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Your letters and Tales from the Bush
I was observing bottlenose dolphins in the Moray Firth when I was surprised to hear and see two drones flying just above the cetaceans, presumably taking photos. Were the dolphins affected by a noisy drone? Drones are banned in Antarctica and I cannot imagine any nature reserve permitting them. Patrick Frew, via email Colin Jackson, BBC Natural History Unit Drone Lead, replies: Here at the BBC, if animals show signs of stress we will always put the welfare of the animal above filming. Increasingly, we are able to use drones with longer focal lens cameras than 'hobby' drones. This allows us to capture our imagery from further away and reduce our risk of disturbance.
There have been very few studies on the effect of drones on animals, but one often referenced is published by the British Ornithologists' Union and indicates that drones do not have much effect on bird behaviour. Read more at: bit.ly/dronesbirds.
Specifically regarding dolphins, it is unlikely the drone itself would disturb the dolphins, as the noise pollution in the water from drones flying between 5–10m above the surface is only recordable down to 1m depth. Read more at: bit.ly/dronesmarine.
What’s in a name?
Mark Carwardine suggests (My way of thinking, September 2018) that measures to save threatened species will be much more productive if we give names to individual animals whose plight we wish to highlight. I disagree. Calling an animal Simba, Keiko or Sirocco might help that particular animal to a better life, but what about all the other members of their species? Does the public only think it worthwhile to help species when it knows the name (and a few other facts) about one of its members? If so, why is it possible for members of organisations like Save the Rhino to run the London Marathon and raise considerable sums for the species as a whole? An analogy with the human species would be that fundraising to save one person with a rare disease is easier than fundraising for, say, multiple sclerosis, cancer or Alzheimer’s research. Is it? Philip Jenkins, France
Out of sight…
I totally agree with Mark Carwardine (My way of thinking, August 2018). I feel that, as with the Yangtze River dolphin, the vaquita suffers from ‘out of sight, out of mind' syndrome – both living in a watery world, the authorities hope no one will notice if the vaquita becomes extinct. This is such a poor excuse, though. If less is done then come Christmas time we may not have a single vaquita left on Earth, along with others facing extinction, like the Sumatran rhinoceros. Every government and person around the world should help save any species, even if it is foreign to their country. Extinction is a world problem. Though do the Chinese or Vietnamese realise that they are the main reason behind such losses, along with other consumers of traditional Chinese medicine? Emmanuel Fardoulis, Australia
Keep your distance
Following the article on your website (Royal Parks urge caution, October, 2018) about photographers surrounding red deer in London’s Royal Parks, I thought you may be interested in my photograph. The picture shows a photographer not only spoiling all other photographers’ images but, most importantly, having absolutely no respect for animal welfare. Photographers should not invade the space of rutting deer, but this chap was only interested in getting his shot. I shall not be going to the rut in future. Sue Istead, via email
It takes two
I noticed your interesting article about clownfish (Wild News, October 2018). On a recent trip to Raja Ampat, Indonesia (the place with the highest concentration of marine species on Earth), we loved the diversity of anemone fish species. Many of them approached us, and some charged to keep us away from their anemone. They clearly defend their home.
I have heard that if the fish are removed from an anemone then the anemone gets eaten by other fish. So, the relationship is a true symbiosis, where both fish and anemone benefit from protection. Mark Costello, New Zealand
Help or hindrance?
We enjoyed Kate Bradbury’s article (Bringing back the green, November 2018) and we’re pleased to see that we’re ticking the boxes for wildlife in our own garden. However, putting out food for all the bird life this year has backfired on us. Despite cleaning feeders and bird baths weekly, we’ve lost at least six greenfinches this year, plus a couple of goldfinches, chaffinches and a bullfinch – all of which succumbed to the dreaded finch disease. As wildlife lovers, should this be something we need to be worried about? Should we put out less food or stop altogether
and be satisfied that our slightly wild garden will provide? Steve and Carolyn Davis, via email
Close encounter
I recently went on holiday to Abruzzo National Park, Italy, in search of the Critically Endangered Marsican brown bear. I got a lot more than I bargained for when, early one morning, this bear came within 50m of me. Luckily, I had my camera ready! I was with volunteers from Salviamo l’Orso (Save the Bear) who do some great work in the national park, and surrounding areas, to protect the bears. A lot of the volunteers were, in fact, from the UK. I feel few people are aware of this unique subspecies of brown bear, which is having a tough time at the moment. Conor Rowlands, via email
Picture editor Tom Gilks replies: That certainly was a lucky sighting! This species was the subject of the winning photo by Marco Colombo in the Urban Wildlife category of Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2018, which featured in our November issue. I’m hopeful that this will help raise the profile of this special and enigmatic species.