AWS is supporting the Great Elephant Census by conducting technical reviews of aerial surveys that have been conducted in Uganda and the Congo.  Dozens of researchers are flying in light aircraft to capture comprehensive observational data of elephants and elephant carcasses. The project supported by the Paul Allen Foundation is designed to provide accurate and up-to-date data about the number and distribution of African elephants using standardized aerial surveys of tens of hundreds of thousands of square kilometres. A standardized

George Wilson attended the International Wildlife Diseases Association conference on Sunshine Coast, opened by Threatened Species Commissioner Gregory Andrew. There was a great turn out and many enlightening presentations.

The major theme was emerging human and wildlife diseases that result from spill-over of pathogens to other hosts, such as Hendra, Ebola, SARS, MERS.

Other interesting discussions took place, including diseases in koalas, frogs, Tassie devils and cats. A report was also given by Tim Portas, on the improvements of condition

Here is a link to an article on Cecile the lion: RIP Cecil the lion – what will be his legacy? And who should decide?

It discusses whether a ban on hunting would indeed improve the conservation of African species or lead to further decline.

“Bans on trophy hunting in Tanzania (1973-78), Kenya (1977) and Zambia (2000-03) accelerated a rapid loss of wildlife due