Sanctuary | News
BATTY ABOUT A LONGER LIFESPAN
Researchers have uncovered the greater mouse-eared bat’s
secret to longevity. Of the 19 mammal species with longer
lifespan than humans, relative to body size, 18 are bat species.
The greater mouse-eared bat lives close to 37 years. This bat
species owes its longevity to structures known as telomeres
located at the end of their chromosomes, thread-like strands
inside a cell’s nucleus that carry genes determining heredity,
which do not shorten with age. The telomeres in other species
shorten each time a cell divides, leading to breakdown of cells
causing tissue deterioration over time.
The researchers studied 493 individual bats from four species- the greater mouse-eared bat, Bechstein’s bat, the greater
horseshoe bat and the common bent-wing bat. Scientists suggest
that studies focussing on this unique longevity adaption can open
gates to extending healthy lifespans in humans.
GOING, GOING, GONE?
Fewer than 50 of the critically endangered Asiatic cheetahs
are left in the wild. Yet, inexplicably, the United Nations
announced a decision to pull funding out from conservation
eff orts toward saving the animals.
Amongst the most graceful of hunters, the Asiatic cheetah
is slightly smaller and paler than its African counterpart. The
fastest land animals on Earth, cheetahs were once ubiquitous
across vast parts of Asia. Sport hunting led to their decline,
coupled with the spread of farming and habitat loss. Found
in tiny pockets of Iran, Asiatic cheetahs are confronted
with threats from confl ict with humans and from road-kills.
Local farmers even use dogs to hunt cheetahs. Given these
threats, conservationists hope that the UN will reconsider
their decision to withdraw funding, or we stand to lose this
magnifi cent species.LEADING ILLEGAL WILDLIFE
TRADE INVESTIGATOR KILLED
On February 4, 2018, the gruesome murder of leading
investigator of illegal traffi cking of ivory and rhino horn
and conservationist Esmond Bradley, in his home in Kenya,
shocked the world. He was well known for his dangerous but
inspiring work against the illegal global trade in rhino horn
and ivory. His groundbreaking investigations helped
authorities to better understand and bust illicit trade and
black-market hotspots.
The 76-year-old American conservationist had recently
returned from his research trip to Myanmar. He was the former
UN special envoy for rhino conservation, and was responsiblePHOTO BY CEPHOTO,UWE ARANAS/CC-BY-SA-3.WORLD
SCAN
for highlighting the increased demand for rhino horn in Yemen in
2008 and for documenting Laos’ and Vietnam’s booming ivory
markets. His fi ndings also played a crucial role in China’s decision
to shut down its ivory market in 2017.
While Martin will always be remembered for his work,
wildlife protectors face perilous conditions worldwide. As
reported by The Guardian, according to a new study, wildlife
rangers, environmental activists and indigenous leaders are
being killed at a record number of about four deaths a week.
The paper mentioned that the murder may have been a result
of a burglary gone wrong, but conservationists are not buying
that story. They believe that the murder was carried out at
the behest of the illegal wildlife syndicates and was designed
to look like a burglary.EARLY ARCTIC SPRING
A recent study by the University of California, Davis, suggests
that climate change is driving the Arctic spring to arrive
16 days earlier than it did a decade ago. It seems that rising
temperatures are shifting the season even more dramatically,
as one goes further up north.
The northern regions of Alaska, Greenland and Siberia
have recently experienced unusual and prolonged midwinter
temperature spikes, a clear indicator of pronounced climate
change impacts in the Arctic. With temperatures rising twice
as fast and ice sheets shrinking more rapidly, researchers
recorded variations in bird migrations and the blooming of
fl owers. Such climate wobbles could have devastating impacts
on species in the northern hemisphere, leading to declines, or
even extinctions.BORNEO’S ORANGUTANS IN TROUBLE
As many as 1,50,000 orangutans in the islands of Borneo
have been lost in the past 16 years thanks to habitat
destruction and hunting. Experts suggest that if this trend
continues, another 45,000 apes could be lost by 2050.
A little under 3,00,000 orangutans were estimated to
inhabit Borneo in 1973 and according to the IUCN, by 2012,
the population had fallen to nearly 1,00,000. In this
time-span, over a third of Borneo’s rainforests were
consumed by fi re, logging, mining and palm-oil plantations.
This is what took a toll on the orangutans, the world’s largest
arboreal animals. Tragically, orangutan adults are hunted
for their meat while the young are sold into the illegal pet
trade. Apart from hardcore conservation eff orts, a massive
education programme to highlight the plight of the apes is
critical towards ensuring the future of the species.Borneo has lost a staggering 1,50,000 orangutans in just 16 years due to
destruction of their rainforest habitat, hunting and the illegal pet trade.