Rethinking population management in zoos

University of Zurich

 

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Male European bison (Bison bonasus) fed to a Polar bear (Ursus maritimus). Three European bison (one male and two females) from this group have been released in Azerbaijan and Romania in recent years, which emphasizes the urgent need for sustainable ex-situ breeding programs for species conservation and reintroduction projects. (Image: Timo Deible, Zoo Karlsruhe)

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Credit: Timo Deible, Zoo Karlsruhe

Unlike animals in the wild, animals in zoos are not limited by food shortages or predators, allowing individuals to live much longer than they would in the wild. This poses a challenge for zoos, as it puts pressure on their finite holding capacities.  

As a result, many zoos restrict animal breeding for both logistical and financial reasons. Other zoos have risked a public backlash by culling surplus animals: Ten years ago, the culling of Marius, a healthy two-year-old giraffe, sparked an international debate about what zoos should do with their surplus animals, with many people upset at the idea of euthanizing healthy animals.  

Aging zoo populations 

In a recent policy statement led by the University of Zurich, researchers argue that the widespread use of contraception is changing the age profile and welfare of zoo populations – and not for the better. “Without births, adult animals are deprived of one of their most basic evolutionary drives,” says Marcus Clauss, lead author of the report. “Over time, zoo populations are also aging, jeopardizing one of the core principles of zoos: maintaining self-sustaining populations.” 

Often, surplus animals cannot be moved elsewhere, because zoos are filled to capacity and reintroducing animals to the wild requires dedicated release programs and availability of suitable habitats. Rather than limiting the reproductive ability of zoo animals, the authors advocate for the planned and respectful culling of surplus animals. “This is a rational and responsible approach to zoo population management. What’s more, such an approach can help zoos fulfill their educational mission in addition to their conservation mission,” adds Clauss.  

Educating the public about the natural life cycle  

“Each year, more than 700 million people visit zoos around the world,” says co-author Andrew Abraham from Aarhus University. “Zoos have an incredible opportunity to shape the public’s understanding of animal mortality and natural processes. But by moving death to the margins, zoos perpetuate unrealistic expectations about life in the wild.” 

However, zoos are also critical for conservation. “Already today, numerous animal species are threatened with extinction, and many more are likely to follow in the coming decades. It is essential that zoos maintain reproductively active populations, along with zoo staff experienced in caring for young animals. What we don’t need is a collection of geriatric animals and veterinarians preoccupied with palliative care,” Abraham adds. 

In-house meat supply improves carbon footprint 

As births increase, surplus zoo animals will have to be culled – a practice that can also make zoos more environmentally sustainable. Thus, one zoo in Germany is able to feed its carnivores with up to 30% of meat from animals within its own institution, reducing its carbon footprint and the need for commercially slaughtered animals.  

While the culling of charismatic mammals often sparks controversy, evidence suggests that public opinion is more balanced than portrayed in the media. “Zoos have a responsibility to educate visitors about the realities of life and death in animal population management,” says Clauss. “Transparent communication can help shift public perceptions and align attitudes with long-term, sustainable approaches.” 

Literature  

M. Clauss, M. Roller, M.F. Bertelsen, C. Rudolf von Rohr, D.W.H. Müller, C. Schiffmann, M. Kummrow, D. Encke, S. Ferreira, E.S. Duvall, C. Maré, A.J. Abraham. Zoos must embrace animal death for education and conservation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 30 December 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.241456512 

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Journal

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

DOI

10.1073/pnas.241456512 

Method of Research

Commentary/editorial

Subject of Research

Animals

Article Title

Rethinking Population Management in Zoos

Article Publication Date

8-Jan-2025

 

When the past meets the future: Innovative drone mapping unlocks secrets of Bronze Age ‘mega fortress’ in the Caucasus

Cranfield University

 

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Atmospheric photo of the site at dusk, showing the location at the convergence of two gorges. 2023 excavations of inner fortress are visible in foreground.

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Credit: Nathaniel Erb-Satullo

A Cranfield University, UK, academic has used drone mapping to investigate a 3000-year-old ‘mega fortress’ in the Caucasus mountains. Dr Nathaniel Erb-Satullo, Senior Lecturer in Architectural Science at Cranfield Forensic Institute, has been researching the site since 2018 with Dimitri Jachvliani, his co-director from the Georgian National Museum, revealing details that re-shape our understanding of the site and contribute to a global reassessment of ancient settlement growth and urbanism.

Fortress settlements in the South Caucasus appeared between 1500-500 BCE, and represent an unprecedented development in the prehistory of the regions. Situated at the boundary between Europe, the Eurasian Steppe, and the Middle East, the Caucasus region has a long history as a cultural crossroads with distinctive local identities.  

Research on the fortress – named Dmanisis Gora – began with test excavations on a fortified promontory between two deep gorges. A subsequent visit in Autumn, when the knee-high high summer grasses had died back, revealed that the site was much larger than originally thought. Scattered across a huge area outside the inner fortress were the remains of additional fortification walls and other stone structures. Because of its size, it was impossible to get a sense of the site as a whole from the ground.

“That was what sparked the idea of using a drone to assess the site from the air,” commented Dr Erb-Satullo. “The drone took nearly 11,000 pictures which were knitted together using advanced software to produce high-resolution digital elevation models and orthophotos – composite pictures that show every point as if you were looking straight down.

“These datasets enabled us to identify subtle topographic features and create accurate maps of all the fortification walls, graves, field systems, and other stone structures within the outer settlement. The results of this survey showed that the site was more than 40 times larger than originally thought, including a large outer settlement defended by a 1km long fortification wall.”

The research team used a DJI Phantom 4 RTK drone which can provide relative positional accuracy of under 2cm as well as extremely high-resolution aerial imagery. In order to obtain a highly accurate map of human-made features, the team carefully checked each feature in the aerial imagery to confirm its identification.

To understand how the landscape of the site had evolved, the orthophotos were compared with 50-year-old photos taken by a Cold War-era spy satellite declassified in 2013. That gave researchers much needed insight into which features were recent, which were older. It also enabled researchers to assess what areas of the ancient settlement were damaged by modern agriculture. All of those data sets were merged in Geographic Information System (GIS) software, helping to identify patterns and changes in the landscape.

“The use of drones has allowed us to understand the significance of the site and document it in a way that simply wouldn’t be possible on the ground” said Dr Erb-Satullo. ”Dmanisis Gora isn’t just a significant find for the Southern Caucasus region, but has a broader significance for the diversity in the structure of large scale settlements and their formation processes. We hypothesize that Dmanisis Gora expanded because of its interactions with mobile pastoral groups, and its large outer settlement may have expanded and contracted seasonally. With the site now extensively mapped, further study will start to provide insights into areas such as population density and intensity, livestock movements and agricultural practices, among others.”  

This data will give researchers new insights into Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age societies, and how these communities functioned. Since the aerial survey was completed, Dr. Erb-Satullo has been carrying out further excavations at the site, uncovering tens of thousands of pottery shards, animal bones, and other artefacts that tell us more about the society that built this fortress.

This work has been funded by the Gerda Henkel Foundation, the Gerald Averay Wainwright Fund and the British Institute at Ankara.

Photos of the team "ground-truthing" possible features identified in aerial photography. These photos also show how difficult it is to get an overall sense of the structure site from the ground.

Photo of structures in the outer settlement, 1km long fortification wall is visible in upper left

Photo of 1 km long outer fortification wall. Power/telephone line poles for scale.

Credit

Nathaniel Erb-Satullo

Journal

Antiquity

DOI

10.15184/aqy.2024.197 

Method of Research

Observational study

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

MEGA-FORTRESSES IN THE SOUTH CAUCASUS: NEW DATA FROM SOUTHERN GEORGIA

Article Publication Date

8-Jan-2025

 

Evolutionary biology: Ants can hold a grudge

University of Freiburg

Ants learn from experience. This has been demonstrated by a team of evolutionary biologists from the University of Freiburg, led by Dr Volker Nehring, research associate in the Evolutionary Biology and Animal Ecology group, and doctoral student Mélanie Bey. The researchers repeatedly confronted ants with competitors from another nest. The test ants remembered the negative experiences they had during these encounters: when they encountered ants from a nest they had previously experienced as aggressive, they behaved more aggressively towards them than towards ants from nests unknown to them. Ants that encountered members of a nest from which they had previously only encountered passive ants were less aggressive. The biologists published their results in the journal Current Biology.

Ants are aggressive towards their neighbours

Ants use odours to distinguish between members of their own nest and those from other nests. Each nest has its own specific scent. Previous studies have already shown that ants behave aggressively towards their nearest neighbours in particular. They are especially likely to open their mandibles and bite, or spray acid and kill their competitors. They are less likely to carry out such aggressive manoeuvres against nests that are further away from their own. Until now, it was unclear why this is the case. Nehring's team has now discovered that ants remember the smell of attackers. This is why they are more aggressive when confronted with competitors from nests they are familiar with.

More aggressive behaviour towards competitors from familiar nests

The scientists conducted an experiment in two phases. In the first phase, ants gained various experiences: one group encountered ants from their own nest, the second group encountered aggressive ants from a rival nest A, and the third group encountered aggressive ants from rival nest B. A total of five encounters took place on consecutive days, with each encounter lasting one minute.

In the subsequent test phase, the researchers examined how the ants from the different groups behaved when they encountered competitors from nest A. The ants that had already been confronted with conspecifics from this nest in the first phase behaved significantly more aggressively than those from the other two groups.

To test the extent to which the higher aggression arises from the behaviour of ants from a particular nest, the scientists repeated the experiment in a slightly modified form. In the first phase, they now distinguished between encounters with aggressive and passive ants. They ensured that an ant behaved passively by cutting off its antennae. In phase two of the experiment, the ants that had previously only encountered passive competitors behaved significantly less aggressively.

“We often have the idea that insects function like pre-programmed robots,” says Nehring. “Our study provides new evidence that, on the contrary, ants also learn from their experiences and can hold a grudge.” Next, Nehring and his team will investigate whether and to what extent ants adapt their olfactory receptors to their experiences, thus reflecting what they have learned at this level as well.

 

• Original publication: M. Bey, R. Endermann, C. Raudies, J. Steinle, V. Nehring: Associative learning of non-nestmate cues improves enemy recognition in ants. Current Biology, 2024. DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.11.054
• Mélanie Bey conducted her doctorate under Dr. Volker Nehring. Rebecca Endermann, Christina Raudies and Jonas Steinle are former bachelor's and master's students in the Evolutionary Biology and Animal Ecology working group.
• The research was funded by the German Research Foundation (project number NE1969/6-1).

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DOI

10.1016/j.cub.2024.11.054 

 

Study finds deadly bacteria behave differently in Saudi Arabia compared with rest of world

Largest epidemiology study ever of multidrug resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae in Saudi hospitals reveals a unique health strategy is required for Saudi Arabia

King Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST)

A new multi-institutional study led by King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and the Saudi Ministry of Health (MOH) provides the largest epidemiological analysis in Saudi Arabia of the multidrug-resistant bacteria species Klebsiella pneumoniae, one of the leading causes of nosocomial infections in the world and a global health priority of the World Health Organization. The study finds that the diversity of bacteria in Saudi Arabia differ from other geographical regions, indicating unique health policies are required. 

While healthy people infected by Klebsiella pneumoniae mostly show relatively harmless symptoms, sick or immunocompromised patients are vulnerable to pneumonia, meningitis, and other potentially mortal ailments. Antibiotics are a standard treatment. However, in recent decades, multidrug-resistant bacteria are emerging worldwide for a number of reasons including an overuse of antibiotics in medical care and other industries such as agriculture.  

“Klebsiella pneumoniae has a dynamic genome allowing for the emergence of pathogenic strains from non-pathogenic ones. Understanding the epidemiology for emerging pathogenic strains will strengthen preventive measures,” explained KAUST Assistant Professor Danesh Moradigaravand, one of the lead authors of the study. 

A single bacteria species evolves by cloning and exchanging genetic information with one another through processes like gene recombination and horizontal gene transfer. A dynamic genome allows for antibiotic resistance genes to rapidly mix between strains. Already, antibiotic resistant bacteria are the sixth leading cause of death in the Kingdom, killing more people than several respiratory illnesses and neurological disorders. However, the number of patients is growing, and any one clone developing strong resistance and virulence could cause catastrophic havoc due to the inability to contain and treat. 

Indeed, concern about the emergence of drug-resistant strains has led the Saudi Public Health Authority to propose an action plan for the execution and evaluation of interventions, with Klebsiella pneumoniae being one of the priority bacteria targeted. Last year, KAUST and the MOH began its collaboration to support this initiative by combining the advanced capabilities of genomics and data science at KAUST with the unique biobanks of multidrug-resistant bacteria at the MOH. 

For the study, the researchers collected samples from 34 hospitals across 15 cities in Saudi Arabia on which they conducted a comprehensive genomic analysis.  

Moradigaravand, KAUST Professor Arnab Pain and their colleagues found the most prevalent strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae genetically resemble strains from the Middle East and South Asia, revealing an exchange and spread in this region. More important from a health perspective, they also found that the molecular factors bestowing the bacteria drug resistance and virulence were converging, thus giving concern that the emergence of drug resistance is being accompanied by a severity of symptoms.  

“The unique epidemiology observed in Saudi Arabia underscores the necessity for tailored surveillance programs specific to each country. Furthermore, our work emphasizes the need to develop new antimicrobial agents, as current global treatments may not adequately address the local threat,” said Moradigaravand. 

This study can be read in Emerging Microbes and was supported by the KAUST Center of Excellence for Smart Health. 

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Journal

Emerging Microbes & Infections

DOI

10.1080/22221751.2024.2427793 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Cells

Article Title

The dissemination of multidrug-resistant and hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae clones across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

 SPAGYRIC HERBALISM

Elderberry juice shows benefits for weight management, metabolic health

Washington State University

SPOKANE, Wash.—Elderberry juice may be a potent tool for weight management and enhancing metabolic health, according to a recent Washington State University-led study.

A clinical trial published in the journal Nutrients found that drinking 12 ounces of elderberry juice daily for a week causes positive changes in the gut microbiome and improves glucose tolerance and fat oxidation.

Elderberry, a small dark purple berry found on elder trees native to Europe, is commonly used as a medicinal plant and supplement to promote immune function. Its other potential health benefits are poorly understood, however.

“Elderberry is an underappreciated berry, commercially and nutritionally,” said corresponding author Patrick Solverson, an assistant professor in the WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine’s Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology. “We’re now starting to recognize its value for human health, and the results are very exciting.”

The researchers tested the effects of elderberry on metabolic health in a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial with 18 overweight adults. Participants consumed either elderberry juice or a placebo with similar coloring and taste, specially designed by North Carolina State University’s Food Innovation Lab, while maintaining a standardized diet.

Clinical testing following the intervention showed that participants who consumed elderberry juice had significantly increased amounts of beneficial gut bacteria, including firmicutes and actinobacteria, and decreased amounts of harmful bacteria, such as bacteroidetes. A healthy gut microbiome is essential for nutrient absorption and supports physical and mental health.

In addition to positive microbiota changes, the elderberry intervention resulted in improved metabolism. Results showed that the elderberry juice reduced participants’ blood glucose levels by an average of 24%, indicating a significantly improved ability to process sugars following carbohydrate consumption. Results also showed a 9% decrease in insulin levels.

Additionally, results suggested that elderberry juice can enhance the body’s ability to burn fat. Participants who received the elderberry juice showed significantly increased fat oxidation, or the breakdown of fatty acids, after a high carbohydrate meal and during exercise.

The researchers attribute these positive effects to elderberry’s high concentration of anthocyanins, plant-based bioactive compounds that have a variety of health benefits, including anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic and antimicrobial effects.

“Food is medicine, and science is catching up to that popular wisdom,” Solverson said. “This study contributes to a growing body of evidence that elderberry, which has been used as a folk remedy for centuries, has numerous benefits for metabolic as well as prebiotic health.”

Other berries contain anthocyanins, but typically in lower concentrations. A person would have to consume four cups of blackberries a day to achieve the same anthocyanin dose contained in 6 ounces of elderberry juice, Solverson said.

Although elderberry products are less popular in the U.S. than in Europe, demand exploded during the COVID-19 pandemic and elderberry continues to be a growing market.

The researchers have filed for a provisional patent for using the bioactive components of American black elderberry for weight management and gut health through supplements or other applications. The WSU Office of Commercialization is assisting with commercialization opportunities with more information available at commercialization@wsu.edu.

This research was supported by a $200,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under award number 2020-67018-30851. The research team included collaborators at Colorado State University, North Carolina State University and the University of Vermont.

With an additional $600,000 in NIFA funding, the researchers plan to explore other applications of elderberry juice, including whether it can help individuals who have discontinued weight loss medications maintain their weight. They note that further studies are needed to both confirm their initial findings and to determine the long-term effects of elderberry in various populations.

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Journal

Nutrients

DOI

10.3390/nu16203555 

Article Title

A One-Week Elderberry Juice Intervention Augments the Fecal Microbiota and Suggests Improvement in Glucose Tolerance and Fat Oxidation in a Randomized Controlled Trial

 

Can carrots be used to treat diabetes?

Current research from the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) reveals that carrots may help regulate blood sugar and improve gut flora – a combination that could potentially benefit individuals with type 2 diabetes.

University of Southern Denmark Faculty of Health Sciences

Could an ordinary carrot improve the treatment of type 2 diabetes? A new study from SDU suggests so. The researchers found that carrots can enhance the body's ability to regulate blood sugar and positively influence the composition of gut bacteria.

Type 2 diabetes affects millions worldwide, with numbers on the rise in Denmark and globally. In Denmark alone, the number of cases has more than quadrupled since 1996.

Treatment typically involves dietary changes and medication, though many people experience side effects from common pharmaceuticals. According to researchers from SDU, Odense University Hospital, and the University of Copenhagen, who collaborated on the recently published study, carrots could offer a natural and potentially side-effect-free way to complement existing treatments.

The impact of carrots on blood sugar and gut bacteria

Researchers studied the effects of carrots over 16 weeks using mice induced with type 2 diabetes. The mice were placed on a high-fat diet to mimic an unhealthy human lifestyle. They were divided into two groups: one received a diet supplemented with 10% freeze-dried carrot powder, while the other received a diet without carrots. Both diets were calorie-matched, ensuring the only variable was the bioactive compounds in the carrots. Results showed that the group receiving carrot powder exhibited improved blood sugar regulation, as measured by glucose tolerance tests.

A glucose tolerance test measures how well the body regulates blood sugar after consuming a specified amount of sugar. In this study, mice were given a sugar solution, and their blood sugar levels were measured over time.

– Our study showed that carrots altered the composition of the gut microbiome – the billions of microorganisms living in the gut that play a crucial role in digestion and health. Mice consuming carrots exhibited a healthier balance of gut bacteria, explains project coordinator Morten Kobæk Larsen, associate professor at the Department of Clinical Research, SDU.

Additionally, these mice had more bacteria that produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). These small molecules formed when bacteria break down dietary fibres, help regulate energy metabolism and blood sugar while supporting gut health.

– Everything we eat affects the composition of gut bacteria, Larsen elaborates.

– Consuming carrots shifts the gut bacteria towards a healthier balance, benefiting mice with type 2 diabetes.

How do carrots work?

Carrots contain bioactive compounds that enhance cells' ability to absorb sugar, thereby aiding blood sugar regulation. These bioactive substances, derived from unsaturated fatty acids, are also present in other vegetables from the carrot family, such as parsley, celery, and parsnips.

– We see carrots as a potential component of future dietary strategies for type 2 diabetes, says Lars Porskjær Christensen, professor of analytical chemistry and natural product chemistry at the Department of Physics, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, SDU.

– Other vegetables in the carrot family might have similar properties.

Could carrots help humans?

The researchers are cautious about directly applying their findings to humans.

– Our study used an animal model, and the next step is to conduct clinical trials, they explain. – Such studies are costly, and we are working to secure external funding to conduct a smaller clinical trial with carrots containing relatively high amounts of bioactive compounds. This could pave the way for larger clinical studies including studies in animals with purified bioactive compounds and thereby substantiate the preventive effects of carrots against type 2 diabetes, says Christensen.

Preliminary findings from a similar study on carrots' effects on colon cancer suggest that as little as 30–40 grams of raw or lightly cooked carrots daily could have beneficial effects.

According to the researchers, the concentration of bioactive compounds varies widely among carrot varieties. However, the right variety can provide sufficient doses of these compounds without needing concentrated products. For example, the 'Night Bird' variety, a purple carrot, contains relatively high concentrations of bioactive substances.

Does preparation matter?

Cooking impacts the amount of health-promoting substances, but they do not disappear entirely.

– Even with prolonged frying or boiling, some bioactive compounds remain. However, raw or lightly cooked carrots seem to be the best option to retain as many beneficial compounds as possible, Christensen advises.

The study is published in Clinical and Translational Science. Read more here: https://ascpt.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cts.70090

What are bioactive compounds?

Bioactive compounds are organic chemicals of biological origin that influence physiological processes. Many are derived from plants and fungi and can have either beneficial or harmful effects on humans. Some bioactive compounds from plants and fungi are used in medicines, while others in plant-based foods are believed to promote health and prevent diseases. Their effects depend on mechanisms of action, bioavailability, and concentration in food, which can vary by crop variety, cultivation, and processing.

Facts about carrots

The main bioactive compounds in carrots are falcarinol and falcarindiol, which the vegetable produces to defend against fungal infections. Besides their antifungal properties, these compounds have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxic effects.

The study was conducted using 54 mice and funded by the Odense University Hospital Research Fund. The carrots used were organically grown by a Danish producer.

Facts about diabetes

As of 2022, approximately 350,000 people in Denmark lived with diabetes, 89% of whom had type 2 diabetes. Globally, over half a billion people have diabetes, with type 2 diabetes rates increasing in most countries. This rise is attributed to lifestyle changes, increased obesity rates, and an ageing population.

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Journal

Clinical and Translational Science

DOI

10.1111/cts.70090 

Subject of Research

Animals

Article Title

Effect of carrot intake on glucose tolerance, microbiota, and gene expression in a type 2 diabetes mouse model

 

New study assesses wildfire risk from standing dead trees in Yellowstone National Park

Tsinghua University Press

 

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Output maps of the distance accumulation calculation from the point and line vulnerability criteria. (a) Distance to roads, (b) Distance to trails, (c) Distance to water, (d) Distance to buildings.

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Credit: Di Yang et al.

Standing dead trees in Yellowstone National Park are growing wildfire hazards, especially near park infrastructure. A new study published in Forest Ecosystems explores how these dead trees contribute to fire risk and threaten roads, buildings, and trails.

Dead trees, particularly those that remain standing, are a significant fire hazard. These trees—often caused by pests, diseases, and climate change—create a large amount of dry, combustible material. As temperatures rise and droughts intensify, the risk of wildfires increases, making it essential to understand how dead trees contribute to fire danger.

The team used a random forest classification model, a powerful machine learning technique, to map the distribution of dead trees across Yellowstone. They combined data from the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) and satellite imagery, which provided information on canopy height, vegetation cover, and tree health.

Their findings revealed that about 40% of the park is experiencing moderate to high levels of tree mortality, with areas like the central-western park hit hardest by past fires.“Our model showed an accuracy of 76.65%, giving us a clear picture of where standing dead trees are concentrated,” said Dr. Di Yang, co-author of the study.

By using spatial analysis, the researchers identified regions with the highest concentrations of standing dead trees. The study also showed significant clustering of these trees, especially in areas affected by past fires, which could lead to more severe future fires.

The study also assessed the vulnerability of park infrastructure by looking at how close dead tree hotspots are to roads, trails, buildings, and water sources. The researchers found that areas near park entrances and popular sites are the most vulnerable, while large, less dense clusters of dead trees in the northeast and south posed a lower risk.

This study offers crucial insights for managing wildfire risk in Yellowstone and similar ecosystems. The researchers hope their methods can be applied to other regions facing the same challenges, allowing for better-informed fire management strategies.

The research was funded by the Wyoming NASA EPSCoR Faculty Research Grant (Grant#80NSSC19M0061), Yellowstone National Park Services.

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Journal

Forest Ecosystems

DOI

10.1016/j.fecs.2024.100284 

Article Title

Classification and clustering analysis of standing dead trees and associated park asset wildfire vulnerability in Yellowstone National Park

 

The discourses emerging around the “La Manada” case led to social and legal changes

Historical and contemporary discourses and competing identities have influenced the conceptual battle over violence caused by rape, according to a study by the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU)

University of the Basque Country

 

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Samara Velte | Foto: Samara Velte. UPV/EHU.

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Credit: Samara Velte

The 2016 gang rape known as “La Manada” (The Wolf Pack) caused major social mobilisation, attracted a great deal of media attention and even led to legal changes. The UPV/EHU researcher Samara Velte, back then a journalist for Berria newspaper, has produced a scientific analysis of the discourses that arose around that sexual assault, and argues that discursive analysis offers tools for understanding social conflicts: “In 2019 I published a book about the case, but it was a journalistic work. I took a critical look at the behaviour of the media and the sentence handed down and realised that a scientifically based study was in order. So I produced a more academic version to show that by analysing discourses it is possible to understand how social meanings are constructed within social movements, and to prove that discourses are often instruments that promote social identities and actions,” explained Samara Velte.

To conduct the research, she analysed 110 pieces of media content published at four specific moments: immediately after the assault (July 2016), during the trial phase (November 2017), after the sentence handed down was made public (April 2018) and after the passing of the ‘Only “yes” means “yes” law’ (April 2023). She also analysed three legal texts: the aforementioned organic law, the sentence and the associated individual vote. Finally, the author analysed the discourses gathered during the protests and on the streets.

The UPV/EHU study found evidence of the influence exerted by the discourses throughout this period on the articulation of social identities. In other words, how they led people to feel or identify themselves as part of a certain group and to share certain meanings. “For example, in the immediate aftermath of the assault, masses of discursive materials emerged. There were all kinds of messages and the social knowledge that already existed around sexual violence was highlighted. A negotiation was set in motion in society and in the media to specify what rape is, what sexual violence is, etc. It was then that the competition between the parties manifested itself and collective identities were articulated, and which gradually adopted one position or another in the social conflict,” explained Velte.

From there, the study also explores the actions that were taken to influence the conflict by examining the interactions between the discourses. For example, the UPV/EHU study highlights the fact that during the trial a special effort was made to distort the discourses of the feminist movement and that, in reaction to that, mass protests were staged at that time. According to Velte, “the social actors continually refuted each other, and the discourses disseminated by some to undermine the credibility of the feminist movement allowed the latter to articulate a very powerful collective identity”.

However, the researcher stresses that social memory also plays a major role in the development of discourses, identities and social actions. In other words, the strength and capacity for mobilisation of the feminist group was not simply a reaction to the gang rape of the San Fermin festival in 2016, but was also a clear consequence of everything that had been experienced in previous years: “Discourses are not born out of nothing. Those protests were in response to a history of violence. It is no coincidence that it happened in Pamplona. Traumatic experiences had already taken place in that city, and which had left their mark on society. This led to work being undertaken to share knowledge and made it easier for that collective voice to take to the streets.”

The drafting of the law ‘Only “yes” means “yes”’

Regarding the legal texts drawn up in relation to the ‘La Manada’ case, the UPV/EHU study highlights the passing in 2023 of the ‘Only “yes” means “yes"’ law as a consequence of the discourse relations and the influence of social memory. “Feminist voices penetrated places they had never reached before, such as the legal world. Until then, it had been a very closed world, and at that moment it opened up. It was recognised that many mistakes had been made, and the new law, which included a number of principles demanded by feminists, was passed,” said Velte. But at the same time, the researcher underlines the fact that the law triggered a counter-reaction, which showed that there were also other kinds of voices in society and that many still embraced the same punitive logic as before. As a result, some of the novel aspects proposed by the law were removed.

In Velte’s opinion, this shows that “social conflicts are never completely resolved. There is always tension between interests and power relations. Everything is constantly being negotiated, but, at the same time, everything refers to something that has been said before. Thus, discourse analysis allows us to identify these trajectories well”.

Further information

Samara Velte is a researcher at the Faculty of Social and Communication Sciences. She belongs to the NOR research team dedicated to research on issues relating to the sociology of culture. Its main areas of interest are political and social conflicts, discourse analysis, narratives, the construction of identities and the transmission of memory. She is also an assistant lecturer on the Degree course in Audiovisual Communication  and on the Degree course in Advertising and Public Relations

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Journal

Violence Against Women

DOI

10.1177/10778012241289431 

Article Title

The Social Memory of Sexual Violence: “You Touch One, You Touch Us All”