Seeing the Changes 530

In Bynea, noted late Redshank (Polygonum persicaria) and Bistort (Polygonum bistorta) in flower.

Return to Longleat

I used to make an annual pilgrimage to Longleat as part of a level 3 field course that looked at how animals were used in attractions in a variety of Dorset locations (and this Wiltshire location en route). Having recently returned privately I have noted a number of changes. In the East African Reserve section only Rothchild's giraffe and Grant's zebra now feature (Llamas etc seem to have been moved- not East African enough?). The former animals can now be fed expensively-purchased lettuce from a platform feeding site. The latter animals were involved in obvious conflict. Cheetahs have been added to the 'big cat' enclosures. In other parts of the Safari Park, there is a walk through section for Ring-tailed lemurs (a number of zoos seem to be going for these). They have also got 'nectar' feeding opportunities for Rainbow lorikeets and The Hawk Conservancy Trust put on aerial displays with a range of raptors. You can also queue up to handle a Tarantula but can still feed fish to California sealions in the water surrounding the Gorilla island. An African elephant ('Annie') has returned to the collection, although they claimed merit for dispensing with the original small herd.

Oiling the Wheels of Conservation?

An interesting debate is developing about what to do about enormous oil reserves located under a biodiversity hot spot, Yasuni National Park in Equador (http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/sep/03/ecuador-yasuni-conservation?INTCMP=SRCH). The Equadorian Government have offered not to extract the oil (and risk the enormous range of plant and animal species or to add to greenhouse gas generation) if the developed nations give them 50% of the value of the resource (it's a bit like paying not to destroy the rainforest). The timing, given the world economic climate, is not great for this offer and relatively little money has been offered. Some of the Governments expected to donate have expressed concerns that the money might be accepted and then the oil extracted anyway (the Equadorians reserve the right to exploit the resource in a 'national emergency'). Meanwhile oil companies are building roads on the margins of the park. People have commented that the losses of yet largely undocumented species, with all sorts of potential utilities, could be enormous. Cynically speaking, even if this oil is left in the ground, commercial agencies are likely to seek fuels in other locations and ways, so getting real reductions in greenhouse gas release seems unlikely. 

Seeing the Changes 529

There was an impressive Bolete-style fungus in Singleton Park, Swansea. Continuing the caterpillar theme, a Knotgrass moth (Aronicta rumicis) sprinted over the cycle track at Bynea.

The Beast of Essex?

A frenzy of excitement in the media concerning multiple reports of lion sightings near Clacton in Essex (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/aug/26/lion-on-the-loose-in-essex?CMP=NECNETTXT8187&google_editors_picks=true). Unlike some earlier claimed spottings of big cats, this present event led to a search by armed police supported by a helicopter. Big cats were kept as status symbols in parts of the UK some decades ago and the subsequent passing of the Dangerous Wild Animals legislation might well have resulted in some ill-advised releases of 'pets'. Having said that, all species of big cat need very substantial ranges and it seems to me unlikely that viable breeding populations could be easily established. Lions also generally go in for group hunting, so a lion on its own would be at a disadvantage. Apparently, no paw prints or fur traces were found and the police have given up the search. People can easily have their eyes tricked by distant animals appearing larger especially as the sun goes down. Perhaps it's a large moggie covered in Essex spray tan?

Under the Bridgewater!

Just returned from Worsley, outside Manchester, where the Bridgewater canal still flows near Worsley Old Hall where I spent weekends as a child. This canal was dug by hand on the orders of the first Duke (who lived at the hall) to carry coal from his mines to fuel the Industrial Revolution. It flows past the old Courthouse and has now been 'gentrified' as an amenity. In deed, the canal now has waterlilies in spite of littering and attracts birds such as Canada geese (Branta canadensis) and Grey wagtail (Motacilla cinerea). Topically, given the fact that I will be returning to Sikkim next month, the alien Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera).

Seeing the Changes 528

The Japanese knotweed (Reynoutria japonica) is in flower in Loughor and a Grey dagger moth (Acronicta psi) larva appeared in the garden . The larva is much easier to distinguish from the Dark dagger (Acronicta tridens) than is the adult insect.