Oryx

@adityapal.bsky.social

Aditya Pal's first sight of a Bengal florican in Nepal left a big impression; one that would lead him to starting the Bengal Florican Project: lnkd.in/eNjQV3Hw 🐦‍⬛

We'd like to thank Aditya for his Conservation News piece and blog, and his continued support of the Bengal florican🪶

lnkd.in/eEx-MZVj 📰

The latest issue of @oryxthejournal.bsky.social features a special section on community participation in #conservation. 🦈 Find out more below:

The next decade will be difficult for #nature #conservation. In a new editorial in @oryxthejournal.bsky.social, we suggest a range of things we can do to rebuild support and challenge #post-truth politics. Led by Nigel Dudley, the piece reminds us that we must not abandon hope.

go.shr.lc/3YM3J8I

Times are getting harder, but there is still everything to play for in conservation. Our new editorial in Oryx journal suggests some responses to right-wing populism, funding cuts and anti-environmental backlash... www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Please let us know what you think!

The latest issue of Oryx features a special section on community participation in conservation. In the lead article, Shidqi et al. describe an encouraging alternative livelihood intervention to protect thresher sharks in Indonesia.🦈 Find out more: www.oryxthejournal.org/blog/new-iss...

Title and abstract of the article 'Is the population of the Critically Endangered white-bellied heron declining in Namdapha Tiger Reserve, India?', alongside an image of the species, a map of the study area and the cover of issue 58-6 of Oryx, in which the article is featured.

Menzies et al. surveyed Namdapha Tiger Reserve, India, for the white-bellied heron, detecting no individuals in their 2023–2024 surveys despite recording 7 herons in 2017. The area was once a stronghold for the Critically Endangered species but its population appears to be declining 🚨 doi.org/pj5d

First page of the article 'A multi-scale approach unveils the ecology of the Critically Endangered Sardinian long-eared bat' and a map of the study area and occurrence records in Sardinia.

Fichera et al. examine the ecological needs of the Sardinian long-eared bat: it is closely associated with dry broadleaf forests but negatively affected by coniferous stands, open pastures & urban areas. Key habitats must be protected to conserve the few known reproductive colonies 🦇 doi.org/pj2f

Top left: queen conch nursery. Right: First page of the article and the cover image of the November issue of Oryx, featuring a queen conch. Bottom left: diagram of natural yield of the queen conch from protecting wild breeding populations.

In the lead article of our latest issue, Kough et al. discuss the opportunities and limitations of queen conch aquaculture. Whilst useful for research, community engagement and education, protecting natural breeding aggregations of conch should be prioritized for species recovery 🐚 doi.org/pjfz

A queen conch on the sea bed, with the text ‘New issue, species survival

Our latest issue highlights our partnership with the IUCN SSC, including an editorial by Chair Jon Paul Rodriguez and research on seahorses in Malaysia, northern muriquis in Brazil, white-bellied herons in India & much more:
www.cambridge.org/core/journals/oryx/issue/3F617C40589385EE28B3630A7FB62734

Title and Abstract of the paper, in English and Spanish. Below is an image of one of the camera traps, and one of the signs used to deter theft.

Flatt et al. report that 65% of camera traps were stolen during their study in Costa Rica, despite locks, cases & signs. Such theft leads to data gaps, impairing research potential in the region. Their findings highlight the urgent need for solutions, to limit financial & data losses 📷 doi.org/pgqc

In 2023-24, Ding et al. set 200 camera traps in Qomolangma National Nature Reserve, China. They captured 2 images of the clouded leopard, marking the 1st documentation of the Vulnerable species in Jilong County & suggesting there may be other suitable habitats for the species in China: doi.org/pf3w

Title and abstract of the paper 'Tigers on thin ice: traffic mortality incidents and Amur tiger conservation in the Russian Far East', with a camera trap image of an Amur tiger walking through the snow, and a map of the study area in Russia, showing the locations of tiger road accidents.

Oleynikov et al. studied Amur tiger deaths from traffic collisions in the Russian Far East during 1980-2023. 46% occurred since 2020, due to prey scarcity following an African swine fever outbreak. Wildlife-friendly road planning & habitat protection are vital for the species' survival: doi.org/pdvg

A pack of African wild dogs and the words 'We are hiring: Editorial Officer'

🚨 Exciting opportunity to join the Oryx team! 🐾

We are hiring an Editorial Officer. The role focuses primarily on providing comprehensive editorial support and managing the journal's social media and communications.

Find out more here: www.fauna-flora.org/about/career...

📅 Deadline: 30 March 2025

A pack of African wild dogs and the words 'We are hiring: Editorial Officer'

🚨 Exciting opportunity to join the Oryx team! 🐾

We are hiring an Editorial Officer. The role focuses primarily on providing comprehensive editorial support and managing the journal's social media and communications.

Find out more here: www.fauna-flora.org/about/career...

📅 Deadline: 30 March 2025

Title and abstract of the article 'Tiny habitats of tiny species: the importance of micro-refugia for threatened island-endemic arthropods'. Below the abstract is an infographic showing the process of filtering IUCN Red List assessments, identifying Critically Endangered arthropods confined to micro-refugia, and finally extracting species-specific threat information coded into categories within assessments.

Sharp & Gray analysed data on 296 Critically Endangered island-endemic arthropod species and the threats they face. Their findings highlight the importance of tiny habitats like caves, high elevation areas, isolated pools & sea stacks for their conservation 🦂 doi.org/pcbm

@adam-sharp.bsky.social

Tiny habitats are important for island-endemic arthropod conservation! Especially caves, isolated pools, sea stacks and high-elevation patches of native vegetation. These "micro-refugia" from threats may be feasible targets for first steps in local management. Open access :)

doi.org/10.1017/S003...

Camera-trap image of a guina on 21 May 2024.

Riffo & Aedo captured a camera-trap image of a guiña in a native forest patch in Huentelauquén, in the Coquimbo region of Chile. There are no previous records of the species in the area and this new record extends the range of the subspecies Leopardus guigna tigrillo 43 km northwards: doi.org/pbs3

Very excited to work with the new IUCN SSC Sponge Specialist Group on all things freshwater sponges!

Title and abstract of the article 'Biodiversity credits: a new currency to support nature conservation?', with a photo of trees in a rainforest.

Schwerdtner Manez & Clifton discuss biodiversity credits, a market-based instrument gaining increasing momentum in conservation. Well-designed schemes can contribute to biodiversity gains, but they need a common methodology and to respect the rights of local and Indigenous communities 🌱 doi.org/n95s

🔥 Hot off the press 🔥
'Fungi gaining ground at recent CBD and IUCN meetings' by FunCC member Elizabeth S. Barron in the @oryxthejournal.bsky.social ☺️ Read on 👇
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

Marchowski et al. report an increase in breeding birds on artificial islands in the Szczecin Lagoon, including the first recorded breeding of the Caspian tern in Poland, highlighting the effectiveness of protecting early successional stages of vegetation on newly established habitats: doi.org/n9bz

A success story, but the battle is not over.

Check out the latest in our efforts to end the online trade in Painted Woolly Bats:
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

We describe how you can get rapid & meaningful reduction in wildlife trade when researchers, NGOs, media & the public work well together and businesses are responsive & act responsibly.

Big thanks to all involved & kudos to eBay & Etsy for their swift action.

www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

New habitats for birds: rapid population growth and new breeding species in Poland | doi.org/10.1017/S003... | @oryxthejournal.bsky.social | #ornithology 🪶

Title and abstract of the article, with an image of a Chinese alligator and a map of the study area in China.

Lau et al. interviewed local communities in the National Chinese Alligator Reserve, China, to investigate if local ecological knowledge can provide a baseline on the status & trends of the Chinese alligator. They found land-use practices may be incompatible with the species' survival 🐊 doi.org/n8hf

Very excited to share my recent publication in the Oryx Journal on the conservation of the last wild population of the Chinese Alligator 🐊

www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

Title and abstract of the article, with an image of an African clawless otter swimming and a map of the study areas in South Africa and Namibia.

Lewis et al. used camera traps to estimate African clawless otter population densities and activity in 6 areas in southern Africa. They found substantial variation between sites, and their estimates suggest the species' numbers are generally lower than previously reported 🦦 doi.org/n7v6

Title and abstract of the article above a photo of the Malawi cichlid Melanochromis johannii.

Msukwa & Jere examined export trends and conservation status of ornamental fish species from Malawi. They found no significant correlation between export volumes and conservation status, but that export volumes are linked to the number of exporters and price 🐟 Read more: doi.org/n7f2

How Livelihood Alternatives Are Changing The Future For Pelagic Thresher Sharks By diversifying local incomes, Indonesia is exploring new strategies to reduce the pressures on pelagic thresher shark populations and promote sustainable fisheries.

Our recent published article by @oryxthejournal.bsky.social is covered by @forbes.com!

www.forbes.com/sites/meliss...