The Wildlife Farming Debate

A Tiger-skin rug captured by Anti-poaching authorities
Source: bringbackbigcats.wordpress.com

Poaching and the illegal wildlife trade seem to be unstoppable.  We live in a modern society that is more environmentally conscious than any preceding generation, yet endangered and threatened animals continue to be decimated by the wants and whims of an international market.  Conservationists and law makers are now looking to implement creative approaches to fight the ever-growing illicit industry.  One such approach that has been disputatious is legal wildlife farming.  Many cringe at the mention of those three words put together and dismiss the practice as unethical and unthinkable.  Yet some are suggesting that this bold idea may be the only realistic way to cut at the demand that fuels the poaching business.

New Zealand's Cat Problem

By Riley Schwengel

If you are reading this then hopefully you have already read my piece about the Predator-Free New Zealand by 2050 plan.  If not then I suggest you read that first, as this piece is an addendum of sorts for that article.

A Ferocious and Damaging Predator
Credit: youtube.com

The Issue with Cats

New Zealand has committed themselves to be completely invasive predator-free by 2050 but the bold plan is inherently flawed because it does little to address one of the most damaging invasive predators in the entire country, domesticated and feral cats.  Although most cat-owners like to think of felines as nothing more than furry companions, domesticated cats are actually proficient hunters who wreak havoc upon native species.  And, while most Kiwis have acknowledged the benefits of having a predator-free country for their native and vulnerable wildlife, they seem unwillingly to make a hard stand about the country's cat population.  This is no small problem as New Zealand is home to 1.4 million domestic, 196,000 strays, and 14 million feral felines (statistics from stuff.co.nz), and has the most cats per capita of any country in the world.

Article Link in Pages

Hi All.  I have posted an article I once wrote for a class back when I was at Bucknell on a separate page on this blog.  The reason its on a separate page and not on the main feed is that its a bit more academic in style than the rest of the work I'll be putting up here.

You see, I've been trying to get this paper published in an academic journal but so far have had no luck.  I have gotten a lot of feedback and still have a lot of work to do before I get this paper into a journal.  That being said, I am still really proud of this paper and think its really interesting, thus I've posted it in its current stage here.

If you know anything about the Catskill Mountain Hotels or are interested at all in the early American conservation movement, check it out!  I hope you enjoy and I look forward to putting more work into it and maybe seeing it published in a scholarly journal soon!

A Predator-Free New Zealand by 2050: Can it be Done?

By Riley Schwengel

An Australian Possum: An Invasive Predator in NZ
Credit: Brisbane City Council

            New Zealand’s natural environment has a stellar reputation.  Thanks to its starring roles in movies like “The Lord of the Rings” and "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" when people think of the Pacific island nation, they think of crisp alpine mountains, breathtaking waterfalls, and forests that look untouched by the ever encroaching shadow of modernity.  However, despite what Hollywood blockbusters and instagram photos would have you believe, New Zealand’s environment is under constant siege. 

            Before both Europeans and Polynesians arrived on the two main islands that make up the country of New Zealand, or Aoteroa depending on who your ancestors are, they were evolutionarily isolated from all other landmasses for 50 million years.  The result of this isolation is a unique but fragile ecosystem.   Exploration, colonization, and globalization have effectively ended New Zealand’s isolation and the fragile ecosystem that it holds is under attack from a bevy of invasive species.  According to the Predator-Free New Zealand Trust: 81% of native New Zealand birds, 88% of native reptiles, and 72% of freshwater fish are endangered.  That’s a staggering statistic, especially when you consider that only 30% of U.S. bird species are considered endangered, 20% of the world’s reptiles are endangered, and a 40% of U.S. freshwater fish are endangered.