tagged w/ Endangered Species Videos & Endangered Species News
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"Proposals to ban trade in bluefin tuna and polar bears were overwhelmingly rejected yesterday at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites), meeting in Doha, Qatar.
A plan for a 20-year ban on ivory sales, to protect African elephants, is also likely to fail in the coming days — partly because Britain and other members of the EU are refusing to support it. Delegates are instead expected to approve a weak compromise, which would encourage poaching by allowing the sale of ivory being stored by several African nations."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article7067909.ece
This is very sad, let's stop this greed and take action now:
http://www.bloodyivory.org/petition
Join the Organic Movement:
http://current.com/groups/organicgreen/"Proposals to ban trade in bluefin tuna and polar bears were overwhelmingly... more
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"Hundreds of butterflies, beetles and dragonflies are at risk of extinction across Europe with almost one-third of 435 butterfly species in decline, scientists have warned.
The loss of habitat caused by intensive farming, climate change, forest fires and the expansion of tourism is threatening with extinction 14% of dragonflies, 11% of saproxylic beetles and 9% of butterflies within Europe, according to the European red list report for the European commission.
'When talking about threatened species, people tend to think of larger, more charismatic creatures such as pandas or tigers, but we mustn't forget that the small species on our planet are just as important,' said Jane Smart of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the conservation group which produced the report. 'Butterflies, for instance, play a hugely pivotal role as pollinators in the ecosystems in which they live.' "
When is the big Ag going to understand that soon its chemicals and logging will kill any future production?
Then, there won't be any more hailing greed but only poverty and survival.
Join the Organic Movement:
http://current.com/groups/organicgreen/"Hundreds of butterflies, beetles and dragonflies are at risk of extinction... more
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Of course it is a wonderful story... who wouldn't love Owen (the hippo) & Mzee (tortoise)?
In December 2004, a frightened young hippo, separated from his family by a devastating tsunami, bonded with an Aldabra tortoise named Mzee. The 130 year-old tortoise accepted Owen as his own, and an inseparable bond was forged. Watch the Documentary.
Please visit: http://www.owenandmzee.com/omweb/ for current info about these sweeties.Of course it is a wonderful story... who wouldn't love Owen (the hippo) &... more
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Florida Fish and Wildlife officials said bear-resistant trash cans are the solution for black bears coming in contact with people.
Experts said trash lures them out of the woods, and cutting off that supply will have bears looking elsewhere for food.
The FWC is trying to convince state and local governments to work with waste management to help provide these specialized garbage cans to residents living near bears.
However, the FWC admits convincing local government to buy into the program hasn't been easy because the containers aren't cheap.
"Speak to both your political representatives and your waste management companies, and make it known that you want them,” said Tom Shupe from FWC. “It can take some time to get it going, but we ask you to ask your provider to see if they can't get these for you."
Background
As development encroaches on bear habitat, it is not unusual for bears to be seen near human populations, but it does not necessarily represent a problem.
When black bears have access to pet food, garbage, bird seed, livestock feed or food items, they learn very quickly to associate people with food. Once this occurs, bears lose their natural fear of people, which could lead to property damage or personal injury. While we have not had a predatory attack on a person in Florida, people have been bitten and scratched by bears in defense of themselves, cubs or food.
Black bears are not generally aggressive. However, they are large, powerful wild animals and common sense dictates that humans keep a safe distance.
It is illegal to intentionally or unintentionally feed black bears in Florida.
The majority of calls received by the FWC regarding black bears involve bears that have been fed by humans, either intentionally or unintentionally.
Franklin County, which is located in the panhandle, is the first in the state to provide residents with wildlife-resistant containers.
The Florida black bear is listed as a threatened species in almost all areas of Florida, although its population has increased in recent years. It is estimated there are 2,500 to 3,000 bears in Florida. It is not federally listed under the Endangered Species Act.
http://www.cfnews13.com/News/Local/2010/3/9/fwc_pushing_for_bearresistant_trash_cans.htmlFlorida Fish and Wildlife officials said bear-resistant trash cans are the solution... more
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PUT DOWN THAT COOKIE!
That's right.
The 'dirty' little ingredient that is killing orangutans and causing deforestation is found in, but certainly not limited to:
Cookies, biscuits, butter, ice cream, potato chips, energy bars... household cleaning products, cosmetics, personal care products...
It is a never ending list of consumer products that contain one of the MANY forms of the 'palm' plant.
YouTube - Orangutan rescue and rehabilitation project, Borneo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8OkUFwX2o8
VISIT: RAN.ORG "THE PROBLEM WITH PALM" FOR A LIST OF PRODUCTS AND COMPANIES THAT REFUSE TO STOP USING PALM.PUT DOWN THAT COOKIE!
That's right.
The 'dirty' little... more
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Palm oil may be the cheapest form of vegetable oil monetarily, but the cost of such a product could be the extinction of our cousin, the Orangutan. The palm oil industry not only depletes their habitat, but also is the cause of many orangutan deaths due to being burned in the clearing of older growth, or for simply being a "nuisance" to loggers.
Read more at link
http://news.bbc.co.uk/panorama/hi/front_page/newsid_8523000/8523999.stmPalm oil may be the cheapest form of vegetable oil monetarily, but the cost of such a... more
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Conservationists Thursday hailed a breakthrough in efforts to save the critically endangered Sumatran rhino after a female called Ratu became pregnant in captivity.
Tests on Tuesday revealed that eight-year-old Ratu was carrying a calf after mating with Andalas, the first of only three Sumatran rhinos born in captivity over the past 112 years, experts said.Conservationists Thursday hailed a breakthrough in efforts to save the critically... more
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Giant pandas are iconic, not only due to their distinctive good looks, but also due to the fact that their vulnerability and endangered status is the result of habitat loss, very low birth rates, and the detrimental effects of mankind. If you've ever wanted to gain some insight into their lives, now's the time -- take a peek inside...
http://www.greenwala.com/community/blogs/all/4680-10-Interesting-Facts-About-Panda-BearsGiant pandas are iconic, not only due to their distinctive good looks, but also due to... more
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GDF Suez and the destruction of Brazil's Madeira River - The Madeira River in the Brazilian Amazon is under threat due to the construction of the Jirau dam by the French multinational corporation GDF Suez.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSlxpUNw8bc&feature=channelGDF Suez and the destruction of Brazil's Madeira River - The Madeira River in the... more
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Manatee Supporters: We Need Your Help!
Please Ask Governor Crist to Put Florida Forever Funding in His Budget!
The Issue:
In 2008, the Florida Legislature passed legislation that was signed into law by Governor Charlie Crist, approving $300 million annually for the next 10 years to fund Florida Forever. Unfortunately, despite this legislative authorization, no money was allocated to Florida Forever during the 2009 legislative session for fiscal year 2009-2010. With your help, we’re hoping to get Florida Forever back in the governor’s budget for 2010-2011.
A very small appropriation can ensure the following: that Florida Forever will continue, that landowners will be able to negotiate with the state in full faith, and that the most critical pieces of wild Florida will continue to be protected. A commitment of $15 million from the governor (a mere 0.0002% of his $66 billion budget), would allow the state to borrow up to $300 million to allow Florida Forever to continue protecting Florida’s wild places.
A commitment of only $5 million would allow the state to borrow up to $100 million for Florida Forever. With land prices down, there has never been a better time to purchase conservation land in Florida and we need to take advantage of this opportunity!
(please follow linked page to read & sign)
http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5215/t/2606/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=2315Manatee Supporters: We Need Your Help!
Please Ask Governor Crist to Put Florida... more
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(2009-12-22) - A record 419 manatees have died so far this year in Florida, and the year’s not over yet.
One of the biggest killers of manatees are boats, which share Florida’s bays and waterways.
The recession may be leading to more of these collisions, according to Katie Tripp, Director of Science and Conservation for the Save the Manatee Club.
“People have not stopped using their boats altogether, but they’ve stopped taking those longer trips,” she said. “So instead of going offshore, they’re staying in the intercoastal waterways and in those inland waters. You’re putting more boats where there are more manatees.
As of early December, 94 manatees have been killed by boats -- just one manatee shy of breaking the record for manatees/boat collision deaths.
Tripp says it’s up to boaters to look for subtle clues which show manatees are near.
“As they move their tail up and down, manatees leave a footprint on the water, a sort of circular swirl. You might also see their nose break the surface when they come to breathe, or actually hear them breathe,” she said.
The 419 deaths is two more than the previous record, set in 2006.
Cold weather last winter also helped lead to more manatee deaths. And a record number of newborn manatees – more than 100 – died this year.
Still, Florida’s manatee population is more than twice as high as it was 20 years ago, with an estimated 3,800 manatees statewide.(2009-12-22) - A record 419 manatees have died so far this year in Florida, and the... more
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Federal Study: Manatee Death Rate Is Seven Times Sustainable Level
Boat Strikes Are Preventing Species' Recovery
SAN FRANCISCO— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has finalized new stock assessments for manatees that puts the population of Florida manatees at about 3,800 and a Puerto Rico population at 72. The stock-assessment reports resulted from settlement of a lawsuit brought by the Center for Biological Diversity that sought updated assessments, since the Service had flouted its duty under the Marine Mammal Protection Act to publish yearly reports for more than a decade.
“The Fish and Wildlife Service’s population assessment shows that boats are carelessly killing manatees,” said Miyoko Sakashita, an attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity. “Clearly, far too little is being done to protect these endangered manatees in Florida.”
According to the Service’s stock-assessment report on the Florida manatee population, each year about 87 manatees are killed by humans in the state. This is more than seven times the number of manatees that the Service estimates can be killed without impairing the species’ recovery. Boats are the primary threat to manatees, which are frequently struck and killed, or seriously injured, by speeding vessels. Almost 90 percent of the manatees killed by humans were a result of such boat strikes. Manatees are also threatened by water-diversion structures such as dams and entanglement in marine debris, including derelict fishing gear.
“The one thing everyone should be able to agree on is that manatees in Florida and Puerto Rico need more protection from boat collisions to allow them to survive and recover,” said Sakashita.
Stock assessments are required under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and are meant to be used as the basis for management decisions such as those permitting the killing or harassment of the animals by commercial fisheries, oil and gas exploration, boating and shipping, and military exercises.
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The Center for Biological Diversity is a nonprofit conservation organization with more than 240,000 members and online activists dedicated to protecting endangered species and wild places. http://twww.biologicaldiversity.org
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Descriptions of Manatee Death Categories - Manatee deaths are broken down into eight categories based on gross, histological, and microbiological findings.
The Top 3 Causes of Manatee Death (NOTE - all are PREVENTABLE)
Watercraft: Manatees hit by boats, barges or any type of watercraft. Death may result from propeller wounds, impact, crushing, or any combination of the three.
Crushed/Drowned in Flood Gate or Canal Lock: Manatees killed by crushing or asphyxiation in flood gates and canal locks.
Other Human-Related: Manatee deaths caused by vandalism, poaching, entrapment in pipes and culverts, complications due to entanglement in ropes, lines, and nets, or ingestion of fishing gear or debris.
More Resources, Information & Links
Quantitative Threats Analysis for the Florida Manatee, http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/resshow/manatee/, authored by U.S. Geological Survey and FWC researchers.) http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/resshow/manatee/
NEWS RELEASE:
12.5% of all Florida manatees killed in 2009
As many as 419 manatees have been found dead since Jan. 1, the highest number on record for a calendar year.http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/wilderness-resources/stories/125-of-all-florida-manatees-killed-in-2009
FWC documents record number of manatee deaths http://myfwc.com/NEWSROOM/09/statewide/News_09_X_ManateeDeaths09.htm
2009 Preliminary Manatee Mortality Report, October 1-December 11 (80 kb)
http://research.myfwc.com/engine/download_redirection_process.asp?file=Dec21.pdf&objid=19105&dltype=article
http://research.myfwc.com/features/view_article.asp?id=6780
VIDEOS & LINKS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbCPiD1NjeQ
http://www.defenders.org/wildlife_and_habitat/wildlife/manatee.phpFederal Study: Manatee Death Rate Is Seven Times Sustainable Level
Boat Strikes Are... more
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*One fifth of all greenhouse gas emissions come from deforestation. Left intact, the tropical rainforests of the Congo, the Amazon, and Inonesia act like a mighty set of planetary lungs, absorbing CO2 from human activity.
HONORING A TRUE HERO!
René Ngongo recieves award for his work to save the forests of the Congo.
René Ngongo, Greenpeace Africa Political Advisor and civil society activist for 18 years, today received the Right Livelihood Award at the Swedish Parliament for his dedicated, and at times dangerous, work in defending the rights and livelihood of Democratic Republic of Congo’s forest communities.
The Right Livelihood Award Foundation recognised Ngongo "for his courage in confronting the forces that are destroying the Congo's rainforests and building political support for their conservation and sustainable use."
Accepting his award, René said “I humbly receive this honour on behalf of many of the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s poor communities for whom the forest is a source of livelihood, a supermarket, a pharmacy and an heirloom. If we do not continue to raise our voices against the destruction of these ancient forests, their future and our very own existence is at stake”.
Wars in the forest
Ngongo has dedicated his life to activism. In the midst of raging conflict, he tirelessly pushed for an end to illegal exploitation of his country’s natural resources, collecting abundant evidence on timber and mineral extraction under sometimes life-threatening conditions. In 1994, Ngongo founded the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s influential environment organisation, OCEAN. Ngongo has been able to build a strong network and momentum for better protection of the world’s second largest rainforest.
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/news/congo-right-livelihood041209*One fifth of all greenhouse gas emissions come from deforestation. Left intact, the... more
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Malaysian wildlife authorities said they have rescued 130 pangolins and arrested two men attempting to smuggle the protected species, destined to be sold to restaurants and medicine shops.
Officials from the Department of Wildlife and National Parks said the two men were detained at a cemetery in central Pahang state, national news agency Bernama said late Saturday.
"The cemetery is believed to be the transit point before the animals are taken to (southern state) Johor and illegally exported to China, Japan and Hong Kong," state department head Khairiah Mohamad Shariff told Bernama.
He added the 130 pangolins seized were worth 40,000 ringgit (11,500 dollars).
Malaysian marine police on Thursday rescued 62 pangolins.
Pangolins are indigenous to the jungles of Indonesia, parts of Malaysia and areas of southern Thailand. The animal's meat is considered a delicacy in China, but it is classified as a protected species under the UN's Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.Malaysian wildlife authorities said they have rescued 130 pangolins and arrested two... more
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Malaysia, the country with the fastest rate of greenhouse gas emissions growth since 1990 among middle and upper income countries, will allow logging to proceed in a contested rainforest area in Sarawak, on the island of Borneo.
The government of Sarawak said it will not recognize the status of a rainforest "peace park" established last month by Penan tribesmen. The park was declared by the Penan as a means to draw attention to their complaints that logging companies continue to decimate their traditional lands. The peace park lies within a zone slated for logging.
Sarawak state forest director and Acting Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Planning and Resource Management, Len Talif Salleh said international media coverage of the peace park "tainted Sarawak's image." He claimed the Penan are being "instigated and manipulated by foreign non-governmental organizations" which displayed a "post-colonial mentality" and have "hidden" agendas.
Headman Jawa Nyipa (center) of Long Ajeng presents a map with the boundaries of the new "“Penan Peace Park"
"The establishment of Penan Peace Park announced by 17 Penan communities at Long Ajeng has no legal basis and is not recognized by the state government," reported The Borneo Post* after a conversation with Len.
The peace park covers some 163,000 hectares of tropical forest in Sarawak's Upper Baram region. The Penan had hoped the park could become a model for community-managed protected areas, according to the Bruno Manser Fund, an NGO that has been supporting the Penan's efforts to fight logging in Sarawak.
* The Borneo Post is owned by the Malaysian KTS logging group, according to the the Bruno Manser Fund.
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FYI: The indigenous peoples are not the only ones falling victim... There is a huge demand in the black market for endangered species. Primates, small mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians...
Wildlife caught in the (illegal) animal-trade are:
- sold as 'pets'
- killed for use in 'traditional' medicines/remedies
- held captive for entertainment (unregulated zoos, circuses)
- sold to research facilities (animal testing laboratories).
FACT: The oil palm industry is responsible for the killing of tens of thousands of orangutans. Killing a single orangutan is illegal in Indonesia, which makes you wonder why not one oil palm company has been prosecuted for the mass slaughter which continues to this day.
HELP SAVE OUR PLANET JUST BY CHOOSING TO BE
A COMPASSIONATE & EDUCATED CONSUMER!
KNOW WHERE WOOD DERIVED PRODUCTS ARE SOURCED (FURNITURE, PHOTO FRAMES, BUILDING MATERIALS, PAPER,...) BEFORE YOU BUY.
http://news.mongabay.com/2009/1216-penan.htmlMalaysia, the country with the fastest rate of greenhouse gas emissions growth since... more
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While mention of the DMZ conjures images of stone-faced soldiers, barbed-wire fences, guns and guard towers, the area between North and South Korea has remained virtually untouched by humans for more than 55 years.
As a result, the DMZ has essentially become a 2.5-mile-wide, 155-mile-long nature park that is home to more than 50 species of mammals, roughly 200 kinds of birds and in excess of 1,000 plant species. Some of the birds and animals that live or visit here are threatened or endangered.
Now a movement is under way to protect the natural wonders of the DMZ from perhaps their greatest threat — peace and the reunification of the peninsula.
full article at link
http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=66049While mention of the DMZ conjures images of stone-faced soldiers, barbed-wire fences,... more
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Great news!
"Nearly 40 years after it was pushed to the edge of extinction by pesticide use, habitat loss and hunting, the brown pelican was Wednesday taken off the endangered species list, US officials said.
One more excerpt:
"The birds' recovery and removal from the list of endangered species was due largely to a US ban on the use of DDT in 1972, Salazar said.
The population was now back up to more than 650,000 of the birds across Florida, in the coastal regions of the Gulf of Mexico and Pacific Ocean, and in the Caribbean and Latin America, Salazar said.
At its lowest point, the number of brown pelicans had fallen to around 10,000, said Tom Strickland, Assistant Secretary for Fish, Wildlife and Parks."
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/afp/091111/usa/environment_us_animal_pelicanGreat news!
"Nearly 40 years after it was pushed to the edge of extinction by... more
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I AM IN DISBELIEF THAT A COMPANY that is supposed to be based on healthy, CRUELTY-FREE and ECO-FRIENDLY principles would even associate with RSPO!
Sustainable palm that is “certified” by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil…
The RSPO ‘organization’ is a corporate GREENWASHING SCAM!
The people who are the RSPO are precisely the PEOPLE WHO HAVE PERSONAL INTERESTS in making PROFIT off of DIRTY PALM!
This is like letting the FOOD corporations determine FOOD SAFETY regulations (WAIT! THEY ARE TRYING TO DO THAT! For more info on this, go to: foodandwaterwatch.org & TAKE ACTION!)
Seventh Generation... HOW COULD YOU?
In the 'comments' section (of linked page) I posted detailed information about SUSTAINABLE PALM CERTIFICATION.I AM IN DISBELIEF THAT A COMPANY that is supposed to be based on healthy, CRUELTY-FREE... more
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