Social structure of elephant families altered by poaching

One of Africa's best-studied elephant populations reveals the disturbing impacts of poaching

January 2013. The devastating impacts of a recent surge in ivory poaching have been chronicled in detail by new research on one of Africa's best-studied elephant populations.

Almost a thousand elephants in Samburu, Northern Kenya, have been closely monitored over the last decade and a half. Over the last four years intensive poaching caused by demand for their tusks has disrupted their close-knit society.

The illegal killing of elephants is increasing rapidly across the continent as the price of ivory has soared. Massacres in Central Africa's National Parks last year are now being echoed elsewhere in Kenya, including a well-publicised incident in Tsavo National Park on January 4th 2013.

Research conducted by Save the Elephants (STE), a Kenya-based conservation organisation, gives the first detailed analysis of the impacts of illegal killing on a well-studied population.

"Unfortunately, illegal killing and related population decline is increasingly common across Africa, therefore the results from this study are directly relevant to understanding the conservation status of this species," said Dr George Wittemyer of the Colorado State University and STE, who led the study.

Read on:  http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/elephants-samburu.html

Veterinarians Promote West Nile Vaccine for Horses

The West Nile Virus is impacting the horse population, as well as humans. Horses are vulnerable to the disease, and there have been a handful of reported equine cases this summer.

Veterinarians say there is a way to protect your animal from the virus.

"We have 26,000 head of horses in Denton County, and this is a $55 million annually industry in this county," horse owner Eddie Baggs said.

Baggs is concerned about the impact the virus could have on his animals and the horse industry in Denton County.

Equine veterinarian Matt Lampe said any horse is susceptible; however, like humans, the older horses and horses with weak immune systems are more likely to contract the virus.

"Once they become infected, they get an inflamed spinal column, they lose their coordination, some are unable to rise, and death is not unheard of," Lampe said.

However, Lampe said there is a West Nile vaccine for horses, and it's 94-percent effective.

"We have almost eliminated this disease from the equine populations with the vaccination protocols," Lampe said. "If we are vaccinating your horses, you are very unlikely to see a case. If you are not, you are at the risk as the un-vaccinated people are."

Baggs said there have been four confirmed cases of the virus in horses in the North Texas region this summer. Two of the confirmed cases were in Parker County, and two were in Collin County. He said these low numbers prove the vaccine is effective.

"We are very meticulous about our health program here on the ranch to make sure the horses are taken care of and we take those preventative steps," Baggs said.

http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Veterinarians-Promote-West-Nile-Vaccine-for-Horses-163218586.html