This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/science/animal-magic/2014/jun/09/fifa-brazil-failing-threatened-armadillo-conservation
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Fifa and Brazil are failing threatened armadillo, say conservationists | Fifa and Brazil are failing threatened armadillo, say conservationists |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| In 2012, Fifa unveiled its mascot | In 2012, Fifa unveiled its mascot |
| for Brazil 2014, a colourful armadillo called Fuleco. Its real-world inspiration is the | for Brazil 2014, a colourful armadillo called Fuleco. Its real-world inspiration is the |
| Brazilian | Brazilian |
| three-banded armadillo Tolypeutes tricinctus, a species that has evolved | three-banded armadillo Tolypeutes tricinctus, a species that has evolved |
| the defensive trick of rolling up into a near-perfect, football-like sphere. | the defensive trick of rolling up into a near-perfect, football-like sphere. |
| Ironically, the same property that makes it so suitable as the figurehead for | Ironically, the same property that makes it so suitable as the figurehead for |
| the World Cup also makes it easy to bag up and barbeque. The combined forces of | the World Cup also makes it easy to bag up and barbeque. The combined forces of |
| illegal subsistence hunting and habitat destruction have rendered this | illegal subsistence hunting and habitat destruction have rendered this |
| remarkable species vulnerable | remarkable species vulnerable |
| to extinction, according to the IUCN. | to extinction, according to the IUCN. |
| Initially, conservationists | Initially, conservationists |
| were upbeat about the choice of species as mascot, hopeful that the sight of | were upbeat about the choice of species as mascot, hopeful that the sight of |
| Fuleco bouncing | Fuleco bouncing |
| across the World Cup stage would raise awareness of the plight of the | across the World Cup stage would raise awareness of the plight of the |
| three-banded | three-banded |
| armadillo (or “tatu-bola” as it’s known locally) and the Caatinga, a dry | armadillo (or “tatu-bola” as it’s known locally) and the Caatinga, a dry |
| forest region in the northeast of Brazil and the main stronghold of | forest region in the northeast of Brazil and the main stronghold of |
| this | this |
| enigmatic mammal. But there is increasing | enigmatic mammal. But there is increasing |
| concern that Fuleco isn’t working hard enough to benefit the tatu-bola or | concern that Fuleco isn’t working hard enough to benefit the tatu-bola or |
| its habitat. | its habitat. |
| The World Cup will profit hugely from | The World Cup will profit hugely from |
| the image of Fuleco, says Rodrigo Castro, executive | the image of Fuleco, says Rodrigo Castro, executive |
| secretary of the Caatinga Association, an | secretary of the Caatinga Association, an |
| NGO that champions the conservation of the tatu-bola and the Caatinga (which occupies | NGO that champions the conservation of the tatu-bola and the Caatinga (which occupies |
| over 800,000 km2 or around 10% of the country). In 2013, one of the World Cup’s official | over 800,000 km2 or around 10% of the country). In 2013, one of the World Cup’s official |
| sponsors Continental Tyres did make a one-off donation | sponsors Continental Tyres did make a one-off donation |
| of 100,000 Reais to the Caatinga Association. But this is only around $45,000 | of 100,000 Reais to the Caatinga Association. But this is only around $45,000 |
| (or £27,000) and was only enough to get Project | (or £27,000) and was only enough to get Project |
| Tatu-bola rolling, says Castro, a campaign with the aim of preventing the extinction of the threatened | Tatu-bola rolling, says Castro, a campaign with the aim of preventing the extinction of the threatened |
| armadillo in the coming decade. As things stand, Fifa itself has made no direct | armadillo in the coming decade. As things stand, Fifa itself has made no direct |
| contribution to the Caatinga Association or the conservation of the tatu-bola, he says. | contribution to the Caatinga Association or the conservation of the tatu-bola, he says. |
| From where I’m sitting, this does not | From where I’m sitting, this does not |
| look good. In the 2012 press | look good. In the 2012 press |
| release that introduced Fuleco to the world, Fifa's secretary general | release that introduced Fuleco to the world, Fifa's secretary general |
| Jérôme Valcke described the choice of the three-banded armadillo as “very fitting”. | Jérôme Valcke described the choice of the three-banded armadillo as “very fitting”. |
| “One of the key objectives through the 2014 Fifa World Cup is to use the event | “One of the key objectives through the 2014 Fifa World Cup is to use the event |
| as a platform to communicate the importance of the environment and ecology,” he | as a platform to communicate the importance of the environment and ecology,” he |
| said. “We are glad to be able to do so with the help of a mascot who I’m sure | said. “We are glad to be able to do so with the help of a mascot who I’m sure |
| will be much-loved, not only in Brazil, but all over the world.” After a public | will be much-loved, not only in Brazil, but all over the world.” After a public |
| vote on names, Fuleco | vote on names, Fuleco |
| won through, a fusion of the words “Futbol” and “Ecologia”. | won through, a fusion of the words “Futbol” and “Ecologia”. |
| But wouldn’t Fifa’s commitment to the | But wouldn’t Fifa’s commitment to the |
| environment and ecology be so much more credible if it channeled some of its | environment and ecology be so much more credible if it channeled some of its |
| Fuleco-related revenue into the conservation of the Caatinga? Castro agrees and | Fuleco-related revenue into the conservation of the Caatinga? Castro agrees and |
| has made several concrete proposals to Fifa. For instance, a small percentage | has made several concrete proposals to Fifa. For instance, a small percentage |
| of Fuleco soft toy sales (one incarnation retails at $14.99) could be directed towards | of Fuleco soft toy sales (one incarnation retails at $14.99) could be directed towards |
| the tatu-bola conservation project. “The 2014 World Cup | the tatu-bola conservation project. “The 2014 World Cup |
| could be remembered by future generations as the first event of this nature to | could be remembered by future generations as the first event of this nature to |
| have been crucial to save a native species of the host country from | have been crucial to save a native species of the host country from |
| extinction,” he says. | extinction,” he says. |
| In April, several senior Brazilian | In April, several senior Brazilian |
| scientists made another innovative proposal in the journal Biotropica (full article here). They called on Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff to | |
| protect 10 km2 of Caatinga forest for every goal scored during the tournament. The | protect 10 km2 of Caatinga forest for every goal scored during the tournament. The |
| South Africa 2010 World Cup saw 145 balls in nets, which would translate to 1450 km2 or around 0.2% of the region (corrected from original post, in which I got my maths muddled). | |
| This would be extremely welcome, for less | This would be extremely welcome, for less |
| than 1% of the Caatinga is currently designated as a protected area. This | than 1% of the Caatinga is currently designated as a protected area. This |
| is surprising, given that it is home to an impressive suite of species, with | is surprising, given that it is home to an impressive suite of species, with |
| more than 1,000 vascular plants, no fewer than 180 bees, 240 fish, more than 150 | more than 1,000 vascular plants, no fewer than 180 bees, 240 fish, more than 150 |
| amphibians and reptiles, over 500 birds and around 150 mammals. In comparison to | amphibians and reptiles, over 500 birds and around 150 mammals. In comparison to |
| wetter habitats like the tropical forests along the Brazil’s Atlantic coast or | wetter habitats like the tropical forests along the Brazil’s Atlantic coast or |
| the iconic Amazon, the Caatinga has historically received next-to-nothing. | the iconic Amazon, the Caatinga has historically received next-to-nothing. |
| This lack of scientific and conservation | This lack of scientific and conservation |
| input probably explains why, just 20 years ago in 1994, the tatu-bola appeared | input probably explains why, just 20 years ago in 1994, the tatu-bola appeared |
| in an appendix of “extinct or probably extinct” mammal species. With nobody out | in an appendix of “extinct or probably extinct” mammal species. With nobody out |
| there looking, there were no reliable reports that this dinky mammal was still | there looking, there were no reliable reports that this dinky mammal was still |
| trotting its way through the scrub. It turns out that the armadillo still | trotting its way through the scrub. It turns out that the armadillo still |
| survives but without proper funding, its future is bleak. “The World Cup and FIFA itself could play a | survives but without proper funding, its future is bleak. “The World Cup and FIFA itself could play a |
| major role in saving the species from extinction,” says Castro. “Unfortunately | major role in saving the species from extinction,” says Castro. “Unfortunately |
| we got no reply from FIFA on our propositions,” he says. | we got no reply from FIFA on our propositions,” he says. |
| I telephoned Fifa this morning at their headquarters in Zurich, | I telephoned Fifa this morning at their headquarters in Zurich, |
| Switzerland and got a recorded message. “Our | Switzerland and got a recorded message. “Our |
| offices remain closed on Monday 9 June due to a local holiday.” When they are | offices remain closed on Monday 9 June due to a local holiday.” When they are |
| back at work, they will be busy with the tournament itself. But I don’t think | back at work, they will be busy with the tournament itself. But I don’t think |
| it is too late for Fifa and Brazil to seize the opportunity presented by this | it is too late for Fifa and Brazil to seize the opportunity presented by this |
| curious armadillo. It wouldn’t cost much to support the conservation of the | curious armadillo. It wouldn’t cost much to support the conservation of the |
| Caatinga (at least not in comparison with the vast wealth being generated by | Caatinga (at least not in comparison with the vast wealth being generated by |
| the event), it would look good for Fifa (which is keen to show off its support | the event), it would look good for Fifa (which is keen to show off its support |
| for the environment) and – who knows – it might even do some good. | for the environment) and – who knows – it might even do some good. |