As of February 2012 the small country of Bangladesh has created 3 new wildlife sanctuaries specifically for the endangered freshwater dolphins in the Sundarbans (the Sunderbans are the world’s largest entact mangrove forest). The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) have been working in Bangladesh to pinpoint these locations and the thought is that this will greatly help these endangered species recover.
Royle Safaris offers you the chance of visiting the Sunderbans on our Bangladesh wildlife tour which explores the amazing Sunderbans forest and offers excellent chances of seeing both of these species as well as tigers, salt-water crocodiles, deer, monkeys and hundreds of birds.
The three new dolphin sanctuaries are set out to protect the last two remaining species of freshwater dolphins living in Asia: the Ganges River dolphin and the Irrawaddy dolphin. Both species have been disappearing from major portions of their range for the last few decades. However, there are sustainable populations of both species in the Sundarbans, which may now serve as a global safety net for preventing their extinction.
These 3 new wildlife sanctuaries plan to safeguard 19.4 miles of river channels with a total area of 4.1 sq miles being protected. The locations and sizes of the sanctuaries in the Sundarbans were determined according to a comprehensive study conducted by WCS and the Bangladesh Forest Department. The study found that the habitat of Ganges River and Irrawaddy dolphins were clumped in waterways where human activities are most intense; and therefore in the most urgent need for protection.
The director for WCS’s Asian Freshwater and Coastal Cetacean Programme recently said ‘Declaration of these wildlife sanctuaries is an essential first step in protecting Ganges River and Irrawaddy dolphins in Bangladesh.’
‘As biological indicators of ecosystem-level impacts, freshwater dolphins can inform adaptive human-wildlife management to cope with climate change suggesting a broader potential for conservation and sustainable development.’
It is very important to protect this pristine habitats in the Sunderbans as the Yangtze River Dolphin was declared extinct only a couple of years ago, after not being afforded this level of protection in a rapidly developing country. Royle Safaris are committed to the preservation of habitats such as the Sunderbans and the conservation and research of wildlife in Bangladesh. This is why for every Sunderbans Cruise we conduct we donate money to numerous Bangladesh conservation societies.
The freshwater dolphins in the Sunderbans are threatened by numerous threats including fatal entanglements in fishing gear, depletion of their prey from the enormous bycatch of fish and crustaceans in fine-mesh nets used to catch fry for shrimp farming, and increasing salinity and sedimentation caused by rising sea levels and changes in the availability of upstream freshwater flow.
The development of these 3 new sanctuaries is very good news. Especially considering the recent extinction of the Yangtze River dolphin whose last confirmed sighting was in 2002. Fatal entanglement in nets and habitat degradation killed off this species after having survived in China’s Yangtze River for more than 10 million years.
It is also important that sustainable Sunderbans cruises and other Bangladesh wildlife holidays and Bangladesh wildlife tours continue in this rapidly developing country to ensure the continued survival of Bangladesh wildlife especially the dolphins in the Sunderbans.
Throughout the world the freshwater dolphins are among the most threatened species because their habitat is highly impacted by human activities. River systems are under threat from dam construction and unsustainable fisheries, to name a couple of problems. In addition to conserving globally important populations of freshwater dolphins, the new wildlife sanctuaries in the Sundarbans will provide protection for other threatened aquatic wildlife including the river terrapin, masked finfoot, and small-clawed otter and of course the largest population of wild tigers left in the world. By joining any of our wildlife holidays and Bangladesh wildlife tours we will be taking you deep into the Sunderbans on a chartered Sunderbans cruise holiday and will have excellent chances of spotting wildlife including tigers and dolphins.
Since 2009 Bangladesh has been regarded as a cetacean hotspot, with the WCS announcing the discovery of the world’s largest population of nearly 6,000 Irrawaddy dolphins in the country. A portion of this population shares habitat with the endangered Ganges river dolphin, whose range extends all the way upstream to the shadow of the Himalayas in Nepal.
If you are interested in visiting Bangladesh on a wildlife holiday or even just a week long cruise of the Sunderbans tehn Royle Safaris is the only sustainable tour operator who offers fully guided (by professional zoologisits) safaris to Bangladesh. So please see our range of Bangladesh Holidays for more details and information, including full itineraries and prices.
Elephants are one of the most intelligent and endearing animals in the world and in many parts of Southern Asia the Asiatic elephant is an important part of culture as a reverred symbol of the Hindu God Ganesh (the god of prosperity and good fortune) and also as a working tool which has helped to carve out some of India and Nepals’ greatest monuments in the past. As a result the Asiatic elephant holds a special place in the hearts of many people here and because of this the elephant sanctuary and breeding centre in Chitwan has been set up. This is a great way to get close to elephants and see the strong bond between the mother and calves and also to get close to the young elephants as they wander playfully around the breeding centre under the watchful eye of the rangers and mahouts. If you would like to see these elephants then you can as we visit this breeding centre as part of our Chitwan Jungle Safari which takes in the best Tiger Watching in Nepal.
The above video shows the playful side of the elephant calves and shows how much they enjoy the interaction with people. If you would like more information then do not hesitate to Contact Us at info@royle-safaris.co.uk or call us on 0845 226 8259 and we will take you through the process step by step.
As part of being a trustee for the Francis Wildlife Foundation, Royle Safaris would like to let you know where some of the donations made to the foundation go.
Rainforests hold a very special place in the hearts of all wildlife enthusiasts and rightly so, they hold around half of all the species in the world and are incredibly valuable areas of biodiversity, carbon and natural beauty. But logging is occurring all over the world and at a stunning rate. Which is why the Francis Wildlife Foundation are keen supporters of the World Land Trust and the WWF; below is a brief outline of the work undertaken to preserve the rainforests and why it is important to act now.
Tropical rain forests contain around half of all species on Earth – and a third of those remaining rainforests are in the Amazon. Scientific research has established a clear link between the health of the Amazon and the global environment, especially our climate. But here’s the big problem – an area of Amazon rainforest the size of England is currently disappearing every year.
Threats and solutions
The next five years are critical for the Amazon. Decades of exploitation have destroyed 20% of its rainforest and there has been a lack of integration in political, industrial and environmental approaches across this vast region.
The area is facing ever-growing threats, particularly large-scale transportation or energy projects. The added realities of climate change mean there’s a serious risk the Amazon could reach a tipping point where the rainforest dries and becomes savannah. That’s not only devastating for local species and people; it would be disastrous for the global climate, fuelling runaway climate change.
WWF has spent many years gaining experience and building trust in the Amazon region, where they work with governments and local people on a number of key projects.
* Tackling deforestation by finding new ways to value standing forests, encouraging responsibility
* Creating sustainable agriculture and production helping create protected forest and wetland areas ensuring free-flowing rivers and forest-friendly roads
About the Amazon
The Amazon region spans eight countries in South America – Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela – plus the neighbouring French Overseas Territory of Guiana. It sustains millions of species, and is one of the world’s last refuges for jaguars, harpy eagles and pink river dolphins. The Amazon is the world’s largest river basin and the source of one-fifth of all fresh water on the planet.
More than 30 million people live in the region today most are in large urban centres, but almost all are dependent on the Amazon’s ecosystem for food, shelter and livelihoods.
Infrastructure in the Amazon
WWF works to limit the impact of infrastructure development in the Amazon.
Management of National Forests in Brazil
WWF believes that one of the most effective ways of promoting responsible forest management and defining land tenure is through the correct use of Brazil’s National Forests.
Natural resource used in indigenous communities
WWF helps indigenous people in rural areas of the Peruvian Amazon defend their right to the sustainable use of natural resources in their territories.
Varzea – Brazil
Over the last 10 years, the Várzea Project has been one of a number of community management initiatives involving partnerships between floodplain communities, grassroots organizations, and NGO’s.
If you would like more information please to Contact Us and we will send you more information. And if you are interested in participating in one of our responsible Wildlife Holidays where the rainforest is the star or if you would like book on one of our Wildlife Tours which contributes to this cause please check out our range of safaris and wildlife holidays.
THE FRANCIS WILDLIFE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
Registered no 1126090
As part of being a trustee for the Francis Wildlife Foundation, Royle Safaris would like to let you know where some of the donations made to the foundation go.
One of the major focuses of the Francis Wildlife Foundation is Elephant conservation throughout the world and in particular Asia.
Below is a brief outline of what WWF are doing and what we help to promote.
WWF is working to conserve Asian elephants by protecting their habitat and improving connections between fragmented areas that they inhabit. WWF also works with the wildlife trade monitoring network to reduce illegal trade in markets for elephant products and to help governments enforce restrictions. They also work to improve the livelihoods of people living alongside elephants through activities that link economic development with elephant conservation.
In the Himalayas and Borneo, WWF together with their partners are restoring biological corridors so that elephants can access their migratory routes without disturbing people’s homes and crops. This reduces conflict between people and elephants, and creates more habitats for elephants.
If you would like more information please to Contact Us and we will send you more information. And if you are interested in participating in one of our responsible Wildlife Tours where you can see Asian Elephants. Asian elephants can be seen in our India Safari Holidays and our Nepal Jungle Safaris.
THE FRANCIS WILDLIFE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
Registered no 1126090
Help Conserve the Natural World with Royle Safaris
As part of our continued efforts to help conservation and sustainable eco-tourism we have recently become supporters of the Francis Wildlife Foundation. In fact our director Martin Royle has been made a trustee of the foundation as well as being close friends to the founders Derek and Susan Francis.
The foundation was set up with a goal of preserving the natural environment and therefore the wildlife that is dependant on it. The foundation supports many organisations (both large and small) including the WWF for a Living Planet, the David Shephard Wildlife Foundation and the International World Land Trust.
The Francis Wildlife Charitable Foundation is driven by specific aims using income from ethical stock market invested funds to make an annual distribution, by donation, to selected conservation projects, chosen on a year by year basis. The Francis Wildlife Charitable Foundation has excellent relationships with the WWF and the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation where approximately 50% of our distributable income is allocated.
If you are interested in supporting The Francis Wildlife Charitable Foundation projects there are two ways this can be done:-
* A range of framed wildlife pictures are available from the Francis of Malvern living room store. All proceeds from the sale of these pictures are paid directly to the foundation and are used to support the various projects.
* The Francis Wildlife Charitable Foundation also welcomes contributions so if you would like to make a donation please call Derek or Sue on 01684 567021.
If you would like more information please to Contact Us and we will send you more information. And if you are interested in participating in one of our responsible Wildlife Tours or a Wildlife Watching Holiday which visits an area which has been directly helped by the foundation and their affiliate organisations then please browse our Wildlife Holidays.
THE FRANCIS WILDLIFE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
Registered no 1126090
Royle Safaris are proud to announce that for the 2011 season we have joined forces with Tour Operators for Tigers (TOFT).
This is an excellent way of helping to protect and conserve tiger safaris across India and regulate their impact on the local community and wildlife in a sustainable way.
There are three main aims of the TOFT campaign (all of which help to establish sustainable and environmentally friendly tiger safaris in India):
1/ To advocate and support better tourism practices in wilderness areas, with specific best practice guidelines for Tour Operators, Destination Management companies, agents, service and accommodation providers and visitors.
2/ To empower local communities to become involved in wildlife tourism projects and initiate low impact and sustainable development which helps conserve the parks and benefits the communities through employment and business opportunities.
3/ To catalyse initiatives through the lodge community that enhance wildlife conservations and community support, including waste and water management, trade cooperatives, local employment, fair wages and local enterprises and services.
The more companies and organisations both in India and worldwide which sign up to this agreement, the better the conservation for this magnificent animal will become. All this means that when you book a tiger safari with Royle Safaris you can be assured that we have done our background work to ensure that the accommodation we use, local guides and drivers and of course all our practises and services adhere to this concept and you are directly benefiting the local and international conservation of tigers, through responsibly lead tiger safaris and tiger watching holidays.
Despite TOFT’s legislation only being implemented directly in India at the moment, we also apply all the same sustainable principals and environmentally friendly practises on our tiger safaris of Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Russia.
After the first comprehensive study of marine life around the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia has revealed a greater biodiversity than many tropical sites, such as the Galapagos Islands. The study provides an important benchmark to monitor how certain species may respond to future environmental changes such as climatic changes forced by the global warming phenomenon..
A group of researchers from the British Antarctic Survey (B.A.S.), (who are funded by the British Government’s Darwin Initiative and the South Georgia Heritage Trust), examined more than 130 years of polar records (using ice cores which trap the atmosphere from past years in bubbles and the state of the water in the ice). This research showed around 1,500 species from South Georgia and its surrounding islands. Making this the richest area for marine life in the entire Southern Ocean.
The head scientist, Oliver Hogg from the B.A.S. says: ‘The biodiversity of South Georgia exceeds that of its nearest rivals such as the Galapagos and Equador in terms of the number of species inhabiting its shores. During the breeding season it hosts the densest mass of marine mammals on Earth.’ All of this in what is some of the fastest warming oceans in the world.
Specimens were collected from scientific cruises, fisheries vessels and by scuba divers from the seas around South Georgia, famous for great polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton’s expedition. Species identified include sea urchins, free-swimming worms, fish, sea spiders and crustaceans. Most are rare and many occur nowhere else on the planet.
The near-surface waters around South Georgia are some of the fastest warming on Earth so this study provides a framework to identify ecologically sensitive areas and species, identify conservation priorities and monitor future changes.
Oliver Hogg continues: ‘This is the first time anybody has mapped out the biodiversity of a small polar archipelago in the Southern Ocean. If we are to understand how these animals will respond to future change, a starting point like this is really important.’
If you would like to travel to South Georgia or any of the other Sub Antarctic islands, we can arrange these, as part of our great Tailor Made Wildlife Holidays service in which we can tailor your holiday for your ideal requirements.
Primate scientists from the German Primate Centre have have identified a new species of gibbon living in the tropical rain forests between Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia..
The amazing German Primate Center (DPZ) in Göttingen have been busy identifying more primate species. This time a new species of gibbon: the northern buffed-cheeked gibbon, Nomascus annamensis. The scientists identified it through the very distinct vocalizations. the frequency and tempo of the vocalisations were used in conjuntion with genetic material to show that the species is indeed a new species of gibbon. The gibbon split comes from watching the Crested gibbon, a monogamous gibbon that is just about the most endangered primate species in the world. By watching gibbons and studying their behaviour, DNA and calls we have discovered a huge diversity of this incredible family of apes.
You do not have to watch gibbons for very long to see that their songs are a very important part of their life history. The calls resonate in the early morning through jungles of South East Asia from Bangladesh to Vietnam and north to China. The study was conducted in the inhospitable mountainous areas between Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Here they watched the gibbons and after suspecting their song serves to defend territory in a species specific way, or even be a precursor of the music humans make. As the scientists began to recognise the species by their calls they decided that this could be a species specific and they have discovered that the different species and even identify individuals by the frequency and tempo of their calls.
Gibbons, alongside orangutans, chimpanzees, bonobos and gorillas belong to the family of apes, our closest relatives. They are split into four genera of gibbons, of which the crested gibbons, Inare the most eye-catching. In all gibbon species they show sexual dimorphism and look very different.
This latest discovery takes the number of crested gibbons seven species found in South East Asia. They are very difficult to see but with the help of zoologist guides and local helpers it is possible to track down wild gibbons and watch them in primate watching holidays.
If you would like to see wild gibbons in the South East Asia from Bangladesh to Vietnam then have a look at our great range of Primate Watching Holidays and our Gibbon Watching Holidays the please check out our great offers.
We can even arrange great Tailor Made Wildlife Holidays in which we can stake out the best places to see these and other primates all over the world.
Being England’s rarest mammal is a stigma the pine marten has lived with for a long time but now there is reason to be cheerful as the Forestry Commission’s Grizedale Forest in Cumbria has a population which is doing well. The subsequent DNA tests have provided the first unequivocal evidence for 10 years that this shy and elusive animal is in the Lake District and going from strength to strength..
The Pine Marten Project’s manager found a scat which helped to confirm the long-held view of mammal experts that this boreal animal does exist in England. The reason it has not been seen is in part its low numbers and in part its very secretive lifestyle. In fact over the last ten years only three scats have ever been seen.
Natalie Buttriss who is the Chief Executive of the Vincent Wildlife Trust who set up the Pine Marten Project said: “This is a great day for pine marten conservation and a real cause for celebration, not only for staff at the VWT but also for more than 200 volunteers who have given up so much of their time to help the Trust in its search for this rare mammal in England and Wales. In the last 15 years, The Vincent Wildlife Trust has received more than 100 good quality reported sightings of pine martens in Cumbria so we have always believed that they were there, but until today we lacked recent DNA evidence to back this up. It is a very significant find,”
The scat was then sent to Waterford Institute of Technology in Ireland, where the scientists have DNA tested over 1000 scats on behalf of the Vincent Wildlife Trust in the last 2 years. Out of these 1000 scats this is, amazingly, only the 2nd to be confirmed as a pine marten scat. The other positive scat was found in 2010 in Northumberland, both these finding help to support the existence of the mammal in northern England.
Whilst sightings of pine martens are rarer than hens teeth in England and only just more common in Wales it is possible to see these fantastic mammals in Britain and at very close quarters. Royle Safaris takes you to a specially built nocturnal hide in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park as part of our mammal watching and wildlife watching holiday of Scotland and whether you join the mammal watching tour ‘A Minke Adventure’ or the wildlife watching tour ‘A Scottish Exploration’ you will be sure that our wildlife watching holidays of Scotland are just about the best ways of seeing wild pine martens in the UK. for more information about our Scotland Wildlife Holidays and our Scotland Mammal Watching Tours the please check out our great offers.
We can even arrange great Tailor Made Wildlife Holidays in which we can stake out the best places to see this and other nocturnal mammals like badgers in the UK.
Last month the government of Nepal announced that the population of greater one-horned rhinos has increased dramtically. The National Rhino Census revealed a count of 534 rhinos in Nepal, marking a huge increase of 99 one-horned rhinos from the 435 recorded in the 2008 census..
The details of the 534 Rhino Sightings are outlined below:
* An large increase of 95 rhinos in Chitwan National Park, making a total of 503.
* 24 rhinos in sighted Bardia National Park
* 7 rhinos sighted in Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve
These numbers coincide with large conservation efforts which have been very successful and are a result of improved rhino protection measures and management of habitat. The census was led by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC), and supported by WWF and the National Trust for Nature Conservation. And signifies a real boost for the rhino population and brings conservation in the Himalayan Foothills into the forefront of international media.
These fantastic results also show the government’s strong commitment to biodiversity conservation in Nepal, which is a result of diverse partnerships starting at the very lowest levels. WWF is encouraged by the positive results, but calls for even stronger anti-poaching measures and protection of habitat because poaching still remains a serious threat to rhinos due to demand for their horns.
“We must remain vigilant because the gains made since the last rhino census could easily be lost if we are complacent,” said Shubash Lohani, deputy director for WWF’s Eastern Himalayas program. “Rhinos are vulnerable to illegal wildlife trade and we must do all we can to ensure that they receive safe passage into the future.”
You can join one of our tours of Nepal and scour Chitwan in search of some of these rhinos, for more information about our Nepal Wildlife Holidays the please check out our great offers.
During his famous cruise and tour of the Galapagos Islands Charles Darwin recorded most of the species and of course made discoveries that changed the world. But for all his work he missed this species. With the irony that it is the 200th anniversary of Sir Charles Darwin’s birth, and the 150th of the publication of his great work “On the Origin of Species”
The discovery of the this pink land iguana in the Galápagos Islands may provide further evidence of the ancient animal’s diversification in the archipelago.
Galapagos Island park rangers first noted the presence of a pink variety of land iguana on the slopes of Volcano Wolf on Isla Isabela as far back as 1986, but it was not until the year 2000 that scientists began to examine it.
On his cruise and tour of the Galápagos Islands in 1835, Sir Charles Darwin failed to explore the Volcan Wolf volcano on Isla Isabela, which is the only home of the “rosada” iguana, a newly identified species of the land iguana (Genus Conolophus).
Ancient divergence of a Prehistoric Genus
Genetic analysis of the rosada and other species of Galapagos land iguanas performed by Dr Gabriele Gentile (University Tor Vergata, Rome) show that the rosada iguana originated in the Galápagos more than 5,000,000 years ago, and diverged from the Galapagos Island’s other iguana populations when the archipelago was still being formed by early volcanic processes.
The ancient divergence between the rosada and other land iguanas – prior to the formation of the Volcan Wolf volcano – provides evidence for one of the most ancient diversification events recorded in the Galápagos Islands. It is thought that the Wolf volcano is just 350,000 years old so the iguanas were present long before the volcano was formed which also shows that there was plenty of movement between the many islands in the Galapagos’ early development.
Critically Endangered Species
This newly recognized species of Galapagos land iguana is already an endangered species and probably in danger of extinction, Dr Gentile warns. The pink iguanas are only found on the slopes of the Wolf volcano, and Dr Gentile’s team believes that fewer than 100 individual Rosadas still exist.
Dr Gentile has commented that; “Our studies would indicate that the population size is very small. We only collected 36 during the two years study; and last year a large research team hiked up Wolf Volcano and only found 10, and most of those were ones that we had marked earlier.”
These numbers are low enough to make Rosada Land Iguana a Critically Endangered species.
If you want to try and find one of these Galapagos Land Iguanas and have a wildlife tour and cruise of the amazing Galapagos Islands then please read more about our Galapagos Tours and join us on our fantastic cruises and wildlife watching tours.
A previously unknown, large and healthy population of the endangered western lowland gorillas has been found in the west African country of Cameroon.
The new census by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) has revealed the gorillas in the Deng Deng National Park – and an adjacent logging concession is thriving, the report also warns that these gorillas need to be protected in both areas if the group is to remain viable genetically and behaviourally.
300-500 gorillas
The census estimated a total population of between 300 – 500 gorillas in the Deng Deng National Park and the logging concession, with only about half living in the park. According to this report, gorillas move freely between the national park and logging area. However there is a road that separates the two areas leaving gorillas vulnerable to poachers.
A possible future site for tourism
James Deutsch, WCS Director for African Programmes said, ‘Protecting this gorilla population, and guaranteeing its future, requires protecting the gorillas in the logging concession as well as in the park,’.
These results came from counting ape nests along line transects, a standard method for estimating gorilla and other ape populations. The density of gorillas found in the Deng Deng National Park is about the same as Gabon’s Lopé National Park and Congo’s Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park, which are both well-known ape conservation sites in Central Africa.
Created in 2010, Deng Deng National Park supports the northernmost population of western lowland gorillas and is physically isolated from potential Ebola epidemics that have affected other great ape populations in Central Africa. Meaning this discovery is incredibly important for the future of the species. As well as the gorillas, chimpanzees, forest elephants, buffaloes, and bongo also occur in the protected area, though poaching and illegal logging have impacted local wildlife numbers the park is slowly putting an end to this.
Roger Fotso, director of WCS’s Cameroon programme, said: ‘For a small area, this is an extremely important site for gorilla conservation. It is also important because this is the northern-most population of western lowland gorillas, and because it is accessible to the capital Yaoundé and so a possible future site for tourism.’
At the moment we do not have any scheduled tours heading to Deng Deng in search of gorillas but we do have excellent Gorilla Watching Holidays in Uganda and Rwanda which are available all year around at great prices. It is also possible to arrange tailor made Gorilla Watching Tours and other primate watching holidays around the world with Royle Safaris.
