“As if timing his arrival to perfectly coincide with 2012-13 as International Year of the Rhino, Sumatran rhino calf “Andatu” was born at the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary in the wee hours of 23 J…”
Source: fightforrhinos.com
GR: Here is an opportunity to pick up a holiday gift and help rhinos.
5. Seals and sea lions are scapegoated and shot by commercial fishermen and their lackeys who blame the marine mammals for dwindling fish populations. It’s the same “all here for us” mentality that…
Go to the source for reasons 1 – 4.
Photo by Jim Robertson
Source: exposingthebiggame.wordpress.com
GR: Marine and freshwater creatures are declining due to pollution and over use. Extended health of Earth water systems requires a balance. In simplest terms, this means that every 200 pounds of fish taken from the ocean should be replaced by 200 pounds of human. Of course, the oceans, lakes, and streams can recover from small disturbances, from small pollution and small harvest. No one believes our impact is small. Another reason not to eat fish is to give the life of our water systems a chance to recover a healthy balance.
“Police, who were acting on a tip-off, conducted a night operation which saw the manger of the yard Abdulkalim Sadiq, arrested. Mombasa police boss Geoffrey Mayiek, who led the operation, said the consignment was packed in sacks ready for shipment out of the country via the Mombasa port.
“Police and Kenya Wildlife Services officers suspect the tusks were from at least 114 elephants from different national parks in the country including the Tsavo national park.”
See on allafrica.com
The meeting is in Prescott, AZ on Thursday, June 5.
“The health of these grasslands is critical for a number of species,” said Dee Kephart, habitat specialist for the Game and Fish Department’s Region 3 office.
The agencies signed the grasslands strategy in 2010 and update it every year so they can work together on common goals. The strategy covers about 750,000 acres and uses pronghorn antelope as an indicator species about the health of local grasslands.
“Pronghorn are an ideal species to examine because they are so closely tied to this type of habitat,” Kephart said. “They are heavily dependant on their eyesight, so open spaces are critical.”
North America’s central grasslands are considered one of the most threatened ecosystems on the continent and in the world, the strategy notes.
See on www.prescottaz.com
See on elephantopia.org
See on www.nikela.org
“For generations we have wilfully destroyed natural habitats and caused a global species crisis,” said Neale. “In an attempt to rectify this appalling situation, we convince ourselves it is okay to keep wild animals in captivity so that we can ‘educate’ people about the threats to their survival, with the belief that displaying animals in unnatural environments and, in a number of cases, training them to perform for our entertainment, will help to reverse this downward spiral.
“This approach needs a fundamental shift if we are to prevent the further destruction of habitats and loss of species we are currently experiencing. Children must learn about nature and the need to protect it by experiencing nature for themselves, and this experience must be within the natural environment and not within the confines of a concrete and wire enclosure.
“Hong Kong is home to almost 3,000 varieties of flowering plants, and more than 2,000 moth, 110 dragonfly and 230 butterfly species. It is home to many native birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals.
“This includes two resident cetaceans, the Chinese white dolphin and the finless porpoise.
“As educators we should foster empathy and respect for this rich array of native wildlife, and use this empathy and respect as a springboard for our children to learn about other non-native species.
“We must ensure our children are aware of their presence and the threats they face. Our children can then think about the choices they can make to help to protect and conserve these species within their natural environment.
“Having another zoo in Hong Kong would create the opposite scenario, teaching children that it is acceptable to keep animals outside their natural habitats, and for us to manage individual animals’ lives so that we are able to view them for our own pleasure and entertainment.
“Animals Asia Foundation is opposed to the development of another zoo in Hong Kong. It urges the government to ensure that all schoolchildren have access to humane education opportunities that develop a connection with the native wildlife of Hong Kong, ensuring that the next generation can find the necessary solutions to the current national and international biodiversity crisis which has been created by this one.”
See on http://www.wildlifeextra.com
So much has been lost in the human assault on nature that recovery seems unlikely until after we are gone. But read Kevin Franck’s post and stay tuned for his promised conclusion for ideas on what we can do.
A new visitor to my lawn this spring, a Western Wood Peewee, has begun capturing the aerial insects on the west side of the house. Two pairs of Black Phoebes (Sayornis nigricans) patrolled the yards last year. Until four years ago, my pastures were irrigated and there was only one Phoebe pair in the yard. Others hunted over the pastures and ponds. Peewees sometimes perched on the pasture fence, but I never saw one in the yard before this year. Now the pastures are all dry and some crowding is inevitable, but will three flycatcher families be too many?
The Western and Eastern Wood Peewees are very similar. Both have relatively short legs and dull eye rings, but their songs are distinctive. Of course the WWP is best :).
This Peewee is ranked S5 by the Arizona Game and Fish Department, meaning that it is not in danger of extinction. As the regional drought continues, however, this and many other species that prefer riparian areas may begin to decline. Read more about Arizona bird conservation status.
GarryRogers Nature Conservation 