wildlife
Table of Contents Rewilding
Words and Illustrations by Rachel Middleton
Scary Monsters and Super Creeps Words and Illustrations by Rachel Sawyer
Boggis, Bunce, and Bean Words and Illustrations by Abbie Winson
Kelp Forests
Words and Illustrations by Rachel Middleton
A Case of Mistaken Identity Words and Illustrations by Rachel Saywer Cover and Endpapers: Rachel Sawyer Editor: Anna Stone
Rewilding
By: Rachel Middleton
The world’s focus on tackling the problem of climate change has varied in different solutions. Some may be isolated solutions which hone in on one particular problem such as protecting a particular species, or reducing plastic waste. Others may be solutions which help progress a number of results, like regrowing coral reefs and replanting forests, which would help restore ecosystems and slow down global warming. While many of these methods are beneficial to the planet, they can also be very invasive and involve a lot of human control over the natural process, which without the proper foresight may not be as successful or helpful to restoring a natural balance. But
there is one solution that covers several issues that are all interlinked. Rewilding is a progressive approach to conservation, that encourages a balance between people and nature, where each can thrive. This involves humans reintroducing wildlife to environments that have had a lack in diversity due to the imbalance of food chains and ecosystems. Instead of having a very regimented structure that stifles growth of possibilities, it is without an end state,
simply put, it goes where nature takes it. The idea of reintroduction of wolves in the UK has received positive feedback from scientists as they are deemed to be effective in directly reducing red deer numbers and allowing nature to recover in the Highlands. Although deer are thought to be a good sign in nature, their growth in numbers has caused an imbalance to their habitat, as they eat saplings, and damage tree growth. Introducing predators such as lynxes and wolves would help maintain the deer population, let the ecosystem recover, allow for more tree growth, therefore diversifying the land.
Illustration By: Rachel Middleton
It would even attract tourism, allowing the economy to benefit from it, this has already been the case in Europe where wolves have re-established themselves. Wolves were eradicated centuries ago in the UK, and reintroductions will always face resistance from some members of nearby communities as they suffer from centuries of demonisation. However, wolves are actually shy animals and present a very low risk to people. This new step in environmental progress may be small, but the impacts it could make is much larger than what we can see in the present. We must see the butterfly effect in every decision and action we take, and take advantage of that foresight.
Scary Monsters and Super Creeps
By: Rachel Sawyer
In the name of National Wildlife Day, celebrated on the 5th of September, I want to dedicate this article to a fascinating marine creature with the intention of expanding your knowledge and curiosity for the natural world. Let me begin by saying that all Nudibranchs are sea slugs, but not all sea slugs are Nudibranchs. These alien-like creatures are marine gastropod molluscs, of which there are around 3000 known species. Inhabiting worldwide seas, you will find them in both cold and tropical habitats, with the highest diversity found in warm water reefs. They are split into two main types: Dorids, which have plumage from the rear portion of the body, and Aeolids, which do not. Despite their attractive and harmless appearance, Nudibranchs are actually carnivorous predators. They are known to eat both their own and other species, with the only predatory threat presented by turtles, crabs and occasionally humans. Over time Nudi’s have lost their protective shells and so have devised new forms of defence. This comes in the form of bright, patterned colours, which not only allow them to camouflage into their habitat, but also signal to prey their poisonous quality. Not all Nudibranch’s are toxic however and so rely on their ability to sting, which is enabled by the Hydrozoids they eat and then store in their Cerata or ‘horns’. They are typically floor dwellers, migrating across the ground in search of food. There are a handful of species that break this rule however, such as the Spanish Dancer, which swims through the middle of the water in a kind of sculling motion - similar to that of a Cuttlefish - and the Glaucus Atlanticus, which floats upside down on the surface of the water. Although Nudibranchs are currently not
endangered, the rapid coral bleaching in areas such as the Great Barrier Reef, the increase in water pollution, and the unsustainable levels of destructive fishing are a great cause for concern. As with all animals, Nudi’s exist in a food chain, and when that chain is disrupted or outright destroyed, the rest of the ecosystem is impacted. Life small and large play a role in maintaining the status quo and it is the responsibility of humans to interfere with its balance as little as possible. National Wildlife Day is the perfect opportunity to learn how to help your local wildlife as well as those as far as the Great Barrier Reef. Below is a short list of simple actions you can take to protect Nudibranchs and the oceans as a whole: - Avoid single use plastics that pollute and choke the oceans, such as face masks, gloves, plastic bags, straws, food packaging etc. and replace them with reusable alternatives. - Reduce meat consumption, including fish, and grow your own veg, which cuts down the vast quantities of carbon, methane, fertiliser and pesticide pollution. - Donate when possible to wildlife organisations such the WWF and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation. - Recycle, reuse, repeat.
Illustration By: Rachel Sawyer
Illustration By: Abbie Winson
Boggis, Bunce, and Bean
By: Abbie Winson
We have all heard the never ending list of what is wrong with the world. Unless of course you have moved into a deep cave in the forest with no Wi-Fi, for a peaceful and quiet life. But if you haven’t then you would have heard, and seen the brokenness of this world. When we decided to make this issue about wildlife, it got me thinking of what the main problem facing our plants and beloved animals is today. To no surprise it was habitat destruction, specifically due to agriculture. Every year we destroy forests, swamps, lakes and more to be able to harvest materials such as Timber, wood and fuel for human consumption. The Animal industry specifically beef is the main contributor. In 2019 50% of habitable land goes to agriculture with around 77% taken up by animals. However only around 18% of the global calorie supply is going towards meat and dairy, while 82% is for crops. This shows that we probably have too much land taken up by the meat and dairy industry. When researching this information, I couldn’t help but think of the Roald Dahl book “Fantastic Mr Fox”. Specifically, in how much Boggis, Bunce and Bean ate (and yes I now have “Boggis, Bunce, and Bean one fat, one short, one lean,” song just playing around in my head). Although these characters are out of proportion with what the average person eats, it still made me think of how much we consume or stock up. I am not saying to become a vegetarian, as I’m personally not a vegetarian. It’s just about buying what is needed. This won’t all of a sudden stop habitat destruction as there are many other factors such as palm oil or the soy industry, however it is a start. On the bright side during lockdown,
wildlife has slowly been able to return back to their once destroyed areas, and we can use this opportunity to cultivate it, by maybe getting more certified wildlife habitats. Moreover, there are many eco-friendly companies who have started to replant more trees for what they took. The world is making a good start in helping the animals and wildlife to thrive again. On the down side, there is still 20% of land destroyed in the Amazon, (not the shop) due to agriculture. Meaning animals such as the Orangutans have less space to call home. Along with Tigers, Asian Elephants, Giant Pandas, Armoured Leopards, Whales and Dolphins, to name a few. We as flawed humans are never going to get the world perfect, but thanks to organisations such as WWF, communities creating more wildlife habitats, and the wisdom of Roald Dahl raising the issue of consumerism, there is a good start in helping our neighbouring animals live peaceful and happy lives.
By: Rachel Middleton
Kelp Forests
One of the most well known and simplest solutions to slow climate change has been planting more trees to counter the copious amounts of CO2 and greenhouse gases. This vision of abundant trees around the world is surely a wonderful idea, however it is overshadowing the potential of other plant life around the earth that are equally, if not more, efficient in trapping CO2 and producing oxygen. Although trees store carbon, this storage is vulnerable, since deforestation releases this carbon back into the atmosphere, undoing the benefits. The amount of dry land on the earth is eclipsed by the vast seas we have around us, and within those seas are myriads of biodiverse habitats that have much more to offer in ways of keeping the natural balance. Kelp forests are underwater areas with
Illustration By: Rachel Middleton
a high density of kelp, covering a large part of the world’s coastlines. They are recognised as one of the most productive and dynamic ecosystems on Earth. Coastal ecosystems sequester away surprisingly large amounts of carbon; they can sequester up to 20 times more carbon per acre than land forests.
For these Kelp forests to continue to thrive, they must keep their balance in biodiverse habitats. Sea otters are key in maintaining the environment for kelp to grow as they control the population of sea urchins which feed on the holdfasts of the kelp that root them in place. Seaweed also ameliorates acidification, deoxygenation, and other marine impacts of global warming that threaten the biodiversity of the seas and the food sources of hundreds of millions of people. Unfortunately due to the fast rate of temperature rising in the oceans, these underwater forests are struggling to cope as they are used to colder climates. The very organisms that could help slow the impacts are being affected by climate change. Rather than solely focusing on the most well known solutions, we need to branch out and draw focus to the kelp forests, as we can’t afford to ignore their immense potential to heal the growing wounds of the planet.
Illustration By: Rachel Sawyer
A Case of Mistaken Identity
By: Rachel Sawyer
It is time to get the facts straight and put this one to bed. Black Panthers are not a species of wild cat. Black Panthers are in fact jaguars or leopards that carry a melanistic trait, which increases the level of dark pigmentation present in their skin or fur. This has caused a mutation in the Agouti gene, however this does not result in a solid black coat as you might expect. ‘Black Panthers‘ still retain their spots, which can be seen in the correct light. Jaguars, leopards, lions and tigers are part of the Panthera genus, which are four of the seven species to comprise the ‘Big Cat’ family. Leopards are residents of Asia and Africa, whilst Jaguars occupy South America. Both cats are under threat however, due to a mixture of habitat loss, human wildlife conflict and illegal wildlife trade. Time is running out, particularly for the Snow Leopard, of which there are 4,000 left in the wild, and more so for the Amur Leopard, with only 100 left. Like the Jaguar, these large predators play an important role in the overall health of their habitat by
maintaining the balance of their food chain. There are a handful of immediate actions you can take to support two of the most threatened species of cats on the planet. Consider adopting or donating to charities, which use the funds to educate the farmers in conflict with wildlife, work with governments to ensure safe, protected and plentiful habitats, and contribute to the law enforcement of antipoaching. You can also take action by avoiding products, which directly contribute to rainforest destruction. Palm oil crops are a major contributor to the burning and clearing of forest land. It is present in 50% of supermarket products, including sweets, savoury foods and cosmetics. It is incredibly difficult to cut palm oil from your diet entirely due to how prolific the product is, however, by buying from sustainably sourced brands, we could no longer pump money and power into the hands of unethical companies.
Illustration By: Rachel Middleton
Copyright Š 2020 by Rachel Sawyer, Rachel Middleton, Abbie Winson, and Anna Stone. All rights reserved. This publication or any portion thereof may not be reproduced, copied, reprinted, reworked, redistributed, or used in any manner whatsoever without the explicit written permission of the copyright holders.