New genetic study of lions may help to prevent them going extinct

A large international team of researchers has conducted an extensive genetic analysis of lions, and in so doing, has learned about their evolutionary history. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the group describes how they confirmed long-term divisions between extant lion populations and showed genetic diversity among modern samples.

Prior research has shown that historically, lions have lived in many parts of the word, even in America. Most such species went extinct, however, including the cave lions that once roamed what is now Eurasia approximately 15,000 years ago. Today, lions live in parts of Africa and India and are endangered—just 20,000 African lions remain in the wild today, and their numbers are dwindling. In this new effort, the researchers carried out an extensive examination of the lion genome as part of an effort to save them from extinction.

The work involved analyzing the genomes of 20 specimens, including the cave lion and 12 historic lines that were known to live sometime between the 15th and 20th centuries—and six specimens from modern African and Asiatic lions.  

                                 One of the major findings was that modern lions and several extinct lions shared a common ancestor. They also found that approximately 70,000 years ago, two unique lineages of modern lion lineages emerged—and that cave lions lived in cold climates.

The researchers note that prior studies of the lion genome involved analysis of mitochondrial DNA—in this study, they went much further by looking at the whole genome—some of which was derived from 30,00-year-old lion fossils. They learned that modern lines split off from two different lineages in Africa—one in northern parts of Africa, the other in the south.

The researchers also found that the Asiatic lions living in the Gir forest in India have low genetic diversity due to their small population. And they found that the Asiatic lions evolved from the northern range lions in Africa, though they still had remnants of southern lions in their genome. They did not find any evidence of African lions being introduced into India in modern times. The researchers suggest their findings will help with lion conservation efforts in both India and Africa.

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 Forest Group is Saving Scottish Habitat ‘One Sausage at a Time’

Deep in the heart of the Scottish highlands, deer hunters are fueling conservation from the sale of hunted venison.

Cairngorms National Park is 1,748 square miles of pristine and unique habitat, through which tens of thousands of red deer roam without natural predators

Every year thousands of are culled by deer stalkers to protect over-feeding on the vegetation in the delicate natural ecosystem. Now, one of the organizations responsible for managing the park is taking those culled animals and turning them into commercial venison to help fund their work.

Saving the Cairngorms “one sausage at a time,” has become a bit of a rallying cry for Cairngorms Connect, who are responsible for protecting and restoring around 239 square miles of the park’s finest features.

“As a 200-year project, Cairngorms Connect needs local people to be at the heat of the habitat restoration vision,” Jack Ward, deer stalker with Cairngorms Connect, said.

“At a time when people are becoming more conscious of their consumer habits, venison provides an exciting opportunity to involve new audiences in our habitat restoration vision.”

SIMILAR: After Being Extinct in the Wild, Mexican Wolf Roams the U.S. Desert Once Again Thanks to a Former Wolf Hunter

As part of its work, Cairngorms Connect is looking to grow new patches of native Caledonian woodland to replace the 99% of this unique habitat that has been historically lost.

Rampant grazing by the red deer threatens the project, and with no natural predators, the population, as so many are across America, have to be controlled.

The partnership is now selling official Cairngorms Connect Venison, using meat produced during its deer management.

Cairngorms Connect partners, the organization writes, have seen the positive impact of deer management—there are more young trees visible on the forest edge, and the slow march of native woodland is now visible on the slopes of the Cairngorms.

Necessary deer management also produces venison which they believe should represent an accessible and environmentally-sustainable source of high quality and sustainable protein.

Press and Journal reports that the venison sausages are a big hit among birdwatchers from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, (RSPB) which, like Cairngorms Connect, manages a part of the park.

SEE ALSO: Fungi Species New to Science Discovered in Scottish Highlands

“The venison has been really popular with visitors to the RSPB Loch Garten Nature Centre,” said Fergus Cumberland, visitor operations manager for RSPB Scotland, “And what better way to restore a habitat than one sausage at a time?”

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 Adult Elephants React to Birth in the Herd Just Moments After Adorable Baby is Born

For the first time in 8 years, the orphan-elephant heard in Kenya’s Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is welcoming a new infant, and the response was inspiring to witness.

All elephants celebrate a new baby with great fanfare, but Sheldrick’s herd of former orphans took it to the next level.

It has become a time-honored tradition for mothers to return ‘home’ to the elephant stockades from the wilds within days or even hours of giving birth, bursting with pride and eager to show off their new addition to the people who raised them.

        Sheldrick’s staff have only witnessed a birth once before. Days before Christmas 2014, a mother returned to the Trusts’ stockade at Voi and delivered her second daughter just outside.

        In the early morning hours of 29th October, wild elephants and the Trusts’ orphans began congregating outside the Ithumba stockades, as has become their habit during the dry season. Just after sunrise, Head Keeper Benjamin heard a great commotion, followed by a flurry of movement.

        Amidst all the elephants, something had fallen on the earth. Its arrival sent the wild bulls running for the hills, ears flapping and trumpets blaring in consternation.

RELATED: Incredible Birth of Endangered Baby Rhino is Captured on Zoo’s Cameras, and Galloping Within Minutes (WATCH)

         In fact, all the elephants seemed startled about whatever had landed in their midst. Even the older females, who are usually quite placid, made themselves scarce.

          Before Benjamin could register what had happened, the females Melia, Loijuk, Kinna, Kitirua, Kalama, and Olare came running back over. He realized that the surprise delivery was a newborn elephant, still partially ensconced in a white placenta. With no preamble, Melia had given birth. 

Melia was found orphaned at 11-months-old in the vast Kenyan park of Tsavo East. Taken into the orphan herd at Sheldrick, she has flourished over the last 11 years both among the Trusts’ keepers and in the wild.

“In fact, Melia was as surprised as we were to find herself a mother!” Sheldrick stated on their website. “Initially, she seemed flummoxed by the tiny baby lying before her. That’s where her more experienced friends stepped in, helping the first-time mum come to grips with the situation.”

SIMILAR: Herd of Elephants to be Moved from UK to Kenya in Rewilding ‘World First’

A mother named Loijuk took charge and used her front legs to lift the baby to his feet. While the bulls couldn’t take their eyes off the scene, completely bewildered by what had just unfolded.

Loijuk’s initiative seemed to jolt Melia into action. She embraced her baby with her trunk and guided him over to nurse. It took some practice, but she figured out that she needed to prop her front foot forward, lowering herself so he could reach her breast. As the day unfolded, Melia seemed to become increasingly comfortable with motherhood.

“Just like us, some elephants are innately more nurturing than others. Melia has never shown much interest in babies,” the Trust continues. “As a dependent orphan at the Nursery and later at Ithumba, she showed no aspirations of becoming a mini matriarch. Even once she transitioned to the wild and her friends started having babies, she was never one of the girls jockeying to be a nanny.”

The newborn was given the name Milo, which means beloved, and is the 53rd elephant born to the orphan herd at Sheldrick. In all likelihood, Milo will soon be available for “adoption” on Sheldrick’s website, where there are dozens of orphans that rely largely on donations for their care and feeding.

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NO MORE CREEPY CRAWLIES: KEEP REPTILES SAFE FROM PARASITES

Household chores are an important, but often looked, part of our daily lives.

For our reptilian friends, though, having a safe and tidy environment is one of the best prevention methods against parasitic infections, according to Dr. Ashley Navarrette, a clinical assistant professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences.

Navarrette says that reptiles living in unsanitary environments are at a greater risk of contracting intestinal parasites, as these diseases are most often transmitted via the fecal-oral route. Typically, this is seen as a reptile ingesting contaminated eggs, insects, or other materials found in fecal material.

Parasite transmission also has been known to occur through wounds in a reptile’s skin.

Most captive reptiles get parasites from contact with other reptiles. This means it is imperative that owners are diligent in having veterinarian screenings of new reptiles entering the home, in addition to maintaining a clean environment for them to live in.

“So many disease processes can be prevented by proper husbandry,” Navarrette said.

Because reptile owners are not able to actually see many of the microscopic intestinal parasites that veterinarians are concerned with, it is important that owners are able to spot tell-tale signs of parasitic infections.

While clinical signs tend to vary from parasite to parasite, common symptoms are regurgitation, weight loss, diarrhea, bloating, and anorexia.

“If your reptile is suspected to have intestinal parasites, do not wait long to see your veterinarian,” Navarrette said. “Often, once reptiles start showing clinical signs, the disease is pretty advanced.”

In addition to a clean environment, another preventative measure owners can take is feeding their reptiles an appropriate diet. When an under-nourished animal experiences other health concerns, they tend to suffer more than those well fed because of their lack of reserves, potentially leading to an increased mortality risk. 

Even if owners do not believe their reptile has a parasitic infection, Navarrette recommends that reptiles have a fecal examination by a veterinarian every six to 12 months as a preventative step.

Cleaning up after our pets may not always be the most of entertaining of chores, but for a reptile, it is one of the easiest ways to keep them safe from parasites or other diseases. The simple steps of proper cage management and nutrition will help our reptilian friends live long and healthy lives.

Pet Talk is a service of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University. Stories can be viewed on the web at vetmed.tamu.edu/news/pet-talk. Suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvm.tamu.edu.

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Rhino collides with car at West Midland Safari Park 

   

A rhino collided with a car of visitors at West Midland Safari Park.

West Midland Safari Park said neither the white rhino nor the occupants of the car were harmed during the incident on 5 September.

In a statement, the Bewdley attraction said the animal came into contact with the vehicle in its African reserve.

Animals are allowed to roam freely in the safari drive-through, which is staffed by trained keepers in patrol vehicles.

The safari park said keepers had "attempted to guide the rhinos away" from the vehicle "but unfortunately were unable to prevent the rhino coming into contact with the car".

Adult male white rhinos can weigh up to 2,500kg (394 stone) and females up to 2,000kg (315 stone).

West Midland Safari Park said guests who drive their own vehicles through the enclosure do so at their own risk and are required to accept these terms and conditions at the time of booking.

"Our keepers attended to the guests, who reported there were no injuries, which is always our main priority," a spokesperson said.

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                         International Conference on Veterinary Medicine and Animal Care

Nearly 17 million years ago, a relative of modern giraffes that roamed northern China sported a thick, stumpy neck and a thick skull — perfect for sparring with rival males in headbutting battles.

The newly-discovered giraffe relative, a now-extinct species named Discokeryx xiezhi, also had a bony, disk-like shield on the top of its skull, covered in a protective layer of keratin — the same type of tissue found in the horns of headbutters such as bulls and rams. The hard disk resembled a sort of squat helmet that sat atop the animal's head, scientists reported in a new analysis of several D. xiezhi fossils, published June 2 in the journal Science(opens in new tab). 

D. xiezhi likely bashed their "helmets" together during fights over mates, just as modern male giraffes fight over females by violently thwacking their necks together, using a combat style known as "necking," the researchers concluded.

"[The researchers] have provided unequivocal evidence that the Discokeryx fossil is beautifully adapted to intense head clashes," said Robert Simmons, a honorary research associate at the University of Cape Town's FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, who was not involved in the study. This trait must be sexually selected "since head-to-head clashes are intimately involved in male-male combat," Simmons told Live Science in an email. 

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               International Conference on Veterinary Medicine and Animal Care

Cats are commonly shown lapping milk from saucers. But can they safely drink milk?

The popular image of cats drinking milk may have emerged during the 19th century, when cats and dogs became popular subjects for artists. As the Industrial Revolution progressed and more people migrated to cities, the number of cat and dog owners grew, and artists were increasingly called on to paint charming works of pets. As such, French artist Alfred-Arthur Brunel de Neuville often drew cats drinking from bowls of milk, and his work proved very popular during his lifetime, according to Rehs Galleries(opens in new tab) in New York City.

However, giving milk to adult cats might actually do more harm than good to them, according to Britain's leading veterinary charity, the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals(opens in new tab). Cats often lose their tolerance for lactose, the sugar found in milk, when they get older, just as most humans do.

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