The Yellow Cardinal Gubernatrix cristata is a globally endangered passerine from the southern cone of South America. Because of its conspicuous plumage and very attractive song, it suffers considerably from illegal pet trade. The largest remaining populations are found in Argentina, but no coordinated efforts have been made thus far to understand better its current distribution and conservation status. During three annual surveys supported by a citizen science programme, more than 140 volunteers surveyed 644 geographical points during spring and detected 221 Yellow Cardinals. Based on the survey results, we evaluated the presence of cardinals within protected areas in Argentina and found that the species was only detected in four of them, two of which were private reserves with a low level of protection. We also found that the species was not restricted to the ‘Espinal’ ecoregion, but also inhabited ‘Monte’ and ‘Chaco’ ecoregions, which are generally drier. This citizen science programme allowed us to obtain up-to-date information on the remaining populations of the Yellow Cardinal and helped to increase public awareness about the conservation problems faced by the species. We propose some future strategies for monitoring Yellow Cardinals and taking informed conservation decisions.

Pattanam is an important mutton-breed sheep of Tamil Nadu, India and is popular among the farmers for its heavy body weight. Despite its economic importance and distinct identity, this breed is not included in the list of descript sheep breeds at the national level, as it is not researched so far. Hence, a study has been made to document the habitat, distribution, physical traits, production and reproduction performances and the existing management practices of Pattanam sheep of Tamil Nadu, India. The preliminary study revealed that Pattanam sheep is a large-sized breed with compact body and uniformly creamy white in colour with black colour in the ventral region from the inner side of the jowl extending up to the inguinal region. Pure breed animals were distributed in the Paramakudi, Mudukulathur and Kamuthi taluks of Ramanathapuram district and Aruppukottai and Thiruchuli taluks of Virudunagar district of southern agroclimatic zone of Tamil Nadu, India. The means of body length, height at withers and chest girth in adult rams were 80.65 ± 0.49, 85.58 ± 0.58 and 93.65 ± 0.35 cm and in adult ewes were 70.05 ± 0.45, 72.80 ± 0.65 and 78.34 ± 0.35 cm, respectively. The body weight in adult rams and ewes were 51.50 ± 1.20 and 36.95 ± 0.51 kg, respectively. Pattanam sheep are used extensively for breeding purposes with other native breeds especially from Coimbatore, Kilakarsal and Ramnad White sheep of Tamil Nadu.

The Garole is a prolific breed of sheep. High prolificacy in sheep carrying the Booroola gene (FecB) is the result of a mutation in bone morphogenetic protein receptor-IB (BMPR-IB) (Wilson et al., 2001a,b) which had previously been identified in Garole sheep from the Sunderban region of West Bengal (Davis et al., 2002) . There is evidence that the breed has originated from the sheep brought by the Tibetan traders and traded in the plains of Bengal during the seventeenth till the nineteenth century. The present study was carried out to remap the distribution of the Garole sheep within the state of West Bengal (India) using the presence of the BMPR-IB mutation in the sheep flocks reared at different locations within the state of West Bengal. The breeding tract of Garole sheep was initially thought to be in the districts of 24 Parganas, South and North alone. However, the results from the present study indicate that the sheep is also reared in the district of Midnapur (East), besides in Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar districts situated in northern parts of the state. The results of the present study indicate that the breeding tract of Garole sheep extends up to Jalpaiguri and CoochBehar districts of West Bengal at 26°16′ and 27°0′ North latitude and 88°4′ and 89°53′ East longitude. This study also indicates that the ancestors of the Garole sheep have migrated from China/Tibet, during the trading between West Bengal and Bangladesh during the seventeenth century till the early-twentieth century.