Ailing bull moose on Adirondack mountain hiking trail in New York put down – ABC News

Report on Wildlife Management and Conservation in Adirondack Park

A recent incident involving a bull moose in the Adirondack Park has highlighted the challenges and responsibilities of wildlife management, directly aligning with the objectives of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 15 (Life on Land).

Case Study: Goodman Mountain Moose

Chronology of Events

1. May 2023: A four-year-old bull moose was first observed exhibiting unusual behavior by remaining on or near the summit trail of Goodman Mountain in the Horseshoe Lake Wild Forest.
2. June 6, 2023: The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) temporarily closed the trail. This action was taken to protect public safety and minimize stress on the animal, reflecting principles of sustainable community management (SDG 11) and protection of terrestrial ecosystems (SDG 15).
3. June-August 2023: Efforts to encourage the moose to leave the area were unsuccessful. The animal’s health continued to show signs of significant decline.
4. August 2023: A final assessment by DEC wildlife biologists and a state veterinarian from the Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine confirmed the moose was suffering from severe emaciation and advanced disease.
5. Decision for Humane Intervention: Given the animal’s condition and low likelihood of survival, the decision was made to humanely euthanize the moose.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 15: Life on Land

This case is a direct application of the principles of SDG 15, which aims to protect, restore, and promote the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems and halt biodiversity loss.

• Protecting Biodiversity: The state’s moose population, which recovered from local extinction in the 1800s, is a significant conservation success. Managing threats to the current population of approximately 700 moose is critical to preventing a reversal of this progress.
• Scientific Research: A necropsy will be performed to determine the cause of the moose’s illness. This scientific investigation is essential for understanding threats to the broader moose population, such as disease or environmental stressors, and contributes directly to the SDG 15 target of halting biodiversity loss.
• Ecosystem Health: As stated by Jacqueline Lendrum, Director of the DEC’s Division of Fish and Wildlife, “information gathered from this animal will help DEC better understand and manage moose in New York.” This data-driven approach is fundamental to maintaining the health and resilience of the Adirondack ecosystem.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The management of this incident demonstrates a strong partnership between government and academic institutions, a key component of SDG 17.

• Collaborative Action: The joint effort between the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine combines regulatory authority with scientific expertise.
• Knowledge Sharing: This partnership facilitates the generation and application of critical scientific knowledge for evidence-based policymaking and wildlife management strategies, ensuring that conservation efforts are effective and informed.

Conclusion and Future Implications

The decision to euthanize the Goodman Mountain moose, while difficult, was deemed the most humane course of action. The subsequent scientific analysis represents a vital opportunity to advance New York State’s conservation objectives. The information gained will be instrumental in developing future management strategies to protect the health of the regional moose population and the integrity of its habitat, reinforcing the state’s commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Analysis of SDGs in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  This is the most relevant goal as the article focuses on the management of terrestrial wildlife (a moose), the health of a specific animal population, and the conservation of biodiversity within a specific ecosystem (the Adirondack mountain region). The actions of the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) directly relate to protecting and managing life on land.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The article highlights a collaboration between a government body and an academic institution to address the issue. This partnership is crucial for achieving the conservation and research objectives mentioned, directly reflecting the spirit of SDG 17.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.

   The article discusses the history of the moose population, which was “wiped out in the 1800s” and is now making a comeback. The efforts by the DEC and Cornell to “better understand and manage moose in New York” and investigate “threats to the large mammals” are direct actions aimed at protecting this species and halting potential biodiversity loss due to disease or other factors.

2. Target 15.9: By 2020, integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning, development processes, poverty reduction strategies and accounts.

   The decision to temporarily close the Goodman Mountain hiking trail because of the moose’s presence is a clear example of integrating wildlife and ecosystem values into local land management and public access planning. The safety of both the public and the animal was prioritized, demonstrating this integration in practice.

3. Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.

   The article explicitly mentions the collaboration between the state Department of Environmental Conservation (a public agency) and the Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine (an academic institution). The necropsy performed by Cornell will provide crucial data to the DEC, showcasing a partnership that leverages different expertise for a common environmental goal.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Implied Indicator for Target 15.5: The article mentions the estimated moose population (“roughly 700 moose in the Adirondack region”). Monitoring this population size over time serves as a direct indicator of the health and stability of the species, measuring progress toward preventing biodiversity loss.
• Implied Indicator for Target 15.5: The performance of a necropsy “to help authorities understand the cause of the moose’s decline” is an action that can be quantified. An indicator could be the “number of scientific research initiatives undertaken to identify and mitigate threats to key species.”
• Implied Indicator for Target 15.9: The closure of the hiking trail is a specific management action. An indicator could be the “number of management actions taken to integrate wildlife needs into public land use planning.”
• Implied Indicator for Target 17.17: The collaboration between the DEC and Cornell is a tangible partnership. An indicator could be the “number of formal partnerships between government agencies and academic institutions for wildlife conservation and research.”

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: abcnews.go.com