Climate Change is a key challenge for society IPCC presents report on impacts of climate change (Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety of the Federal Republic of Germany)
(Source: Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety of the Federal Republic of Germany) No. 054/14 | Berlin, 31.03.2014 Joint press release with the Federal Ministry of Education and Research IPCC presents report on impacts of climate change The latest report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) highlights the far-reaching impacts […]
Read MoreDeath of young Sumatran rhino shouldn’t discourage captive breeding efforts say conservationists
Just over two weeks ago, conservationists in the Malaysian state of Sabah managed to finally catch a wild Sumatran rhino female after months of failed attempts. But following such hopeful events, comes bad news thousands of miles away: a young female rhino, named Suci, died over the weekend at the Cincinnati Zoo.
Read MoreStop! Think before buying your child a mallard duck for Easter (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission)
(Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission) I hope all you turkey hunters south of State Road 70 took a nice bird or two this year, as your season is coming to a close. For those of us in the rest of the state (excluding Holmes County), we still have until April 20 to bag […]
Read MoreA goodbye message to staff and stakeholders from Dr David Mabunda (South African National Parks)
(Source: South African National Parks) A goodbye message to staff and stakeholders from Dr David Mabunda Date: 1st April 2014 A goodbye message to staff and stakeholders from Dr David Mabunda,outgoing CEO of South African National Parks (SANParks). Saying farewell is never considered to be a joyful thing to do and becomes even more difficult […]
Read MoreMagnetic Bricks Bring 3-D Interaction to Screens
GaussBricks lets tablet users create interactive shapes that bring digital drawings, animations and games to life Continue reading →
Read MoreDot Earth Blog: A Whale of an International Court Ruling Against Japan
An international court rules that Japan’s so-called scientific whale hunts are not science, and thus not allowed under a moratorium.
Read MoreJapan disappointed but conservationists cheer over ICJ’s whaling ruling
Click to play video Return to video Video settings Please Log in to update your video settings Video will begin in 5 seconds. Don’t play Play now More video Recommended Click to play video Whaling action was risky business Click to play video Professor proposes seasonal shake-up Click to…
Read MoreWill Japan find a way around anti-whaling ruling?
The International Court of Justice has questioned the scientific value of Japan’s whaling program but questions remain as to whether the country will find another way to keep sending its ships. Transcript SARAH FERGUSON: The International Court of Justice may have ended what years of diplomacy and clashes on the high sea could not. Japan’s […]
Read MoreVictory for campaigners as UN judges order Japan to stop hunting Antarctic whales
Japan has been ordered to end whale hunts in the Antarctic in a historic ruling that saw United Nations judges dismiss longstanding Japanese arguments that the hunting of more than 900 whales a year was carried out for scientific research purposes only. The International Court of Justice’s ruling, which was made today at The Hague, […]
Read MoreJapan may suggest smaller whale catch after ICJ blow
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan could try to rescue its Antarctic whaling program by sharply reducing catch quotas after the highest U.N. court ordered a halt, rejecting Tokyo’s argument that the catch was for scientific purposes and not mainly for human consumption.
Read MoreConservation Efforts Not Just for Tree Huggers
Computer Geek, Sean Hoban, uses mathematical and computational tools to preserve endangered plant species.
Read MoreNearly 500,000 More Americans Speak Out Against Federal Plan to Strip Wolves of Protections (Center for Biological Diversity)
(Source: Center for Biological Diversity) For Immediate Release, March 31, 2014 Contacts: Leda Huta, Endangered Species Coalition, (202) 320-6467 Melanie Gade, Defenders of Wildlife, (202) 772-0288 Kierán Suckling, Center for Biological Diversity, (520) 275-5960 Sean Stevens, Oregon Wild, (503) 283-6343 x 211 Kari Birdseye, Earthjustice, (415) 217-2098 Maggie Howell, Wolf Conservation Center, (914) 763-2373 Nearly 500,000 […]
Read MoreConservation International Celebrates the Appointment of Board Member Victoria Tauli-Corpuz as U.N. Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (Conservation International Foundation)
(Source: Conservation International Foundation) Filipina leader and activist for indigenous and women’s rights becomes first female to hold this position Page Content Baguio City, Philippines/Arlington, Virginia, USA – Conservation International extends congratulations and enthusiastic support to its board director and Indigenous & Traditional Peoples Program adviser, Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, on her prestigious appointment as U.N. Special Rapporteur on […]
Read MoreModoc-Washoe Stewardship Committee Meets April 3 in Cedarville (Bureau of Land Management – California State Office)
(Source: Bureau of Land Management – California State Office) U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT NEWS RELEASE Northern California District Contacts: Jeff Fontana (BLM) (530) 252-5332 News Release No. CA-N-14-38 A full agenda of natural resource conservation topics will be taken up when the Modoc-Washoe Experimental Stewardship Steering Committee meets Thursday,…
Read MoreFlorida Man Pleads Guilty to Poaching Sea Turtle Eggs
In the latest animal-related offense to hit the Sunshine State, a man plead guilty to snatching 316 sea turtle eggs from Juno Beach on the Atlantic coast.
Read MoreUsing more wood for construction can slash global reliance on fossil fuels (Yale University)
(Source: Yale University) March 31, 2014 A Yale University-led study has found that using more wood and less steel and concrete in building and bridge construction would substantially reduce global carbon dioxide emissions and fossil fuel consumption. Despite an established forest conservation theory holding that tree harvesting should be strictly minimized to prevent the loss […]
Read MoreJapan’s scientific whaling ruled a scam
3The UN International Court of Justice (ICJ) today, March 31, 2014, ruled that Japan’s meager scientific output about whales did not justify the killing of 150 Minke Whales. The…
Read MoreWorld court ruling reaffirms protection of Southern Ocean whales (WWF-UK)
(Source: WWF-UK) 31 March 2014 Gland, Switzerland (March 31) – The International Court of Justice ruled today that Japan should immediately cease all whaling activities under its current scientific programme JARPA II. The decision is a major victory for whale protection efforts and a clear call for the end of hunting in the Southern Ocean. […]
Read More3/31/2014 – VIU’S DEEP BAY MARINE FIELD STATION LAUNCHES ‘BUY A BONE’ CAMPAIGN TO RAISE A WHALE (Vancouver Island University)
(Source: Vancouver Island University) VIU’S DEEP BAY MARINE FIELD STATION LAUNCHES ‘BUY A BONE’ CAMPAIGN TO RAISE A WHALE Brian Kingzett, Manager, Deep Bay Marine Field Station and Claire Vial, Public Education Assistant, Deep Bay Marine Field Station, with some of the Grey Whale bones available for “purchase” in VIU’s Raise a Whale campaign. Right-click […]
Read MoreFree Women’s Fishing Clinic scheduled for North Palm Beach April 12 (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission)
(Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission) Free Women’s Fishing Clinic scheduled for North Palm Beach April 12 News Release Monday, March 31, 2014 Media contact: Amanda Nalley, 850-410-4943 Learn the skills to successfully cast your line into the sea by attending the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation…
Read MoreInternational Ruling Puts Stop To Japan’s ‘Scientific’ Whaling
Since the world community banned whaling, Japan has continued to permit its fleet to kill whales under the guise of scientific research. The International Court of Justice in the Hague Monday ordered Japan to stop whaling in the Antarctic Ocean. Japan says it will abide by the ruling. » E-Mail This
Read MoreStone County Couple Receives Tree Farm Recognition (Missouri Department of Conservation)
(Source: Missouri Department of Conservation) Published on: Mar. 31, 2014 Posted by Francis Skalicky GALENA, Mo. – For more than a quarter-century, John and Connie Johnson have worked to improve the forests on their 850-acre Horsecreek Tree Farm near Galena. Their commitment to forest management has earned them the American Forest Foundation’s Silver Tree Farm […]
Read MoreMDC holds workshop in St. Louis area to help non-profits apply for tree care grants (Missouri Department of Conservation)
(Source: Missouri Department of Conservation) Published on: Mar. 28, 2014 Posted by Dan Zarlenga Kirkwood, Mo. – The TRIM grant program is one of the many ways the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) works with and for communities to sustain healthy trees. Tree Resource Improvement and Maintenance (TRIM) grants offer funding to assist government agencies, […]
Read MoreConservation Groups Push for Long Overdue Air Pollution Controls at Wyoming’s Coal Plants (NPCA – National Parks Conservation Association)
(Source: NPCA – National Parks Conservation Association) Denver, CO – Concerned that clean air and public health in Wyoming and the Northern Rockies region have been significantly undercut by a recent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) decision regulating pollution from coal-fired power plants, local residents and conservation groups today filed an appeal in federal court to […]
Read MoreCommitment to fishery conservation and hunter education earn MDC staff honors (Missouri Department of Conservation)
(Source: Missouri Department of Conservation) Published on: Mar. 31, 2014 Posted by Francis Skalicky JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – James Civiello’s and Craig Fuller’s long-time dedication to improving the state’s fishing opportunities and aquatic resources, and Dwayne Bowden’s work with hunter education, have earned the three southwest Missouri individuals recognition from the Conservation Federation of Missouri. […]
Read MoreJapan will abide by court’s whaling decision
Japanese’s Chief Negotiator Koji Tsuruoka, right, shakes hand with General Counsel of Australia Bill Campbell, left, before the International Court of Justice delivers its verdict in The Hague, Netherlands. Photo: AP Photo Japan will respect an International Court of Justice order to end its annual Antarctic whale hunt despite “deep disappointment” with the landmark decision, […]
Read MoreAtmel and Corning Collaborate on Ultra-thin, Next-generation Touchscreens with Exceptional Multi-touch Functionality (Atmel Corporation)
(Source: Atmel Corporation) Atmel and Corning Collaborate on Ultra-thin, Next-generation Touchscreens with Exceptional Multi-touch Functionality Atmel XSense® flexible touch sensors and 0.4mm Corning® Gorilla® Glass enable groundbreaking, ultra-thin touchscreens for consumer, industrial, and emerging applications CORNING, N.Y. – Corning Incorporated (NYSE: GLW) and Atmel® Corporation (NASDAQ: ATML), a leader in microcontroller and touch technology solutions, […]
Read MoreSchwarzenegger targeted by environmentalists for investments in forest-destroying companies
Former movie star and politician Arnold Schwarzenegger is facing criticism after Global Witness produced evidence that his investment company is profiting off rainforest destruction in Southeast Asia. The findings are significant because Schwarzenegger championed rainforest conservation while serving as governor of California.
Read MoreUN Court Orders Japan to End Antarctic Whale Hunt
The top court ruled the program was a commercial activity disguised as science.
Read MoreCaptain Scott’s ‘lost’ photographic negatives saved for the nation
The Polar Museum at the Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge, is proud to announce that it has successfully raised the £275,000 needed to be able to purchase the 113 photographic negatives, thanks to public support. The negatives represent an extraordinary visual record of Scott’s last expedition, but were in danger of being sold […]
Read MoreGood news for newts’ DNA
Even the tiniest larva of the threatened Triturus cristatus, (great crested newt) can be detected with eDNA techniques. With this eye-opening research, the smallest invertebrates can be quickly assessed too, giving us great insight into current situations of species. © The Earth Times. Published on The Earth Times Related Articles Dump fracking or integrate it?Photovoltaic […]
Read MoreCan science stop sharks attacking humans?
Sharks have patrolled the oceans for at least 400 million years and evolved into a huge range of remarkable species. There are deep sea lantern sharks that glow in the dark, wobbegong sharks that grow shaggy beards and majestic, plankton-sifting whale sharks – the biggest fish in the sea. Nevertheless, when many people think of […]
Read MoreTwo things to remember as the World Court rules on Japan’s whaling (IFAW – International Fund for Animal Welfare)
(Source: IFAW – International Fund for Animal Welfare) I check my iPhone during my layover at Heathrow Airport en route to the Netherlands. The media coverage has already started down undah’. The speculation has been building for months — whether from government officials, learned legal experts, hopeful whale huggers or the loud but dwindling chorus […]
Read MoreWhale carcass ‘cure’ for rheumatism
Climbing inside a whale was once thought to bring relief to rheumatism sufferers, an exhibit at the Australian National Maritime Museum reveals.
Read MoreNew conservation fund announced (New Zealand Government)
(Source: New Zealand Government) A Community Conservation Partnership Fund to support the work of voluntary organisations undertaking natural heritage and recreation projects was launched today by Conservation Minister Dr Nick Smith at the opening of the new Hoddy Estuary Park in Nelson. “Thousands of New Zealanders contribute to conservation by building tracks, controlling pests, planting […]
Read MoreNew conservation fund announced (Department of Conservation of New Zealand)
(Source: Department of Conservation of New Zealand) A Community Conservation Partnership Fund to support the work of voluntary organisations undertaking natural heritage and recreation projects was launched today by Conservation Minister Dr Nick Smith at the opening of the new Hoddy Estuary Park in Nelson. “Thousands of New Zealanders contribute to conservation by building tracks, […]
Read MoreBizarre whale treatment for rheumatism revealed
Do you suffer rheumatism? Here’s a remedy from the early 20th century. I don’t think…
Read MoreCampus Surpasses UC President’s Water Conservation Request (University of California, Merced)
(Source: University of California, Merced) Conserving resources is just a part of the fabric of UC Merced. So it should come as no surprise that university leaders say the campus can not only meet President Janet Napolitano’s call to cut water consumption by 20 percent by 2020, it has alreadyexceeded that expectation – this year. […]
Read MoreDr. Jane Goodall to address a full-house at Concordia University (Concordia University)
(Source: Concordia University) Leading conservationist and primatologist delivers message of hope Version française Montreal, March 12, 2014 – Concordia University and the Concordia Student Union (CSU) will be hosting acclaimed primatologist and environmentalist, Dr. Jane Goodall DBE, on March 28 in the auditorium of Loyola High School (2477 West Broadway Street). The founder of the […]
Read MoreJapan has incentive to obey court’s whaling verdict
Experts and animal rights activists are confident Japan will stop whaling should an international court rule the nation’s ”scientific” whale…
Read MoreSHKP commits over 250 developments to Earth Hour for environmental conservation (Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd)
(Source: Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd) Sun Hung Kai Properties Limited (SHKP) incorporates green practices in its business operations and supports community activities to encourage a healthy, sustainable lifestyle. It is taking part…
Read MoreJane Goodall Biography
Jane Goodall is a primatologist most known for her long-term study of wild chimpanzees in Tanzania.
Read MoreHow Two Women Brought a Sea Change to Conservation (Op-Ed)
From uncovering the graceful dances of fiddler crabs to innovating for the study of fish anatomy, women trailblazers helped guide conservation research in the last century.
Read MoreConservation International Programs in Focus at DC’s 22nd Environmental Film Festival (Conservation International Foundation)
(Source: Conservation International Foundation) Films bring the natural wonder of Columbia’s cloud forests, Indonesia’s islands and Bolivia’s Ecolodges to the U.S. capital Page Content Arlington, Va. (March, 28, 2014) – The theme of the 22nd Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital, Our Cities, Our Planet, celebrates the development of sustainable and resilient cities, exploring […]
Read MoreWhite House Announces Plan to Curb Methane Emissions (NPCA – National Parks Conservation Association)
(Source: NPCA – National Parks Conservation Association) Background: The White House today announced a plan to reduce emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas often released in high quantities from oil and natural gas production. Today’s announcement is a key aspect of the President’s Climate Action Plan, seeking to reduce…
Read MoreBeing Gay Is Natural: Just Ask Bonobos (Op-Ed)
Homosexuality is common in nature, including amongst some of humans’ closest relatives.
Read MoreRevealed for the first time: the surprising biodiversity of algae ‘reefs’
Most people are familiar with coral reefs, but very few have ever heard of their algal equivalent – rhodolith beds. Yet, these structures provide crucial habitat for many marine species. In the first study of its kind, published in mongabay.com’s Tropical Conservation Science, researchers unveil just how important these beds are for bottom-dwelling organisms, and […]
Read MoreTrent University Biology Professor Appointed Canada Research Chair in Integrative Wildlife Conservation (Trent University)
(Source: Trent University) Trent University Biology Professor Appointed Canada Research Chair in Integrative Wildlife Conservation FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE $1.4 million in funding for Dr. Dennis Murray will promote innovative research in conservation biology at Trent Friday, March 28, 2014, Peterborough, ON Dr. Dennis Murray, a Biology professor at Trent University, has been named a senior […]
Read MoreCity Encourages Energy Efficiency for Earth Hour [PDF – 143 KB] (City of Victoria)
(Source: City of Victoria) M e d i a R e l e a s e City Encourages Energy Efficiency for Earth Hour Date: Friday, March 28, 2013 For Immediate Release VICTORIA, BC – This Saturday evening, Victoria will join cities around the world to raise awareness about climate change and the benefits of energy […]
Read MoreHouse Republicans Introduce Legislation to Weaken Endangered Species Act (Center for Biological Diversity)
(Source: Center for Biological Diversity) For Immediate Release, March 28, 2014 Contact: Brett Hartl, (202) 817-8121 House Republicans Introduce Legislation to Weaken Endangered Species Act Bills Would Divert Resources From Species Conservation and Harm Scientific Integrity WASHINGTON- In another attempt to placate their industry benefactors and burnish their Tea Party credibility, House Republicans have introduced […]
Read MoreNo Detection of Chronic Wasting Disease in New York Deer (New York State Department of Environmental Conservation)
(Source: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation) For Release: Friday, March 28, 2014 Testing of more than 2,500 samples of deer statewide found no deer infected with Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced today. CWD continues to pose a threat to New York’s wild white-tailed deer […]
Read MoreRanger says 2 men pilfered plants
An Everglades National Park ranger busted two Miami residents earlier this month for allegedly poaching protected plants near the main park road in the Flamingo area. Carlos Vazquez, 32, and Tatinishka Hatanaka, 34, were cited March 13 for removing about 100 bromeliads, or air plants, of five different species —…
Read MoreChampion black maple found in Harrison County (Missouri Department of Conservation)
(Source: Missouri Department of Conservation) Published on: Mar. 28, 2014 Posted by Bill Graham Gilman City, Mo. – A black maple tree in rural northwest Missouri has joined a list of giants. The black maple growing in a field edge in southeastern…
Read MoreDiscover nature with webcam of peregrine falcons nesting (Missouri Department of Conservation)
(Source: Missouri Department of Conservation) Published on: Mar. 24, 2014 Posted by ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Like swallows returning to Capistrano, a pair of peregrine falcons has again returned to a nesting box at Ameren Missouri’s Sioux Energy Center in the St. Louis area. Through a cooperative effort, Ameren Missouri, the Missouri Department of Conservation […]
Read MoreMDC offers land-care workshop in Odessa (Missouri Department of Conservation)
(Source: Missouri Department of Conservation) Published on: Mar. 28, 2014 Posted by Bill Graham Odessa, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will offer a free workshop on land management practices…
Read MoreGroups Challenge Crude-by-Rail Shipments to Bay Area City (Earthjustice)
(Source: Earthjustice) Environmental justice and conservation groups today filed a lawsuit against Kinder Morgan and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) to halt the shipment of highly explosive and toxic crude oil into the City of Richmond, a community already burdened by intense pollution caused by the fossil fuel industry. Earthjustice filed the […]
Read MoreWork on I-64 may affect route to MDC Wetlands for Kids Day on Saturday (Missouri Department of Conservation)
(Source: Missouri Department of Conservation) Published on: Mar. 28, 2014 Posted by Dan Zarlenga St. Charles, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) annual Wetlands for Kids Day is Saturday, April 5, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area…
Read MoreTeachers trained to spread message of conservation
A wildlife NGO in Assam has launched a training programme for teachers to not only spread the message of wildlife conservation but also help them…
Read MoreThose eyes look human: could anthropomorphism be used for conservation?
It’s easier to relate to someone you have something in common with; that feeling of connection can turn strangers into friends. And if those strangers belong to an entirely different species, then attributing human qualities to that species – a process called anthropomorphism – may aid conservation efforts by attracting public attention and funding resources.
Read MoreTeachers to help create wildlife awareness in Assam
MANAS NATIONAL PARK (ASSAM): They say teachers are the best purveyors of knowledge. A wildlife NGO in Assam has launched a training programme for teachers not only to spread the message of wildlife conservation but also to help them with environment education…
Read MoreCornell University statement on deer management practices (Cornell University)
(Source: Cornell University) MEDIA NOTE: As previously planned, on Thursday, March 27, Cornell University concluded its deer management efforts under our current New York State Department of Environmental Conservation nuisance permit. Cornell’s deer management committee will begin its routine review of recent efforts, and an analysis regarding the current cycle’s effectiveness – including on-campus goals […]
Read MoreAccomplished Development Leader Joins NPCA (NPCA – National Parks Conservation Association)
(Source: NPCA – National Parks Conservation Association) Tracy J. LaMondue to head fundraising staff for $35-million organization. The nonprofit National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), the nation’s leading national park advocacy organization, today announced the appointment of Tracy…
Read MoreBeau Turner’s Outdoor Experience is April 12 (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission)
(Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission) Beau Turner’s Outdoor Experience is April 12 News Release Friday, March 28, 2014 Media contact: Tony Young, 850-488-7867 Folks looking to get outside on a nice spring day are invited to attend the Beau Turner Youth Conservation Center’s (BTYCC) seventh…
Read MoreAustralian Conservation Foundation outgoing head Don Henry calls on people to monitor big business
The outgoing head of the Australian Conservation Foundation, Don Henry, has urged people not to invest in or work for big businesses – including mining…
Read MoreSouth Africa and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam conclude fruitful discussions on biodiversity conservation and management (Department of Environmental Affairs – Republic of South Africa)
(Source: Department of Environmental Affairs – Republic of South Africa) 28 March 2014 South Africa and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam concluded fruitful discussions in Pretoria on 28 March 2014 on issues related to biodiversity conservation and management. The commitment to improving cooperation on biodiversity conservation especially controlling the illicit trade and poaching of wildlife, […]
Read MoreKenya Lauds China’s Contribution in Fight Against Poaching
[Focac]Nairobi -Kenya’s wildlife authorities on Tuesday praised China’s contribution in the fight against rhino and elephant poaching, saying the effort is invaluable….
Read MoreUniCredit will turn off the lights in more than 70 of its buildings around Europe for Earth Hour on March 29 (Ukrsotsbank JSCB)
(Source: Ukrsotsbank JSCB) On March 29, UniCredit will turn off the lights in more than 70 of its buildings around Europe for Earth Hour, marking the Group’s seventh consecutive year of participation in the global initiative to raise awareness of climate change. UniCredit’s continued support for the campaign, which is organized by the WWF, emphasizes […]
Read MoreUniCredit Joins Earth Hour 2014 (UniCredit SpA)
(Source: UniCredit SpA) More than 70 Group buildings in Europe will turn off lights On March 29, UniCredit will turn off the lights in more than 70 of its buildings around Europe for Earth Hour, marking the Group’s seventh consecutive year of participation in the global initiative to raise awareness of climate change. UniCredit’s continued […]
Read MoreNext big idea in forest conservation? Quantifying the cost of forest degradation
How much is a forest really worth? And what is the cost of forest degradation? These values are difficult to estimate, but according to Dr. Phillip Fearnside, we need to do a better job. For nearly forty years, Fearnside has lived in Amazonia doing ecological research, looking at the value of forests in terms of […]
Read MoreCulvier’s Beaked Whale Species Sets Breath-Holding Record
How long can you hold your breath underwater? The Guinness Book of World Records reports that the longest time recorded for a human is 22 minutes. So how do we compare to other species? Dolphins can hold it for approximately 20-30 minutes while sea birds can dive underwater for 3-10 minutes. But none of us […]
Read MoreCity of Lancaster Announces Completion of Recycled Water Irrigation System at City Park (City of Lancaster, CA)
(Source: City of Lancaster, CA) City of Lancaster Announces Completion of Recycled Water Irrigation System at City Park Today, the City of Lancaster announced the completion of the new recycled water irrigation system at Lancaster City Park. “This park conversion, and more importantly the infrastructure feeding it, is a monumental achievement,” said Councilman Ron Smith. […]
Read MoreU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Lists Lesser Prairie-Chicken as Threatened Species and Finalizes Special Rule Endorsing … (US Fish and Wildlife Service)
(Source: US Fish and Wildlife Service) News Release U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Lists Lesser Prairie-Chicken as Threatened Species and Finalizes Special Rule Endorsing Landmark State Conservation Plan March 27, 2014 Contacts: Claire Cassel 703-358-2357 claire_cassel@fws.gov Special Rule Establishes Unprecedented Conservation Partnership with States to Provide Regulatory Certainty for Landowners and Businesses; Enables States to […]
Read MoreNYSDEC Commissioner Martens Recognizes Urban Forestry Award Winners (New York State Department of Environmental Conservation)
(Source: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation) For Release: Thursday, March 27, 2014 State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joe Martens recognized award winners for their participation in urban forestry activities across the state at a ceremony held today at the Downtown Albany Hilton Hotel. Communities and organizations meeting the standard requirements in…
Read MoreWater Pulses Across U.S.-Mexico Border Through Historic Cooperation (NFWF – National Fish and Wildlife Foundation)
(Source: NFWF – National Fish and Wildlife Foundation) CONTACT: Manny Rivera, Griffin Schein (323) 892-2080, mrivera@griffinschein.com Water pulses across U.S.-Mexico border through historic cooperation “Pulse flow” sets new precedent for water-sharing agreements in the Colorado River Basin and beyond (March 27, 2014)- Today, policymakers, water agencies and conservation organizations from the United States and Mexico […]
Read MoreWater pulses across U.S.-Mexico border through historic cooperation (EDF – Environmental Defense Fund)
(Source: EDF – Environmental Defense Fund) (March 27, 2014) Today, policymakers, water agencies and conservation organizations from the United States and Mexico are gathered at Morelos Dam, which straddles the U.S.-Mexico border, to witness the Colorado River “pulse flow,” and to celebrate the culmination of years of negotiations to restore the Colorado River Delta. The […]
Read MoreBoating restricted on Suwannee River’s Zone 4 (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission)
(Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission) Boating restricted on Suwannee River’s Zone 4 News Release Thursday, March 27, 2014 Media contact: Karen Parker, 386-758-0525 When Suwannee River floodwaters at Wilcox rose above 9 feet Thursday, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) activated boating restrictions on Zone 4. This is the third zone […]
Read MorePrescribed Fires Restore Unique Natural Resources and Cultural Landscapes (NPS – National Park Service)
(Source: NPS – National Park Service) Date: March 27, 2014 Contact: Troy Morris, 615-893-9501 Stones River National Battlefield, in collaboration with Natchez Trace Parkway Fire Management (NTPFM), implemented prescribed burns in March 2014 encompassing 170-acres to restore and enhance sensitive cultural landscapes and natural ecosystems….
Read MorePin-och noir or Sco-Vignon blanc? Say aye to Scottish wine
Asked to name the wine most associated with Scotland, a cynic might claim Buckfast, the 15 per cent alcohol drink made by well meaning monks hundreds of miles away in Devon, which north of border has earned the moniker “commotion lotion” for its habit of getting those who drink it involved in fights. But not […]
Read MoreStatement on Proposed Waters of the US Rule (Timothy Bishop)
(Source: Timothy Bishop) Statement on Proposed Waters of the US Rule 03/27/14 I applaud the leadership of the Obama administration, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture for their commitment to protect the Nation’s waters. This week, EPA and the Corps have honored […]
Read MoreKala: the face of tigers in peril
In 1864, Walter Campbell was an officer in the British Army, stationed in India when he penned these words in his journal: “Never attack a tiger on foot—if you can help it. There are cases in which you must do so. Then face him like a Briton, and kill him if you can; for if […]
Read MoreCuvier’s Beaked Whale Sets Records for Longest and Deepest Dive
If prizes were awarded to deep diving marine mammals, the Cuvier’s beaked whale would be the champion, according to a new study, which reports the cetacean has having the longest, deepest dive on record.
Read MoreIf Wolves are Protected in France, Why Are They Being Hunted?
The Big Bad Wolf stock figure of so many children’s fairy tales, has surfaced again. This time it’s in France, where there has been an outcry from animal rights groups since wolf hunts have resumed due to increased attacks by the animals after their “European comeback.”
Read MoreLeatherback logging in the Atlantic
The study of marine turtles is linked with tagging of many other animals, but if we lose these leatherback giants of the seas, we will have lost a species that can relay how conditions millions of years ago influenced even bigger turtles and of course every other species that existed at the time. © The […]
Read MoreTwo Healthy Lions, and Their Cubs, “Zoothanized” … Why? (Op-Ed)
Does conservation demand that a zoo kill healthy lions?
Read MoreCore skin bacterial community in humpback whales
Bacteria are invisible to the naked eye, but they reside on nearly every surface humans encounter — including the skin. Uncovering the role these microorganisms play in human health is a major focus of research in skin microbiology, but little is known about the identity or function of skin bacteria in other mammals. Researchers have […]
Read MoreCuvier’s beaked whales set new breath-hold diving records: Whales dive to nearly two miles depth, for over two hours
Scientists monitored Cuvier’s beaked whales’ record-breaking dives to depths of nearly two miles below the ocean surface and some dives lasted for over two hours.
Read MoreFish and Fisheries Public Seminar Series Starts April 3 in Gloucester (University of Massachusetts Amherst)
(Source: University of Massachusetts Amherst) UMass Amherst’s Large Pelagics Research Center brings four expert speakers Contact: Janet Lathrop 413/545-0444 AMHERST, Mass. – Experts will discuss the latest research on Atlantic bluefin tuna, fisheries and food webs, ocean ecology, right whale conservation and many related topics as part of a month-long series kicking off at 7 […]
Read MoreBeaked whale is deep-dive champion
Cuvier’s beaked whales are likely to be the most extreme breath-holders among marine mammals. A satellite tag attached to one of these animals, swimming off the coast of California, recorded a dive to nearly 3km below the ocean surface that lasted 137 minutes. This performance exceeds that for any southern elephant seal, which is also […]
Read MoreBeaked whale is deep-dive champion
Cuvier’s beaked whales are likely to be the most extreme divers among marine mammals, able to go nearly 3km down and hold their breath for more than two hours.
Read MoreEndangered Right Whale Breeding Ground amid Shipping Lane Surveyed with Acoustic Monitoring Devices
A new report from Syracuse University details mating habits in an endangered North Atlantic right whale breeding ground off the Nova Scotia coast that’s right in the middle of a heavily trafficked shipping lane.
Read MoreWhale Breaks Record for Holding Breath Underwater
How long can you hold your breath underwater? A Cuvier’s beaked whale just did it for over two hours while on a dive that took it to nearly 2 miles below the ocean’s surface. Continue reading →
Read MoreHudson Introduces Resolution Supporting Private Land Conservation (Richard Hudson)
(Source: Richard Hudson) Hudson Introduces Resolution Supporting Private Land Conservation 03/26/14 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 26, 2014 Hudson Introduces Resolution Supporting Private Land Conservation WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08) introduced H.Con.Res.95 to express support for…
Read MoreSeal Beach Wins CNO Environmental Award, Sets Sights on Water Conservation (The United States Navy)
(Source: The United States Navy) By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Eli J. Medellin, Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach Public Affairs NAVAL WEAPONS STATION SEAL BEACH, Calif. (NNS) — Continuing a long tradition, the environmental program at Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach has been recognized with an unprecedented seventh consecutive Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) […]
Read MoreReed Announces $7.75 Million for RI Fish & Wildlife Preservation Projects » (Jack Reed)
(Source: Jack Reed) Wednesday, March 26, 2014 Reed Announces $7.75 Million for RI Fish & Wildlife Preservation Projects WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. SenatorJack Reed (D-RI) today announced that Rhode Island is receiving $7.75 million this year to fund fish and wildlife conservation and recreation projects and preserve open spaces. Senator Reed says the U.S. Fish […]
Read MoreChange the Course to Restore 1 Billion Gallons of Water to Colorado River Delta (National Geographic Society)
(Source: National Geographic Society) WASHINGTON (March 26, 2014)-Change the Course, a freshwater restoration movement, will restore 1 billion gallons of water to the Colorado River Delta to support the revitalization of wetland habitats in what was once one of the planet’s great desert aquatic ecosystems. Change the Course is spearheaded by the National Geographic Society, […]
Read MoreIdle-speed, no-wake zone activated on Suwannee River (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission)
(Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission) Idle-speed, no-wake zone activated on Suwannee River News Release Wednesday, March 26, 2014 Media contact: Karen Parker, 386-758-0525 Another idle-speed, no-wake zone was activated on the Suwannee River today, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officials. Zone 3, a 23-mile segment, which runs from Little […]
Read MoreLCV Statement Ahead of House Vote on ‘Preventing New Parks Bill’ (LCV – League of Conservation Voters)
(Source: LCV – League of Conservation Voters) LCV Statement Ahead of House Vote on ‘Preventing New Parks Bill’ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jeff Gorhinger, (202) 454-4573 or jeff_gohringer@lcv.org…
Read MoreHydrilla treatment scheduled for Lake Kissimmee (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission)
(Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission) Hydrilla treatment scheduled for Lake Kissimmee News Release Wednesday, March 26, 2014 Media contact: Greg Workman, 352-620-7335 The Florida Fish and…
Read MoreCalifornia LCV & LCV Action Fund Endorse Congresswoman Julia Brownley for Re-Election (LCV – League of Conservation Voters)
(Source: LCV – League of Conservation Voters) California LCV & LCV Action Fund Endorse Congresswoman Julia Brownley for Re-Election FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jessica Knight, (202) 454-4590 or jessica_knight@lcv.org 26 Mar 2014 | Hannah Blatt WASHINGTON, DC-The California League of Conservation Voters (CLCV) and the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) Action Fund, announced today its endorsement of Julia Brownley […]
Read MoreFWC stocks Orange Lake with 100,000 bass fingerlings (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission)
(Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission) FWC stocks Orange Lake with 100,000 bass fingerlings News Release Wednesday, March 26, 2014 Media contact: Karen Parker, 386-758-0525 More than 100,000 bass fingerlings now call Orange Lake home after the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) stocked the recovering lake. Orange Lake, about 20 miles southeast…
Read MoreDistrict of Columbia to Publish New Construction Codes (District of Columbia Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs)
(Source: District of Columbia Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs) (WASHINGTON, DC) — Mayor Vincent C. Gray announced today that the District of Columbia will adopt the 2013 DC Construction Codes this Friday, March 28, 2014. The new codes reflect some of the most modern, sustainable, and energy- and water-efficient building practices, and will replace […]
Read MoreDistrict of Columbia to Publish New Construction Codes (City of Washington, DC – District of Columbia)
(Source: City of Washington, DC – District of Columbia) (WASHINGTON, DC) — Mayor Vincent C. Gray announced today that the District of Columbia will adopt the 2013 DC Construction Codes this Friday, March 28, 2014. The new codes reflect some of the most modern, sustainable, and energy- and water-efficient building practices, and will replace the […]
Read MoreExpanding the Domain of Natural History (University of California – Santa Barbara)
(Source: University of California – Santa Barbara) In developed countries, there appears to be a steep decline for the support of natural history, the study of the fundamental nature of organisms and how and where they live and interact with their environment. Yet natural history provides essential knowledge for fields as varied as human health, […]
Read MoreAncient sea creatures filtered food like modern whales
Ancient, giant marine animals used bizarre facial appendages to filter food from the ocean, according to new fossils discovered in northern Greenland. The new study describes how the strange species, called Tamisiocaris, used these huge, specialized appendages to filter plankton, similar to the way modern blue whales feed today.
Read MoreResearchers use new technique to shed light on endangered tapir
A new study, recently published in mongabay.com’s open access journal, Tropical Conservation Science, uses a new technique to examine the behavior and distribution of the Endangered Baird’s tapir (Tapirus bairdii) in the southern forests of Mexico. One of four species of Central American tapir, Baird’s tapir was recently ranked 34th on a list of 4,000 […]
Read MoreNature Centre to become Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park (Birmingham City Council)
(Source: Birmingham City Council) Family favourite Birmingham Nature Centre will be relaunched as Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park on Saturday 12 April to highlight the fantastic work they do to support endangered species. To celebrate, visitors can meet conservation groups and enjoy a range of talks on some of the Park’s animals. And for younger visitors […]
Read MoreHorses threaten panda population
Pandas rely upon a specific diet and habitat. They typically live far away from human populations on gently sloping hillsides. Their diet is made up of exclusively bamboo. China invests billions to protect its panda habitat and conserve the 1,600 remaining endangered supported by this habitat. China has instituted many conservation programs limiting the timber […]
Read MoreSpider sociability
How did social behaviour evolve, and why do we see it in so many animals, no matter what level of taxonomy they are found? Spiders, sticklebacks and insects, birds, mammals and reptiles are all involved in complex social interaction. © The Earth Times. Published on The Earth Times Related Articles Camels lynx and eagles invade?Green […]
Read MoreDeveloping World Boasts Leading Women Conservationists (Op-Ed)
Women conservationists in developing nations face obstacles, societal and otherwise, that make their accomplishments even more profound.
Read MoreAsia’s abalone fever feared wiping out the gourmet mollusc in South Africa
HOUT BAY, South Africa (Reuters) – In broad daylight, groups of poachers hidden among the rocks of a South African marine conservation area wade slowly into the icy, shark-infested waters of the Atlantic Ocean in search of ‘white gold’.
Read MoreAir pollution, now the world’s single largest environmental risk
The World Health Organization today released mortality data from 2012 estimating that around 7 million people (one person in eight) died globally that year as a result of air pollution exposure. This finding more than doubles previous estimates and confirms that air pollution is now the world’s largest single environmental health risk.
Read MoreBiologists use sound to identify breeding grounds of endangered whales
Biologists have confirmed what many conservationists fear — that Roseway Basin, a heavily traveled shipping lane, off the coast of Nova Scotia, is a vital habitat area for the endangered North Atlantic right whale.
Read MoreKenyan Conservationists and Wildlife Officials Offer Conflicting Accounts of Poaching and Prevention
The Kenya Wildlife Service called upon Kenyans Tuesday to report wildlife crimes and suspected poachers who are killing the nation’s iconic elephants and rhinos to earn a profit from the sale of ivory tusks and rhino horns.
Read MoreCOLLEGIATE CORNER: Humanity of factory farming
Most omnivores like bacon, but I say omnivores because not every human is an omnivore. Have you ever thought to yourself what was the process this bacon went through? Well if you have, it was not a fun process for that pig. Farming has helped humans advance in size, without the farming innovations created through […]
Read MoreEPA and Army Corps bring clarity to Clean Water Act Expansion proposal
In a joint document the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers released a proposed rule to clarify protections provided by the Clean Water Act. Following Supreme Court decisions in 2001 and 2006, there has been much confusion about definitions within the Act and applicability. The proposed clarifications will enhance understanding for industry, agriculture, local […]
Read MoreIndonesia’s Fatwa Shows Religious Duty Can Be A Route To Sustainable Behaviour (WWF – World Wildlife Fund USA)
(Source: WWF – World Wildlife Fund USA) The edict on wildlife trafficking is leading secular organisations to recognise that environmentalism is embedded in most scripture In January, a holy voice rang out across Indonesia’s archipelago of lush, tropical forests and teeming mangroves. It came in the form of a fatwa, an Islamic edict, which instructed […]
Read MoreFuture cost of water is no small change
Water scarcity was, until recently, considered by most of the developed world to be like James Hilton’s Lost Horizon: “far away, at the very limit of distance.” However, the convergence of aquifer depletion from increasing agricultural, industrial and municipal water use with more frequent and intense extreme weather events creates an urgency to develop new, […]
Read MoreInvasive trees use logging roads to invade Borneo forests
The spiked pepper tree (Piper aduncum) is native to the American tropics, but has made itself at home in a variety of other locales where it can crowd out local vegetation and interfere with forest recovery. Although it’s been slow to spread through Borneo since its introduction to Indonesia in 1952, new logging roads appear […]
Read MoreThere’s No Poaching Crisis in Kenya – KWS
[Capital FM]Nairobi -The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has slammed Non-Governmental Organisation for ‘misleading’ the world that there is crisis on elephant and rhino poaching in the country….
Read MoreU of M Crookston Professor Dan Svedarsky Receives Education Award from the Minnesota Chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society (University of Minnesota – Crookston)
(Source: University of Minnesota – Crookston) Dan Svedarsky, professor in the Agriculture and Natural Resources Department at the University of Minnesota Crookston, was recently honored with the 2014 Education Award. Presented by the Minnesota Chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society, Svedarsky received the recognition at the annual meeting of the Chapter at St. […]
Read MoreWorld’s Favorite BACARDÍ Rum Recycles Water in “Good Spirited” Initiative (Bacardi Limited)
(Source: Bacardi Limited) Hamilton, Bermuda, March 25, 2014 – Water is key to the production of BACARDÍ rum. On average, it takes 12 liters of water to create one liter of any distilled spirit. At the BACARDÍ distillery’s island home in Puerto Rico, water conservation is an important component of the Bacardi Limited sustainability commitment. […]
Read MoreFuture costs of water is no small change
Water scarcity was, until recently, considered by most of the developed world to be like James Hilton’s Lost Horizon: “far away, at the very limit of distance.” However, the convergence of aquifer depletion from increasing agricultural, industrial and municipal water use with more frequent and intense extreme weather events creates an urgency to develop new, […]
Read More“No More Parks” Bill Would Undermine Ability to Protect Our Public Lands (The Wilderness Society)
(Source: The Wilderness Society) The Wilderness Society strongly opposes H.R. 1459, a bill that would undermine the ability of presidents to use the Antiquities Act to protect public lands that have significant historic, cultural or conservation value. This bill is scheduled for a vote in the House later this week. President Theodore Roosevelt pushed for […]
Read MoreKauri dieback detected in Coromandel (New Zealand Government)
(Source: New Zealand Government) Test results showing the presence of Phytophthora taxon Agathis (PTA) or Kauri dieback disease in the Whangapoua Forest just north of Whitianga is a major concern, Conservation Minister Dr Nick Smith and Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy say. “This is a serious blow to our efforts to conserve kauri and protect […]
Read MoreKauri dieback detected in Coromandel (Department of Conservation of New Zealand)
(Source: Department of Conservation of New Zealand) Test results showing the presence of Phytophthora taxon Agathis (PTA) or Kauri dieback disease in the Whangapoua Forest just north of Whitianga is a major concern, Conservation Minister Dr Nick Smith and Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy say. “This is a serious blow to our efforts to conserve […]
Read MoreThreatened geckos to find sanctuary on Motuihe Island (Department of Conservation of New Zealand)
(Source: Department of Conservation of New Zealand) One hundred of New Zealand’s largest geckos are leaving the Mercury Islands to find a new home on Motuihe Island, just 16 km from downtown Auckland. Duvaucel’s gecko This Sunday (30 March 2014), Duvaucel’s geckos will join other threatened wildlife already on Motuihe in the Hauraki Gulf Marine […]
Read MoreBay Area Woman is CDFW Hunter Education Instructor of the Year (State of California)
(Source: State of California) The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has named Livermore resident Lorrie Ambrosino as the 2013 Hunter Education Instructor (HEI) of the Year. For more than 16 years, Ambrosino has taught the principles of conservation, ethics and firearms safety to hundreds of students, enabling them to obtain hunting…
Read MoreInhofe Pushes Range-Wide Plan for LPC, Urges Against Threatened Listing (James M Inhofe)
(Source: James M Inhofe) Monday, March 24, 2014 WASHINGTON, D.C. – In advance of the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service’s (FWS) March 31 deadline on the listing of the Lesser Prairie Chicken (LPC), U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, today sent a letter to remind […]
Read MoreBass are back at Lake Trafford (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission)
(Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission) Bass are back at Lake Trafford News Release Monday, March 24, 2014 Media contact: Katie Johnson, 850-556-2269; Bob Wattendorf 850-488-0520 After nearly a decade, fishermen are finally catching noteworthy bass in Lake Trafford again. The good news comes after years of habitat problems for the lake in northwest […]
Read MoreCALL TO ACTION: Only Four Days Remain to Urge NOAA to Protect Captive Orca Lolita! (Sea Shepherd Conservation Society)
(Source: Sea Shepherd Conservation Society) March 24, 2014 CALL TO ACTION: Only Four Days Remain to Urge NOAA to Protect Captive Orca Lolita! Hurry! There are only 4 days left to send your comments to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) urging them to provide the captive orca, Lolita, with Endangered Species Act protection! […]
Read MoreLawsuit Launched to Protect Endangered Species From Dangerous New Pesticide (Center for Biological Diversity)
(Source: Center for Biological Diversity) For Immediate Release, March 24, 2014 Contacts: Brett Hartl, Center for Biological Diversity, (202) 817-8121 Abigail Seiler, Center for Food Safety, (443) 854-4368 Jason Rylander, Defenders of Wildlife, (202) 682-9400 Lawsuit Launched to Protect Endangered Species From Dangerous New Pesticide WASHINGTON- Conservation and food-safety groups filed a formal of intent […]
Read MoreLCV Launches Web Ads Encouraging 18 Members of Congress to Vote Against the Preventing New Parks Bill (LCV – League of Conservation Voters)
(Source: LCV – League of Conservation Voters) LCV Launches Web Ads Encouraging 18 Members of Congress to Vote Against the Preventing New Parks Bill FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jeff Gohringer, (202) 454-4573 or jeff_gohringer@lcv.org 24Mar2014|Hannah Blatt Targets constituents across 12 states ahead of vote this week WASHINGTON, DC – The League of Conservation Voters launched […]
Read MoreOver 9,000 primates killed for single bushmeat market in West Africa every year
Over the past 25 years, West Africa’s primates have been put at risk due to an escalating bushmeat trade compounded with forest loss from expanding human populations. In fact, many endemic primates in the Upper Guinea forests of Liberia and Ivory Coast have been pushed to the verge of extinction. To better understand what’s happening, […]
Read MoreWorld’s river systems: Stressed OUT
According to the World Resources Institute (WRI) many, if not most of the world’s rivers are stressed. Determining a systems water stress is based upon measuring the ratio of total water withdrawals to the available renewable supplies within the catchment area. Rivers are an indispensible resource for our communities and ecosystems and we are hugely […]
Read MoreShock-absorbing ‘goo’ discovered in bone
Latest research shows that the chemical citrate – a by-product of natural cell metabolism – is mixed with water to create a viscous fluid that is trapped between the nano-scale crystals that form our bones. This fluid allows enough movement, or ‘slip’, between these crystals so that bones are flexible, and don’t shatter under pressure. […]
Read MoreBizarre, endangered bird discovered in high densities
The turkey-sized, noisy, fruit-feasting guans are arguably one of the strangest wildlife sightings in the tropical forests of Central and South America. Ancient animals, these birds are members of the Cracidae family—which also include equally-odd currasows and chachalacas—and are actually distantly related to megapode, or mound-building, birds of Australiasia. A new study in mongabay.com’s open-access […]
Read MoreVietnam Takes Steps to Minimize Transnational Wildlife Crime (Wildlife Conservation Society)
(Source: Wildlife Conservation Society) Aligning Efforts to Address the Crime; and Considering Destruction of Stockpile of Rhino Horn, Elephant Ivory and Tiger Bone Hanoi, 24th March 2014 – The Vietnam CITES Management Authority of the Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development today hosted a roundtable meeting that marks the nation’s first step toward synergy to […]
Read MoreIndonesia’s orangutan action plan is not saving great red apes
In December 2007, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono launched Indonesia’s Strategy and Action Plan for National Conservation of Orangutans. Quoting the president from his speech, ‘this will serve as a blueprint for our efforts to save some of our most exotic but endangered wildlife.’ Furthermore, the president said that ‘the Orangutan action plan formally endorses Indonesia’s […]
Read MoreBeach-nesting shorebirds need peace and quiet to survive (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission)
(Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission) Beach-nesting shorebirds need peace and quiet to survive News Release Monday, March 24, 2014 Media contact: Carli Segelson, 772-215-9459; Diane Hirth, 850-251-2130 During spring and summer on Florida beaches, shorebirds build nests out of sand and shells and hatch chicks that can barely be seen. So well-camouflaged are […]
Read MoreChernobyl: thirty years hence…
It’s not just people, animals and trees that suffer from radiation at Chernobyl, writes Rachel Nuwer, but also decomposer fungi and microbes. And with the buildup of dead wood comes the risk of catastrophic fire – which could spread radiation far and wide. Nearly 30 years have passed since the Chernobyl plant exploded and caused […]
Read MoreMeet Iman: the Sumatran rhino’s newest hope for survival
Hopes for one of the world’s most imperiled megafauna rose this month when wildlife conservationists succeeded in catching a female Sumatran rhino named Iman in the Malaysian state of Sabah. The female, which experts believe to be fertile, has since been successfully transferred via helicopter to the Borneo Rhino Sanctuary where experts plan to mate […]
Read MoreBritish bird is an unlikely winner from changing climate
Climate change may be bad news for billions, but scientists at the University of Sheffield have discovered one unlikely winner – a tiny British bird, the long-tailed tit. Like other small animals that live for only two or three years, these birds had until now been thought to die in large numbers during cold winters. […]
Read MoreWetlands and methane emissions
Scientists think the amount of methane emitted to the atmosphere from freshwater ecosystems will increase as the climate warms, reports Tim Radford. And that will trigger further warming. This highlights another mechanism by which the global carbon cycle may serve to accelerate rather than mitigate future climate change. British scientists have identified yet another twist […]
Read MoreFishing practices needlessly ravage sea life, study says
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Heaps of dead fish litter the decks of commercial trawlers each summer after boat captains pull nets from the ocean in their search for shrimp. Sucked into the expansive shrimp nets, small fish and other marine animals are the unfortunate victims of an industry that, for decades, has dragged the sea floor […]
Read MoreWorld Water Day: UN report predicts grim scenario for India; experts pitch for making water conservation a national obsession
NEW DELHI: As the world is already staring at impending water crisis due to climate change, population increase and pollution, a UN report has predicted that as many as 3.4 billion people will be living in “water-scarce” countries by 2025. It also pointed out that the situation will be deteriorated further in the next 25 […]
Read MoreHoward G. Buffett puts $24M toward saving rhinos
Howard G. Buffett, the son of Berkshire Hathaway chairman Warren Buffett, has pledged $23.7 million to South African National Parks to help fight rhino poaching in Kruger National Park, reports Reuters.
Read MoreU.N.: We can save world’s forests at a fraction of cost of fossil fuels subsidies
Investing $30 billion a year in forest conservation — less than seven percent of the $480 billion spent annually on fossil fuels subsidies — could help stop deforestation while accelerating a transition toward a greener global economy, asserts a new report published by the International Resource Panel (IRP) and the UN REDD Programme.
Read MoreMOU on Ensuring Water Efficiency signed between Steel Authority of India Limited & CII Triveni Water Institute (CII – Confederation of Indian Industry)
(Source: CII – Confederation of Indian Industry) A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Steel Authority of India and CII – Triveni Water Institute for a joint partnership towards water conservation and management towards improving efficiency and competitiveness. CII-Triveni Water Institute (“CII-TWI”), is one among CII’s 9 acclaimed Centers of Excellence and focuses on […]
Read MoreHow Your Love Of Burgers May Be Helping To Drive Wildlife Extinct
Many meat-eating animal lovers may not realize that their hankering for hamburgers hurts wildlife. A conservation group says some species have already been driven extinct by the livestock industry. » E-Mail This
Read MoreVoluntary Conservation Effort Promotes Improved Lesser Prairie-chicken Habitat (USDA – United States Department of Agriculture)
(Source: USDA – United States Department of Agriculture) WASHINGTON, March 21, 2014 – Agriculture Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Robert Bonnie announced today a renewed and expanded partnership to provide expert habitat advice to farmers and ranchers managing land within lesser prairie-chicken range. “Our goal is to deliver a win-win for agricultural producers […]
Read MoreWWF-Canada launches water health measure (WWF Canada)
(Source: WWF Canada) WWF-Canada launches water health measure Posted on 21 March 2014 | TORONTO, March 21, 2014 – Today, WWF-Canada released Freshwater Health Assessment results for five new watersheds across Canada, in honour of World Water Day on March 22, 2014. These assessments, along with seven existing ones, help create a clear, consistent understanding […]
Read MoreRoad to environmental destruction
Roads are considered connectors of human development providing opportunities for economic success and communication but the flip side of this network is that it has also brought enormous destruction to our fields and forests. With forest destruction comes increased human development and ecological degradation. Recent mapping and modeling has been done to document and measure […]
Read MoreThe power of connections: India to establish Asia’s largest protected forest
India has stepped up forest conservation efforts in recent years, with a major project underway to establish a large swath of uninterrupted habitat through the designation of additional protected areas and expanding those already under protection. If realized, these areas would converge to become Asia’s largest unbroken forest, encompassing approximately 15,000 square kilometers (5,790 square […]
Read MorePlankton make scents for seabirds and a cooler planet
The top predators of the Southern Ocean, far-ranging seabirds, are tied both to the health of the ocean ecosystem and to global climate regulation through a mutual relationship with phytoplankton, according to newly published work from the University of California, Davis.
Read MoreWhen rewilding isn’t mad: guanacos can transform the espinal of Chile
The idea of resurrecting woolly mammoths and setting them loose in Siberia and the American Great Plains or lions roaming through central Europe is pretty mad. Mostly though, rewilding is much less barmy to the point of being conventional. Rewilding projects tend to have some features in common that distinguish them from your typical conservation […]
Read MoreNine Fisheries Cause Half of Drowned Whales, Wasted Fish
Nine fisheries are behind half of the U.S. fish and drowned animals thrown back into the sea. Continue reading →
Read MoreAre Your Shaving Razors Inspired by Frog and Cricket Legs?
Despite the fact that no animals (except for humans!) shave, it turns out the animal kingdom can teach us a thing or two about shaving. Researchers at the Technion have found that by mimicking the texture of the legs of creatures who live in wet environments – they can create better razors.
Read MoreProtect Elephants and Gorillas to Sustain Our Forests
[IPS]Bonn -With Mar. 21 designated by the United Nations as the “International Day of Forests and the Tree”, Bradnee Chambers, the executive secretary of the U.N. Environment Programme Convention on Migratory Species, explains why he sees forest and species conservation as two sides of the same coin….
Read MoreAnnual Investment of U.S.$30 Billion in Tropical Forest Conservation Can Support Green and Sustainable Economic Growth
[UNEP]Geneva/Jakarta -Forests support the livelihoods of 1.6 billion people, with the value of ecosystem services from tropical forests estimated at an average of US $6,120 per hectare each year….
Read MoreAnts plant tomorrow’s rainforest (21/03/2014) (SGN – Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung)
(Source: SGN – Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung) 21/03/2014 – Ants plant tomorrow’s rainforest Frankfurt, 18.3.2014. Tropical montane rain forests are highly threatened and their remnants are often surrounded by deforested landscapes. For the regeneration of these degraded areas, seed dispersal of forest trees plays a crucial role but is still poorly understood. Most tree species […]
Read MoreInternational Day of Forests and the Tree
Ban Ki Moon’s message today is, ‘As we deliberate on the post-2015 development agenda, let us acknowledge the vital role of forests and pledge to work together to protect and sustainably manage these vital ecosystems.’ © The Earth Times. Published on The Earth Times Related Articles Pollution grows in ChinaLoggers and land-grabbers should leave SE […]
Read MoreNext big idea in forest conservation? Offer health care for forest protection
Dr. Kinari Webb has a superpower: the ability to provide high-quality health care in a remote and rural landscape. And she uses her power not only to save lives, but also to protect the remaining Bornean rainforests. Twenty-one years ago, Kinari Webb traveled to Borneo to work with orangutans. She witnessed the faltering health of […]
Read MoreNew use for an old ‘trouble maker’
A form of crystal that was long considered an unwanted and unloved ‘stone’ in glass making could find practical use as a cheap and efficient optical diffuser, which are used to scatter and soften light for a range of industrial and household applications. Devitrite is a form of crystal which is produced when commercial soda-lime-silica […]
Read MoreThe wonders of the animal kingdom: a new Museum of Zoology
The vision is to create a Museum that enchants its visitors and celebrates the amazing diversity of animal life, showcasing the wonders of the animal kingdom and emphasising the importance of conserving biodiversity for the future. From the long extinct Dodo to specimens that inspired Darwin’s theories, the Museum has a distinguished history, reflected in […]
Read MorePassive acoustic monitoring reveals clues to minke whale calling behavior and movements
Scientists using passive acoustic monitoring to track minke whales in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean have found clues in the individual calling behaviors and movements of this species. These findings provide insight into one of the least studied baleen whales.
Read MoreRELEASE: Report Provides New Data on Congress’ Dismal Land Conservation Record (Center for American Progress)
(Source: Center for American Progress) Contact: Anne Shoup Phone: 202.481.7146 Email: ashoup@americanprogress.org Washington, D.C. – Today, following the designation of the first new federally protected wilderness in five years and President Barack Obama’s call for Congress to “do even more,” Equal Ground, a campaign supported by the Center for American Progress along with other organizations, released […]
Read MoreForest Peoples at risk from ‘carbon grab’
A new ‘carbon grab’ is under way as governments and corporations seize valuable rights to the carbon stored in standing forests, with UN and World Bank support. But there’s no benefit for forest communities – who even risk expulsion to make way for ‘carbon plantations’. As the United Nations and the World Bank prepare to […]
Read MoreSouth Africa and Vietnam meeting to strengthen cooperation in the field of Biodiversity Conservation and Protection (Department of Environmental Affairs – Republic of South Africa)
(Source: Department of Environmental Affairs – Republic of South Africa) 20 March 2014 The Deputy Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Ms Rejoice Mabudafhasi will deliver the welcoming address at the Opening of a meeting between South Africa and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in Pretoria on 24 March 2014. The commitment to improving cooperation […]
Read MoreTake Care of Texas™ Offers Tips to Save Water, Energy, and Money This Spring (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality)
(Source: Texas Commission on Environmental Quality) Today marks the first day of spring, and while we can enjoy milder temperatures, the TCEQ says now is the time to prepare our living and outdoor spaces for the eventual arrival of summer heat. The agency’s Take Care of Texas program makes it easier for everyone to do […]
Read MoreIceland’s lone whaling crusader attempts to ship around 2,000 tonnes of fin whale meat to Japan (IFAW – International Fund for Animal Welfare)
(Source: IFAW – International Fund for Animal Welfare) Iceland’s lone whaling crusader, Kristjan Loftsson, is attempting to ship an estimated 2,000 tonnes of fin whale meat out of the country despite limited market for the meat and opposition at home and abroad to the bloody trade. The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) raised the […]
Read MoreNGO ‘Ward foundation’ declares 2014 as the ‘year of the sparrow’
NAGPUR: The common sparrow has not remained so common these days, with the bird attaining the fourth rank in the list of rare birds. This is what prompted NGO WARD (Wild life Conservation and…
Read MoreNGO Ward foundation declares 2014 as the ‘year of the sparrow’
NAGPUR: The common sparrow has not remained so common these days, with the bird attaining the fourth rank in the list of rare birds. This is what prompted NGO WARD (Wild life Conservation and…
Read MorePanda lemur making a comeback
One of the world’s biggest populations of greater bamboo lemurs (Prolemur simus)—sometimes known as the panda lemur—has doubled in just three years, giving conservationists new hope that the species can be kept from extinction. With the recent arrival of twenty babies, a community conservation project run by the Aspinall Foundation has boosted the local population […]
Read MoreAnts plant tomorrow’s rainforest
Tropical montane rain forests are highly threatened and their remnants are often surrounded by deforested landscapes. For the regeneration of these degraded areas, seed dispersal of forest trees plays a crucial role but is still poorly understood. Most tree species are dispersed by birds and mammals, but also by ants. This new research demonstrates the […]
Read MoreWorld Water Day 2014: Sensus Smart Water Networks Help Conserve Water and Energy
RALEIGH, N.C.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Sensus, a leading provider of clean technology solutions, recognizes World Water Day and the importance of clean technology to conserve water and energy. Billions of gallons of water are leaked each day, and energy is required to clean and transport that water. When water is wasted, so is energy. This interrelationship between water […]
Read MoreLeftover trees enhance the biodiversity of new forests
Trees left standing after deforestation have a discernible impact on the composition of local biodiversity in secondary growth forests, according to a new study published in PLOS ONE. Researchers working on the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica discovered that remnant trees could affect species composition of regenerated forests up to 20 years after being logged.
Read MoreWoodland countryside conservation events (Lichfield District Council)
(Source: Lichfield District Council) Published on Thursday, 20th March 2014 Lichfield District Council’s Countryside & Parks Conservation Group (CPCG) is seeking more volunteers to help two woodlands in the Burntwood area to thrive. This April, the council is inviting everyone to muck in at two CPCG conservation days in two new…
Read MoreWild Places: John Muir Film Festival (East Lothian Council)
(Source: East Lothian Council) The Brunton explores John Muir’s legacy of engagement with the Natural World as part of the John Muir Festival 2014. Thursday 17 – Saturday 26 April. WILD PLACES is a festival of films celebrating John Muir’s legacy, presented by The Brunton working in partnership with other cinemas along the John Muir […]
Read MoreAvoid That Unspecial Someone with Anti-Social Network App
Cloak scrapes the social media accounts of your “friends” so you can avoid them. Continue reading →
Read More€320 million investment in Enemalta announced (Enemalta Corporation)
(Source: Enemalta Corporation) €320 million investment in Enemalta announced 12-3-2014 The Ministry for Energy and the Conservation of Water and Enemalta announced a €320 million strategic investment agreement with the international energy company Shanghai Electric Power. On Tuesday 11th March, the Government of Malta authorised Enemalta to sign a Heads of Terms agreement with Shanghai…
Read MoreTATNEFT Presented Its Energy-Saving Technologies at the Specialized Exhibition (OAO Tatneft)
(Source: OAO Tatneft) 20.03.2014 TATNEFT is taking part in the XVth International specialized exhibition “Energy. Resource Saving” and the XIVth International Symposium on the “Energy resource efficiency and energy conservation” held in Kazan in the pavilions of the Kazan Fair from March 18 to 20. The Company has been named a winner of the Republican […]
Read MoreBTS Bags Equipment Maintenance Deal from Baosteel (Metallurgical Corporation of China Ltd)
(Source: Metallurgical Corporation of China Ltd) The Third Inspection & Maintenance Company of MCC Baosteel Technology Services Co., Ltd. (BTS) and Baosteel’s Energy-conservation & Environment-protection Technology Co., Ltd. singed an equipment maintenance contract for…
Read MoreA Crocodile Hunt, Redefined, in Southeastern Cuba (Op-Ed)
The American crocodile is a dangerous animal, but that doesn’t prevent women from helping lead their conservation.
Read MoreBighorn sheep went extinct on desert island in Gulf of California
Using ancient DNA analysis and other techniques, a research team led by conservation biologists has determined that bighorn sheep, so named for their massive spiral horns, became extinct on Tiburon Island, a large and mostly uninhabited island just off Sonora, Mexico, in the Gulf of California, sometime in the last millennium — specifically between the […]
Read MorePench tiger reserve gets Rs 50 lakh boost
NAGPUR: A year after Supreme Court ordered Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra (FDCM) to plough back money from timber felled in Mansinghdeo sanctuary towards conservation work, the corporation remitted Rs 50 lakh to Pench Tiger Conservation Foundation. Mansinghdeo (183 sqkm) was notified a sanctuary on November 2, 2010, and is part of Pench tiger reserve. […]
Read MoreLet this mesmerizing video show you the beauty of Alaska’s ice caves before they’re gone
Icy landscapes can be stunningly lovely, and we should probably enjoy them while we can….
Read MoreTonawanda Coke and Manager Sentenced for Violating the Clean Air Act and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (US Department of Justice)
(Source: US Department of Justice) Department of Justice Office of Public Affairs FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, March 19, 2014 Tonawanda Coke and Manager Sentenced for Violating the Clean Air Act and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Tonawanda Coke Corporation was sentenced in federal court in Buffalo, N.Y., Wednesday to pay a $12.5 million penalty and […]
Read MoreTonawanda Coke and Manager Sentenced for Violating the Clean Air Act and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York)
(Source: United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York) Department of Justice Office of Public Affairs FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, March 19, 2014 Tonawanda Coke and Manager Sentenced for Violating the Clean Air Act and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Tonawanda Coke Corporation was sentenced in federal court in Buffalo, N.Y., Wednesday […]
Read MoreDEC Schedules Webinars on Streamlined Process for Environmental Assessment Forms (New York State Department of Environmental Conservation)
(Source: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation) For Release: Wednesday, March 19, 2014 A series of webinars to instruct government agencies and the public on how to use the streamlined and revised Environmental Assessment Forms (EAF) will be held this spring, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joe Martens announced today. […]
Read MoreTusker found dead, officials rule out poaching
DEHRADUN: A day after notorious poacher Sansar Chand died of cancer, carcass of a female elephant was found in Kotdwar range of Lansdowne division and that of a leopard near Binsar wildlife sanctuary. The wildlife…
Read MoreFair-minded birds
New research conducted at Harvard demonstrates sharing behavior in African grey parrots. “I think people usually think of the natural world as being akin to Tennyson’s ‘Nature, red in tooth and claw,’ ” said Irene Pepperberg, a psychology researcher and co-author of the study. “But this type of sharing isn’t unheard of in the wild. […]
Read MoreNoah’s Ark in Its Many Forms: Photos
Box-like, round and oval are among the various shapes Noah’s Ark has been depicted through history.
Read MoreBlame Humans: New Research Proves People Killed Off New Zealand’s Giant Birds
Moas were a diverse group of flightless birds that ruled over New Zealand up to the arrival of humans, the biggest of these mega-birds stood around 3.5 meters (12 feet) with outstretched neck. While the whole moa family—comprised of nine species—vanished shortly after the arrival of people on New Zealand in the 13th Century, scientists […]
Read MoreNo more stinky cotton!
Following the eradication of the cotton boll weevil in the late 1990s cotton growers began to notice an influx of a new pest, stink bugs. Stink bugs feed on bolls on the bottom portion of the plant, puncturing squares causing young cotton bolls to drop and staining, matting and shrinking cottonseeds through heavy stink bug […]
Read MoreInvasive Burmese Pythons Can Find Their Way Back Home
There are multiple ways to deal with a critter that may find its way into your home. The most humane – catch it and release it back into its natural habitat perhaps a couple of miles away from your neighborhood. But this might not work for all species as a new study reveals that Burmese […]
Read MorePoacher Killed At Lake Nakuru National Park
[The Star]RHINO poaching has become a national security issue, which calls for more efforts to curb it, Kenya Wildlife Services director William Kiprono has said….
Read MoreThought-to-be-Extinct Harlequin Frog Rediscovered in Costa Rica
The critically endangered harlequin frog (Atelopus varius), believed to be extinct in Costa Rica, has been rediscovered in the Talamanca Mountains of southern Costa Rica by an international team of researchers. The harlequin frog was a relatively common species in areas of Costa Rica and Panama until 1988, when populations declined rapidly, primarily as a […]
Read MoreThe power of poison: Study examines pesticide poisoning of Africa’s wildlife
Poisons are silent, effective and cheap, making the especially dangerous in Africa where they are used for both pest control and illegal poaching. However, as a new study reveals, they also kill unintended wildlife.
Read MoreBats’ flight changes
When we study insects and birds in the air, or other animals in water, the interest often lies in how they can change their locomotive effort in order to counteract wind or currents. The use of computer modelling can also add the extra benefit of prediction of movement under various conditions. © The Earth Times. […]
Read MorePlant scientists call for rethink of GM crop regulation
In a report to the Council for Science and Technology, which advises the Prime Minister on science policy, the scientists warn that unless GM crops are regulated at national, rather than at EU level, European agriculture could suffer because it will be unable to adopt GM crops. The new regulatory system should be modelled on […]
Read MoreOnline ivory in Japan threatens African elephants -activists
LONDON (Reuters) – Online selling and weak controls on domestic ivory sales in Japan are spurring illegal international trade in elephant tusks and contributing to a steep rise in poaching, activists said on Tuesday.
Read MoreBlue whales abound in the shipping lanes just off Sri Lankan coast (IFAW – International Fund for Animal Welfare)
(Source: IFAW – International Fund for Animal Welfare) After the first few weeks of our research just off the southern coast of Sri Lanka, we have had more than 40 blue whale sightings. Whilst at sea in Raja’s boat, it is quite common to find ourselves eyeballing a massive container ship one moment, and seeing […]
Read MoreNPWS hazard reduction burning between Braidwood and Queanbeyan (NSW Office of Environment and Heritage)
(Source: NSW Office of Environment and Heritage) Media release: 19 March 2014 If forecasted conditions remain favourable, the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and the Rural Fire Service will conduct hazard reduction burning at Little Bombay in the Tallaganda State Conservation Area on Thursday, March 20. Little Bombay is located about 15…
Read MorePlastic Mulch Can Help Tree Seedlings Survive (Alberta Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development)
(Source: Alberta Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) Planting trees on Alberta’s agricultural landscape in the form of shelterbelts provides a range of benefits to the province, including wildlife and habitat corridors, soil and water conservation and improved road conditions. Shelterbelts may also benefit individual farmers by increasing livestock and crop productivity, protecting buildings from […]
Read MoreZero tolerance to dumping in public reserves (Department of Conservation of New Zealand)
(Source: Department of Conservation of New Zealand) The Department of Conservation (DOC) is right behind the crackdown on rubbish dumping in the East Coast region and strongly supports plans to catch or trace offenders. A trailer load of green waste was…
Read MoreRare parakeets flown to safe island home (Department of Conservation of New Zealand)
(Source: Department of Conservation of New Zealand) Eighteen rare native parakeets are today winging their way from Christchurch to a Bay of Plenty island sanctuary to build a self-supporting population there as this species faces the ongoing threat of predators in Canterbury. The kākāriki karaka/orange-fronted parakeets bred by the Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust at […]
Read MoreA Tribute to Colorado Byways: Conservation at its Finest (Colorado Department of Transportation)
(Source: Colorado Department of Transportation) March 18, 2014 – Metro Denver Colorado/CDOT Region 1 – The 25th anniversary of Colorado’s Scenic and Historic Byways program was celebrated on March 14 at the State Capitol. As part of the festivities, Colorado Byways Commissioners and numerous Colorado Byway organizations met with lawmakers, providing information on how the […]
Read MoreMSU named a ‘Tree Campus USA’ for the second year in a row (Montana State University)
(Source: Montana State University) For the second year in a row, Montana State University has been designated a Tree Campus USA in honor of its commitment to effective campus forest management and for engaging staff and students in conservation…
Read MoreGorilla born in rare C-section at San Diego Zoo has pneumonia
SAN DIEGO (Reuters) – A baby gorilla born in a rare Caesarian section at the San Diego Zoo last week has pneumonia and was treated for a collapsed lung, officials said on Tuesday.
Read MoreRide the Rapids on Google’s New Colorado River View
Colorado River View, Google’s latest off-road foray using Street View cameras, takes users through the Grand Canyon on a whitewater raft. Conservationists hope the effort will raise awareness of this overstretched river.
Read MoreThe cold hard glacial truth
Lewis Owen has been scraping out icy fragments of history’s truth from one of the most glaciated regions on Earth for the past 25 years. His frequent excursions to Tibet and the Himalayas have led the University of Cincinnati professor of geology to some cold, hard facts. Owen knows climate change is immortal – fluctuating […]
Read MoreSecrets of the narwhal tusk
To Martin Nweeia, the narwhal — a mysterious whale with an off-center tusk — is much more interesting than the mythical unicorn. Now, eight years after he described the narwhal’s distinctive tusk as a sensory organ, the fascinating creature is coming into focus. Nweeia and his colleagues have mapped a sensory pathway between that spiral […]
Read MoreGalactic Cauldron | Space Wallpaper
As galaxies speed through gigantic cauldrons, they occasionally jumble the gas and forge it into lop-sided shapes. An example is revealed in this space wallpaper, which is a composite image of the galaxy group NGC 5044.
Read MoreCOLLEGIATE CORNER: Offshore oil drilling: is it really necessary?
As we all know, oil is a very important energy resource the world needs for its everyday life. It is known that not only do most of the countries on the planet use it, but also it is a scarce resource, which means that in the near future, there will no longer be enough available […]
Read MoreGlobal problem of fisheries bycatch needs global solutions
Whenever fishing vessels harvest fish, other animals can be accidentally caught or entangled in fishing gear as bycatch. Numerous strategies exist to prevent bycatch, but data have been lacking on the global scale of this issue. A new in-depth analysis of global bycatch data provides fisheries and the conservation community with the best information yet […]
Read MoreFourth Quarter Corporate Responsibility & Society Update (J Sainsbury plc)
(Source: J Sainsbury plc) Strong progress in our 20×20 Plan with our ‘Value of Values’ campaign reaching consumers and colleagues Joint top in fish sustainability league from Marine Conservation Society and recognised as market leaders in Greenpeace’s tinned tuna league Signed a new long-term deal with British Athletics and proud sponsors of the record breaking […]
Read MoreBustard conservation plans for four areas of Maharashtra
MUMBAI: The once common bustard species of Maharashtra, viz. Great Indian Bustard (GIB) or Maldhok and Lesser Florican or Tanmor have been…
Read MoreWill zero deforestation commitments save Indonesia’s forests?
Skirting the Malacca Strait near the Indonesian city of Dumai the air is thick with haze from peat fires burning below. As the sky clears, a landscape of sharply-cut geometric shapes becomes apparent. What was once carbon-dense peat forests and rainforests are today massive oil palm and wood pulp plantations.
Read MoreElephants Even Smarter than We Realized
Study after study continues to show elephants are intelligent, self-aware individuals who possess a tremendous sense of family, empathy and community. So much evidence has accumulated that even mainstream scientific publications are starting to take notice. In his recent Scientific American article “The Science Is In: Elephants Are Even Smarter than We Realized,” Ferris Jabr […]
Read MoreCamels lynx and eagles invade?
When is an alien species really alien? Maybe only when it is a critical danger to another species. A new book from a popular author puts forward persuasive and alarming arguments. Camels, eagles, snakes, spiders and influenza virus, wrapped up in invasive packaging. © The Earth Times. Published on The Earth Times Related Articles How […]
Read MoreMother of God: meet the 26 year old Indiana Jones of the Amazon, Paul Rosolie
Not yet 30, Paul Rosolie has already lived a life that most would only dare dream of—or have nightmares over, depending on one’s constitution. With the Western Amazon as his panorama, Rosolie has faced off jaguars, wrestled anacondas, explored a floating forest, mentored with indigenous people, been stricken by tropical disease, traveled with poachers, and […]
Read MorePresident Tasked to Act On Rampant Poaching
[CAJ News]Nairobi -LOCAL anti-poaching activists have called on President Uhuru Kenyatta to take leadership in the protection of rhinos and elephants from incessant poaching….
Read MoreMedia Release: Rhino poaching update (South African National Parks)
(Source: South African National Parks) Please note that you will now be routed to a separate web booking portal specific to Golden Gate Hotel and Chalets. Would you like to continue? Date: 17th March 2014 14 March 2014 – The total number of rhino poached in South Africa since the beginning of 2014 has increased to […]
Read MoreSeizures show scale of pangolin peril
Pangolins, insect-eating mammals that live in tropical parts of Africa and Asia, are under threat from a growing inter-continental illegal trade in the animals and their scales, according to a new report. While poaching of large animals such as elephants and rhinos and the illegal trade in ivory and horn receives widespread attention (in 2012 […]
Read MoreYellowstone Bison win court case!
The Montana Supreme Court has ruled that bison can roam outside the park boundaries for winter and early spring forage without being shot. In 2008, more than 1,400 bison – about one-third of the current size of Yellowstone’s bison population – were captured and slaughtered by government agencies while leaving Yellowstone in search of food. […]
Read MoreA global climate change directive?
Could another climate change deal be in the works? World leaders are meeting in Brussels this month to discuss climate change. While environmentalists are calling for urgent action to cut greenhouse gas emissions, diplomatic language presented in the introductory document is most likely not ambitious enough.
Read MoreU.S. philanthropist Howard Buffett takes aim at rhino poaching
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – American philanthropist Howard G. Buffett donated $24 million to South Africa’s national parks service on Friday to fund a high-tech campaign against rhino poaching which he compared to the United States’ war on drugs on its southern border.
Read MoreCan Penguins Cope with Climate Change?
Human-caused climate change is altering the habitat of Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae). In an article recently published in PLOS ONE, a team of researchers led by Amélie Lescroël from the Centre d’Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive (CNRS) in France, found that changes in sea-ice content and newly formed icebergs significantly impacted Adélie penguin communities in the […]
Read MoreWildlife Conservation Society’s Queens Zoo Opens Registration for Spring Teen Program (Wildlife Conservation Society)
(Source: Wildlife Conservation Society) Register online at: www.queenszoo.com Flushing, N.Y. — March 13, 2014 — The Wildlife Conservation Society’s Queens Zoo has announced registration for its Spring Teen Program on weekends in March and April 2014. The Spring Teen Program gives teens ages 13 to 17 an in-depth look at a variety of zoo careers. […]
Read MoreWater Conservation Fair in La Verne (City of La Verne, CA)
(Source: City of La Verne, CA) Are you wondering how you might be able to conserve water? Orchard Supply Hardware in La Verne will be hosting a Water Conservation Fair in…
Read MoreDeadly Driftnets Will Not Be Expanded Into Sea Turtle, Whale Habitat Off California Coast (Center for Biological Diversity)
(Source: Center for Biological Diversity) For Immediate Release, March 13, 2014 Contacts: Teri Shore, Turtle Island Restoration Network, tshore@tirn.net, cell (707) 934-7081 Catherine Kilduff, Center for Biological Diversity, ckilduff@biologicaldiversity.org, (415) 644-8580 Deadly Driftnets Will Not Be Expanded Into Sea Turtle, Whale Habitat Off California Coast SACRAMENTO, Calif.- In an important victory for wildlife, federal fishery […]
Read MoreKentucky Afield Outdoors- Hunter Education teaches safe hunting (State of Kentucky)
(Source: State of Kentucky) Department of Fish and Wildlife Kentucky Afield Outdoors- Hunter Education teaches safe hunting Press Release Date: Thursday, March 13, 2014 Contact Information: Kevin Kelly 1-800-858-1549, ext. 4414 FRANKFORT, Ky. – It is a few minutes before 6 p.m. on Friday and vehicles continue pulling into the parking lot at the Scott […]
Read MoreForest activists ordered to rip down tree house
Endangered: Hannah Patchett and others have been living in the Toolangi tree house to raise awareness about the threat of logging to the Leadbeater’s possum. Photo: Simon Schluter Conservationists have been ordered to rip down a tree house in a state forest north-east of Melbourne that was built to highlight the plight of Victoria’s faunal […]
Read MoreWVU grad student recognized for conservation efforts, dedication to Peace Corps (West Virginia University)
(Source: West Virginia University) In and around the town of Junin, Peru, West Virginia University student Shannon Behmke is known as the “frog girl.” Stationed in the South American country as an Environmental Peace Corps Volunteer, Behmke has devoted much of her time to creating a conservation plan for the endangered giant Lake Junín frog […]
Read MoreStates Should Be Reimbursed for Re-Opening National Parks During Shutdown (NPCA – National Parks Conservation Association)
(Source: NPCA – National Parks Conservation Association) Background: Several legislative proposals have been introduced in Congress to reimburse those states that donated funds in order to re-open several national parks during the October government shutdown. Without congressional action, the federal government has no legal authority to provide reimbursements…
Read MoreStrange bird, sea turtle hatchlings released on protected Indonesian beach
Working on a remote and protected beach in Indonesia, conservationists recently celebrated the release of rare animal hatchlings into the wild, part of a plan to save the olive ridley sea turtle and an extraordinary bird called the maleo. “The joint release of maleos and olive ridleys on the same day is a boost to […]
Read MoreAntarctic ecosystem due to change radically with climate change
According to researchers the Ross Sea will “be extensively modified by future climate change” in the coming decades creating longer periods of ice-free open water and affecting life cycles of all components of the ecosystem in a paper published and funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). The researchers have drawn their information from the […]
Read MoreWarmer years linked to more malaria in tropical highlands
[BOGOTA] People in densely populated highlands of Africa and South America — who have so far been protected from malaria by cooler temperatures — may be seeing more of the disease as the climate changes, according to a study in Science (6 March).
Read MoreAncient Whale Skull Reveals Evolutionary Origins of Echolocation in Marine Mammals
Evidence of the most ancient whale known to have used echolocation was announced Wednesday in the journal Nature.
Read MoreMOL Group Received Central European Sustainability Reporting Award (MOL plc)
(Source: MOL plc) MOL Group received for the second time the “Central European Sustainability Reporting Award” announced by Deloitte MOL Group competed with 33 companies from 6 Central European countries The award aims to honour companies publishing their sustainability report in line with international best practices Budapest, 13th March 2014 – Today, MOL Group received […]
Read MoreSaving the Lesser Prairie Chicken, 1 Million Acres at a Time
Due to it’s restricted range in the prairies and sandhills of Oklahoma, New Mexico, Colorado, and Texas, the Lesser Prairie Chicken is considered a “vulnerable” species. Because of human activity as well as persistent drought, habitat destruction has directed the species towards candidacy for a threatened or endangered listing under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). […]
Read MoreFracking ‘could harm wildlife’
Fracking has the potential to devastate wildlife habitats across the UK, says research commissioned by leading wildlife and countryside groups. The report Are We Fit to Frack? was launched by six organisations including the National Trust and the RSPB. It was reviewed by the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology and is supported by a cross […]
Read MoreFracking ‘could harm wildlife’
Fracking has the potential to devastate wildlife habitats across the UK, according to research commissioned by leading conservation groups.
Read MorePrime Minister’s plans would take Tasmania backwards on forests and jobs (ACF – Australian Conservation Foundation)
(Source: ACF – Australian Conservation Foundation) “Prime Minister Abbott has sought to turn the clock back to the good old days of forest conflict and demonisation of conservation,” said Vica Bayley, spokesperson for The Wilderness Society. ” “Australia’s forests and forest industries are facing fundamental challenges. Well-worn greenie-bashing rhetoric will not fix the problems. “The […]
Read MoreThree hunters suspended after poaching incident (Colorado Department of Natural Resources)
(Source: Colorado Department of Natural Resources) 3/12/2014 Colorado Parks and Wildlife Three hunters suspended after poaching incident COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Three Colorado men have been temporarily banned from hunting and fishing after pleading guilty to several charges in a poaching incident in October 2012. The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission recently handed down the […]
Read MoreCSU Stanislaus Takes Steps to Curb Water Use (California State University, Stanislaus)
(Source: California State University, Stanislaus) The drought plaguing California has led Governor Jerry Brown to issue an emergency declaration, requiring state agencies – the California State University included – to reduce water usage by 20 percent and put a moratorium on new, nonessential landscaping projects. CSU Stanislaus is doing its part and much more, thanks […]
Read MoreLCV Action Fund Endorses Congressman Scott Peters for Re-Election (LCV – League of Conservation Voters)
(Source: LCV – League of Conservation Voters) LCV Action Fund Endorses Congressman Scott Peters for Re-Election FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jessica Knight, (202) 454-4590 or jessica_knight@lcv.org 12 Mar 2014 | Hannah Blatt WASHINGTON, DC-The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) Action Fund, which works to elect candidates who will implement sound environmental policies, held a conference call today to announce […]
Read MoreDr. Jane Goodall to address a full-house at Concordia University (Concordia University)
(Source: Concordia University) Leading conservationist and primatologist delivers message of hope Version française Montreal, March 12, 2014 – Concordia University and the Concordia Student Union (CSU) will be hosting acclaimed primatologist and environmentalist, Dr. Jane Goodall DBE, on March 28 in the auditorium of Loyola High School (2477 West Broadway Street). The founder of the […]
Read MoreWesterly Conservationist Named Distinguished Fellow of Coastal Institute (University of Rhode Island)
(Source: University of Rhode Island) Westerly Conservationist Named Distinguished Fellow of Coastal Institute Media Contact: Communications and Marketing, 401-874-2116 Chaplin Barnes has led protection and preservation efforts in Watch Hill KINGSTON, R.I. – March 6, 2014 – Chaplin B. “Chap” Barnes of Westerly has been given the first University of Rhode Island Coastal Institute Distinguished […]
Read MoreGood News for Animals in Nepal: A Full Year Without Poaching (WWF – World Wildlife Fund USA)
(Source: WWF – World Wildlife Fund USA) On World Wildlife Day, March 3, Nepal celebrated 365 days with zero poaching. No rhinos, tigers, or elephants were killed. It’s the second year of such success in Nepal. In 2011 the country also had none, and in 2012 it lost just one rhino to poaching. This achievement […]
Read MoreDCNR Announces Funding to Help Volunteer Firefighters (Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources)
(Source: Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources) News for Immediate Release March 12, 2014 DCNR Announces Funding to Help Volunteer Firefighters Harrisburg – With the approach of spring and increased risk of forest and brush fires across the state, federal grants are now available to help Pennsylvania’s rural communities better guard against the threat […]
Read MoreStepping up Conservation in Fiji — in Stilettos (Op-Ed)
Women striving for marine conservation in the South Pacific face meet many challenges, and successes.
Read MoreGovernor Cuomo Announces Funding to Improve Flood and Environmental Protections Along Mohawk River Basin (State of New York)
(Source: State of New York) Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced more than $640,000 in support for priority projects to help communities along the Mohawk River increase resiliency to better cope with future flood events, while also protecting water quality and environmental sustainability. The grants, provided through the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) are administered under […]
Read MoreA whale of a find: Fossil sheds light on cetacean sonar’s origin
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The deadly threat posed by German submarines during World War One helped spur scientists to develop sonar, using underwater sound signals to locate objects like subs that might be taking aim with a torpedo.
Read MoreLCV Statement on Senator Richard Blumenthal and Senator Chris Murphy’s Leadership Following All-Night Climate Speeches in the Senate (LCV – League of Conservation Voters)
(Source: LCV – League of Conservation Voters) LCV Statement on Senator Richard Blumenthal and Senator Chris Murphy’s Leadership Following All-Night Climate Speeches in the Senate FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jeff…
Read MoreLCV Statement on Senator Mark Udall’s Leadership Following All-Night Climate Speeches in the Senate (LCV – League of Conservation Voters)
(Source: LCV – League of Conservation Voters) LCV Statement on Senator Mark Udall’s Leadership Following All-Night Climate Speeches in the Senate FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jeff Gohringer, (202) 454-4573…
Read MoreLCV Statement on Senator Bill Nelson’s Leadership Following All-Night Climate Speeches in the Senate (LCV – League of Conservation Voters)
(Source: LCV – League of Conservation Voters) LCV Statement on Senator Bill Nelson’s Leadership Following All-Night Climate Speeches in the Senate FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jeff Gohringer, (202)…
Read MoreDEC Issues Final General Permit for Bulkhead Removal and Replacement (New York State Department of Environmental Conservation)
(Source: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation) For Release: Wednesday, March 12, 2014 New Permit Streamlines Approval Procedure The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) finalized the General Permit -Tidal Wetland Bulkhead With Dredging GP-1-13-001 for bulkhead replacement and repair on portions of…
Read More03.12.2014 Governor Cuomo Announces Funding to Improve Flood and Environmental Protections Along Mohawk River Basin (The Office of the Governor of the State of New York)
(Source: The Office of the Governor of the State of New York) Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced more than $640,000 in support for priority projects to help communities along the Mohawk River increase resiliency to better cope with future flood events, while also protecting water quality and environmental sustainability. The grants, provided through the […]
Read MoreAssembly Budget Increases the Environmental Protection Fund – Mar-12-2014 (New York State Assembly)
(Source: New York State Assembly) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 12, 2014 Assembly Budget Increases the Environmental Protection Fund Speaker Silver and ENCON Chair Sweeney Say Assembly Budget Provides Environmental Benefits Across the State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Environmental Conservation Committee Chair Robert K. Sweeney today announced the Assembly SFY 2014-15 Budget would provide $167 […]
Read MoreNew fossil species: Origin of toothed whale echolocation
A new fossil species, Cotylocara macei, shows evidence of echolocation and the complex anatomy underlying this unique behavior that has evolved in toothed whales, dolphins and porpoises. “Its dense bones and air sinuses would have helped this whale focus its vocalizations into a probing beam of sound, which likely helped it find food at night […]
Read MoreSustainable urban lawns
Concern for the homogenization of America’s urban landscape prompted a recent research study into the care and maintenance of residential landscapes. The study demonstrated fewer similarities than expected but the concern, according to researchers is that “Lawns not only cover a larger extent [of land] than any other irrigated ‘crop’ in the U.S., but are […]
Read MoreConservationists catch wild Sumatran rhino, raising hope for world’s most endangered rhinoceros
Conservationists have succeeded in catching a wild Sumatran rhino in the Malaysia state of Sabah in Borneo, according to local media reports. Officials are currently transferring the rhino, an unnamed female, to a rhino sanctuary in Tabin National Park where experts will attempt to mate it with the resident male, Tam. The Sumatran rhino (Dicerorhinus […]
Read MoreAncient Whale Fossils Reveal Early Origin of Echolocation
An ancient whale fossil unearthed in Charleston, S.C., suggests that cetaceans evolved the ability to echolocate their prey very early on in evolution.
Read MoreWater Conservation Request (City of Lethbridge)
(Source: City of Lethbridge) March 12 UPDATE at 10:15 a.m. The conditions of the river are changing rapidly and we are now in a water emergency and urging residents to reduce water usage to essential use only. The quick melt is causing high turbidity in the river making the water extremely difficult to treat at […]
Read MoreEU hears concerns about marine mammals over the disturbance of seismic surveys (IFAW – International Fund for Animal Welfare)
(Source: IFAW – International Fund for Animal Welfare) Conservationists including the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW – www.ifaw.org), OceanCare (www.oceancare.org) and NRDC (www.nrdc.org) welcome today’s vote in the European Parliament to make underwater noise pollution related to oil exploration subject to Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA). “The revised Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive is far […]
Read MorePew Awards Shark Scientist Demian Chapman the 2014 Fellowship in Marine Conservation (Pew Environment Group – EU Marine Programme of the Pew Environment Group)
(Source: Pew Environment Group – EU Marine Programme of the Pew Environment Group) City Stonybrook State / Country NY Project to use genetic testing to track global shark fin trade Demian Chapman, Ph.D., a scientist with Stony Brook University’s School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, has been awarded a 2014 Pew fellowship in marine conservation […]
Read MoreGov. Nixon nominates J. Kent Emison to Conservation Commission (Missouri Department of Conservation)
(Source: Missouri Department of Conservation) Published on: Mar. 12, 2014 Posted by JEFFERSON CITY-Governor Jeremiah W. “Jay” Nixon has nominated J. Kent Emison, D-Higginsville, to serve on the Missouri Conservation Commission….
Read MorePew Awards Chilean Scientist Stefan Gelcich the 2014 Fellowship in Marine Conservation (Pew Environment Group – EU Marine Programme of the Pew Environment Group)
(Source: Pew Environment Group – EU Marine Programme of the Pew Environment Group) City Santiago State / Country Chile Press Kit: All photos credit: Social ecological research lab, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile Project to coordinate fishermen to establish no-take zones in Chilean waters Stefan Gelcich, Ph.D., an assistant professor at the Pontifica Universidad Catolica […]
Read MorePew Awards Malaysian Mammal Scientist the 2014 Fellowship in Marine Conservation (Pew Environment Group – EU Marine Programme of the Pew Environment Group)
(Source: Pew Environment Group – EU Marine Programme of the Pew Environment Group) City Kuala Lumpur State / Country Malaysia Project will focus on understanding dugong ecology for conservation of its habitat Louisa Shobhini Ponnampalam, Ph.D., a scientist with the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and co-founder of grassroots NGO, The MareCet Research […]
Read MorePew Awards Author Paul Greenberg the 2014 Fellowship in Marine Conservation (Pew Environment Group – EU Marine Programme of the Pew Environment Group)
(Source: Pew Environment Group – EU Marine Programme of the Pew Environment Group) City New York City State / Country Ney York Project will result in new book about intersection of nutrition and ocean sustainability Paul Greenberg-an award-winning journalist and author of the New York Times bestseller, Four Fish: The Future of the Last Wild […]
Read MorePew Awards Scientist Hoyt Peckham the 2014 Fellowship in Marine Conservation (Pew Environment Group – EU Marine Programme of the Pew Environment Group)
(Source: Pew Environment Group – EU Marine Programme of the Pew Environment Group) City La Paz State / Country Mexico Project to focus on sustainable community fisheries in Mexico’s waters Hoyt Peckham, Ph.D., a pioneer of incentivizing artisanal fishing to advance marine stewardship based in La Paz, México, has been awarded a 2014 Pew fellowship […]
Read MoreDEC Classifies Big Indian Acquisition to Enhance Recreational Opportunities and Protect Forested Lands (New York State Department of Environmental Conservation)
(Source: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation) For Release: Wednesday, March 12, 2014 The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has completed a classification process for 930 acres of recently-acquired Forest Preserve lands in the Catskill Park, DEC Commissioner Joseph Martens announced today. The property, part of a larger tract of land […]
Read MoreFragile corners of the state to be saved for wildlife emblems
Leadbeater’s possum and the helmeted honeyeater (inset) will be the chief beneficiaries. Photo: Justin McManus One of Victoria’s most precious and fragile patches of the environment, home for two of the state’s endangered animal emblems, will be protected in a new conservation network. As part of efforts to restore flagging forest habitat, the…
Read MoreWest Marine Seeks Applicants for $30,000 in Marine Conservation Grants (West Marine Inc)
(Source: West Marine Inc) Marine Grant Program Open Now Through May 1; Winners to be Announced on World Oceans Day, June 8 WATSONVILLE, Calif., March 12, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In support of its ongoing efforts to improve and conserve the marine environment, West Marine is seeking applications for Marine Conservation Grants. Five to ten […]
Read MoreLCV Statement on Senator Brian Schatz’s Leadership Following All-Night Climate Speeches in the Senate (LCV – League of Conservation Voters)
(Source: LCV – League of Conservation Voters) LCV Statement on Senator Brian Schatz’s Leadership Following All-Night Climate Speeches in the Senate FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jeff Gohringer, (202)…
Read MoreDEM Announces Availability of Up to $5 Million in Open Space Grants for Land Preservation Projects (State of Rhode Island)
(Source: State of Rhode Island) Press Releases DEM Announces Availability of Up to $5 Million in Open Space Grants for Land Preservation Projects PROVIDENCE – The Department of Environmental Management is now accepting applications from municipalities, land trusts, and non-profit land conservation organizations for Rhode Island Local Open Space Matching Grants. A total of up […]
Read MoreLCV Statement on Senator Ben Cardin’s Leadership Following All-Night Climate Speeches in the Senate (LCV – League of Conservation Voters)
(Source: LCV – League of Conservation Voters) LCV Statement on Senator Ben Cardin’s Leadership Following All-Night Climate Speeches in the Senate FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jeff Gohringer, (202) 454-4573…
Read MoreLCV Statement on Senator Cory Booker’s Leadership Following All-Night Climate Speeches in the Senate (LCV – League of Conservation Voters)
(Source: LCV – League of Conservation Voters) LCV Statement on Senator Cory Booker’s Leadership Following All-Night Climate Speeches in the Senate FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jeff Gohringer, (202)…
Read MoreLCV Statement on Senator Angus King’s Leadership Following All-Night Climate Speeches in the Senate (LCV – League of Conservation Voters)
(Source: LCV – League of Conservation Voters) LCV Statement on Senator Angus King’s Leadership Following All-Night Climate Speeches in the Senate FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jeff Gohringer, (202)…
Read MoreSwimming sloths with aquatic adaptations
One group of sloths made the quite unlikely shift to water, possibly because of a drying environment in the Miocene. This clever paper shows how they coped with a marine life, just like early whales, by adapting their bone compactness. Our pygmy sloths on the Panamanian island of Isla Escudo de Veraguas are the most […]
Read MoreChimpanzees Can Play Video Games Better Than Kindergartners
Chimps played more efficiently than human gamers.
Read More“Smart economic benefits for all with new grape assessments” (WGGA – Winegrape Growers’ Australia)
(Source: WGGA – Winegrape Growers’ Australia) ED blog Introducing a new standard of assessing winegrape quality by sets of objective measurements will result in smart economic benefits for all quarters of the local wine industry. It could be the next great innovative leap forward for Australian wine and represents a win-win-win situation in the Australian […]
Read MoreNew release of modular type multi air conditioning system for buildings “AIRSTAGE” VR-II (cooling and heating simultaneous operation type) for China (Fujitsu General Ltd)
(Source: Fujitsu General Ltd) Enhancing energy-saving performance and work flexibility (4 outdoor unit models・19 combinations/68 indoor unit models) Our company will release modular-type multi air conditioning system for buildings “AIRSTAGE” VR-II series (10/12/14/16 HP, cooling and heating simultaneous operation type) realizing high energy-saving performance and enhancing work flexibility for China from March. In recent years, […]
Read MoreCaptive bred whio to be released back into wild (Department of Conservation of New Zealand)
(Source: Department of Conservation of New Zealand) The Battle for our Birds continues with the release of more than 30 captive bred whio back into the wild over the next week. The whio is the unique native duck only found in New Zealand’s fast flowing waters. Genesis Energy and the Department of Conservation (DOC) have partnered […]
Read MoreFeral cats a growing health concern
A coalition of more than 200 groups which include various bird and wildlife conservation organizations and animal rights groups are calling on Secretary Sally Jewell of the Department of Interior to take action to reduce mortality to wildlife populations on public lands stemming from the nation’s ever-increasing population of feral cats. The group brings evidence […]
Read MoreChimpanzees Exhibit Broad Range of Empathy by Yawning
Through yawns, chimpanzees exhibit a flexibility in their capacity for empathy that’s similar to humans’, according to new research.
Read MoreChimps Trust Some People More Than Other Chimps
Chimpanzees who are treated well by people trust and show more empathy for humans more than they do baboons and unfamiliar chimps.
Read MoreProfessor Michael Akam receives the Frink Medal
This is the Society’s highest award and is for “significant and original contributions by a professional zoologist to the development of zoology in the wider applications”. The Head of the Department of Zoology, Professor Michael Akam, has been awarded the Frink Medal by the Zoological Society of London. Michael Akam Department of Zoology School […]
Read MoreProfessor Michael Akam (Department of Zoology) receives the Frink Medal
This is the Society’s highest award and is for “significant and original contributions by a professional zoologist to the development of zoology in the wider applications”. The Head of the Department of Zoology, Professor Michael Akam, has been awarded the Frink Medal by the Zoological Society of London. Michael Akam Department of Zoology School […]
Read MoreEmpathy chimpanzees offer is key to understanding human engagement
New findings show that chimpanzees exhibit flexibility in their empathy, just as humans do. This may help explain the evolution of how and when humans engage with others and choose to offer flexibility, and how we can do so more.
Read MoreScientists spy on whales from space
Although whales are the biggest animals on the planet, scientists have found in difficult to count them. But a new study in PLOS ONE may change this: researchers tested the idea of counting whales using high resolution satellite imagery. Employing a single image from the WorldView2 satellite, scientists went about counting a pod of southern […]
Read MoreSupergene defines butterfly patterns
Scientists have discovered the gene enabling multiple female morphs that give the Common Mormon butterfly its very tongue-in-cheek name. Doublesex, the gene that controls gender in insects, is also a mimicry supergene that determines diverse wing patterns in this butterfly, according to a recent study published in Nature. The study also shows that the supergene […]
Read MoreBright colors in nature a sure sign of toxicity—or is it?
Brightly colored prey generally signify danger in the form of toxins for the predator. Predators instinctively know that a brightly colored prey is a sign of bad news and not a suitable meal. Researchers at Michigan State University however are exploring how this evolved and in the process found some animals have actually only imitated […]
Read MoreElephants Can Tell Gender, Ethnicity in Human Voices
African elephants can differentiate between human languages and move away from those considered a threat.
Read MorePersonality predicts social learning in wild monkeys: Bold or anxious baboons learn to solve tasks from other baboons
Baboons learn from other baboons about new food sources — but only if they are bold or anxious. The results suggest that personality plays a key role in social learning in animals, something previously ignored in animal cognition studies. Researchers examined how personality influenced whether baboons solved foraging tasks and whether they then demonstrated to […]
Read MoreTo boldly go – how personality predicts social learning in baboons
Working with a well-studied group of baboons in the Namibian desert, Dr Alecia Carter of the Department of Zoology set baboons learning tasks involving a novel food and a familiar food hidden in a cardboard box. Some baboons were given the chance to watch another baboon who already knew how to solve the task, while […]
Read MoreFlorida Wildlife Officials Release Rehabilitated Panther [Video]
Biologists with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) released a female panther Monday. The female panther was injured after being hit by a motor vehicle in Collier County last May.
Read MoreElephants recognise human voices
Elephants can work out ethnicity, gender and age from the sound of a human voice
Read MoreImpersonating poisonous prey: Evolution of interspecific communication
Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery — especially in the predator/prey/poison cycle. In nature, bright colors are basically neon signs that scream, ‘Don’t eat me!’ But how did prey evolve these characteristics? When did predators translate the meaning?
Read MoreDoes haze from burning forests affect marine life?
Two scientists are calling on researchers, NGOs, and governments to begin studying the impact of burning forests and peatlands in Indonesia on the already-threatened marine ecosystems of Southeast Asia. Every year, Indonesian farmers set forests, vegetation, and peatlands alight to clear them for agriculture, often palm oil, and pulp and paper plantations. Not only do […]
Read MoreProtecting species in Canada
Of 345 species at risk in Canada, more than 160 have waited far too long for recovery strategies. Thanks to a recent federal court decision, four luckier ones are finally getting overdue plans detailing steps needed to save and protect them, including identifying habitat they need to survive. But to make it happen, environmental groups […]
Read MoreFarm salmon pose clear reproductive threat to wild gene pools, researchers say
While farmed salmon are genetically different to their wild counterparts, they are just as fertile. This is important information because millions of farmed salmon escape into the wild — posing threats to wild gene pools. The research team of a new study says farmed salmon should be sterilized to protect wild gene pools.
Read MoreSalmon louse delay salmon returning to spawn
Outbreaks of salmon louse during smolt migration reduce the survival rate of the smolt and mean that salmon spend longer at sea before returning to spawn. The mortality rate among migrating smolt as a result of salmon louse corresponds to previous findings both abroad and in Norway, including over a longer time period in the […]
Read MoreTuscany’s ‘badlands’ acutely endangered
Vast fields of sunflowers, sprawling pine trees and slim cypresses, as well as vineyards as far as the eye can see — these are typical memories of Tuscany for all those who have been there. By contrast, a group of researchers is interested in the more barren aspects of the region in Central Italy: In […]
Read MoreSecond Annual Be Cruelty-Free Week Launches in 12 Countries
The global Be Cruelty-Free campaign to end animal testing for cosmetics launches its second annual Be Cruelty-Free Week with an infographic providing the tools to take action, the support of actress, dancer and former model Jenna Dewan Tatum, a video featuring cruelty-free beauty bloggers and a special promotion with Vegan Cuts.
Read MoreKentucky Becomes Eighth State to Ban Cruel Veal Crates
— In a move applauded by The HSUS, the Kentucky Livestock Care Standards Commission has issued rules that will prohibit the confinement of calves used for veal in crates so small, the animals are largely immobilized for their short lives.
Read MoreSterilise farmed salmon to save wild species, critics say
Farmed salmon escaping into rivers and the sea are posing such a threat to declining wild populations that sterilisation should be compulsory, researchers have concluded.
Read More‘Tree of life’ distances are no shortcut to conservation
Some conservation strategies assume that the evolutionary distances between species on a phylogenetic ‘tree of life’ (a branching diagram of species popularized by Charles Darwin) can be used to predict how diverse their biological features will be. These distances are then used to select which species to conserve in order to maximize interesting biological features […]
Read MoreIn grasslands remade by humans, animals may protect biodiversity: Grazers let in the light, rescue imperiled plants
A study of grasslands on six continents suggests a way to counteract the human-made overdose of fertilizer that threatens the biodiversity of the world’s prairies. The solution originates in nature: let grazing animals crop fast growing grasses, which have a competitive advantage in an over-fertilized world. The grasses block sunlight from ground level, but herbivores […]
Read MoreElephants Alert Group to Human Presence with Unique Alarm Call [VIDEO]
Elephants trumpet a low, rumbling alarm call specifically when they detect approaching humans, according to new research from wildlife biologists working in Africa.
Read MoreCalifornia bill would ban orca shows, captive breeding
SANTA MONICA, California (Reuters) – A California lawmaker introduced a bill on Friday to ban live performances and captive breeding of killer whales in the state, a measure that would force the SeaWorld San Diego marine theme park to end is popular “Shamu” shows.
Read MoreTension escalates over hunting of pregnant bison outside Yellowstone
SALMON, Idaho (Reuters) – Angered by the killing of pregnant bison outside Yellowstone National Park, a Native American tribal member tried to deliver a bloody bison heart to Montana’s governor this week, the latest skirmish over the management of the iconic animal.
Read MoreCosta Rica opposition group says to scrap 2021 carbon neutrality target
SAO PAULO (Reuters) – Costa Rica’s leading opposition group, PAC, expected to win a four-year presidential term next month, will drop the country’s commitment to carbon neutrality by 2021, an official said.
Read MoreCalifornia bill would ban orca shows, captive breeding
SANTA MONICA, California (Reuters) – The SeaWorld San Diego marine theme park would be required to end its popular live performances of killer whales under legislation proposed on Friday, which would also ban captive breeding, imports and exports of orcas in California.
Read MoreGreat Lakes ice cover among worst in 40 years: U.S. agency
CLEVELAND (Reuters) – The Great Lakes saw some of their worst ice cover in nearly four decades because of a frigid winter with months of below-freezing temperatures in large sections of the northern United States, the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration said.
Read MoreResearch on 3-D scaffolds sets new bar in lung regeneration
For the estimated 12.7 million people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, the third leading cause of death in the U.S., innovative research efforts in the field of tissue regeneration hold promise. In end-stage lung disease, transplantation is sometimes the only viable therapeutic option, but organ availability is limited and rejection presents an additional challenge. New […]
Read MoreNew class of antibiotics discovered by chemists
A new class of antibiotics to fight bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and other drug-resistant bacteria that threaten public health has been discovered by a team of chemists. The new class, called oxadiazoles, was discovered in silico (by computer) screening and has shown promise in the treatment of MRSA in mouse models of infection. […]
Read MorePersonalized treatment prolongs the life of lung cancer patients
Mexican scientists have increased survival rates for patients diagnosed with lunch cancer in metastatic stage (when the disease has spread to different parts of the body) from a rate of nine months of survival to 30 with personalized treatments. Tumor tissue samples were used to extract DNA in order to analyze mutations in the neoplasia […]
Read MoreOver demanding market affects fisheries more than climate change
Fisheries that rely on short life species, such as shrimp or sardine, have been more affected by climate change, because this phenomenon affects chlorophyll production, which is vital for phytoplankton, the main food for both species.
Read MoreChevron’s U.S. win in Ecuador case looms over cases elsewhere
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Ecuadorean villagers who are trying to get billions of dollars from Chevron Corp for pollution in the Amazon jungle are ready to refocus their fight on pending suits in other countries after a setback in the United States.
Read MoreNew England has environmental concerns over Canada oil sands
BOSTON (Reuters) – A decision by Canadian regulators to let pipeline company Enbridge pump oil sands into Quebec has environmental activists and politicians worried the oil could eventually spill into the neighboring New England region of the United States.
Read MoreWhy We Should Quit Tossing Fish Heads And Eat ‘Em Up Instead. Yum!
If you really want to fight food waste, eat fish heads, the U.N. says. They’re nutritious and delicious, but most fish heads get thrown back in the sea as trash or turned into livestock feed. » E-Mail This
Read MoreWhen two (or more) species go to war: The 10 most amazing animal battles ever recorded
1. Walrus vs polar bear
Read MoreWhen two (or more) species go to war: The 12 most amazing animal battles ever recorded
1. Walrus vs polar bear
Read MoreCape Cod Dolphin Stranding Leaves One Dead, Four Rescued [VIDEO]
One dolphin died and another four were rescued and released back to sea Thursday after they became stranded along the coast of Provincetown Harbor in Cape Cod, Mass.
Read MoreNew study of proteins in space could yield better understanding, new drug development
Innovative methods of drug discovery don’t always take place in an academic laboratory. They may start there, but they can also happen in orbit aboard the International Space Station, as protein crystallization research is about to demonstrate once again.
Read MoreService is key to winery sales
To buy, or not to buy? That is the question for the more than 5 million annual visitors to New York’s wineries. Researchers found that customer service is the most important factor in boosting tasting room sales, but sensory descriptions of what flavors consumers might detect were a turn-off.
Read MoreNew theory on cause of endometriosis
Changes to two previously unstudied genes are the centerpiece of a new theory regarding the cause and development of endometriosis, a chronic and painful disease affecting one in 10 women. The discovery suggests epigenetic modification, a process that enhances or disrupts how DNA is read, is an integral component of the disease and its progression.
Read MoreLargest US grocery stores say ‘no’ to GMO salmon
The two largest grocery stores in the United States, Kroger and Safeway, have promised to not sell GMO salmon. Over 9,000 stores nationwide have now committed to being free of the controversial fish.
Read MoreBadgers Can Carry Tuberculosis Across Great Distances, Study Finds
European badgers make rare, long-distance moves than can contribute to the spread of bovine tuberculosis, or bTB, according to a new study.
Read MoreClear through the haze for marine ecosystems in Southeast Asia
The unprecedented high levels of transboundary haze in Southeast Asia last year prompted Dr. Zeehan Jaafar, a lecturer at the Department of Biological Sciences at the National University of Singapore Faculty of Science, and Dr. Tse-Lynn Loh, a postdoctoral research associate at the Daniel P. Haerther Center for Conservation and Research, John G. Shedd Aquarium […]
Read MoreSeaWorld San Diego killer whale shows could end if new legislation passes
A US lawmaker in California has proposed legislation to stop killer whales performing at shows in the popular marine mammal park SeaWorld, in San Diego.
Read MoreEmerging multi-drug resistant infections lack standard definition, treatment
Infection control practices for detecting and treating patients infected with emerging multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria vary significantly between hospitals. A study including a consortium of more than 200 hospitals found this inconsistency could be contributing to the increase in multidrug-resistant bacteria.
Read MoreHospital food safety measures reduce risk of contaminated hospital food
A new study found more than 80 percent of raw chicken used in hospitals in food for patients and staff was contaminated with a form of antibiotic resistant bacteria called extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing E. coli. While sufficient preparation eliminated the presence of bacteria, poultry meat delivered to hospital kitchens remains a potential point of entry […]
Read MoreCalifornia Orca Welfare Bill Would Stop Killer Whale Shows at SeaWorld
Riding a wave of momentum built by the 2013 documentary “Blackfish,” a California lawmaker will propose a bill Friday that would ban SeaWorld from using killer whales (orca) at shows in its San Diego theme park.
Read MoreTeen Elephant Moms Die Younger But Have Larger Families
Among Asian elephants, teen moms die young but grow up to have larger families, according to a new study by University of Sheffield biologists.
Read MoreLocal knowledge sheds light on some of the world’s strangest mammals
One of the difficulties of studying rare and endangered species is that they are, by definition, hard to find. Scientists attempting to understand their distributions and the threats to their survival can spend hundreds of hours in the field while collecting little data, simply because sightings are so few and far between.
Read MoreGenome of sesame sheds new light on oil biosynthesis
Researchers have successfully cracked the genome of high oil content crop sesame, providing new lights on the important stages of seed development and oil accumulation, and potential key genes for sesamin production.
Read MoreEpigenetic changes could explain type 2 diabetes
People with type 2 diabetes have epigenetic changes on their DNA that healthy individuals do not have. This has been shown in a major study by researchers who also found epigenetic changes in a large number of genes that contribute to reduced insulin production. “This shows that the risk of developing type 2 diabetes is […]
Read MoreUV light accelerates cancer cells that creep along outside of blood vessels
Deadly skin cancer (melanoma) cells spread by creeping along the outside of blood vessels: extravascular metastatic migration (EVMM). Ultraviolet light exposure accelerates EVMM in a mouse model, new research has found. Now researchers are targeting new drugs that slow or stop EVMM, potentially reducing the death rate from melanoma.
Read MoreArctic sea ice melting one warm river at a time
A new NASA study finds that warmer than normal waters from rivers draining into the Arctic Ocean each summer are eating away at the sea ice in the Arctic Ocean. Led by Son Nghiem of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., the research team used satellite data to measure the surface temperature of the […]
Read MoreNext big idea in forest conservation? Privatizing conservation management
Is it possible to equitably divide the planet’s resources between human and non-human societies? Can we ensure prosperity and rights both to people and to the ecosystems on which they rely? In the island archipelago of Indonesia, these questions become more pressing as the unique ecosystems of this global biodiversity hotspot continue to rapidly vanish […]
Read MoreTeen elephant mothers die younger but have bigger families
Asian elephants that give birth as teenagers die younger than older mothers but raise bigger families during their lifetime, according to new research.
Read MoreEurope’s largest badger study finds rare long-distance movements
European badgers can make journeys of more than 20km — distances longer than previously thought –- researchers have found. The study could help design more effective interventions to reduce the spread of bovine tuberculosis between badger populations, something that is essential if transmission to cattle is to be controlled.
Read MoreEffective thermal insulation with wood foam
Insulation materials of tomorrow must be both efficient and environmentally friendly. Scientists are developing insulation foam made from wood that could re- place petrochemical plastics in the long term.
Read MoreQuicker and cheaper toxicity checking of mussels
A new discovery can make it far easier to check whether mussels have gone bad. Poisonous mussels contain the extremely dangerous and paralyzing neurotoxin saxitoxin. This neurotoxin is the cause of paralytic shellfish poisoning. The first symptoms include numbness in the mouth and lips, spreading to the face and neck. Then, the discomforts come in […]
Read MoreUrgent need to study impacts of biomass burning and haze on marine ecosystems in Southeast Asia
Crop residue and forests are burnt in many tropical countries to clear land for agriculture. In Indonesia, annual biomass burning activities cause a widespread smoke-haze phenomenon that affects human health, quality of life and incomes locally and in neighboring countries. While the impacts of these large-scale burning on terrestrial and atmospheric habitats are immediate and […]
Read MoreRed and Processed Meat May Lead to Stomach Cancer
A study in the American Journal of Gastroenterology followed nearly 500,000 older U.S. adults and found that the risks of cancer were relatively greater among those who ate a large amount of red meat. However, a recent review underlines the uncertainties in the scientific evidence and suggests that further research is needed to resolve these […]
Read MoreVIDEO: Restoring peat bogs to prevent floods
Roger Harrabin looks how the Exmoor peat bogs are being restored to help soak up water – preventing it running off into rivers and causing flooding further downstream.
Read MoreSan Marino: Tiny State, Big Baggage
The trial of a former head of state has brought unwanted media attention on the often overlooked San Marino, the world’s oldest Republic. The nation, which is already reeling from the financial crisis, is not amused.
Read MorePope John Paul II’s Canonization: The Making of a Miracle
Pope John Paul II will be canonized in April. A woman from Costa Rica experienced a stunning recovery from a brain aneurysm after praying to the late pontiff. Her story provides a unique look at the Vatican’s miracle workshop.
Read MoreThe Spitzenkandidats: EU Parliament Elections Become Explosive
With European Parliament elections scheduled for May, the European Commission is set to get a new president. Some member states have growing concerns about the frontrunners — and now tempers are getting heated.
Read MoreTree storm damage ‘worst since 1987′
This winter’s extreme winds caused the biggest loss of trees in in more than 20 years, according to the National Trust.
Read MoreIlluminating Cambridge worldwide
The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge has been granted £87,582 by Arts Council England to allow greater permanent access to its collections of illuminated manuscripts through a new digital resource. The Digital Layers online archive will explore a wealth of images using layer and zooming techniques inspired by internet mapping tools to show the historical, cultural and scientific […]
Read MoreSir Ranulph Fiennes steps in to help save Captain Scott’s polar negatives for the nation
Due to the overwhelming level of public support and assistance from public bodies and charities, The Scott Polar Research Institute has already raised a fifth of the purchase price of £275,000 in just six weeks. Following careful negotiation, the vendors have agreed to extend the original deadline for the sale of these historic images. The […]
Read MoreSeeking Energy Independence, Europe Faces Heated Fracking Debate
To stay competitive, Europeans need cheaper natural gas but they also need to be less dependent upon Russia. They’re looking at fracking as a solution, but opponents have environmental concerns. » E-Mail This
Read MoreWest Virginia Legislature Passes the Dangerous Wild Animal Act
The West Virginia legislature has passed House Bill 4393, to prohibit the private possession of dangerous wild animals. The bill, which was introduced by Del. Randy Swartzmiller, D-1, passed the House by a 72 to 23 vote and the Senate by a 22 to 11 vote. The bill now heads to the Governor.
Read MoreTeenage elephant mums ‘are fitter’
Elephants that give birth as teenagers die younger, but are fitter than mothers that delay, scientists say.
Read MoreTeenage elephant mums ‘are fitter’
Elephants that give birth as teenagers die younger, but are fitter than mothers that delay, scientists say.
Read MoreTaking the war out of global warming
Are climate “sceptics” ready to accept more of the science?
Read More‘Careless farming adding to floods’
The UK government is discussing new rules to stop farmers contributing to flooding through poor land management.
Read MoreMalaria ‘spreading to new altitudes’
Warmer temperatures are causing malaria to spread in the African and South American highlands, traditionally havens from the disease, scientists say.
Read MoreCowboy ‘trick rope physics’ revealed
A French scientist has unravelled a formula for trick roping, made famous in Western movies, to teach himself how to lasso like a cowboy.
Read MoreBirds display lateralization bias when selecting flight paths
Flocks of birds manage to navigate through difficult environments by individuals having predispositions to favor the left- or right-hand side. Researchers flew the budgerigars down a tunnel where they were met by an obstacle, and a choice of two paths to fly through. Sometimes the paths were of equal size, and sometimes one would be […]
Read MoreFertilizer in small doses yields higher returns for less money
Crop yields in the fragile semi-arid areas of Zimbabwe have been declining over time due to a decline in soil fertility resulting from mono-cropping, lack of fertilizer, and other factors. Researchers have evaluated the use of a precision farming technique called “microdosing,” its effect on food security, and its ability to improve yield at a low […]
Read MoreDeer feeding puts birds at risk, research shows
By comparing the fate of artificial nests close and far away from supplementary feeding sites located in the forest for ungulates, such as deer and wild boar, researchers found that those nests in the vicinity of feeding sites were depredated twice more. This “predation hotspot” effect extends far away from the feeding site itself: in […]
Read MoreFighting for survival in the gut: Unravelling the hidden variation in bacteria
Our intestines harbor an astronomical number of bacteria, around 100 times the number of cells in our body, known as the gut microbiota. These bacteria belong to thousands of species that co-exist, interact with each other and are key to our health. While it is clear that species imbalances may result in disease, it is […]
Read MoreNew mechanisms of oxidative stress regulation uncovered
A previously unrecognized feed-forward mechanism of reactive-oxygen-species regulation has been discovered. Regulation of oxidative stress is critical to cell survival. Oxidative stress occurs when a cell is not able to adequately remove reactive oxygen species (ROS), or reactive molecules that result from the metabolism of oxygen. To alleviate these toxically high levels of ROS, cells […]
Read MoreNational Briefing | South: North Carolina: Judge Orders Action at Ash Dumps
Duke Energy must act immediately to eliminate sources of groundwater contamination at its coal ash dumps, a judge said Thursday in a ruling that came from a complaint filed in 2012, before a massive spill from one of the utility’s plants coated 70 miles of the Dan River in toxic sludge this year.
Read MoreNine organizations in Nepal honored with WWF Leaders for a Living Planet Award.
WWF honoured the work of nine organizations in Nepal that played an instrumental role in achieving this second year of zero poaching through the WWF Leaders for a Living Planet award. The award was jointly presented by the president of WWF International Yolanda Kakabadse and the Director General of WWF International Jim Leape amidst a […]
Read MoreEPA chief says new U.S. energy rules won’t hobble business
HOUSTON (Reuters) – Carbon regulations can be crafted to help offset climate change without “shutting down business in its tracks,” U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy said at a major energy conference on Thursday.
Read MoreUpdates on Legal Rights for Nonhuman Animals
Since the Nonhuman Rights Project filed its first series of lawsuits in December, there have been several other initiatives to secure legal rights for nonhuman animals. Last week, for example, the mayor of Malibu signed a proclamation endorsing the right of cetaceans to bodily liberty, saying that: “… Whereas, whales and dolphins are known to […]
Read MoreReproduction Cycle Could be Manipulated to Save Endangered Iberian Lynx
The unparalleled longevity of a hormone-producing tissue in the Eurasian lynx could possibly be utilized to assist in the conservation of the endangered Iberian lynx, one of the most threatened wild cats on Earth.
Read MoreWarmer Temperatures Push Malaria to Higher Elevations
Researchers from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and the University of Michigan are reporting the first hard evidence that malaria creeps to higher elevations during warmer years and falls back down to lower altitudes when temperatures cool.
Read MoreChinese Superstar Lifts Ivory Cause Onto His Shoulders
Former NBA star Yao Ming is very famous in China, and he’s using his fame on behalf of conservation issues. Now a member of China’s parliament, Yao is calling for a ban on the sale of ivory in China. » E-Mail This
Read MoreKey connection
For more than a century, scientists have suggested that the best way to settle the debate about how phenotypic plasticity — the way an organism changes in response to environment — may be connected to evolution would be to identify a single mechanism that controls both. Harvard researchers say they have discovered just such a […]
Read MoreCrop Pests “Vastly Underestmated’ Warns Study
The number of different pests plaguing crops in the developing world may be vastly underestimated, contributing to severely reduced harvests in some of the world’s most important food-producing nations, say researchers.
Read MoreDuke ordered to stop groundwater pollution at North Carolina coal plants
(Reuters) – A North Carolina judge ruled on Thursday that Duke Energy Corp must immediately stop the sources of groundwater pollution at its 14 coal-fired power plants in the state.
Read MoreNorway’s pension fund continues to invest in coal companies destroying Indonesia’s forests
Norway’s massive sovereign wealth fund is continuing to invest in coal companies that are destroying forests in Indonesia despite divesting from forestry and plantation companies with poor environmental track records, reports the Rainforest Foundation Norway.
Read MoreFrom theory to deadly reality: malaria moving upslope due to global warming
Malaria is a global scourge: despite centuries of efforts to combat the mosquito-borne disease, it still kills between 660,000 to 1.2 million people a year, according to World Health Organization data from 2010. Astoundingly, experts estimate that around 300 million people are infected with the disease every year or about 4 percent of the world’s […]
Read MoreMarijuana’s anxiety relief effects: Receptors found in emotional hub of brain
Cannabinoid receptors, through which marijuana exerts its effects, have been found in a key emotional hub in the brain involved in regulating anxiety and the flight-or-fight response. This is the first time cannabinoid receptors have been identified in the central nucleus of the amygdala in a mouse model.
Read MoreDetailed picture created of membrane protein linked to learning, memory, anxiety, pain and brain disorders
The most detailed 3-D picture yet has been created of a membrane protein linked to learning, memory, anxiety, pain and brain disorders such as schizophrenia, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and autism. The mGlu1 receptor, which helps regulate the neurotransmitter glutamate, belongs to a superfamily of molecules known as G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). GPCRs sit in the cell […]
Read MoreWarmer temperatures push malaria to higher elevations
Researchers have debated for more than two decades the likely impacts, if any, of global warming on the worldwide incidence of malaria, a mosquito-borne disease that infects more than 300 million people each year. Now, ecologists are reporting the first hard evidence that malaria does — as had long been predicted — creep to higher […]
Read MorePeatlands biosphere reserve facing severe encroachment in Sumatra
An important reserve that contains a block of fast-dwindling lowland swamp forest in Riau Province is facing an onslaught of encroachment for illegal oil palm plantations, worsening choking haze in the region, reports Mongabay-Indonesia.
Read MoreVaccine holds promise against ovarian cancer
A novel approach to cancer immunotherapy — strategies designed to induce the immune system to attack cancer cells — may provide a new and cost-effective weapon against some of the most deadly tumors, including ovarian cancer and mesothelioma. Investigators from the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Vaccine & Immunotherapy Center report in the Journal of Hematology […]
Read MoreCombatting hospital-acquired infections with protein metal complex
A protein containing a metal complex for blue paint inhibits growth of a pathogenic bacterium through iron deprivation. Scientists have found a new method using an artificial metalloprotein (a protein that contains a metal) to inhibit the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria, which is a common bacterium that can cause diseases in humans and evolves […]
Read MoreHow Yosemite Keeps Its Bears’ Paws Off Campers’ Hamburgers
The park’s bears have developed a taste for human food, and that’s gotten them in big trouble. But efforts to teach campers to lock up food are helping solve the problem, a bear hair analysis shows. » E-Mail This
Read MoreClash with palm oil company leaves one indigenous community member dead in Sumatra
A member of the Suku Anak Dalam indigenous community was killed and five others were injured during a clash with security forces on an oil palm concession owned by PT Asiatic Persada in Sumatra, reports Mongabay-Indonesia. The incident occurred Wednesday evening in Bungku, Jambi.
Read MoreCommon mutation is culprit in acute leukemia relapse
Stem cell scientists have identified a mutation in human cases of acute lymphoblastic leukemia that likely drives relapse. The research could translate into improved patient care strategies for this particular blood cancer, which typically affects children but is more deadly in adults.
Read MoreEstablishing standards where none exist; researchers define ‘good’ stem cells
A set of 64 crucial parameters has been identified by researchers from more than 1,000 by which to judge stem cell-derived cardiac myocytes, making it possible, for perhaps the first time, for scientists and pharmaceutical companies to quantitatively judge and compare the value of the countless commercially available lines of stem cells.
Read MoreWarming temperatures are pushing two chickadee species — and their hybrids — northward
The zone of overlap between two popular, closely related backyard birds is moving northward at a rate that matches warming winter temperatures, according to a study. In a narrow strip that runs across the eastern U.S., Carolina Chickadees from the south meet and interbreed with Black-capped Chickadees from the north. The new study finds that […]
Read MoreBirds of all feathers and global flu diversity
Scientists have completed the first global inventory of flu strains in birds by reviewing more than 50 published studies and genetic data, providing new insight into the drivers of viral diversity and the emergence of disease that can ultimately impact human health and livelihoods.
Read MoreThe rise of spring allergies: Fact or fiction?
The spring 2014 allergy season could be the worst yet, or at least that is what you might hear. Every year is coined as being the worst for allergy sufferers, but are spring allergies really on the rise? “A number of factors, such as weather patterns, predict how intense the spring allergy season will be,” […]
Read MoreHierarchical differences
Women of different social or professional “ranks” within academic departments collaborate less than men do, according to a new Harvard study, suggesting that female full professors prefer to work on academic papers with other female full professors rather than assistant professors. When the pool was narrowed to women of the same rank, collaboration was equal […]
Read MoreQuality control
After more than a decade of sometimes incremental, sometimes paradigm-shifting advances in stem cell biology, most people with a basic understanding of life sciences know that stem cells are the basic form of cell from which all specialized cells, and eventually organs and body parts, derive. But what makes a “good” stem cell, one that […]
Read MoreMid-Flight Check-Up
A member of a WCS surveillance team prepares to release a whooper swan on a Mongolian lake, following sample collection and fitting of a neck collar. The check-up was part of ongoing health studies, examining avian flu strains in wild birds. Researchers identified 116 avian flu strains in wild birds, more than 10 times the […]
Read MoreWhither NATO?: Difficulties in the Trans-Atlantic Relationship
Revelations about NSA spying and an unequal sharing of military burdens has cast a recent shadow over the trans-Atlantic relationship. But NATO remains just as important as ever. It is time for all alliance members to recognize that fact.
Read MoreHigher levels of omega-3 in diet are associated with better sleep, study shows
Higher levels of omega-3 DHA, the group of long-chain fatty acids found in algae and seafood, are associated with better sleep, shows a randomized, placebo-controlled study. The study finds that higher blood levels of the long-chain omega-3 DHA (the main omega-3 fatty acid found in the brain) are significantly associated with better sleep, including less […]
Read More‘Most complete’ picture of gene expression in cancer cell cycle caught
Uncontrolled cell growth and division is a hallmark of cancer. Now a research project has provided the most complete description to date of the gene activity that takes place as human cells divide. Researchers have managed to gather data which details the behavior of protein molecules encoded by over 6000 genes in cancer cells, as […]
Read MoreCan the millions in urban India live among greenery?
Large swathes of wilderness alternating with pockets of urbanization may be a reality in some countries, but in India boundaries are soft. Where a city ends and where a village begins in its outskirts is somewhat fuzzy. Rapidly developing megacities like Bangalore and Pune, localities like Gurgaon outside New Delhi, have been subsuming surrounding villages […]
Read MoreThe Gospel of Matteo: Italy’s New Prime Minister Promises Radical Reform
New Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi is a neophyte on the national stage. But he has lofty ambitions nonetheless. A look back at his time as the mayor of Florence provides a glimpse of how he might run Italy.
Read MoreComputational tool offers new insight into key biological processes
Researchers have developed a computational tool designed to guide future research on biochemical pathways by identifying which components in a biological system are related to specific biochemical processes, including those processes responsible for gene expression, cell signaling, stress response, and metabolism.
Read MoreGenetic techniques have role in future of dental care
A visit to the dentist could one day require a detailed look at how genes in a patient’s body are being switched on or off, as well as examining their pearly whites, according to researchers. “In the case of oral health, epigenetic factors may help to orchestrate healthy and unhealthy states in our mouths. They […]
Read MoreGoing Bats: German Reunification Memorials Hit the Wall
Two monuments to East Germany’s peaceful revolution of 1989 were supposed to be unveiled in time for the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall this autumn. But due to a raft of obstacles, from roosting bats to technical challenges, neither project will be ready on time.
Read MoreDietary diversity: key to defending tropical ecosystems
A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) points to the homogenization of global diets over the past fifty years. It shows that worldwide production of traditional staples such as millet, rye, sorghum, yams and cassava have been in decline. Instead, the world’s population increasingly relies on a relatively […]
Read MoreNuclear submarine to get new core
HMS Vanguard is to be refuelled at a cost of £120m after low levels of radioactivity were discovered in the cooling waters of a submarine test reactor.
Read MoreGreat white shark’s epic ocean trek
A great white is about to make history as the first of its species to be seen crossing from one side of the Atlantic to the other.
Read MoreGreat white shark’s epic ocean trek
A great white is about to make history as the first of its species to be seen crossing from one side of the Atlantic to the other.
Read MoreGreening our oceans?
After the World Ocean Summit, the long term future is not assured. We can hope that the more positive nations move on aggressively, to combat those people and industries who would violently continue their unthinking habits. Some fishing and eating habits became obsolete when so many species, great and small, started to disappear © The […]
Read MoreImmune upgrade gives ‘HIV shielding’
Doctors have upgraded the immune system of 12 patients with HIV to help shield it from the virus’s onslaught.
Read MoreWonderful Creatures: meet the beetle-riding arachnid
Without wings, smaller terrestrial animals are really restricted when it comes to moving long distances to find new areas of habitat. However, lots of species get around this problem simply by clinging on to other, more mobile animals. The common, yet overlooked pseudoscorpions are among the most accomplished stowaways, one of which (Cordylochernes scorpiodes) has […]
Read MoreLaw Aims To Keep Chicago From Becoming Petcoke Dumping Ground
Midwest refineries are processing crude oil from Canada’s tar sands. Chicago officials voted to ban any new companies from storing petroleum coke in the city, and said existing companies can’t expand. » E-Mail This
Read MoreCanada Bans Lifelong Pig Confinement amid Global Concerns, U.S. Pork Industry Urged to Follow Suit
Canada will enact a national ban on perpetually confining breeding sows in gestation crates. The ban is included in the National Farm Animal Care Council’s new Codes of Practice for the Care and Handling of Pigs. As mandated by the Codes, “For all holdings newly built or rebuilt or brought into use for the first […]
Read MoreSeveral States Undermining Animal Welfare, Wasting Taxpayer Dollars, and Opposing States’ Rights by Joining in on Laying Hen Case
The decision by five states to join a lawsuit attacking a California animal welfare and food safety law may have far-reaching implications for a raft of state laws that protect agriculture and consumers.
Read MoreClue to earthquake lightning mystery
Mysterious lightning flashes that appear to precede earthquakes could be sparked by movements in the ground below, scientists say.
Read MoreCoal Firm to Pay Record Penalty and Spend Millions on Water Cleanup in 5 States
Alpha Natural Resources and 66 of its subsidiaries agreed to reduce pollution from coal mines in Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.
Read MoreCurrents: Rooms: Redoing a Nest for Bird-Watchers
An 18th-century farmhouse at the Norman Bird Sanctuary in Rhode Island has been refurbished for retreats.
Read MoreScientists blast Australian leader’s proposed ban on parks
A group of prominent scientists have blasted Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s pledge to oppose the creation of any new protected areas in Australia. The Alliance of Leading Environmental Researchers and Thinkers or ALERT, a coalition of conservation scientists, said Abbott is sending the wrong message to the world in promoting industrial logging over protection […]
Read MoreFast food companies are laggards on palm oil sourcing safeguards
Fast food companies are lagging behind other consumer products companies in efforts to establish policies that favor deforestation-free and conflict-free palm oil, finds a new assessment published by the Union of Concerned Scientists, an advocacy group. The report, titled ‘Donuts, Deodorant, Deforestation: Scoring America’s Top Brands on Their Palm Oil Commitments’, looked at palm oil […]
Read MoreFerocious dino was European giant
Portuguese scientists identify a dinosaur that may have been the largest predator ever to roam across the European landmass.
Read MoreFerocious dino was European giant
Portuguese scientists identify a dinosaur that may have been the largest predator ever to roam across the European landmass.
Read MoreGrasping with the eyes
It seems like big data is everywhere you look. And in a way, it is: Maps, medical scans, and weather charts are commonplace forms of data visualization. Each was examined during “Thinking with Your Eyes,” a two-day conference that brought together experts in the arts, sciences, humanities, and technology — as well as academic and […]
Read MoreProminence of Female Birdsong Challenges Evolutionary Theory
Male birds attract females with their lavish plumage and crooning birdsongs, but a new study suggests the birds are not singing to a mute audience. Seventy-one percent of female birds sing, too.
Read MoreWith Waste Dump Closed, Where To Put Nuclear Leftovers?
Workers are about to re-enter a New Mexico waste dump that was hit by a recent accident. The incident is shaping up to be yet another setback in the quest to find a home for America’s nuclear waste. » E-Mail This
Read MoreEven After The Floods, The Drought Continues
The storms that drenched California recently did little to combat one of the state’s worst droughts in a century. Farmers in California’s Central Valley say they need “Biblical proportions” of rain. » E-Mail This
Read MoreScientists uncover new species of Andean marsupial frog
The term marsupial frog sound like a hoax, but, believe it or not, it’s real. Recently, herpetologists welcomed a new species, known as Gastrotheca dysprosita and described in the journal Phyllomedusa. Unlike mammal marsupials, which typically carry their young in pouches on their torsos and are found primarily in Australia, the Gastrotheca genus of frogs, […]
Read MoreClimate Change for Dummies
I’ve read enough to know that much of the damage climate change will do is now irreversible, and that we’ve already gone over several tipping points. But when it comes to all the details and numbers – like parts per million of CO2 in the atmosphere, or what’s the name of that new greenhouse gas […]
Read MoreRhino with bullet in its brain and hacked off horn wanders for days before being put down
Last week, visitors in Kruger National Park came on a horrifying sight of the poaching trade: a rhino, still alive, with its horn and part of its face chopped off. The gruesome photo of the young rhino went viral and sent South African authorities scrambling. Five days after the sighting, South African National Parks (SANParks) […]
Read MoreFantastic ancient fauna precedes mammal evolution
Animals of unfamiliar as well as familiar types took up niches in the ancient ecosystems, as birds and mammals developed and, of course, feathered dinosaurs ruled the roost! © The Earth Times. Published on The Earth Times Related Articles Glaucus has a twin!International Day for Biodiversity – 22nd May 2013How did we first walk?The Neander […]
Read MoreFederal Ruling Grants Critical Habitat to Jaguars in Southwest US
More than 764,000 acres of land in southern Arizona and New Mexico has been federally designated as critical habitat for jaguars, which are endangered and rarely seen in the US.
Read MoreChipotle Says There’s No ‘Guacapocalypse’ Looming
Yes, climate change raises the risk that avocados will become extra pricey. But Chipotle says that news reports suggesting it could be forced to drop guacamole from the menu are vastly overstated. » E-Mail This
Read MoreRight-Wing Extremism: Germany’s New Islamophobia Boom
Across Germany, right-wing organizations are using anti-Islam rhetoric to further their ideas — and finding a receptive audience. Now legal experts are debating whether it’s time for a new kind of hate-crime legislation.
Read MoreFour Lion Cubs Born at National Zoo in DC [VIDEO]
Four lion cubs were born at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington D.C., the zoo announced Tuesday.
Read MoreThe price of gold: winners and losers in Latin America’s mining industry
On a Friday afternoon in June, the Plaza de Armas in Cajamarca is pulsing with life. It’s winter here, and although thick white clouds hover low in the distance, the sun in this northern Peruvian city is warm. Couples sit on benches facing one another. Kids run in the grass between flowerbeds. Men in suits […]
Read MoreClean Water Act protects Bristol Bay
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced last week that it is initiating a process under the Clean Water Act (CWA) to identify appropriate options to protect the world’s largest sockeye salmon fishery in Bristol Bay, Alaska, from the potentially destructive impacts of the proposed Pebble Mine!
Read MoreUkraine Crisis: EU Concerned about Cost of Sanctions on Russia
Russia’s aggression in Ukraine has set off plenty of bluster and aggressive rhetoric in Europe. But many EU member states are skittish about the potential dangers of imposing punitive economic measures on Moscow.
Read MoreBank Oversight: Europe Stressed by Approaching Stress Tests
Thousands of ECB auditors have begun examining the balance sheets of euro-zone banks. Stress tests are coming soon. With the European Central Bank in charge of oversight, many hope the EU’s financial industry will return to health. But there are risks.
Read MoreBiologists Use Tracking Devices to Uncover Early Life of Florida’s Loggerhead Turtles
Biologists have used small, solar powered tracking devices to find how Florida’s loggerhead turtles spend the first few years of their life. The study challenges few commonly held notions about the turtles’ infancy.
Read MoreGood news for Nepal’s wildlife after another year of no poaching
After Nepal making a commitment to protect the future of its magnificent and highly endangered species, it has once again succeeded and between February 2013 and February 2014, no rhino, tigers or elephants were poached in the country. Nepal has a history of success in the prevention of poaching, and another poaching-free year occurred in […]
Read MoreVIDEO: Australia’s ‘Big Dry’ a mounting crisis
Emergency relief is being provided for drought-hit famers in eastern Australia, as Phil Mercer reports.
Read MoreWind River Indian Reservation’s Borders Are Disputed
The borders have grown by about a million acres after a decision by the Environmental Protection Agency. Tribes see it as righting a historical wrong. The state is fighting the move. » E-Mail This
Read MoreSatellites track turtle ‘lost years’
Scientists using satellite tracking finally have some data on where very young loggerhead turtles go once they leave Florida and the Gulf of Mexico.
Read MoreSatellites track turtle ‘lost years’
Scientists using satellite tracking finally have some data on where very young loggerhead turtles go once they leave Florida and the Gulf of Mexico.
Read More“Odd little book” revealed to be Chinese musical gem
An obscure book, which was stored in Cambridge after travelling to Britain via a Hornblower-style Napoleonic naval adventure, has been identified centuries later as an exceptionally rare document of early Chinese music. According to experts in China, the small volume of musical scores may well be unique, and is a priceless resource for anyone interested […]
Read MoreArizona Voters Oppose Bill to Weaken Animal Cruelty Code
Polls show that Arizonans overwhelmingly oppose the proposal being considered by the Arizona legislature to reduce the state’s anti-cruelty protections for farm animals.
Read MoreColumbia Animal Rescue Organization Receives Lowell Fund Grant
A new training program for pit-bull type dogs will soon be available from Second Chance.
Read MoreCockfighting Bill Passes Utah House Committee
Legislation to upgrade Utah’s law on cockfighting passed the House Judiciary Committee with a vote of 7-2. SB 112, which now moves on for a full vote in the House, makes it a felony on the second offense to participate in the blood sport where two roosters fight each other to the death while people […]
Read MoreFederal Bill to End Cosmetics Testing on Animals Introduced in Congress
The Humane Cosmetics Act, a bill that would enhance worldwide momentum in ensuring animals are not harmed in the process of creating or manufacturing cosmetics, has been introduced by Congressman Jim Moran, D-VA.
Read MoreWhite House Recommends Removal of Horse Slaughter Funding in Proposed 2015 Budget
President Obama’s FY 2015 budget proposal includes a request for Congress to continue the prohibition on spending tax dollars to inspect horse slaughter plants. The ban—which is strongly supported by The Humane Society of the United States—prevents horses from being slaughtered in the U.S. for human consumption. A similar spending prohibition was put in place […]
Read MoreChicago Cracks Down on Puppy Mills
The Chicago City Council passed an ordinance to restrict the retail sale of dogs obtained from large-scale commercial breeders. Melanie Kahn, senior director of The Humane Society of the United States’ Stop Puppy Mills Campaign, issued the following statement:
Read MoreMainers to Vote on Inhumane and Unsporting Bear Hunting Practices
The Maine Secretary of State certified 63,626 signatures, giving voters an opportunity to end the cruel and unsporting practices of bear hounding, baiting and trapping in Maine
Read MoreVirginia House Prohibits Inhumane Fox Pens
The Virginia House of Delegates has passed legislation restricting inhumane fox pens. It will now go to the Senate for approval of the House amendments. The Humane Society of the United States’ Virginia State Director Laura Donahue issued the following statement in response:
Read MoreNational Briefing | Midwest: Great Lakes Rebound
The Army Corps of Engineers said Great Lakes water levels rebounded sharply last year after a prolonged low period dating from the late 1990s.
Read MoreFinding New Worlds in City’s Old Snow Piles
A polar geophysicist digs into New York City’s depressingly familiar snowpack to reveal a crystalline realm.
Read MoreNew bird family discovered in Asia
A unique family of birds containing just one species has been discovered by researchers.
Read MoreNew bird family discovered in Asia
A unique family of birds containing just one species has been discovered by researchers.
Read MoreShale gas estimate revised upwards
Cuadrilla’s shale gas resource is far bigger than previously thought, according to a geologist with the company.
Read MoreHow to become a penguin keeper
Dianne Lim, 53, works as a penguin keeper at the International Antarctic Centre in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Read MoreHow to become a penguin keeper
Dianne Lim, 53, works as a penguin keeper at the International Antarctic Centre in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Read More. . . Speaking of Photobombs
After posting about the lion who photobombed a visitor to Lion Park, I was reminded of a few other famous photobombs: The ray who bombed a seaside trip. The sloth who bombed a student visit to Costa Rica. The gopher with two hikers in the Northwest. The cat with little respect for faces. … and […]
Read MoreGreenpeace stunt targets Procter & Gamble’s Cincinnati headquarters over palm oil
Several Greenpeace activists were arrested after they scaled Procter & Gamble’s headquarters in a demonstration against the company’s use of palm oil linked to deforestation in Indonesia.
Read MoreItaly acts to stop Pompeii collapse
The Italian government will unblock 2m euros (£1.6m) in emergency funding to save the ancient city of Pompeii, after rain caused walls to collapse.
Read MoreDNA Barcoding Give Clues about Extinct Moa Birds
Researchers have used DNA barcoding techniques to undertake a study of the moa, an iconic and extinct species of bird native to New Zealand.
Read MoreLion Photobombs Park Visitor
Lina Jek wanted her husband, Chris, to take a photo of her against the African savannah. But Chris, a wildlife photographer, got a more dramatic photo than either of them expected. At Lion Park in South Africa, you can walk among the lions until they’re eight months old, at which time they move to the […]
Read MoreVirus Locked In Siberian Ice For 30,000 Years Is Revived In Lab
A team of scientists says it has reawakened an ancient pathogen. It’s not dangerous to humans, but they warn that climate change could free potentially deadly organisms locked in permafrost. » E-Mail This
Read MoreAmazon trees ‘live fast, die young’
A “live fast, die young” life history strategy could have played a key role leading to the high tree diversity in the Amazon, scientists suggest.
Read MoreAmazon trees ‘live fast, die young’
A “live fast, die young” life history strategy could have played a key role leading to the high tree diversity in the Amazon, scientists suggest.
Read MoreNepal Cracks Down On Messy Everest Climbers
Authorities say that from now on, climbers on the world’s tallest peak will be expected to return 18 pounds of garbage on their way down or lose a $4,000 deposit. » E-Mail This
Read MoreHow France is disposing of its nuclear waste
Could UK emulate France’s approach to nuclear waste disposal?
Read MoreJavan rhino population jumps by over 10 percent
The Javan rhino population has increased by over ten percent from 2012 to last year, according to new figures released by Ujung Kulon National Park. Using camera traps, rangers have counted a total of 58 Javan rhinos, up from 51 in 2012. Although the species once roamed much of Southeast Asia, today it is only […]
Read MoreLost Animals: Extinction and the Photographic Record – book review
Lost Animals: Extinction and the Photographic Record reaches into your imagination and draws you closer to the final days of a variety of extinct animals on Earth. Lost Animals: Extinction and the Photographic Record is filled with poignant and powerful first-hand accounts, photographic records, and illustrations.
Read MoreArtificial heart patient dies
Where next for artificial hearts after death of French patient?
Read MoreEU vs. Moscow: Russia Tries to Woo Back Moldova
As Moldova prepares to sign an Association Agreement with the European Union, Russia is stepping up attempts to keep the country in its fold. It has found some willing helpers in the country.
Read MoreDot Earth Blog: Timber Thieves Threaten California’s Redwood Giants
Timber thieves force the nighttime closure of a road in a redwood refuge.
Read MoreNew magnetic material discovered
A highly sensitive magnetic material that could transform computer hard drives and energy storage devices has been discovered.
Read MoreAlzheimer’s in a dish
Harvard stem cell scientists have successfully converted skins cells from patients with early onset Alzheimer’s into the types of neurons that are affected by the disease, making it possible for the first time to study this leading form of dementia in living human cells. This may also make it possible to develop therapies more quickly […]
Read MoreWorld Ocean Summit Report 2014
How can we protect our coastal, oceanic and even little seas. As we don’t often travel on water nowadays, we need to figure just how ‘successful’ our various pollutions, fish consumptions and farming and of course the limited conservation efforts have been. © The Earth Times. Published on The Earth Times Related Articles The Big […]
Read MoreFederal Appeals Court Upholds Ohio Exotic Animal Law
An appeals court has upheld Ohio’s law restricting who can own exotic animals. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit affirmed a lower court ruling upholding the Ohio Dangerous Wild Animal Act.
Read MoreStudy shows kids eating more fruits, veggies
New federal standards launched in 2012 that require schools to offer healthier meals have led to increased fruit and vegetable consumption, according to a new study from Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) researchers. The study, the first to examine school food consumption both before and after the standards went into effect, contradicts criticisms that […]
Read MoreVariety of Projects Vying for Grants From $19.5 Million Oil Spill Fund
The first awards from the fund, part of a settlement between ExxonMobil and the state for a spill in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, are to be announced this week.
Read MoreUtility Cited for Violating Pollution Law in North Carolina
Duke Energy was charged with failing to obtain storm-water permits; it faces a similar action against its plant in Eden, N.C., where 39,000 tons of coal ash fouled the Dan River last month.
Read MoreFishy molecule ‘sets depth limit’
Scientists say it is unlikely that any fish can survive in the oceans deeper than about 8,200m.
Read MoreFishy molecule ‘sets depth limit’
Scientists say it is unlikely that any fish can survive in the oceans deeper than about 8,200m.
Read More‘Fewer crops’ now feeding the world
Fewer crop species are feeding the world than 50 years ago, raising concerns about the resilience and nutritional value of the global food system, a study says.
Read MoreBringing order to the court
Luke Bornn isn’t the coach of a top-flight NBA team, a general manager with an eye for talent, or an agent representing the next up-and-coming superstar. In fact, he’s only recently become a basketball fan. But Bornn, an assistant professor of statistics, is part of a team of Harvard researchers poised to rewrite the rules […]
Read MoreBioluminescence in Deep-Sea Fishes Breeds Species Diversity
Bioluminescence is used by deep-sea fishes to promote communications and mating in the open ocean, according to new research.
Read MorePython Devours Crocodile in Australia [VIDEOS]
An epic battle between a freshwater crocodile and an enormous water python in Queensland, Australia, ended with the snake completely devouring its opponent.
Read MoreInaugural World Wildlife Day Draws Praise from Top World Organizations
Today, March 3rd, as decreed by the United Nations last year, is the first World Wildlife Day.
Read MoreAmazon trees super-diverse in chemicals
In the Western Amazon—arguably the world’s most biodiverse region—scientists have found that not only is the forest super-rich in species, but also in chemicals. Climbing into the canopy of thousands of trees across 19 different forests in the region—from the lowland Amazon to high Andean cloud forests—the researchers sampled chemical signatures from canopy leaves and […]
Read MoreBird Strikes are an Unreported Threat to US Military Aircraft
US military aircraft face an under-assessed risk of collisions known as wildlife strikes, according to a new report in the Wildlife Society Bulletin.
Read MoreWorld Briefing: Climbing Mt. Everest? Nepal Says Bring Back Garbage
With an estimated 50 tons of trash left behind by climbers littering Mount Everest, Nepal declared that all climbers must carry down 18 pounds of garbage or face stiff penalties.
Read MoreDot Earth Blog: Global Warming Basics from the U.S. and British Science Academies
More basics from the leading science academies on what we know and don’t know about greenhouse gases and global warming.
Read MoreCOLLEGIATE CORNER: The faults of fracking
Hydraulic Fracturing is a process that sends pressurized liquid down to a target depth to fracture rock and draws out liquids, such as natural gas. This process is used to retrieve the gas from rock formations beneath the earth that were previously thought to be unsuitable for gas production (Helman) (Rao). Fracking is now being […]
Read MoreVIDEO: Penguins make Atlantic crossing
Mike Dilger travels to Texas to accompany a group of young Gentoo penguins making the trip across the Atlantic to their new home in Hull.
Read MoreVIDEO: Penguins make Atlantic crossing
Mike Dilger travels to Texas to accompany a group of young Gentoo penguins making the trip across the Atlantic to their new home in Hull.
Read MoreSnake eats crocodile after battle
A snake wins a lengthy battle with a crocodile in northern Queensland, wrestling it, constricting it and then finally eating it.
Read MoreE.P.A. Set to Reveal Tough New Sulfur Emissions Rule
The Environmental Protection Agency regulation would force oil refiners to strip sulfur out of American gasoline blends and automakers to install cleaner-burning engine technology.
Read MoreBusting the myths of animal sleep
Explore the facts about forty winks in the animal kingdom.
Read MoreBusting the myths of animal sleep
Explore the facts about forty winks in the animal kingdom.
Read MoreFirst images of unexplored deep sea
An expedition to the previously unexplored New Hebrides trench in the Pacific has revealed that giant eels and crustaceans teem thousands of metres beneath the waves.
Read MoreFirst images of unexplored deep sea
An expedition to the previously unexplored New Hebrides trench in the Pacific has revealed that giant eels and crustaceans teem thousands of metres beneath the waves.
Read MoreMajor step in preventing type 2 diabetes
An international team led by researchers at the Broad Institute and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), both Harvard affiliates, has identified mutations in a gene that can reduce the risk of individuals developing type 2 diabetes, even in people who have risk factors such as obesity and old age. The results focus the search for developing […]
Read MoreSenator Expresses Concerns About Nuclear-Waste Tanks
Ron Wyden of Oregon contends that even the newest and sturdiest of tanks at a Washington State site show some of the same construction problems as one that began leaking in late 2012.
Read MoreVirginia Senate Passes Pet Protection Bill
A bill to prevent domestic violence survivors from further endangering themselves and their children for the sake of their pets, passed the Virginia Senate on Thursday after five years of ongoing debate.
Read MoreNew York Will Consider Nonlethal Ways to Reduce Swan Population
After a backlash over a plan to euthanize the state’s population of the invasive birds, the agency will revise its approach.
Read MoreIn Rockaways, Infusion of Sand Will Soon Raise Beaches Hit by a Hurricane
This month, a contractor will start to dredge and spread 2.9 million cubic yards of sand on a six-mile strand in Queens.
Read MoreE.P.A. Says It Will Fight Mine Project in Alaska
The agency’s decision makes it unlikely that developers of the huge open-pit project in the Bristol Bay watershed will be able to proceed.
Read MoreRain in California Brings Relief, and New Problems
The downpours, as welcome as they were, will not rescue the state from its historically bad drought, officials said.
Read MoreAsh Spill Shows How Watchdog Was Defanged
North Carolina regulators say that under Gov. Pat McCrory, a weakened Department of Environment and Natural Resources has abandoned its regulatory role.
Read MoreLoving pets v loving animals
Roger Scruton says that loving a pet is not the same as loving wildlife or animals in general.
Read MoreLoving pets v loving animals
Roger Scruton says that loving a pet is not the same as loving wildlife or animals in general.
Read MoreBadger culls were ‘ineffective’
Analysis of last year’s pilot badger culls in Somerset and Gloucestershire has concluded they were ineffective and inhumane, the BBC understands.
Read MoreBadger culls were ‘ineffective’
Analysis of last year’s pilot badger culls in Somerset and Gloucestershire has concluded they were ineffective and inhumane, the BBC understands.
Read MoreMd. Senate Praised for Passage of Compromise Legislation for Maryland Dogs
The Maryland Senate unanimously passed legislation that will remedy a 2012 Court of Appeals ruling that deemed “pit bulls” to be “inherently dangerous.”
Read MoreWorkers at Nuclear Waste Site in New Mexico Inhaled Radioactive Materials
Thirteen night-shift workers at a burial site for nuclear weapons waste were affected, but how serious the risk was to their long-term health was uncertain.
Read MorePeter Rona, 79, Dies; Explorer Found Hot Springs on Ocean Floor
Discoveries made by Dr. Rona, a professor at Rutgers, piqued interest in deep-sea mining and the origins of life on earth.
Read MoreFrolick and Yap to solve climate change?
Could developing countries’ laws fix climate change?
Read MoreHigh-calorie feeding may slow progression of ALS
Increasing the number of calories consumed by patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) may be a relatively simple way of extending their survival. A phase 2 clinical trial led by physicians at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) found that ALS patients receiving a high-calorie, high-carbohydrate tube-feeding formula lived longer, and with fewer adverse events, than participants […]
Read MoreHow Earth was watered
Early Earth’s accidental deluge via water-carrying comets has long been a stumbling block for those interested in life on other planets. Scientists agree that life needs water to evolve. But if water only arrives through chance impacts with comets, then life elsewhere might indeed be rare. Water is common among the meteorites and other small […]
Read MoreIn pictures: Nature photography awards
The winning images in the Scottish Seabird Centre’s nature photography competition go on display.
Read MoreVirginia General Assembly Unanimously Passes Pet and Consumer Protection Legislation
Pet stores must inform customers about the source of their dogs, under a bill unanimously passed in the Virginia Senate. SB 228, also known as Bailey’s Law, now goes to Gov. Terry McAuliffe for his signature. Laura Donahue, Virginia state director for The Humane Society of the United States issued the following statement:
Read MoreMore than 180 Animals Rescued from Suspected Arkansas Puppy Mill
The HSUS, local law enforcement, and other groups rescued 121 dogs and more than 60 other animals from a suspected puppy mill in Jefferson, Ark.
Read MoreReward Offered in Minnesota Stabbing of Dog
The Humane Society of the United States is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the brutal stabbing of a young male pit bull in Red Lake, Minn.
Read MoreRare songbird faces fire ant threat
An award-winning conservation project to save the Tahiti monarch faces threats from rain, rats and ants.
Read MoreRare songbird faces fire ant threat
An award-winning conservation project to save the Tahiti monarch faces threats from rain, rats and ants.
Read MoreZoos in Europe ‘kill 5,000 healthy animals a year’
Up to 5,000 healthy zoo animals – including hundreds of larger ones such as giraffes, lions and bears – are killed by zoos in Europe every year, it is claimed today.
Read MoreBlue whale conservation gets a boost
Valdivia, Chile: The approval by the government of Chile of the largest Marine Protected Area (MPA) in continental Chile is a boost to conservation efforts for blue whales and dolphins. The Tic-Toc MPA on Chile’s southern coast announced this week follows almost 15 years of work by a number of organizations including WWF to protect […]
Read MoreHeads for steel
Most students, by the time they leave Harvard, can speak intelligently across a range of topics, from special relativity to the foundations of ethical reasoning. Only a few graduate with the ability to bend a chunk of steel to the limits of imagination. In the Instructional Physics/SEAS Instrument Lab, a professionally outfitted machine shop tucked […]
Read MoreVideo of Woman Hit in Head by Whale Goes Viral [VIDEO]
A whale watching expedition turned into a very one-sided aquatic boxing match when a woman got hit in the head by a whale’s tail as it breached the water.
Read MoreScottish seals still sliced to death by propellers ‘because ministers are breaking international law’
Seals in Scotland are being maimed and killed by ships’ propellers and ministers are breaking the law by doing nothing to save them, according to a panel of leading wildlife groups.
Read MoreRhode Island Lawmakers Receive 2013 Humane State Legislator Awards
State Rep. Patricia Serpa, D-27, and U.S. Rep. Raymond Gallison, D-69, are being recognized as Rhode Island’s Humane State Legislators for 2013.
Read MoreInspiring Girl Scout troop helps save endangered species with WWF and Earth Hour
For the past five years, a Girl Scout troop in the US state of New Jersey has mobilized its community in the city of Medford to participate in Earth Hour. This year, Ambassador Troop 24349 is using its power to make a difference for wildlife in far away Nepal. The scouts are harnessing their love […]
Read MoreNegative plus
For years, researchers have worked to develop novel molecules for therapeutic or research purposes, and have relied on directed evolution as a powerful technique for generating molecules that exhibit the properties they want. Led by David Liu, a professor of chemistry and chemical biology and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator, a team of Harvard […]
Read MoreLocal Apex Restaurant Offers More Humane Choices
Local restaurant Peak City Grill announced it will be adding to its menu grass-fed beef from nearby Harris-Robinette Beef, a Pinetops, NC farm that raises all of its cattle exclusively on pasture.
Read MoreHundreds of Events and Thousands of Lives Saved Mark 20th Annual World Spay Day
On World Spay Day 2014 more than 600 event organizers around the world hosted hundreds of events and spaying or neutering thousands of animals, raising awareness of how lowering birth rates reduces the number of animals who will face euthanasia in shelters or death on the streets
Read MoreActress Emma Stone helps fight wildlife crime
Real life superhero Emma Stone helps WWF protect tigers, rhinos and eles at ehour.me/EHpuppies Following the recent announcement that Spider-Man is the first superhero ambassador for Earth Hour, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 actress Emma Stone has come out in support for the war against wildlife crime. Stone is supporting a WWF crowdfunding project training puppies to become sniffer […]
Read MoreSizing up the Big Bang
Astronomer Robert Wilson lifted his fingers to make air quotes around “problem.” The Nobel laureate’s problem occurred 50 years ago and would help explain the origins of the universe. In fact, it turned out to be the echo of the Big Bang from 13.7 billion years ago, which Wilson detected through a massive, horn-shaped antenna. […]
Read MoreA bird on the brink of extinction, the Tahiti monarch has one hope – you
You may think it’s curious, but at the moment no one can tell you which is the rarest bird in the world. Not precisely, anyway. A decade ago, there was no doubt – it was the po’ouli, one of a family of small songbirds on Hawaii known as honeycreepers. Only discovered in 1973, the po’ouli’s […]
Read MoreWorld’s longest oyster found in Denmark is as big as a size 10 shoe – and still growing
Biologists in Denmark have discovered the world’s largest oyster, measuring in at nearly 14 inches long, and say that the giant mollusc is not done growing yet.
Read MoreOut of disaster, a new design
On Christmas Eve, Maria Ignacia Arrasate, M.Des.S. ’14, was fly-fishing in southern Chile. She checked her smartphone and got some good news: You won. Natalia Gaerlan, M.U.P. ’14, got the same good news. The message popped onto her monitor while she was Skyping with family in Europe. “You” was a team of six students at […]
Read MoreFederal Appeals Court Asked to Uphold Regulations Protecting Tennessee Walking Horses
Regulations issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to prevent the cruel practice of horse “soring” are being challenged in federal appeals court, prompting the Humane Society of the United States to file a friend-of-the-court brief. The HSUS is asking the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit to uphold the regulations, which […]
Read MoreTangled Pelican Rescued
A pelican dangles from a tree in South Florida, but visiting students call the right authorities to make sure she is rescued. She is now on her way to good health at South Florida Wildlife Center.
Read MoreCentral African Forest Elephant Population Down 65 Percent in Last 12 Years
Sixty-five percent of Central Africa’s forest elephants were killed between 2002 and 2013, according to a study by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS).
Read MoreNY Bill to Ban Ivory Sales Draws Praise from Conservation Group
A sweeping bill proposed by the New York state Assembly to prohibit the purchase or sale of elephant ivory and to increase the penalties for doing so in New York has attracted praise from conservation organizations, including the Wildlife Conservation Society.
Read MoreSteps for Lemur Conservation in Madagascar Outlined in New Analysis
An international team of researchers have joined forces to protect Madagascar’s native lemur population.
Read MoreUtah Senate Votes to Increase Cockfighting Penalties
Legislation to upgrade Utah’s law on cockfighting passed the Senate with a vote of 18-5, making it a felony on the second offense to participate in the blood sport where two roosters fight each other to the death while people place bets. A first offense will be prosecuted as a Class A misdemeanor. Under current […]
Read MoreFederal Violations Found at Georgia Regents University after Undercover Investigation
Five federal violations were cited at the Georgia Regents University research facility in Augusta following an inspection by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
Read MoreIn the News: Richard Berman and his Misnamed Nonprofits
Richard Berman’s “The Center for Consumer Freedom” is well known for going on the attack against proponents of animal protection, public health and other worthy causes. The HSUS turns the tables on the group with this critique.
Read MoreUK weather: Before and after the deluge – how the floods retreated
Floods which left much of the Thames Valley under water and sent residents scrambling for dry land during the wettest winter on record are now retreating rapidly, as these photographs show.
Read MoreEndangered Right Whale has ‘Fighting Chance’ After Being Disentangled off Georgia Coast [VIDEO]
An endangered right whale that became entangled in hundreds of feet of heavy fishing rope off the Georgia coast has a “fighting chance” to survive after rescue workers were able to cut away most of line.
Read MoreFox Pens to Remain as Virginia House Committee Votes Down Sensible Legislation
A subcommittee of the Virginia House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources voted down legislation to restrict inhumane fox pens. The Humane Society of the United States Virginia State Director Laura Donahue issued a statement in response.
Read MoreCarolina Waterfowl Rescue Receives Grant to Improve Lives of Birds in Need
The Carolina Waterfowl Rescue in Charlotte, N.C., received $5,000 for repair and improvements after heavy snow and ice destroyed three aviaries.
Read MoreUndercover Exposé: Animals Locked in Cramped Cages, Piglets Fed to their Mothers at Kentucky Pig Factory
Sows confined in cramped cages known as gestation crates were fed ground up intestines from piglets who had recently succumbed to a highly contagious diarrheal disease, an undercover exposé of Iron Maiden Hog Farm in Owensboro, Kentucky revealed.
Read MoreRed-throated diver sees off consortium of energy firms as wind farm plan axed
The red-throated diver has forced three state-backed energy companies to scrap a project to expand the world’s largest offshore wind farm, the London Array.
Read MoreLessening liver damage
Harvard stem cell scientists studying the effect of nitric oxide on liver growth and regeneration appear to have serendipitously discovered a markedly improved treatment for liver damage caused by acetaminophen toxicity, the root of half of the hospital visits involving acute liver failure in the United States. The human liver can safely process up to […]
Read MoreBlack-Footed Ferret, on a Population Rebound, Faces New Threats From Prairie Dog Plague
New research suggests that the black-footed ferret has a chance to come back from the brink of extinction if the right conservation moves are made.
Read MoreWildLeaks: New Service Allows Anonymous Whistleblowers to Report Wildlife Crime
The fight against animal poaching and wildlife criminals has a new high-tech ally in the form of WildLeaks, an online forum that lets individuals confidentially report instances of wildlife crime and allows whistleblowers anonymity through encrypted connections via the Tor anonymity network.
Read MoreA Child’s Message to the President: Please Stop the Killing of Whales
Within a folder on my desk sit nineteen hand-written letters to Obama from my daughter’s first grade class. Through scrawling penmanship and misspelled words, they plea for the President to do something about Iceland’s illegal whaling activities. Along with these letters, I am sending Obama one of my own, not on behalf of WWF, but […]
Read MoreDam threatens survival of Mekong dolphins
Phnom Penh, Cambodia – The Lao government’s decision to forge ahead with the Don Sahong hydropower project in southern Laos, located just one kilometre upstream of the core habitat for Mekong dolphins, could precipitate the extinction of the species from the Mekong River, warns a new WWF brief. According to the WWF paper, the dam […]
Read MoreCurves alter crystallization, study finds
Scientists have studied crystallization since the time of Galileo, so it’s easy to imagine there’s nothing new to learn about the process. Harvard researchers might beg to differ. A new study has uncovered a previously unseen phenomenon — that curved surfaces can dramatically alter the shape of crystals as they form. The finding could have […]
Read MoreRhode Island Lawmakers Urged to Ban Abusive Elephant Training Devices
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Read MoreUK weather: Floods could have devastating environmental impact – as animals drown or die from lack of food
The full scale of the damage being wreaked upon wildlife and ecosystems by flooding can be revealed today, as conservationists warn that Britain could have an “absolutely devastating environment incident” on its hands.
Read MoreUK weather: Floods could have devastating environmental impact
The full scale of the damage being wreaked upon wildlife and ecosystems by flooding can be revealed today, as conservationists warn that Britain could have an “absolutely devastating environment incident” on its hands.
Read MoreCalifornia opens world’s largest solar power farm – as evidence emerges that it leaves birds who fly over ‘scorched’
Environmentalists in California face a difficult dilemma after it emerged that a brand new solar power plant could actually be scorching to death some birds that fly over it.
Read MoreFive Cows Find Sanctuary at the Ranch
Their owner purchased them to secure an agricultural exemption on his taxes in Florida. But, after being neglected for years, they’ll now have acres of grass to graze for the rest of their lives.
Read MoreUK weather: Respite at last, but five left dead in storm’s wake
Britain is set to enjoy some respite from the storms which battered the country, killing four people and an unborn baby, and power cuts affecting nearly a million homes. Despite forecasts of better weather conditions in coming days, the Environment Agency (EA) warned people yesterday “to remain vigilant” as groundwater levels remained high enough to […]
Read MorePrince William wants ‘all royal ivory destroyed’
The Duke of Cambridge wants to strip all the ivory from Buckingham Palace and destroy it, The Independent on Sunday can reveal, in a move conservationists hailed as “extremely significant” in the fight against elephant poaching.
Read MoreToxic chemicals linked to brain disorders in children
Toxic chemicals may be triggering recent increases in neurodevelopmental disabilities among children — such as autism, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, and dyslexia — according to a new study from Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) and Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. The researchers say a new global prevention strategy to control the use of […]
Read MoreScience vs. politics
If you wonder why worldwide scientific consensus hasn’t yet quashed climate change denial in the United States, a panel this week at Harvard Kennedy School offered an answer: It’s the politics, stupid. Persistent efforts to cast doubt on a scientific certainty have their roots in philosophical opposition to big government and government regulation, expressed in […]
Read MoreNorth Carolina Considers Allowing Reckless Practice of Bear Baiting
North Carolina black bears could be subjected to the unnecessary, unsporting and inhumane practice of bear baiting, in which bears are lured by piles of food for an easy kill. The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission is considering a proposal to authorize bear baiting, which is generally prohibited in the state. The Humane Society of […]
Read MoreReward Offered in Killing of Three California Sea Otters Found at Asilomar Beach, Calif.
Defenders of Wildlife, Friends of the Sea Otter, The Humane Society of the United States and The Humane Society Wildlife Land Trust, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Monterey Bay Aquarium, U.C. Davis Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center, and individual donor Dusty Nabor, are offering a $21,000 reward for information leading to the arrest […]
Read MoreOn Heels of Major Criminal Bust, Shark Fin Distributors Drop Lawsuit
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife recently seized 2,000 pounds of illegal shark fins from a San Francisco merchant. That merchant is a part of an association whose members sold and distributed shark fins to restaurants and grocery stores and who had sued the State of California challenging the constitutionality of the state’s ban […]
Read MoreUK weather: Storms are clear sign of climate change and worse to come will lead to conflict and war, says Lord Stern
Leading environmental economist Lord Stern has said the ongoing storms in the UK are just a taste of things to come, warning that failing to tackle global warming could lead to war as hundreds of millions of people are forced to migrate.
Read MoreUK weather: Lord Stern warns that ongoing storms are just a taste of things to come
Leading environmental economist Lord Stern has said the ongoing storms in the UK are just a taste of things to come, warning that failing to tackle global warming could lead to war as hundreds of millions of people are forced to migrate.
Read MoreMajor victory in conservation battle against oil company
A major corporate social responsibility agency today has announced an examination of Soco International PLC for alleged violations of human rights and environmental protections related to the company’s operations in an African World Heritage Site. The move was triggered by WWF’s complaint alleging that Soco has breached the most respected global corporate social responsibility standards […]
Read MoreWorld leaders say enough is enough on illegal ivory: Agreement to stop wildlife trade hailed as ‘watershed’ moment
Leaders and delegates from 46 countries have pledged to fight the £12bn illegal wildlife trade together for the first time. In what has been called a “watershed” moment in the battle to save some of the world’s most endangered species, the governments have committed to ensure that the poaching of animals such as elephants and […]
Read MoreEvolution in real time
After 26 years of workdays spent watching bacteria multiply, Richard Lenski has learned a thing or two. He’s learned that naturalist Charles Darwin was wrong about some things. For one, evolution doesn’t always occur in steps so slow and steady that changes can’t be observed. Lenski also learned that a laboratory freezer can function as […]
Read MoreRobots to the rescue
On the plains of Namibia, millions of tiny termites are building a mound of soil, an 8-foot-tall “lung” for their underground nest. During a year of construction, many termites will live and die, wind and rain will batter the structure, yet the colony’s life-sustaining project will continue. Inspired by the termites’ resilience and collective intelligence, […]
Read MoreActor Paul Wesley Urges Pork Giant to Uncage its Pigs
The Vampire Diaries star Paul Wesley has written a letter urging pork industry giant Seaboard Corporation to end its use of controversial and inhumane gestation crates. These cages are used to confine breeding pigs. They are so small the animals cannot even turn around. Seaboard is one of the largest pork producers in the United […]
Read MoreGovernments commit to decisive and urgent action to tackle global wildlife poaching crisis
London, 13 February 2014 — Heads of state, ministers and high level representatives of 46 countries, including those most heavily impacted by poaching and illegal trade of wildlife, today committed to taking “decisive and urgent action” to tackle the global illegal wildlife trade. The strongly worded declaration was issued following two days of closed-door negotiations […]
Read MoreUK weather: Nature shows no mercy to flooded Britain
Communities along Britain’s west coast and in the South- east of England were braced for violent storms and more flooding as Lord Deben, the former Environment Secretary, said 30 years of underspending and poorly organised flood management had exacerbated the disaster.
Read MoreUK weather: Billions could drop off the economy as storms continue
With experts warning that some flooded areas of southern Britain could remain underwater until May, and more storms still expected to hit the country before brighter weather returns, the Environment Agency moved to reassure citizens that flooding is unlikely to spead to further parts of the country.
Read MoreUK weather: Contaminated floodwaters could lead to norovirus spike
Public health chiefs are braced for a surge in cases of diarrhoea, vomiting and stomach pain caused by bugs in floodwater as sewage spills out of overflowing drains.
Read MoreIowa Factory Farm Fined $10,000 for Large Waste Spill
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has fined Illinois-based pork producer The Maschhoffs $10,000 for a spill of animal waste from one of its sow confinement operations in southeast Iowa.
Read More72 Members of Congress Urge USDA to Ban Slaughter of Downer Calves
Following a recent slaughter plant shutdown triggered by a Humane Society of the United States investigation, a bipartisan group of 72 Members of Congress are calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture to close a loophole in federal regulations.
Read MoreClosing the gender gap in computer science
Young women studying computer science were introduced to a group of potential role models as part of a weekend conference at the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS). The event, organized by Harvard Women in Computer Science, drew some of the most successful women in the field, along with sponsors such as Google, Facebook, […]
Read MoreA decidedly mixed bag
“Paper or plastic?” A few years ago, grocery shoppers had just two options when deciding how they wanted to carry out their purchases. Today, while most stores still offer free bags, many shoppers bring their own as a way of being “green.” Many stores have encouraged the shift to reduce waste and energy consumption, and […]
Read MoreOwner of Food Lion, Hannaford and Bottom Dollar Grocery Chains Asks for Animal Welfare Reports from Pork Suppliers Amid Growing Concerns
The country’s ninth-largest grocer, Delhaize America, announced that it will require its pork suppliers to produce reports regarding their progress in eliminating from their pork supply chains the use of gestation crates—cages used to house breeding pigs that are so restrictive, the animals can’t even turn around.
Read MoreHouse Protects Victims of Domestic Violence and Beloved Family Pets
The Virginia House passed legislation to strengthen the state’s protections for victims of domestic violence and their beloved family pets. House Bill 972, sponsored by Delegate Ben Cline, R-Rockbridge, will authorize courts to grant care and custody of a family pet to petitioners of protective orders and passed unanimously with bipartisan support.
Read MoreAt the Arboretum, an unquiet winter
Don’t let the smooth blanket of snow fool you. Don’t be deceived by the footpaths free of summertime crowds or the trees patiently waiting for spring. Winter at the Arnold Arboretum is a busy time. For humans, it’s a time for catching up outdoors and forging ahead inside. It’s a time when the frozen ground […]
Read MoreDo You Know How Your Mascara Is Made? Be Cruelty-Free Campaign Targets Animal Testing
A global campaign is leading the charge to end animal testing for cosmetics.
Read MoreCelebrating Animals: Readers Submit Their Best Photos to All Animals Magazine
Adopted from the San Francisco SPCA, Ziggy learned to make a splash.
Read MoreFeeding the Snack Pack: Boston Baked Bonz Founder Shares Tips for Homemade Dog Treats
Boston Baked Bonz founder shares tips for homemade dog treats.
Read MoreThe Boys Who Cried Woof: Young Activists Push to Crack Down on Pennsylvania’s Puppy Mills
Pennsylvania youngsters are committed to shutting down the state’s puppy mills.
Read MoreWhat’s in a Name? Navigating the Murky World of Cosmetic Product Labels
Look for the Leaping Bunny logo on cosmetics and personal care products to make sure no animals were harmed.
Read MorePiling It On for Pets: Twelve-Year-Old Collects Thousands of Pet Supplies for Animal Shelters
Through her organization Blankets Fur Beasties, 12-year-old Harley Helman has collected thousands of pet supplies for animal shelters.
Read MoreHigh-Water Mark: “Noah” Director Darren Aronofsky Embraces Technology That Replaces Animals
“Noah” director Darren Aronofsky forgoes animal actors for CGI technology.
Read MoreThe Mindful Gardener: Bring a Reverent Approach to Your Patch of Earth This Spring
Preparing your garden for spring? Caution and an attentive eye will prevent the deaths of countless critters and benefit your backyard wildlife.
Read MoreWorld Spay Day: A Special Day for Pets
World Spay Day celebrates 20 years of promoting spay/neuter and reducing pet homelessness and euthanasia.
Read MoreCalifornia Egg Farmers and Retailers Urged to Comply with Proposition 2 as 2015 Deadline Approaches
California voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition 2 in 2008, requiring that egg-laying hens and certain other farm animals have enough room to turn around and extend their limbs.
Read MoreFood or Foe? Navigating Hidden Dangers in the Pet Food Aisle
Even high-quality pet foods can be recalled for reasons ranging from salmonella contamination to choking hazards. Get tips for minimizing your pet’s risk.
Read MoreThe threat from superbugs
As government and health officials voice growing alarm over the spread of drug-resistant bacteria around the world, a panel of experts on Wednesday recommended steps to address the problem in hospitals, in communities, and across businesses. Experts appearing at the Forum at Harvard School of Public Health recommended a mix of hospital-stewardship programs and community […]
Read MoreNutritional supplement slows onset of Huntington’s
The first clinical trial of a drug intended to delay the onset of symptoms of Huntington’s disease (HD) reveals that high-dose treatment with the nutritional supplement creatine was safe and well tolerated by most study participants. In addition, neuroimaging showed a treatment-associated slowing of regional brain atrophy, evidence that creatine might slow the progression of […]
Read MoreLegislation to Crack Down on Fox Pens Passes Senate Committee
The Virginia Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources committee passed a bill to restrict fox pens – fenced enclosures where packs of dogs are released to chase down wild-caught foxes, often killing them – by prohibiting new facilities from opening. Senate Bill 42 passed with a bipartisan vote of 8-7. The Humane Society of the […]
Read MoreIdaho TV Campaign Urges Legislature to Reject Whistleblower Suppression Bill
In the wake of an investigation that exposed animal cruelty at an Idaho dairy factory farm, the dairy industry is pushing lawmakers to pass a bill aimed at criminalizing whistleblowers. To counter this, the HSUS is launching statewide a TV advertisement calling out the dairy industry and its backers for trying to keep the public […]
Read MoreFrance Becomes First European Nation to Publicly Destroy Ivory, 3 Tons Crushed
By pulverizing 3 metric tons of illegal ivory in front of the Eiffel Tower on Thursday, France became the newest addition to a growing list of nations taking a stance against poaching and wildlife crime by publicly destroying part of its ivory stockpile.
Read MoreMeta-analysis of Honeybee Colony Collapse Highlights Shortcomings
Socioeconomic and political pressures on honey production over the past few decades has caused a long-term reduction in the number of productive colonies in the US, Europe and other countries, a study by EcoHealth Alliance concluded. The research showed the more recent, increasing ‘annual colony losses’ reported by honey bee managers to be the result […]
Read MoreGigantic Jellyfish May Be Largest Ever Found in Australia
An enormous jellyfish that washed up on the shores of Tasmania is a new species and possibly the largest ever found in Australia, and marine biologists at Australia’s national science agency CSIRO are at work on classifying the new medusa.
Read MoreHumpback Whale Movement Overlaps with West African Shipping Lanes and Oil Rigs, Study Finds
Humpback whales that gather for mating and childbirth off the coast of West Africa are sharing the territory with major shipping routes, offshore oil platforms and chemical hazards, according to joint study by the Wildlife Conservation Society, the American Museum of Natural History and several leading universities.
Read MoreUSDA Should Revoke Federal License of Nation’s Largest Big Cat Breeder
For several years, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has had an open investigation regarding big cat breeder and exhibitor Joe Schreibvogel of the Garold Wayne Interactive Zoological Park, formerly GW Exotic Animal Park in Wynnewood, Okla. for violations of the Animal Welfare Act. Animal protection organizations have asked the USDA to permanently revoke Schreibvogel’s exhibitor […]
Read MoreSan Diego Pet Store Drops Lawsuit Challenging Anti-Puppy Mill Ordinance
A San Diego pet store has abandoned its efforts to overturn a San Diego ordinance restricting the sale of puppies from large-scale commercial dog breeding operations.
Read MoreEarliest Camel Bones Contradict Bible, Archaeologists Say
Archaeologists from a leading university in Israel have used radiocarbon dating to pinpoint the moment when domesticated camels arrived in the southern Levant. They say their results directly contradict events described in the Bible.
Read MoreMass Extinction of Large Ice Age Mammals Linked to Climate-Induced Vegetation Changes
It is generally accepted that climate change led to the extinction of the mammoth and other large mammals following the last Ice Age, but an international team of researchers behind a new report in the journal Nature claims to have found the smoking gun that pinpoints which of climate change’s myriad effects led to the […]
Read MoreFruit Fly RNA Lends Insight to Aging Process
A study of fruit fly RNA molecules, recently published in Genes and Development, may have provided some clarity on the mechanism behind the apparent coupling of aging and neurodegeneration, according to researchers
Read MoreFrance destroys illegal ivory
France today destroyed three tonnes of seized ivory, two months since the announcement of its national action plan against poaching and illegal wildlife trade. The announcement came at the closure of the Elysee Summit for peace and security in Africa, where the President of France, Francois Hollande and nine African Heads of State gathered to […]
Read MoreChicago Moves to Crack Down on Puppy Mills
The Chicago City Council has introduced an ordinance to restrict the retail sale of dogs obtained from large-scale commercial breeders. Kristen Strawbridge, Illinois state director for The Humane Society of the United States issued the following statement:
Read MoreIndiana Senate Votes Down Captive Hunting Bill
The Indiana Senate shot down legislation that would legalize captive hunting operations. S.B. 404 would have allowed privately-owned facilities to stock deer and elk for trophy-seekers, letting them pay to shoot the semi-tame animals trapped in enclosures for guaranteed kills.
Read MoreSharper image
A new microscopy method could enable scientists to generate snapshots of dozens of different biomolecules in a single human cell at once, a team from the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University reported Feb. 2 in Nature Methods. Such images could shed light on complex cellular pathways and potentially lead to new […]
Read MoreMars rover, slightly used, runs fine
When a car gets regular oil changes and care from a good mechanic, keeping it running for 10 years or more isn’t exactly an impressive feat of engineering. But then again, such a car isn’t an average 140,000,000 miles away. For the engineers behind the Mars rover Opportunity, however, the last decade has been a […]
Read MoreFarm Bill Strengthens Animal Fighting Law, Maintains State Farm Animal Protection Laws
The U.S. Senate gave final approval to the Farm Bill today, and the bill now on its way to President Obama includes two major victories for animal welfare.
Read MoreReward offered in Castle Hot Springs, Ariz., Wild Burro Shooting
The Humane Society of the United States, through its Platero Project, is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for shooting two wild burros.
Read MoreCalifornia Egg Farmer Converts to Cage-Free Facility in Preparation for Proposition 2 Deadline
To meet the January 2015 deadline, San Diego County egg producer Frank Hilliker has initiated the conversion of his commercial egg production facilities to meet the standards set by California’s Proposition 2.
Read MoreFederal Government Announces Support for State Laws Protecting Sharks
The National Marine Fisheries Service has announced that state laws to combat shark finning are not preempted by federal law, a welcome change in course from its previous position that jeopardized these important state laws to protect shark populations.
Read MoreStudy ties fetal sex to milk production
A new study offers the first evidence that fetal sex can affect the amount of milk cows produce, a finding that could have major economic implications for dairy farmers. The study, co-authored by a Harvard scientist, examined 2.4 million lactations by nearly 1.5 million dairy cows in the United States, finding that cows that gestated […]
Read MoreA lab focused on healing
In Robert Langer’s vision of the future, the paralyzed walk, the sick are healed, the maimed are whole again, and it all happens through bioengineering. Langer, an MIT scientist who runs the world’s largest bioengineering lab, said last week that those dreams aren’t fantasies, but future engineering achievements promised by today’s lab results. The path […]
Read MoreSaving Amazing Landscapes From Oil and Gas Development
World Heritage Sites are some of the most important yet fragile wild places on Earth. Today, the United Nations announced that one of the largest oil and gas development companies in the world, Total SA, has committed to keeping out of all natural World Heritage Sites around the globe. Total SA’s decision not to extract […]
Read MoreWendy’s Demands Quarterly Animal Welfare Reports from Pork Suppliers Amid Growing Concerns
Wendy’s announced that it will require its suppliers to produce quarterly reports regarding their ability to provide pork produced without the use of gestation crates.
Read MoreLas Vegas Pet Store Owner Accused of Arson with Puppies Inside
The owner of a Las Vegas pet store is accused of intentionally setting her store on fire with dozens of puppies still inside. The Humane Society of the United States encourages authorities to pursue the strongest possible criminal charges against the owner. The incident reportedly occurred at the Prince And Princess Puppy Boutique on Rainbow […]
Read MoreLaura Marano Stars in New Campaign to Promote Meatless Monday
Laura Marano, star of the Disney Channel’s Austin & Ally, has taken on a new role in The Humane Society of the United States’ first-ever Meatless Monday poster campaign.
Read More‘On’ switches for cells
Whether human or animal, vertebrate or invertebrate, nearly every creature begins life as a tiny clump of cells. Before those cells can begin blossoming toward being a fully formed organism, however, they first must reorganize themselves into layers, each of which goes on to form complex structures such as internal organs, skin, muscle, and bone. […]
Read MoreThe promise of ‘big data’
What use is a library without a librarian, or an encyclopedia without an index? Scale that prospect up to the realms of Web analytics, astronomy, high-speed finance, or even basketball statistics, and the problem becomes clear. As research scientist Fernando Pérez put it, “Regardless of the amount of data we have … we still only […]
Read MoreMartin County Animal Shelter Removes Gas Chamber
The Humane Society of the United States awarded Martin County Animal Shelter in North Carolina a $10,000 grant in honor of its decision stop euthanizing animals using a gas chamber.
Read MoreVirginia Senate Passes Puppy Mill Legislation
Laura Donahue, Virginia state director for The Humane Society of the United States issued the following statement in response to the passage of Senate Bill 228, also known as Bailey’s Law, which will now be considered in the House of Delegates.
Read MoreTop Pharmaceutical Company Stops Chimpanzee Use in Research
Merck & Co, Inc., will stop conducting or financially supporting biomedical research on chimpanzees into the foreseeable future. The availability of alternatives has led to the policy change by one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies.
Read MoreNew footage reveals family life of elusive Amur leopard
Vladivostok, Russia: Video footage released today of one of the most endangered species on the planet, the Amur leopard, provides vital information to help conservation efforts. Camera trap footage from eastern Russia filmed in November and December of 2013 and made available this month, reveals how the highly endangered Amur leopard raises kittens in the […]
Read MoreNeanderthals’ DNA legacy linked to modern ailments
Remnants of Neanderthal DNA in modern humans are associated with genes affecting type 2 diabetes, Crohn’s disease, lupus, biliary cirrhosis, and smoking behavior. They also concentrate in genes that influence skin and hair characteristics. At the same time, Neanderthal DNA is conspicuously low in regions of the X chromosome and testes-specific genes. The research, led […]
Read MoreResearchers create embryonic stem cells without embryo
Since the discovery of human embryonic stem cells, scientists have had high hopes for their use in treating a wider variety of diseases because they are “pluripotent,” which means they are capable of differentiating into one of many cell types in the body. However, the acquisition of human embryonic stem cells from an embryo can […]
Read MoreReward Offered in Kansas Poisoning Deaths of Dogs
The Humane Society of the United States is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the poisoning deaths of three dogs in Ellis County, Kan.
Read MoreIn search of nature’s camouflage
Scientists at Harvard University and the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) hope that gaining a new understanding of a natural photonic device that enables a small sea animal to change its colors dynamically will inspire development of improved camouflage for soldiers on battlefields. The cuttlefish, known as the “chameleon of the sea,” can rapidly alter both […]
Read MoreArchitectural fever dreams
Alexander Watchman talked drydocks. Joe Liao held forth on multigenerational housing. Quardean Lewis-Allen offered a presentation on the Victorian vernacular. Welcome to the annual January thesis review for architecture students at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design, a day of presentations throughout Gund Hall. Piper Auditorium saw the most action. Every inch of open space on […]
Read MoreAn ocean of concern
Climate change may not have been as prominent in the headlines in the 1980s as it is today, but it was certainly on the minds of engineers designing a new sewage-treatment plant for Boston. Today, the massive Deer Island plant can boast of being one of the first major coastal projects that had a nearly […]
Read MoreFlower power
It’s a tight fit, so it’s tough to get in and out without getting covered with dust. That’s the point, of course, if not to the bees crawling in search of nectar, then at least to the Salvia blossoms seeking to dust the bees with pollen. The pollination of pale-purple Salvia flowers by a bee, […]
Read MoreChimpanzees Use Gestures to Communicate
A team of scientists recently discovered that chimpanzees are capable of using gestures to successfully relay information to humans about the location of hidden objects. An experiment conducted at Georgia State University’s Language Research Center* showed that the chimpanzees Panzee and Sherman, who were both raised by humans, possess the ability to use a variety […]
Read MoreFarm Bill Strengthens Animal Fighting Law, Omits Dangerous King Amendment
The Farm Bill conference report released today by the House-Senate conference committee includes two major wins on animal welfare issues, and was applauded by The HSUS and the Humane Society Legislative Fund.
Read MoreUSDA Shutters Calf Slaughter Plant in New Jersey in Wake of HSUS Investigation
The U.S. Department of Agriculture reacted strongly to a complaint filed by The Humane Society of the United States, ordering Catelli Bros. of Shrewsbury, N.J. to suspend its operations for egregious inhumane handling of calves in violation of federal law.
Read MoreMore than 40 Dogs Rescued from Fayette County, Ala., Property
Forty one dogs were removed from a Berry, Ala., property after authorities charged four people with 80 counts of animal cruelty. The 24th Circuit Drug Task Force called in The Humane Society of the United States to assist in the rescue and removal the animals.
Read MoreCourt of Appeals Rejects Bid to Reconsider California’s Foie Gras Ban
Absent intervention by the United States Supreme Court, California’s landmark ban on force feeding ducks to produce foie gras will stay in effect. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has denied another request by a handful of foie gras proponents to reconsider the law.
Read MoreSuspected Covington County, Ala. Cockfight Ring Raided
Authorities raided an Andalusia, Ala. property, arrested six suspected cockfighters and seized nine birds. The raid was the result of a joint investigation among several Alabama law enforcement agencies and The Humane Society of the United States.
Read MoreBroad’s landmark study discovers new cancer genes
A landmark study across many cancer types reveals that the universe of cancer mutations is much bigger than previously thought. By analyzing the genomes of thousands of patients’ tumors, a Broad Institute-led research team has discovered enough new cancer genes to expand the list by 25 percent. The team’s work, which lays a critical foundation […]
Read MoreACE Documentary Grant Winners
Read about the past winners of the Animal Content in Entertainment (ACE) Documentary Film Grant program.
Read MoreMontana Supreme Court Urged to Uphold Animal Cruelty Law
In a brief filed today, The Humane Society of the United States urges the Montana Supreme Court to reject an appeal filed by a dog breeder convicted under the state’s animal cruelty law.
Read MoreSome secrets of longevity
The average life expectancy in the United States has fallen behind that of other industrialized nations as the American income gap has widened. In addition, better health habits, including those involving weight control, nutrition, and exercise, clearly influence the effects of aging among segments of the U.S. population. “Widening inequalities in the U.S. are growing […]
Read MoreWarmth from the woods
PETERSHAM, Mass. — In heavily wooded New England, forests are dynamic ecosystems that support a range of plants and animals, and their ability to soak up carbon also makes them an important piece of the climate-change puzzle. How changes to forests over time affect the flow of carbon through the atmosphere has long been a […]
Read MoreCreed of Compassion: Renowned Evangelist Matthew Sleeth Urges People of Faith to Protect Earth and Its Animals
Evangelist and author Matthew Sleeth urges people of faith to protect earth and all its creatures.
Read MoreA Hospital Barn Just for Horses
A new hospital barn means even better care for the rescued horses at Duchess Sanctuary in Oregon. Now, any issue can be treated on-site.
Read MoreA splash with the spleen
Who knew the spleen was so funny? And popular? A parody video by a group of Harvard Medical School students went viral in December, garnering a million YouTube hits in just five days and surpassing 1.7 million since. The video’s creators were astounded at its popularity, according to Ben Rome, a second-year student who filmed […]
Read More‘Junk?’ Not so fast
Ever since the Human Genome Project decoded the genome, the prevailing scientific view has been that only the 2 percent that makes proteins — the building blocks of cells — was important. The rest was deemed not functional, or “junk.” But from his days in graduate school, through his postdoctoral fellowship, and now as a […]
Read MoreFirst Non-Lethal Deer Management Project Approved in Virginia
The Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries has recently approved a non-lethal surgical sterilization project proposed by the City of Fairfax, Virginia to humanely reduce the population of white-tailed deer.
Read MoreOwl Chick Reunited with Family
A great horned owl chick falls from high up in a tree and is brought to South Florida Wildlife Center for care. After a successful attempt at re-nesting, she’s safe and back with her owl family.
Read MoreTop Ten Emergency Placement Partners of 2013
The Humane Society of the United States has named its top ten Emergency Placement Partners for 2013.
Read MoreRandom-Source Dog Dealer has License Revoked
Only five random-source Class B dog dealers remain in the U.S. after the revocation of Kenneth Schroeder’s license by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Read MoreVitamin D could slow MS progression
For patients in the early stages of multiple sclerosis (MS), low levels of vitamin D were found to strongly predict disease severity and hasten its progression, according to a new study led by Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) investigators in collaboration with Bayer HealthCare. The findings suggest that patients in the early stages of […]
Read MoreTwo Bobcat Friends for Lil Boy
Ramon and Cinammon have grown up at The Fund for Animals Wildlife Center. But, now they’ve just moved to Cleveland Amory Black Beauty Ranch to join Lil Boy after the recent passing of another, elderly bobcat, Bob.
Read MoreChimpanzees as Props
The lives of chimpanzees who are used as “actors” underscores the need for the Nonhuman Rights Project and our efforts to gain basic legal rights for nonhuman animals. The stories of Chance and Choppers depict the lives that chimpanzees used for entertainment must endure. Chance “co-stars” as the “pet” of the Leonardo DiCaprio character in […]
Read MoreInconsistent? Good
Anyone who has ever stepped on a tennis court understands all too well the frustration that comes with trying to master the serve, and instead seeing ball after ball go sailing out of bounds in different directions. Rather than cursing these double-faults, Harvard researchers say errors resulting from variability in motor function can play a […]
Read MoreAnimal Protection Groups Ask California Court to Uphold Exotic Pet Law
A roadside zoo big cat breeder in California is seeking to weaken that state’s exotic pet law, which protects public safety and animal welfare. California’s is one of the oldest such laws, requiring permits and inspections for facilities exhibiting dangerous wild animals.
Read MoreRhino poaching statistics highlight need for action against crime
The South African government today revealed that a record 1004 rhinos were killed by poachers during 2013 across the country, the equivalent of nearly three animals a day. World famous safari destination Kruger National Park continues to be the hardest hit with 606 rhino deaths. “These criminal networks are threatening our national security and damaging […]
Read MoreToday’s gorilla protectors reflect on Dian Fossey’s legacy
Like Dian Fossey before her, Anna Behm Masozera lives in Rwanda where she works to protect the amazing mountain gorilla. Anna is the Director of the International Gorilla Conservation Programme (IGCP), a coalition of WWF, FFI and African Wildlife Foundation. ICGP partners with the three mountain gorilla range country governments, Rwanda, Uganda and Democratic Republic of […]
Read More‘Beige’ cells key to healthy fat
“Beige fat” cells found in healthy subcutaneous fat in mice play a critical role in protecting the body from the disease risks of obesity, report researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, who say their study findings may have implications for therapy of obesity-related illness in humans. A report in the journal Cell suggests that the presence […]
Read MoreCongress Blocks Domestic Horse Slaughter
The spending bill passed this evening by the Senate, and that cleared the House yesterday, includes a provision that halts any efforts to resume slaughtering horses for human consumption on U.S. soil.
Read MoreSomething doesn’t smell right
For most animals, the scent of rotting meat is powerfully repulsive. But for others, such as carrion-feeding vultures and insects, it’s a scent that can be just as powerfully attractive. The question of why some animals are repelled and others attracted to a particular scent, scientists say, gets at one of the most basic and […]
Read MoreU.S. Rep. Jim Moran Thanked for Leadership on Animal Welfare
U.S. Rep. Jim Moran, D-Va., has been a remarkable leader on animal welfare issues during his career. In the wake of his announcement that he would not seek re-election in November, The Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society Legislative Fund thank him for his work to protect animals.
Read MoreAlyssa Milano Wants Better Treatment for Horses
Longtime animal advocate and star of ABC’s “Mistresses,” Alyssa Milano, appeals to Congress to protect Tennessee walking horses from abuse by swiftly passing the Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act, H.R. 1518/S. 1406.
Read MoreMILLY and Friends of Finn Promote Puppy Mill Awareness
Friends of Finn announced a special collaboration with The Humane Society of the United States to promote puppy mill awareness with a new line of t-shirts, exclusively available at the MILLY NYC Boutique at 900 Madison Avenue in New York and MILLYNY.com. The t-shirts, designed by Friends of Finn founder Amanda Hearst in collaboration with […]
Read MoreVirginia Voters Overwhelmingly Oppose Cruel “Fox Penning,” Support Stronger Pet Store Regulation
Virginia voters overwhelmingly oppose the practice of “fox penning” by a more than 9-to-1 margin – and a large majority support legislation to prohibit the practice. A new poll conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research surveyed 625 statewide voters on various animal welfare issues. Fox pens are fenced enclosures where dogs are released to chase […]
Read MoreAfrican Lion of Ramona-based Wildlife Center Passes Away
Samson, an African Lion and long-term resident at The Fund for Animals Wildlife Center, has passed away. Samson came to the wildlife center as a 3-month-old in 2001 after being rescued from the exotic pet trade and an unlicensed owner who hoped to use the kitten as a profit-making prop.
Read MoreNotices of Appeal in New York State Petitions
January 10th, 2014: The Nonhuman Rights Project today filed Notices of Appeal in the cases of Tommy (NY State Third Judicial Department), Kiko (Fourth Judicial Department), and Hercules and Leo (Second Judicial Department). Each lawsuit involves a separate appeal, and since the chimpanzees are imprisoned in three different judicial departments, there will be three separate […]
Read MoreCongress Urged to Ban Funding for Horse Slaughter
Congress released the details of a FY 2014 spending bill, which includes language that halts any efforts to resume horse slaughter for human consumption on U.S. soil. The legislation will forbid spending by the U.S. Department of Agriculture on inspections at U.S. horse slaughter plants, reinstating a ban on domestic horse slaughter for the fiscal […]
Read MoreIllegally Captured Gopher Tortoises Rescued; Transported to Safety
Two threatened gopher tortoises were illegally taken from the wild by tourists who picked up the animals while vacationing in Florida in October and took the animals home to Arkansas. Although the tourists were concerned about the tortoises’ health when they removed them from their natural habitat, these animals are a threatened species and it […]
Read MoreThe Cheesecake Factory Announces Progress in Eliminating Controversial Pig Cages from Supply Chain
The Cheesecake Factory, which serves more than 80 million customers a year, announced that it has begun eliminating gestation crates from its pork supply.
Read MoreBill Richardson Named Humane Horseman of the Year
Bill Richardson, former New Mexico governor, U.S. Energy Secretary and Ambassador to the United Nations, has been chosen as the 2013 Humane Horseman of the Year by The Humane Society of the United States. The HSUS recognized Richardson for his leadership in working to block horse slaughter from resuming on U.S. soil and his efforts […]
Read MoreStatement on New York Governor Signing Groundbreaking Puppy Mill Legislation
New York local governments can now regulate large-scale commercial puppy mills and provide oversight of pet dealers, thanks to Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s signing of A.740a/S.3753a. Sponsored by Assembly member Linda B. Rosenthal, D-New York, and Sen. Mark Grisanti, R-Buffalo, the law grants counties and municipalities the ability to enact regulations to protect dogs raised in […]
Read More23 Dogs Rescued from Suspected Alexander County, N.C. Puppy Mill
More than 20 dogs and puppies and one parrot were rescued from an Alexander County, N.C., property by The Humane Society of the United States and the Humane Society of Charlotte. The groups were called in by Alexander County and Alexander County Sheriff’s Office to assist in the rescue and removal of the animals.
Read MoreRandolph County Urged to Reconsider Reversal on Gas Chamber Ban
HSUS North Carolina State Director, Kimberley Alboum, calls on Randolph County officials to reconsider their decision to continue the use of gas chambers at the county animal shelter, despite receiving a grant in 2011 for their commitment to eliminate their gas chamber.
Read MoreSoring Violations Abound Among Walking Horse Industry Leaders, Competitors
Following the announcement of the new board of directors of the Walking Horse Trainers Association, The Humane Society of the United States released research into the board members’ past violations of the federal Horse Protection Act. The act outlaws “soring,” the abusive methods used to force Tennessee walking show horses and other related breeds to […]
Read MoreChina destroys seized ivory in symbolic move
Guangdong, China — The Chinese government today destroyed 6.15 tonnes of elephant ivory seized from illegal trade in a move signalling that China is firmly behind international action to address rampant elephant poaching and illegal ivory trade. The country is the world’s biggest consumer of trafficked ivory, most of which comes from elephants killed in […]
Read MoreChimpanzee Cooking Class?
Scientists from the University of Portsmouth have discovered that chimpanzees acquire food preparation techniques by observing and learning from others – a trait the scientists claim to be an essential component of “culture.” As published in the journal Animal Cognition, Bruce Rawlings and Dr. Marina Davila-Ross studied three separate groups of chimpanzees at the Chimfunshi […]
Read MoreDr. Lori Marino Talks about the Science of the Nonhuman Rights Project
On December 7, 2013 Lori Marino spoke on “The Science of the Nonhuman Rights Project” at the Personhood Beyond the Human conference at Yale University. The Personhood Beyond the Human conference was organized by the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies, the Interdisciplinary Center for Bioethics at Yale University, Yale’s Animal Ethics Group and Yale’s […]
Read MoreSteven M. Wise Talks about Legal Personhood at the IEET Conference
On December 7, 2013 Steve Wise spoke on “The Nonhuman Rights Project: The Struggle for Legal Personhood for Nonhuman Animals” at the Personhood Beyond the Human conference at Yale University. The Personhood Beyond the Human conference was organized by the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies, the Interdisciplinary Center for Bioethics at Yale University, Yale’s […]
Read MoreSnow Leopard cubs a sign of hope for species on the brink
Images of two snow leopard cubs frolicking in the remote mountains of Siberia is evidence that the once decimated population is bouncing back. The photos from camera traps partly financed by WWF were captured in the Argut River Valley in eastern Russia. The area is estimated to have been home to nearly 40 individuals at […]
Read MoreSnow leopard successfully collared in Nepal’s Himalayas
Kathmandu, Nepal – Nepal created new strides in snow leopard conservation with the historic collaring of a snow leopard using satellite GPS technology in Kangchenjunga Conservation Area in the Sacred Himalayan Landscape. The snow leopard, an adult male approximately five years of age, weighing 40kg and with a body length of 193cm was captured, […]
Read MoreIn pictures: Rare feathered visitors
An “incredible run of spectacular birds” in the Western Isles.
Read MoreIn pictures: Rare feathered visitors
An “incredible run of spectacular birds” in the Western Isles.
Read MoreA Whale of a Feast
You’re not the only one that had a full belly after Thanksgiving. Unprecedented numbers of humpback whales have been gorging themselves for the last few months in the waters around Monterey Bay, California. An unusually high abundance of anchovies drew the hungry crowd and has kept them there far longer than normal for this time […]
Read MoreFrench president calls on the “conscience of consumer countries” to end wildlife criminality
French President François Hollande called on the “conscience of consumer countries” to put an end to the rampant poaching of elephants and rhinos in Africa, during a speech to African presidents on Thursday. “These are countries for which we have great respect. We want to … alert them of the consequences of this consumption, which […]
Read MoreElephant poaching remains alarmingly high despite modest decline
Although the number of African elephants killed for their tusks declined slightly last year after worldwide recognition of the severity of the wildlife crime epidemic, the rates remain unacceptably high, conservation group WWF says. UN data released today shows that an estimated 22,000 elephants were slaughtered by poachers across Africa in 2012, down from the previous […]
Read MoreIn pictures: Burma’s undiscovered bugs
Undiscovered insects and spiders have been recorded by filmmakers.
Read MoreIn pictures: Burma’s undiscovered bugs
Undiscovered insects and spiders have been recorded by filmmakers.
Read MoreLeonardo DiCaprio Foundation donates $3 million to help WWF double Nepal’s tiger population
On the third anniversary of the historic Global Tiger Summit the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation has awarded a $3 million grant to WWF for a bold initiative to help Nepal double its wild tiger numbers by 2022 – the next Chinese Year of the Tiger. The grant will bolster WWF’s work with the government of Nepal […]
Read MoreUS follows Gabon’s lead in fight against ivory traffickers
The United States on Thursday publicly destroyed six tons of confiscated elephant ivory tusks, following a precedent set by Gabon when the country’s president Ali Bongo personally set fire to its seized ivory stock in June 2012. “Gabon was the first country, to send a clear and loud signal that it is determined to put […]
Read MoreSaola rediscovered! ‘Asian Unicorn’ sighted in Vietnam for first time in 15 years
The saola, one of the rarest and most threatened mammals on the planet, has been photographed in Vietnam for the first time in the 21st century. The enigmatic species was caught on film in September by a camera trap set by WWF and the Vietnamese government’s Forest Protection Department in the Central Annamite mountains. “When […]
Read MoreGiant armadillos provide for others
Giant armadillos burrows provide for many other species
Read MoreGiant armadillos provide for others
Giant armadillos burrows provide for many other species
Read More7 Gorilla Facts You Should Know
Gorillas, the largest living primates, make their homes in central and east Africa. They function in a well-developed social structure and often exhibit behavior and emotions similar to the human experience, including laughter and sadness. Poaching, disease and habitat destruction remain threats for gorillas, and WWF is working to designate new protected areas where populations […]
Read MoreSeeing Nature Up Close Inspires Work in the Halls of Government
Working in international wildlife policy at WWF, I don’t get out to the field as much as my colleagues. I’m removed from it, much like most of the world is removed from it. But last March an incredibly inspiring moment in Baja, Mexico—where I traveled to see some of WWF’s projects involving sea turtles and […]
Read MoreWildlife Photography: Tips for Beginners
Improve your wildlife photography with our top tips
Read MoreNo REDD in Africa Network: Africans Unite against New Form of Colonialism
No REDD in Africa Network: Africans Unite against New Form of Colonialism Wednesday, 03 April 2013 Outraged by the rampant land grabs and neocolonialism of REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest degradation), Africans at the World Social Forum in Tunisia took the historic decision to launch the No REDD in Africa Network and join […]
Read MoreLazy lion king? Remote sensing sheds light on lion male hunting behavior
Lazy lion king? Remote sensing sheds light on lion male hunting behavior Thursday, 28 March 2013 A recent study conducted on lion hunting behaviour suggests there is gender equality despite being a strongly sexually dimorphic species. The results help to redefine the long held belief that lionesses do most of the hunting while their male […]
Read MoreSouth Africa and China sign MoU aimed at promoting cooperation on Wetland and Desert Ecosystems and Wildlife Conservation
South Africa and China sign MoU aimed at promoting cooperation on Wetland and Desert Ecosystems and Wildlife Conservation Thursday, 28 March 2013 The fight against rhino poaching was given a further shot in the arm this week with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between South Africa and the People’s Republic of China […]
Read MoreKenya: Poachers Strike on Ol Pejeta Conservancy
Kenya: Poachers Strike on Ol Pejeta Conservancy Monday, 25 March 2013 Nanyuki, Kenya – As the triennial Conference of Parties of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) drew to a close last week in Bangkok, and after conservationists all around the world sounded the alarm on rhino […]
Read MoreCritically Endangered Cross River Gorilla Silverback Killed in Cameroon
Critically Endangered Cross River Gorilla Silverback Killed in Cameroon Saturday, 23 March 2013 A male Cross River Gorilla has been shot earlier this month in the Lebialem Highlands near Pinyin in the Santa Sub Division of North West Cameroon. The presence of this silverback gorilla was reported by a local teacher who was going to […]
Read MoreCongo Forests Need Elephants to Survive
Congo Forests Need Elephants to Survive Thursday, 21 March 2013 Without intervention elephant poaching in the Congo may lead to more devastating effects than the extinction of one of the last megafauna on earth, with researchers predicting widespread implications for biodiversity in the region. The diminishing forest elephant population in Salonga National Park, a World […]
Read MoreKenya: Will showcasing captive whale sharks advance or hinder marine conservation efforts?
Kenya: Will showcasing captive whale sharks advance or hinder marine conservation efforts? Tuesday, 19 March 2013 Protecting a dwindling species, increasing income for a poor community and raising awareness for environmental issues – these are the ambitious objectives of a proposed Indian Ocean Sea Park near Mombasa, Kenya. Will a marine enclosure designed to keep […]
Read MorePoachers in South West Chad kill 86 elephants, including 33 pregnant females
Poachers in South West Chad kill 86 elephants, including 33 pregnant females Tuesday, 19 March 2013 Eighty-six elephants were killed in the last week close to Fianga, an area in Chad nearby the Cameroon border; the latest devastating elephant massacre. Wildlife officials said armed gangs killed the elephants, including 33 pregnant females, and their tusks […]
Read MoreKenyan Government Moves Quickly to Push Lamu Port Through, Circumventing Local People and Kenyan Law
Kenyan Government Moves Quickly to Push Lamu Port Through, Circumventing Local People and Kenyan Law Tuesday, 19 March 2013 Though the presidential election still remains in dispute in Kenya, with the opposition charging fraudulent and erroneous voting, the left hand of the government is busy pushing forward the multi-billion dollar project to build a second […]
Read MoreTrans-border Crime Threatens Congo Basin Biodiversity
Trans-border Crime Threatens Congo Basin Biodiversity Tuesday, 19 March 2013 Countries of the Congo Basin now face a new threat to biodiversity. Crimes across national borders within the Central African Forest Commission (COMIFAC) are seriously undermining conservation efforts, creating the necessity to merge vital economic growth with social and environmental considerations.
Read MoreColumbus Zoo and Aquarium Honors Claudine André with their Commitment to Conservation Award
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Honors Claudine André with their Commitment to Conservation Award Monday, 18 March 2013 Claudine André, President of Les Amis des Bonobos du Congo (ABC) and Founding Director of Lola ya Bonobo, the world’s only sanctuary for the endangered bonobo, will be honored with a $50,000 prize from the Columbus Zoo and […]
Read MoreAtama Plantations SARL will create largest oil palm plantation in Congo Basin
Atama Plantations SARL will create largest oil palm plantation in Congo Basin Sunday, 17 March 2013 Half a million hectares of industrial oil palm expansion projects are getting underway in the Congo Basin rainforest, which will result in a fivefold increase in the area of active large-scale palm plantations in the region, according to Seeds […]
Read MoreTanzania: Illegal logging rages, blamed on corruption
Tanzania: Illegal logging rages, blamed on corruption Friday, 15 March 2013 Illegal logging is refusing to die in some parts of Tanzania while flourishing in others mainly owing to corruption among dishonest forest officials and loopholes at checkpoints, a recent survey by this paper shows.
Read MoreGovernments start to rein in ivory and rhino horn trade, give sharks and timbers better protection at wildlife trade meeting
Governments start to rein in ivory and rhino horn trade, give sharks and timbers better protection at wildlife trade meeting Friday, 15 March 2013 Bangkok, Thailand – A critical wildlife trade meeting closed Thursday with decisions from world governments to regulate the international trade in several species of sharks and timber, and to start taking […]
Read MoreCall for Trade Sanctions to Halt Vietnam’s Vast Illegal Rhino Horn Trade: Vietnamese Diplomats and Criminal Syndicates Driving Poaching
Call for Trade Sanctions to Halt Vietnam’s Vast Illegal Rhino Horn Trade: Vietnamese Diplomats and Criminal Syndicates Driving Poaching Tuesday, 12 March 2013 Environmentalists are today calling for trade sanctions against Vietnam for its failure to take action against its massive illegal trade in rhino horn. The 177 nations currently Party to the Convention of […]
Read MoreGabon: 15 traffickers and elephant poachers arrested
Gabon: 15 traffickers and elephant poachers arrested Saturday, 02 March 2013 Conservation Justice worked with the Gabon Judicial Police to arrest elephant poachers based on their investigations in Gabon. 15 traffickers and elephant poachers in the Woleu-Ntem province and 3 in Nyanga province were arrested in February and are currently behind bars in the Woleu-Ntem […]
Read MoreWWF Launches New iPad App to Bring the World’s Most Amazing Animals ‘Together’
Now available for free in the iTunes App Store, WWF Together is an interactive experience that brings you closer to the stories of elephants, whales, rhinos and other fascinating species. Discover their lives and the work of WWF in a way you’ve never seen before. Try out “tiger vision,” stay as still as the polar […]
Read MoreConservation Win for Whales
South Korea officially announced this week that it would not begin “scientific” whaling—the killing whales for scientific research—of minke whales this year and would instead use non-lethal methods to conduct research. WWF is pleased with this decision, and sees this as a conservation victory for the endangered population of whales. Voices speak up for whales In […]
Read MoreGood News for Mountain Gorillas
A population increase for mountain gorillas is proof that the intense and innovative efforts of the conservation community are bringing positive change. A recent census by the Uganda Wildlife Authority identified 400 mountain gorillas in Bwindi National Park bringing the overall population estimate to 880, an increase from the 786 estimated in 2010. This exciting […]
Read MoreKimathi University ventures into wildlife conservancy trade
Kimathi University ventures into wildlife conservancy trade Monday, 12 November 2012 The first ever wildlife conservancy managed by a learning institution in Kenya has been launched in Nyeri. Kimathi University College of Technology, a constituent of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), has opened Kimathi Wildlife Conservancy to the public.
Read MoreNew Hope for Marine Life
The Government of Mozambique announced today the creation of the second largest marine protected area in Africa. Made up of ten islands off the coast of northern Mozambique, this coastal marine reserve in the Primeiras and Segundas Archipelago will cover more than 4020 square miles and contains abundant coral and turtle species. WWF has worked […]
Read MoreSouth Africa: TRONOX start mining construction in Mtunzini wetlands without EIA
South Africa: TRONOX start mining construction in Mtunzini wetlands without EIA Sunday, 21 October 2012 The pace of events has increased dramatically since the last SOS No. 12 in July where we communicated the fact that the DAEA (Department of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs) had authorised the mine in terms of NEMA (National Environment Management […]
Read MoreKenya: Masai Mara staring into the face of disaster
Kenya: Masai Mara staring into the face of disaster Tuesday, 25 September 2012 Kenya’s premier safari destination, Masai Mara national reserve has been the pillar of the Sh100 billion tourism sector for decades. But the national reserve that is famed for its annual wildebeest’s migration could soon be just pale shadow of itself, as the effects […]
Read MoreZimbabwe: Officials Defy Order to Stop Hunting in Save Valley Conservancy
Zimbabwe: Officials Defy Order to Stop Hunting in Save Valley Conservancy Monday, 24 September 2012 Some senior Zanu-PF and Government officials who received hunting licences and quotas for the Save Valley Conservancy have continued with the activities in defiance of the Politburo’s decision to stop them. Observers believe the officials are taking advantage of a vacuum […]
Read MoreLiberian forests to be flattened by secret logging contracts
Liberian forests to be flattened by secret logging contracts Tuesday, 04 September 2012 A quarter of Liberia’s total landmass has been granted to logging companies in just two years, following an explosion in the use of secretive and often illegal logging permits, an investigation by Global Witness, Save My Future Foundation (SAMFU) and Sustainable Development […]
Read MoreWhale Encounter Illustrates Urgent Need to Keep Waters Healthy
We hit the trifecta. After an 18-hour boat ride through the wild waters of the Pacific, we reached Magdalena Bay, Mexico. The water was still. The sky was solid blue. We were told by our guides that dozens of gray whales, each just a few weeks old, were in this part of the bay and […]
Read MoreMonks Rally for Mekong Dolphins
Saffron clad Buddhist monks lead a pilgrimage through Koh Pdao, a small village along the Mekong River in Cambodia. Dozens of villagers follow, displaying banners and posters of the rare Irrawaddy dolphin. The rare dolphins, characterized by rounded heads and no beak, are getting increasingly harder to spot: Just 85 are estimated to exist in […]
Read MoreA Pivotal Moment for Commercial Whaling
Since 1986, there has been an internationally agreed upon moratorium on commercial whaling. This ban, imposed by the intergovernmental International Whaling Commission (IWC) has been hugely important to stabilizing whale populations worldwide. But a few countries have elected to ignore, or find ways around the ban. Now, the U.S. Government is considering […]
Read MoreWWF Mourns Death of Virunga National Park Ranger
WWF is saddened by the death of Magayane Bazirushaka, a Virunga National Park ranger in the Democratic Republic of Congo, who was killed when a foot patrol was ambushed on Friday, April 8. The 15-member patrol was on the lookout for illegal charcoal production in the national park, famed as one of the last refuges […]
Read MoreProtecting tropical trees in Sumatra
A series of biodiversity surveys in Indonesia’s Kerinci Seblat National Park are helping scientists develop conservation action plans to protect endemic species. Fauna & Flora International’s Indonesian team are conducting a series of biodiversity surveys in the tropical forests of Kerinci Seblat National Park near Jambi, on the island of Sumatra. The lush, tropical national […]
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