144 Briefly ASIA & OCEANIA
Saiga: a conservation triumph In a rare and remarkable conservation suc- cess story, the saiga antelope Saiga tatarica has been recategorized from Critically Endangered to Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List, signifying a substantial glo- bal recovery for the species. The positive shift highlights the tremendous efforts of national and international conservation in- itiatives. The saiga antelope, once reduced to a population of only 48,000 in 2005, has experienced an extraordinary rebound in Kazakhstan. Current population esti- mates now surpass 1.9 million, showcasing a triumph attributable to nearly 2 decades of dedicated conservation work by govern- ments, NGOs and research organizations. Such an improvement in status shows that conservation and management measures are working and must continue, to ensure the saiga has a long-term sustainable future in Kazakhstan, and that populations re- cover in Mongolia, Russia and Uzbekistan. Source: Saiga Conservation Alliance (2023)
saiga-conservation.org/2023/12/11/saiga- antelope-a-conservation-triumph-and- ongoing-challenges
New species: a hedgehog in China... A species of hedgehog not scientifically identified before has been discovered in two eastern Chinese provinces. In 2018, Kai He at Guangzhou University, China, and his colleagues stumbled across some mysterious-looking hedgehogs in the pro- vinces of Anhui and Zhejiang. Compared with the European hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus, these had darker brown fur and spines, as well as slightly larger ears. After analysing seven of the animals, the researchers concluded that they belonged to a new species, named Mesechinus orien- talis. The four other known species in the Mesechinus genus are mainly found .1,000 km away in northern China, Mongolia and Russia, and one species re- sides in south-west China. Weighing just under 340 g and measuring 18.8 cm long on average, M. orientalis is slightly smaller than the other known hedgehogs in its genus, but like others, it is a nocturnal spe- cies that feeds mostly on insects and fruit. So far, the team has only found the species in two provinces, but they estimate there are probably hundreds of individuals there, and believe it is unlikely to be threatened. Source: ZooKeys (2023)
doi.org/k74g & New Scientist (2023)
newscientist.com/article/ 2406815-unusual-dark-hedgehog-from- eastern-china-is-new-to-science
.. . and nine snail species in Papua New Guinea Nine species of tiny carnivorous land snails found in the remote forests of Papua New Guinea, a biodiversity hot spot, have been newly named. The island accounts for ,1% of the planet’s land area, but contains c. 5%of its biodiversity and the largest intact rainforests in Australasia. The new species present a rare opportunity to study a group that, in many other places, is disap- pearing fast. The snails have very specific habitats and a limited distribution, making them exceptionally hard to find. More than 19,000 snails were collected from .200 sites, and only 31% of the species had been previously documented. There is not yet en- ough data to determine the conservation status of the new species, but it is a promis- ing sign that their habitat has not been dra- matically altered by human activity. Snails are highly vulnerable to habitat distur- bances because they cannot easily travel long distances and are usually adapted only to the environment in their immediate vicinity. Many past discoveries of new snail species have come once it was too late to save them. Source: Archiv für Molluskenkunde (2023)
doi.org/mcd9 &
Phys.org (2024)
phys.org/ news/2024-01-snail-species-papua-
guinea-biodiversity.html
Marine heatwaves affect penguins Research led by The University of Western Australia has found marine heatwaves are affecting the breeding, diet and population size of little penguins along Western Australia’s coast, based on data from 1986 to 2019. The study found that breeding out- comes were negatively affected but body condition was not, and that diet compos- ition changed immediately after the marine heatwaves. Following a 2011 heatwave, the population of little penguins on Penguin Island decreased by 80%, with many more penguins than normal dying from starva- tion. In 2011 and 2012 penguins also died from toxoplasmosis, a parasitic infection linked to cats, in which the parasite lays its eggs. There are no cats on Penguin Island but it is thought the transmission was caused by parasite eggs moving from storm water drains into the marine envir- onment, where they were eaten by fish which were in turn consumed by penguins. The genetically important Penguin Island colony is already near the maximum habit- able temperature and critical thresholds are likely to be exceeded. Sources: Marine Ecology Progress Series (2024)
doi.org/mfft &
Phys.org (2024) phys. org/news/2024-01-marine-affecting-
penguin-population.html
Rare sighting of tiger cubs raises hopes for species in Thailand Camera traps in Thungyai-Huai Kha Khaeng wildlife sanctuaries in Thailand captured 120 tigers during an exercise that concluded in April 2023,upfrom 100 the previous year. To add to the excitement, a rare sighting of a mother and her three cubs spread hope that the species is breed- ing in new areas. The camera-trap image is the first time that cubs have been captured on camera in the area, following 10 years of monitoring. Only 46 tigers were spotted in the sanctuaries in 2007. The growth in numbers is attributed to stronger anti- poaching patrols, as well as efforts to re- cover prey populations such as sambar deer. Thailand is one of the few countries in Southeast Asia that are making progress in rebuilding their tiger populations. Source: The Guardian (2024) theguardian. com/world/2024/jan/02/rare-sighting- tiger-cubs-thailand-extinction
Turtle bonanza in Cambodia In March 2022,Fauna &Flora andpart- ners in Cambodia came across a green tur- tle nest, the first in a decade, on a remote offshore island.Hatchlings werewitnessed emerging from the clutch of 93 eggs, offer- ing renewed hope for the country’sthrea- tened sea turtles. Then, at the end of 2023, the teamfound a further nine nests within the space of just a few days. Fauna & Flora and partners have been scouring this par- ticular area for signs of turtle nesting for many years, convinced it could be a per- fect haven for any remaining females searching for a relatively undisturbed beach to safely lay their eggs. That confi- denceand persistence in thefaceof many disappointments was finally vindi- cated with the news that these nests had been found. The confirmation that sea tur- tles still nest in Cambodia reinforces the need towork with the government to ensure their protection. Turtles choosing a nesting site on an uninhabited island demonstrate the importance of sanctuaries free from human interference. Source: Fauna & Flora (2023) fauna-flora. org/news/turtle-bonanza-in-cambodia
All internet addresses were up to date at the time of writing. The Briefly section in this issue was written and compiled by Emma Sinnett, Julia Hochbach and Martin Fisher, with additional contributions from Rich Howard and Chloe Hodgkinson. Contributions from authoritative published sources (including websites) are always wel- come. Please send contributions by e-mail to
oryx@fauna-flora.org.
Oryx, 2024, 58(2), 139–144 © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Fauna & Flora International doi:10.1017/S0030605324000218
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