Archives for September, 2010
Royle Safaris is pleased to announce our new YouTube Channel where you can have a look at our latest videos and see how close and personal we get to the wildlife all over the world!
View our videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/RoyleSafaris
If you want to take a video whilst on one of our great <a href=”http://www.royle-safaris.co.uk/search/”>Safari Holidays</a> then take a look at our great range of wildlife tours all over the world
Check out our latest wildlife holidays all over the world
Request a brochure today and we will put you well and truly on the path to your ideal wildlife holiday, wildlife tour or safari!
All our tours and much much more available inside, so order one today to find the best safari holiday around.
If you want have a look at the amazing range of Safari Holidays
A new popualtion of tigers found in Bhutan at higher altitudes than previously thought
Tiger Conservation hasn’t really caught many breaks in the past, but now it has: A BBC camera crew has taken footage of a ‘lost’ population of tigers living in Bhutan, at higher altitudes in the Himalaya than any other known tiger group, and they appear to be successfully breeding.
Intrigued by stories from Bhutanese villagers that tigers may be living up to altitudes of 13,000 feet, inhabiting places well above their normal lowlands habitat, Alan Rabinowitz of conservation group Panthera teamed up with a BBC film crew to determine if the stories were true.
Three months after setting camera traps at 9,800 foot and 13,450 foot elevations, the team discovered the tigers they were seeking at both altitudes. Both a male and female tiger were filmed, making it the first hard evidence that tigers are capably of living at such heights. It also means that the location is the only place in the world where leopards, snow leopards, and tigers live side by side.
The exact locations of the tigers is not being revealed to protect them from poachers.
Bhutan Could Act As ‘Tiger Nursery’
From a conservation perspective, the big deal here is that this discovery helps significantly with developing what Panthera calls a tiger corridor along the foothills of the Himalayas in India, Nepal and Bhutan, and on into Myanmar. That would eventually connect with another corridor though Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Malaysia.
Since it’s now been confirmed that tigers can live at high altitudes, large areas of the Himalayas previously thought too high for tigers can be included in the corridor.
As one of the BBC producers filming the tigers says, “Bhutan could act as a tiger nursery from which tigers could breed safely and spread out to repopulate forests of some of the surrounding countries.”
Panthera on the Tiger Corridor
Severe fragmentation of present-day tiger habitat as well as the existence of one extant island population, mandates the design of several tiger corridors. The largest and most expansive corridor being considered by Panthera is the multi-national Himalayan-Indo-Malayan corridor, potentially connecting tiger populations from Nepal into Bhutan and Northern India through Myanmar, Thailand, Lao P.D.R., Cambodia, and terminating in Malaysia. Other important genetic corridors include a bi-national China-Russia Tiger Corridor, connecting Siberian tiger populations of Sikhote Alin, Russia and Heilongjiang and Jilin Provinces, China, a national tiger corridor through the island of Sumatra, and several possible Indian corridors, particularly the Western Ghats of Karnataka State.
Even if Tigers Forever and other tiger conservation initiatives are successful, the greatest hope against extinction of this species will be the ability of young, dispersing individuals to make their way to other tiger populations. As with other large, wide-ranging species, a long-term conservation strategy must go beyond isolated protected areas and plan for ways in which animals can move and survive in human-dominated landscapes. The Tiger Corridor Initiative is a daunting, highly ambitious plan. It is well suited to one of the world’s most daunting, magnificent wild creatures.
If you are interested in seeing tigers in the wild then check out are amazing range of Tiger Safaris and if you particularly like the idea of finding a rare high altitude tiger in Bhutan then check out our special Bhutan Wildlife Holidays
Tiger Safaris in India
With the unfortunate death of a tigress in one of India’s top national parks and Tiger Reserve earlier this year the government have announced a serious clamp down on the tourism industry in central India. The initial thoughts were of banning vehicle safaris and the infamous ‘tiger shows’ (where guests are paraded up to tigers on elephant back) but since the first wave of shock over the sad news more realistic aims and targets have been set.
Instead of the over the top cancellation of all tourism into the Tiger Reserves a major overall of the system needs to be implemented. The tiger in question was a young tigress, luckily it is believed the tigress did not have cubs, was struck by a vehicle during game drive hours for tourists. The way a typical tiger safari works in India is meant to be safe for the guest and the tiger and is meant to be an enjoyable experience which benefits the local people, wildlife, guests and India as a whole. However in reality things never run this smooth. It is not unusual to be driven around the national park (over big bumps, through huge streams, puddles and even off-road (which is strictly prohibited) in the pursuit of the draw-card, tigers.
The reason for the gung-ho approach by the guides is simple and unfortunately understandable. There are two ways you can visit these parks and complete tiger safaris. The first is with a luxury lodge which will provide you with the very best accommodation, food and local guides to escort you into the park. They often have the best and newest cars and more often than not give the environment and the animals the greatest respect. However you can also visit these parks by staying in the cheaper, government run resorts. This is very cheap as you often pay Indian prices and not the foreign prices of elsewhere. However here you tend to get lower paid staff and drivers. The drivers are nearly always just drivers, they have no passion for the natural world and have not grown up longing to work in the wild with these beautiful and as a result they are driven towards making money.
This is where the tigers come into direct danger from the vehicles which are there to observe them. Most of the drivers for the cheaper resorts want to get a tip; especially when their guests are foreigners. As a decent tip will double or treble their monthly wage and the problem comes is when people do not tip or do not tip high enough if a tiger has not been seen. So the guides go around the park like rally drivers in search of the big cats as they know that finding one means a big pay day bonus. No one blames the drivers, they have families to feed and lives to live but what the government need to do is thoroughly vet all drivers who use the park and enforce bad driving when it is evident. Coupled with this the park authorities are also reducing the area which is open to tourists and actually closing the core zones which are where the animals can escape the attention of the jeeps and elephants.
Hopefully these new implementations and with a new view of eco-tourism developing across the Indian population the future is bright for tigers and in the Indian Subcontinent.
If you are interested in our great selection of India Tiger Safaris have a look at our tiger safaris and see if one takes your fancy!
If you have ever wanted to work with animals, you have probably had to make a decision on how to employ your interest in animals and wildlife? Zoology is a great way of achieving this as zoologists and wildlife enthusiasts participate in research or teach at universities all over the world. There are also a variety of occupations that enable you to work with animals at zoos, conservation organizations, national parks, and nature reserves; these are arguably the best in terms of day to day handling of animals. Listed below are some of the options you may explore when you are thinking or working with wildlife.
1. Zookeeper
A zookeeper is a person employed by a zoo or aquarium, and they are responsible for the day to day caring of animals and their enclosures. Their daily activities usually include the preparation of meals, the cleaning of enclosures, enrichment for the animals to stimulate their natural instincts and behaviours and monitoring animal behaviour in order to notice illness and stress. Depending on the animal in question, a zookeeper might also groom and exercise animals.
2. Animal and Wildlife Educator
Zoos, aquariums, parks and other wildlife collections employ educators and program developers to create and implement a variety of media and activities such as; brochures, videos, guided tours, exhibits. These are used as educational tools for visitors to learn about animals and wildlife. The opportunities in this field range from volunteer positions to full-time staff positions. In the role as an educator, you can also create content for books, magazines, newspapers, and web-media, which are all important tools for any budding wildlife enthusiast.
3. Zoo Curator
Zoo curators are the equivalent of directors and are responsible for the acquisition of animals. Animals are primarily acquired via captive breeding programs. With occasional trade between zoos or and in some very rare occasions the animals are collected direct from the wild. Governmental agencies regulate the acquisition of animals; and as a result the zoo curator acts as a liaison between these agencies and the zoo. Additionally, there are administrative functions in the zoo which the zoo curator plays a role.
4. Wildlife Rehabilitator
When an animal is orphaned, injured or just being released back into the wild rehabilitation is needed; the rehabilitation is needed to make sure the animal is capable of existing in the wild. When human activity causes harm in to wildlife this is were a wildlife rehabilitator often steps in to help. Rehabilitators usually need to acquire permits from state and federal wildlife agencies before they can possess or handle wildlife.
5. Animal Behaviourist
Animal behaviourists have often had the most wildlife related education they routinely train zoologists and other zoo employees. The training is in how to interact with and successfully care for animals. Ethology is the study of behaviour and it is a very important science as far as animal behaviourists are concerned. When working first hand with animals, understanding the behaviour of the animals is of the up most importance.
Please feel free to look at our range of Safari Holidays and see what field guides jobs are really like.
You are now able to follow us on a variety of different websites. Keep up to date with Facebook (search for Royle Safaris) and check out pictures from our tours as well as keeping up to date with the latest offers and getting in touch with other guests we have taken around the world.
Also follow us on Twitter by following us at https://twitter.com/RoyleSafaris
You can Digg us too with http://digg.com/RoyleSafaris
You will also be able to find our latest blog posts live on Google News as well as our site
You can also find some brilliant videos taken whilst on Royle Safaris tours and holidays with our You Tube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/RoyleSafaris?feature=mhum
We also have a presence on Orkut if you search for Royle Safaris
For more on our tours check out our great range of Safari Holidays
Whale and dolphin and cetacean watching all over the world
Dolphin and Whale Watching Holidays
Dolphin Watching Tours and Holidays
South Africa, Sri Lanka, Scotland and Australia Dolphin Watching
Dolphin watching holidays around the world
Along with their intellect, gregarious nature, and acrobatic abilities; dolphins are famous for many other things. Here ten of the lesser known facts about these much-loved marine animals are listed.
1. Dolphins are members of the a group of mammals called cetaceans (or Cetacea). Cetaceans are then split into two main groups, the toothed whales (or Ondontoceti) and the baleen whales (Mysticeti). Dolphins are toothed whales (Ondontoceti) and they include killer whales, pilot whales, beluga, narwhal and the largest of them all sperm whales. There are also a number of river dolphins.
2. The term ‘dolphin’ refers to many marine mammals. The term dolphin is not restricted to a single taxonomic class, family or even genera and as a result is an unspecific term. Most of the toothed whales are referred to as dolphins.
3. Oceanic dolphins are also referred to as ‘true dolphins’ and are the most common and diverse group of cetaceans. Species in the family delphinidae are referred to as ‘oceanic’ or ‘true’ dolphins. Delphinidae contains about 32 species and is the largest of all groups in the order cetacea. Species of delphinidae typically inhabit the open ocean and are called pelagic although some inhabit coastal waters or even riverine habitats.
4. Some oceanic dolphins have a rostrum which looks like a beak. In some oceanic dolphins the snout is long and slender due to elongated or the jaw bones. Within the elongated jaw bone sit many conical teeth. Some of the species with prominent rostrums are long and short beaked common dolphins, common and Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins, Atlantic humpbacked dolphins, tucuxis, long-snouted spinner dolphins and many others.
5. A dolphin’s forelimbs which are known as ‘pectoral flippers’. The forelimbs or ‘arms’ of a dolphin are the same anatomically as a terrestrial mammals legs. But the bones which make up the forelimbs in dolphins have been shortened and made more rigid by supporting connective tissue. These pectoral flippers allow the dolphins regulate their speed and turn.
6. Not all dolphin species possess a dorsal fin. The dorsal fin of a dolphin, which is located on the back, acts like a keel when the animal swims. This gives the dolphin directional control and stability within the water column. Northern rightwhale dolphins and the southern rightwhale dolphins however lack dorsal fins.
7. Dolphins’ sense of hearing is unique. Prominent external ear openings are absent in dolphins. Instead their ear openings are small slits, positioned just posterior of the eyes; these openings do not connect to the middle ear. Instead, it is thought that sound is conducted to the inner and middle ear by fat-lobes located within the lower jaw and by various bones within the skull.
8. Dolphins have excellent vision both in and out of water. Light changes speed when it passes from air to water and as a result the optical affects are different. This is known as refraction. For marine mammals like dolphins, this means their eyes must correct the refraction so they can see clearly in both conditions. Fortunately the dolphins’ lens are specially adapted that enables them to see clearly in and out of the water.
9. The Baiji has since 2006 become the latest dolphin to be declared extinct. The Baiji has suffered dramatic population declines over recent decades due to pollution and heavy industrial use of the Yangtze river, and a team of sciences in 2006 conducted a survey which did not find a single specimens and the species was declared biologically extinct; meaning that there would not be enough individuals in the wild to form a functional population.
10. Dolphins probably do not have a very good sense of smell. All toothed whales lack olfactory lobes and nerves. This means they cannot process olfactory particles in the water. Instead they rely on their excellent eye sight and hearing as well as echolocation to find each other, navigate and find prey.
If dolphins are your thing then have a look at the awesome range of Dolphin and Whale Watching Holidays
Related Dolphin Tours & Holidays
1. Dolphin Watching Sri Lanka
2. Orca Watching Argentina
3. Dolphin & Whale Watching Sri Lanka
4. Australia Dolphin Watching Holiday
5. Scotland Dolphin Watching
