colourfestbluebird

[colourfestbluebird]

ok wait, reblog if you’ve cried at least once because of math, doesn’t matter which grade i’m trying to prove something 

[colourfestbluebird]

When I was in vet school I went to this one lecture that I will never forget. Various clubs would have different guest lecturers come in to talk about relevant topics and since I was in the Wildlife Disease Association club I naturally attended all the wildlife and conservation discussions. Well on this particular occasion, the speakers started off telling us they had been working on a project involving the conservation of lemurs in Madagascar. Lemurs exist only in Madagascar, and they are in real trouble; they’re considered the most endangered group of mammals on Earth. This team of veterinarians was initially assembled to address threats to lemur health and work on conservation solutions to try and save as many lemur species from extinction as possible. As they explored the most present dangers to lemurs they found that although habitat loss was the primary problem for these vulnerable animals, predation by humans was a significant cause of losses as well. The vets realized it was crucial for the hunting of lemurs by native people to stop, but of course this is not so simple a problem.

The local Malagasy people are dealing with extreme poverty and food insecurity, with nearly half of children under five years old suffering from chronic malnutrition. The local people have always subsisted on hunting wildlife for food, and as Madagascar’s wildlife population declines, the people who rely on so-called bushmeat to survive are struggling more and more. People are literally starving.

Our conservation team thought about this a lot. They had initially intended to focus efforts on education but came to understand that this is not an issue arising from a lack of knowledge. For these people it is a question of survival. It doesn’t matter how many times a foreigner tells you not to eat an animal you’ve hunted your entire life, if your child is starving you are going to do everything in your power to keep your family alive.

So the vets changed course. Rather than focus efforts on simply teaching people about lemurs, they decided to try and use veterinary medicine to reduce the underlying issue of food insecurity. They supposed that if a reliable protein source could be introduced for the people who needed it, the dependence on meat from wildlife would greatly decrease. So they got to work establishing new flocks of chickens in the most at-risk communities, and also initiated an aggressive vaccination program for Newcastle disease (an infectious illness of poultry that is of particular concern in this area). They worked with over 600 households to ensure appropriate husbandry and vaccination for every flock, and soon found these communities were being transformed by the introduction of a steady protein source. Families with a healthy flock of chickens were far less likely to hunt wild animals like lemurs, and fewer kids went hungry. Thats what we call a win-win situation.

This chicken vaccine program became just one small part of an amazing conservation outreach initiative in Madagascar that puts local people at the center of everything they do. Helping these vulnerable communities of people helps similarly vulnerable wildlife, always. If we go into a country guns-blazing with that fire for conservation in our hearts and a plan to save native animals, we simply cannot ignore the humans who live around them. Doing so is counterintuitive to creating an effective plan because whether we recognize it or not, humans and animals are inextricably linked in many ways. A true conservation success story is one that doesn’t leave needy humans in its wake, and that is why I think this particular story has stuck with me for so long.

(Source 1)

(Source 2- cool video exploring this initiative from some folks involved)

(Source 3)

[colourfestbluebird]

You can boop me now

[colourfestbluebird]

i feel like this is very importantTM to say, you dont need to be an expert in your special interest

marine biology is my special interest. i suck at identifying fish. i can identify one fish but only because i spent ages fixating on it. i couldnt tell you the scientific name of anything else.

when i was in primary school most of my information came from the octonauts since i wasnt allowed the internet, it was still my special interest then even when i hardly knew anything.

having a special interest doesnt mean you immediately become amazing at whatever it is, and thats totally ok. its ok to forget things, to not know things, for other people to know more about the thing. thats part of the fun, theres so much about everything to learn and improve on.

in my personal case there are thousands of scientists who know more than me. i may know more than my friends, but im 17. there are scientists who study the ocean for a living and its perfectly reasonable for them to know more than me

the only thing that matters is that it gives you energy, that you enjoy doing it, that its special to you

[colourfestbluebird]

ftr I am forever going to be bitter that the post I wanted to be "let's talk about extinct ecosystems and how cool they are!" got derailed into yet another post just talking about a single taxon like the millions of other posts on palaeoblr

[colourfestbluebird]

Sense 8, The Owl House, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.

They are BRIGHT orange I love them so much.

I don't think I've ever had a smoothie.

What I wear normally I guess, I nice pair of pants and a t-shirt

I don't eat egg. :(

I usually try to stop reading when a chapter ends and remember which chapter.

Blue, but it is becoming more pink now!!!!

I used to collect rocks, not anymore though. :((

The sounds of a forest, listening to the birds singing.

Color

Glasses

Can talk/rant to them about anything.

Pen.

On my bed or in the forest. :)

No houseplants for me unfortunately. :(

My favorite hoodie is grey and black and I've had it for probably 5 years now.

A pair of trekking shoes.

Not really an event but I would have loved to be alive during the ancient Greek civilizations I don't know why.

Didn't really celebrate Halloween as a kid but if I had to choose a costume for kid me it would probably be Noddy.

None.

Not really an period of art history or anything but I love scientific illustrations of any kind.

Depends on my mood (and the weather).

Ooo currently it is Curious by Haley Kiyoko.

NO.

I have ear piercings but that is it! I might want a tattoo but I don't know yet.

I can cook and bake (really therapeutic). I like to think that making pasta is my specialty but everyone who has had my pasta would like to disagree.

Yes, it is just a plain blue keychain with my name on it.

I can float.

Not really.

My closet is very organized, at least I would like to think so.

Curious by Haley Kiyoko.

Blue!!!

Earbuds

Yep

I had the CUTEST panda plushie when I was a kid!

Lol none.

Nah.

HSMTMTS.

Laundry.

Red Silkcottons.

I don't know Lily something.

Peek a phone.

Lights on.

Save it?

Nope.

Hilda.

Yessss.

Yep, it is yellow and says "Happiness is having no plans for the day."

Read a book and drink hot tea.

Lights off, curled up in a warm blanket

50 Questions Just Because

What are three shows in your watchlist that you’ve been meaning to get to?

Describe your favorite pair of socks

Do you like smoothies?

What do you wear when you have to dress nicely?

How do you like your eggs?

What do you use to keep your place when you’re reading a book?

What color dominates your closet?

Do you collect anything? If so, what?

What sounds or scents calm you down?

What’s your favorite kind of uquiz question? (Lyric, color, aesthetic, etc)

Do you wear glasses or contacts?

What’s something about your best friend that you love?

Do you prefer to write in pen or pencil?

What are some places where you feel most at home?

Do you have any houseplants? Do any of them have names?

Describe your favorite hoodie. How long have you had it? What makes it unique?

What’s the last thing you ordered online?

What’s one historical event that you would have liked to have witnessed?

What’s your favorite Halloween costume from when you were a kid?

What kind of math are you best at?

What’s your favorite period in art history, your favorite famous work and/or your favorite style of art? If you don’t know any that’s ok!

Iced or hot drinks?

Which songs do you like to sing in the shower?

Are you a good driver?

Do you have any piercings or tattoos? Are there any that you want?

Can you cook or bake? If so, what are some of your specialties?

Do you have any keychains on your home or car keys? Describe them!

Can you swim very well? Do you like swimming?

Did you play with Legos as a kid? What was your favorite set?

Is your closet organized? If so, how?

What’s the last music video you watched?

If you could dye your hair any color, regardless of how you think it would look, what color would you choose?

Headphones or earbuds?

Can you read analog clocks?

Describe your favorite stuffed animal, either now or from when you were a kid.

What’s an arcade or table game (air hockey, ping pong, etc) that you’re really good at?

Do you mind if others are in the kitchen when you’re cooking or baking?

What’s one show you watch or musician you listen to that your friends know nothing about?

What was the best part of your day today?

What’s your favorite kind of tree?

What scent is your deodorant?

Do you have any games on your phone? If so, which one(s) is/are your favorite?

Do you shower with the lights on or off?

What do you do with spare change?

Do you have good handwriting?

What’s the last thing a friend recommended to you that you looked into and actually liked?

Do you like to go on walks?

Do you have a favorite plate or bowl?

What’s your favorite thing to do when it’s raining?

Describe your perfect sleeping conditions

[colourfestbluebird]

Hello everyone!!

Got peer pressured into posting this~✨