Australian study into how seals react to boats prompts new ecotourism regulations

Date:  December 20, 2018

Source:  Pensoft Publishers

Unable to differentiate between a predator and a tourist boat carrying humans curious to view a colony of seals while resting in their natural habitat, pinnipeds are quick to react defensively as soon as they sense what they perceive as a potential life threat. The closer the vessel approaches, the more likely it is for the animals to rush into the sea in an attempt to escape and the greater the risk of injury and even death in the event of a stampede, or predation once they are in the water. In fact, just the act of remaining alert comes at potentially high energetic costs for the animals.

"Although the purpose of ecotourism is to give patrons the opportunity to observe animals in the wild engaging in typical behaviors, ecotourism-based human interactions may insteadalter pinniped behavior by initiating responses indicative of predation avoidance," explain the scientists.

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The Maldives and the whale shark: World's biggest fish adds value to paradise

Date:

August 12, 2014

Source:

PeerJ

Summary:

They are the largest fish in the world but the impact of this majestic and charismatic animal on the economy of the island nation of the Maldives was largely unknown. A new study reveals that a small group of whale sharks in a single Maldivian Atoll accounts for nearly 3 percent of the global shark ecotourism and nearly half that of the Maldives'.

Continued

Are Zoos Really a Setting for Ecotourism?

Sep. 23, 2013 — According to the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums, over 700 million people visit zoos each year (WAZA, 2012) and with the growing popularity amongst tourist the debate continues whether it is moral for animals to be kept in zoos, although the primary objective of entertainment has changed to include research, education and conservation.

An area to be looked into is whether zoos are defensible as an ecotourism setting. Latest research by David A. Fennell, Contesting the zoo as a setting for ecotourism, and the design of a first principle published in Journal of Ecotourism, investigates this topic and uses research on three main concerns: conservation -- education; welfare; and captivity.

Although we could argue that the animal welfare is successful with factors such as freedom from hunger, thirst, pain etc, with the failure in animal breading and captivity programmes are zoos achieving ecotourism objectives?

David's research concludes that if we put the welfare of animals over humans' in ecotourism then this will make the step towards a more ethical ecotourism industry.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/09/130923092746.htm

Whale shark tourism does no harm to the sharks - Study

Love doesn't hurt - ecotourism has no long-term effect on whale sharks

December 2012. Whale shark ecotourism is a rapidly growing industry throughout the world. Although conservationists argue that this type of business is "win-win" - providing an alternative to the harvest of these animals by fishermen, and governments with strong economic incentives to protect the vulnerable species - there are some concerns that tourists swimming with the sharks may have negative effects on these animals.

No affect when well regulated
The first multi-year study to investigate this issue suggests that ecotourism - when well-regulated - does not affect whale sharks. According to the research, which was conducted over five years at Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia, sharks that frequently encounter tourists are just as likely to return to the reef as sharks that only interact with a few humans.

Ningaloo Reef study
Between 1993 and 2011, the number of whale shark tourists at Ningaloo increased rapidly from 1,000 to 17,000 so that today, the industry generates around $6 million dollars each winter season for the region. "Our research shows that the code of conduct used by the Department of Environment and Conservation to protect whale sharks is very effective with no detectable impacts of tourists on their aggregation behaviour at Ningaloo across years," says lead author Rob Sanzogni, based at the University of Western Australia in Perth and the Australian Institute of Marine Science.

"The research, which was funded by Apache Energy Ltd and supported by the Western Australian Department of Environment and Conservation, suggests that Ningaloo's ecotourism industry, at least in its current form, is ecologically sustainable into the future" says Dr Mark Meekan, Principal Research Scientist with the Australian Institute of Marine Science and a co-author of the study. He hopes that this research will provide a blueprint for similar work on the impact of ecotourism on marine megafauna such as manta rays and whales on the Australian coast. Meekan notes "we can't rest here - we need to keep these long-term studies going so that we can ensure that we will have these iconic and spectacular animals to enjoy on our coasts for the foreseeable future".

http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/whale-shark-study.html

Philippine crocodile declared largest in captivity

MANILA, Philippines — A huge crocodile known as Lolong has brought pride, fear, tourism revenue and attention to the remote southern Philippines town where it was captured. And now it has claimed a world record, too.

Guinness World Records declared the giant, blamed for deadly attacks before it was captured last September, is the largest saltwater crocodile in captivity in the world.

The news sparked celebrations in Bunawan, a farming town of 37,000 in Agusan del Sur province, but Mayor Edwin Cox Elorde said it also fostered concerns that more giant crocodiles might lurk in a marshland and creek where villagers fish.

“There were mixed feelings,” Elorde said by telephone. “We’re really proud because it proves the rich biodiversity of our place but at the same time, there are fears that Lolong may not be alone.”

Lolong has become the star attraction of a new ecotourism park and research center in the outskirts of Bunawan and has drawn thousands of tourists since news of its capture spread. Elorde said his town has earned 3 million pesos ($72,000) from the modest entrance fees at the park, with most of the money being used to feed and care for the crocodile and maintain the park.

Lolong measures 20.24 feet (6.17 meters) and weighs more than a ton, Guinness spokeswoman Anne-Lise Rouse said in a statement seen Sunday. The reptile took the top spot from an Australian crocodile that measured more than 17 feet (5 meters) and weighed nearly a ton.

Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon Paje welcomed the Guinness announcement and the growing attention for the crocodile, saying it would help people realize the biodiversity of their surroundings and the need to protect it. He said he would recommend that the government help Bunawan become an ecotourism destination.

The crocodile was captured with steel cable traps during a three-week hunt after a child was killed in 2009 and a fisherman went missing. Water buffalos have also been attacked by crocodiles in the area.

About 100 people led by Elorde pulled the crocodile from a creek using a rope and then hoisted it by crane onto a truck. It was named after a government environmental officer who died from a heart attack after traveling to Bunawan to help capture the beast, Elorde said.

Elorde said he saw a bigger crocodile escape when Lolong was captured and villagers remain wary of fishing there at night. He said he has formed a team of hunters and is seeking government permission to hunt that crocodile.

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2012/07/philippine_crocodile_declared.html

Bulgaria – Great potential for ecotourism?

Bulgaria's ecotourism initiative embraces birds, bears and bees

January 2012. Bulgaria's Ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism has reaffirmed its commitment to ecotourism and sees the potential of this tourism product.

It has also thrown its weight behind the European Union's Natura 2000 programme which aims to ensure the long-term survival of Europe's most valuable and threatened species and habitats.

320 Special Areas of Conservation
Bulgaria has registered more than 320 Special Areas of Conservation with Natura 2000 which, in total, cover a third of the country. Of these, 114 of the territories are associated with rare birds. Bulgaria is a birdwatcher's paradise with more than 400 different species. It is also home to more than 27,000 species of invertebrate fauna and over 12,000 different types of plant, making it one of the most biodiverse countries in Europe.

Central Balkan National Park
One of the largest protected areas and easily accessible to tourists is the Central Balkan National Park which stretches 85 kms from west to east. More than half the flora and fauna in the country has been identified as existing within the Park including 130 plants and animals listed in the World Red Book of Endangered Species; and 12 species which can be found nowhere else in the world. The Park also features the highest waterfall in the Balkans, the tallest peak in the Balkan Mountains and Bulgaria's deepest precipice cave.

The Park is very popular with hikers, providing an extensive network of walking trails. It also has the largest area of protected beech forest anywhere in Europe.

Wolves and bears
Within 50kms of Sofia, one can find wetlands and the lush, mountainous, forested landscapes of the Rila and Pirin mountains (Rila National Park), which are also inhabited by more than100 species of wild mammals including wolves and brown bears.

The councillor of Bulgaria's Minister of Economy, Energy and Tourism, Mrs Alexandra Lang, said: "We see great potential in the ecotourism sector. More and more people are eager to find places where they can relax away from their daily routine, where they can feel at one with nature and observe rare birds and animals and enjoy sights of untouched beauty. This is what Bulgaria can offer."

http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/bulgaria-ecotourism.html

Giant crocodile captured alive in Philippines

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Villagers and veteran hunters have captured a one-ton saltwater crocodile which they plan to make the star of a planned ecotourism park in a southern Philippine town, an official said Monday.

Mayor Edwin Cox Elorde said dozens of villagers and experts ensnared the 21-foot (6.4-meter) male crocodile along a creek in Bunawan township in Agusan del Sur province after a three-week hunt. It could be one of the largest crocodiles to be captured alive in recent years, he said, quoting local crocodile experts.

Elorde said the crocodile killed a water buffalo in an attack witnessed by villagers last month and was also suspected of having attacked a fisherman who went missing in July.

He said he sought the help of experts at a crocodile farm in western Palawan province.

"We were nervous but it's our duty to deal with a threat to the villagers," Elorde told The Associated Press by telephone. "When I finally stood before it, I couldn't believe my eyes."

After initial sightings at a creek, the hunters set four traps, which the crocodile destroyed. They then used sturdier traps using steel cables, one of which finally caught the enormous reptile late Saturday, he said.

About 100 people had to pull the crocodile, which weighs about 2,370 pounds (1,075 kilograms), from the creek to a clearing where a crane lifted it into a truck, he said.

The crocodile was placed in a fenced cage in an area where the town plans to build an ecotourism park for species found in a vast marshland in Agusan, an impoverished region about 515 miles (830 kilometers) southeast of Manila, Elorde said.

"It will be the biggest star of the park," Elorde said, adding that villagers were happy that they would be able to turn the dangerous crocodile "from a threat into an asset."

Despite the catch, villagers remain wary because several crocodiles still roam the outskirts of the farming town of about 37,000 people.

They have been told to avoid venturing into marshy areas alone at night, Elorde said.

http://news.yahoo.com/giant-crocodile-captured-alive-philippines-134625838.html