Saint Louis Zoo’s Post

Creating opportunities for coexistence and tolerance is always a good thing.

What if the key to saving cheetahs was...tracking cows? In Botswana, Cheetah Conservation Botswana is flipping the script on traditional wildlife tracking. Instead of just following predators, they're fitting cattle with GPS collars in New Xade, helping farmers protect their herds while creating safer spaces for wild cheetahs to thrive. The results? Real-time alerts when cattle are in danger, faster response times, and fewer conflicts between farmers and wildlife. Plus, these smart collars are helping clear cheetahs of wrongful blame when livestock losses occur. In this landscape connecting some of the world's densest cheetah populations, sometimes the best way to protect a predator is to protect its prey. https://hubs.ly/Q02Z83720

East African pastoralists like the Maasai have herded cattle alongside wildlife for centuries, but conservation policies increasingly restrict this practice in places like Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve (MMNR), where grazing is banned. A new study suggests this restriction may be unnecessary: researchers found that at low cattle densities, herds don’t harm forage or displace wildlife, even when Maasai herders graze cattle in the reserve during dry seasons. This finding has sparked debate, with some ecologists questioning its reliability due to the study’s limited sample area. However, rotational grazing allowed in the Mara’s conservancies seems to benefit both wildlife and ecosystems by creating varied forage that appeals to multiple species. MMNR’s tourism revenue, which can exceed $20 million in a few months, complicates the issue, as many tourists don’t expect to see cattle alongside iconic species. The conservancy model may offer a middle ground, supporting Maasai livelihoods and wildlife conservation. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eUz-MDHM WWF World Wildlife Fund WWF Africa Global Environment Facility

Namibia faces the challenging decision to butcher 723 wild animals to alleviate human food shortages caused by drought and reduce wildlife encounters. Is there a sustainable solution? Can drought-resistant crops and international aid provide a more humane and long-term remedy? What do think? Pls share your thoughts and suggestions... this is sad and disturbing! #Drought #WildLife #Animals #InternationalIssue Read more: https://lnkd.in/gjsWKcHZ

🌍🐺 Wolves to Lose Protection in Europe: A Step Back for Conservation The European Union has voted to downgrade the strict protection status of wolves, sparking heated debates across conservation and farming communities. While some celebrate this decision as a win for livestock protection, others warn it risks undoing decades of hard-fought conservation progress. WWF's Sabien Leemans raises an important point: “Downgrading a species’ strict protection status for the political gain of a few, against scientific evidence, puts decades of conservation efforts at risk.” With wolf populations rebounding from near extinction to an estimated 20,000 in Europe, tensions between rural communities and wildlife conservation have reached a boiling point. The EU estimates that wolves kill 65,000 livestock annually, prompting calls for culls—but is this the right solution? Conservationists argue there are better ways to coexist, like guard dogs and electric fencing. They caution that culling could disrupt packs and lead to more conflicts with humans. As Marta Klimkiewicz from ClientEarth aptly put it, this decision is “a green light to shoot wolves, given by the international community in white gloves.” Balancing biodiversity and human livelihoods is no easy task, but decisions like this remind us of the need for science-driven, sustainable solutions. The implications of this move go beyond wolves—it’s about the kind of relationship we choose to have with nature. What are your thoughts on this decision? #Conservation #Biodiversity #WildlifeProtection #Sustainability #Wolves

Wolves, a species that once teetered on the brink of extinction in Europe, are at the center of a controversial decision. The EU has voted to downgrade their conservation status from “strictly protected” to “protected,” reducing restrictions on when wolves can be culled. While farmers welcome the move as a way to address livestock losses, conservationists warn it could jeopardize the fragile recovery of wolf populations, reports Bobby Bascomb for Mongabay. “The concentration of wolf packs in some European regions has become a real danger especially for livestock,” said Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission. She emphasized the need for local authorities to manage wolf populations more flexibly. However, critics argue the decision undermines science-based conservation efforts. “Downlisting wolves won’t solve the challenges faced by rural communities, but it sets a dangerous precedent: decisions shaped by populism over science,” said Sofie Ruysschaert of BirdLife Europe and Central Asia. Wolves have made a remarkable comeback, with populations growing from 11,000 in 2012 to over 20,300 by 2023. This recovery was the result of decades of conservation measures. “Wolf populations have barely recovered after going extinct in most parts of Europe, and weakening their protection could jeopardise this fragile recovery,” the WWF said in a statement. The decision also raises global questions about Europe’s role in wildlife conservation. “If we expect countries like India or Indonesia to protect their tigers … and Africans to protect lions and elephants, then we as relatively rich Europeans should be willing to tolerate some wolves,” said Laurent Schley, head of Luxembourg’s wildlife department (Administration de la nature et des forêts). As the new protections take effect in three months, this decision invites reflection on how societies balance conservation with human-wildlife conflicts. How will this shape the future of wolves in Europe? 📬 To read more articles like this, join the Mongabay newsletter, which highlights the week’s top articles from nature’s frontline. Subscribe today to get more conservation news straight to your inbox: https://lnkd.in/eXiNpyks 🌳 Read the full story at Mongabay News: https://lnkd.in/e2_8ESyS 1) Gray wolf. Photo courtesy of Rhett Ayers Butler.

CONSERVATION, PUBLIC HEALTH WORRIES RISE AS NIGERIANS CONSUME GRILLED CROCODILE A renewed interest in the consumption of crocodile meat in Nigeria has raised concerns among the proponents of wildlife conservation in the country. Over the years, the grilling/barbecue business has become a profitable venture in Nigeria, aided by a significant growth in patronage. What appears a gradual shift from the norm, however, is the craving for a grilled crocodile and alligators. Just like other meat popular for its unique taste, crocodiles and other non-domesticated animals are used in the preparation of bush meat. In 2022, a video emerged on social media where two vendors were seen making a grand entry into a party organised by a popular socialite while carrying a chopped barbecued crocodile to the amazement of the guests present. The viral video would later set in motion instances where grilled crocodiles were being served to guests at ceremonies, as well as a frenzy of crocodile barbecue businesses with little or no consideration for the position of the laws regarding wildlife. As the grilled reptile now becomes a menu ready to be served at seafood restaurants and high-octane social events, a gradual increase in demand for consumption seems to be threatening the continued advocacy for the conservation of wildlife. As much as conservators fear that this may result in another spike in the poaching of wildlife animals, as against the need to protect them from extinction, public health experts expressed concern about a potential health implication and disease outbreaks. Animalia Deborah 📷ANIMAL HOME PRESS & MEDIA🎙️

A great paper examining the integration of livestock with wildlife in community based conservation models. Moving away from the "fortress" model of conservation to a community partnership with shared resource utilisation in which access to grazing and water is jointly utilised. The myth of the "wilderness" areas in which the indigenous owners of the land were forcibly removed from protected areas has always been a significant obstacle to holistic conservation measures. Shared management of natural resources provides opportunities for building a new reality for Africa's precious wildlife. https://lnkd.in/eMBRNRtK

Wolves in Yellowstone: A Conservation Triumph or Ranching Nightmare? The reintroduction of wolves into Yellowstone National Park marks a significant moment in wildlife conservation, but it has also generated complex implications for the agriculture sector and investors in the region. The return of wolves has led to a https://lnkd.in/e_DDXhG6

Wolves in Yellowstone: A Conservation Triumph or Ranching Nightmare? The reintroduction of wolves into Yellowstone National Park marks a significant moment in wildlife conservation, but it has also generated complex implications for the agriculture sector and investors in the region. The return of wolves has led to a https://lnkd.in/e_DDXhG6