Zoo Holocaust?

I must admit to having a somewhat ambivalent attitude to zoos. I certainly prefer to look at organisms (plants and fungi as well as animals) in their natural worlds. Having said that, well run zoos with lots of environmental enrichment do boost enthusiasm (and support?) for animals in a way that TV programmes cannot do; do enable people to experience some impressive beasts without incurring an enormous carbon footprint and sometimes do good work with captive breeding programmes to maintain endangered species (although these are not always very successful). Reports, however, that a Cumbrian zoo had almost 500 mortalities in its 1500 animal stock over a 4 year period are deeply concerning (www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/cumbria-zoo-lose-licence-south-lakes-safari-486-animals-die-four-years-tiget-mauls-keeper-death-2014-97605761.html). This is especially so in an establishment that had a keeper mauled to death by a tiger because of reportedly faulty working practices. I am unsurprised that their licence to operate is being reconsidered.

Birder's Bonus 174

There were what appeared to be quite large flocks of Redshank (Tringa totanus) flitting between the fields and the shore at Bynea.

Supplementing Your Way to Health?

People sometimes suggest that animal experiments have little direct relevance to human health but a study with mice may be helpful in dealing with the growing concerns about the effects of air pollution, especially on children in London schools (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/mar/03/oil-supplements-could-tackle-harmful-health-effects-of-air-pollution). The study suggests that adding omega 3 oils (in oily fish and flax oil etc) to the mouse diets can reduce the lung damage caused by oxidative stress by between 30 and 50%. It has been known for some time that air pollution (including a simply occluding the sun?) reduces vitamin D levels in people. If the studies are confirmed, perhaps the authorities should consider offering free vitamin supplementation (as getting all to eat mackerel may be difficult) to people forced to live or study in areas of high pollution (so long as they continue with attempts to reduce actual pollution levels)?

Replication Across the Science Nation?

Some interesting findings from the attempt to replicate findings from some cancer research projects (www.nature.com/news/cancer-reproducibility-project-releases-first-results-1.21304). The study started in 2013 and will attempt to replicate some 29 studies in the general area of cancer research. To date, the results of attempts to replicate 5 studies have been released with 1 failure to replicate, 2 partial replications and 2 studies which are difficult to interpret. The first thing to say, is that replication is a necessary element in the scientific method (although I have been asked in the past why it is necessary to repeat tests with more animals by people concerned with animal use). The difficulty is that science deals in probabilities rather than absolutes. Further problems seem related to a) the pressure to publish positive results (negative findings are difficult to publish); b) media desire for positive stories of 'cures' and 'major breakthroughs' and c) the need to encourage further funding of programmes (things that also have a direct impact on the individual's perceived worth by institutions and universities). These are all factors that encourage early (premature?) exposure of results. One must also note that scientists are often somewhat unskilled in statistical methods. I am certain that these issues are not limited to cancer research.

Mammoth Task?

The media reports of the imminent de-extinction of the Woolly mammoth seem just a tad premature (www.bbc.com/earth/story/20170221-reviving-woolly-mammoths-will-take-more-than-two-years). The idea is to incorporate preserved mammoth DNA from the ice into the egg of an Indian elephant and then to devise an artificial womb in which to raise the fertilised product. Anything generated (and the womb is a long way from completion) would not exactly be a Woolly mammoth and there might well be problems raising an animal that probably needs a social upbringing. This is the kind of story that causes a frenzied reaction in the media (it's a bit 'Jurassic Park'). I personally don't think that Woolly mammoths will be striding across the tundra anytime soon.

Deads for Reds!

The 'war' between the UK supporters of the endangered, 'indigenous' Red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) and folk who tolerate the 'invasive' Grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) has been intensified with a call for 5000 volunteers (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/feb/24/red-squirrels-5000-volunteers-sought-to-save-species-and-help-kill-invasive-greys). This 'Red squirrel army' would be asked to help monitor the 2  species and even assist (if they had no objections) with 'humane' destruction of the greys in a cull. The greys (introduced deliberately as novelties in Victorian times) generally out-compete the reds as they are bigger, not so picky in terms of diet and not so liable to die of squirrel pox. I personally think that it would be extremely difficult to eradicate the greys (with or without 'humane' techniques) but 'pest control' seems increasingly to be a feature of many 'conservation' attempts. This might well mean that the 'red army' would never be demobilised. One might also suggest that some of the existing, limited populations of persisting reds show signs of poor genetic diversity. This might well require moving stocks of reds around (perhaps even getting new stock from the continent) but that can also generate problems.

April Fools?

A somewhat weird story involving April, the giraffe (www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/39074831/giraffe-birth-live-webcam-back-on-after-complaints-it-was-sexually-explicit). The Animal Adventure Park in New York state arranged a live webcam of the birth but this was interrupted when some folk claimed it was sexually explicit. I suppose that some folk might have believed that baby giraffes were delivered by Giant cranes but surely most must be aware that giraffe sex can result in babies. All was well in the end as the link was restored.