RAGES Bulletin #21 Feb/Mar 2017

RAGES Bulletin #21 February/March 2017

This Rotarian Action Group for Endangered Species or RAGES is a Rotarian Action Group and operates in accordance with Rotary International policy but is not an agency of, or controlled by Rotary International.

I.  MARCH 2017 CHAIR REPORT

G ‘ day

As always the past two months have gone very quickly and time is not on our side as far as the rhinos go.  We have had some bad news through the past two months but also some good news with the birth of more rhinos.

I prefer to concentrate on good news then there are times when we have to face reality and wonder what we can do to stem the tide that is against us.

We welcome Tom Tochterman to our RAGES Board of Directors.  Tom will be our Wildlife/Human Conflict Director.  Tom joins the board with a wealth of experience in this area in South Africa and is responsible for the All Women Anti-Poaching Patrol, The Black Mambas, and the Bush Babies projects that our board has endorsed.

You can read all about Tom and his work here:  Tom Tochterman

Other news is that we have been allocated a RAGES Break Out session by Rotary at the Atlanta Convention in June.  Our booth number is 2821 in the House of Friendship.  So those going to Atlanta please join us there.  We will be in the Rotarian Action Group section.  More details on the break out session will follow as soon as the times and day is confirmed.

We have some exciting developments on a series of cards that Rachael Blair from the e-Club of Houston is creating for RAGES here is an example, art work by a friend of Rachael’s from Peru:

We have now reached 395 members which for a Rotarian Action Group is above average.  Keep asking and keep promoting RAGES.  We have a power point presentation available if you would like one to present to your club and clubs in your district.  Just email me.

Attached here is an article written by our Orangutan Primates Director Sue Sheward M.B.E. I hope that you can down load it:

Keep Wildlife Wild Rotary Magazine February 2017

I would also like to welcome all those new members who have joined us since the last newsletter went out.

I will become a DGE in July and that is taking up a lot of my time these days however I will continue with RAGES as becoming a Governor gives me more opportunities to promote RAGES.

We are needed more and more as each day goes by.

Rotarian Action Group for Endangered Species
Rotary Club of Coolamon District 9700
New South Wales, Australia

P.S.  Message from some of our newest members:

RAGES NEWS FEED ON ALL MATTERS ENDANGERED SPECIES

 

 

Ready for the rush in Seoul 2016 above.

 

Well we are well aware of palm oil so let us stop using it.

 

 

2. Baby Rhino Who Survived Being Stabbed Loves To Cuddle With Rescuers Now

‘When poachers attacked J’aime’s mom, the baby rhino probably tried to protect her. She might have charged the poachers, or placed her tiny body between her mom and the poachers’ weapons.  But in the end, the 4-week-old rhino couldn’t save her mom.

Not only did the poachers kill her mother, but they hacked off her horns, which they would sell for thousands of dollars.  J’aime survived the attack, but she didn’t come out unscathed. The poachers had stabbed her three times in her back.’

Thanks to Dodo full story here:

Baby Rhino Orphan

 

3. Latest Rhino Statistics for South Africa

Sad to say it but we could do with a year like 2007

 

4.  More on Cheetahs and Extinction

Cheetahs are on the verge of extinction and scientists finally know why.

 

6.  SATAO 2 is dead

Our wonderful friend and artist Paula Wiegmink Nee Fick has created a painting in memory of Satoa 2:

Just off the easel Title: ‘Your spirit lives’ size: 122cm x 155cm.  Dedicated to SATAO 2 one of the few ‘Big tuskers’ who recently lost his life to poachers.  My sincere thanks to Deo Alfred for giving me permission to use his photo as a reference.  If you would like to see the steps in the development of this painting please visit my Facebook art page.

Paula Wiegmink – Artist.

The Old Man Alive

 

7.  The Black Mambas All Female Anti Poaching Patrol

Biggest thanks to the Black Mambas. Almost all-female anti-poaching unit and the wonderful work that they do. We are thrilled to have them on board of the Say No campaign. A special thank you to Colleen, Felicia and Collin.

When you hear the words anti-poaching unit, what’s the first thing that comes into your mind? Poachers… Guns… Snares… War… Rhino Horn… Ivory?

The Black Mambas is much more than just an anti-poaching unit.

Whilst our main objective is the security of the reserve and the protection of wildlife, we also strive to create a strong bond and educate the communities that live on the boundaries of Balule and the Greater Kruger Park to the benefits of saving their natural heritage.

It is our belief that the ‘war’ on poaching will not be won with guns and bullets, but through social upliftment and the education of local communities surrounding the reserves.

For more information on the amazing work Black Mambas do please visit and support:

http://www.blackmambas.org/

Photography by: Abby Ann Tochterman

 

Black Mamba Media Pack 

 

8.  Giraffes face ‘silent extinction’

Giraffes could disappear from the planet if current rates of extinction continue, experts have warned.

A dramatic drop in giraffe populations over the past 30 years has seen the world’s tallest land mammal classified as vulnerable to extinction.

Numbers have gone from around 155,000 in 1985 to 97,000 in 2015 according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

The iconic animal has declined because of habitat loss, poaching and civil unrest in many parts of Africa.

Some populations are growing, mainly in southern parts of the continent.

Until now, the conservation status of giraffes was considered of “least concern” by the IUCN.

However in their latest global Red List of threatened species, the ungainly animal is now said to be “vulnerable”, meaning that over three generations, the population has declined by more that 30%.

http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-38240760

 

9.  The ‘Pangolin Men’ Saving The World’s Most Trafficked Mammal

 

These lucky charity workers from The Tiki Hywood Trust in Zimbabwe work with the little guys, who have all been rescued from poachers and traders, to help rehabilitate and get them back to health.

Each worker gets their own pangolin to look after and photographer Aidrian Steirn has been out to Africa to photograph these unusual friendships.

According to the trust, one of these animals is taken from the wild every five minutes, making them one of the most endangered species in the world.

Founder and CEO Lisa Hywood said: “We are involved in absolutely every step of the rehabilitation process with pangolins, right from investigations into poaching through to the release of rehabilitated animals.”

As well as looking after rescued creatures, the charity has also made massive steps towards legislation to crack down on poaching.

You can find out more about the trust by clicking here.

Featured image credit: Adrian Steirn/Barcroft Images

 

10.  Elephant Tragedy Sparks Photojournalist’s Quest | Borneo Wildlife Warriors

This was sent to all of us by RAGES Director for Pygmy Elephants, please share this far and wide, thanks.

Debbie is now back home in New Zealand after a brief holiday to Scotland.

Published on 22 Mar 2017

 

On the frontline of conservation in Borneo stand an elite team of local vets and rangers known as the Wildlife Rescue Unit. Now they have a new recruit…

 

That’s all for this newsletter and please share wide and far and ask ask ask your fellow Rotarians and Rotaractors to join us at RAGES.  We are growing and we need members to keep the awareness out there we have a unique position in Rotary as we are the only Rotarian Action Group looking after wild animals and their welfare.

Do not hesitate to contact me with ideas and plans to save endangered species.

All the best John.