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Be a KWF Bird Conservationist!
16th January, 2010
The freezing weather the UK has been having may seemed to have surpassed but be sure to still top up your birds feeders! Gardens are becoming ever more important for our birds as housing encroaches further on to our countryside and important habitats are being replaced. This winter I have noticed new visitors such as the thrush, fieldfare and redwing which is good news! We want to encourage the return of our beautiful British birdlife as in previous years, many have been in decline. So why not make your garden in to a bird conservation area and help the KWF - all you need to do is ensure your feeders are always topped up and there is food available for ground feeding birds like the robin. Birds will return to an area known of food availability so don't make their trip to your garden futile.
Blackbird © Mick Eade
Discourage Exotic Pet Trade
8th January 2010
We have created our first pledge on www.change.org to help promote the awareness of the detrimental effects of the exotic pet trade. Take a look and Take the Pledge!
Conclusions to the Wolf Reintroduction Research
1st July 2008
The research that I carried out regarding the feasibility of reintroducing wolves to the Scottish Highlands was an introductory assessment that was carried out over a short period. The data that I collected gave the KWF a starting point for drawing some basic conclusions.
In conclusion, the Scottish Highlands may provide the most suitable habitat for the reintroduction of the wolf to the British Isles. Low road density in the region is a key feature that makes it very suitable. The highlands also boast extensive areas of countryside which is necessary for the large home range requirements of these canids. Home range size is a significant ecological factor for the survival of wolf populations as an extensive area is required in order to support a sufficient number of prey species. Although ecologically the Scottish Highlands may be able to support a viable population of wolves, socially a number of barriers may prohibit an effective reintroduction.
Through interviews and questionnaires I was able to learn of the general attitudes and concerns from the local community. A number of concerns were highlighted in the community, with many people fearing that the traditional community livelihood would be at risk from the presence of wolves. As I spoke to the local community I began to understand their position and concerns and found myself being concerned for their livelihoods.
There were some positive attitudes however, about the possible presence of wolves particularly those from a younger generation and those who had moved to the area only recently. A strongly negative attitude came from the fear of wolves and many people felt they would be afraid to walk in the glen and mountains. Carnivores and wolves in particularly always appear to be misunderstood, and this is an important area and problem that must be alleviated before a successful wolf reintroduction can happen. Furthermore, the local community feared that the presence of wolves would have a detrimental impact on the deer stalking community. Deer stalking is a major economic contributor to the region, and as a result the community rely on it inextricably.
Much effort is needed in order to alter the strong negative attitudes that are deeply ingrained in society. I would fear that at this time, the reintroduction of wolves would be unsuccessful unless human attitudes are altered. A deer stalker openly admitted that he would shoot a wolf in the region. Deer stalking is a vital income to the region. What's more, the deer stalkers have a wonderfully deep understanding of wildlife in the area which I greatly respect and admire.
Due to the contention and controversy that surrounds this issue and particularly the deeply ingrained negative opinions of wolves, the KWF, as of yet are undecided on whether the reintroduction should go ahead. The KWF therefore believe that attention must be paid to removing the misunderstood stereotypes about wolves.
by Beata
A Future for Elephants in Sri Lanka
1st July 2008
I had the privilege of watching eight little Asian elephants taking their steps back in to the wild of Udawalawe National Park in Sri Lanka. I couldn’t help but wonder how their lives could have been without the help of Elephant Transit Home. I got a lump in my throat but at the same time my face gleamed knowing that they had a future like many others who were rescued by Elephant Transit Home. Hope came across me as I witnessed the positive work happening before my eyes and the certainty that so many other elephants like these will also be given a second chance to live safely in the wild. Full_story
by Dana
Visiting the National Seal Sanctuary
4th March 2008
In February, Raeburn and I visited a very special place – The National Seal Sanctuary. The sanctuary is located in the picturesque coastline of southern Cornwall in a little community called Gweek.
The sanctuary casts its warmth through me as we learnt about their attempts to rescue, rehabilitate and re-release seals. Furthermore, the sanctuary tends to receive unwanted or ill seals from zoos and sea-life centres. I thought I would take this opportunity to promote and praise the sanctuary’s efforts. It does lighten the heart to learn of what others are doing to help wildlife.
Just as we visited, three rescued seal pups were trans-located from the hospital pens to the nursery pool where the three little pups could socialise. The little ones were very noisy, possibly showing their excitement? All rescued seals go through a clinical assessment by a vet and usually are housed in individual hospital pens until the seals gain weight and show signs of recovery when they are then moved to the nursery pool.
The final stage of rehabilitation is the Convalescence Pool, where the seals learn the appropriate behavioural skills necessary for survival in the seas.
Raeburn and I both enjoyed the visit - its beautiful location added to the incredible efforts of the sanctuary in the conservation of seals.
by Beata
Bad storms leave coastlines like rubbish dumps 10th January 2008
Many people across the west coast of Scotland thought their roofs were about to fly off and others where on the hunt for their recycling bag and undoubtedly, other house materials. Roads were blocked due to flooding, fallen trees and damged roads as huge waves crashed on shore.
This storm that passed over Scotland hit with a crash but left just as swiflty leaving in it's trail lots of rubbish on the seashore. The coastline isn't that clean at the best of time, now it looks like a dumping site. Anyone that has lost their recyling bags, I would take a trip to the beach - you're bound to find it there!
All this mess is going to find it's way back out to sea where it will drift endlessy with a smug expression as it pollutes and upset the ecology of marine life.
Is the council going to clean it up? I wonader.
by Dana
The wolf back to the Scottish Highlands? 8th January 2008
Beata, our team co-director and conservationist is currently researching into the reinitroduction of the wolf to the Scottish Highlands. Last Summer, she packed her tent and headed off to Glen Affric in West Inverness, a beautiful remote area that measures up to the romatic ideas of Scotland and a landscape once thriving with wild boar and the enigmatic wolf. Her time there wasn't spent entirely alone - she had the company of her dog, Sligeach and the "most welcoming" midges (insect repellent came to be her new best friend).
It was hard for her to focus on the reason of the trip as she sauntered through the lands, passed cascading waterfalls of ice cold mountain water that flowed into meandering rivers stretching across farmland and trekked from one stunning peak to another. The seeming wilderness of Scotland couldn't help but incaptulate her. But is the Scottish Highlands as wild as we think it is? That is what our conservationist went to find out.
She spent her time doing ecological assessments of the land and talking to the local community of Cannich to learn of their livelihoods, relationship with the land and opinions on the wolf. Her delightful personality inevitably meant she made friends quickly, chatted away to deer stalkers and learned alot about their way of life and their knowledge of wildlife and how to protect it. Meetings were arranged with individuals of the Forestry Commision and Trees for Life. This allowed her to create piloting surveys and a huge report, that is, a waterproof notebook filled with messy notes, mud and squashed midges.
Of course, her work is still ongoing and, at the moment, she is slogging through the boring part of compilling all the data and, if her writing is as anywhere near as bad as mine, trying to figure out what she wrote!
Keep posted with her research.
by Dana