Page 110 - BBC Wildlife Volume 36 #12

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Star Dodronesbotherdolphins? not only spoiling all other
photographers’ images but,
letter most importantly, having
I was observing bottlenose dolphins in Colin Jackson, BBC Natural History Unit absolutely no respect for
the Moray Firth when I was surprised to Drone Lead, replies: Here at the BBC, if animal welfare. Photographers
hear and see two drones flying just above animals show signs of stress we will always should not invade the space of
the cetaceans, presumably taking photos. put the welfare of the animal above filming. rutting deer, but this chap was
Were the dolphins affected by a noisy Increasingly, we are able to use drones with only interested in getting his
drone? Drones are banned in Antarctica longer focal lens cameras than 'hobby' shot. I shall not be going to
and I cannot imagine any nature reserve drones. This allows us to capture our the rut in future.
permitting them. imagery from further away and reduce Sue Istead, via email
Patrick Frew, via email our risk of disturbance.
There have been very few studies on It takes two
the effect of drones on animals, but one I noticed your interesting article
often referenced is published by the British about clownfish (Wild News,
Ornithologists' Union and indicates that October 2018). On a recent
drones do not have much effect on bird trip to Raja Ampat, Indonesia
behaviour. Read more at: bit.ly/dronesbirds. (the place with the highest
Specifically regarding dolphins, it is concentration of marine species
unlikely the drone itself would disturb the on Earth), we loved the diversity
dolphins, as the noise pollution in the water of anemone fish species. Many
from drones flying between 5–10m above the of them approached us, and
surface is only recordable down to 1m depth. some charged to keep us away
Read more at: bit.ly/dronesmarine.
from their anemone. They
clearly defend their home.
I have heard that if the fish are
removed from an anemone then
What’s in a name? person with a rare disease is the Sumatran rhinoceros. Every the anemone gets eaten by other
Mark Carwardine suggests easier than fundraising for, say, government and person around fish. So, the relationship is a true
(My way of thinking, September multiple sclerosis, cancer or the world should help save any symbiosis, where both fish and
2018) that measures to save Alzheimer’s research. Is it? species, even if it is foreign to anemone benefit from protection.
threatened species will be much Philip Jenkins, France their country. Extinction is a Mark Costello, New Zealand
more productive if we give world problem. Though do the
names to individual animals Out of sight… Chinese or Vietnamese realise Help or hindrance?
whose plight we wish to I totally agree with Mark that they are the main reason We enjoyed Kate Bradbury’s
highlight. I disagree. Calling an Carwardine (My way of behind such losses, along with article (Bringing back the green,
animal Simba, Keiko or Sirocco thinking, August 2018). I feel other consumers of traditional November 2018) and we’re
might help that particular that, as with the Yangtze River Chinese medicine? pleased to see that we’re ticking
animal to a better life, but what dolphin, the vaquita suffers Emmanuel Fardoulis, Australia the boxes for wildlife in our
about all the other members of from ‘out of sight, out of mind' own garden. However, putting
their species? Does the public syndrome – both living in a Keep your distance out food for all the bird life
only think it worthwhile to watery world, the authorities Following the article on your this year has backfired on us.
help species when it knows the hope no one will notice if the website (Royal Parks urge Despite cleaning feeders and
name (and a few other facts) vaquita becomes extinct. This caution, October, 2018) about bird baths weekly, we’ve lost at
about one of its members? is such a poor excuse, though. photographers surrounding red least six greenfinches this year,
If so, why is it possible for If less is done then come deer in London’s Royal plus a couple of goldfinches,
members of organisations Christmas time Parks, I thought chaffinches and a bullfinch
Too close
like Save the Rhino to run the we may not have for comfort? you may be – all of which succumbed to
London Marathon and raise a single vaquita interested in my the dreaded finch disease. As
considerable sums for the left on Earth, photograph. wildlife lovers, should this
species as a whole? An analogy along with The picture be something we need to be
with the human species would others facing shows a worried about? Should we put
be that fundraising to save one extinction, like photographer out less food or stop altogether

110 BBC Wildlife December 2018