Human abuse of animals strikes us

  Wild animals concentrate with humans can cause viral epidemics. Continuing this, we get "wars" humanity may not be able to win. 

More and more people are convinced that the Korona outbreak started from local food markets in China. Bats and Pangolin appear to have been the producer and carrier of this virus.

Most of us know the bat well, but what about the Pangolin? Very few had heard of this little scale-covered animal before it appeared in the Corona case. The Pangolin could in the near future be extinct due to illegal hunting.

China and Vietnam are two countries that must bear the main blame for the extensive illegal hunting of the Pangolin. In Vietnam, the meat is highly sought after. In China it is used both for food but also the shells are used as various medicines. Although the effect is not scientifically proven, the scales have been important in traditional Chinese medicine. Keratin is the remedy they are looking for. The same is found in the horn of the rhino which is also extensively hunted illegally.

Pangolin is found in both Asia and Africa. Eventually it has become more difficult to find in Asia; therefore, much of the illegal hunting in Africa is now taking place.

China is known for widespread mistreatment of several animal species. This is shown in the book “Photographers against wildlife crime” (2018) by Keith Wilson and others. The photographers have documented that there are  places in China where animals from several countries have been illegally captured, transported and placed in small cages. Many of the animals have stayed for years in these cages where they are unable to move. It is not uncommon for many to have been deformed by years of captivity in small cages.

A grotesque example is the so-called “Bile Bears”. The bears are put in small cages and tapped for bile used as traditional Chinese medicine. The Asian black bear is most often used. On Wikipedia and other sources, one can read that some of these bears are trapped as cubs and caged up to 30 years often without being able to move. They can neither sit up nor turn around in their terrible captivity.

The tiger is another animal that is treated the same way. The tiger “offers” a variety of remedies that are used – from whiskers to tail.

In Norway we are not completely free of guilt. We destroy large natural areas with various interventions such as wind turbines and associated road systems. Extensive cottage construction in mountain areas. We will decide which animals are allowed to live or be shot. We are digging wolverine cubs out of their dens just to kill them.

There is a problem that the natural areas are getting smaller and smaller. Animals and humans come closer to each other. More and more wild animals have now been observed in many large cities where they adapt excellently. This is described as a recipe for multiple virus attacks in the future. Extermination of plants and insects can also lead to problems with food production.

Can we hope that this Corona pandemic can be a wake-up call? Is it possible that we can take nature seriously? The alternative could be more and worse pandemics with enormous consequences for people. In addition, the financial consequences can be enormous – we have just seen the start.

Pangolin

FALKLAND ISLANDS

Traveling to the Falkland Islands from Europe is quite time consuming. First leg was to fly to Santiago, Chile and spend one night here. Going back also requires a stay over in this city.

While at Falkland it was communicated that it now is possible to fly via Sao Paulo; a relatively easier travel. In addition it is possible to book flight from UK to the Falklands by Royal Air Force (RAF).

Despite the long travel it is definitely worth it - the Falkland Islands are amazing.

The collage below also show a map of the Falkland Islands and marked with small circles the places that was visited on this trip.

Typical Falkland landscape seen in panorama picture below. There are no trees here except those planted around the settlements.

Penguins are definitely quite abundant on the islands. Different species can be seen. They are     normally not afraid of people and therefore possible to get close to them. Always keep in mind not to go to close but let them walk their way. 

Gentoo Penguin

A group of King penguins are gathered to check the conditions at sea - is it safe out there?

King Penguin

Some Sea Lions have specialized in killing King penguins. Normally they are attacked on the beach. The Sea Lion come in on a wave and in a way surfing to the beach where it starts "running" quite fast for a short distance. The King penguins are slow and clumsy on the sand and are easily outrun by the Sea Lion.

Sea Lion

Unfortunately the Falkland Islands are not protected from the plastic garbage coming the seaway. It is very disturbing to see that the pollution is present everywhere on this planet.

The Rockhopper is a tough little penguin. Fighting the big waves both to get to sea and also returning from the sea. Often they are thrown against the rock but they do not seem to care. They just carry on with their business.

Rochopper Penguin

Beautiful beach at Sounders island on the north western part of the islands. The wind is blowing most of the time here. 

The Neck

The famous Rockhopper shower at the Rockery at Soundres Island. A little stream of water is coming down the cliff side creating a small shower below this overhang of a rock.

Rockhopper

The Giant Petrel can weight up to 8kg and up to 210cm wingspan. They are known to be opportunistic feeders. These Petrels are very aggressive and can attach other birds - specially penguins.

Giant Petrel

This Giant Petrel seemed to have specialized in catching and killing adult rockhoppers. The tactic here was to wait for the low tide when the beach was exposed and the penguins had to cross some distance on sand before reading the sea. The Petrel was hiding in the rocks on the beach waiting for the pray. 

This fight lasted approximately 20 minutes before the penguin was killed. The Rockhopper was grabbed by the neck and was partly shaken or held under water.

Giant Petrel killing Rockhopper

The Elephant seal is huge - can weigh up to 4000kg. They come on shore here at Sea Lion Island to breed. Rest of the year they stay at sea hunting for skates, rays, octopuses, small sharks and fish.

They can dive down to approximately 2000 meters and stay under water for 1 hour (males).

Elephant seal

Typically the male elephant seals have a lot of skars and wounds due to fighting. Some wounds can be quite large and create some pain. It definitely looked very painful when a little bird picked his wound on the back. Very strange to see how flexible the Elephant seal is when turning his head backwards trying to chase away the bird.

Elephant seal

The Black-browed albatross can have a wingspan up to 2.4 meters. They can have a long lifetime, up to 70 years.

Black.browed albatross

The Megallanic penguin lives in caves in the ground. These penguins are not easy to come close as they will run away when they see people approaching.

Megallanic Penguin

Penguin surfing on the wave on this stormy day

PANTANAL , BRASIL

After a long flight from Norway via Sao Paulo we arrived at Cuiaba airport. Here we where picked up by the local guide and moved our heavy baggage and photo equipment into the bus we should use on this trip.
Four hours on dirt roads to the first stop - the lodge at Santa Tereza

The first evening - after dark, we where searching the Ozelot. This is a place where they have set lightning on the area where the Ozelot was expected to come and take the food that was placed on the trees there.

Ozelot

The Ozelot is a small cat with a body length between 90 - 150 cm from head to tail end. There are quite a lot of them in South America (Argentines, Uruguay and southern part of Brasil. They can be found in high mountains but prefer rainforest and in heavy vegetation along riversides. During day time they can sleep in a tree until dark when they start to hunt during the night.
Next day we are back to the dirt roads heading for Pousada Porto Jofre.

The area is located within Mato Grosso, the third biggest state in Brasil. It is one of the biggest wetlands in the world.

Cuiaba River within the wetlands. Boats with tourists is quite common here.

Spent several days on the river looking for wildlife. Despite very hot days - above 40 degree C, the time spent here was definitely worth it.

Capibara  - Largest rodent in the world

The Capibara is very often seen along the riverbanks. Typically one of them was always looking to the shore and acted as a watch in case of approaching Jaguars. 
Its conservation status is LC (least concern).

Giant Otter

The Giant Otter is surely a very noisy animal. Their scream can be heard from long distance.
Live in family groups and has a very interesting sosial structure. 
Body length can be above 2m from head to tail end. Their weight can be up to 32kg.
The Giant Otter is an excellent fisher despite they are swimming in river water with almost no visibility. Their weapon is their very sensitive whiskers than help them locating the fish. As we watched them they almost always came up with a fish. Very interesting to see how they shared the fish between the family members.

Other skilled fishers are the birds - they sit in the trees a wait for a fish to surface. Once the fish is spotted they take off and dive into the water and make a successful catch.

Cocoi Herron

Cocoi Heron is the largest of South America´s heron species.
Conservation status is LC (least concern).

Ringed Kingfisher

The Ringed Kingfisher is found in freshwater areas seen in USA and South America. They prefer mangrove habitats where they sit in the trees next to the water/river and look for prey. Then they see a fish of suitable size they take to their wings and splash into the water. Most of the time they have a successful catch.
Conservation status is LC (least concern)

Black-collared Hawk

Main hope or expectations for our visit to Pantanal was to meet the Jaguar. All the boats carrying tourists had guides with communication radios in order to report when and where a Jaguar was seen. All the boats set full speed towards the Jaguar location. 

Quite amazing to see this fantastic animal coming out of the vegetation and walked along the river bank lokking for pray.

Jaguar

The Jaguar is an excellent swimmer and could sometimes be seen crossing the river in front of the boat.

Swimming Jaguar

Kaiman

The Kaiman is often killed by the Jaguar. The Jaguar is the third largest cat, after the Tiger and Lion but has the strongest bite. When attacking a Kaiman it kills it by penetrating the skull of the Kaiman. After the kill the Jaguar drags the Kaiman from the river and into the dense vegetation.


One of the famous birds in Pantanal is the longest of all flying parrots, the Hyasinth Macaw. Its conservation status is VU (vulnerable).

Hyasinth Macaw

Tuco Tucan

The Tuco Tucan is found in South America. It normally eats fruits from trees which is plucked with their big beak. They can also eat insects, small reptiles, frogs, small birds and their eggs.
Their Conservation status is LC (least concern)

Giant Anteater

The Giant Anteater can reach a body length just above 2 meters and weigh up to 50 kg. They are mostly night active but if the temperature drops whey can also be active during day time. Ants and termites are their favorite food. The Anteater has powerful and sharp claws they use to dig out their prey before using their long and thin snout to eat. Their sharp claws can also be dangerous for humans if the animal feels threatened. There are reports that people have been killed by the Giant Anteater.

Tapir

The Tapir closest relatives are rhinos and horses. Their body looks a bit similar to the pig. Body length can be up to 250 cm and 350 kg bodyweight. The snout looks like an ultrashort elephant trunk which gives them the "nice" look. 
The Tapir will try to stay out of areas with Jaguars. 

Chestnut eared aracari

This beautiful bird belongs to the toucan and aracari family. It is native to central and south - eastern South America.
Feed mostly on fruits from the trees in the area. Can also eat nectar, insects and nuts. 
Their conservation status os LC (least concern)