Latest news with #JournalofThreatenedTaxa
Miami Herald
10 hours ago
- Science
- Miami Herald
Endangered creature — thought missing from India forest — rediscovered. See it
Covering more than 9,500 square miles of land in northeastern India, the Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong Landscape, or KKAL, is fragmented. The land is a 'complex mosaic of protected and non-protected areas' and is pieced together by a series of natural corridors, according to a study published June 26 in the peer-reviewed Journal of Threatened Taxa. During a reconnaissance survey along these interconnected corridors of land, researchers set up camera traps to capture and identify animals that may be using the pathways to move between the islands of natural land, according to the study. What they didn't expect was to rediscover a species once thought missing in the region. From February 2021 to December 2022, a total of 83 camera traps captured 15,278 'camera-trap days' of images, according to the study. Six of these photos were different from the others. Captured by camera traps for the first time in October 2022, the images show an Asiatic wild dog, or dhole, passing in front of the lens, researchers said. 'This was the only instance where we captured a Dhole on camera in the landscape during the study period,' researchers said. '... The habitat consists of moist mixed deciduous forest, dominated by teak.' The sighting marks the first photo evidence of a dhole in the region after it was 'extirpated,' or eliminated, in the 1990s, researchers said. Dholes are listed as an endangered species, according to the study, and are protected under the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act from 1972. They were once abundant across the Tian Shan and Altai mountains in Russia, Mongolia and Kazakhstan, as well as further south through China, Tibet, Nepal and India, according to the study. Their range has shrunk significantly from threats like 'retaliatory killing, habitat loss, and prey depletion,' researchers said. Less than 25% of their original range still stands today. Dholes are dogs and communal hunters, typically traveling in packs of up to 30 animals but can hunt alone or in pairs when prey is scarce, according to the study. They are about the size of a German shepherd, but look more like a fox with elongated legs, according to the San Diego Zoo. 'Dholes are incredibly athletic. They are fast runners, excellent swimmers and impressive jumpers,' the zoo said. 'These skills are critical when the pack is hunting. In some protected areas, they share habitat with tigers and leopards.' They are sometimes called whistle dogs because of an 'eerie whistle' they use to communicate with one another, according to the San Diego Zoo. They also make clucks and screams that are unique to these dogs. The KKAL is in the Assam state of India, a northeastern state south of Bhutan and China. The research team includes Mujahid Ahamad, Jyotish Ranjan Deka, Priyanka Borah, Umar Saeed, Ruchi Badola and Syed Ainul Hussain.
The Hindu
20 hours ago
- Science
- The Hindu
Asiatic wild dog returns to Assam's Kaziranga landscape
The dhole, or Asiatic wild dog (Cuon alpinus), believed to have been locally exterminated, has made a confirmed return to Assam's Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong Landscape (KKAL), according to a new study by scientists from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII). The findings, published in the latest issue of the Journal of Threatened Taxa, indicate that this elusive and less charismatic carnivore may have gone unnoticed for an extended period, despite its ecological significance. 'India is experiencing a decline in wildlife species due to habitat loss, deforestation, and climate change. Species once thought to be extirpated from certain areas are being rediscovered, offering hope for conservation efforts,' the study notes. Mujahid Ahamad, Jyotish Ranjan Deka, Priyanka Borah, Umar Saeed, Ruchi Badola, and Syed Ainul Hussain are the authors of the study, which highlights the first-ever camera-trap evidence of the endangered canid in the Amguri corridor of the KKAL. 'This finding is significant as it highlights the ecological value of the corridor in supporting threatened species,' said Dr. Ruchi Badola, Dean of WII's Faculty of Wildlife Sciences, speaking to The Hindu. 'Dholes require large, undisturbed forest habitats, and their presence here confirms the need to conserve this dynamic wildlife corridor, which also supports tigers, leopards, elephants, and other species.' 'With increasing threats from habitat loss and fragmentation, this discovery is a timely reminder of why these forest linkages must be protected and restored for the long-term survival of India's lesser-known carnivores,' she added. The study, conducted in 2022, focused on four key animal corridors within the 25,000 sq. km KKAL, which lies within the Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot. These corridors include Panbari, Haldhibari, Kanchanjuri, and Amguri. The dhole was photo-captured on six occasions in the Amguri corridor. All images were of a single individual, recorded 375 metres from National Highway 37 and approximately 270 metres from the nearest human settlement. Dholes are social animals known to form packs of up to 30 individuals. However, depending on prey availability, they may also hunt alone or in pairs. The current distribution of the dhole is restricted to parts of Central and Eastern Asia, including India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, China, Myanmar, Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia. Its global range, however, is now less than a quarter of its historical extent, significantly reduced due to threats such as habitat degradation, prey depletion, and retaliatory killings. The last confirmed sighting of dholes in northeast India was reported from Nagaland in 2011.
Miami Herald
20-06-2025
- Science
- Miami Herald
Park employee looks up at tree — and finds ‘rare' visitor staring back. See it
A 'routine' wildlife survey at a nature reserve in the United Arab Emirates took a turn when a staff member looked up at a tree — and found a 'rare' visitor staring back. The brief encounter was the park's first sighting of the 'long-eared' species in 22 years. An employee at the Al Wathba Wetland Reserve was conducting a 'routine bird census' in January 2022 when they noticed an owl in a tree, ecologist Shakeel Ahmed said in a June 19 email to McClatchy News. The employee snapped a few photos before the bird 'immediately flew away.' Intrigued, the employee showed the photos to Ahmed and coworker Sálim Javed who identified the bird as a long-eared owl, Asio otus, a species rarely seen in the UAE, they wrote in a study published May 26 in the peer-reviewed Journal of Threatened Taxa. Photos show the 'rare' long-eared owl, which has pointy feathers on its head and bright yellow eyes. Its feathers are a mixture of brown hues, cream and black. The owl was seen 'roosting on a branch' after a day of 'very high winds' and 'heavy rains,' the study said. The January 2022 owl sighting was the nature reserve's first sighting of the species in 22 years and the country's first sighting in nine years, researchers said. Long-eared owls are a 'highly migratory species with an extremely wide distribution range in Eurasia,' the study said. The species is not at-risk but does have a declining population. Al Wathba Wetland Reserve is on the outskirts of Ahu Dhabi, the capital city of the UAE, a country on the Arabian Peninsula that borders Oman and Saudi Arabia. The reserve is regularly monitored and 'the most important site for migratory waterfowls, waders, diurnal birds of prey and owls' in the UAE, the study said.
Miami Herald
29-05-2025
- Science
- Miami Herald
Shepherds' advice leads to first-of-its-kind mammal sighting in India. See it
Near an agricultural area in western India, a scaly mammal went about its night, likely searching for food or water. Unbeknownst to it, a nearby trail camera documented its passing. The encounter turned out to be a first-of-its-kind sighting for the area. A team of scientists set out 'inventory the mammal community and its diversity patterns across the Rajkot District of Gujarat' using trail cameras, according to a study published May 26 in the peer-reviewed Journal of Threatened Taxa. As part of the project, researchers set up a pair of trail cameras near a specific hill chosen based on 'local knowledge provided by shepherds who routinely bring their livestock to a nearby water source,' the study said. Sure enough, one of the cameras photographed and 'successfully documented the presence of a pangolin' — the district's 'first observation of (an) Indian pangolin,' researchers said. The photo, taken in July 2024, shows the scaly back of the pangolin and a portion of its tail. Pangolins are considered the world's most trafficked mammal. Found in Asia and Africa, 'all pangolin species have experienced a drastic decline in populations, primarily because of hunting and illegal international trade,' the study said. Indian pangolins, an endangered species 'widely distributed throughout much of' India, are 'often killed due to the belief that they dig up graves and pull out the buried dead bodies' or because farmers believe the animals are 'damaging their crops,' researchers said. Generally, pangolins are shy and elusive animals, according to the World Wildlife Fund. The pangolin seen in Rajkot District, Gujarat, 'indicates the possibility of the persistence of the population in the region,' the study said. Researchers suggested further surveys of the animal, its distribution and its preferred habitats. Rajkot District is in central Gujarat, the westernmost state in India and along the border with Pakistan. The research team included Aum Agravat, Vikram Aditya, Shreya Pandey, Bhavin Patel, Rushi Pathak and Aurobindo Samal.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Rare giant crab not seen on tsunami-ravaged island in over 150 years found in remote cave
A rare crab known for its bright blue color and giant size hasn't been spotted on an Indian Ocean island following a deadly tsunami in 2004 – until now, when scientists stumbled upon the massive coconut crab in a cave. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the Dec. 26, 2004, tsunami was generated when a magnitude 9.1 earthquake struck off the northern coast of Sumatra. More than 230,000 people across a dozen countries were killed during the tsunami, which is considered one of the deadliest in modern history. The tsunami also devastated many coastal habitats of animals in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, home to a rare and massive crab known as the coconut crab. The coconut crab, or Birgus Latro, is the largest land arthropod and one of the decapod crustaceans. The leg span of one of these crabs can grow up to 3 feet, and an adult crab can weigh up to 11 pounds. Coconut crabs can live up to 60 years and primarily live off scavenging foods from fallen fruits and nuts, including eating through the shells of coconuts. 20 Years Later: A Look At The Deadliest Disaster To Strike Earth In Modern History According to the research paper published this week in the peer-reviewed Journal of Threatened Taxa, the coconut crab had not been spotted on Car Nicobar Island since 1874, but had been sparsely documented on neighboring Nicobar islands. A research team combined the island in 2012 for the elusive crab but came up empty. On April 13, 2024, a single coconut crab was observed inside a limestone cave about 2 miles inland from the coast of Car Nicobar Island. Researchers believe the presence of coconut fruit and litter inside the cave may have attracted the crab. A photo taken by the researchers shows the large crab within some rocks, visible with its bright blue coloring. The team said this sighting is the northernmost recorded crab within the Nicobar Islands. Researchers said the discovery shows that including interior forests and inland caves is crucial in post-tsunami survey article source: Rare giant crab not seen on tsunami-ravaged island in over 150 years found in remote cave
