What is happening in the world?
Polar bear Jääkaru Ursus maritimus
There are many things happening far away from the Estonian pair of wolves, Hall and Habe:
In the North, polar bears are having more and more problems with scarce living areas. The impact of climate warming in the Arctic is much larger than previously forecasted by even the gloomiest scenarios. For that reason, renowned polar bear experts are asking the relevant governments to take steps already now, so the plans and means for a swift response would be timely ready for action (DOI: 10.1111/conl.12009).
Experts say that the changes can be rapid. For example, poor ice conditions in the Hudson bay area may decrease the polar bear population there by half within one year. That is the reason why experts call for action already now. Otherwise, we might have to paraphrase the words of a well-known Russian politician in the parliament: „We meant to do better, but it came out as always...“.
That things can go wrong, comes as a hindsight from the back of the globe (DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12029). The thylacine (Thylacinys cynocephalus) was a nuisance for the farmers and sheep-raisers in Tasmania. Still in 1803, he was present everywhere on the island. Between 1886 – 1909, more than two thousand thylacines were caught with government support and the last known finding of a thylacine in nature dates back to 1933. The change was so rapid and many were left with the feeling that there were probably more reasons behind the disappearance of this peculiar predator. The idea that some disease could have had an important role was difficult to dismiss. The results of a recent study, done by computer modelling are convincing – the direct actions of the European colonisers and the indirect effect of destroying habitats and food-base were more than enough to send this predator to extinction. No other way, but to look in the mirror...
Good news come from Africa. The Democratic Republic of Congo established a new preservation area, which is aimed to offer refuge for the population of 125 000 lowland gorillas, which were discovered in 2008:
It`s a big thing and hopefully this preservation area won`t be functioning only on paper.
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