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SSC News Index

SSC E-BULLETIN (monthly electronic newsletter)
Latest issue: November/December 2005 // Versión español // Version française // Archives

BIG HOPES FOR ENDANGERED ASIAN ELEPHANTS
27 January 2006
Elephants working in teak forest, Lampang Province, Thailand; Photo by Jeffrey McNeelyThe first ever meeting of all 13 Asian elephant range states addresses the serious threats facing the continent’s largest mammal. Once a symbol of a unique and sacred relationship between nature and man, the asian elephant is now threatened with extinction according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (category “endangered").

Just over 5 percent of the original Asian elephant habitat remains today, and its population has declined over the past half century to an estimated 30,000–50,000 animals in the wild. This is only 10-15% of the African elephant population. To address the main issues threatening the survival of the Asian elephant, the 13 Asian countries which still have wild populations came together for the first time in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 24–26 January 2006. The meeting, convened by the Government of Malaysia, was facilitated by the World Conservation Union (IUCN), and in particular its Species Survival Commission (SSC). Full story // Asian Elephant Specialist Group contact information

THE TURTLE SURVIVAL ALLIANCE - A GLOBAL FORCE FOR FRESHWATER TURTLE CONSERVATION
20 January 2006
In safe hands:  an Asian mountain tortoise (Manouria e. emys) that was rescued by the Turtle Survival Alliance in December 2001 from a huge confiscation in Hong Kong involving nearly 10,000 turtles destined for food markets in China. Photo courtesy of the Palm Beach Post.Freshwater turtles are heavily exploited for food, and in some cases medicine, particularly in Southeast Asia and China, were harvesting levels are unsustainably high and include protected and trade regulated species. Many species are now threatened with extinction because of this unsustainable trade. In the face of this rapid decline and potential spread of this practice to neighbouring countries, the SSC’s Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group helped create the Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA) in 2001. This IUCN/SSC Task Force aims to build a network of linked captive management and breeding programmes known as Assurance Colonies. It has forged new and unique partnerships with zoos and aquariums, universities, private breeders and serious hobbyists to help it achieve this task. The TSA is the latest group to be featured in our SSC Taking Action profiles. // Turtle Survival Alliance website // Freshwater Turtle and Tortoise Specialist Group

SAVING THE PRIDE OF AFRICA: AFRICAN GOVERNMENTS PULL TOGETHER TO CONSERVE THEIR LIONS
13 January 2006
African lion (Panthera leo). Photo by Sue MainkaA new strategy to save the King of Beasts, the African Lion in eastern and southern Africa was agreed at the conclusion of a workshop convened by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) and the Wildlife Conservation Society in Johannesburg, South Africa. The meeting concluded that the reduction in the lion’s wild prey base, human-lion conflicts and habitat degradation are the major reasons for declining lion populations and need to be addressed. Full story // SSC Cat Specialist Group




 
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