Animals

Zimbabwe Rhino Poacher Sentenced to 17 Years: Turning Point At Last?

January 15, 2010

The Masvingo regional court has sentenced a member of the Mazhongwe rhino poaching gang to 17 years in prison for killing an endangered rhino. Justice – at last: Zimbabwe rhino poacher Tichaona Mutyairi has been sentenced to 17 years in jail for killing a rhino and firing on police in October 2009. After years of letting the killers walk free, could this case finally be the turning point in the war against rhino poaching in Zimbabwe?

Antibiotic Resistant Genes Increasing in Soil Microbes

December 31, 2009

Chemical structure of the antibiotic tetracycline–one of the four classes of antibiotics that sampled soil microbes showed increased resistance to in the 2009 Study. The prevalence of antibiotic resistant genes (ARG) in soil bacteria has been increasing steadily over the past seven decades, despite tighter controls on the use of antibiotics for agricultural purposes (in Europe). This is according to a recent benchmark study/analysis* of soil samples from five sites in the Netherlands. The research team, lead by David Graham…

Canned Hunting Ban: Breeders Threaten Mass Lion Slaughter

December 29, 2009

South Africa is under fire from breeders to ban its controversial canned hunting of captive lions. The barbaric “sport” of canned hunting means an animal is hunted in a small space, with no chance of escape. Lions are bred for the sole purpose of being shot.

‘Cybugs’ Are All the Buzz – D.A.R.P.A. Funds Spying Beetles

December 28, 2009

In what is being touted as the first time humans have remotely controlled insects, University of California at Berkeley engineers successfully implanted radio-equipped, “miniature neural stimulation” systems into flying beetles–most notably, the “elephant” beetle Megasoma elephas (pictured above), which can grow up to 20 cm (about 7 + inches) in length.

2 Rhinos Killed in Kaziranga By Poachers Posing As Park Visitors

December 21, 2009

Two greater one-horned rhinos were found murdered with their horns missing inside India’s Kaziranga National Park – and authorities believe it was the work of poachers posing as park visitors. Forest guards covering the Agartoli range of Kaziranga National Park have discovered the bodies of a male and female rhino – both with their horns removed. Officials say the killers simply entered the park posing as visitors.

Precious Cargo: Extremely Rare Rhinos Prepared for Move from Czech Zoo to Kenya

December 17, 2009

Four of the world’s eight surviving Northern white rhinos are about to be flown from ZOO Dvůr Králové in the Czech Republic to Kenya’s Ol Pejeta Conservancy. This weekend, Northern white rhinos Sudan, Suni, Najin, and Fatu will begin the journey of a lifetime: A new life in Kenya – and the last hope for one of earth’s rarest creatures.

Texas Raid: Largest Exotic Animal Seizure in US

December 17, 2009

Officials seized thousands of exotic animals from a Texas business earlier this week in what is being considered as the largest animal seizure in the United States. Officials seized nearly 20,000 exotic animals from Arlington-based U.S. Global Exotics after receiving a tip from federal authorities who were conducting an undercover investigation at the same location.

Bird Feeders Alter Migration Patterns, Detrimental to Evolution

December 5, 2009

Bird feeders have become a big trend in North America and Europe, especially those areas that face cooler winters with changing seasons. Many feel like they’re doing birds a favor by offering them feeders with seed to feed them during the winter when resources aren’t as plentiful; but a new study has showed that this behavior can change migration patterns and is in turn, detrimental to the evolution of the species.

Ancestors of Mammals May Have Survived Largest Mass-Extinction in History in Antarctica

December 4, 2009

The largest mass-extinction in the world is considered to have happened about 252 million years ago due to quick global warming or climate change. A new study shows how some ancestors of mammals are believed to have survived this mass-extinction. Jörg Fröbisch and Kenneth Angielczyk from The Field Museum along with Christian Sidor from the University of Washington have recently identified the fossil remains of such a species in Antarctica.

Impacts of Climate Change on Arctic Wildlife and Ecosystems

November 28, 2009

Polar bears on the sea ice of the Arctic ocean, near the North Pole. While changes in Earth ecosystems from predicted warming have been reported in nearly all biomes (biological communities), recent climate change seems to be impacting the Arctic region the most. As Arctic temperatures rise, precipitation rates, and snow/ice cover volumes, begin to change as well. In some cases, this has lead to an increase in vegetation (shrubs and grasses), which can have the beneficial effect of reducing…

Alberta’s Record Size Wolf: Fact or Fiction?

November 27, 2009

There’s an email currently circulating around that features a wolf shot in the Drayton Valley area in Alberta, Canada. There’s no doubting that if the photograph is real, it could be one of the biggest on record, though an official weight has yet to be documented.

Startled Snake Spits Out New Chameleon Species!

November 24, 2009

A snake in Tanzania was enjoying a leisurely bite to eat, when a scientist walked nearby. The startled twig snake spit out the undigested meal and sped off, leaving the dead lizard at the feet of Dr. Andrew R. Marshall, a scientist from the University of York’s Environment Department.

1st High Seas Marine Protected Area in Southern Ocean — More Diverse than Galapagos Islands

November 24, 2009

Fishing and refuse disposal are to be banned in the 1st high seas Marine Protected Area (MPA) in the Southern Ocean, an area of the ocean that contains more species than the Galapagos Islands. This will allow scientists to monitor the effects of climate change in this region. This is only the first of possibly twelve such areas.

The Last Lion in Kenya

November 23, 2009

The lion cub pictured above is named Gabriella and lives at an animal orphanage in Nairobi. The Pride of Kenya website reports she lives there because she was left parentless due to a human-lion conflict. (Presumably this explanation means her mother was killed by humans). The post about her goes on to say that her life expectancy in captivity is about 22 years.