Welcome Spring

There is just something incredible about that first, nice warm day after a cool winter. I don't know if it's the feeling of relief or the warm sun; whatever the case, I can assure you that the animals and I are ready for the upcoming warm weather! (As evident in Soni's picture above.) During these new sunny days the animals now have access to their outdoor habitats, enjoying all the elements that spring has to offer...Oh, and I'm able to accomplish a few personal goals myself!

Out of all the animals I believe our 15 Sulcata Tortoises appreciate spring the most. It's a time when they can enjoy the fresh wild grasses that surround our property and bask in the sun. Another exciting addition this year is going to be their brand-new habitat, which will offer more space for our growing tortoises!

I can't forget to mention their mother Tinkerbelle! She was the first tortoise out this year grazing away. What's nice about the adult tortoise exhibit is the ability for them to decide when they want to go outside and when they want to stay inside their nice heated house.

This also happens to be Winslow's first Spring! If you follow me on Instagram @corbinmaxey then you probably already know who he is. For those of you who don't, Winslow is our pet cow. Yes, I said it. We have a pet cow.

Spring also marked the start of editing/producing the Africa footage! We have two documentaries in the works; "Through the Eyes of a Vulture" and "This is Africa", a behind-scenes-look at my adventure assisting Dr. Munir Virani on vulture captures. Both projects are due out late spring.

This was a personal goal I just completed; hiking the tall bluff located across the river. For years I've stared at it wondering what in the world was on top. I finally was able to see for myself. I hate to report it wasn't much... But the view was incredible. I could have stayed on what seemed to be a very unstable rock for hours looking at the river. It's so surreal sometimes living out here in such an incredible place. I always joke the animals living on riverfront property have better views than most people in town! I'm thrilled for the upcoming months. New projects, appearances, and animal exhibits will soon to take flight. 2014 has just begun...

Godzilla: The story of the world's grumpiest iguana

Many of you have never heard of Godzilla. Matter-of-fact only my family, close friends, and animal assistants have had the pleasure of actually meeting him. I don't know if they would even classify it as a pleasure, or more or less of a terrifying reminder of why they are happy Godzilla isn't theirs. He charges, tries to whip his tail, sometimes bites, hates my sister and another animal assistant whom will remain anonymous, almost gave my grandma a heart attack, and yet he is still one of my favorite animals I take care of.  I'm finally thrilled to be able to share his story...

I rescued Godzilla in December of 2010. Though I'm no stranger to iguana rescue, his story is an interesting one. I received a letter one day in the mail regarding his situation. It struck me as a little odd; many people these days use e-mail or social media as a means of communication regarding rescue and rehab. It's simply faster and much more efficient. I can sum up the letter in a few sentences. I have a very tame iguana. It has free roam of my apartment. I can no longer care for him. I've been feeding him strawberries.

At the time I had no interest in taking in another iguana; Scooter had been my "right-hand man" for so long. On top of that, iguanas are incredibly territorial. They could never be housed together and to reduce stress would never be able to see each other. For some reason though I felt like this situation was different...

I've always gone with my intuition, and so I decided to give Godzilla a better home. When he first arrived he was extremely lethargic and very skinny. He didn't have a choice; he had been kept on a windowsill without the proper heat sources and was not being fed the nutritious diet iguanas require. He accepted his new diet almost instantly and began to flourish.

Fast forward four years and you have a very healthy, very confident Green Iguana!

We specifically designed our iguana exhibits to be at the highest part in the building. Iguanas naturally live in trees and feel most secure when they are at the highest vantage point looking down upon the action below.

So you can imagine Godzilla feels like the king of the castle!

What most people don't realize is how incredibly intelligent iguanas really are. Godzilla looks at me and anyone else who enters the building as another iguana. He furiously bobs his head up and down, telling all of us that this is his territory and not to mess with it! In reality though, this is exactly how 99.9% of male iguanas behave. It's their natural instinct. That's why many iguanas that are purchased at pet stores as tiny babies end up being dumped off once they reach maturity.

Many people have urged me to find another home for Godzilla. They argue that another animal would be a much better fit for our educational programs. They might have a good point. Yes, finding a good home for Godzilla would free up space and allow us to house another ambassador...Yet I can't imagine life without him. I think he's a perfect ambassador for captive iguanas. People can learn and see how they naturally behave, and maybe think twice about buying that cute little baby iguana at the pet store.

***Special note: Iguanas can be very rewarding pets. Just make sure you do you research and understand the time and commitment. And as always, think adoption first. There are thousands of iguanas that need good homes.

Is this rhino still alive?

This is the exact picture that hangs in my living room. Other African animal 8x10's surround it; all glossy, protected and framed. They're remnants of my first trip to Africa. I often look up at this particular picture and wonder, "Is this rhino still alive?" My curiosity was intensified even more when I came across an article via Nat Geo on twitter titled "Good News for Animals in Nepal: A Full Year Without Poaching." It was fantastic news for Nepal and the global community against poaching. Although sadly among the great news, it reminded its readers of the poaching crisis elsewhere. Kenya recently lost four rhinos in the short span of a week; three in Lake Nakuru National Park and one in the Masai Mara. This really hit home. I've been to both parks and have had the incredible opportunity of seeing rhinos in the wild. At the time it never even crossed my mind that these particular rhinos were in just as much danger as any that walk the African continent. I surely thought that a rhino living in a national park with all the guards and anti-poaching units were safe. (Lake Nakuru National Park is even fenced!) Was I ever wrong.

Hundreds of rhinos each year are killed for their horns due to the rise in the Asian Medicine Market. In Asian culture they grind the horn to remedy a variety of different symptoms; from nosebleeds to fevers. What is so shocking about this is there is absolutely NO SCIENTIFIC PROOF that rhino horn cures any of these symptoms!

Organized poaching gangs now use advanced technology like night vision goggles, silencers, and even helicopters to hunt the rhinos. The demand for their horn is just too relentless. With less than 5,000 left in the wild, the future for Black Rhinos seems uncertain.

Although there is  hope. Conservation organizations are working hard to fund anti-poaching units and rangers. Social media has also become a great tool to help spread the word about the poaching crisis. You can help by donating to these conservation organizations, spreading the word about the plight of rhinos, and never buying rhino horn related products.

I'll never forget the first time I saw this wild rhino. We were out on safari in the Masai Mara photographing giraffes when suddenly our driver James started frantically saying "Sit down, sit down, there's a rhino over there!" We all sat down as fast as we could, cameras and equipment flying everywhere, holding on tightly as James made his way over to a particular clearing where all I could see was a large, gray rock. That gray rock turned out to be one of the only 25 Black Rhinos left in the Masai Mara! Words can't even describe the feeling of seeing one in the wild. The chances are slim-to-none, so to actually find one was incredible. I remember it turned towards us with an aggressive posture, its tail raised. Then after realizing we meant it no harm, it turned around and headed back into the thicket.

Just as fast as it had appeared, the Black Rhino disappeared like a ghost into the African savanna. I sure would like to hope that this magnificent creature is still roaming around the Masai Mara, giving other observers the same opportunity I had. I couldn't imagine an Africa without Rhinos.

For more information I encourage you to check out these links:

http://www.savetherhino.org/

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/03/140312-nepal-chitwan-national-park-wildlife-poaching-world/?now=2014-03-12-00:01

http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/endangered_species/rhinoceros/african_rhinos/poaching_crisis_african_rhinos/

Animal Aliens

It was a struggle that was seen by many; an alligator attempting to swallow a Burmese Python in the Florida Everglades National Park. There's definitely something wrong with this picture; Burmese Pythons and alligators would never naturally meet in the wild. Both species live at opposite ends of the planet; alligators from the Southeastern part of the United States and Burmese Pythons from Southeast Asia. So why are they encountering each other now? Irresponsible pet owners who released their pet pythons once they reached a certain size and natural disasters like hurricanes all attribute to why this python can now be found in the Florida Everglades. What's worse is that this python has no natural predators, competes for the same resources as other animals, and eats endangered species. During the last few years, Burmese Pythons have become a poster child for invasive species and their negative impacts to the environment, economy, and safety of humans. And they aren't alone. I put together a few prime examples of invasive species. I hope you enjoy it and more importantly take away from it on how you help prevent the spread of Animal Aliens.

Invasive species are any plants or animals that aren't native to an ecosystem that cause harm. This harmless looking plant that most people purchase to stock their ponds is one of the world's worst weeds!

The water hyacinth is native to South America but can be found on nearly every continent thanks to it's attractiveness as a pond plant.  It forms dense masses and blocks the sunlight for submerged plants and aquatic animals. It also clogs waterways and limits boat transportation which inadvertently affects fisherman who rely on the lake for their livelihood.

Historically pigs have never been found in the Americas...But they've been here awhile. They were first brought in by early European Explorers for food in the 1500's. In the 1930's Eurasian Wild Boars were also introduced for hunting purposes. Now in parts of North America you have a hybrid species that is extremely prolific at breeding, aggressive, and eats almost anything! They can be found in 45 states and due to their secretive, nocturnal nature are hard to often come by.

And here's the notorious bull frog that eats anything it can fit in its mouth! Native to the Eastern parts of the United States, the bull frog was imported in the 1890's by Californian entrepreneurs that had a craving for its flesh. Farms were set up and many of the frogs were directly released in ponds. The rest is history. The bull frog eats other frogs and competes for their resources (insects). The native frogs and salamanders never had to compete with the larger amphibians and have no natural defenses.

Out of all the fish in the world, the Asian Carp has had one of the most devastating impacts on aquatic communities. The large carp compete with native fish for food and mud the water due to their bottom feeding tendencies. In the 1960's they were introduced in fish farms to help control algae in the ponds. Due to escapes and flooding they have now found there way into many of North America's waterways.

One of my favorite lizards made the list as well. Green Iguanas have invaded South Florida since the early 1960's due to irresponsible pet owners releasing their unwanted pets. Florida's environment is very similar to their native home ranges in Central and South America which made it ideal for them. They are an aggressive species that compete with native animals for food. On top of that they are great seed dispersers for non-native plants that are found in many peoples' backyards.

This popular pet turtle has caused quite a few problems. The Red-eared Slider is native to the Mid to-South-Central U.S but can now be found across much of North America, Hawaii, and Asia. Like the iguana, irresponsible pet owners are to blame for their invasion, along with captive escapes. They are a very hardy species and compete with native turtles for resources. Just recently Idaho, along with a  few other states, have banned them from pet stores. Current owners have to now obtain special permits to keep them.

These small, almost identical mollusks, are causing HUGE problems and are alarming wildlife officials and biologists everywhere. The Zebra and Quagga Mussels are native to Eastern Europe and Western Asia. They made their way into the Great Lakes in the late 1980's from boats entering the United States from Europe. They attach to almost any hard surface including native mussels like the one pictured above.

Native mussels aren't the only things they attach to: Here this meter in Lake Michigan is engulfed by them. A single female Zebra Mussel can produce over 5 million eggs in her lifetime! They compete with native fish for food (plankton) and clear the water which promotes algae growth. Scientists still haven't figured out a way to eradicate them. These mussels can  be found in 29 states.

Estimated damage for invasive species worldwide is $1.4 trillion!

How To Prevent the Spread of Invasive Species:

* Learn to identify invasive species and try to remove any (plants or animals) you may come across. For animals, this might be difficult. If so you can notify your local Fish and Game office or Department of Agriculture.

* Regularly clean your boots, gear, tires, and check your boat after leaving your destination.

* NEVER release an un-wanted pet.

References:

Beeland, DeLene. "UF Study Recommends Nest-box Control for South Florida Non-native Nuisance Iguanas." Florida Museum of Natural History. Univerity of Florida , 13 09 2007. Web. 8 Mar 2014. <http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/science-stories/2007/09/13/uf-study-recommends-nest-box-control-for-south-florida-non-native-nuisance-iguanas/>.

"Common carp, German carp, European carp (Cyprinus carpio)." Minnesota Department of Natural Resources . N.p.. Web. 8 Mar 2014. <http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/aquaticanimals/commoncarp/index.html>.

Defenders of Wildlife , . "Risky Business: Live Animal Imports and Lax Laws." Broken Screens .  (2007): n. page. Web. 8 Mar. 2014. <http://www.defenders.org/publications/broken_screens_report.pdf>.

"History of Wild Pigs ." Wild Pig Info . Mississippi State University . Web. 8 Mar 2014. <http://wildpiginfo.msstate.edu/history-wild-pigs.html>.

"Invasive Mussels." National Wildlife Federation. N.p.. Web. 8 Mar 2014. <http://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Threats-to-Wildlife/Invasive-Species/Invasive-Mussels.asp&xgt;.

"Invasive Species ." National Wildlife Federation . N.p.. Web. 8 Mar 2014. <http://www.nwf.org/wildlife/threats-to-wildlife/invasive-species.asp&xgt;.

"Invasive Species ." Save The Frogs. N.p.. Web. 8 Mar 2014. <http://www.savethefrogs.com/threats/invasive-species/>.

"Invasive Species: What you can do." The Nature Conservancy . N.p.. Web. 8 Mar 2014. <http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/habitats/forests/help/invasive-plant-species-invasive-species-education-1.xml>.

Johnson, Leigh . "Red-Eared Invaders Threaten Native Turtles and Human Health! ." Boating Environmental Forum. N.p., 23 09 2013. Web. 8 Mar 2014. <http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=11552>.

Dead Beauty: How flowers are killing Kenya's Lake Naivasha

Most have never heard of Lake Naivasha. I know I certainly hadn't. It wasn't until I visited Africa for the first time in 2012 that I was officially introduced to it...and all of its problems. Most are familiar with the rose. Its a global icon representing love, beauty, and tranquility; yet ask anyone who lives in Naivasha or who depends on the lake for their livelihood about the rose. None of those words describing it mean anything.

Since 1980 Kenya has become one of the largest exporters of flowers to Europe, with 75% of them coming straight from greenhouses on Lake Naivasha. So what's the problem? Unsustainable farming practices, pollution, habitat loss, declining wildlife numbers and an increased human population all attribute to the flower farm industry in Lake Naivasha. With personal photos, hard evidence, and expert advice, I'm going to try to shed some light on this very controversial topic.

Nearly eight miles across, Lake Naivasha is the second largest freshwater lake in Kenya, and is part of the Great Rift Valley.

After graduating college I joined a small group led by Dr. Marc Bechard from Boise State University and Dr. Munir Virani from The Peregrine Fund to study East African Raptor Conservation. Honestly, it was the trip to Africa that sold me. Even though Naivasha was on the itinerary, my focus was entirely on a planned safari in the famous Masai Mara. (Think lions, elephants and crocodiles.) To me Naivasha was a mere stopping point before the "big safari."

In my mind Lake Naivasha would be surrounded by dry, barren land. Was I ever wrong. It could not be any greener; surrounded by native papyrus and acacia woodlands. The lake is an oasis for many plants and animals.

And here lies the problem: flower farms. The shores of Lake Naivasha are covered with them. These giant farms pump water directly from the lake into their greenhouses at an alarming rate. Faster than the lake can replenish itself. Since their beginning in 1980 the water level has fallen by 13ft; not a good level considering Lake Naivasha is a shallow lake with an average depth of 5-15ft.

What's worse is that all the runoff, pesticides, and chemicals used to grow these flowers is drained right back into the lake.

This isn't a good thing for the plants and animals that depend on the lake. The once crystal clear waters have now turned a murky brown due to the toxic runoffs, sewage waste from the town, and invasive species. It also can affect local tourism. Lake Naivasha is considered one of the top ten bird watching sights in the world; although with bird numbers dropping, conservationists fear that this will change in the near future.

Some might argue that the farms have opened many jobs for the local residents in Naivasha. The truth though is that most workers have to work in horrific conditions. Many are not protected against the deadly pesticides and chemicals used to grow the flowers. Not to mention the average salary is a mere $2 a day. Not much to support the average non-working family in Naivasha.

The farms are also responsible for the giant increase in population around the lake. In 1969 there were only 7,000 people living in Naivasha. Today there is over half a million people competing for the jobs, the lake, and its diminishing resources. What's worse is that the surge in population has created many unplanned settlements that lack proper waste and sanitation control. The waste is often drained right back into the lake.

Many locals out of jobs resort to illegal poaching and cutting down native acacia trees for firewood.

What can be done?

Education. Speaking to local communities about the importance of the lake and preserving its natural resources for future generations.

Support local conservation organizations dedicated to preserving the lake and sustainable living in and around it. We stayed at the Elsamere Field Study Centre where they organized boat tours, lectures, and activities.

Experts believe that if something isn't drastically done to control the flower farms and its current practices, the lake will dry up within 20 years. The future might look grim, but I still believe there is hope for this majestic lake and its wildlife. More and more attention is being drawn to the unsustainable farming practices. More and more people are now aware of the lake and its conservation issues thanks to books (May I suggest Wildflower: An Extraordinary Life and Untimely Death in Africa by Mark Seal), magazine articles, and blogs just like this one.

For more information I encourage you to check out the following references.

References:

Heimbuch, Jaymi. "Are Cut Flowers Killing the Wildlife in Kenya's Lake Naivasha?." Treehugger. Mother Nature Network , 06 17 2010. Web. 23 Feb. 2014. <http://www.treehugger.com/natural-sciences/are-cut-flowers-killing-the-wildlife-in-kenyas-lake-naivasha.html>.

"Lake Naivasha ." Magical Kenya . Kenya Tourist Board , n.d. Web. 20 Feb 2014. <http://old.magicalkenya.com/default.nsf/doc21/4ynrpgfzei65?opendocument&l=1&e=5>.

McQuaid , John . "The Secrets Behind Your Flowers." Smithsonian Magazine . 02  2011: 1-4. Web. 23 Feb. 2014. <http://www.smithsonianmag.com/people-places/the-secrets-behind-your-flowers-53128/?page=1>.

"Naivasha Flower Farm ." Conservation Media- Kenya . N.p., 05 24 2011. Web. 23 Feb. 2014. <http://blogs.stlawu.edu/conservationmediakenya/tag/lake-naivasha/>.

Williams, Jeremy . "The price of Kenyan roses and the tragedy of lake Naivasha." Make Wealth History. N.p., 02 13 2009. Web. 20 Feb. 2014. <http://makewealthhistory.org/2009/02/13/the-price-of-kenyan-roses-and-the-tragedy-of-lake-naivasha/>.