21 st Century Tiger Annual Report 2009

Transcription

1 Annual Report 2009 is a unique fundraising partnership between the Zoological Society of London and Global Tiger Patrol. The Dreamworld Fundraising Foundation covers all administration costs.

2 Contents About 3 Our Mission 3 Our Defining Features 3 The Scope of Our Work 4 Acknowledgements 5 Funding 6 Activities in Projects Funded in Contact details: C/o The Zoological Society of London Regent s Park London NW1 4RY 21stcenturytiger@zsl.org Tel: + 44 (0)

3 About was established in 1997 as a unique fundraising partnership between the Zoological Society of London and Global Tiger Patrol. The aim is to pool resources in order to raise money and to source and support tiger conservation projects in the wild. Since its inception, has become one of the top seven non-government organisations funding tiger conservation worldwide. A panel of international tiger experts rigorously examines all projects submitted to for funding. The projects must have sound practical scientific and/or conservation value, and use local staff wherever possible. Project reports are reviewed every six months to ensure that the funds are being used to the best possible advantage. is proud of its record of funding innovative projects which keep up with ever-changing environmental situations. Our Mission 1. To raise funds, from government, the corporate sector, zoos and individuals, for projects which significantly contribute to the conservation of tigers in the wild. 2. To raise the profile of tigers through developing public awareness and educational programmes. 3. To work with the international conservation and scientific community. 4. To utilise the wide range of resources held by the partnership between Global Tiger Patrol and the Zoological Society of London. Our Defining Features 100% of donations go directly to wild tiger projects. Administration for the operation of is funded separately. Since November 2006 this administration has been kindly funded by Dreamworld, Gold Coast, Australia. works closely with in-country counterparts in order to develop capacity within the country to sustain conservation work through the generations. All projects are reviewed by experts to ensure that they have sound practical conservation and/or scientific credibility, and are making a fundamental contribution to the conservation of wild tigers. 3

4 The Scope of Our Work Since its inception, has funded a total of 100 proposals from 59 projects, distributing 1,400,000 and has supported projects in seven countries - India, Indonesia, China, Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand and Russia. The projects cover a wide spectrum of requirements for tiger conservation, including training for wildlife rangers in the application of wildlife law, jungle survival and identification of endangered species, support for anti-poaching units which deal directly with poachers, uncover networks of illegal trading, and even advise in cases of humantiger conflict. In Russia and Indonesia we also fund scientific research, including studies of tiger home ranges and tiger prey densities, and methods for limiting the habitat damage caused by economic development. Comprehensive and thorough research provides a sound scientific basis for conservation planning and is an essential part of any conservation programme. Finally, also funds education and awareness raising programmes within tiger range countries; vital for ensuring sustainable local support for wildlife conservation. Big Cats 2010 Calendar Harald Loeffler 4

5 Acknowledgements is most grateful to all its supporters who provide donations, both large and small, as well as those given in kind. We would particularly like to thank the following: Dreamworld on the Gold Coast of Australia who generously continued funding s administration in 2009 allowing us to continue to spend 100% of funds raised on supporting wild tiger projects. The following zoos which have supported us in 2009: Auckland Zoo, Blackpool Zoo, Dreamworld, Kolmardens Djurpark, Naturzoo Rheine, Orana Wildlife Park, Paradise Wildlife Park and Wildlife Heritage Foundation, Shepreth Wildlife Park, and Taronga Zoo. EAZA (European Association of Zoos and Aquaria), ARAZPA (Australasian Regional Association of Zoological Parks and Aquaria). Andy Rouse, not only for his beautiful photographs, but also for his inspiring fundraising evening in aid of. ExxonMobil, whose staff continues to support us each year through their retail department. Clinton Lewin of Clinton Cards who donated a share of the profits of his 2009 Calendar The author, Joanna Skipwith, for the profits from her gorgeous book Tiger, Animals in Art. Harald Loeffler (who designed a glorious calendar for 2010 raising funds for ), Mike Vickers, Daniel Zupanc and all the other generous photographers who let us use their beautiful photos on our website to encourage fundraising. Hull City Association Football Club, The Tigers for, supporting their wild cousins through fundraising efforts H. A. Bennett for their sponsorship through selling tiger coffee in Australia. Emeralt Investments for their generous donation to use one of our Christmas Ecards Hannah Web for being a constant supporter. Dave Pook of Sqoo Media for the design of our website CMO Global for supporting our online administration database. Tom Maddox for his time and energy touring zoos in Australia and New Zealand to talk about the work being funded in Sumatra Our sympathy to the family of the late Stephen Gately, whose promise to support wild tiger conservation was sadly unfulfilled. 5

6 Funding Sources of funding for 2009 Funding Source Amount Received Fundraising Activities Zoos 86,780 BBC Wildlife Fund* 59,567 Public donations 8,953 Other income (sales) 5,493 Clinton Cards 4,000 Hull City Football 1,500 H.A. Bennett 1,533 Joanna Skipwith Tiger, Animals in Art 318 Total 168,144 * For BBC funded WCS-India project starting January 2010 Andy Denker Sahara Trek 2009 in aid of 6

7 Projects receiving funding from in 2009 Project Title Reducing wildlife mortality due to roads in the Nagarahole-Bandipur corridor- India Phoenix Fund for the Western Wildlife Managers Team - Russia The Khabarovsky Team s Antipoaching activities of Inspection Tiger - Russia Anti-poaching activities in Lazovsky Reserve, Zapovednik - Russia Amur tigers and Far Eastern Amount Granted Leopards - Russia Tackling Berbak Wildlife Crime- Sumatra 10,059 FFI Travel grant KGTW- Sumatra/Nepal 1,086 Kerinci Seblat tiger protection and conservation team - Sumatra 27,770* Kerinci Seblat tiger protection project - Sumatra 9,307 Total Granted 100,172 Grantee 3,722 WCS - India 10,000* Phoenix 17,119* Phoenix 11,541* Phoenix 9568 WCS - Russia Zoological Society of London (ZSL) Fauna & Flora International (FFI) Fauna & Flora International (FFI) Fauna & Flora International (FFI) * Denotes a fully-funded project where the donor financially supports a whole project. Countries which were funded in 2009 India 3.73% Indonesia 47.02% India 3.73% Indonesia 47.02% Nepal 1.08% Russia 48.17% Total: % Russia 48.17% Nepal 1.08% 7

8 Activities in 2009 Zoo Support Zoos continue to fundraise for tigers in the wild through with a range of different activities. Donations came from individual zoos in Europe, Canada and Australia. Zoos belonging to Zoo & Aquarium Association Australasia (formerly known as ARAZPA) raised more than 66,770 for tigers. continues to recognise zoos fundraising achievements and features zoo support prominently on our website. Eight certificates were awarded during Long term funding is vital and these efforts make a real impact on the ground in helping to conserve wild tigers. Fundraising Andy Rouse, the award winning wildlife photographer gave up an evening of his time to entertain and enthral a full house in aid of on a cold and damp night at the end of January With amazing images, stories of animal encounters and photographic insight, raised over 2,300 on the night for tiger conservation. In association with Andy Rouse, Clinton Cards produced a beautiful 2009 calendar for retail in their shops, a percentage of which was donated to. One of photographer Andy Rouse s award winning images Tiger Animals in Art, by Joanna Skipwith continued to be sold for 21 st Century Tiger during It is available via the website and from retailers across the country. Andy Denker walked some 118km through the Sahara at the end of March 2009 in support of, raising a fantastic 500 in the process. 8

9 Sponsorship Hull City Association Football Club In 2009 Hull City continued to promote and inspire tiger conservation through their supporters. 1,500 was raised by the club through a charity golf tournament and dinner. HA Bennett H.A. Bennett & Sons, importers and distributors of high quality green coffee to Australian based roasters, continue to be proud supporters of tiger conservation. They donate US$1 for every bag they sell of Tiger Mountain raw coffee beans. 1,533 was donated in ExxonMobil Toy Sale In 2009, over 3,000 was raised through the support of ExxonMobil, including our 9 th annual toy sale held in ExxonMobil s office in London in December selling cuddly tiger toys to the staff in time for Christmas. We would like to thank Gail McGuffie of GTP and all at ExxonMobil, especially Stella Crossley and the staff and volunteers who helped us on the day. Website The website continued to go from strength to strength with a 25% increase of page visits from the previous year. Additional information over more pages was incorporated, with more photographs, reports and blogs from the projects. News items more than doubled as did the number of public hits to those pages. 9

10 Projects Funded in 2009 funded nine projects in Here follows a selection: India Reducing wildlife mortality due to roads in the Nagarahole- Bandipur corridor WCS India Several international donor and lending agencies are providing economic impetus for the expansion of road networks. However road development negatively impacts critical tiger habitats through increased fragmentation, road mortality due to speeding vehicles (both tiger and its prey), modification of wildlife behaviour, increased access for poachers and disturbance in general and restricting the movement of animals by acting as physical barriers. Since highways fragment and isolate wildlife populations they could directly and negatively impact the genetic diversity of a population. This is especially true for wide-ranging and large carnivores such as tigers. Nagarahole and Bandipur Tiger Reserves in India have some of the highest tiger and prey densities anywhere in the world. To mitigate this potential conflict, the Nagarahole Road Construction Agency planned to incorporate rumble strips and humps, and to upgrade existing culverts to act as wildlife underpasses. However these measures were not properly researched and WCS maintain that they could be ineffective. In this study, WCS India monitored three different sections of the highway and carried out camera trapping to assess movement of wildlife near the road. Traffic was monitored and structural measurements and conditions all the culverts and bridges were taken. Analysis of animal tracks on specially placed sand track plots and faecal matter of wildlife gave information on the usage of existing water culverts as underpasses by wildlife. Researchers studying culvert usage WCS WCS- India show in this study that vehicular density on the Mysore-Mananthavadi Highway has increased by 1100 per cent since Speed is one of the important determinants of road kills, hence implementing speed calming measures is an important 10

11 measure. Traffic density and human habitations seem to result in avoidance of these areas by wildlife especially tigers, elephants, gaur and other species that are sensitive to disturbance. More crossing takes place in quieter times. Camera trap results clearly indicate that the existing culverts do not function as underpasses for wildlife. These culverts were built solely for hydrology purposes and do not to facilitate wildlife crossings. Environmental Impact Assessments about highway construction need to consider this aspect. Camera Trap showing tiger passing close to the road WCS Within a 12.2km road stretch WCS photo-captured four individual tigers indicating high usage of this area by these felids. This highlights the importance of this corridor for tiger conservation hence making a stronger case to control and reduce the impacts of this highway on wildlife and its habitat. This study highlights the point that impact assessment on wildlife by projects like these needs scientific and quantitative assessments carried out by trained wildlife biologists and not through rapid Environment Impact Assessments. A framework for addressing their effects through conservation planning that would address the immediate impacts as well as provide long-term solutions for reducing impact of linear intrusions like highways on wildlife needs to be developed. This is specifically required with respect to endangered wildlife species like tiger. The location of speed calming measures and culverts, have to be suggested by wildlife biologists who have a comprehensive understanding of the site and behaviour of wildlife. Although roads are important for economic development, poor planning, disregard of ecological aspects and excessive road expansion into wildlife habitats will further fragment and destroy wildlife populations and their habitats in the long-term. This critical study will establish base-line facts for distribution to the Forest Department as well as the project engineers, and will be hugely useful in the future whenever a road is planned through important wildlife habitat. 11

12 Russian Far East Western Wildlife Managers Fund - Phoenix Primorye in the south of the Russian Far East represents the only area in the world where both Amur tigers and leopards still co-exist in the wild. However, the tiger under great threat from the insatiable demand for body parts, which appear to be the main driving force behind poaching and trafficing. In addition, human actions, deliberate or negligent, continue to shrink, fragment and degrade forests, existing and potential tiger habitats. Phoenix supports anti-poaching activities of Tiger landscape. Russian Far East Phoenix various state environmental law enforcement agencies. The Western wildlife managers team of Primorsky Hunting Management Department operates in the north of Primorye (Krasnoarmeisky, Dalnerechensky, Pozharsky, Kirovsky and Terneisky districts), an area still rich in wildlife and cedar forests. The regional Verkhnebikinsky Wildlife Refuge, with the last untouched Korean pine forests and one of the most valuable habitats for Amur tigers, is located around the Bikin River valley. Changes in forest management in recent years as a result of administrative reform in Russia, has led to the devolvement of law enforcement powers from federal to local authority. The leader of the Western Team applied to be included as a staff member of the new fauna protection department and received approval of his candidacy for leader of the Game and Rare Species Department (GRSD) anti-poaching unit. In 2009 the team showed good results and conducted 88 anti-poaching patrols, issued 129 citations on violations of nature conservation laws such as illegal logging and poaching and seized 50 illegal firearms. This was despite heavy rain fall in June and July which washed away roads and bridges and flooded the Bikin River valley. This was not the only severe weather this region experienced, as early in the year Northern Primorye suffered heavy snowfall which threatened the lives of tigers and their prey. Only prompt Confiscated traps Phoenix action by the wildlife teams averted the starvation of the local deer populations. Kolmarden Fundraising Foundation, of Kolmarden Zoo Sweden, fund this project through the fully-funded scheme. 12

13 Sumatra Kerinci Seblat Tiger Protection Project 2009 FFI This on-going programme, first launched in 2000, aims to support the Indonesian Government s commitment to the protection of threatened species, particularly the critically endangered Sumatran tiger. In the longer term, it is committed to maintaining a sustainable and effective species conservation programme in one of Asia s most important national parks. The project focuses on: Intelligence investigations to identify threats so a response can be formulated Patrol in key areas to prevent or remove threats and to establish a national park presence in the forest Law enforcement to address wildlife and other forest crimes and support the legal process. Intervention to mitigate the effects of human-tiger conflict for protection of both the community and Sumatran tiger Involvement of NPA staff to train national park staff and to deployment of tiger ambassadors in forest-edge communities. Programme activities are founded on the activities of five four-man Tiger Protection & Conservation Units, each unit staffed by carefully-selected members of forest-edge communities and led by a national park ranger on secondment. The teams operate from base camps in four districts of Bengkulu and Jambi provinces and the main focus of field work is in these provinces, although some patrols and investigations are also conducted in South and West Sumatra provinces when possible. The programme facilitates a variety of supporting activities including tiger and prey species monitoring, local NGO campaigning and collaborative community forest protection patrols. In additional it providing advice on tiger and other species conservation to a plantation company in Bengkulu province which is in the process of establishing a 20,000 ha conservation concession in the national park buffer zone. In February 2009, community members of the programme were legally recognised as auxiliary National Park staff. This further strengthened the legal position of TPCU rangers and their mandate to respond to threat to Sumatran tiger, protected prey species and tiger habitat and indicates the degree of pride and ownership the NPA has in this partnership. 13

14 With the appointment, in February 2009, of Dian Risdianto as Field Manager, TPCUs have begun to step up field actions to protect key tiger habitat. 22 men have been arrested either in the course of routine patrols or in joint actions with national park rangers in the first four months of 2009 alone. These include a notorious loan shark and long-suspected tiger dealer - on illegal logging or encroachment charges. By the end of 2009 The Kerinci Tiger Protection Project had conducted investigations and led law enforcement actions resulting in the successful arrest and prosecution of 21 tiger poachers and traffickers in addition to numerous lesser wildlife criminals, illegal loggers and others. Frequency of encounter records made by patrol units indicate that Sumatran tiger populations have stabilized or even increased with a frequency of encounter, park-wide, of approximately one tiger record per 23Kms in