Answers to Criticisms
Here are some answers to criticisms about the project. Please click on the titles to view.
- Letter from Dr. Gary Koehler to Editor of ‘Next’ magazine, Feb 8 2005
- Response from Dr. Jeremy Anderson and Dr. Marc Stallmans to press release issued by Gus Mills on November 11th 2003
- Your point on the CatSG recommendation that the re-establishment project should be fully done in China:
If there existed a suitable area with suitable facilities and expertise in China, this would obviously be the first choice. From what we have seen and from the information received from our Chinese counterparts there are no suitable areas at present;
We sit with a rather unique chicken-and-egg situation in that the areas will only become available because of the tigers rather than being able to re-introduce the tigers because of having suitable areas available.
- Your point on habitat restoration and the expense and role of South African expertise:
The field assessment has clearly shown that the habitat as such is not the critical limiting factor. The various forests and grasslands we surveyed should provide adequate habitat to tiger and their prey. However, at present prey populations are currently at too low densities to support tiger. There is a significant risk of human-tiger conflict in most areas (even within formally Protected Areas). There is virtually no relevant experience with the start-up or rehabilitation of a protected area in terms of infrastructure development such as fences, re-stocking, habitat management, monitoring, appropriate law enforcement etc. To instil this capacity and to effectively re-stock these areas will take time;
As recommended, South African expertise is indeed being applied in China;
Three groups of Chinese conservationists will visit South Africa during 2004 and several will undertake training courses. We believe that this will play a very important role in exposing them to the parallel situation experienced in which degraded farmlands and depleted game stocks had to rehabilitated;
- The question of inbreeding and loss of genetic diversity:
We agree that this is of extreme concern:
The production of cubs from the 50-odd tigers in captivity in China is extremely limited. It appears that there are only two breeding populations and on average only 2 cubs become available each year. The reason for this appears most likely to be inadequate holding conditions for the tigers as well as possibly diet. Having discussed the matter locally and having evaluated a breeding centre for other species, unless there is a major change in management practices, it appears unlikely that the situation can be easily and rapidly remedied within China itself. Sufficient space is plentiful in South Africa and most importantly there is good, hands-on practical experience with large camps, fencing, appropriate feeding etc that is lacking in China. Whereas the temporary removal of individuals from China may not be appropriate in the ideal world, it certainly appears to be a short-term practical solution in the real world;
The temporary removal does not exclude these animals from the gene pool. In effect, a meta-population strategy on a trans-continental scale is being applied;
These actions should also be seen as breaking the impasse regarding poor production rates and the inevitable extinction of this breeding group if current production rates prevail;
Further increasing the production of cubs should therefore be looked at. Again, we wish to re-iterate that the current situation in China does not appear to be favourable for increased production;
Although this falls outside our brief, we feel that the rate of production of cubs could be increased outside China. We are putting some suggestions in this regard to Save the Chinese Tiger South African Trust;
- The release in the 30,000 hectare area:
As far as we know, it has never been the intention to establish a permanent free-living population of South China tiger in South Africa;
The plan is to repatriate all animals, including parent stock, to China;
In the interim, we fail to see a problem in terms of competition with our native fauna. With what indigenous species will they be competing? The area in question consists of disused sheep farms that are being rehabilitated;
Following the repatriation of the tigers the area will actually be an asset to South African conservation;
As conservationists, we fully support the notion that no free-ranging populations of alien species should be established. In this regard, we do not support the `benefits` mooted at some stage by the Varty`s of using the tiger to bring ecotourism interest to areas where conventional, South African-based, products may not yield sufficient returns.
- Martin Williams reply to Vanvouver Sun Article
- "There is no prey and there is no habitat. All of China's tiger conservation areas have been converted to spruce and fir forests. I did not even hear any birds."
- "Our Chinese colleagues declined to have their names on either our final reports or manuscripts because they believed it would threaten their positions,"
- "After nearly eight months of field work, including walking 288 kilometers of trails"
To: Pat Lee Hoi
Re: ‘Next’ magazine interview with Ms. Li Quan and South China Tiger Conservation
Date: 8 February 2005
From: Gary M. Koehler, Ph.D.
Wildlife Research Scientist
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
The comments here are in response to questions that you emailed to me on 2 February 2005 regarding an interview with Ms. Li Quan and efforts by her to conserve the South China Tiger.
I am aware that Li’s efforts have received criticism from several international conservation organizations and individuals involved with conservation in the international arena. The history of conservation has been an evolution of strategies: from the colonial imposed ‘fortress’ concepts, where natural areas were locked-up with the belief that such areas can only exist and survive separate from people, to ‘Integrated Conservation and Development Programs’, where it was believed that conservation would only succeed when the concerns and interests of local people and their economies are ‘part of the conservation equation’. These concepts and philosophies have been dominated by the ‘western‘ ideology of nature and the role of people as part of or apart from nature. Over the years some of these strategies have been met with success, but all too frequently they have failed to meet the conservation objectives.
Conservation and strategies to conserve wildlife and wild places has been and will continue to be an ‘experiment’. The conservation community must acknowledge that any strategy to ‘save’ or ‘conserve’ a species or natural area is an scientific ‘experiment’ and that any strategy, if it is to succeed, must adapt and evolve to our changing understandings of what works and what does not work. To be successful any conservation strategy must be responsive to the needs of the species and people and must be willing to adapt when the objectives or goals are not being met.
Ms. Li’s strategy is an ‘experiment’ as well. There is no guarantee that it will succeed. I believe that some in the conservation community are reluctant to indorse this ‘experiment’ because of their unwillingness to recognize that ‘we professionals’ may not have the right answers or know the correct pathways to conserving our natural areas. Although most conservation organizations may consult with a team of biologists, sociologists, economics when developing a conservation strategy; many efforts are formulated by ‘scientists’ or ‘biologists’ that do not have the skills nor understandings of indigenous peoples beliefs and economics in the conservation equation; a daunting challenge in our escalating global economy and consumerism.
I do believe it is a worthwhile ‘experiment’ to attempt a ‘novel’ conservation approach for which Ms. Li advocates and for which she is expending her personal energy and resources to ‘test’. She acknowledges that it may not succeed, but she is willing to invest her money and reputation on such a gamble. The conservation community and their institutions cannot afford to take such a gamble. Western conservation organizations require financial support from their members and corporate sponsors. Our western philosophy and ideology of the wild felid is a picture of a ‘tiger’ or ‘cougar’ running wild in a natural setting where humans are not part. This ‘Edenistic’ image of wild animals and natural areas is which most conservation organization appeal to when soliciting for financial support; a very unrealistic image when considering the reality of our human dominated planet and the challenges that the looming global economy is and will present toward conservation of the planets last vestiges of wildness.
Ms. Li’s efforts to restore the South China Tiger among the remnant wild areas in China challenges our ‘western’ philosophy and image of tiger conservation. Humans are having and will continue to have a profound influence on saving these remnants of our natural heritage. This, I believe, is why we need ‘experiments’ with ‘non-conventional’ approaches to conservation; one that recognizes that the few natural areas left on our planet must consider and be willing to ‘test’ alternative strategies. Conservation of wild areas and tigers in China is the scenario for which our planet, including the west, will face in the near future.
Because of these daunting challenges, it is no reason to abandon efforts to conserve species like the South China Tiger. If conservation is to succeed with the challenges that human population growth and the global economy will pose in the immediate future, then we must reach deep into our bag of strategies and test alternatives to the ‘accepted’ conservation approaches. I do believe that we should consider and ‘experiment’ with approaches proposed by those outside the sanctioned conservation club. If the ‘experiment’ does not meet the objectives, then we have lost little and have gained a deeper understanding of conservation and how we may merge ‘conventional’ and ‘non-conventional’ approaches for conserving our wild heritage.
I do believe that it is important to attempt to restore the few and relatively small wild areas of China. I, and I am sure Ms. Li does as well, recognize the problems and challenges to restore tigers among the few natural areas remaining in China. These will become natural areas only if a full complement of ecological trophic structures are restored, where the tiger has its place on the top of this link. A natural area that will support tigers will include a diversity of prey and plant communities.
The question as to whether there are areas adequate in size to support a viable population of tigers is a valid concern, but one, I believe, that can be addressed if we are willing to examine and perhaps redefine what we mean by a viable population. Just as zoos and ‘nature enclosures’ can support viable and reproductive successful reservoirs of wild species, small natural areas may also serve to support and play a role in an overall conservation strategy for a species as the tiger. Even our largest National Parks and Wilderness areas in the western United States are not of adequate size to fully protect ecologically equivalent species of the tiger in North America: the grizzly bear, grey wolf, and cougar. These carnivores that occupy our largest Parks and Wilderness are subjected to human caused mortalities as animals disperse or reside along the periphery of these reserves.
The argument posed by some conservationists suggests that there are better places and species to focus efforts and money that are more apt to meet with conservation success than the South China Tiger and it’s historic habitats. My belief is that we should not abandon any attempt to save a species. If we in North America had this attitude in our own back yard then we would have abandoned the bald eagle, California condor, black-footed ferret, grizzly bear, western grey wolf, and others to extinction long ago. We have taken species perched near extinction and restored them as a component of our natural heritage, and this I believe is possible with the South China Tiger.
Efforts to conserve the South China Tiger are a worthwhile endeavor. The challenges are great, and will require efforts and strategies not tested before. Saving the South China Tiger from extinction and as part of natural systems in China will require innovative and bold approaches, commitment and intensive management strategies, and perhaps understandings and skills we in the biological and conservation community may not possess or appreciate. We need to reach out to people outside our profession: sociologist, religious leaders, and people with skills in the business world. It is we humans and our economies that have placed species at peril, and it is only we that can throw a ‘life line’ to ensure a species persistence. If only a single person has the commitment and resources to take on such a challenge, then we in the conservation community should lend a hand and offer our skills and knowledge to support such an endeavor, and not condemn it. Many great contributions toward mankind and our world were made possible by the vision and dedication of a single individual.
Gary M. Koehler, Ph.D.
Principle Investigator Project C.A.T. (Cougars and Teaching)
Wildlife Research Scientist
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Dear Gus
We have been in China for the last month. Our brief is to survey and assess a number of areas that have been offered for the re-establishment of a free-ranging population of the South China tiger.
Your press release has caught up with us here in China. We do not pretend to be experts on tiger. However, we have considerable experience in the planning and development of Protected Areas including the re-establishment of adequate herbivore populations. Therefore, we would like to convey our perspective on the matter. This may also provide you with some information that may not have had at your disposal. We are concentrating our comments on those aspects in which we are directly involved.
China has been recognized as harbouring an extraordinary biodiversity. This diversity is however under very serious threat. The government has started implementing various policies to redress this problem. According to a State Forestry Administration publication made available at the World Parks Congress in Durban, the tiger fits specifically in the Wildlife Rescue Program launched for saving the 15 native species that are most endangered and whose populations are decreasing rapidly. It is planned to improve 15 established reserves of 1.69 million ha and establish 10 new reserves.
In the process of establishing suitable areas for free-ranging tiger, specific Protected Areas will be rehabilitated in terms of their former mammal diversity. Bird diversity and densities (that are presently very low) are bound to benefit from better protection and appropriate management practices. So will other animal groups as well as many plant species that are the subject of heavy collecting pressure.
Unfortunately, most if not all of the public and scientific attention is currently being focused on the the `re-wilding` project. In reality, this represents only one small facet of a much wider project. It is a means to an end, namely to re-establish free-ranging populations of the Chinese tiger in south-east China. The Chinese conservation authorities will need to look at even more areas to ensure the long-term survival of the tiger. A meta-population strategy will be required.
Having visited 7 potential release sites during the last month, and having experienced the tremendous interest and support from the Chinese local government structures and State Forestry Administration, one realises the hugely important role that the tiger can play as a catalyst to energise Chinese nature conservation in the south-east of the country and to launch appropriate eco-tourism development.
We would welcome the opportunity to inform you first-hand of the situation as we see it on our return to South Africa. We would be happy to come down to Skukuza to discuss this with you.
Kind regards
Jem and Marc
23 November 2003
Jiangxi Province, China
From Martin Williams
Hi Michiele:
Li Quan has sent me a copy of your email re the Vancouver Sun report on S China tiger extinction claims. (I'm writing an article on S China tiger; also I'm a birder based in Hong Kong, with some experience of S China reserves.)
Now, it may well be that the S C tiger is extinct in the wild. But some of Ron Tilson's claims are downright dodgy; I believe his claim is far from rock solid.
This is nonsense for starters. (Might be based on Ron being in one especially bad reserve, and extrapolating wildly and grossly wrongly.) There are some good areas, including with broadleaf forest - not much primary forest, but there are areas of resurgent secondary. Might be that they're too small for tigers. An example: Chebaling, a tiger reserve in north Guangdong which Ron did not visit. It's a favourite site with HK birders; has good secondary broadleaf flanking lower areas of valley (as well as outside reserve), I've been told of primary/near primary in higher areas, away from (small) road thro reserve. Plenty of birds; you'd have to be deaf not to hear them - most special being White-eared Night Heron, which had been thought perhaps extinct until discovered at a handful of sites inc this. I visited last autumn; staff told me of tiger sightings (recent), also of plans to expand the reserve to include the resurgent forest just outside it. (Hills here not readily farmed; people evidently aiming to move to towns/cities, so seems pressure on the forest has greatly decreased.)Wrote to Ron about this visit; sent photos showing habitat - evidently making zero impression on him. I was at Meihuashan S China tiger breeding centre, in Fujien, last week. Guy behind this, Luo Mingxi, used to work in nearby Meihuashan reserve. Luo told me there is good forest in the reserve (ca 20,000 ha); told me Gary Koehler spent some days here, hiking much of the area, back in 1990, rated it perhaps the best place for S C tiger. Luo also told me that guy conducting the census w Ron's team (Jeff Muntifering) did not get into the reserve, spent only little time there. I didn't have time to get to the reserve, but managed an outing to a small reserve, mainly for a rare broadleaf tree species - here, saw specimens up to over 500 years old; told of one that's 960 yrs old. Jeff evidently also barely reached fringes of another important tiger place, where they reportedly survive - Hupingshan in Hunan. I hope to be there v soon, and get my own impressions.
I doubt that all Chinese colleagues declined for this reason - Luo, say, believes that tigers survive in Meihuashan; a field guy in Hupingshan would hardly say this, as he's seen tiger(s).
Wow! - that's, err, a bit more than a kilometre a day. Are we supposed to be impressed? How does this compare with Gary Koehler? - at least at Meihuashan, seems he covered far more ground, getting into the best habitat (not reaching fringes, then dismissing the place). As I mentioned, the S China tiger might indeed be extinct in the wild, or down to such low levels that any recovery from the wild population is impossible (or virtually so). And yes, it would be good to have some solid evidence of wild tigers - not just stories and signs. But it's possible such evidence is lacking partly because almost no one is really looking for the tigers - at Meihuashan (from talking to Luo), seems there isn't anyone really searching for them. And before writing off China's current attempts to save the S China tiger - seems also worth mentioning how much money/effort being expended at Meihuashan, where the local (city) govt has spent several million US dollars, and the facility is breeding tigers, has managed some success in having two young tigers (born last summer) learn to kill animals, as well as become accustomed to being outdoors in natural enclosure - and aims to have tigers roaming in larger, "private" natural enclosures. Perhaps you'll have chance to visit sometime? Others, too - Li Quan among them - are devoted to saving the S China tiger. The South China tiger's in dire straits; but not all habitat is lost, the tiger does have friends (and conservation projects underway); and just maybe a few wild tigers stubbornly survive. (Will have to see what I reckon after visiting Hupingshan - if this seems pathetic, I might incline more towards thumbs-down!) I'm attaching three photos from Chebaling; one from Mang Shan (which Jeff did visit; as you can see here, there is broadleaf forest - though this was pretty young I thought; was told at neighbouring Ba Bao Shan reserve in Guangdong that S China tiger has perhaps died out here since Gary K found signs in 1990.) Hope you can view them ok.
Best regards,
Martin Williams