Wildtalk archives

Wildtalk Spain # 98: Almeria corals and dolphins

Wildtalk Spain, an email newsletter from www.wild-spain.com
6 September, 2006 - Issue 98

Back after the August break. The drought continues, jellyfish have become a 
real pest in Med beaches (global warming or just polluted nutrient-rich 
coastal water, the debate rages) and most of Galicia's eucalypt plantations 
went up in smoke. But as the papers report these and other woes, life in 
Wild Spain trundles on. Holm oak acorns continue to fatten in the dehesas, 
red deer herd in preparation for the rut, birdwatchers delight in the 
Gibraltar migration... So, by all means follow the news and get involved in 
Spain's worthy conservation issues, but also get some dust on your boots and 
get out there into the Spanish "campo". It rarely disappoints.

Several of you have reported an insidious spam attack on our website in the 
last few weeks. Thanks for your concern. The matter is in hand, with the 
police taking an interest. We are also tweaking the site to make it less 
spam-friendly.


------- News Briefs

. Coral forest discovered in Almería -
A "forest" of corals and sea fans in Andalusia has been discovered by
specialists from Oceana and the Biodiversity Foundation. Over one square
kilometre has been studied with a remote ROV robot, at depths between 75 and
240 meters. The Macizo de Chella massif or Seco de los Olivos, only 12 miles
off the coast of Almería, was already know as an area favoured by dolphins,
pilot whales and sea turtles and requests have repeatedly been made to the
government to protect it as a special habitat for bottlenose dolphins. But
now it has been found that more than ten species of corals and sea fans
inhabit the top of a small marine mountain, together with a rich associated
fauna of fish and invertebrates. Unfortunately the sea floors have been
scarred by bottom trawlers and lost fishing gear. "The results are
spectacular. Few places in our waters harbour so much biodiversity, making
them vitally important. We trust the Spanish government will act quickly,
thanks to this evidence" said Xavier Pastor, Director of Oceana in Europe.
[Follow link for full article, in English]. Date: September 06, 2006 Source:
Oceana

. Andalusian lammergeyers flying free -
The first three reintroduced lammergeyers in Cazorla (Jaén) are faring well
three months after their release and are now seen up to 100 km from their
release point. This species of vulture became extinct in the region twenty
years ago. The young birds learned to fly on their own from a cave in Arroyo
de las Espumaredas where they were fed by hidden devices to avoid human
contact. They are now regularly observed indulging in their natural
behaviour of dropping bones onto rocks from the air to extract the marrow
(thus their Spanish name "quebrantahuesos" = bone-breaker). The
international lammergeyer programme's project in Andalusia employs 10
scientists on a 3M euro budget. Lammergeyers are found elsewhere in Spain
only in the Pyrenees which has an endangered population of several hundred
Date: September 06, 2006 Source: El Mundo

. Good year for Cantabrian bears -
Spain's only viable indigenous bear population, in the Cordillera Cantábrica
of Northern Spain, has reasonable prospects if current protection measures
are maintained, said José Luis García Lorenzo, president of the Brown Bear
Foundation in a recent interview. Present numbers are estimated at 130 bears
split into two sub-populations, with 70% in Asturias. 2005 was a
particularly good year with 12 females producing young in the western
sub-population. [Eds. note: + 3 females in the eastern sub-population
according to other sources]. The Foundation employs seven teams of
specialist wardens to monitor the bears and to combat poaching. It also runs
an education programme in the region. One priority, said García Lorenzo, is
to close the 50 km geographic gap between the two sub-populations with land
protection and reforestation. Date: September 06, 2006 Source: Norte de
Castilla

. Doñana lynx reintroductions criticised -
The proposed reintroduction of a pair of Iberian lynx in Doñana this coming
autumn has been criticised by WWF/Adena as being contrary to IUNC
(International Union for Conservation of Nature)guidelines. Conservationists
say the causes for lynx mortality in Doñana should be properly addressed
before attempting further reintroductions. 17 lynx have been run over by
cars in Doñana between years 2000 and 2006. Date: August 31, 2006 Source:
WWF/Adena

. Summer jellyfish on the increase on Med beaches -
Jellyfish will become increasingly common summer visitors to Mediterranean
beaches due to climate change and reduced rainfall, said marine biologist
Josep María Gili of CSIC, Spain's official research organisation. It is
normal for jellyfish to be pushed towards the beaches by sea-to-shore winds
during the summer months. But reduced rainfall diminishes the natural
barrier formed by colder and less saline coastal waters and allows the
jellyfish in. Overfishing is also to blame, said Gili, as jellyfish have
less predators and more food. Jellyfish stings should be rinsed with salt
water (fresh water makes the sting worse) and cooled with ice held inside a
plastic bag. Date: August 02, 2006 Source: El Mundo

. Two more road-killed lynx in Doñana -
WWF is demanding political responsibilities from the Andalusian regional
government after two more Iberian lynx died over the week-end in Doñana. One
was killed by a car on the notorious A-483 road between Almonte and
Matalascañas and another died from dehydration at the Acebuche breeding
station where it had been taken after being hit by a car earlier this month.
"It's unacceptable that the Iberian lynx becomes extinct due to such an
absurd cause as road-kills" said secretary general of WWF/Adena, Juan Carlos
del Olmo. Doñana has lost 10% of it's lynx population this year alone. Date:
July 24, 2006 Source: El Mundo

For links to sources of these News Briefs see
http://www.wild-spain.com/wsbriefs.php


------- Latest questions [ Check out answers and/or share your knowledge ]

Walks around Nerja
http://www.wild-spain.com/noticeboard.php?tid=1751
Vanishing vultures
http://www.wild-spain.com/noticeboard.php?tid=1711
Water mill in El Burgo
http://www.wild-spain.com/noticeboard.php?tid=1688
Mountains and travel around Alicante
http://www.wild-spain.com/noticeboard.php?tid=1671
Wingless wasp
http://www.wild-spain.com/noticeboard.php?tid=1670
Jellyfish forecast
http://www.wild-spain.com/noticeboard.php?tid=1666
Snorkelling in Spain
http://www.wild-spain.com/noticeboard.php?tid=1664
Adventure sports near Torrevieja
http://www.wild-spain.com/noticeboard.php?tid=1663
Accommodation in Mora La Nova
http://www.wild-spain.com/noticeboard.php?tid=1661
Natural photography in Mallorca
http://www.wild-spain.com/noticeboard.php?tid=1657
Putting water out for lizards
http://www.wild-spain.com/noticeboard.php?tid=1646


------- Field Reports

Latest...
- Migration news, Barbate, Cádiz (Stephen Daly, Andalucian Guides)
- Second year of drought, Lentejí, Granada (Paul Read, Cortijo El Melión).
http://www.wild-spain.com/wsfieldreports.php

Or post *your* report...
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