Dr Jane Goodall, world renowned primatologist, considered to be the world's foremost expert on chimpanzees.

Hard to believe it’s a year since I attended the Wildlife Conservation Network  Annual Wildlife Conservation Expo in San Francisco last year. WCN recently had their 10^th Annual Expo and the biggest yet, with 1,100 guests and 22 of the world’s best wildlife conservationists.

Keynote speaker this year was Dr. Jane Goodall and I’m sorry I missed this event, it would have been wonderful to hear her inspirational stories. Dr Rodney Jackson of the Snow Leopard Conservancy has been a partner with WCN for many years and he spoke about the current work of the SLC.

Congratulations to the WCN for putting together this amazing event and supporting so many wildlife conservation projects. It’s a great way to bring these wildlife champions and the public together.

Charles Knowles, founder of WCN opening Conservation Day. Photo by Sibylle

“You can’t have cats without a lot of cat food” is how Dr Ullas Karanth from Wildlife Conservation Society India spoke about his work saving tigers in India. “Fifty years ago I thought there was no hope for tigers but with so much work being successful I’m quietly optimistic. But conservation is long term, you can’t have quick deals.”

Yesterday I heard an engaging Dr Karanth speaking at the  9^th Annual Wildlife Conservation run by Wildlife Conservation Network (WCN) in San Francisco. About 700 people came along to hear twenty of the world’s top wildlife conservationists speak passionately about their work with endangered animals and the communities sharing their habitat.

Dr Karanth’s stories gave some insight into the challenges researchers faced working with wild animals. “Yes we have radio telemetry, wonderful technology and its easy to put on a collar, but how do you catch the damn thing? Also tracking tiger is horribly boring because you don’t see them very often. You have to follow their Pee-mails, as I call them, the scent markings and the poops.”

Founder Charles Knowles placed the event in context when he said “we are in the middle of a mass extinction rate in our history. Today one out of 1000 species goes extinct every year. While it is truly a catastrophe we believe there is hope and by working with local communities and the world’s best conservation agencies we can make a difference.”

Hundreds of people at Rodney Jackson's snow leopard conservation session. Photo by Sibylle

Knowles founded WCN in 2002 and since then they have worked in 30 countries. “We have raised $15m and I want to tell you 93% of that goes directly into the field.”

Actor Edward Norton, spoke about his involvement with a Massai community project and his dissapointment the US has not signed the UN Convention on Biodiversity. “Although I’m talking to you about the political level, my passion is at the community level. The most effective work is small projects making a difference on the ground.”

This was supported by the many speakers telling stories of their work with local communities where support and education has helped change attitudes towards wild animals from being pests to being a appreciated and an asset.

Hundreds of wildlife supporters heard speakers like Rodney Jackson from the Snow Leopard Conservancy, Laurie Marker from Cheetah Conservation Fund,  Iain Douglas – Hamilton from Save the Elephants and more.  All had stories like working with hunters who are now conservationists, supporting women through handicraft sales and helping  villagers increase income with eco tourism.  Rodney Jackson quoted one villager in Ladakh India, “the snow leopard has gone from being a pest to becoming the necklace around around our mountains” through the work of the Snow Leopard Conservancy.

Lisa from the Snow Leopard Conservancy selling products and talking about projects

Exhibitors from lots of other groups working with wolves, Saiga antelope, African Dogs, Pandas, Orangutans and so many more shared stories at their tables and sold beautiful craft and art works by the communities they work with. Tables were overflowing with stuffed toy animals, handstiched carpets, cushion covers, beautiful beaded braclets and more.

There were also harrowing news stories of animal losses that could be avoided. All the more sad when we think that often it only takes as little as $5 a day to make the difference between poverty and a good life for a villager and the life and death of the animals. But we heard so many success stories of collaborative work between communities and these agencies that it was truly an inspiring day.

Bryan Christy of National Geographic investigates illegal wildlife smuggling. Photo by Michael Bryant.

If snow leopards and other endangered wildlife protection is going to be meaningful then prosecution for offenders is vital. Good news today that Anson Wong from Penang in Malaysia, dubbed “ the world’s most notorious wildlife dealer, has been sentenced to prison after a lock on his suitcase containing legally protected snakes broke on an airport conveyor belt.

Wong has smuggled many species of critically endangered wildlife including snow leopard pelts.

National Geographic’s Bryan Christy wrote an expose of Wong’s activities in January this year which helped spur the Malaysian government to action.

Anson Wong sentenced for wildlife smuggling.

Today is World Environment Day 2010  – June 5^th. This year’s UN theme  “Many Species – One Planet – One Future” made me reflect on just how important it is right now, this day, this month, this year, to focus our efforts on endangered wildlife before it’s too late.

This means a big effort to save the few remaining snow leopards in the wild.

In all range countries the news is not good. In some range countries the news is terrible. Poaching by the wealthy who enjoy hunting (Russia and some of the Central Asian states), decimation of prey species, herder retaliation killing of snow leopards in return for loss of livestock (India, Pakistan, Mongolia) and the continued demand for snow leopard parts for traditional medicines (Tibet, China).

Snow leopards, one particular species, an important part of our one planet, may not have a future for long unless we act quickly, consistently and with strong will.

Snow leopard cub at Melbourne Zoo. Photo by Glenn McColl.

I know it’s hard for people living a long way away from snow leopard range countries to care about this animal. But we have to remember, we humans and all the planet’s wildlife are interconnected. I know it’s hard for people living a long way away from snow leopard range country to feel they can really help, but believe me, help you can. Spend a bit of time learning about this beautiful animal and its fragile environment. Encourage your kids to do a school project on them.

For your next holiday you can join a snow leopard ecotourism trip and lastly, but very importantly, give a gift of donation to the organisations that are working every day to save these magnificent cats. Donate for yourself, or as a gift to a loved one.

Celebrate Environment Day, help this big cat have a future. Let them live in the wild.

Only 9% of surveyed kids listed protecting the planet's animal life as a top priority. Photo AFP

This story fom AFP today. “Ten times more children around the world rank watching television and playing video games as more important to them than saving the environment, according to a survey released Wednesday.

Earth’s flora and fauna are disappearing 1,000 times faster than the natural extinction rate, but only nine percent of kids gave a top priority to protecting the planet’s animal life.

Many did not even know what is meant by “endangered species,” reported the survey, released by the UN Convention on Biodiversity.

“The survey confirms the alarming disconnect of our children with nature,” the Convention’s Executive Secretary, Ahmed Djoghlaf, said in a statement.

He called for “urgent action to close this growing gap between tomorrow’s citizens and their natural heritage.”

Sponsored by European aircraft giant Airbus, the survey was conducted among 10,000 five-to-18 year olds in 10 countries.

When asked which type of animal or plant they would most like to save, nine percent cited birds, 23 percent favoured reptiles, and 50 percent gave mammals top priority, with the snow leopard given as an example.”

While its good to see kids being aware of the snow leopard, the lack of interest and knowledge about nature in this generation could have big impacts for our natural environment in the future.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jS-uoaL5eHDSmqPG1Adkkm9MDjLw

Ousted President of Kyrgyzstan, Kurmanbek Bakiyev, found to have private zoo with many endangered animals including 2 snow leopard cubs. Photo LA Times.

Update on yesterdays story about the snow leopard cubs in an illegal private zoo in Kyrgyzstan. BBC News confirms the property belonged to former President Bakiyev.

“A pair of snow leopards and two bear cubs were among the exotic animals found in the private zoo of ousted Kyrgyzstan President Kurmanbek Bakiyev. A golden eagle, two falcons, four African peacocks and Indian ducks were also found in the zoo at the family home in the southern Jalalabad region. “The inspection was conducted as part of criminal investigations brought against close relatives and friends of former president of Kyrgyzstan Kurmanbek Bakiyev,” a spokesman for the General Prosecutor’s office said. The prosecutors are considering measures to evacuate the animals for their protection.

Bakiyev was ousted during violent protests against widespread corruption and rising utility prices in the Central Asian state earlier this month. He has been granted sanctuary by strongman Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko.”

We can be cautiously optimistic about news from Doha in Qatar where the UN Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) has been meeting. Seems an agreement has been reached on wildlife trade which could mean that trading in illegal tiger parts will be treated as seriously as dealing in arms and drug trafficking. The agreement states the EU and tiger range countries will use INTERPOL to share intelligence against poachers and traders.

The news has implications for countries not acting on their people  illegally trading in snow leopard parts too. All parties to CITES have agreed to monitor the illegal trade in these endangered cats along with the tigers.

Without the co-operation of major enforcement communities it’s been difficult to make headway despite all snow leopard range countries having laws against the killing and sale of snow leopards.

“There have been many promises this week, but getting countries to actually use these new enforcement tactics will be the real test of the commitment to ending tiger trade, and saving the species”, said Debbie Banks, Senior Campaigner at the Environmental Investigation Agency, and Chair of the Species Survival Network’s Big Cat Working Group.

“Time is running out for tigers and other big cats. Tiger range countries and consumer nations need to work together to reduce demand for their parts and stamp out the illegal tiger trade”, said Avinash Basker, Legal Consultant to the Wildlife Protection Society of India.

Tiger and snow leopard conservationists have another piece of weaponry now, but it will still require action and followup. This means more money for CITES, which is currently only funded to around $5m per year, a pittance when we consider all the flora and fauna that’s endangered and the support that developing nations especially, need to protect their endangered species.

A former nomad is now trying to earn a living as a weaver in Ladakh, Indian Himalaya, as climate change impacts her traditional way of life. Photo by Nisa Khatoon, WWF.

With the Copenhagen conference late last year I posted a few stories on how climate change is affecting the Himalayas and in consequence the local people and the wildlife. Researchers recently found dramatic changes in Ladakh, northern India where nomads made their living for centuries herding goats, yak and sheep. They found that many herders have abandoned this way of life as huge fluctutaions in winter snowfall threatens livestock. If there is too much snow the animals can’t reach the fodder and die of starvation.

But in this desert mountain land where 80% of farmers and herders depend on snow melt for water it is the increasing years of too little snow which leads to drought and changes in pastures. It also means frequent locust swarms destroying crops and traditional grasses which are replaced by unplatable new grass that animals won’t eat.

“The grasses have started to die out due to less level of snowfall in the region. It has been a continuing phenomenon for a decade or so, and now it has become alarming,” said Nisa Khatoon, a researcher with the World Wildlife Fund based at Leh.

Ladakh is a part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir in northern India. The whole region is in the high Himalayas. The capital Leh is at 4000m. Ladakh's culture is based on Tibetan Buddhism and it is sometimes called "Little Tibet." Map from Wikipedia.

Today there are over 50 former nomad families in Leh, capital of Ladakh, trying to earn a living by newer means. “Some of them have set up small shops selling various items while most the women are working as daily wage labourers,” Khatoon said.

“Some of us have started tea shops and shops selling various items,” said Csawang Rigzin, who gave up his nomadic life three years ago. Now “we are not able to earn up to our expectation. We had high hopes when we came here but now we are shattered economically,” he said.

Thiksey monastery is one of the main Buddhist monasteries near Leh. Photo from Wikipedia.

“Many of the nomads sold off their livestock and went to the town to seek a better place but now they feel they are nowhere economically,” said Rigzin Chondol of the Snow Leopard Conservancy, which is active in the area. “Earlier a nomad family used to earn a good amount of money, which often used to be 50,000 to 60,000 rupees ($1,100 to $1,300) a year but now they are not able to make savings.” Full story here.

The Borscht I made today. A very easy recipe and the soup is delicious.

Late last year when this blog celebrated its first birthday I said I’d cook a recipe from every country that has snow leopards (12 of them.) So far I’ve posted a Mongolian recipe – Buuz, a savoury pastry filled with meat and Tibetan Khapseys – a  Tibetan New Year bread like donut.

Russia is another country with snow leopards, current estimates around 100 cats although this number has not been confirmed for some years. The southwestern Siberian Republic of Altai has prime snow leopard habitat although poaching unfortunately is still happening with helicopters being used for illegal shooting of the cats and their prey, the big Argali. See story here.

But to get back to the recipe…..there are more Borscht recipes than there are Russian grandmothers and naturally everyone believes theirs to be the best. This one is a very simple one, evolved from one of my German grandmothers who made some great soups. Like most Borscht it can be eaten either hot or cold, although I prefer hot, the flavour being more tangy. I also like the fact that most of the vegetable in this recipe is beet, a flavour I really like and don’t get to eat too often.

You can adapt this simple recipe with other vegetables depending on what you have in your kitchen at the time. As well as Russia there are many other countries that have Borscht including Poland, Ukraine, Belarus, Romania.

6-8 beetroots, cut small and cubed
oil for braising (I use olive)
1 sliced onion
½ litre stock (you can use beef but I prefer chicken – homemade is always best but sometimes bought stock is more practical)
Handfull of chopped cabbage
2 carrots, sliced finely (optional)
2 potatoes sliced and cubed (optional)
1 diced tomato (optional)
Salt and pepper, sour cream and parsley

Braise sliced onions in oil and add cubed beetroots and chopped cabbage, braise for a few minutes. Add stock and turn up heat until boiling.If you have any optional vegetables add them now. Turn heat down and simmer for 45 mins. Add salt and pepper to taste. When cooked through you can serve with a big dollop of sour cream and sprinkle parsley on top. Eat with crusty baguette or to be authentically Russian a big piece of black sourdough or Pumpernickel!

Optional. When all ingredients are cooked and before you add the sour cream you can puree the soup with a blender. I like to do this as it makes it thick and creamy. Bon Appetit J

Failure or the beginning of something better? Only time will tell. But the deal struck by world leaders at the end of the talks will not halt global warming and President Obama admits it just doesn’t go far enough. Not enough money committed to it  and the decision on targets for reducing carbon emissions by 2020 was put off.

I have to say I’m dissapointed after all the time, effort, energy, money and hype for this conference. I wonder how long before the Himalayas and the rest of the planet gets some real action? Read full story here.