Image
Image
Zoo InternQuest is a seven-week career exploration program for San Diego County high school juniors and seniors. Students have the unique opportunity to meet professionals working for the San Diego Zoo, Safari Park, and Institute for Conservation Research, learn about their jobs, and then blog about their experience online. Follow their adventure here on the Zoo’s website!
In Southeast Asia, the populations of the sun bear and moon bear are dwindling at a rapid rate. However, the lack of data on both bear’s population prevents them from being on the endangered species list. Unfortunately, both types of bears are being poached, sold as pets, and caught for bile farms. Bile farms commonly use inhumane practices and methods such as placing bears in small cages to harvest digestive fluids produced by the liver gallbladder. Bile is used in traditional Chinese medicine. San Diego Zoo Global is an active member in the fight to conserve both the sun bear and the moon bear in Southeast Asia.
This week interns were fortunate to meet with David O'Connor, a Research Coordinator and an avid conservationist who helps conserve bears in Southeast Asia. Mr. O'Connor was part of a program that surveys locals in Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia about their attitudes towards the usage of bear parts. Mr. O’Connor was a coordinator in a Laos research project and organized local university students to distribute surveys. Surveys assessing bear part usage and attitudes had never been done before. Through the usage of these surveys, significant and game-changing data came out of this research. Mr O’Connor and his team found out that 10% of Laotians and 7% of Chinese use bear bile, which is an estimated 84,340,000 people. Furthermore, 50% of Chinese and Laotians believe bear bile is important for their culture. These statistics show the large scale of bear parts being used throughout Southeast Asia and the hurdles the sun bear and moon bear must overcome. Additionally, crucial information that was discovered through Mr. O’Connor’s research was how Laotians and Chinese view bear parts differently. Laotians favor wild bear bile, while Chinese prefer farmed bear bile.This data means conservationists cannot treat Southeast Asia as a homogenous region.
Conservationists, like Mr. O’Connor, can utilize this research to implement informative public service announcements that are culturally appropriate to curtail the use of bear parts. In Cambodia, research is ongoing in Steung Treng Province and Phnom Penh to discover the difference between rural and urban views on bear parts. In Cambodia, researchers interview locals to discuss their use of bear bile. Later this year, Mr. O’Connor and his team are hoping to finish research in Cambodia and transition into Vietnam. In the near future, Mr. O’Connor hopes to make the survey accessible throughout Asia to obtain a regional picture of how the public views bear parts.
In addition to his work in Southeast Asia, Mr. O’Connor coordinates research in Kenya related to giraffes, the forgotten megafauna. Amazingly, researchers understand very little about giraffes, even though they are known around the world for their familiar long necks. Researchers have many questions about giraffes; for example, “Why do giraffes fight?”, “How many species/subspecies are there?”, and “How far do giraffes travel on a daily basis?” Mr. O’Connor went to Kenya and worked with the reticulated giraffe to find out more. In Kenya, most of the land is pastoral meaning herders have little to no impact on natural environment. However, the giraffe population is depleting, and in the last 15 years, 40% of the population has declined. Moreover, the reticulated giraffe is facing even worse depletion, a 70% decline from 1998-2015 leading to possible extinction by 2021. The giraffe population is facing decline because of poaching for bushmeat and habitat loss. Just like in Southeast Asia, Mr. O’Connor uses surveys to understand local thoughts about giraffes and other local endangered species. Mr. O’Connor and his team research and monitor giraffes in the wild. So far, they have placed tracking devices on giraffes to understand giraffes’ movement, built giraffe orphan care centers, and built deep relationships with the local communities. A unique tool Mr. O’Connor plans to use is a camera trap, which helps him identify giraffes’ movement. All giraffes have different patterns, just like humans have different fingerprints, which Mr. O’Connor uses to his advantage. Every time researchers spot two of the same giraffe patterns, they can map where the giraffes have gone. This kind of research enables the scientific field and the public to learn more about giraffes.
San Diego Zoo Global works across the world to conserve majestic wildlife. The biggest threat towards wildlife is the wildlife trade and habitat loss. Mr. O’Connor helps conserve countless bears and giraffes through his research. However, Mr. O’Connor needs our help to spread the word. Social media is the strongest tool to combat endangerment of wildlife because it helps increase public awareness.The app,Wildlife Witness, allows you to be a part of the solution by reporting illegal trade and practices throughout the world. Simple images of sun bears locked up in miniscule cages or giraffes slaughtered are heart wrenching, but can help save countless lives. It is our job to inform the public to stop illegal trade of endangered wildlife.
Kristofer, Conservation Team
Week Four, Fall Session 2016
