Animalogy: Primate Basics by Bassam Imam - HTML preview

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than

females’

territories.

In

addition,

males’

42

territories extend into females’ territories. Urine marking (of the hands), vocalization and grooming are important behaviours.

Senegal Bushbaby females generally give birth to singles or

twins following a 4 month gestation period. Infants cling onto the mother while she travels. However, they are nested while the mother forages. Maximum lifespan in captivity is 10 years. As with other primate species, life in the wild is almost always shorter.

Senegal Bushbabies primarily eat insects, but will also eat

fruits, flowers, gum and sap, seeds, flowers and young birds, small birds and eggs.

The Senegal Bushbaby is relatively common and has a broad range. There are no serious dangers to this species. However, there wild cats, birds of prey and snakes in the respective habitats can pose a serious danger to individuals. The pet trade in these species is limited. The IUCN has listed the SBB as Least Concern.

Zanzibar Bushbaby (Galago zanzibaricus) inhabits a variety of forest types in a relatively broad range exclusively on Zanzibar Island in Tanzania. This species is generally not found in the lower canopy.

Zanzibar Bushbabies tend to have a brown-coloured coat. The

eyes are big and designed for nocturnal life. The ears can be moved or bent independently, an incredible insect hunting tool.

In addition, the sense of hearing is of high quality. Maximum weight for the Zanzibar Bushbaby is 11 lbs. Dangers to ZB

include

habit

loss,

habitat

alteration

and

agricultural

expansion. The IUCN has listed the ZB as Least Concern.

Horsefield’s Tarsier or Western Tarsier (Tarsius bancanus) inhabits primary and secondary forest, on the coasts and on the peripheral of plantations on Borneo, Sumatra and several other islands.

Horsefield’s Tarsier coat is predominately gray, brown or brown tinged with gray. This is a tiny primate generally not exceeding 5 oz. with sexual dimorphism apparent. It has a tail that is almost twice as long as the head and body. The rear legs are long and powerful. Its eyes are quite large relative to body size.

Horsefield’s Tarsier possesses grooming claws and pads on the tips of the fingers. However, this species does not possess a tapetum lucidum.

Horsefield’s

Tarsier

is

nocturnal

and

predominately

arboreal, seldom descending to the ground. It moves through the forest by vertical clinging and then leaping. This species is very proficient at leaping. It can turn its head 180 degrees.

Horsefield’s Tarsier mating system is monogamous and

polygynous, depending on food availability. Females usually give 43

birth to 1 infant following a gestation period of 6 months. The mother is highly protective of its infant until it attains maturity. They will do whatever it takes to defend their infant.

HT primarily eats insects but will also eat bats, small mammals, birds and small reptiles. This species pounces on its prey, eating it from the head down. Dangers to Horsefield’s Tarsier include habitat loss, palm oil industry, pet trade, pesticides, and unjustifiable retaliation killings for perceived crop raiding. The IUCN has listed the HT as Vulnerable.

Dian’s Tarsier or Diana’s Tarsier (Tarsius dentatus)

inhabits primary and secondary forests in the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Dian’s Tarsier coat is predominately greyish-brown or

brownish yellow-coloured with some white-coloured hair on the face. The tail which is longer than the head and body is typically free of hair except a tuft on the tip. The eyes are big and have a stationary gaze (inability to shift in any direction). Luckily, this species has the remarkable ability to turn its head 180 degrees.

Dian’s Tarsier is nocturnal, arboreal and moves through the

forest by vertical clinging and leaping. This species also moves quadrupedally.

Dian’s

Tarsier

lives

in

small

groups

generally

not

exceeding individuals.

Dian’s

Tarsier

mating

system

can

be

monogamous

or

polygamous depending on the circumstances.

Dian’s Tarsier primarily eats insects but also eats small animals. Dangers include habitat loss, pesticides, pet trade, retaliation killings for crop raiding, and domestic pets. The IUCN has listed the Dian’s Tarsier as Vulnerable.

Below are is a list of some of the problems and issues facing primates in the wild and in captivity:

-General habitat destruction

-Habitat fragmentation

-Habitat conversion

-Agricultural expansion

-Slash-and-burn practices

-Hunting (Sport and non-sport)

-Trapping (target or non-target animals)

-Bush meat

-Wars, civil wars and civil disturbance.

-Traditional or folk medicine

-Antagonistic superstitions

-Pet trade

-Vivisection

-Mining (miners and migrant workers)

44

-Logging

-Pollution

-Pesticides

-Road Kill

-Natural Predators

-Electrocution

-Human settlement expansion

-Significant population growth of species

-Significant decline of species population

-Translocation of the species

-Overconsumption of food supply by the species

-Loss of a keystone species in a particular habitat

- Natural or artificial introduction of a new species into a particular

-Retaliatory killings for actual or perceived crop raiding.

-Discovery of a new species, sub-species, or discovery of an additional population of a known species.

-Classification and naming of a new species or sub-species.

-IUCN and CITES classification system.

-Funding (where applicable)

-Publishing literature pertaining to the species.

-Advertising a cause (in particular a SOS regarding an

Endangered or Critically Endangered Species.

-Captive Breeding

-Re-introduction programs

-Rehabilitation programs

-Rescue centers and orphanages.

-Zoos

-Circuses

-Roadside menageries

-Entertainment industry

45

ANIMALOGY: PIGEON BASICS

Pigeons form the bird family Columbidae in the order

Columbiform.

Often

times,

the

word

‘pigeon’

and

dove

are

used

interchangeably. Technically, doves are the smaller of the two (up to 1 ft. long) and pigeons are the larger (can reach upwards of 2.5 ft.). In addition, doves are even gentler than pigeons. I shall use the terms interchangeably, though.

Descendants of Rock Pigeons are those most commonly seen in

urban areas. I shall use the term ‘urban pigeon’ often when referring to pigeons within towns, cities, villages or in any other human settlements. Pigeons were first used as food; the service to humans was added later.

Pigeons are amiable, smooth and sweet voiced, and can be wild or domesticated. These incredible birds have reached the ends of the Earth, except for the Polar Regions and the hottest 46

and most torturous of desert areas. Over 300 species of pigeons have been identified.

Sixty to seventy percent of pigeon species are found within

south-eastern Asia, the Pacific Islands and Australia. The rest are scattered throughout much of the world, depending on the

‘tolerance level’ of the human community, pigeons have taken residence in many cities and towns. Our buildings and homes make good perching and nesting sites, considering these places resemble rocky ledges and inland cliffs.

Pigeons are quite versatile, they can be found in

woodlands, jungles, urban areas, open fields, farmlands and scrub deserts.

Pigeons are very sociable birds. It is common to find more than one species within a flock.

Pigeons are likely humans’ oldest domestic bird. Urban

pigeons have lived near humans for at least 5000 years. They were important to the Sumerians where lifelike images of pigeons were drawn or moulded into figurines, associated with the Mother Goddess.

Similar beliefs extended to Crete, Cyprus, were manifested in Roman coins and were part of the Greco-Roman society.

The

Sumerians

bred

white

doves

from

wild

pigeon

populations.

White

doves

were

considered

sacred

by

ancient

civilizations, at times even worshipped.

Mentioned in the Old Testament, it is believed that the Prophet Noah had a dove of peace. A reference to the white dove was also made in the New Testament. It is believed by some to be a symbol of the Holy Spirit. White doves are also a symbol of peace. A pair of white doves, male and female, still signifies love.

Carrier pigeons were used by the ancient Egyptians and

Persians.

The ancient Greeks used carrier pigeons to communicate the names of the winners of the Olympics. The Romans, including but not limited to Julius Caesar used carrier pigeons during wartime. In addition, the Romans ate and bred pigeons.

King Solomon used pigeons to carry important messages.

Aristotle wrote about the 5 pigeon breeds of pigeons in his book History of Animals. Cyrus the Great used pigeons to report the outcome of wars. Ancient Egyptians ate pigeons.

One of the uses of pigeons is pigeon post; birds, primarily

pigeons carry mail. These were in effect, homing pigeons, descendants of the Rock pigeon. They’d been earnestly bred to travel extremely long distances and successfully return.

Pigeons are friendly, loyal and passive. There’s hardly a case example of a pigeon attacking a human. In fact, if you ever 47

feed pigeons and there are gulls and squirrels in the group, the gulls will be the most aggressive towards the other animals.

However, gulls are also the most weary and apprehensive of humans. Squirrels can get a bit aggressive towards pigeons when being fed together. But then, individual pigeons can become a bit belligerent if being fed in a large group. This is normal behaviour for most animals.

In many countries pigeons are given no mercy at whatsoever.

They are considered food or outright pests to be stomped on, kicked or used for target practice.

A repulsive act by urban pigeons is their often-times

filthy eating behaviour; in cities they’ve been observed eating garbage and even vomit. When eating this filth they walk or wade in it, too. Otherwise, they can eat bread, cereals, cake, crackers, fruits, popcorn, seeds and grains, and potato chips.

Some pigeon species also eat insects, worms and snails.

Urban pigeons sometimes get their feet tangled in human garbage; usually stringy articles. In this scenario they’re unable to fly. This is a death-knell.

But, the biggest predator to urban pigeons is the

automobile followed by the bicycle. That is, of course, if there isn’t a city pigeon culling operation underway.

When urban pigeons eat they often become over-absorbed,

completely blocking out their surroundings. Urban pigeons that are used to human handouts lose much of their flight response.

Pedestrians will notice that they can bob and weave around pigeons. However, if you walk directly into a path of a group of pigeons they’ll disperse.

However, loud and unusual noises, especially when sudden, create an instant fear and flight response.

Back to the automobile; food dispersed near parked cars poses a great danger to urban pigeons. Pigeons perceive the automobile as an inanimate object. When the driver returns to his/her car, starts it and then drives off, well ... squash.

This results in many fatalities.

Other fatalities occur in the middle of the street.

Usually, the pigeon/s is eating. The driver usually doesn’t see the pigeons in time or cannot evade them for personal safety reasons. But there is a category of drivers that actually speeds up in order to squash as many pigeons as possible. Thankfully, the latter category is in the minority.

If you take regular walks in an area that contains a

healthy population of pigeons you’ll also see dead or wounded pigeons on the sidewalk. Cyclists and people pushing carts or strollers squash pigeons. Pigeons are easily squashed. If you’ve ever seen a severely injured pigeon chances are it has been disembowelled. Leg injuries are also common. One severely 48

injured leg will destroy the flying and walking abilities of any pigeon. In this case scenario, the pigeon, unless rescued by a human/s will almost definitely die soon.

Dogs, cats, raccoons and other predators find the maimed pigeon an easy delightful meal. In ‘the wild’ there’s no such thing as mercy during mealtime.

Urban pigeons must also endure rocks and kicks by kids or sadistic adults. In the wild, pigeons must be on the lookout for falcons, hawks and owls.

Thankfully, in Montreal (my home town) most of our city dwellers have no need or urge to harm pigeons. As a whole, though, we tend to be good pigeon feeders. Pigeons are almost always hungry eating just about anything they are handed. I don’t blame them. They have high metabolic rates, as do most flying bird species.

Individuals and flocks of pigeons often congregate around certain areas known to be feeding spots. Urban pigeons manifest themselves just after dawn when the sun has lit up ‘your city’

and they begin their ‘disappearing act’ between late afternoon and pre-dusk. It’s unusual to see a pigeon after dark. But if you do see one it’s likely sick or injured.

Frequently, pigeon populations in urban areas increase to a

nuisance level. Too much poop in the parks, on vehicles and especially in balconies can drive people crazy. In addition, flocks or individuals may converge in walkways or on sidewalks.

Urban pigeons tend to reproduce all-year-round. They have no concept of birth control.

Pigeon mating is monogamous, ‘milking’ and caring is done by both parents. Breeding can begin at 6 months of age. Lifespan is quite variable, depending on circumstances. However, 15 years would be extraordinary (but does occur) for an urban pigeon considering the plethora of surrounding dangers.

Pigeons love balconies. If they keep returning to the same spot without being forced or shooed away, the balcony will become a place for pooping, mating and nesting. This is a common occurrence in urban areas. Apartment dwellers and owners can use non-lethal methods of repulsion. Pigeons feel right at home near humans.

A few years ago I witnessed an unusual scene in my friend’s

balcony (he lived in the same apartment building). A pair of pigeons had built a nest derived from their own poop. The concierge (custodian) took care of the problem. I never found out how or what he did. That’s something to ponder about.

Thankfully, there are humane solutions to the pigeon over-population

problem.

If

used

properly

and

under

ideal

circumstances OvoControl efficiently controls the reproduction 49

of effected birds. Any community that needs to reduce its pigeon population can use OvoControl.

OvoControl is specially designed bait that adversely

affects the hatchability of pigeon eggs. Fertile pigeons lay 2

white eggs on a cliff; if in the city likely a balcony or other high post within a building. Nests are fragile.

The chicks will hatch roughly 2 or 3 weeks later. Both parents feed the chicks with a curd-like substance formed in their crops. The chicks stick their heads into their parent’s (mother or father) mouth then the parent regurgitates the curd-like substance.

Newborns are blind, featherless and defenceless, needing

their parents in order to survive.

I will point out a few important points regarding

OvoControl as sent to me by a representative of Arizona Wings N’Stings LLC-Bird, Bee and Bat Control Specialists. I have paraphrased what was sent to me from this company. In all honesty, their response to my email inquiry was lightning-fast.

-OvoControl comes in 30 lbs. bags.

-OvoControl is used straight. There is no mixing of this product with any food items.

-OvoControl is not like Avitrol.

-The bait is a restricted use only product; it is used to help reduce egg hatchability in pigeons.

-The pigeons must continue to consume the bait to remain sterile.

-An interruption of 30 days use of the bait will result in the pigeons to become fertile again thereby hatching eggs.

-An automated feeder is placed on a secure flat rooftop location.

-The timer is set to dispense around 10 ounces of bait per 25 pigeons out about 20 feet from the feeder 7 days a week.

-The dispenser can hold 90 lbs. of OvoControl P bait.

-Several feeders should be placed for larger flocks. This will better ensure that the pigeons feed evenly.

Other

methods

of

pigeon

population

control

include

poisoning, narcotics, shooting, anti-roosting spikes. These spikes can work for decades.

Culling or shooting of pigeons is often ineffective as

pigeon population control. Sometimes, this method may aggravate the problem; causing a rejuvenation in the population.

A method first initiated by The Pigeon Control Advisory Service International (PiCAS) involves the use of artificial breeding facilities. By all accounts this appears to be an 50

effective method of Pigeon Control. It can be done in one of two ways; using a pigeon loft or a dovecote.

Both methods involve the encouragement of pigeons to roost and breed in the specially designed breeding facilities.

Therein, the eggs are snatched as soon as they hatch and then promptly replaced with ‘dummy eggs’. Note: Sometimes there is a condition referred to as ‘egg-bound’. The egg is stuck inside the pigeon. DO NOT try to remove the egg! If it cracks it will likely have fatal consequences.

The object is to get the roosting pigeon to sit on its eggs

for as long as possible. The target is 25 days. When the pigeon realizes that her eggs won’t hatch, she’ll restart her egg laying cycles.

In brief, a pigeon loft is an artificial pigeon housing unit that is usually built on a building, but can also be located indoors. A dovecote is stationed in an open area surrounded by greenery. Unlike in urban areas pigeon lovers are encouraged to feed pigeons. The idea is to entice the pigeons into the dovecotes where they can roost, thereby removing and then replacing their eggs. In some jurisdictions, heavy fines are imposed on persons who feed the pigeons outside of designated areas.

Often times, it is a few die-hard pigeon lovers who bombard

pigeons with food on a daily or regular basis. The pigeons in turn will breed more and converge in flocks upon the feeding sites.

Pigeons have been slaughtered wholesale, for fun in pigeon shoots and in acts of outright extermination. The Dodo Bird and the Passenger Pigeon are the 2 saddest stories in the annals of bird history. I shall briefly describe what happened to each of the now extinct pigeon species. The Dodo or Dodo Bird is related to the pigeon.

No doubt, the saddest most depressing example of wildlife obliteration in North America is the case of the Passenger Pigeon.

At one time, the Passenger Pigeon was the most numerous bird species in North America. It is estimated that there were billions of them.

Flocks would darken skies hours on end. There are however, accounts of darkened skies that last more than an entire day.

Passenger Pigeons would perch on trees with such enormous numbers that branches would actually collapse from the sheer weight. This is incredible considering the ‘feather weight’ of pigeons. I can’t imagine how large the flock would have to be to collapse a tree branch.

51

Prior

to

the

destruction

of

the

Passenger

Pigeon’s

ecosystems they had a plethora of food supply within America’s vast forests.

Maximum speed for Passenger Pigeons is estimated to be 70

mph. This however wasn’t fast enough to escape the brutality of humans.

The major causes of the collapse of this remarkable bird species are mass deforestation, human settlement expansion, poisonings, human encroachment and ‘gone-crazy hunting’.

Settlers had effective weapons at their disposal including firearms, nets, long sticks (used to knock pigeons off of trees), toxic fumes (to make pigeons dizzy and fall onto the forest floor) and the snatching of birds’ eggs. In addition, pigeons that fell onto the forest floor and squabs (young pigeons; Adolph Hitler loved the taste of squabs) were

wholeheartedly eaten by wolves, foxes, predatory birds, snakes and other predators.

Individuals involved in the mass Passenger Pigeon slaughter were, as a whole apathetic, selfish, greedy and had no inkling of what conservation meant. Quick and easy food and money were strong motivators.

Massive quantities of Passenger Pigeons were sold on the open market. The flesh was cheap, tasty and plentiful.

The 19th century was the most catastrophic for the Passenger

Pigeon. Frivolous and unenforced conservation laws were too little too late. People involved in the pigeon slaughter simply ignored the protection laws (when they were finally passed).

Using hindsight, the end result was inevitable; extinction!

The last surviving Passenger Pigeon, named Martha, died at the age of 29 at the Cincinnati Zoological Garden. She died in front of a small crowd of people. From what I know, hardly a tear was shed.

The Mauritius Dodo or more commonly referred to as the Dodo

Bird or Dodo was an inhabitant of Mauritius.

The Portuguese sailors arrived in Mauritius in 1598. They came across the Dodo Bird. The name Dodo is Portuguese for foolish or ignorant. Later, Dutch settlers arrived on the island.

Tragically, no later than 1690, the last Dodo Bird had died. This relative of the pigeon had endured an extermination campaign.

Although distant ancestors of this bird were able to fly, the Dodo Bird was flightless. Having lived on Mauritius for many generations and without having any predators therein caused it to lose its flight instinct. In addition, there was plenty of bird food on the island.

52

Another problem was that Dodo Birds’ nests were located on the ground. Introduced predators ate or trampled on nest eggs.

Flying takes up an enormous amount of energy for most

birds. Therefore, it was inevitable that one generation after another would fail to fly. In addition, the Dodo Bird was quite large and plump; a good food source for hungry sailors and settlers.

Settlers and sailors had easy pickings. By the way, Dodos weren’t simpletons. They were intelligent birds. The settlers and sailors considered these birds stupid but in reality it w