Your World Tonight - Wildlife conservation around the world, corporate-owned vet clinics, national park traffic jams, and more

Episode Date: December 29, 2024

A look back at recent stories all about animals on this special edition of Your World Tonight.We look at efforts to protect wildlife around the world: saving frogs from a deadly fungus in California, building homes for birds in India, the controversy over proposed development in an Albanian wetland, and contaminated water being blamed for the deaths of rhinos in Zimbabwe.Plus: More and more vet clinics are owned by large corporations instead of independent vets, the skyrocketing price of donkeys in Pakistan, and wildlife-spotting tourists cause traffic jams in Canada's national parks that are dangerous for both people and bears.

Hey there, I'm David Common. If you're like me, there are things you love about living in the GTA and things that drive you absolutely crazy. Every day on This Is Toronto, we connect you to what matters most about life in the GTA, the news you gotta know, and the conversations your friends will be talking about. Whether you listen on a run through your neighbourhood, or while sitting in the parking lot that is the 401, check out This Is Toronto, wherever you get your podcasts. This is a CBC Podcast. Hi, I'm Stephanie Skanderas,

and this is a special edition of Your World Tonight. Scientists and conservationists warn Earth is facing a sixth mass extinction, primarily caused by us, humans. Tonight on the podcast, we'll bring you stories about animals, the threats they face, and the people trying to help them. Like India's Nest Man, who is trying to save sparrows from urbanization. Then later in Zimbabwe, a contaminated lake threatens the drinking water of rhinos and people. But we begin with a fungus killing off frogs and the scientists who have found a novel Frog species around the world have had it rough. A deadly fungus has decimated their numbers for decades. But now researchers in California have had a breakthrough. Anand Ram tells us about a possible solution that's providing a lot of hope.

If they're quiet, the sounds that visitors hear at California's Yosemite National Park, these stunning waterfalls, these serene woods, are signs of life. But to the trained ear of biologist Roland Knapp, in some parts of the park, there's something he doesn't hear. To me, the lake feels really empty. It's missing something.

And that's because I know what used to be there. This croak, what sounds like a fast muffled jacket zipper, is from a mountain yellow-legged frog. And there used to be a lot more. When we look at historical references, old notebooks, some of the notes talk about how any day that you spent walking along lakes and streams, you would see hundreds of these frogs. But in the last few decades, a deadly fungal disease has stolen this sound from the Sierra Nevada mountains. It's called chytrid, a skin

fungus that can eventually lead to heart attacks. And so lethal, a landmark paper in 2007 characterized it like this. Chytrid has been the most devastating infectious disease that we know of for wild animals. Maria Forsan is a wildlife pathologist at the University of Wyoming. She says while most people think a frog is a frog is a frog, there's a lot of species variation. Yet chytrid hasn't cared. This has been a very severe pathogen. I can't think of anything else that

has affected this wide of a species group. Faced with that, Roland Knapp and his team may have found one solution. In Yosemite, he studied the few survivors of this fungal disease. And what we eventually found is that they were infected at much lower levels than they had been when the fungus first arrived. In other words, they showed signs of resistance to the fungus. The next step, finding out if those populations could be reintroduced to other parts of the park. And that meant bringing these frogs to higher elevations. Let's go, little guy. Releasing, monitoring, and following up for years.

The payoff? Evidence that these resistant frogs survived and reproduced. This is a very rare study. Ana Longo is an amphibian disease expert at the University of Florida, and she says this kind of long-term work shows a pathway to recovery, at least for this one species. But then when I think about what's going to happen in the tropics, that we have hundreds of species living together, I think that's when things get a little bit challenging.

But the idea is that it's possible. For Knapp and his team, that possibility is worth it because of what returns to these ecosystems when the frogs do. So you see the bears come back, you see the garter snakes come back, the coyotes come back. It's, yeah, it's a pretty remarkable transition, but it takes a long time to see it happen. Time and money. But what's also critical, researchers say, is to plan wider conservation strategies instead of hoping on one-off solutions to save vital ecosystems. Anand Ram, CBC News, Toronto. In India, one man is on a mission to build homes for birds. Known locally as India's nest man, Rakesh Khatri says he's built more than one million nests so far. Now he's teaching young

students the same craft in an effort to support the country's dwindling bird life. Freelance journalist Ishan Garg reports from New Delhi. Class is in session, but there are no books nor pens here, only sticks and strings. Holding bamboo sticks in his hands, Rakesh Khatri demonstrates to a group of 12-year-olds how to make nests. He shows them how to gently fold it into a circle and tie it with a thread. Repeat that a few times and in a few minutes, a nest is ready. I have been doing this for about 20 years now, Khatri says.

Rapid urbanization has devastated birds, he says, destroying their homes and natural habitat. In turn, that's led to a scarcity of what birds need to make their nests. And that's what compelled him to build his first nest two decades ago. In his mid-60s now, he thinks he's installed more than a million across the country. Bird life in India is under threat. According to a 2023 report, about two-thirds of all bird species in the country have seen a reduction in their numbers in the past three decades. That decline throws the food chain out of balance and threatens

plants that need birds to spread their pollen. And conservationists say a handful of species like the sarus crane and the undermanned serpent eagle could soon become extinct without immediate intervention. Twelve-year-old student Yash Bharadwaj, attending Khatri's workshop, is already committed to playing his part in bird conservation. YASH BHARADWAJ, 12-year-old student, Khatri's workshop It is actually a very important practice to continue for the generations so that the advantages that we are getting from them still continues through our younger generations.

Khatri believes offering homes to birds is especially important in urban jungles like New Delhi, where tall glass buildings and criss-crossing wires over streets can be lethal. Birds desperately need these nests, says Khatri. About three-quarters of the nests he puts up get occupied, with some of them being claimed by a flock within 24 hours, he says. Though he shows no sign of stopping, Khatri says his main mission now is passing on his nest-making skill and passion to the next generation.

Another student, Namya Shivhari, says she would love to follow in Khatri's footsteps. NAMYA SHIVHARI, I would love to help birds often. I think I will be able to share it with people and hopefully someday we'll be able to save habitats for birds. Though his efforts are no substitute for government-led conservation initiatives, Khatri hopes by raising awareness and inspiring the youth, the sounds of bird song will be heard across New Delhi once more. Ishan Gerg for CBC News, New Delhi. In Pakistan, donkey prices have gone through the roof

on the back of rising demand for donkey hide from China. This has meant bustling business for donkey sellers, but a new problem has arisen. Many people say they are now unable to afford donkeys for work. Freelance journalist Hira Mustafa went to a market on the outskirts of Islamabad to tell us more. Two hours away from Islamabad is one of Pakistan's busiest animal markets.

At every stall, buyers and sellers haggle over prices. But there is one animal that has been sold to the highest bidder, the humble donkey. Just nine months ago, a small donkey cost just over $70. That has now shot past $250. The surge in demand is driven by China, where donkey hides and meat are priced ingredients in food, traditional medicine and cosmetic products. Sellers like Noorani Khan say this has led to record profits. The Chinese sometimes offer to purchase one donkey for as much as $750. Locals only want to pay one third of that. Selling to the Chinese makes financial sense for me. The surging prices are devastating to rural communities in Pakistan,

where people rely on donkeys to transport goods and till the soil. Mohamed Elias says poor villagers like him are suffering and are urging the government to act. Chinese buyers pay a hefty amount for these donkeys. We can't match their spending power. The government should ban the commercial trade of donkeys. Pakistan has the world's third largest population of donkeys. It was only this year that Islamabad legalized the export of donkey hide and meat, a move that came after years of lobbying by Beijing.

The Pakistani government plans to export 200,000 donkey hides to China by the end of 2024. It is also partnering with Chinese companies to establish donkey farms and slaughterhouses at port cities, where as many 800 donkeys will be slaughtered every day. Naeem Abbas, who works with Broke Pakistan, a welfare organization for donkeys and horses, says Pakistan needs to tread carefully. This trade has caused severe harm in Africa as well,

where the African Union recently banned it after massive declines in their donkey population. And Pakistan must learn from these experiences to take proactive steps to protect its donkey population. So as China's appetite for donkey hides transforms an overlooked animal into a valuable commodity, locals are left asking, at what cost? Hira Mustafa for CBC News, Islamabad. Still ahead, if you think traffic is bad, wait till you hear about bear jams. It's a big problem for Parks Canada staff, particularly at Banff National Park, and they say smartphones and social media are at the heart of the issue. We'll tell you what they want tourists to bear in mind coming up on Your World

Tonight. Millions of Canadians have a dog, cat, or other pet at home, and most of those animals need a veterinarian. But in the face of increasing costs, many vet offices are being bought up by large corporations, and many pet owners say they're losing the personal touch for their furry friends. Senior business reporter Anis Haydari has the story we brought you in May. Joseph Laskowski is fussy about his dog Grant's care. To have a personal vet who really has a vested interest in your animal as well as their own business, it's important. So he drives hours from Calgary to Kelowna when he needs a veterinarian. He wants to avoid going to a corporate chain.

I go with independent vets, but I've known my vet for 15 years. Well, they care. I think you know that that person, that's their business. They care about their business. They care about their pets like they do children. And in many parts of Canada, independent veterinarians who run their own business are an endangered breed. Across the country, 40% of veterinarians are employed by corporate owners. He said she's not quite as much get up and go. In Halifax, Ryan Redgrave isn't one of them. He's a vet and he runs the Independent West Animal Hospital.

I kind of view myself a bit as the steward of a hospital that's sort of taking care of this community. Redgrave took over the clinic a few years ago and says when vets own their clinics, it's harder than just being an employee. But there are benefits when you don't have to answer to a head office. If we've got somebody that we've worked with for a long time and we think it's fair to perhaps mark something down or not charge for something, I've got the flexibility to do that. In Canada, the companies VetStrategy, VCA and NVA are the biggest corporate owners.

VCA and NVA refused to comment for CBC News in a statement that Strategy said there's continued demand among veterinarians to be part of a larger network. And they also said pricing can be different across their facilities. I would say we have a lot of baby boomers that are getting ready to sell their practices.

Pam Hale is a veterinarian in Atlanta. She's also owned and managed offices in the past. And she says part of what's happening is that as older vets retire, large companies bid for their practices and pay top dollar that newer vets can't match. They come out of school with large school debt. They also want to continue their medical training. So going out and buying a two or three million dollar practice in their first five years out of school is pretty tough. Canadian vet practices pull in more than $9 billion annually.

So big business has good reason to want in. Jeff Wichtel is the dean of the Ontario Veterinary College. During the pandemic, we really saw an uptick in the spending on animals and also the acquiring of new pets. So that just added fuel to the interest in corporate veterinary medicine. Sorry, he might jump on you. Not all pet owners are worried, though, like Jeannette Herbert back in Calgary. I mean, at the end of the day, it doesn't matter what the vet clinic is called, if it's private or a brand, it's more who the person itself is

and how they treat us and our dog. Maybe it's Evie's opinion that matters most. She's the dog. I know, we're talking about you. Anis Haddari, CBC News, Calgary. Albania is trying to rapidly develop its coastline. Its government hopes luxury resorts will attract tourists with deep pockets and give a boost to its struggling economy. Critics say the plan comes at the expense of locals and the environment.

Megan Williams reports in this story we first brought you in October. This last untouched Mediterranean wetland. Veoza Narte protected landscape. A hidden gem of beaches and cliffs. A safe haven for cormorants, gulls, ospreys and pelicans. There are around 20. Environmentalist Jamel Jerry comes here regularly to observe the 220 species, some facing extinction. The area, though, is now under threat by two luxury real estate projects worth an estimated billion and a half dollars,

proposed by Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump, the son-in-law and daughter of former U.S. President Donald Trump. We're bringing in the best architects and the best brands. It's going to be extraordinary. Trump, in a podcast this summer, refers to Sazan, a former military base off the coast of Albania. Renderings of the proposed resort show it would transform this secluded wetland into curved stone and glass villas overlooking a bay dotted with luxury yachts, putting at risk. Everything that we see in front of us, there are sand dunes, three to four nesting sites. Jerry and other environmentalists say the resort would destroy this habitat. But the mayor of the nearby town of Flora sees the plans as essential

to help pull the country out of poverty. We want Flora to be a top tourist destination. Says Flora mayor Emel Dredha, who insists the resort won't destroy the habitat. And the quality starts also with building something in a sustainable way. A new law passed earlier this year now allows luxury hotels on land once set aside to protect sensitive wildlife and environmental zones. A law critics say was specially designed for Kushner and Trump after Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama met with them.

Both Rama and Kushner and Trump after Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama met with them. Both Rama and Kushner deny special treatment because of the connection to Donald Trump. The prospective development is also stirring up ownership issues in the village beside it, Sfernetz. This 80-year-old retired workman says his forebearers have lived here as far back as the Ottoman Empire. Outsiders are trying to steal it out from under us with false documents, he says, referring to a real estate developer with a deed to the village land that an Albanian court found fraudulent, though the case is still under appeal. To the north, in the capital city of Tirana, Vati Besnik climbs the stairs to his office in a bustling tourist agency. It's a political decision, he says, of Prime

Minister Rama's deal with Trump and Kushner. If they really had Albania's interests at heart, he says, they wouldn't be building a luxury resort for the few, but towering hotels that bring in streams of tourists. Back at the reserve, Jerry says, There is a huge demand or pressure to build all over. But still, there is a way, there are alternatives for sustainable development as well. But the government doesn't aspire for that one. Megan Williams, CBC News, Zvernets, Albania. At a nature park in Zimbabwe, contaminated water is being blamed for the deaths of four white rhinos, along with other animals and birds.

The animals all drank from Lake Chivero, which is also the primary water source for the capital, Harare. As Ishma Fundiqua tells us, the city council is facing tough questions over the water's safety. The quality of Lake Chivero's water has been the subject of concern for so long that it sometimes flies under the radar. Fish die-offs happen frequently. However, the rhino deaths have again cast a spotlight on the lake, says Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority spokesperson Tinashe Farao. Because the rhinos, they draw a lot of international attention. It's a specially

protected animal. And it's not only the rhinos that we are talking about. We are talking about the zebras, the wildebeest, and also the popular fish eagle. Farao says scientists from three laboratories tested the dead animals. They concluded the deaths were caused by cyanobacteria, resulting primarily from untreated sewage released into the lake by the Harare City Council. We are working closely with the University of Zimbabwe. We work closely with the Vet Department under the Ministry of Agriculture. We have our Research and Scientific Department, which also did its audit test. The city's spokesperson declined to comment on the findings,

saying only the city is conducting its own tests before it accepts any responsibility. Most Harare residents stopped drinking treated city water years ago. However, following the animal deaths mayor jacob mafume tried to reassure hararians there is nothing to fear our water is tested on a daily basis using the world health organization standard the water that is coming out of our tank is safe for human consumption because of a history of outbreaks of waterborne diseases like dysentery, typhoid, and cholera, many residents

of Harare aren't buying his pitch. He's just saying what he needs politically to say. I wouldn't touch it, no. I don't think Harare water is safe to drink at all. I myself personally have not drunk it for years. Have you seen him actually drinking the Harare water from a tap?

I would challenge the mayor to have a public sitting and he drinks a litre of that water and then would like him observed for the next few days and see what the results are. Zimbabwe's Environmental Management Agency has repeatedly fined and taken the city of Harare to court over its flouting of environmental regulations. Amkela Sidange from the agency says the city's waste treatment plants are outdated or not working at all and cannot keep up with the growing population. Most of our systems, they are either old, some are overwhelmed because the housing infrastructure or settlement is growing on a daily basis. Also, the other thing I think is just regular maintenance of the same system. Sidange says the situation for Lake

Chivero is dire, but it can be regenerated if the dumping of untreated sewage and other effluent into the lake is addressed. In the meantime, the Zimbabwe National Parks Authority has moved the seven remaining rhinos out of the park. Ishma Fundikwa for CBC News in Harare. You are listening to Your World Tonight from CBC News. I'm Stephanie Skanderis. You can hear Your World Tonight and other CBC Radio programs wherever you are on your favourite podcast app. Every year, millions of visitors are drawn to Banff National Park.

Many of them are eager to see wildlife up close and share the experience on social media. Some conservation experts say that desire is leading to unsafe road encounters with bears. They believe Banff Park officials need to follow other parks' leads and toughen up the rules around wildlife viewing. Alison Dempster has this story from May. When spring arrives in the Rocky Mountains and valley bottoms turn green, animals emerge to forage for food. Tourists aren't far behind.

The bear's pretty close. That could be dangerous. Thank you. For Parks Canada staff, it means the return of the bear jam, traffic jams caused by visitors stopping to see wildlife. Bill Hunt knows them well. He's a former Banff National Park conservation manager. Hunt says smartphones and social media can magnify people's worst impulses when they see wildlife in the parks. People may behave in ways that they wouldn't normally

because they're trying to get more likes. They're trying to create a once-in-a-lifetime video. And so temptations to feed wildlife, which is an absolute no-no, or perhaps approach too close or do something goofy, behavior that we don't want around wildlife. Nick DeRoyter says the bear jams can be dangerous for both people and the animals. He's with WildSmart, a conservation program based in Canmore. People are swerving across lanes of the highway, getting out of their

vehicles, running in front of cars, getting too close to wildlife. You know, I've seen all those things, you know, and really it'd just be a lot better at a minimum if they would just stay in their vehicles. In 2020, Jasper National Park brought in a roadside wildlife viewing regulation that prohibits people from leaving their vehicles. Violators can face charges and hefty fines. James McCormick is a human wildlife conflict specialist with the park. I think we have better compliance with people staying in their vehicle. And part of our concern around that is, you know,

as bears get used to people, they become more comfortable being close to them, and there's more likelihood they will walk up to somebody and may get an accidental food reward or something like that. So that's what we're trying to avoid by having these sort of regulations in place. McCormick says a number of people have received warnings, but no one has been charged. Banff National Park hasn't gone the regulation route. Kim Fisher is an interpretation coordinator with the park. She says the focus is on educating visitors with patrol teams, which Jasper National

Park also has. They attend active wildlife jams to ensure folks are staying in their vehicle and continuing on not to create too much more of a traffic situation and to ensure that wildlife get the space they need to make their living in the park. Conservationists like DeRoyter agree education is key, but they argue enforceable, consistent rules in Rocky Mountain parks would help keep visitors and bears safe. Alison Dempster, CBC News, Calgary. And that's all for this special edition of Your World Tonight. I'm Stephanie Skanderis. Thanks for listening.

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