Category Archives: Asia

Antartctic Ocean, Asia, Atlantic Ocean, Biodiversity, Cetaceans, China, Christopher J. Gervais, conservation, Documentary Films, Dolphins, Endangered Species, environment, Film Festival, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Marine Mammals, Micro plastics, Nature Documentary, Nature Films, New York City, Nigeria, Ocean, Ocean Pollution, Oceans, Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch, phytoplankton, Plastic Bags, Plastic Debris, Plastic Pollution, Plastic Sea, Plastic Straws. Micro Plastics, Plastic Trash, Plastic Water Bottles, Power of Film, River, Sea Turtles, Seabirds, Sharks, Single-Use Plastic Straws, Uncategorized, WCFF, Whales, Wildlife Conservation, Wildlife Conservation Film Festival, Wildlife Documentary, Wildlife Films

Five trillion pounds of plastic garbage floats in the seas

May 1, 2018 christopherjgervais Leave a comment

Recent study indicates between 88 to 95% of the plastic polluting the world’s oceans pours in from just ten rivers, eight are in Asia and the remaining two in Africa. These rivers account for about five trillion pounds of plastic garbage that is floating in the seas.

The Ganges River in India is responsible for about 1.2 billion pounds, while the Yangtze has been estimated in previous research to dump some 727 million pounds of plastic into the ocean’s each year.

A combination of the Xi, Dong and Zhujiang Rivers (233 million lbs per year) in China as well as four Indonesian rivers: the Brantas (85 million lbs annually), Solo (71 million pounds per year), Serayu (37 million lbs per year) and Progo (28 million lbs per year), are all large contributors.

It is estimated that over 200 million marine mammals, seabirds and sea turtles are killed each year by ingesting plastic garbage in the ocean.

Christopher J. Gervais, FRGS
Twitter: @CJGERVAIS
Christopher@WCFF.org

Wildlife Conservation Film Festival
October 18-28, 2018 | New York, NY
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Asia, Bear Bile, Bears, Biodiversity, Borneo, Cambodia, China, Christopher J. Gervais, conservation, Deforestation, Documentary Films, Endangered Species, environment, habitat destruction, Illegal Wildlife Trade, India, Indonesia, Nature Documentary, Nature Films, New York City, Power of Film, Rainforest, Uncategorized, Vietnam, WCFF, wildlife, Wildlife Conservation, Wildlife Conservation Film Festival, Wildlife Documentary, Wildlife Films

Malayan Sun Bear film to screen at 2018 WCFF

April 27, 2018 christopherjgervais Leave a comment

“Big Pygmies Little Giants” produced and directed by Dr. Audrey Low and Howard Jackson is an official selection to the 2018 WCFF this October in New York.

The Sun Bear is the smallest member of the bear family and is found in southeast Asia from southern China to eastern India and as far south as Indonesia, sun bears, also called Malayan sun bears, take their name from the bib-shaped golden or white patch on their chest, which legend says represents the rising sun. They have a stocky, muscular build, small ears, and a short muzzle, which has earned them the nickname “dog bear.” Their sleek, black coat is short to avoid overheating in the tropical weather but thick and coarse to provide protection from twigs, branches, and rain.

The WCFF mission is to inform, engage and inspire wildlife conservation through the power of film. Join us for our eight year anniversary October 18-28, 2018. Ten days with over 100 documentary films screened, many World and North America premieres. Panel discussions, receptions, field trips, networking, virtual reality/360 and more. All Access Film Festival passes are available now for purchase: wcff.org/nyc-festival-2018/

Contact: info@wcff.org to join the planning committee. Sponsor the film festival, advertise on the big screen during the outdoor summer series and the October festival. Take a page in the full color program book to be distributed in USA, China and other countries.

Christopher J. Gervais, FRGS
Twitter: @CJGERVAIS
Christopher@WCFF.org

Asia, Biodiversity, Cambodia, Cetaceans, Christopher J. Gervais, conservation, Documentary Films, Dolphins, Endangered Species, environment, Extinction, India, Irrawaddy River Dolphins, Mammals, Marine Mammals, Nature Documentary, Nature Films, Ocean, Ocean Pollution, Plastic Pollution, Power of Film, Uncategorized, Vietnam, WCFF, WCFF Education Outreach, wildlife, Wildlife Conservation, Wildlife Conservation Film Festival, Wildlife Documentary, Wildlife Films

Irrawaddy River Dolphins

April 25, 2018 christopherjgervais Leave a comment

Good News – After decades of irreversible decline, results from a Government of Cambodia census show the population of critically endangered Irrawaddy river dolphins in the Mekong has risen from 80 to 92 in the past two years, the first increase in more than twenty years.

Although sometimes called the Irrawaddy river dolphin, it is not a true river dolphin, but an oceanic dolphin that lives in brackish water near coasts, river mouths and in estuaries. It has established subpopulations in freshwater rivers, including the Ganges and the Mekong, as well as the Irrawaddy River from which it takes its name. Its range extends from the Bay of Bengal to New Guinea and the Philippines although they do not appear to venture off shore.

It is often seen in estuaries and bays in Borneo Island, with sightings from Sandakan in Sabah, Malaysia, to most parts of Brunei and Sarawak, Malaysia. A specimen was collected at Mahakam River in East Kalimantan.

No range-wide survey has been conducted for this vulnerable species; however, the worldwide population appears to be over 7,000, with over 90% occurring in Bangladesh. Populations outside Bangladesh and India are classified as critically endangered. Known subpopulations of Irrawaddy dolphins are found in eight places, listed here in order of population, including conservation status.

Christopher J. Gervais, FRGS
Twitter: @CJGERVAIS
Christopher@WCFF.org

Asia, Biodiversity, Christopher J. Gervais, conservation, Deforestation, Documentary Films, Endangered Species, environment, Extinction, Film Festival, Hunting, Illegal Wildlife Trade, Indonesia, Javan Rhino, Mammals, Nature Documentary, Nature Films, Poaching, Poaching, Power of Film, Rhino, Rhino horn, Rhinos, Uncategorized, WCFF, WCFF Education Outreach, wildlife, Wildlife Conservation Film Festival, Wildlife Crime, Wildlife Documentary, Wildlife Films

Javan Rhinoceros population holding steady

March 10, 2018 christopherjgervais Leave a comment

The Javan rhinoceros, one of the world’s most endangered species, continues to persevere in its last remaining sanctuary, latest census from the Indonesia government finds a minimum of 67 individuals. The species is restricted to Ujung Kulon National Park, which is only 185 square miles, roughly the size of New York City boroughs, Queens and Brooklyn combined

The Javan Rhino was once the most widespread of all rhino species in Asia, found from Assam and Bengal (where their range would have overlapped with both the Sumatran and Indian rhinos) eastward to Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and southwards to the Malay Peninsula and the islands of Sumatra, Java, and possibly Borneo. Today the species is only found in the western tip of the island of Java. Deforestation, human population, poaching have decimate the species.

The WCFF informs, engage and inspires wildlife conservation through the power of film. Join us for our eight year anniversary in New York, NY, October 18-28, 2018. Ten days of film screenings, panel discussions, receptions, field trips, networking, Virtual Reality and more.

Christopher J. Gervais, FRGS
Twitter: @CJGERVAIS
Christopher@WCFF.org

Animal Intelligence, Animal Rights, Asia, Biodiversity, Borneo, Christopher J. Gervais, conservation, Deforestation, Documentary Films, Endangered Species, environment, Extinction, habitat destruction, Habitat Restoration, Hunting, Illegal Wildlife Trade, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mammals, Nature Documentary, Nature Films, Orangutans, Poaching, Power of Film, Rainforest, Uncategorized, WCFF, WCFF Education Outreach, wildlife, Wildlife Conservation, Wildlife Conservation Film Festival, Wildlife Crime, Wildlife Documentary, Wildlife Films

Borneo Orangutans Disappearing FAST

February 22, 2018 christopherjgervais Leave a comment

A new IUCN study reveals the island of Borneo has lost 150,000 orangutans between 1999-2015, largely as a result of deforestation & poaching. The last Census in 2012 reports 104,700 of the critically Endangered Species apes left. If current trends continue with habitat loss and killing another 45,00 could die by 2050.

Christopher J. Gervais, FRGS
Twitter: @CJGERVAIS
Christopher@WCFF.org

Wildlife Conservation Film Festival
October 18-28, 2018 | New York, NY
http://www.WCFF.org
Facebook.com/WCFForg
Twitter: @WCFF_org
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Africa, Animal Cruelty, Animal Rights, Asia, Biodiversity, China, Christopher J. Gervais, conservation, Endangered Species, environment, Extinction, Hunting, Mammals, Nature Documentary, Nature Films, Pangolins, Poaching, Poaching, Power of Film, Uncategorized, Vietnam, WCFF, WCFF Education Outreach, wildlife, Wildlife Conservation, Wildlife Conservation Film Festival, Wildlife Crime, Wildlife Documentary, Wildlife Films, Wildlife Smuggling, World Pangolin Day

World Pangolin Day

February 18, 2018 christopherjgervais Leave a comment

Today is World Pangolin Day. Pangolins are the only mammals that are covered in scales, which are made of keratin—just like our hair and finger nail. There are 8 species of pangolin, four in Asia and four in Africa, all are listed as Endangered Species. Some estimate 6,000 pangolins are killed by poachers every day, just over 2 million animals a year. Pangolins are the most illegally trafficked mammal on Earth. High demand for their scales & meat come from China & Vietnam

Christopher J. Gervais, FRGS
Twitter: @CJGERVAIS
Christopher@WCFF.org

Asia, Big Cats, Biodiversity, Cambodia, China, Christopher J. Gervais, conservation, Endangered Species, environment, Extinction, habitat destruction, Hunting, Indochinese Tiger, Poaching, tigers, Uncategorized, WCFF, wildlife, Wildlife Conservation, Wildlife Crime

Cambodia’s plan to reintroduce tigers

November 11, 2017 christopherjgervais Leave a comment

The Indochinese tiger (Panthera tigris corbetti) is one of the six living tiger subspecies, and is found in Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and southwestern China.

The total population is less than 325 individuals in the wild. The largest population unit survives in Thailand estimated at 175 to 200 individuals. There are 75 individuals in Myanmar, and only 20 Indochinese tigers remain in Vietnam. The last tiger seen in China was 2009 in the Yunnan province.

As recently as 1999, Cambodia was home to one of the world’s largest tiger populations. Within a decade, the big cats had been eliminated from the country due to poaching and habitat loss. The last Indochinese tiger (Panthera tigris corbetti) was captured by camera trap roaming the lush Mondulkiri Province in the country’s east in 2007. Nearly 11 years later, none have been seen.

The Cambodian government is looking to change that. The Ministry of Environment announced in late September that it is moving forward with a plan, along with the WWF, to reintroduce tigers to Cambodia — a scheme that has drawn criticism from wildlife experts across the globe due to weak rule of law, rampant poaching and the destruction of Cambodia’s environment through illegal logging and other practices

However are there are a number of conservation organizations and scientists that feel now is not the right time to launch this program in Cambodia.

To read more visit: https://news.mongabay.com/2017/11/is-cambodias-plan-to-reintroduce-tigers-doomed-to-fail/?n3wsletter&utm_source=Mongabay+Newsletter&utm_campaign=1868686cdf-newsletter_2017_11_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_940652e1f4-1868686cdf-67233543

Christopher J. Gervais, F.R.G.S.
Twitter: @CJGERVAIS
Christopher@WCFF.org

Wildlife Conservation Film Festival
October 18-28, 2018
http://www.WCFF.org
Facebook.com/WCFForg
Twitter: @WCFF_org
Instagram: @wcff_org
Vimeo.com/wcff
LinkedIn: Wildlife Conservation Film Festival

Asia, Biodiversity, Christopher J. Gervais, conservation, Endangered Species, environment, Extinction, habitat destruction, Illegal Wildlife Trade, Mammals, Orangutans, Poaching, Population, Rainforest, Uncategorized, WCFF, wildlife, Wildlife Conservation

New Species of Great Ape Confirmed

November 2, 2017 christopherjgervais Leave a comment

A new and third species of orangutan has been confirmed by genetic testing, nearly 90 years after scientists first heard rumors of its existence.

A study indicates what was once assumed to be an isolated population of the Sumatran orangutan is in fact a distinct species.
The Batang Toru orangutan in western Sumatra differs from the Sumatran orangutan in morphology, behavior and genetics. Genomic analysis suggests it diverged from other orangutan species 3.4 million years ago.
There are fewer than 800 Batang Toru orangutans in existence, making it one of the rarest of all the great apes.

For additional reading visit: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/newly-discovered-orangutan-species-is-also-the-most-endangered/

Wildlife Conservation Film Festival
October 18-28, 2018
http://www.WCFF.org

Christopher J. Gervais, F.R.G.S.
Christopher@WCFF.org
Facebook.com/WCFForg
Twitter: @WCFF_org
Twitter: @CJGERVAIS
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LinkedIn: Wildlife Conservation Film Festival

Asia, Biodiversity, Christopher J. Gervais, conservation, Documentary Films, Elephants, Endangered Species, environment, Extinction, Film Festival, India, Ivory, Mammals, Uncategorized, WCFF, wildlife, Wildlife Conservation, Wildlife Conservation Film Festival

Elephants in the Coffee

October 23, 2017 christopherjgervais Leave a comment

The Asian Elephant population is down to just 30,000 in its native habitat of India and southeast Asia. The primary threat for this species is loss of habitat.

This week the award winning film Elephants in the Coffee, produced by Dr. Thomas Grant and D.K. Bhaskar screens in New York, NY at the Wildlife Conservation Film Festival. For a schedule of films, speakers and to attend visit: WCFF.org

‘Elephants in the Coffee’ shows how growth of coffee plantations
in Southern India led to deadly conflicts between humans and elephants. For more information about this splendid

For more information about this award winning film visit: http://www.elephantsinthecoffee.com/

Animal Cruelty, Animal Rights, Asia, Breeding in captivity, Uncategorized, WCFF

Largest Dog Meat Market in South Korea Shut Down

December 19, 2016 christopherjgervais Leave a comment

On the morning of December 13, Seongnam, South Korea’s Moran Livestock Association, which kills around 80,000 dogs every year for their meat, announced they are entirely stopping the practice of confining, killing, and selling dogs. The shut-down was due in great part to the actions of Defense of Animals, an animal activist group who had heavily campaigned against MLA’s brutal slaughter of dogs and had petitioned the city of Seongnam to take action. Marilyn Kroplick, the President of IDA, made this statement following the group’s victory: “The closure of Korea’s most infamous dog meat market at Moran deals a significant blow to the heart of the dog meat trade. Moran market has run with the blood of hundreds of thousands of dogs for many years, so this is a step in the right direction in our fight to end the horrific dog meat trade.” Nevertheless, despite this step in the right direction for the dog meat trade, Kroplick noted that dog meat selling operations would likely just relocate, necessitating further activism by IDA until all such meat markets are eliminated.

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Photo: Emilian Robert Vicol

Source: Starostinetskaya, Anna. “South Korea’s Biggest Dog Meat Market Shuts Down.” VegNews. 14 December 2016.

Wildlife Conservation Film Festival
Biodiversity & Wildlife Crime Conference
Christopher J. Gervais, F.R.G.S.
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Christopher@WCFF.org
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