the-circles-of-life:Notophthalmus viridescensEastern Newtft. Priya NanjappaSometimes people ask: wit
the-circles-of-life:Notophthalmus viridescensEastern Newtft. Priya NanjappaSometimes people ask: with all these different organizations, and all these animals that need help, why aren’t these groups addressing it?Usually, the answer is because there’s no law or regulation that gives them the power to do it. Often there are complex political issues behind it. And other times, it is simply because no one has proposed it to the lawmakers.In general, lawmakers don’t think up laws to address problems themselves. They rely on people to come to them, explain the problem, and pitch solutions. This is the job for “masterminds” who work behind the scenes like Priya Nanjappa.She “fell into” amphibian conservation in college, around the time frogs were being found with major malformations in Minnesota. After taking a summer course at a field lab, Priya became part of the community after her professor invited her to do her M.Sc. with him.These were the days she encountered the gorgeous Eastern Newts, which have since fascinated her. Their larvae hatch in a pond, lose their gills and develop lungs as they grow up, then return to the water years after living on land.“Newts also have remarkable powers to regenerate limbs, eyes, and other parts. The Shakespearean witches brew has some foundation in fact!” she quips about the stereotypical medieval medicine.Unfortunately, they’re vulnerable to the fungus called Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal), which is devastating salamanders in Europe. When she learned that this charismatic, beautiful newt was at risk, she influenced a regulation to prevent the fungus from invading the states and raised some funds for Bsal research.“I’m really proud of this work because we are helping to rethink how to be proactive for wildlife diseases in general. When there is knowledge of a potential disease introduction, or likelihood of spread, it’s not enough to just be ready for a pathogen to arrive. We have to be thinking about and researching ways to minimize its impact once it gets here.”“If I can help influence it, these salamanders’ fate will not include extinction. But I worry about this possibility. Just in case, I have a plan to immortalize them, at least in my own memory, in a tattoo.”—Today is Priya Nanjappa’s last day as the Program Manager at The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) and National Coordinator for Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (PARC). She will continue her work as the Director of Operations at Conservation Science Partners (CSP). Get to know Priya, amphibians and reptiles, and her conservation work.Twitter · Instagram · PARC · AFWA · CSP · LinkedIn—My main blog · Ko-fi · PatreonMY FAVORITES. -- source link
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