Page 65 - World of Animals - Issue #29

Saving the Alps
Bearded vulture Mountain hare
The bearded vulture is the largest bird found
in any region of the Alps. It has distinctive
colouration and black markings covering its eyes.
The only animal in the world that feeds almost
entirely on bone, it drops bones from a great
height to break them into bite-sized pieces. warm and preserve body heat.
Sergio Savoia is the programme director of the
European Alpine Programme, the conservation
initiative from the WWF to safeguard the landscape
and the animals living there
Why are the Alps so special?
The Alps are one of the last strongholds of nature in Europe. Dynamic
natural processes continuously reshape the landscape and are the
driving force for biological diversity. Of about 4,500 vascular plant
species in the Alps, nearly eight per cent are endemic, occurring in
the Alps and nowhere else in the world. The exact number of animal
species in the Alps is unknown, but estimates place that number at
about 30,000.
What are the major threats to the wildlife?
Along with urban sprawl and unsustainable tourism, global warming
is probably the most severe threat to alpine biodiversity. Climate
change impacts mountain areas particularly hard. Changes in rain
and snowfall patterns are predicted, with an increase in the frequency
and intensity of extreme events, such as floods and avalanches.
What is the WWF European Alpine Programme doing to help?
We conduct field projects in all alpine countries, currently focusing on
freshwater issues (the Alps provide countries such as France, Italy,
and Germany with drinking water and hydroelectric power) and large
carnivores, along with ecological connectivity projects, aimed at
countering the impact of climate change on biodiversity by making it
easier for species to migrate.
How will the landscape of the Alps have changed in 50 years?
It is hard to say. I would imagine that valley floors will continue to be
increasingly urbanised, while higher altitudes will see an increase in
afforestation and abandonment of traditional agriculture. On the other
hand, it is diffi cult to predict what changes global warming will cause.
Glaciers will likely disappear, water supplies will be less reliable –a
strategic problem for the concerned countries.
What can ordinary people do to help?
They can pressure decision makers at all levels so that the fragile
alpine environment is taken into due account. They can also change
some personal behaviours: use less private transportation, choose
sustainable tourism and educate our children..
Alpine salamander © Alamy; Sol90; Dreamstime; Thinkstock; Daniel Schwen; Isidre Blanc; Jörg Hempel; Getty
They may look like our fluffy domesticated rabbit This small, glossy salamander is relatively
friends, but these animals are well adapted to long lived for its tiny size, and has a very small
the cold, harsh environment found further up the home range. They live for at least ten years and
mountains. They are truly at home amongst the once they’ve found their favourite spot on the
snow and ice with a thick fur coat to keep them mountain they barely move at all, travelling no
more than 12 metres (39 feet) in search of food.
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