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Wolfwatcher

4 hours ago

tinyurl.com/mt2236t8This was offered from Aspen Daily News and the issues of of the reintroduction to Colorado with an increase in wolvesThe howling: Colorado’s wolf reintroduction program off to a rocky startAt this juncture, CPW is scheduled to release another 10 to 15 wolves — this time procured from British Columbia — “sometime in January.” Might happen next week. Might have happened last week. Might be happening right now. CPW is tight-lipped about such things, out of reasonable concern for the safety of the wolves (as well as any rancher who’s willing to let wolves be released on their private property). What we do know is that north of the border, the capture process officially started Friday, Jan. 10, and the whole process could take upwards of two weeks.Three counties are on the release shortlist: Eagle, Garfield and Pitkin. Again, CPW ain’t saying. Either way, there is a very good chance that, by the end of the month (maybe by the end of this sentence), residents of the Roaring Fork Valley might very well be hearing a distant howl that has not been heard in 80 years echoing through the mountains of home.The media has been on the wolf reintroduction story like flies on dung. Every angle has been covered ad nauseam.Most of the stories that have been penned about Colorado wolf reintroduction program say nothing more than words to the effect of, “The wolves will be coming from British Columbia.” It sounds so benign, like they will be rounded up by some earth goddess sprinkling fairy dust or a First Peoples shaman walking into the forest with a handful of sage and asking for volunteers. Like a pack of wolves will then come bounding out of the woods saying, “Yes, take me! I’ve always wanted to visit Colorado!” In the opinion of environmentalists, the clear-cutting of the old-growth forests in British Columbia is directly applicable to the shocking wolf-management situation in Canada’s westernmost province, which is half as large as Texas with a population less than Tennessee — and, in turn, to the on-ground implementation of Proposition 114 some thousand miles to the south.Mollie Cameron is the lead wolf campaigner for an environmental organization called Pacific Wild, which, she says, has been fighting for the protection of wildlife and wildlife habitat since the 1980s.Cameron says the provincial government has killed, mainly via aerial gunning from helicopters, 2,192 gray wolves — the species being reintroduced in Colorado — over the past decade, ostensibly as a means of helping endangered caribou populations grow. That number does not include the additional 6,000 or so wolves that have been killed by private citizens through hunting and trapping. (There are currently about 8,000 wolves living in B.C., according to Cameron.) This article to my eyes has turned into an encyclopedia not newspaper. I can’t begin saying all that is enclosed and I must ask you to continue reading At the link below. When you end the article you will understand why I can’t cover her and you must in your reading.At the link below:tinyurl.com/mt2236t8Photo: Deby Dixon of YNP ... See MoreSee Less

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Wolfwatcher

1 day ago

The paradox of balancing conservation efforts for Himalayan wolves and snow leopardstinyurl.com/yc683fsdThe Himalayan wolf (Canis lupus chanco) and snow leopard (Panthera uncia) are apex predators in alpine ecosystems. By controlling the numbers of meso-predators and herbivores, these top predators can have cascading effects on plant and animal species at different trophic levels. Their predation activities create intricate trophic interactions that help stabilize food webs and promote a balanced ecosystem. These predators support nutrient cycling by helping scavengers through carrion provisioning and dispersing essential nutrients across the ecosystem. Furthermore, these carnivores attract global tourism, providing local communities with valuable ecotourism opportunities.Both snow leopards and wolves are crucial to the Himalayan ecosystem, but conservation has overwhelmingly favored snow leopards. This disparity in attention and resources amplifies the challenges faced by wolves, highlighting the need for a balanced approach to conserve both species effectively.A more holistic conservation approach is essential — one that recognizes the roles of all predators in sustaining ecological harmony and addressing interdependencies within the food web. Expanding compensation schemes to cover livestock losses from all carnivores, not just snow leopards, is key toward a broader conservation perspective. Such a shift can help reduce animosity toward all predators, promoting better coexistence between humans and wildlife. By highlighting the ecological importance of carnivores, conservation initiatives can encourage communities to view them as integral parts of the ecosystem, not just as threats. ... See MoreSee Less

The paradox of balancing conservation efforts for Himalayan wolves and snow leopards (commentary)

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The Himalayan wolf (Canis lupus chanco) and snow leopard (Panthera uncia) are apex predators in alpine ecosystems. By controlling the numbers of meso-predators and herbivores, these top predators can have casca...

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