Molecular surveillance of potential SARS-CoV-2 reservoir hosts in wildlife rehabilitation centers.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection, has become the most devastating zoonotic event in recent times, with negative impacts on both human and animal welfare as well as on the global economy. Although SARS-CoV-2 is considered a human virus, it likely emerged from animals, and it can infect both domestic and wild animals. This constitutes a risk for human and animal health including wildlife with evidence of SARS-CoV-2 horizontal transmission back and forth between humans and wild animals. AIM: Molecular surveillance in different wildlife rehabilitation centers and wildlife associated institutions in Chile, which are critical points of animal-human interaction and wildlife conservation, especially since the aim of wildlife rehabilitation centers is to reintroduce animals to their original habitat. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The survey was conducted in six WRCs and three wildlife associated institutions. A total of 185 samples were obtained from 83 individuals belonging to 15 different species, including vulnerable and endangered species. Each specimen was sampled with two different swabs: one oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal according to the nostril diameter, and/or a second rectal sample. RNA was extracted from the samples and two different molecular assays were performed: first, a conventional RT-PCR with pan-coronavirus primers and a second SARS-CoV-2 qPCR targeting the N and S genes. RESULTS: All 185 samples were negative for SARS-CoV-2. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study constitutes the first report on the surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 from wildlife treated in rehabilitation centers in Chile, and supports the biosafety procedures adopted in those centers.

Assessing the impacts of local intention on community-based wildlife ecotourism in Tangkahan, Gunung Leuser National Park (GLNP) and the development strategy in the post- COVID-19 outbreak

Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) has been implemented to evaluate the structure of behavioral change of the local communities in the forest and wildlife conservation program in Tangkahan, the eastern part of GLNP. This study has the purpose to reveal the determinant factors of local community behavior to support forest and wildlife conservation through ecotourism activities and to formulate a strategy to recover wildlife ecotourism in the post-COVID-19 outbreak. The study was conducted in Tangkahan through a survey method to collect the data. The data were analyzed using linear regression analysis. This study found that the determinant factors of behavioral intention are the conservation attitude and perceived behavioral control and behavioral intention significantly affects the behavior to participate in conservation activities. To improve the visiting number and the ecotourism service in Tangkahan in the post-COVID 19 outbreak, the community should transform and develop the management system from a conventional to virtual/digital method, develop and follow the COVID-19 protocol of ecotourism, re-arrange the ticket fee and the tour packages to cope with domestic visitors and improve the access to the area by constructing the roads and provision of transportation services.

Virome characterization of game animals in China reveals a spectrum of emerging pathogens

Wild animals may be closely related to the outbreak of infectious diseases in recent years. For example, it has been reported that there are closely related SARS-CoV and new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) in civet cats, raccoon dogs and pangolins. Therefore, it is of great significance to identify existing or potential pathogens in wild animals that may be in close contact with humans, in order to trace the origin of a specific epidemic and to carry out risk assessment of the most likely source of future epidemics.

Special Issue: One health. (Special Issue: One health.)

This special issue consists of 17 papers dealing with issues animal health (captive and wild primates), environmental health (rain forests and mountain areas), and human health (the role of religion in One Health, lessons from the Hanuman langur (Semnopithecus entellus) and other human-non-human primate interactions,and Covid-19).

Analysis of intermediate hosts and susceptible animals of SARS-CoV-2 by computational methods

COVID-19, a disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 that produces major symptoms of pneumonia, has been a disaster worldwide. The traceability of SARSCoV- 2 and the discovery of susceptible animal species is crucial to halt viral transmission and explore the mechanism of cross-species transmission. We selected 82 representative ACE2 sequences from the 1000 sequences with the closest homology to the hACE2 protein. All selected ACE2 proteins were subjected to homology modeling. Potential natural and intermediate hosts, as well as animal species susceptible to SARS-CoV-2, were analyzed systematically by calculation of the binding free energy of ACE2 protein to the RBD of SARSCoV- 2. Primates, some wild Felidae, civets, goats, spotted hyenas and golden hamsters are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 and may be potential intermediate hosts, whereas pangolins, birds and reptiles are unlikely to be intermediate hosts. Mice, rats and guinea pig are not susceptible to SARS-CoV-2. Given their possible susceptibility, non-human primates, goats and golden hamsters could potentially be used as experimental models to examine SARS-CoV-2 infection without transgenesis. Herein, possible candidates for the natural and intermediate hosts of SARS-CoV-2 are suggested, to provide guidance for subsequent studies.

NFTs and Cryptocurrencies—The Metamorphosis of the Economy under the Sign of Blockchain: A Time Series Approach

Although NFTs (non-fungible tokens) and cryptocurrencies are active on the same market, their prices are not so closely related over time. The objective of this paper is to identify the relationship between the two types of assets (NFTs and the cryptocurrencies Ethereum, Crypto Coin, and Bitcoin), using data for the period between September 2020 until February 2022. The conclusions of the study are useful for cryptocurrency and NFT issuers, but also for investors on the financial market who are reconfiguring their portfolios with increasing frequency, and use these new assets for speculative or hedging purposes based on blockchain technology. The results highlighted relationships between NFTs and Ethereum, between Ethereum and Crypto Coin, and between Bitcoin and Ethereum, Ethereum being a bridge between all four. Therefore, NFTs present a relationship with Ethereum, the NFTs price had a causal effect on the price of Ethereum.

Urban Cemeteries as Shared Habitats for People and Nature: Reasons for Visit, Comforting Experiences of Nature, and Preferences for Cultural and Natural Features

Cemeteries are globally culturally protected greenspaces in cities that meet different societal needs and often harbor high biodiversity. To harness the potential of cemeteries as urban green infrastructure, stakeholders need to understand why people visit cemeteries and their preferences. We conducted an online survey in Berlin, Germany (n = 627) to understand (i) the reasons for cemetery visits;(ii) preferences for cemetery features;(iii) the effect of a dead tree as a wilderness component on preferences for differently managed green areas (wild, meadows, lawns);(iv) preferences of nature elements as comforting experiences;and (v) how reasons for the visit and sociodemographic variables relate to respondents’ preferences. The major reasons to visit cemeteries were ‘enjoying nature’, ‘mourning’, and ‘historical interest’ and most preferred cemetery features were ‘wildlife‘, ‘solitude’, and ‘vegetation‘. Presenting a dead tree did not modulate preference ratings for green areas that were depicted on photographs. Comforting experiences with nature elements were high overall. The reasons to visit had besides socio-demographic variables predictive potential on pronounced preferences. The results underscore the importance of cemeteries as multidimensional places and indicate tolerance for the inclusion of dead trees as important wildlife habitat. Strategies to develop cemeteries as shared habitats for people and nature should also consider, besides socio-demographic background, the reasons for cemetery visits.

Strengthening capacity for species conservation in South-east Asia: a provisional assessment of needs and opportunities for the Asian Species Action Partnership

South-east Asia is home to exceptional biodiversity, but threats to vertebrate species are disproportionately high in this region. The IUCN Species Survival Commission Asian Species Action Partnership aims to avert species extinctions. Strengthening individual and organizational capacity is key to achieving long-term, sustainable conservation impact, and is a core strategic intervention for the Partnership. To look at the needs and opportunities for developing capacity for species conservation in South-east Asia, we undertook a needs assessment with organizations implementing species conservation within this region. We conducted a review of available training opportunities, mapping them against a list of identified competences needed for species conservation to determine gaps in current training. Our assessments revealed an imbalance in the focus of training opportunities vs the actual competences needed for effective species conservation, and that training opportunities within South-east Asia are limited in number and highly competitive. These findings corroborate other similar reviews, particularly on capacity gaps in the Global South. We discuss the implications of our review and use the findings to generate recommendations.

‘Forest foods’ drive risks of next global pandemic

Speed read 70 percent of emerging infectious diseases originate from animals 6,000 different species seized in the past two decades Risk assessments are as crucial as culturally sensitive measures A taste for wild meats such as pangolins and civets, often known as ‘forest foods’ in tropical and subtropical regions, makes the emergence of another global pandemic increasingly likely, four international organisations say. The paper was produced by the FAO, the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD), the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), as part of their Sustainable Wildlife Management (SWM) Programme. According to the FAO, the rate of net forest loss is estimated to have been 4.7 million hectares per year in the past decade.

Pandemic covers up setbacks in Brazilian environmental laws

Speed read Legislative changes in Brazil have ‘weakened environmental regulations’ Legal deregulation peaked at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, study found Brazilian society, scientists and media may have mitigated the damage Environmental progress in Brazil looks set to be one of the casualties of COVID-19, with harmful changes to the law being pushed through while attention is diverted by the global pandemic, a study warns. Since January 2019, the Brazilian government approved 57 pieces of legislation that effectively weaken national environmental laws, the study published in Biological Conservation found. Researchers also analysed monthly deforestation rates provided by the National Institute for Space Research (INPE) of Brazil, and fines associated with illegal deforestation, issued by the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA). According to INPE, deforestation in the Amazon was 9.5 per cent higher between August 2019 and July 2020 than between August 2018 and July 2019 – making it the highest level of annual deforestation since 2008.

We must better protect wildlife to prevent future pandemics

Speed read Wuhan investigation points to wildlife as likely source of COVID-19 Climate change and illegal trade are increasing risk of zoonotic disease transmission Wildlife protection, surveillance of zoonosis are key to early detection of ‘spillover events’ Understanding animal disease is essential if we want to prevent future pandemics, writes Keith Hamilton. [...]deforestation and climate change result in natural habitat loss and push animals, in their search for food or a new home, into human settlements. The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), the standard-setting organisation for animal health and welfare, champions this approach and is developing guidelines and standards for wildlife trade which support animal welfare and biodiversity conservation.

Q&A: Uganda’s first wildlife vet wants to change world

Speed read Named Champion of the Earth by UNEP Neighbour’s pet monkey sparked interest in primates Works to protect Uganda’s mountain gorillas In Uganda’s forest communities, tension and conflict with wildlife can be common. Hear more about Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka’s amazing adventures with gorillas in this episode of SciDev.Net podcast Africa Science Focus As a zoonotic disease expert, how have you been able to inculcate your research in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, and ensure that the animals are safe in their habitats? [...]I wanted to contribute to conservation beyond being a vet, by setting up an NGO [Conservation Through Public Health] that also supports the communities.

Gender and conservation science: Men continue to out‐publish women at the world's largest environmental conservation non‐profit organization

The biodiversity and climate crises require diverse solutions, yet peer reviewed literature is dominated by men from the Global North. The Nature Conservancy (TNC), as one of the world's largest conservation non‐profit organizations, provides a case study to better understand how women publish relative to men in conservation science. By examining all papers from Web of Science with at least one TNC author (1968–2019), we found that women at TNC are underrepresented: only 36% of authors were women, just 31% of all first authorships were women, and 24% of last authorships were women. Women in the Global South were the least represented group, making up less than 2% of all TNC authorships. By comparison seven individual men in the Global North comprised 9% of all TNC authorships. Encouragingly, the total number of women publishing at TNC has improved over the decades;however, the proportion of women to men remains below gender parity, and the proportion of women from Global South remains consistently below 3%. These results align with overall trends in conservation and science, and we provide recommendations for the global conservation science community on how to address this enduring and significant issue in publishing.

The 5th Indonesian Society of Limnology (MLI) Congress and International Conference 2021

The 5th Indonesian Society of Limnology (MLI) Congress and International Conference 2021 is a biannual conference organized by the Indonesian Society of Limnology, with the theme is “Building synergies towards sustainable use of inland waters.” This year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we hold the event virtually from 2nd to 3rd December. The objectives of this event are to (1) Connect, discuss, share and create a mutual network among communities from different backgrounds who are interested in inland waters ecosystem;(2) Disseminate science & technology and lessen the gap between scientific and common communities through fruitful discussion settings;(3) Underpin sustainable use and management of inland aquatic ecosystems.There were four keynotes speakers, four invited speakers, and 66 general presenters in the conference sessions. In total, 116 participants were registered and joined the conference. The first keynote speaker was Prof. Dr. Gadis Sri Haryani from the Research Center for Limnology and Water Resources, National Research and Innovation Agency of the Republic of Indonesia (BRIN), Indonesia, who presented research about Migratory freshwater fish in Indonesia: Threats and conservation efforts. The second presenter was Dr. Robert Walsh from the Australian Water Life, Australia, who presented research about Discover the world of Micro-invertebrates. The third keynote speaker was Dr. Khamla Inkhavilay from the National University of Laos, Lao PDR, who presented Persistent Organic Pollutants in Wetland of Mekong Basin. The fourth speaker was Dr. Kwanraree Joy Sirikanchana from the Chulabhorn Research Institute, Thailand, who presented Microbial Source Tracking and Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment for Sustainable Water Pollution Management.In addition, the four invited speakers and 66 general presenters split into four rooms for parallel discussions which covered the latest research on inland water ecosystems, including;(1) Biotic resources, biodiversity, and conservation;(2) System Dynamic of inland waters;(3) Applied technology for the management and pollution control;(4) Modelling, system information, decision support tool, disaster risk reduction;(5) Management, policies, regulation, education, social, economy, and culture.We highly appreciate the generous support from Research Centre for Limnology-BRIN (Indonesia), Australian Water Life (Australia), Chulabhorn Research Institute (Thailand), National University of Laos (Lao PDR), Southeast Asian Limnological Network (SEALnet), Advisory Board, Steering and Organizing committee and all presenters and participants.List of Committees, Advisory Board, Steering Committee, Scientific Committee, Organizing Committee, Documentation, all photos are available in this pdf.

CRIMINALIZATION OF ANIMAL CRUELTY IN CONTEXT: AN ALBANIAN PERSPECTIVE

Albansko je zakonodavstvo sporo pristupilo sveobuhvatnom ured strok signenju i kaznenom sankcioniranju okrutnosti prema životinjama. Tijekom drugog desetljeća izgradnje demokratskog pravnog sustava, prihvaćeno je zakonodavstvo prvotno odredilo samo prekršajne kazne za ograničen broj djela okrutnosti prema životinjama, počinjenih komisivno ili omisivno. Med strok signutim, peticija 37.257 glasača iz studenog 2017. obvezala je Odbor za zakonodavstvo Parlamenta Albanije da se raspravi i o kriminalizaciji takvih djela. Dvije godine kasnije, 18. srpnja 2019., usvojene su dopune albanskog Kaznenog zakona kojima je dodano 6 članaka kojima je predvid strok signena kaznena sankcija za djela okrutnosti prema životinjama. Pitanje koje se postavlja u radu jest kako su društveni kontekst i drugi faktori oblikovali pravo kojim su regulirana ova kaznena djela. Cilj autora je odgovoriti na to pitanje funkcionalnom metodom te pristupom koji se temelji na kontekstualnoj analizi rješenja problema, poduzimajući dubinsku pravnu procjenu albanskog zakonodavstva te poredbenih pravnih rješenja. Rad se u velikoj mjeri temelji na zapisnicima osam sastanaka Odbora za zakonodavstvo te razgovorima sa 19 članova Parlamenta, službenicima u odgovornim ustanovama te predstavnicima civilnog društva, kako bi se rasvijetlilo kako su napori društva oblikovali proces i krajnji rezultat kriminalizacije okrutnosti prema životinjama u Albaniji. Rasprava se nastavlja s poredbenopravnom analizom predloženih rješenja i usvojene regulacije u Kaznenom zakonu u odnosu prema zakonodavstvima izabranih zemalja Europske unije i EU acquisem. Iznose se sumnje i zabrinutost je li kriminalizacija okrutnosti prema životinjama odgovarajući način kako bi se smanjio broj takvih postupanja.Alternate :The Albanian legislature has been slow to comprehensively regulate and suitably penalize cruelty towards animals. During the second decade of building a democratic legal system, adopted legislation mandated administrative penalties for only a small number of acts of commission or omission that constituted cruelty to animals. A petition from 37,527 electors obliged the Committee of Laws at the Albanian Parliament to deliberate on the criminalization of animal cruelty for the first time in November of 2017. Two years later, on 18 July 2019, the Albanian Criminal Code was amended with six provisions criminalizing animal cruelty. How has context and other factors shaped the law in Albania with regards to animal cruelty?Authors aim to respond to this question through afunctional method with a problem-solving contextual approach, engaging in an in-depth legal evaluation of the Albanian legislation and comparative analysis on the topic. This work draws on deliberations from eight meetings of the Committee of Laws and consultation with nineteen Members of the Parliament, civil servants in responsible institutions, and representatives from civil society, to clarify how society's effort shaped the criminalization of cruelty towards animals in Albania. The discussion proceeds with a comparative legal analysis between proposed legislation and adopted changes in the Criminal Code with legislation in certain EU Member States and EU acquis. Concerns linger about whether criminalizing a behavior such as animal cruelty is the appropriate way to reduce the occurrence of this offence.

'Wildlife for Livestock': COVID-19, Tourism and Community Conservancies in Northern Kenya

The existence of pastoralism as it has been organised for hundreds of years is dependent on constant adaptation to ever-changing situations. Such adaptation includes crop agriculture, wage labour, and community conservancies. In northern Kenya, conservancies are epicentres of wildlife, nature tourism, and commercial ventures. This study incorporates methods and perspectives from history, anthropology, and development studies. The study shows that the shift to community conservancies has exposed pastoral communities to a fluctuating international economic system that has collapsed due to COVID-19 pandemic. The instability caused by the pandemic exposed the vulnerability of community conservancy as a livelihood system.

Rethinking Conservation of Marine Biodiversity Beyond National Boundaries: Justice, Property, and the Commons

In this Article, I examine a previously quite overlooked yet problematic interdependence between the international law of the sea, international law of intellectual property, and international law of biodiversity conservation. Such interdependence results from economic dynamics associated with the "property-sovereignty" and "biotechnology-biodiversity" nexuses and affects the two-thirds of the World Ocean beyond national jurisdiction. The main contribution of this Article is a critical analysis of: (i) the legal space that currently and prospectively governs marine biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, and (ii) the discursive space that impacts the legal mechanisms at play and dominates current treaty negotiations in the field. The 2020 outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic paralyzed the negotiations of the treaty on global marine biodiversity: the fourth session of the conference on the future binding treaty keeps being postponed, now to 2022. The pandemic thus offered to international lawyers an opportunity to thoroughly re-think this project. The broader contribution is to provide a more integrated perspective on existing challenges and likelihoods, and ultimately expose to what extent, in terms of justice, the current doctrine, policy, and agenda of conservation of marine biodiversity are based on different and often only irreconcilable projects. Finally, I propose an alternative understanding of the "conservation-justice" nexus regarding marine biodiversity, as well as regarding Earth biodiversity more generally.

AEEMA MEETING - May 20th, 2021: what changes for the management of animals' health crises? [French]

This special issue contains 14 papers from the AEEMA Meeting focusing on the theme entitled "What changes for the management of animals' health crises". Topics of papers include: the management of animals' health crises and introduction to the meeting;evolution of societies perception and social acceptability of sanitary control measures;evolution of the health governance: to adapt the French health system to the new challenge;new challenges for risk management of animal health;evolution of preparedness for the management of animal disease crisis;feedback from the fipronil crisis;towards bovine tuberculosis eradication in Republic of Ireland, including European badgers' vaccination (a review);management of foot-and-mouth disease in Mauritius and Rodrigues: a vaccine strategy for eradication;health and biodiversity during anthropocene;Covid-19 and wild animals;Covid-19 and companion animals;Covid-19 and farmed animals;Covid-19 and laboratory animals;and Preventing SARS-CoV-2 transmission from animals to human beings.

Healthy planet healthy people

One Health is a cross‐sectoral and transdisciplinary approach that emphasizes the fundamental ways in which the health of humans, domestic and wild animals, fungi, plants, microbes, and natural and built ecosystems are interdependent. One Health approaches recognize the links between human health and a range of environmental concerns including biodiversity, climate, freshwater, food, harmful chemicals, and healthy oceans. Yet the conservation community and its broad interest in biodiversity and the natural world has been notably lacking in discussions about One Health. Partly as a result, both policy and practice have been narrowly focused on one or a few links between human and other healths, such as the human and wildlife health nexus. We provide a set of principles and components that will balance existing discussions by including the natural world and biodiversity and provide a framework for more active involvement by the conservation community. Incorporating these principles and components will enable One Health practice to guide inclusive, multidisciplinary, and cross‐sectoral efforts that consider the shared costs and benefits of human, animal, plant, and ecosystem health and help readjust humanity's pursuit of a green, just, and equitable sustainability pathway.