In the last issue of ORYX we drew attention to the dangers from chemicals for the bird life of the Rift Valley lakes in East Africa (page 283). This is particularly serious in Lake Nakuru where a million flamingos are threatened by both chemicals and the sewage effluent from the town of Nakuru which all goes untreated into the lake. Sir Landsborough points out that only on the basis of facts will the authorities listen to demands that the pollution be stopped—and that means research. The new Baharini Wildlife Sanctuary has been established on the lake shores with the triple purpose of providing facilities for such research, as well as for education and tourism—the last designed eventually to pay for the first two. But money is needed to get the research started now. The originator of the project, John Hopcraft, spoke about it at an FPS meeting on September 22, and a letter from Sir Landsborough was published by The Times on September 21. The World Wildlife Fund is supporting the project and the FPS will be pleased to pass on contributions from any members or others who would like to help save the Nakuru flamingos.

Dr Laws was the first Director of the Tsavo Research Project. This was started in February 1967 to investigate the habitat destruction in the Tsavo National Park, in Kenya, and the part played by the elephants which had been increasing rapidly—the research team's estimate was 23,000 in the park with an additional 12,000 in the peripheral areas, a total of 35,000 ± 7,000. After nine months the research programme, which included sample kills of elephants, was interrupted by the National Parks. Dr Laws spent the next eight months trying to restart the work and to discuss his findings and proposals; no discussions took place and he resigned. The article here consists of part of a paper (slightly amended by Dr Laws) published in the Journal of Reproduction and Fertility, Supplement No 6, 1969, and reproduced by permission. It explains why he regards the sample cropping as essential to find out what is happening in the elephant populations, and whether they are regulating their numbers quickly enough to save the habitat. Since Dr Laws left the Tsavo in June 1968, the Research Project has been carried on under the direction of the Botanist Warden, Dr P. E. Glover, an article by whom appeared in the September ORYX, page 323; a comment on this by Dr Laws will appear in the next ORYX, May 1971.

The Ceylon Government, in February 1970, gave the dugong complete protection. Nevertheless, the authors conclude, following their three-month investigation this year, that this valuable and once abundant marine mammal is in grave danger in Ceylon, largely as a result of the intensive fishing with modern equipment, notably the nylon nets in which many dugongs are accidentally drowned. As the dugongs are confined to waters off the northwestern coast of Ceylon, they suggest that these nets be forbidden in the area and that it should become, in effect, a sanctuary for the dugong and a marine extension of the Wilpattu National Park.

Madagascar has one of the most interesting and scientifically valuable faunas in the world, with many endemic species, notably the lemurs. But forest destruction here as elsewhere threatens its survival. In October 1970 IUCN held a conference in Tananarive to highlight the island's importance and to interest both government and people in conserving this unique wildlife. FPS was represented by the Hon. Secretary, who here describes the situation and reports several hopeful and encouraging aspects.

Scientists and conservationists in five circumpolar countries are collaborating in a programme of research on the polar bear so that management plans can be evolved to ensure the survival of this endangered ‘Red Book’ animal. The author, who is an ecologist in the Institutt for Matin Biologi in Oslo University, describes the work he has been doing on Svalbard (Spitsbergen).

The object of Dr Holloway's two visits to Kashmir was to draw up a management plan for the Dachigam Sanctuary, the main habitat of the highly endangered hangul, or Kashmir stag. This includes a plan of work for the next five years, and also provision for anti-poaching patrols, the prevention of illegal grazing, wood-cutting and fires, staff training and a research programme. Dr Holloway is staff ecologist with IUCN.

Primitive breeds of sheep and goats, such as the Ronaldsay sheep of Orkney, could be in danger of disappearing with the present rapid decline in pastoral farming. The authors, both members of the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources in Edinburgh University, point out that, quite apart from their historical and cultural interest, these breeds have an important part to play in modern livestock breeding, which needs a constant infusion of new genes from unimproved breeds to get the benefits of hybrid vigour. Moreover these primitive breeds are able to use the poor land and live in the harsh environment which no modern hybrid sheep can stand.

Since 1964 the author, who is Game Warden of Sabah (formerly British North Borneo) has been running a state-supported orang utan rehabilitation project in the Sepilok Forest Reserve. Most are confiscated animals, having been kept illegally, often as pets, and he describes some of the difficulties in getting them to become independent again and able to live in the forest. Some have even been too well treated in captivity, living luxuriously and treated like humans.