My Science School

The everglades national park in the U.S. is home to one of the largest wetlands in the world. But there’s an invasive species there has been singularly decimating native mammal species for decades.

It's the largest!

The largest subtropical wilderness in the U.S., Everglades National Park is located on the southern part of Florida. Covering an area of more than 6,000 sq.km. the region is a veritable mosaic of ecosystems from freshwater sloughs, prairies, and pineland to cypress, mangrove, coastal lowlands, marine, and estuarine. More than 40 species of mammals, nearly 50 species of reptiles, over 300 species of birds and an equal number of fish species, in addition to several types of insects such as butterflies, arachnids, millipedes, and centipedes, call the Park home. The region is a refuge for several rare, endangered, and threatened species. Within the limits of the Park are breeding grounds for several waders. It is also a significant corridor for migratory birds. The Park was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. However, it was moved to the List of World Heritage in Danger in 1993 and remained so till 2007. In 2010, the region was included in the list again and has continued to remain there. This is because the Park, "due to its low lying elevation, is vulnerable to rising sea levels driven by a warming climate".

Wildlife

The birds found in the Park include ducks, teals, pintails, wigeons, shovelers, gadwalls, geese, storks, ibises, herons, egrets, bitterns, spoonbills, eiders, hummingbirds, swifts, nighthawks, sandpipers, plovers, gulls, snipers, stilts, terms, godwits, curlews, doves, kingfishers, cuckoos, hawks, kites, falcons, kestrels, loons, coots, rails, moorhens, mynahs, sparrows, finches, thrushes, wrens, crows, warblers, Flycatchers, crows, grosbeaks, swallows, orioles, buntings, nuthatches, starlings, pelicans, cormorants, woodpeckers, grebes, shearwaters, parakeets, and owls. Among the amphibians living here are frogs, toads, newts, and sirens. The land and marine mammals one can sight here are manatees, panthers, deer, bobcats, raccoons, opossums, foxes, otters, and rabbits. The reptile world in the Park is dominated by alligators, crocodiles, snakes, boas, pythons, iguanas, skinks, geckos, lizards, turtles, and terrapins.

Irula expertise to rescue Florida!

Burmese pythons are among the largest snakes in the world, and can grow up to even 20 feet in length. Native to Southeast Asia, these pythons are an invasive species in Everglades. They are said to have reached the place in the 1980s when exotic pet trade thrived and many of the snakes arrived in the region as pets. When it turned out they'd grow to be over 20 feet, many of the pet owners just released them into the wild. It is said that when Hurricane Andrew unleashed its fury in the region in 1992, many captive pythons spread into the region and have thrived in the swamps since. Nobody knows the exact number of pythons out there. And that's been bad news! These snakes have been decimating native mammal species for decades. As part of the initiatives to tackle the menace, a python removal programme was introduced. A few years ago, the efforts included a team from India. To be precise, the Irula tribe snake hunters from Tamil Nadu. Why the Irulas? Because they are considered among the best snake hunters in the world. But they would be crossing continents and working in a different terrain. Would it work? Work, it did! In just 14 days, they managed to catch as many Burmese pythons.

Picture Credit : Google

A delta of the Okavango River Basin, the region spreads across 6,000 sq km in northwestern Botswana of Africa. Comprising swamps, and plains that flood seasonally, this delta is one of the very few large inland delta systems that does not drain into the sea. Instead, it has an outlet into the sands of the Kalahari basin. During the dry season every year, the delta is fed by the Okavango River. And, the wildlife here is said to have adjusted their own life cycles according to this season, making this a great example of synchronisation between seasons and wildlife. The delta is much noted for its biodiversity, and is said to host one of the largest African elephant populations in the world. In addition to supporting populations of lions, cheetahs and wild dogs, it nurtures hundreds of species of birds. The region was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014 and is also an Important Bird Area. This protected area is not without concerns. There has been a decline in the population of animal species and the reasons are not very clear yet. Also, there are no systems in place to protect the river outside of this country.

Wildlife

The delta boasts a variety of animals and birds. Among the birds that can be spotted here are ducks, geese, shelducks, teals, pochards, quails, francolins, flamingoes, grebes, pigeons, doves, sandgrouses, nightjars, swifts, coucals, cuckoos, moorhen, coots, swamphens, cranes, bustards, storks, pelicans, bitterns, herons, egrets, ibises, cormorants, thickknees, stilts, avocets, plovers, lapwings, jacanas, sandpipers. pratincoles, coursers, kites, buzzards, hawks, vultures, eagles, harriers, goshawks, owls, owlets, hornbills, hoopoes, honeyguides, rollers, kingfishers, falcons, kestrels, parrots. cuckooshrikes, oxpeckers, orioles, flycatchers, sunbirds, weavers, finches, sparrows, pipits, buntings, tits, larks, warblers, prinias swallows, martins, bulbuls, babblers, starlings, robins, wheatears, and thrushes. The place supports many endangered species too such as cheetah, the African wild dog and black and white rhinoceros. The other animals found here include the African elephant, African buffalo, giraffe, zebra, hippopotamus, crocodile, waterbuck, warthog, baboon, hyena, wildebeest, lion, leopard, caracal, and antelopes such as impala, lechwe, topi and sable.

Conservation outlook

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the conservation outlook for the region has been assessed as "good with some concerns" in the latest assessment cycle (2020). This has remained thus since 2014. The delta is a vast and pristine wetland system that has largely been untouched by human-caused activity such as development work. In addition to its vastness, the region's inaccessibility and "low human population densities" have helped in keeping it in a good condition. But it has a few concerns too. The most significant among them is the threat of poaching, as is evident from the decrease in the populations of certain mammals over the last 10 years or so. Of particular concern is the increasing poaching of elephants. Veterinary fences for disease control among animals were erected earlier, but they affected the movement of migratory animals in the region. However, some of these fences have been removed to ensure their free movement.

Picture Credit : Google

The Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of the very few places in the world to spot the mountain gorilla in the wild. Indicative of a healthy habitat, the number of this endangered species there has increased in the last few years.

Situated in the southwest part of Uganda and bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park spans more than 320 sq.km. The forests in the Park are believed to be the remaining areas of what was once a very large forest region covering vast areas of western Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and eastern parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo. With more than 200 tree species and 100 fern species, this biodiversity hotspot is said to have one of the largest number of tree species at this altitude in this part of the continent. Not surprisingly, the Park hosts more than 300 species of birds, including those that are endemic to the region. The place also nurtures several species of butterflies and mammals. Most importantly, it is one of the three places in the world where mountain gorillas can be found, and is home to nearly half the world's population of these gorillas. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994, the Park thrives primarily on community support and ecotourism. However, it is threatened by development activities, habitat loss, and hunting of gorillas and chimpanzees.

Wildlife

Some of the birds that can be spotted in the Park are francolins, owls, nightjars, bee-eaters, tinkerbinds honeyguides, woodpeckers, shrikes warblers flycatchers, tits, sunbirds, storks weavers, orioles, wagtails seedeaters, broadbills, cuckooshrikes, swallows, robins, cuckoos barbets, trogons, kingfishers, pigeons, doves, and buzzards Baboons. monkeys, squirrels, antelopes such as marshbuck, chimpanzees, elephants, and mountain gorillas are among the mammals found in the region.

Mountain gorilla facts

• Found only in three countries today-Rwanda Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo-the mountain gorilla is a subspecies of the eastern gorilla.
• It is also called the silverback gorilla since the adult male has a silvery patch of hair on its back. This mammal can grow up to six feet and weigh even more than 200 kg. Despite its imposing size, the gorilla is a gentle, calm, and non-aggressive animal that gets aggressive only when disturbed or threatened
• The mountain gorilla's food is predominantly vegetarian, consisting of shoots, roots, fruits, etc. But it will also help itself to insects. This mammal is usually found in troops led by an adult male and comprising younger males females, and their offspring. Young gorillas spend a lot of their time playing much like their human counterparts!
• Though its population is said to be increasing, thanks to consistent conservation efforts, the International Union for Conservation of Nature has listed the animal as endangered since it continues to be threatened by habitat destruction and hunting.

Threats

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the conservation outlook for this site has been assessed as "good with some concerns in the latest assessment cycle (2020). While globally several endangered species continue to see decline in numbers, the mountain gorilla population has seen a slight in the last few years. In fact gorilla-based tourism in the region has helped the community living around it. But the place is still not without its share of concerns. As a thickly populated region, human-animal conflict is a reality, especially during crop raids by wildlife. Communities using forest produce too are a direct threat to the natural habitat and its inhabitants. However, the threat to the place overall is perceived as low.

Picture Credit : Google