TENDUA

12 kg of rocks for one smartphone ...

Myriam Dupuis — 2024-08-01T10:57:29Z

Mobile phones, smartphones: impacts of their production?

Here is an object that did not exist a few decades ago. Now almost indispensable, it is everywhere: the mobile phone, which allows you to make calls and send texts. In its «smart» version, it has become intelligent and now allows you to call, take photos, access your emails and more and more applications. Rich countries, poor countries, from megacities to the smallest hamlets, from the powerful P.- D.G. to the most humble peasant, everyone has a smartphone, or several. More than 10 billion devices in the world for 8 billion people. But at what cost to the planet?

A bit of history

In April 1973 - 50 years ago - a Motorola employee made the first cellular phone call in NYC. While wireless technology already exists, the «laptops» of the time were reserved for luxury cars. It takes 10 hours to recharge the battery allowing 30 minutes of conversation.
Ten years later, in 1983, the prototype was replaced by a commercial model. The device is still expensive, costing almost US$10,000 today. The phone is heavy, imposing, each call is expensive ... but the technological revolution is on.
In 1992, the first GSM (Global System for Mobile) phone, the Nokia 1011, was produced on a large scale. This technology is the ancestor of 3G (and subsequent ones) that we use now.
The first SMS - Short Message System, a mobile phone message sent from a computer – came in the same year.
For more than 20 years, our phones have almost all been smartphones and the landline phone has virtually disappeared.

12 kg of rocks and 52 chemicals for ONE smartphone

A mineral is a rock extracted from the lithosphere that contains a quantity of mineral large enough to justify its exploitation. When enough ore is found, mines are built to mine the vein at its maximum capacity. The minerals contain the chemical elements used in our smartphones. They are used in particular for the manufacture of the hull, battery, electrical circuits and screens.
Did you know that it takes 52 chemical substances from minerals, or 12 kg of rocks, to produce only ONE smartphone?

Native elements that cost a lot

Some ores are classified as “native elements”. Native element minerals are those elements that occur in nature, "either in uncombined form consisting essentially of a single chemical element or an alloy, characterized by a few associated sufficiently pure chemical elements.
Today we know in the strict sense 34 native elements including copper, gold or silver... Many of these chemicals, more or less “rare” have become essential to the operation of new technologies. And they cost a lot because their natural availability is decreasing.

The so-called «rare» earths

Rare earths are 17 chemical elements – of the 118 chemical elements currently known from Mendeleev's periodic table – used in various industries such as electronics and renewable energy.
They have many common properties – such as high electrical conductivity – that make them difficult to distinguish from each other. And contrary to what their name suggests, rare earths are not so “rare”, but they are not found in the native state.

Rare due to their concentration

In fact, their rarity is not in their quantity but in their concentration: it takes an average of 8 tons of rocks to dig to obtain 1 kg of raw material.
Sphalerite, the main mineral in zinc, can be used as a rare metal ore with a significant content of cadmium, indium, gallium and germanium. Very common, huge quantities of sphalerite are mined worldwide and this mineral has become for several decades the main ore of these rare metals. Remarkable deposits are found in France, Peru, Russia and Switzerland.

Another mineral characterized by its rare earth richness, bastnaesite. But the extraction processes are polluting due to its radioactivity.

Yttrium

L'yttrium, used to produce red luminophores [1] for CRT TVs is 400 times more abundant in the Earth's crust than silver.
But rare earths are widely dispersed and come in the form of hard to exploit minerals. They can be mined in copper, zinc or uranium mines. Some of them are on the moon... Anyway, the extraction process is very expensive and highly polluting. That is why it is almost only China that is taking the initiative, with a monopoly of almost 100% on the processing of rare earths from other metals. Europe prefers to leave these polluting operations to others.

Japan has declared that its national waters contain significant reserves of several rare earths. And we know that our abysses are very rich in metals. Canada has envisioned a massive vacuum that could... perhaps? – withstand the pressure of the deep. Everyone's looking for it, but the cost of underwater mining is still too expensive. Is it necessary to explain the tragic impact that such exploitation would have on the metal deposits at the bottom of the oceans?

Special case of lithium

Lithium and its compounds promote energy production and battery performance. They are essential ingredients for the manufacture of low-melting glasses and lubricants. The manufacture of rechargeable batteries for electronics, electric vehicles, and energy storage networks represents the world's largest use of lithium, representing 74% of total demand. Lithium-ion allows for both fast charging for convenience and slow charging for durability. The International Energy Agency predicts that lithium needs will increase by 42 times in the next 20 years.

Australia is the world's largest lithium producer, accounting for nearly half of global production in 2021. Bolivia, Chile and Argentina (the “lithium triangle”) are said to have the largest combined lithium resources, estimated at nearly 50 million tonnes. Indeed, there are gigantic salt pans in South America. Decanting the salt is the necessary way to obtain the necessary lithium, which is a very water-demanding exploitation.
There are also lithium reserves in France (reopening of mines in Alsace and Brittany?), but the quantities are smaller. Moreover, the former minister of ecological transition, Barbara Pompili, declared exclusively in Les Echos on 17/02/2022: «France must extract lithium on its territory». However, the precious metal is more difficult to isolate than in South American brine.

In nature, lithium is never present in its native form but always in the form of salts or oxides in minerals. In addition, metallic lithium can only be stored in oil and under protective atmosphere because it is too reactive to be stored in water or air. Which makes it dangerous to manipulate.
In Europe, the Donbass also has lithium reserves. The UNO is talking about adding lithium to the list of conflict elements.
The Canadian government has designated lithium as a critical mineral because it is an essential material in the transition to renewable energy. And Canada has the potential to be a main supplier. Canada does not currently produce lithium, but has significant solid spodumene deposits and saline lakes from which lithium can be extracted.

Geopolitics and high technology

This is where the notion of globalization takes its full force. Let's list the different countries involved in the production of the elements necessary to manufacture these little wonders of technology:

South Africa has the monopoly of platinum : great advantage for this ore because it is the one that recycles best. It acts as an anti-corrosive to the battery of our smartphone.
Cadmium is known to be a carcinogen and is used for rechargeable batteries, television or computer screens, tablets, consoles, etc. The main producing countries are South Korea, Japan, China, Canada, Mexico.
Gallium is mainly produced by China and is used for liquid crystals in ever-improving displays.
Indium is used for LEDs and touch screens of any size (better brightness of smartphones, watches, tablets, car dashboards, etc.), as well as on some glazing and solar panels. The producing countries are China (oh yes! again!), South Korea, Japan. There are no indium mines. You have to look for it, often in zinc mines. So it's expensive.
The cobalt is very important in all batteries: phones and cars. It allows to absorb heat so that «it does not burn». Currently, it is estimated that cobalt will be unavailable in 50 years.

Quartz

The quartz is used to stiffen screens. It's a common mineral. Quartz is the basis of all electronic systems. It is used directly as a sensor that can measure a frequency with very high precision, making it essential in applications such as inertial power plants or radar transmitters and receivers or radio communications.
Gold and silver have valuable qualities: they are very good conductors allowing a fast transmission of information. Silver comes mainly from South America: Chile, Peru, Bolivia. The main producers of gold are Russia and China.

The so-called «conflict» mineral elements

The UNO monitors these four so-called «conflict» mineral elements - or «blood minerals». These are gold, tin, tungsten and tantalum.
If gold is a good conductor, tungsten is one of the world's hardest metals used in the manufacture of ballistic missiles and drilling rigs. The properties of tungsten, found particularly in wolframite, improve the conductivity of gold and silver. There is little information on the mines exploited in western China (perhaps on the side of the country of the Uighurs...), which still ensure more than 80% of world production.

As for tantalum, extracted from columbite and tantalite or coltan, it is a superconductor, resistant to heat and corrosion. It makes it possible to lighten and miniaturize our smartphones, cameras, computers, flat screens, etc. It is also used in the manufacture of superalloys in aeronautics and its biocompatibility makes it interesting in the manufacture of medical implants.
The main producing countries are Australia, Brazil, China, Canada, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda.

Motherboard solders are made with tin and three countries mine the main tin ore, cassiterite. China is responsible for 2/3 of the world's production. Indonesia and Malaysia have dug entire areas and sacrificed islands for this production. Coastlines have been emptied of their fish; populations starved and impoverished; one worker per week dies on these yards.

The production of these «blood minerals» is mainly controlled by armed groups that operate these mines in inhumane conditions. They sell the minerals to the highest bidders to finance their movements. In the 2000s, the international community discovered these ties particularly strong in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in the region of the Great African Lakes, in Zimbabwe, the Central African Republic, Burma and Colombia. Twenty years later, has there been any change – for the better? Tens of thousands of miners, adults and children, are still working in the mines of coltan, cassiterite and gold.
This is true for coltan because it is found at shallow levels, which has generated real rushes. The flip side of the coin: agriculture was replaced by mining, which led to famines. These famines have in turn generated an overexploitation of tropical forests, with particularly the poaching of fragile species such as okapi or gorilla («bush meat»).
But at the end of the chain, companies that manufacture mobile phones are protected by the many intermediaries who are involved in these trades.

It should be noted that Russia and the Donbass hold large reserves of nickel, cobalt, and lithium, which are necessary for the manufacture of smartphones, consoles, electric vehicles, wind turbines, and other solar panels. There is a chance that the current conflict is not as philanthropic as the media portrays it to be.

Collection and recycling

In France, only 15% of the 25 million phones sold each year are collected for repair, reuse, or recycling. That's clearly not enough.
In fact, right now, only lithium and platinum are recyclable.
One of the first barriers to lithium recycling is that lithium-ion batteries (BLI) are a hazardous materials, and must be handled with care. The residual electrical power in the battery can cause fires or explosions.
Do we really need to change our smartphone every year if we can't live without it? Do we need to have more than one ? It is an opportunity to reflect on our role as consumers, and to become truly a player in our consumption.

One company that stands out for its approach in this highly profitable technological environment is FAIRPHONE. Indeed, this Dutch company creates smartphones whose design and production of the devices have been designed to integrate environmental and fair trade constraints throughout the production chain.
FAIRPHONE increases the rate of recycled materials in its devices: copper and plastic recycled for the FAIRPHONE 3; plastic, indium, copper, aluminum for the FAIRPHONE 4, which also has traceability for the gold and silver components of their device. The phones' modularity also enhances their ability to be recycled at the end of their lifespan because some modules contain specific metals, like gold, for instance.
Not necessarily exemplary – but are we as consumers? The approach has the merit of existing and going further than the competition. Why not develop a smartphone that utilizes recycled elements?

Conclusion

With more than 10 billion mobile phones in the world, the smartphone is both a democratic and technological object. Could we do without it?.... Not sure. Unless we have to.
We have seen the “mineralogical” cost of a single smartphone. Not to mention the mining waste that sometimes serves as fill, but is also a deposit loaded with lead, arsenic, cadmium ...
In France, an open-air farm is filled up, but underground mining is left in the state, without any more attention to groundwater or neighboring agricultural lands.
In addition to pollution related to production, there is also pollution related to use: the cyberspace is saturated by our data, all more important than each other. And this is done at a speed close to the speed of light. All of this data also generates a lot of pollution...

New jobs to invent

So, back all the way? It won't work. However, there are still at least two areas to explore.
The first is undoubtedly a reflection to be carried out by each on his/her own way of consuming and the consequences induced.
A second way is to think about the present of tomorrow: what are the new jobs to invent to protect life on our planet and preserve what we call resources. Let us train engineers to demanufacture and deconstruct, learn how to systematically reuse the elements still not recycled today.
Let's ask ourselves about the consequences at every stage of our consumption.
Let's become more aware of our environment and how we act on our reality.

In the end, it is our planet that invented recycling, so let us draw inspiration from this wisdom if we want humanity to have a proper place on this Earth.

Reminder of some definitions

A rock is an assemblage of minerals.
The study of minerals is called mineralogy, while the study of rocks is called petrology.
Geology is the study of the lithosphere, through the formation of rocks, their origin, their nature and their evolution. It includes several disciplines including mineralogy, petrology, paleontology and geomorphology.
A mineral is defined as being solid, inorganic, natural (i.e. without human intervention) and crystalline, that is to say that the atoms arrange themselves among them in a certain way. This affects its appearance and qualities.

Sources :

[1] The luminophore is a substance that when excited emits light. Such a substance is used in particular in the cathode ray tubes of screens, SED screens and also for plasma screens. Source: Wikipedia.

Naturalist walk in the park with François Moutou

Myriam Dupuis — 2022-05-15T09:13:58Z

It is not always necessary to go very far to enjoy spring. On April 18, 2022, we are two from the Tendua association to «explore» the Edmond de Rothschild park, equipped with binoculars and loaded with cameras, ready for a naturalist safari in the city!

Property of the Rothschild family

Edmond de Rothschild's Park in Boulogne, France

©Myriam Dupuis

This park corresponds to the extension of the Bois de Boulogne, in the neighbouring town of Boulogne-Billancourt. It is separated from the Bois by the Boulevard Anatole France to the north and surrounded by the Normandy motorway to the south, the Seine to the west and the city to the east. With a surface area of 15ha, it is the largest park in Boulogne.
The land became the property of the Rothschild family around 1850. A large Louis XIV-style house was built in 1856 and the park was enlarged to 30 ha. The connection of the A13 motorway to the ring road meant that it lost half of its surface area. The large historic family house is now sadly in ruins.
The singularity of the park is due to its aspects: a landscaped park created around 1860, according to a Paxton project redesigned by M. Loyr; a Japanese garden created by a gardener named Hatta between 1900 and 1930, of which only remain, since its conception, the trees, originally nanified then having resumed their normal growth; the routin: a part of rockeries and basins created by M. Gaucher in 1924 and which shelters the river, called “blue”.
With its artificial basin, false waterfalls, false rocks, false streams and a small Japanese bridge, the park nevertheless offers some real possibilities for naturalistic observations. Spring makes a mockery of gardeners and landscapers.

Year-round residents: Canada Geese and Mallards

Canada Geese's family (Branta canadensis)

©François Moutou

On the water, Canada geese have been established for a few years. They live with mallards and barred-headed geese, at least one couple of coots and one hen, residents. They are also visited by different birds of passage, depending on the season, such as large cormorants, black-headed gulls and one or two grey herons. There are fish in this pond; the big carps are active on sunny days.

Mallard ducks (Anas platyrhynchos)

©François Moutou

Everything seems calm because there are nests on the islet. As soon as one stops at the water's edge, some geese and mallards approach gently, questioning. Clearly some biped visitors bring them food and it is known. We have nothing, they do not insist.

The calm is suddenly broken by a real spat between two pairs of geese. The argument escapes us but one of the jars was no longer laughing at all. Apparently the other birds and other species do not seem concerned or pretend not to look.

Trachemys turtle

©Myriam Dupuis

Turtles, coots and others

Last year, a tree fell into the water and was left there. It is the delight of turtles (Trachemys, the so-called Florida aquatic turtle), which are introduced and become arboreal for the occasion. The trunks and branches now horizontal, close to the surface, make very good resting places to allow them to enjoy the spring sun in peace. The small branches of the houppier are also of interest to the world. At the beginning of spring a couple of Castaneous Grebes revolved around this tangle of plants on the water and I thought I saw them nesting.

Eurasian coot's chicks at nest (Fulica atra)

©François Moutou

Mid-April it is a coot's nest that sits in the emerged branches and I no longer see grebes. The first coot chick is spotted on May 7 in the nest under an adult. What a funny head!

long-tailed tit (Aegithalos caudatus)

©François Moutou

Long-tailed tit

We are not there yet and on April 18 we are also looking for small passerines. In March, a pair of long-tailed tits built their nest in the dense crown of a shrub. In April, both parents feed. The nest is well hidden, there is no question of disturbing it. Watching adults back and forth from a discreet place is a beautiful sight. And we enjoy it. You can stand a few meters away and admire the birds at work.
I came back several times. A few days later I see the adults who also see me and seem a bit surprised. After feeding the chicks well away from the twigs, they both came, right next to me “talking”. I don't know what they were saying or who they were saying it to, but I really felt that they were talking to me, or talking about my presence. It was only then that they went to get the next meal that I saw them report, from a more direct flight than the previous one. Then I left them alone. The fledgling young quickly followed a few days later and the shrub was deserted.

Short-toed Treecreeper with a caterpillar (Certhia brachydactyla)

©François Moutou

Short-toed Treecreeper

At the end of the park there is an equestrian club with a few horses, boxes and a large outdoor carousel. An abandoned two-storey building is right next to the boxes. The windows are condemned and wooden panels have been installed next to the shutters. When we get close, we notice an activity in Avienne: a couple of Short-toed Treecreepers have set up their nest behind one of these wooden panels and the feeding of the young is going well.
The birds are really small but their passages are predictable, which allows to observe them in good conditions and without disturbing them. At each passage, the adult enters with a well-stocked beak from which legs and antennae protrude, and comes out with a small whitish bag in the beak. The chicks fed swallow on one side and relieve on the other, which allows the parents to clean remove the droppings, naturally packed, and throw them out.

Other inhabitants of the undergrowth

European Robin (Erithacus rubecula)

©François Moutou

European Robins are quite numerous and their songs resound everywhere. Some singers agree to let themselves be photographed. When you look for them, you always tend to look too high in the trees. They are often perched quite low, not necessarily hidden but as soon as the leaves have arrived, finding them becomes more complicated. It's a busy time.

Swinging caterpillars

Some caterpillar species swing, allowing them to spread more quickly than walking on the tree where they were born

©François Moutou

During the visits in April and early May, it is easy to observe many small caterpillars suspended in the air by a long wire that descends them from the trees. Up to the ground? It could be the caterpillar of the box borer, harmless but severe for boxwood. There are also some cocoons of pine processionary (Thaumetopoea pityocampa) mothes in some large conifers. Some trunks are surrounded by a trap bag to recover the caterpillars thanks to chemical molecules.

We didn't see the kingfisher on April 18, but I saw him again at the end of the month and again at the beginning of May. On May 1^st, the bird swallows a fish almost as long as it, it is quite spectacular. On that day, two cormorants and a kingfisher were actively fishing in the same small portion of the water and appeared to be enjoying it.

Wren with a caterpillar

©François Moutou

Coming down from the point of view (the Common Moorhen's nest is still there and the parent at the nest is being fed by the other adult : well done!), I had to pass very close to a Wren's nest that started to alarm. I did not search for the nest, too risky and I followed the adult. He found a caterpillar and went to feed its chicks : they should not be very big!

Remarkable plants and trees

Common Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta et H. hispanica)

©Myriam Dupuis

And there are still all the plants, from the smallest to the large trees planted more than a century ago. Carpets of hyacinths and daisies are spectacular in April. To the colors are added the scents and it is very pleasant.

Daisies' carpet and Canada Geese (Branta canadensis)

©François Moutou

In April, we saw flowers of love-in-a-mist and Blue bugle, the Bear's garlic in bloom, several species of small wild hyacinths: violets, roses, white. Depending on the season, flowers change, colors and perfumes too.

The park also has 16 trees classified as “remarkable” and many others that are also remarkable for all the work of absorbing our CO₂ emissions that we emit without worrying about the consequences.

California incense-cedar

©Myriam Dupuis

There is also the magnificent white cedar of California or California incense-cedar at the entrance of the park, whose colours are incredible at the beginning of spring.

California incense-cedar's leaves (Calocedrus decurrens)

©Myriam Dupuis

There is also this Weeping Beech (Fagus sylvatica 'Pendula') with a particularly gnarled trunk.
Insect observations are not lacking either: bedbugs, sylphs, unidentified caterpillars. Grey snails have not yet arrived, probably on their way...

During this walk in April, we counted no less than fifteen animal species observed. And many buds on the trees and small flowers announcing the renewal of spring. It is a shame to see the gardening company, in charge of the maintenance of the park, cut down a dozen trees, some quite large, at the end of April, at the time of the rise of sap, flowering and nesting. Why not let spring live? Protecting nature, even in a park, often starts with not destroying it.

Bird's-eye speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys L.)

©Myriam Dupuis

Love-in-a-mist (Nigella damascena)

©Myriam Dupuis

Blue bugle (Ajuga reptans)

©Myriam Dupuis

Bear's garlic (Allium ursinum)

©Myriam Dupuis

Common Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta)

©Myriam Dupuis

Bird's-eye speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys L.)

©Myriam Dupuis

The Upside-down Tree (Fagus salvatica ssp.pendula)

©Myriam Dupuis

Wildlife accounts for less than 4% of mammals

Myriam Dupuis — 2021-07-05T16:33:24Z

Did you know?

Biomass refers to the total quantity (mass) of living organisms on Earth. These figures include :
- bacteria (just over 12.8% of live time),
- plants (just over 82.5%),
- fungi (2.20%).
Animals represent less than 0.4% of the total biomass of living organisms on Earth.
Wild mammals represent only 4% of the terrestrial mammal biomass, while humans represent 36% and cattle 60%!
Our present economic system is based on the globalization of trade for an ever greater production of beef, fed with cereals produced in an industrial way. This generates deforestation, the use of violent and naturocidal chemical inputs. But all this increases financial exchanges and makes MONEY!
Agro-industrial lobbies lead the world we live in, supported by the pharmaceutical lobbies that prefer us sick rather than healthy. And all this kills the biodiversity we need to live. It's up to you to see what you choose. NOW.

What you need to know about 5G

Christopher FITZSIMONS — 2020-10-05T12:31:38Z

When it comes to the race for progress and technological innovation, it is no secret that modernisation in all its forms is almost systematically looked at with a degree of concern and scepticism by many. And rightly so. How will these new technologies impact our existence in the world we know, and to what degree will it affect us? How much so for the better? And what might be the collateral, unintended results brought about by these changes?

Is 5g the starting point of a new world ?

5G, or “fifth generation of wireless networking technology”, is described by its proponents as the starting point for a new world which will bring about a “fourth industrial revolution”[1]. Built in and around hospitals, schools and other public infrastructure, it is said of it that it will facilitate our lives, which is of course the point of most technologies. However, it is imperative to understand the implications of what is being presented to the public as a necessary step forward in modern science.

Are 3G and 4G obsolete ?

The first major advancement in this scientific domain was characterized by the invention of 3G, which allowed users to connect to the internet from their mobile devices at any time, bypassing the need to connect to a Wi-Fi router. It was slow and impractical at best, serving mostly for small tasks such as emails or other services which wouldn't require much data. Then came 4G, which allowed for a much better internet experience. In summary, 4G was an improved version of 3G. Much faster, it would allow users to load more data, enabling them to watch videos, download movies and much more.

Now comes 5G. Logically, one would assume that 5G technology would be, as was 4G, an improved version of its predecessor. However, in the same way that 3G innovated and made its 2G predecessor (improved phone networking with no internet connection) obsolete, 5G brings more than just faster data exchange and browsing to the table.

Facial recognition and data collection : the end of privacy ?

As described by former Brigadier General Robert Spalding in an interview with Valuetainment[2], 5G operates on the basis of facial and vocal recognition as well as third party data management. This means that user information is entrusted to a faceless corporate entity, not the user. Unlike 4G where the data is stored on the user's device (except for online data management and other “cloud” type services), and where one can simply opt out of it by not purchasing a smartphone, this new generation of networking technology is imposed on everyone. Built around cities, it can monitor everyone, as seen in Washington, which was the first state in America to allow facial recognition for law enforcement purposes.

What about health ?

But the concerns over 5G are not limited to data collection and privacy violations. It has also been the cause for concerns regarding its potential as a health and environmental hazard.
One of the more worrying elements in this area is that this technology is still very much in the experimental phase in terms of its effects on living things. So much so that some leaders have opposed the roll-out of 5G. As politician, Céline Fremault, the Belgian Minister of Environment and Energy said,

«The people of Brussels are not guinea pigs whose health I can sell at a profit. We cannot leave anything to doubt.»

This statement shows that concerns over 5G are more than the product of a few reactionary conspiracy theories.

5G tower set on fire

Such were these popular concerns, that multiple relay antennae were set on fire. In the UK reports indicate that up to 77 towers had been targeted in a single month, with cases also reported in Ireland, Cyprus, Belgium and Australia, where counter-terrorist police were deployed. However, many of these towers were not 5G, and in some cases the damage led to outages for essential emergency services.

Though vigilantism is not to be condoned, the scepticism surrounding the topic can be understood. For, as everyone was being submitted to strict COVID-related health guidelines in the form of nationwide lockdowns and social distancing measures, many people noticed that optical fibre was being laid out in their streets, often unbeknownst to local residents. Furthermore, a lot of these technical operators were spotted without masks and violating social distancing rules, while the epidemic was at its peak.

However overblown some of the reactions might have been, there is no question that 5G will substantially increase public exposure to radiofrequency and electromagnetic fields, which many studies have shown to be harmful to humans as well as to the environment.

Indeed, the existence of radiation poisoning is not disputed by scientists, and it has been linked to different types of cancers, such as spinal, pulmonary, and cardiovascular to name a few [3].
Furthermore, there are reports of radiation exposure causing mood modifications, and even genetic imbalances in some cases.
Though they may be invisible, radiofrequencies are as real as anything the naked eye can see and like any other physical phenomenon they can be measured, in this case with devices such as EMF meters (electro-magnetic field). These are readily available online and allow users to monitor the intensity of electromagnetic radiation in a given area. These readings often show dramatical levels in and around cities.

In regard to these radio emissions, Claire Edwards, a member of the United Nations from 1999 to 2017 and one of the leading voices against the mass deployment of 5G installations; brought forward her concerns to the Secretary General and to other members of the committee. In her 5 minute speech of 2019 she reports her findings saying:

«Since December 2015 the staff here at the Vienna International Centre have been exposed to off the scale electromagnetic radiation (…), current public exposure levels are at least one quintillion, -that's eighteen zeroes- above natural background radiation according to Professor Olle Johansson of the Karolinska institute in Sweden. The highly dangerous biological effects of EMFs have been documented by thousands of studies since 1932».

5G frequencies and tampering with oxygen absorption

With respect to this fact, it is also worth pointing out that 5G operates at a frequency level of 60 gigahertz. More than a simple figure, this piece of data is relevant when talking about the technology's impact on the environment and other forms of life as it is the specific point, to the decimal, at which frequencies become absorbable by oxygen.

Frequencies percentage absorbed by Oxygen

RF Globalnet

Again, this is a fact which is not disputed, even by proponents of this innovative mode of telecommunication. And it is on the basis of this fact that the conspiracies correlating 5G technology with symptoms of Covid-19 have emerged. Clearly, deployment of a technology that has the potential to reduce available oxygen at a time when the world is wrestling with a contagious respiratory illness, is sensitive to say the least.

In terms of the environmental impact, there have been multiple sightings of dying vegetation and even reports of bees and birds seemingly dropping dead in areas where 5G infrastructures operate. Furthermore, various studies suggest these frequencies were causing necrosis in nearby vegetation as well as stress damage in wheat growth on a cellular level as shown in an Armenian study conducted as far back as 2016.

With this information in mind, one might enquire why these studies have not been the subject of much public debate, or why major scientific publications and figures have not taken the opportunity to discuss these potential dangers to the public and the planet.
Unfortunately, as with everything else, when corporate interests are at stake, information can be ignored or even manipulated. This is true even in the realm of science. Indeed there are many documented cases of data being knowingly concealed, even in the face of serious public health issues, the most notable being the conscious shielding by the tobacco industry of the dangers of smoking, and the food industry concealing data on the dangers of processed sugars on human health.

5G and its governmental endorsement in France

Another interesting element with regards to the endorsement of 5G by public figures is that in the case of France, it is the Minister of Finance Bruno Lemaire who has been the latest to come out in support of the 5G rollout, going as far as referring to it as “essential” (Paris, 14/09/2020). When in reality his ministry does not possess the necessary competences nor the knowledge required to discuss the technical or health-related aspects of 5G in any serious capacity.
As for the French Minister of Environment, Barbara Pompili, when asked where she stood on the topic, she simply answered:

“We have launched investigations with the ANSES (the national agency for public health with regards to energy and the environment) to look into the different disadvantages that may be brought about from a public health and enviromental perspective as it is part of my job. (…) but what I want first and foremost is that the internet be accessible in all of our territories” (Paris, 23/07/2020)

. As such prioritizing the access to the internet over the health of her constituents as well as the quality of the environment they inhabit, despite the ethical and professional responsibilties of her office regarding these issues.

Is health, the environment and our privacy the price to pay for omnipotent connectivity ?

Even with the concerns over privacy, health, or environmental issues, what is certain is that 5G will dramatically change the way the world operates. Whether it be for practical things such as remote surgeries, or ordering goods and services by uttering a simple key word, it is important to keep in mind that this degree of what is essentially omnipotent connectivity, comes at a price. Being automatically identified by cameras, or more worrying still, facing a potential health crisis, add to the increasing feeling of being alienated from nature as well the sentiment that we are interfering with its basic biological structure, which is what the research seems to indicate.

Author : Christopher FITZSIMONS, Oct. 2020

and also : Rayonnement 5G - Comment peut-on se protéger? Une conférence d'Ulrich Weiner

[1]: The first industrial revolution dates back to 1765 with the invention of the steam engion, the first industries as well as patents legalizing monopoly for inventions. The second industrial revolution began in 1870 with electricity, the electrical engine, petro-energy and the bitrth of the automobile industry. The third industrial revolution started in 1969 with computer science, microprocessors and the internet. Therefore the fourth industrial revolution would revolve around permanent connectivity, wireless technology and centriled mass third party data management.

[2]: Valuetainement is an online media organisation created by Patrick Bet-David.

[3]: Radiations and radiofrequencies can cause genetical modifications which increase the risk of cancers. It has been reported by the IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) which is a subset of the WHO (World Health Organisation). This last organization classified raadiofrequencies as a “potential carcinogens for humans” (1 GHz or gigahertz is equal to 1000 MHz or megahertz, 1 MHz is equivalent to 1000 Khz or kilohertz and 1KHz is equal to 1000 Hz or hertz). The long term effects of radiations can also be observed in the areas struck by nuclear weapons in Japan, which still show abnormoly high rates of cancers to this day.

Bats in epidemiology, between hopes and fears, by François Moutou

Myriam Dupuis — 2020-04-16T14:10:56Z

Who are Bats?

According to the 2018 synthesis*, 6,399 mammalian species were recorded. Rodents account for about 50% and bats for about 25%. This means that the remaining 25% of mammal species are primates whose humans, carnivores, antelopes, elephants, whales… By the way, don't forget that mammals represent only a tiny part (between 1% and 5% ?) of the animal species known and described!

Lesser False Vampire Bat (Megaderma spasma), Malaisia

©François Moutou

The current 1386 species of bats are grouped in 21 families and 227 genera (last synthesis of 2018).
Their ancestors already existed 55 million years ago. According to the fossils studied, they were very similar to modern species. It seems that the echolocation, their onboard sonar, is also very old.
Present almost everywhere: continents, islands and archipelagos (except in Antarctica).
Weight: from 2 g to 1.5 kg. Wingspan: from 15 cm to 1.5 m.
Very diverse ecology and ethology.
A unique diversity of dietary habits in mammals. Presence of a false pacifier in the groin of some species so that the young can cling without bothering the mother when she goes hunting. A pair of pectoral nipples.
Echolocation (sonar) in many species.

Echolocation or not

Greater sac-winged bat (Saccopteryx bilineata), Costa Rica

©François Moutou

The majority of bats head themselves thanks to echolocation (principle similar to that of sonar). Insectivorous and nocturnal microchiroptera are mainly using echolocation. Echolocation, that requires an energy expenditure, is used mainly when hunting or travelling in unknown terrain.
Bats are not blind and it seems that they have a well adapted to night conditions vision. They can be dazzled or disturbed by artificial outdoor lighting (phenomenon of light pollution).

Epauletted fruit bat (Epomophorus sp.), Tanzania

©François Moutou

The largest bats (formerly Megabats), the fruit bats, families of Pteropodoids, are usually frugivores and use their sight and smell. They have no echolocation.

Colonies can number up to 1 million individuals.
The colonies are sometimes very important and sometimes mixed (several species) -> what are the epidemiological and immunological implications?
Long life span : a 20g bat can live 30 years
Low reproductivity : only one baby bat per year !
They are the only mammals really capable of flying, not just gliding. Some species migrate, while others make significant movements.
Various social, intra and inter-species organisations.
What about Immunological data ? What do we know about bat immune system ?

Today bats are more and more associated with Emerging Infectious Diseases (EID), why ?

Bats (and rodents) are the reservoir of zoonotic viruses, but apparently are not always susceptible to the corresponding diseases. What about transmission between bats and from bats?

Even if bats host viruses, they may be different from those identified in nonflying mammals (for example SARS, civets/ «SARS-like», bats).

Tent-making bats, Costa Rica

©François Moutou

Bats & VIRUS, some exemples:
° Lyssavirus, rabies, Lagos, Duvenhage, EBL1, EBL2, ABL, etc. (worldwide)
° Coronavirus, αCoV, βCoV (China, Middle-East)
° Filovirus, Ebola, Marburg (Africa)
° Influenzavirus (Kazakhstan, Guatemala)
° Paramyxoviridae (worldwide)
° Rubulavirus, Menangle (Australia)
° Henipavirus, Nipah (Asia), Hendra (Australia)

What links between their genetic diversity, their ecological variability, their behaviours, and epidemiology of EID ?

If bats can live in contact with these viruses, could they be used to understand this kind of harmless relationship? What is the knowledge about their immune system?

Bats possess DNA-repairing genes linked to the powerful oxidative metabolism caused by beaten flight and that these same genes could explain their resistance to all these viruses.

Watch here this wonderfull documentary about Greater horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum) made by Tanguy Stoecklé (you can choose the language of subtiles). Death and birth in bats. A unique film! Exceptional and unprecedented scenes! A story inspired by real facts.

The virologists are working :

Recent increase of publications dealing with bat virus,
Looking for the «virome» (total host viral diversity) of some species,
Next generation sequencing, new tools, metagenomics, new data,
But... How to interpret properly?
Are we going to be able to anticipate next viral zoonosis ??
... Actually, no, not at this point. Serious and respected prohibitions should be placed on the legal and illegal trade on wild and domestic animals and animal products. Bats are not responsible for zoonosis, but human activities, such as globalization, deforestation, demographic outbreaks, poverty, animal trafficking in markets, deregulation, are responsible. WE ARE RESPONSIBLE.

Many examples are known recently, but the situation is not new. It has already happened in the past with two epidemics due to Coronavirus in 17 years from China, which remains a little in view of the Chinese context.
The source of the epidemics is in the animal markets in China. Wild and domestic animals coexist in conditions of high promiscuity, poor health conditions, stress, all possibilities of multiplication and viral transmission between animals and animals to humans. Some animals can just act as a relay.

Free-tailed bat (Mormopterus francoismoutoui), endemic to Reunion Island

©Roland Seitre

And the bat's point of view in all of this?

Bats are protected in many countries, but not in all.
Bat conservation international
Population decline is widespread and worldwide, due to insecticides and deforestation.
Threatened by the White Nose Syndrome in North America (more than 5 Million of deaths) and the Pseudogymnoascus destructans, a fungus, present in Europe but impact of which is still unknown.
20% of species are considered as threatened.
http://www.eurobats.org/

• Bats are of interest to chiropterologists, epidemiologists, virologists and molecular biologists, but not anymore.
• Co-evolution studies linking viruses and bats should provide a lot of important data.
• Models in epistemology, biology, medicine, microbiology, immunology, epidemiology, zoology, evolution.
• Don't forget the Bats' point of view !

Many questions... and one certitude

The current demographics, the accelerated degradation of areas which have not yet been modified and their replacement by extremely simplified agrosystems, urban areas, the massive use of chemicals and the associated pollutions, are preparing the ground for catastrophic phenomena with fewer and fewer possibilities of returning to a harmonious state, or only by passing through tumultuous and deleterious transient states for a good part of the living, including the human beings.

The SARS-Cov-2, the COVID-19 agent, capable of restoring blue to the sky and reducing air pollution, is a spectacular signal of the impact of human activities on the living when these activities cease. This emergence is probably not directly linked to the climate change, but we have to wonder ourselves about the reciprocal. Viruses, large and small in their own way, are part of biodiversity.

At the moment, the probability of a new emergence of a virus still does not seem calculable : it remains too random. Conversely, the risk of a “successful” emergence, which means that would lead to an epidemic, is correlated with many human parameters and increases with the growth of the human population, the human density present in more and more megacities, uncontrolled pressures on the remaining poorly modified environments, where most of the biodiversity is, including microbes. Globalization, whose out-of-control trade in so many animal species across the planet, can only promote the transition from an emergence to an epidemic, with a frequency and success that should grow if nothing changes.

*: Journal of Mammalogy, 99(1):1–14, 2018

Plastic is catastrophic!

Myriam Dupuis — 2020-01-07T12:14:23Z

12 000 per litre of water
The number of microparticles per litre of water that researchers found when melting ice samples from the Arctic region. 17 kinds of plastics were trapped in ice.
10 tonnes produced per second
This is the amount of plastic produced every second in the world. Since 1950, 6.3 billion plastic wastes have accumulated on the planet.
1 million plastic bottles sold per minute
In France, only 56% of the plastic bottles are recycled. In Germany, for example, they recycle 90% of plastic bottles..
1000 years to decompose
A plastic bottle takes between 100 and 1000 years to decompose. For a plastic bag, it takes 400 years.
1,6 million km²
It is the size of the 7sup>e/sup> continent made of plastic, which floats between Hawaii and California, for an area equal to three times France. Some 1,800 billion pieces of plastic, weighing a total of 80,000 tonnes, would be there.
99% of seabirds contaminated by 2050
This is the proportion of seabirds that will have already ingested plastic by 2050. In the early 1960s, only 5% were affected by this scourge.

“The end of the Devil”, travel story by François Moutou

Myriam Dupuis — 2019-08-18T08:02:58Z

The Thylacine and the Tasmanian Devil, victims of Europeans and dingoes

Benjamin, the last Thylacine photographed by Dr. David Fleay in it's tiny pen at the Beaumaris Zoo in Hobart, Dec. 19^th 1933

DR - internet- Dr. David Fleay

The Thylacine (Thylacinus cynocephalus) and the Tasmanian Devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) were still living all over Australia a few thousand years ago. They both survived after the arrival of humans 45,000 to 50,000 years ago, contrairy to the Australian Megafauna which strangely disappeared soon after this “arrival”. But, when the Dingo (Canis lupus dingo) reached the Australian continent 4,000 to 5,000 years ago, firstly as a domestic dog - but some of them going back to the wild -, it was a fatal turn for this marsupial everywhere except in Tasmania where the Dingo was not introduced. Much more recently, the Europeans' arrival and settlement lead to the extinction of the Thylacine at the beginning of the XX^th century. Also, we cannot ignore the plight of the Australia's aboriginal inhabitants of this Southern island, voluntarily exterminated during the XIX^th century. The degree of similarity between the destinies of these marsupials and aboriginals is rather disturbing.

The Australian's largest carnivorous marsupial is an ENdangered species

Actually, the Devil is Australia's largest carnivorous marsupial, even though if he is not a big animal, weighing around 10 kilos. A strange little predator, clumsy in his way of walking, the Devil is able to hunt but he is also a scavenger that feeds on dead animals along the roadsides. The Devil can smell you from kilometres away thanks to his keen sense of smell. His screech is extremely loud and disturbing, particularly if you don't see him around, but you will hear him ! Despite the uncertainty related to population estimations, his population might have grown from a few thousand individuals to more than one hundred thousand during the XX^th century, without any clear explanations of such a population growth.

Tasmanian Devil

François Moutou

Nevertheless, since 1996 when the facial cancer called DFTD standing for “Devil Facial Tumor Disease” was dicovered - the disease is transmetted by allograft when an animal bites another -, all the indicators of the population status are in decline and the current population could already be only at 10 to 20% of the previous level. Some pestimistic predictions consider that the devil's extinction could occur within the 2 to 3 coming decades ; others say that there are still Devils while most of the previous simulations predicted his extinction before 2015.
Locally, a true mobilisation took place with the establishments of captive breeding units away from risks areas (infected by the DFTD), i.e. about 600 individuals in different places, but also with the introduction of safe animals on small islands off Tasmania's coasts and more fundamental research into the disease itself, the ways of its transmission and the immune system of the Devils. It was also necessary to admit that the biology and ecology of the species itself were in fact still not well known. We begin to work on it while the situation is far from flourishing. All this is complex, requires substantial means: the tests to decide whether an individual is healthy or not are not perfect, and medical research has, in part, diversed into applications in human cancer, certainly interesting, but not directly dedicated to the Devil. In fact, there is little public money to study and fight the DFTD tumor.
To learn more, you can read about « Save the Tasmanian Devil program » at the website: www.tassiedevil.com.au.

“The Devil is more interesting dead than alive”

Tasmanian Devil

François Moutou

Perhaps most surprising is the statement by a former Environment Minister in the state of Tasmania who allegedly said, to justify the absence or modesty of public funds intended to fight the Devil's disease : “The Devil is more interesting dead than alive”. The fact is that when travelling in Tasmania today you have a curious impression by seeing everywhere the use of the Thylacine, officially extinct for about 80 years. The Thylacine is everywhere : on beer cans, on murals, on the logo of a hotel chain, on tourist signs in the city to point out discovery walks… The Thylacine has become a trademark, a well-known and recognised Tasmanian identity, which may make the happy owners profit, without any of the disadvantages associated with the animal.
It's too late for the Thylacine, but maybe not for the Devil : we would have to protect spaces for him to live in peace, there would be constraints to local economic development, we would declare damage in farms, farmers and hunters would complain, local elected officials would support them, conservation associations would step up to the plate, etc...

Same fight as the Bear and the Wolf in France?

Replacing the Thylacine and the Devil with the Wolf and the Bear, no matter what the order is, is quite reminiscent of what is happening in France, and unfortunately of what is more and more evident behind the official speeches. “We” don't want them. “Progress” is seen as contradictory to a return of these species, eliminated or almost extinct, after centuries of campaigns of destruction and having the gall to point out the tip of their muzzle again. Regardless of the ecological, biological, economic or even social data, it is cultural.
They must disappear. In France the lieutenants of louveterie survive the Wolf's extinction. With the Wolf's return in 1992, there has been no question of removing this organisation, despite the more recent structures set up like the ONCFS for example. It is not just the electoral mandates that are accumulated in France, or perhaps this cumulation should be considered in a very broad sense.

Everyone loves the Wolf in Perrault's tales, it is easy to use the Bear's image to sell Pyrenean cheeses in the Paris area, but Wolves and Bears are not welcome here, that is to say “at home”. There is one outstanding question. In Tasmania, since we're also talking about the Thylacine and the Devil, it seems difficult to isolate their fate from what happened to the Aboriginals. What would be the most relevant analogy in France?

Some extraordinary creatures from Tasmania

Common Wombat

François Moutou

The Wombat

Vombatus ursinus can reach up to 1,30 meters in length and weigh 40 kilos. There are tree species : the common Wombat, the Northern hairy-nosed Wombat or yaminon (Lasiorhinus krefftii) and the Southern hairy-nosed Wombat (Lasiorhinus latifrons). The Wonbat has some particularities : at the bottom of his back, he has a hard bone. If he is attacked by a dog or other predator, he will huddle head forward and let only his posterior appear. His predator will break his teeth on this bone! But he also knows how to flee and can run up to 40 km/h. He spends most of his days in a cold burrow, which he dug and in which he sleeps up to 16 hours a day. In captivity, we will often see him on his back, with his legs in the air! In the evening, he wakes up and goes feeding on grass. The Dingo preys on Wombats. Men also hunt them because, they say, the burrows they dig and the grass they eat harm “their” land. He is threatened with extinction although protected; but he is a regular victim of vehicles and diseases (scabies).

Wombat poo

François Moutou

He can spend up to 6 hours grazing before returning to his burrow that he finds thanks to his feces! Besides, his poop is ... cubic! In November 2018 in Atlanta, an international team led by the Georgia Institute of Technology, USA, presented its work on the unique form of wombat droppings, during the 71^rst Congress of the American Physics Society. It is the variations in the elasticity of the intestinal walls of this Australian marsupial that allow the formation of the only known cubic droppings of the animal kingdom. « Humans have « only two methods to make cubes – we grind or cut them – », and the wombat casings contain a third way of manufacturing, that will inspire production processes. The wombat uses its droppings to mark its territory. Would cubic droppings be more resistant to the wind?

Spotted-tail quoll

François Moutou

The Tiger Quoll

The Tiger Quoll (Dasyurus maculatus), also known as the Ancient Skeleton, the Dusty Grandpa, the I'm So Old or the Mungo Librarian, is a carnivorous marsupial, native to Australia, and of the Tasmania's Devil and Thylacine's family. He has a thick reddish-brown fur with white spots all over his body. He is about 35 to 75 cm long, without counting a tail that can reach 50 cm. Females are smaller and lighter than males.
The Tiger Quoll made his come-back to Australia in February 2016. This small carnivorous was extinct for more than 50 years. The 14 animals that were reintroduced are native to Tasmania where the species survives in the wild, thanks to the absence of predators like Foxes or Cats, and Buffalo-Goats, an invasive species whose venon is lethal for the Tiger Quoll that eat it. The loss of their natural habitat also contributed significantly to the decline of the species, as well as hunting and Dingoes. The problem should no longer arise as the release took place in the heart of the Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary, a nature reserve where a eucalyptus forest close to Australia's original ecosystem is being restored.

Spotted-tail quoll

François Moutou

The reintroduction is an important step for Professor Adrian Manning of the Australian National University in charge of the operation. “Our goal is not only to restore a healthy and diverse population, but also to undertake a study to determine the best way to import other species in order to improve the chances of future reintroductions in the main Australian territory”, he said to the Guardian. To this end, the released animals were all equipped with GPS collars so that they could follow their progress. In 2018, an additional 17 Tiger Quolls were released in Booderee National Park, located in southeastern Australia. The two NGOs (Aussie Ark and Global Wildlife Conservation) have just released 20 Tiger Quolls at the end of May. They plan to reintroduce 52 more during the year, this time in Barrington Tops National Park.

Eastern barred bandicoot

François Moutou

The Eastern barred Bandicoot

Perameles gunnii, threatened with extinction, is a small marsupial native to Tasmania and Victoria. He has a silky fur and long ears. He is about 25 to 40 cm long, with a 10cm long tail. He weights about 1-2kg : the Tasmanian Bandicoot is a little bit larger than his Australian cousin. He has a slender, elongated snout with moustaches. His coat, brown grey, bears on the back half of the pale bands that gave it his name. Belly, feet and tail are white. He feeds on earthworms that he spots with his developed sense of smell and unearths with his powerful paws, other invertebrates, fungi and roots. The male occupies a rather large area, in comparison with that of the females. A solitary animal, he “frequents” the females during the breeding season. The species is essentially nocturnal. The Bandicoot emerges from his nest at dusk to look for his food. He uses his long nose to dig deep into the ground and digs when he finds food. In the state of Victoria in Southern Australia, it is estimated that there remains a small population of about 150 individuals. Conservation efforts are implemented by associations. The technique involves putting up barriers to protect these small groups from introduced predatory species such as Red Foxes and Herring Cats. The benefit of these barriers is also to limit the spread of infectious diseases. In Tasmania, his population is classified as vulnerable by IUCN, but he occupies larger territories, not threatened by his main predator, the Fox, which does not inhabit the island.

Monotremes: Echidnean and Platypus

They are mammals that have hair, lay eggs and then breastfeed their young. There are only 5 species of monotreme in the world: four species of Echidnas and one of Platypus.

Short-beaked echidna

François Moutou

The short-beaked Echidna (Tachyglosus aculeatus) is covered with a thicker fur under his spines than his Australian cousins. With a length of 45cm and a weight of 4.5kg, his burrowing legs are at the front armed with powerful claws made for digging. He has a small mouth, with a thin jaw, without teeth but provided with a long sticky tongue with which he catches insects and arthropods. Echidnas live throughout Australia (depending on the region, he is more or less “blond”) and in Tasmania. During the mating season, in winter, they sometimes travel in convoy: a female followed by several males eager to court her! When the rainy season arrives, the Echidnea falls into lethargy and can remain without eating for more than 2 months. Did you know the he can live about 50 years?

Duck-billed platypus

François Moutou

The Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) is a semiaquatic egg-laying mammal : he looks like an otter with a duck beak! The improbable biology of this ancient creature was so unexpected that, when he was discovered by the early settlers, the scientists of the time all thought it was a bad joke. He is one of the rare poisonous mammals: the male carries on his hind legs a sting that can release venom capable of paralyzing a human leg or even killing a dog. The Platypus inhabits the waterways of Eastern Australia and Tasmania, and his presence is a sign of good river health. A male can thus possess up to 7 kilometers (4.4 miles) of river banks that he shares with 3 to 4 females. But to see him, you will have to be patient : the Platypus comes out mainly at dawn and dusk, and his discretion pushes him to flee to hide at the slightest alert. You can see him from quite a distance and the water reflections make them a little hard to see without binoculars. He spends an average of one minute underwater and ten seconds on the surface sorting, chewing and swallowing what he has harvested underwater. Tasmanian Platypus are estimated to weigh up to 3 kg compared to about 1 kg for those (Northern) of mainland Australia and have been separated for a long time. Maybe one day science will classify them as two species!?

In the bed of the Huab River, travel story in Namibia - Nov. 2018

Myriam Dupuis — 2019-05-13T04:34:56Z

Some deserts are even more desert than others. Driving from Walvis Bay to Sandwich Harbour between sea and sand, or around Sossusvlei at the foot of the red dunes in Namib National Park – Naukluft is a great experience. This desert that gives Namibia its name would be one of the oldest in the world.

From here, going up a little to the north and sinking into the land, beyond the granitic and rounded summit of Brandberg, we arrive in an environment, certainly arid, but apparently less empty than Namib. Some trees and scattered bushes on the ground “dress” the landscape. Yet, locally, the wildlife that can be encountered is described as “desert”. Arriving at Camp Kipwe, still a little north of the Brandberg massif and not far from famous petroglyph stations, we are only an hour's drive from the nearest «desert elephants». Then we meet them.

Encounter with the desert elephants

The trail crosses the sandy bed covered with bushes of a first dry river and regularly runs alongside small cliffs decorated with long white vertical trails. We don't see anybody, but these white marks could have been left either by raptors' colonies and nests or by damans, these small, round mammals, looking like rabbits with short ears and, curiously, distant cousins of elephants that are living in rocky shelters. It's early afternoon and it's still hot. They've all had to put themselves in the shade.

The driver leaves the main track and sinks into a small gorge that must lead to the bed of the Huab River, our goal. The landscape is getting closer. A beautiful male Oryx, disturbed, leaves on the rocky slope in front of us, not without turning several times to look well who came to disturb him during his meridian nap in the shade of a small acacia.

Two more turns and we arrive in the main bed of the river. If the banks are indeed a little steep and sometimes rocky, the bottom of the river, sandy, of easy circulation, is rather well wooded with trees and bushes. The elephants are coming in quietly from the upstream almost at the same time as we are. We haven't had time to look for them; they're there. They appear wet. They come from the water point located a little higher in the river. The groundwater, which explains the vegetation, is not so far under the sand. The guide explains to us that in order to avoid conflicts with humans, they have created permanent water points for them. This prevents elephants from drinking from the same “taps” as humans and reduces the sources of conflict. Moreover, since the local villages practice only the rearing of small ruminants, sheep and goats, and no cultivation, no fields or gardens, the risks of confrontations are reduced.

The trails in the area regularly display “Beware of Elephant” signs, but it is especially during night traffic that you have to pay attention. During the day, however, they should see themselves in open and rather clear landscapes. The amount of dung crossed by place, like those seen on the way to Palmwag the next day, suggests that elephants also use these tracks. Here we are on their way into the dried-up bed of the Huab River.

Desert elephants, Namibia

François Moutou

The Seven of the Huab River

In this small group they are seven: two adult suited females, one young male- still teenager - and two juveniles. The vehicle's stopped, the engine's shut down, and the animals are coming at us. There has been wind recently and the river acacias have lost many pods. These pods, rich in protein, are not lost to everyone. Elephants pick them up one by one with a beautiful dexterity. Locally this tree is called «ana tree». This is the species Faidherbia albida, formerly Acacia albida, also known to the Sahel on the other side of the equator where its vernacular names are during «balanzan», «Kadd» and «Gao». Watching the animals' trunks searching for and “picking” on the ground the pods that are slightly curled up on themselves, is quite fascinating, especially when it's two metres from your vehicle. The animals are not just indifferent to our presence, they especially seem to feel no discomfort, no fear. Their serenity is amazing. We have never seen elephants in such good conditions. The driver moves the car several times to stay in contact with them because they walk while feeding or rather feed while walking a good step towards the downstream.

Baby elephant, Namibia

François Moutou

When we see the two females stop to feed their respective pups right in front of the vehicle, we think we are very lucky. You can't imagine worried animals abandoning themselves like that. Elephants may not be weaned for 4 or 5 years. One of the two young must approach this age, two small white points already protruding from his mouth, on each side of the trunk. Like all baby elephants, he puts it down on his head to suck, but he must lower his mouth rather than raise it to reach his mother's left breast. A little further, the second, younger, with the same trunk movement folded on the forehead, must raise his head to arrive at the same result. Meanwhile, the young male approached the car and leaned for a moment on the back. No one moves, no one talks.

At this distance we look at the animals as well as we can. They are so extraordinary and it is so obvious ! Their eyes bordered by long lashes, their trunk with all its suppleness, virtuosity, softness and certainly also its strength, this incredible skin, but of which sensitivity cannot be doubted, these ears, behind which one sees very well the blood vessels that allow them to evacuate too much heat, these two pectoral nipples so close to those of the great primates.

Desert elephant's eye, Namibia

François Moutou

Gaze and purring

We're looking to exchange gazes with them, but that doesn't seem to be happening. Their gazes seem internalized, as if they were thinking, thinking about something else. How to imagine their representation of the world, olfactory and probably sound too? We are only visual and seem a little lost or disappointed without a wink or a collusion look. This must mean nothing to them. That's when we realize that these elephants are “purring”. It is difficult to find another word to describe this deep, powerful sound that we hear and feel. It is known in this species and it is the term used to describe it. We will hear it again the next few days as we watch families of elephants come to drink at the water points of the great national park of Etosha, even a little further North. This afternoon, the seven animals that wander through the dried-up bed of the Huab River share with us the sound expression of a certain well-being. It has to be contagious.

Our total excursion lasts from 2.30pm to 5.45pm, about an hour, from 3.30pm to 4.40pm, in the bed of the river. We are alone with the seven elephants, there is no other vehicle and even if this time shared is very short it really exists. The driver explains to us that a group of about thirty is more downstream and that the local population is a few hundred, 400 to 500 if I understand correctly.

Desert elephants, mum & baby, Namibia

françois Moutou

These animals are free of movement and are not in an enclosed space. In southern Africa this is not so common. For example, Etosha National Park, already mentioned, is closed and it is not the only one. Here the desert is open. Animal densities are low and human activities are spread over large areas. These elephants benefit and the local village communities benefit. The money raised during the visit of the river and the elephants is shared among the various actors, including the villages that live with these great neighbours.

On the way back, we cross Gangas, calaos, some Springboks grazing in the great dry stretches crossed. Everything seems calm and serene between the Huab River and Camp Kipwe. No one knows how long this situation can last, but it is certainly not immutable. The risk would be that the desert would become really desert, what has already happened.

author : François Moutou, Veterinarian, epidemiologist and member of the French Society for the Study and Protection of Mammals (SFEPM)

Coral bleaching & ocean acidification

Myriam Dupuis — 2019-03-11T10:18:37Z

Coral reefs cover less than 1% of the Earth's surface. They harbour 25% of the world's known marine biodiversity, and thousands of species belonging to other bioloogical groups, such as marine Invertebrates, microscopic life, Funghi ...

Healthy coral, the Blue Lagon, Rangiroa, French Polynesia

Myriam Dupuis

The reef ecosystem, structure of which being built by corals, is, together with humid tropical forests, is the richest in terms of biodiversity, the most complex and productive of the planet. It is urgent to preserve it.

Corals mainly live in shallow areas, quite close to the surface of the sea, in the salt waters of tropical seas where the temperature is between 20 and 32°C and the clarity of the water allows light to penetrate. Coral reefs are made up of billions of small animals, polyps, that live in symbiosis with microscopic algae called zooxanthells.

Anatomy of a coral polyp

DR - internet

Both species are useful to each other by offering shelter and food. Zooxanthells are plants that perform photosynthesis using sunlight by drawing carbon dioxide (CO₂) dissolved in water to produce oxygen and essential food for polyps.
For their part, polyps protect zooxanthells, breathe oxygen, produce CO₂ and provide their hosts with nutrients from their own waste. Each polyp lives inside a calcium carbonate shell. Polyps gather to form the complex structure characteristic of corals, while zooxanthells are the origin of their colour.

Threats
Environmental changes have destructive effects on this association. Threats include:

a change in water temperature (the sea is warming faster than scientists had predicted), its salinity, a change in its pH (acidification due to an increase in dissolved carbon dioxide),
changes in currents, strong storms, cyclones, exceptional conditions such as tsunamis, are environmental changes that “disturb” the coral and create stress.

Human activities are also responsible for coral bleaching (list is not exhaustive!):

agriculture : in France, agriculture production is used at 80% to feed livestock. It discharges nitrates and phosphates into streams, generating a chemical change in the rivers' water ... down to the sea;
urbanization of the coastlines : on one hand, construction of real estate (some wastes containing varying concentrations of toxic substances are found in the sea) and, on the other hand, supply of freshwater from the sewage treatment of cities, watering of gardens near the coral beaches (i.e. the coral does not like freshwater);
increase of the seaside attractiveness that causes the destruction of beaches and coral reefs : use of solar products, human trampling on corals...;
generally speaking, wastes discarded voluntarily or not at sea: “all-offshore”.

Coral bleaching

Coral Bleaching on Reunion Island

Myriam Dupuis

The coral then weakens: it receives less oxygen and ends up expelling its zooxanthells without which it cannot survive. And that's when discolouration or bleaching occurs. If the stress does not last too long, the zooxanthellas sometimes reintegrate their coral, but when the stress is too high, the zooxanthells do not return and the coral dies, invaded by invasive algae that grow on its surface.

The first observation of a bleaching date back to 1979.
Since then, we have been talking about the whitening of corals. These are no longer isolated cases but whole areas of reefs that bleach and die. This phenomenon has been observed everywhere: on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, but also on Reunion Island, on the Seychelles, on Madagascar, on the Maldives….
The pH of the sea has increased from 8.20 (in 1800) to 8.10 (in 2015) and is expected to continue falling to 7.65 by 2100.

What will be the impact of the disappearance of the corals?
Our lifestyles are producing more and more CO₂.
Corals contribute to reducing the amount of CO₂ in the planet's atmosphere because the coral skeletons they build consists of aragonite crystals, that is to say calcium carbonate. Carbonate is only dissolved carbon dioxide; calcium is found in large quantities in water. Carbonate is proportional to the carbon dioxide present in the air.
The corals therefore recycle this CO₂ in a rigid skeleton and participate in their own way in the purification of the atmosphere.
But the acidification of seawater has the following consequences:

the reduction of the chemical elements essential to marine life, hence the disappearance of marine animals;
the death of corals, shells, by the action of a sea water that has become corrosive and dissolves their shells;
the slow dissolution of the calcareous skeletons of these animals which will restore CO₂, which will proportionately pass through the Earth's atmosphere…and will contribute even more to the current pollution, even aggravating considerably the situation we are experiencing today. What will we do with this CO₂ that will no longer be “evacuated” by natural mechanisms?...
This acidification poses a real threat to marine ecosystems on a global scale, and therefore a threat to global food security.

We must therefore protect the coral, and protect the ocean and its inhabitants, because each species depends on another, in order to achieve this wonderful and fragile balance that gives life, and on which the human species also depends. Protecting is about thinking and changing one's ways of behaving, including how one consumes.

Newsletter n°15 - November 2018

Myriam Dupuis — 2018-12-02T11:52:09Z

Dear Members and Friends of Biodiversity,

Please find the 15^th editon of our Newsletter. We hope that you will take as much interest to read it as we had to write it.
Our subjects are as follows : Biodiversity, a key issue ? Phytoplankton needs whales' poo ; Space pollution.
Concerning the programmes supported by TENDUA : some update on the HURO programme with the release into the wild of a young male gibbon called Boopy ; update of the Desert Lion Conservation programme led by TOSCO, and also the 2018 report's extract of CAP LOUP in France.
Then, a few words about the 2018 volunteering season with the cetaceans on Reunion Island, and about the “shark business” on Reunion Island too. We received an email about a dugong that has to cope with kitesurfers near Marsa Alam, Egypt.
As nature is still surprising us, scientists reveal how wombats are able to produce cubic poo! Finally, your Agenda with the Walk for the climate on Dec, 8^th,2018.

Enjoy your reading!

Biodiversity, phytoplankton & Spatial pollution

IS BIODIVERSITY A KEY ISSUE ?

Biodiversity is the variety of life on Earth, in all its forms and all its interactions. At different levels, it is the variety of ecosystems, the variety of communities and species (specific diversity), and the genetics variety (within the same species). Biodiversity is the set of all the relations that all the living beings establish between them and with their environment. The diversity of the life is studied by scientists for a long time and it is also a source of philosophic debates. The term was coined in 1986 – a contraction of “biological diversity”. And despite of all the works dedicated to biodiversity, that have been undertaken since then, the understanding of what is biodiversity, and more recently the supposed policies to help its conservation, leave most questions about it globally not solved, in spite of interesting local initiatives.

The richness of life

DR - internet

One species is disappearing every twenty minutes, at a rythm of 100 to 1000 times higher than before humans dominated the planet, i.e. the rythm admitted for periods preceding the Homo sapiens' advent. “The number of animals living on the Earth has plunged by half since 1970. The number of tigers has plunged by 97% in the last century. More than half the ocean is now industrially fished.” Life on Earth has suffered five mass extinctions of biodiversity in its long history, caused by massive volcanic eruptions, deep ice ages, meteorite impacts and clashing continents, that is to say evolutionary processes. But the 6^th mass extinction of biodiversity has now begun. This one is very different, caused not by geology or natural climate change, but by a single species – us. The planet's balance is heavily threatened by our human activities.
To protect biodiversity, scientists consider that it is necessary to understand its fundamental ecological principles. After more than a century of researches, scientists still do not totally understand how work interactions between the different forms of life within a given ecosystem, and how biodiversity manages to maintain itself. What we know is that the more there is biodiversity in an ecosystem, the more it is capable to adapt itself to the changes, which could occur (such as diseases, climat changes, ...). We call it resilience.

Theory of ecological niches

Since Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection(1859) favoring the most adapted species to a given environment, the theory of ecological niches has gained the preference of the scientists. This theory explained the uneven distribution of species in a given ecosystem. Indeed, according to this hypothesis, if a species has a specific ecological niche, in which it dominates, it means that it occupies an habitat and performs a function on the trophic web, (i.e. “prey / predator”), determined within the given ecosystem.
According to this theory, two species of identical niches can not coexist. Only species that are different enough for the use of the resources in order to avoid competition, can share the same habitat. Yet, in the wild, in an healthy ecosystem, we can observe two, three, even more competive species that are coexisting.

Neutral theory : the perfect harmony

To explain how an ecosystem can maintain its richness, researchers then suggested a totally different approach : the “neutral theory”. According to this hypothesis, if all the species, put in the same conditions, perform to the same extent in terms of birth rate, dead rate, dispersion rate, speciation rate, regulation rate, that means that no species is dominating over another species. No competition, no interspecific exclusion. Only the “chance”, by the processes of colonization-extinction, would be at the origin of the observed differences.

Is biodiversity “working” as our synapses do ?

Biodiversity is more complex than its scientific attempts of modelisation are. All the « inter and intra-specific » relations are not yet understood. When scientists explore each ecosystem, they find countless such interactions, all honed by millions of years of evolution. Could these interactions be compared to our brain's synapses ? We know that they exist, create, evolve, adapt themselves, die. We don't really know yet how and why ?
From an aesthetic point of view, every one of the millions of species is unique, a natural work of art that cannot be recreated once lost. “Each higher organism is richer in information than a Caravaggio painting, a Bach fugue, or any other great work,” wrote Prof Edward O Wilson, often called the “father of biodiversity”. Moreover, “Without biodiversity, there is no future for humanity,” says Prof David Macdonald, at Oxford University.
Indeed, we lose sight of an obvious fact: the human being belongs profoundly and intimately to nature : in every human body, there is a small ocean, three times less salted than oceans of the planet. There is not a human being on one hand, and a nature on the other hand. We are an integral part of nature, whether we like it or not. Biodiversity provides all what we need. The air we breathe, the water we drink and the food we eat all ultimately rely on biodiversity, but right now it is in danger – because of us (i.e.Ecosystem services). We destroy forests and wild places, we polluate waters and grounds, we spread around plastics and GMO, we over-exploit the planet, we over-fish all the oceans, we poison ourselves. Starving, migrations, diseases, pandemics, wars...are the consequences of the loss of biodiversity. Is this the future we want ?

What can be done?

Giving nature the space and protection it needs is the only answer. Wildlife reserves are THE ONLY solution,. The world currently protects only 15% of land and 7% of the oceans. But some argue that half the land surface must be set aside for nature. Moreover, we can all help. Most wildlife is destroyed by land being cleared for cattle, soy, palm oil, timber and leather. Most of us consume these products every day, with palm oil being found in many foods and toiletries. We have to deeply modify our way of consumption and production. Choosing only sustainable options helps, as does eating less meat, particularly beef, which has an outsized environmental hoofprint. To have more ideas, see our article : How can I help to protect biodiversity ?.
Another approach is to highlight the value of biodiversity by estimating the financial value of the ecosystem services provided as “natural capital”. It is a touchy point as how can we estimate a value to something that is more than life ? But sometimes this can lead to real savings as per exemple, New York that has spent, over the last 20 years, $2bn protecting the natural watershed that supplies the city with clean water. It has worked so well that 90% of the water needs no further filtering: building a water treatment plant instead would have cost $10bn. But all over the world, unfortunately, the missing ingredient is political will.

Sources : IRD-Nouvelle Calédonie Fiche 333 ; Gilles Bœuf (MOOC Biodiversité & Changements globaux) ;
The Guardian

PHYTOPLANKCTON NEEDS WHALE'S POO!

Definition and cycle

Phytoplankton

Richard Kirby - DR

Phytoplankton are microscopic organisms that live in watery environments, both salty and fresh. Some phytoplankton are bacteria, some are protists, and most are single-celled plants. Among the common kinds are cyanobacteria, silica-encased diatoms, dinoflagellates, green algae, and chalk-coated coccolithophores. An yet, we share with it one-third of our genes ...
Like land plants, phytoplankton have chlorophyll to capture sunlight, and they use photosynthesis to turn it into chemical energy. They consume carbon dioxide (CO₂) and nutrients, and release oxygen. All phytoplankton photosynthesize, but some get additional energy by consuming other organisms.
Phytoplankton growth depends on the availability of carbon dioxide, sunlight, and nutrients. Phytoplankton, like land plants, require nutrients such as nitrate, phosphate, silicate, and calcium at various levels depending on the species.They also require trace amounts of iron which limits phytoplankton growth in large areas of the ocean because iron concentrations are very low. These nutrients are found in organic substances, such as dead animals and excrements of living bodies, that released minerals. Nutrients are very quickly consumed in the photic zone. More deeply - deeper than the photic zone - nutrients accumulate because some organic substances sink (and also because of thermocline).

Global map highlighting areas of upwelling

NOAA-DR

Then, it is necessary to drive these “deep nutrients” back to the surface to feed phytoplankton. - As the ocean has warmed since the 1950s, it has become increasingly stratified, which cuts off nutrient recycling. There is less vertical mixing to recycle nutrients from deep waters back to the surface. Many models of ocean chemistry and biology predict that as the ocean surface warms in response to increasing atmospheric greenhouse gases, phytoplankton productivity will decline.- One of the means nature has found are the «upwellings» : process in which deep, cold water rises toward the surface. Upwelling is not the only “way up” for nutrients : scientists consider that marine animals that make regular vertical migrations, as cetaceans, participate to the ocean surface's fertilisation. As they swim down to the deepth and up to the surface, they “agitate” the water. Spermwhales, for instance, dive very deep to feed : the registered record - up to now - for a spermwhale is a dive to 3000m (10000ft) deep -. And they “poo” near the surface, producing necessary nutrients for phytoplankton. “Because everything comes down to poo!” That is why all the whales, other cetaceans and marine animals are so important for healthy oceans! To know more about the “whale ' poo”: Our Blue Planet: Whale Poo

Microscopic BUT indispensable

The trophic web

DR - internet

Other factors influence phytoplankton growth rates, including water temperature and salinity, water depth, wind, and what kinds of predators are grazing on them. Indeed, phytoplankton is indispensable to marine life as Phytoplankton are the foundation of the aquatic food web. In a balanced ecosystem, these primary producers provide food for a wide range of sea creatures including whales, shrimp, snails, jellyfish and zooplankton.

« If pelagic fish disappear (i.e. overfished), zooplankton explose as it isn't eaten anymore. It will then feed on all phytoplankton, and these phytoplankton, as we know, are playing a major role in fixing the carbon dioxide. If oceans die, they stop playing the role we know on the climate regulation», Gilles Bœuf.

Through photosynthesis, phytoplankton consume carbon dioxide on a scale equivalent to forests and other land plants. Worldwide, this “biological carbon pump” transfers about 10 gigatonnes of carbon from the atmosphere to the deep ocean each year. Even small changes in the growth of phytoplankton may affect atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations, which would feed back to global surface temperatures.
Phytoplankton produce also more than 50% of the terrestrial oxygen diffused on the ocean surface...while phytoplankton represent only 1% of the biomass of photosynthetic organisms !
In other words, if phytoplankton disappear - what could happen if big marine animals disappear - the current rate of oxygen in the air - which is stabilized at roughly 21% of the air for the past 1,5 billion years - could drop down....But, first, we will have to cope with a dead ocean and all its consequences ...

Source : https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/f...

SPACE POLLUTION : ATTENTION !

According to the NASA report of 2009, there were more than 300 000 space debris in orbit around the planet, from the tiny metallic debris to the desactivated satellite. Space debris encompasses both natural (meteoroid) and artificial (man-made) particles such as non-functional spacecraft, mission-related and fragmentation debris. In 2017, these debris in orbit were estimated to more than 8000 tonns. The countries that participate to the space conquest are very carefully tracking the 29 000 biggest space debris - those, which are bigger than 10 cm- ; concerning smaller debris, there are more than dozens of millions. More and more satellites are launched into space. There should be more than 2000 active satellites currently, in orbit about the Earth or a little farther, on geostationary positions.
Once obsolete, these satellites become debris. The risk of chain collisions is increasing proportionnally to the debris density ; collisions generate more debris, making some zones of space totally out of use.

"What we need to understand, is that even a small debris – due to its speed in the space – can make an active satellite explose, and this explosion will generate a new cloud of debris. All debris are potential threats”, explains Luisa Innocenti, team leader of the Clean Space programme at the European Sapce Agency.

Evolution of space debris since 1960

DR - internet

Collision risks are divided into, at least, two categories.
On one hand, the collision risk which is of adventitious origin : a screw of 1 cm in orbit near the Earth can reach a speed of 28 000 km/h and have the effect of a grenade on a debris it will enter into contact. That is why the owners of satellites are warned by space agencies approximately three days before a possible collision, so that they can move some meters their device. Almost every week, satellites see their position modified. As the International Space Station is concerned, as soon as the collision risk is higher than 0,001%, the ISS is moved away. According to experts, at the current rate, we could move from a collision every 5 years to a collision a year from here 50 - 100 years.
On the other hand, there could be a risk of deliberate collision resulting in a political crisis, even an armed conflict. It is currently difficult to analyze these collisions and to rule between accidents and deliberated attacks of a State towards an other one. As far as a collision with few-centimeters fragments can pull the destruction of the most sophisticated of the military satellites, we understand what could repercussions and tensions generated by the situation.

Some solutions have been thought out to try to clean space. Engineers from the European Space Agency are working on “harvesting techniques” for space debris, particularly in the frame ofthe cleaning mission e.Deorbit, such as the use of of a robotics arm, of harpoons, of fishing nets ... but these “ideas” do not benefit yet from any financing. Another focus of development is the construction of new generation satellites that would self-destruct during their atmospheric comeback. Solar panels are easily reduced to dust, it remains to find a solution to destroy the more resistant components, in titanium or steel, before they collide the Earth.

The 29000 spatial debris in orbit under surveillance

NASA

Anyway, it is not enough that we polluate the Earth, we polluate also Space. Experts agree on the fact that some parts of space are now out of use. That mean's that space is a “limited resource”, as planet is, and the water we need, or the air we breathe...Is it so surprising ?! For space too, the « zero waste » is the best solution :

"To solve the space debris question, we need to act on two levels : first, we have to stop pollution, and then we have to collect space debris”, adds Luisa Innocenti.

Sources : Débris spatiaux, comment nettoyer l'espace ?

Actions supported by TENDUA

INDIA : HURO programme of SVAA for the protection of Western Hoolock Gibbon

HURO chose to try to release a lone male in the area in an attempt to create a couple rehabilitated/wild Gibbons. At the beginning of November 2018, SVAA's team released into the wild for the 3^rd time, a young lone adult male, named Boopy, who was kept at the Sonja Wildlife Rescue Centre since its rescue on 19 November 2012.

Boopy the single young male

Florian Magne - SVAA

“Boopy-the-lonely” was transferred in first hand in the temporary enclosure in the “Forest x” on 28^th September 2018 and then placed in the reintroduction enclosure. Immediately, the wild female - at least 30 years old lady - started calling and Boopy answering. The following days, the wild female and Boopy kept on exchanging regular calls (answers) that soon developed in what was more and more sounding like a duet call. During these first days, the wild female didn't leave the release site, and stayed near Boopy's enclosure without coming to the contact at the net, but with numerous eyes-sights. On October 28^th, exactly one month after his transfer on the release site and as the wild female was away, Boopy was left free by our team during the day with very encouraging results. Brachiation and locomotion were perfect, his position high on trees too, as well as his abilities to recognize the leaves and fruits (ficus) in the trees. Soon, he was only coming back in the evening in his enclosure where he was fed by our team and kept for the night. Boopy and the Lady were vocalising together. Everything went well until the 6^th day when Boopy managed to escape, confronting the wild female directly. Despite no aggressive sign from her, Boopy got scared and took the direction of the border of the CFR, later crossing the rice-field on the ground (bipedal work...) and took shelter in the village. Though, one much greater danger was waiting for him at the end of the rice-field: The powerline. Well trained to this kind of situation, the power was cut by our team with the help of villagers within five minutes, and two minutes later Boopy was hanging on the line, fortunately neutralised... Following this major incident, Boopy was put asleep safely, thoroughly examined on the spot, found absolutely fine (...) and immediately taken back to the rescue centre. End of the wild journey for him, for the moment.
SVAA's team thinks that Boopy's release will only take place along with a mate. To do so, they have the possibility to pair him at the centre. Luna, right now in company of a young teenager, Sasha, would be the ideal candidate to try to pair him at Sonja Wildlife Rescue Centre. This pairing could be conducted early next year (2019).

Another male gibbon named Kalsin could be a good candidat for the next release in this forest. Being older and stronger, Kalsin reaction to the wild female is likely to be more positive, but it is still hypothetical. According Florian Magne, the president of SVAA :“What we learnt, is that the wild female is not reluctant to the idea of being introduced to males, and that she is not aggressive. We have also confirmed that Boopy could fear his own shadow : all gibbons have their own characters, their strengths and their weakness, their smartness and idiocies... They are all so different, and amazingly diverse, always surprising in good or bad... Every piece of work with them is a new chapter”.

NAMIBIA : Desert Lion Conservation

Since 2017, progress was made with the development, approval and implementation of an action plan to systematically address incidents of human-lion conflict in the northwest of Namibia. The Ministry of Environment and Tourism took the lead on these developments. A Rapid Response Team was established with the acquisition of an equipped vehicle and the appointment of Cliff Tjikundi. Since April 2018, the first Logger Early-warning systems was erected at Driefontein in the Torra Conservancy. Driefontein, in accordance to the NW Human-lion Conflict Management Plan, was identified as one of the conflict “hot-spots” where problems with lions have occurred repeatedly over the past 20 years. In addition to the Logger Early-warning system at Driefontein, a “Satellite Logger Unit” was erected along the Uniab River. This unit will monitor lion movements, download GPS data stored on lion collars, and relay the information via satellite to the Central Server.

On 23 Jul 2018, the male lion Xpl-110 was immobilised in the marsh 3km west of the White Lady Lodge

TOSCO

Finally, the follow-up and translocation of animals in case of human/lion conflicts is the last development focus. At the end od May, 2018, a young male lion causing problems in the Purros Region was translocated to 35 km West, and fitted with a satellite collar. He was tracked North, but his collar stopped sending datas for unknow reasons : what happened to the lion ? maybe the collar got loose or just stopped transmitting ?
Another case : the adult male, Xpl-110 who was involved in the killing of 172 sheep in Jan 2018, entered the White Lady Lodge perimeter on several occasions, killed livestock and moved through the campsites. On 23 Jul 2018, the male lion Xpl-110 was immobilised in the marsh 3km west of the White Lady Lodge. The lion was loaded in the Desert Lion research vehicle and the long trip to the ocean began. But, the Ugab male, Xpl-110 who was translocated to the mouth of the Ugab River, has returned to the White Lady Lodge. The lion has unfortunately become a risk to public safety. The Ministry of Environment & Tourism has been informed of the situation.

COLLECTIF CAP LOUP

TENDUA is a membre of the CAP LOUP collective, to act for the protection of wolves in France. Currently 41 associations have joined the collective.
The French government has decided to kill 40 wolves during the 2017-2018 season (official “arrêté” that was co- signed by Ministers Nicolas Hulot, in charge of ecology, and Stéphane Travers, in charge of agriculture). So far then, nothing has changed, as the former government had already organised such a slaughter in 2016-2017 (40 authorised kills, 50 wolves killed by humans). These kills, undertaken because of the pressure of agricultural and hunting lobbies on the government, put in danger the population of wolves and do not stop predation on domestic livestock that are not enough - or not at all - protected.

André-Joseph Bouglione & the president of TENDUA at the walk to « STOP the wolves' slaughter »

TENDUA

The number of wolves which can be killed, that is the “ceiling” fixed by the Government over 2017-2018 was 40, then 43 and finally 51 wolves. On the ground, the stock is as follows : in fact, we know that 74 wolves died (probably more with the poaching), amount them, 45 wolves were “legally” killed “(they are deducted of the”ceiling»), 4 wolves were poached (and deducted), 25 wolves were killed but with no evidence it was poaching (not deducted).
Last year, more than 1000 citizens contributed to our action «#Stop au tirs des loups » (I.e. stop killing wolves) : they took a picture of themselves with a placard «#Stop au tirs des loups , and send it to CAP LOUP that made a mosaïc with all that picture.
On 17/03/2018, TENDUA was present with some representatives of CAP LOUP (i.e. ASPAS, Association Green, EVI, La Trace du Loup...) to protest against the wolves' slaughter in France.

Actions of TENDUA

REUNION ISLAND : The 2018 volunteering season with the cetaceans

Together with the diving center "le Dodo Palmé », we went 75 times out on the sea with people between July, 17 and October, 14, 2018, that is to say 10 more than in 2017. We did our sensibilisation work about environment (cetaceans, marine pollution, threats on oceans...) with about 650 people. Thank you so much to our eco-volunteers, especially Morgane who did a very good job this year! An exceptionnel year with a lot of humpback whales.

Unfortunately, at the end of October, 2018, a two-years-old female (20 tonns, 10 m long) has stranded several times on the shore, at the level of the civil works for the new Coastline Road (NRL) in a place called la Grande Chaloupe. Despite the attempts to save her and bring her back to the sea, the humpback whale died. An autopsy was done. For the moment, no results have been published. The observations made by the vets who have practiced the autopsy mention the presence of numerous parasites, particularly in one of the kidneys. But this is not enough to explain what happened to the whale.

March 2018: Baby dolphin found dead with broken jaw, Reunion Island

Globice

We wish there will be more transparency on this case than on the one of the baby dolphin that was found in the Ermitage lagoon with a broken jaw last March and who has died from its injuries. We are still waiting for the publishing of the analyses' results. We have some doubts about the fact they will ever be public, as the baby dolphin could have been a “bycatch” of the sharks' killing current program.

REUNION ISLAND : the “shark business” is still going on in 2018

On the pretext of the coastline's securisation, the sharks' killing programme is still on-going since 6 years. In 2018, the programme, formerly called CAP REQUIN, has changed its name and a new organisation is now in charge : it used to be the Regional Fishery Comity. Nevertheless the reality is the same : a non-selective fishing, which is insane both economically and ecologically. It is a pity that with the huge financial means that the new organisation called CRA (Centre de Ressources et d'Appui) is receiving, there is no recent update on the website. On Nov, 24^th, 2018, zero info about sharks that have been killed since last June! And as usual, false info or inexact information about bycatch that represent 60 to 80% of captures....
According to the CRA, «the shark risk reduction needs a global approach implementing various solutions: it is the concept of the complementary barriers of securisation that comes through several operational measures (human and technological observation, targeted captures, protection of swimming areas and nautical activities zones)."
That is all bla-bla-bla.
The truth of the ground is :
For human and technological observation -> members of the so-called « sharks' watchers team» (vigies requins) are not very busy all the day long : they chat noisily - you can hear them easily everyday ; they are paid for doing practically nothing ; when they are going out to the sea on their sea-scooter, they are driving them so fast that they are putting scuba-divers in danger! ;

Protection of swimming areas and nautical activities zones -> fishing gears are put near the diving sites ; moreover, the sharks' protection net of the Saint-Gilles' beach has been vandalized repeatedly ;
Observations and targeted captures -> observers, “picked out of some hat”, as the NGO for the environment protection were not “qualified” to participate to the tender ; the observers' reports mentioning only one single bycatch for the 2^nd quarter of 2018 (one barracuda !!), but no mention of the observers coordinates...
For the CRA, the conclusion is : « The concentration of all or part of these measures, in a space and at a moment given, allows to act positively on the level of the risk shark.» Totally, utterly and completely wrong!!, one more time ! Recent scientific studies establish that the non-selective fishing of the sharks is useless to lower the risk and dangerous for the environment ; this is what we repeat for so many years.
To know more about these studies, read the article on our blog “protection-requins.org”.

Feb.2018: baited gear on a diving spot at 10 m from the shore

DR - internet

Finally, between January 2014 to November 2018, 282 bullsharks and tiger sharks were killed (not taking into account the babies sharks killed together with their pregnant mothers). That is far too many. These numbers are not considering the “Sunday fishing”. But for such a cost (“so called”the fishing effort"), and so weak results over a 5-years period, no one private fishery could have survived, economically speaking !
It shows also that sharks are not “pullulating” in the water of Reunion Island.
That should also stop revendications of some associations that ask for the authorisation of the trade of shark meat that has been prohibited to avoid sanitary risks such as contamination with the ciguatera toxine. With so few sharks, no reason to develop an economic sector based on the trade of shark meat, which would - one more time - highly benefit from government subsidies.

Feb.2018: baited gear on a diving spot at 10 m from the shore

DR - internet

EGYPT : dugongs threatened by kitesurfers

« Kitesurf Bay »near Marsa Alam, Egypt

DR - internet

We were sad to learn that there were only 7 dugongs remaining on the very small dugong population, which was estimated in 2009 to 12 animals, and in 2002 to 17. The Egyptian Red sea coastline is knowing an important real estate and touristic development since the 10 past years, at the cost of environment (i.e. our article). We have been informed that a lonely dugong is living near Marsa Alam, in the Al Nabaa Bay, now renamed “the Kitesurfers' Bay », a paradise for kitesurfers. They regularly see a dugong, and some marine turtles, coming up to the surface for taking their breath. A kitesurfer has even confessed that he “unfortunately beheaded a turtle by mistake”!!!

«Kitesurf Bay» near Marsa Alam, Egypt

DR - internet

Then, one question : why is kitesurfing authorised in the Al Nabaa Bay, neighbouring the protected Abu Dabbab Bay, as being an habitat for the dugong ? Why this bay hasn't been protected yet ? We have sent these questions to HEPCA* and are waiting for an answer (*Hurghada Environmental Protection & Conservation Association).
We wonder if the owners of the « Three Corner Resorts » are sensible to the presence of a rare animal as the dugong, or if they prefer money from kitesurfing ? Up to now, the answer seems obvious.

Unusual

**The cubic poo of the wombat (Vombatus ursinus)**

Baby wombat

Romaric Bertholle

Wombat poo

Diana S.Fleischman

On November, 18^th, 2018 in Atlanta, at the 71^st Annual Meeting of the APS Division of Fluid Dynamics, an international team lead by the Georgian Institute of Technology, USA, has published results of its works on the unique wombat's cubic scat formation. Wombat is an Australian marsupial producing cubic faeces, which is unique in the animal kingdom. In the built world, cubic structures are created by extrusion or injection molding, but there are few examples of this feat in nature. In the final 8 percent of the wombat's intestine, faeces changed from a liquid-like state into a solid state composed of separated cubes of length 2 cm. This shape change was due to the azimuthally varying elastic properties of the intestinal wall. The wombat's intestine stretches preferentially at the walls to facilitate cube formation. The wombat uses its faeces to mark its territory.

Agenda

Saturday 08/12/18: Walk for the climate

From December, the 3^rd to th 14^th, the Annual Conference for the climate COP 24 will take place in Katowice in Poland.To walk again for the climate, meet in Paris as well as in several cities across the world on Saturday December 8, 2018.It is time to act!!: IL EST TEMPS d'AGIR !

From 11 to 14/01/2019 : The 21^rst Salon de la Plongée

At la Porte de Versailles in Paris ; One-Day ticket : 13€ ; 2-Days ticket : 23€ ; 3-days ticket: 29€.