In conclusion, this study highlights the transformative potential of security applications in improving forest and natural reserve security while taking into account the complexity of the environment. Full article

Cultivated meat (CM) is a disruptive technology that provides an alternative to animal protein. In this context, the Amazon manatee (Trichechus inunguis) emerges as an important case. Although it is illegal to hunt this large mammal, its meat continues to be consumed, causing several threats to its natural habitat. The aim of this study is to explore the impacts of introducing the Amazon manatee CM into the traditional meat value chain as a tool to aid the biodiversity of the Amazon Basin. Thus, we developed a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats matrix from the content analysis of 11 interviews conducted between October 2021 and May 2022. The interviewees were experts in different fields, ranging from financial analysts of novel food technologies to biologists, researchers, and others. We presented the theme of illegal hunting and its consequences during the interviews, followed by the CM process, and explained how the royalties from the sale of this innovative product could help to preserve Amazon biodiversity through the proposal of a new business model. The main findings suggest that the proposed model would produce good results, but the threat of a rebound effect from the consumption of wild animals was mentioned in most responses, especially by actors involved in conservation. The strengths and opportunities of this disruptive narrative mainly focused on preserving biodiversity and promoting environmental awareness, combining the conservation of wildlife and the consumption of novel food. The weaknesses included the lack of knowledge and the non-existent market. This framework is relevant for policymakers, nongovernmental organizations, and researchers seeking to improve the sustainability not only of the species found in the Amazon, but also around the world. Full article