Showing posts tagged conservation
The Lions of India by Akhila Vijayaraghavan It is not a well-known fact that India plays home to a population of lions as usually lions are associated with the African savannah and not the scrub forests of the subcontinent. The Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica) is a sub-species which can only be found in a single location in the wild - the Gir forest in Gujarat, India. Although genetically distinct from the African lion, the difference is not large. Recently the Supreme Court of India ruled that Gujarat a portion of the lion population is to be shifted to Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno-Palpur wildlife sanctuary. This proposal has been discussed since 2009 and it is only now that this decision has been made… (Read more: MongaBay)                    (photo: Anoop Rana) View high resolution

The Lions of India

by Akhila Vijayaraghavan

It is not a well-known fact that India plays home to a population of lions as usually lions are associated with the African savannah and not the scrub forests of the subcontinent. The Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica) is a sub-species which can only be found in a single location in the wild - the Gir forest in Gujarat, India. Although genetically distinct from the African lion, the difference is not large.

Recently the Supreme Court of India ruled that Gujarat a portion of the lion population is to be shifted to Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno-Palpur wildlife sanctuary. This proposal has been discussed since 2009 and it is only now that this decision has been made…

(Read more: MongaBay)                    (photo: Anoop Rana)

The Kootenai River - Montana, Idaho, and BC, Canada Threats: Open-pit coal mining The Kootenai is part of an important habitat for iconic American species like the grizzly bear and woodland caribou, as well as several rare and threatened species of fish, American Rivers says. The quality of the water and the species that depend on it are threatened by five open-pit coal mines along a tributary in British Columbia, according to the group, which calls on the U.S. State Department to work with Canada to halt the mining until impact studies can be done. (via: Our Amazing Planet)                    (photo: Shutterstock) Find out more about this gorgeous waterway: http://kootenairivernetwork.org/ View high resolution

The Kootenai River - Montana, Idaho, and BC, Canada

Threats: Open-pit coal mining

The Kootenai is part of an important habitat for iconic American species like the grizzly bear and woodland caribou, as well as several rare and threatened species of fish, American Rivers says. The quality of the water and the species that depend on it are threatened by five open-pit coal mines along a tributary in British Columbia, according to the group, which calls on the U.S. State Department to work with Canada to halt the mining until impact studies can be done.

(via: Our Amazing Planet)                    (photo: Shutterstock)

Find out more about this gorgeous waterway:

http://kootenairivernetwork.org/

This just in: USGS study confirms populations of frogs, salamanders and other beloved amphibians are in steep decline. Read the study:http://bit.ly/13LZcRu and learn how you can help: http://on.doi.gov/16Pas2F (photo: Oregon spotted frog, Rana pretiosa, Conboy National Wildlife Refuge, WA, USA, by Teal Waterstrat/USFWS) (via: USFWS_Pacific Region) View high resolution

This just in: USGS study confirms populations of frogs, salamanders and other beloved amphibians are in steep decline.

Read the study:http://bit.ly/13LZcRu and learn how you can help:

http://on.doi.gov/16Pas2F

(photo: Oregon spotted frog, Rana pretiosa, Conboy National Wildlife Refuge, WA, USA, by Teal Waterstrat/USFWS)

(via: USFWS_Pacific Region)

Pallas’s Cat Kittens With Mom The kittens at EFBC’s Feline Conservation Center are growing up fast. Here the Pallas’ cat kittens are almost 8 weeks old. Mom looks a bit harassed, like all kittens they love to play with her tail and stalk her. The video is almost ready! www.wildcatzoo.org View high resolution

Pallas’s Cat Kittens With Mom

The kittens at EFBC’s Feline Conservation Center are growing up fast. Here the Pallas’ cat kittens are almost 8 weeks old. Mom looks a bit harassed, like all kittens they love to play with her tail and stalk her. The video is almost ready!

www.wildcatzoo.org

Camera Traps Open Up Hidden Corners of China Photos offer rare glimpse into panda habitat by Wildlife Extra staff WWF has released dozens of photographs and video footage of endangered species captured by camera traps in the mountainous giant panda reserves in China, marking this year’s International Day for Biological Diversity.  The images and footage, rarely seen before, showcase an array of endangered species in their remote habitats in south-western Sichuan Province, including giant panda, red panda, Tibetan stump-tailed macaque and leopard cat… (read more) (photo: Takin (Budorcas taxicolor) captured in An Zi He, Sichuan. © WWF China / WWF-Canon) View high resolution

Camera Traps Open Up Hidden Corners of China

Photos offer rare glimpse into panda habitat

by Wildlife Extra staff

WWF has released dozens of photographs and video footage of endangered species captured by camera traps in the mountainous giant panda reserves in China, marking this year’s International Day for Biological Diversity.  The images and footage, rarely seen before, showcase an array of endangered species in their remote habitats in south-western Sichuan Province, including giant panda, red panda, Tibetan stump-tailed macaque and leopard cat…

(read more)

(photo: Takin (Budorcas taxicolor) captured in An Zi He, Sichuan. © WWF China / WWF-Canon)

Goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara) … can grow as big as a Volkswagen and live more than 35 years! But as slow and curious swimmers in shallow water, they are easy prey for fishermen. After nearing extinction, a catch ban helped them recover. Now, Florida is considering reopening the fishery and we believe it’s too soon. Take a moment to help this iconic Florida fish return to full abundance by taking this public opinion survey. Your voice can help make the difference… http://ocean.ly/13tLwaj (via: Ocean Conservancy) View high resolution

Goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara)

… can grow as big as a Volkswagen and live more than 35 years! But as slow and curious swimmers in shallow water, they are easy prey for fishermen.

After nearing extinction, a catch ban helped them recover. Now, Florida is considering reopening the fishery and we believe it’s too soon. Take a moment to help this iconic Florida fish return to full abundance by taking this public opinion survey. Your voice can help make the difference… http://ocean.ly/13tLwaj

(via: Ocean Conservancy)

Sea Turtles on the South Texas Coast 20 sea turtle nests have so far been found on South Padre Island and Boca Chica Beach! The first nest is estimated to hatch the week of June 9th. For more information about attending a public sea turtle hatchling release… visit:  www.seaturtleinc.org or  https://www.facebook.com/SeaTurtleConservation (Photo: Kemp’s ridley sea turtle hatchlings released into the Gulf of Mexico, South Padre Island, summer of 2006) (via: Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge) View high resolution

Sea Turtles on the South Texas Coast

20 sea turtle nests have so far been found on South Padre Island and Boca Chica Beach! The first nest is estimated to hatch the week of June 9th. For more information about attending a public sea turtle hatchling release…

visit:  www.seaturtleinc.org or 

https://www.facebook.com/SeaTurtleConservation

(Photo: Kemp’s ridley sea turtle hatchlings released into the Gulf of Mexico, South Padre Island, summer of 2006)

(via: Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge)

mothernaturenetwork: Here’s one of our favorite photos of all time. A zookeeper dressed up in a giant panda suit carries panda cub Cao Gen at the Hetaoping Research and Conservation Center. Scientists wear the panda suits to limit human interaction with the endangered bears, which are being left to fend for themselves in the new habitat so they can learn crucial survival skills and live in the wild without assistance.

mothernaturenetwork:

Here’s one of our favorite photos of all time.

A zookeeper dressed up in a giant panda suit carries panda cub Cao Gen at the Hetaoping Research and Conservation Center.

Scientists wear the panda suits to limit human interaction with the endangered bears, which are being left to fend for themselves in the new habitat so they can learn crucial survival skills and live in the wild without assistance.

(Reblogged from mothernaturenetwork)
Canada Lynx (Lynx canadensis) The Canada lynx is like a gray ghost of the north—elusive, evading human contact. It stands about 20 inches tall at the shoulder but weighs about 20 pounds—scarcely more than a large house cat. It is readily recognized by its long, black ear tufts; short, black-tipped tail; and large, rounded feet with furry pads, which permit it to walk on the snow’s surface. Historically, the Canada lynx ranged from Alaska across Canada and into many of the northern U.S. states. In eastern states, it lived in a transition zone in which boreal coniferous forests yielded to deciduous forests. In the West, it preferred subalpine coniferous forests of mixed age. It would den and seek protection from severe weather in mature forests with downed logs but hunt for its primary prey, the snowshoe hare, in young forests with more open space… (read more: National Wildlife Federation) (photo: USFWS) View high resolution

Canada Lynx (Lynx canadensis)

The Canada lynx is like a gray ghost of the north—elusive, evading human contact. It stands about 20 inches tall at the shoulder but weighs about 20 pounds—scarcely more than a large house cat. It is readily recognized by its long, black ear tufts; short, black-tipped tail; and large, rounded feet with furry pads, which permit it to walk on the snow’s surface.

Historically, the Canada lynx ranged from Alaska across Canada and into many of the northern U.S. states. In eastern states, it lived in a transition zone in which boreal coniferous forests yielded to deciduous forests. In the West, it preferred subalpine coniferous forests of mixed age. It would den and seek protection from severe weather in mature forests with downed logs but hunt for its primary prey, the snowshoe hare, in young forests with more open space…

(read more: National Wildlife Federation)

(photo: USFWS)

unknown-endangered: What is coral bleaching? Coral bleaching is a serious problem facing corals all over the world. It is a general stress response of corals, and is the result of several different factors, especially increasing sea temperature. This causes the zooxanthellae, or symbiotic algae that live with the coral, to be expelled. The coral becomes white or “bleached”, and is unable to obtain the nutrients it needs, as it relies on its photosynthetic zooxanthellae. Increasing sea temperatures are the cause of mass bleaching, but the following threats are responsible for small-scale bleaching: Decline in zooplankton, causing starvation. Ocean acidification. Bacterial infections. Changes in ocean salinity. The most severely affected coral reefs include the Great Barrier Reef, reefs in the Indian Ocean, around the Maldives, Seychelles, and Hawaii. Up to 90% of corals have been lost from these locations.  A huge range of sea life depends on coral reefs for survival, so the disappearance of the corals would have a dire effect on the oceans. In turn, this would impact on many people who rely on the sea for their food and livelihoods.  Photo: John Pascal. View high resolution

unknown-endangered:

What is coral bleaching?

Coral bleaching is a serious problem facing corals all over the world. It is a general stress response of corals, and is the result of several different factors, especially increasing sea temperature. This causes the zooxanthellae, or symbiotic algae that live with the coral, to be expelled. The coral becomes white or “bleached”, and is unable to obtain the nutrients it needs, as it relies on its photosynthetic zooxanthellae.

Increasing sea temperatures are the cause of mass bleaching, but the following threats are responsible for small-scale bleaching:

  • Decline in zooplankton, causing starvation.
  • Ocean acidification.
  • Bacterial infections.
  • Changes in ocean salinity.

The most severely affected coral reefs include the Great Barrier Reef, reefs in the Indian Ocean, around the Maldives, Seychelles, and Hawaii. Up to 90% of corals have been lost from these locations. 

A huge range of sea life depends on coral reefs for survival, so the disappearance of the corals would have a dire effect on the oceans. In turn, this would impact on many people who rely on the sea for their food and livelihoods. 

Photo: John Pascal.

(Reblogged from somuchscience)
GOOD NEWS FOR ELEPHANTS: Gabon steps in to help protect elephants from ivory poaching at Central African Republic by mongabay.com staff Gabon has agreed to help battle poaching in protected areas in the Central African Republic following an elephant massacre at a renowned World Heritage site, reports the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). According to the conservation group, Michel Djotodia, acting president of the Central African Republic (CAR) transitional government, and Gabon President Ali Bongo Ondimba met on May 14 to discuss a variety of issues, including the worsening ivory poaching situation in CAR. Earlier this month at least 26 elephants were killed at Dzanga Bai, a site that lies in CAR’s portion of Dzanga-Ndoki National Park and is famed for its high density of endangered forest elephants. The slaughter occurred after rangers abandoned their post due to violence in the area. After the meeting, Gabon dispatched a group led by Mike Fay, a legendary conservationist who led an epic walk across the Congo rainforest in 1999-2000, to CAR to work with the government to secure Dzanga Bai and resume conservation activities. Conservation staff have now returned to the site, according to WCS… (read more: Mongabay.com)                      (photo: Rhett A. Butler) View high resolution

GOOD NEWS FOR ELEPHANTS:

Gabon steps in to help protect elephants from ivory poaching at Central African Republic

by mongabay.com staff

Gabon has agreed to help battle poaching in protected areas in the Central African Republic following an elephant massacre at a renowned World Heritage site, reports the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS).

According to the conservation group, Michel Djotodia, acting president of the Central African Republic (CAR) transitional government, and Gabon President Ali Bongo Ondimba met on May 14 to discuss a variety of issues, including the worsening ivory poaching situation in CAR. Earlier this month at least 26 elephants were killed at Dzanga Bai, a site that lies in CAR’s portion of Dzanga-Ndoki National Park and is famed for its high density of endangered forest elephants. The slaughter occurred after rangers abandoned their post due to violence in the area.

After the meeting, Gabon dispatched a group led by Mike Fay, a legendary conservationist who led an epic walk across the Congo rainforest in 1999-2000, to CAR to work with the government to secure Dzanga Bai and resume conservation activities. Conservation staff have now returned to the site, according to WCS…

(read more: Mongabay.com)                      (photo: Rhett A. Butler)

Today is Endangered Species Day … and the 40th Anniversary of the Endangered Species Act! Follow the discussion all day on Twitter at #ESDay and swing by our USFWS Endangered Species page for all sorts of ES Day content. Photo: J. Michael Lockhart / USFWS (via: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mountain-Prairie Region) View high resolution

Today is Endangered Species Day

… and the 40th Anniversary of the Endangered Species Act!

Follow the discussion all day on Twitter at #ESDay and swing by our USFWS Endangered Species page for all sorts of ES Day content.

Photo: J. Michael Lockhart / USFWS

(via: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mountain-Prairie Region)

Melting Glaciers Cause 1/3 of the World’s Sea Level Rise by Stephanie Pappas The world’s glaciers lost 260 gigatons of water each year between 2003 and 2009, making these rivers of ice responsible for almost a third of sea-level rise in that time, new research finds. The study, to appear tomorrow (May 17) in the journal Science, used multiple methods to pin down estimates of how much ice is lost from glaciers. The results suggest that on-the-ground measurements yield estimates that are too extreme, but some satellite methods don’t go far enough… (read more: Live Science)                 (photo: Aletsch Glacier, Switzerlan; credit: Frank Paul) View high resolution

Melting Glaciers Cause 1/3 of the World’s Sea Level Rise

by Stephanie Pappas

The world’s glaciers lost 260 gigatons of water each year between 2003 and 2009, making these rivers of ice responsible for almost a third of sea-level rise in that time, new research finds.

The study, to appear tomorrow (May 17) in the journal Science, used multiple methods to pin down estimates of how much ice is lost from glaciers. The results suggest that on-the-ground measurements yield estimates that are too extreme, but some satellite methods don’t go far enough…

(read more: Live Science)                

(photo: Aletsch Glacier, Switzerlan; credit: Frank Paul)

Florida manatees have a dangerous summer ahead of them, as the waters in their shrinking habitat fill with speeding boats. Please help us protect them at http://dfnd.us/manateehelp! (via: Defenders of Wildlife) View high resolution

Florida manatees have a dangerous summer ahead of them, as the waters in their shrinking habitat fill with speeding boats.

Please help us protect them at http://dfnd.us/manateehelp!

(via: Defenders of Wildlife)

Endangered Ocean Creatures Beyond the Cute and Cuddly

by Emily Frost

Our oceans are taking a beating from overfishing, pollution, acidification and warming, putting at risk the many creatures who make their home in seawater. But when most people think of struggling ocean species, the first animals that come to mind are probably whales, seals or sea turtles.

Sure, many of these large (and adorable) animals play an important part in the marine ecosystem and are threatened with extinction due to human activities, but in fact, of the 94 marine species listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), only 45 are marine mammals and sea turtles. As such, these don’t paint the whole picture of what happens under the sea. What about the remaining 49 that form a myriad of other important parts of the underwater web?

These less charismatic members of the list include corals, sea birds, mollusks and, of course, fish. They fall under two categories: endangered or threatened. According to NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (pdf), one of the groups responsible for implementing the ESA, a species is considered endangered if it faces imminent extinction, and and a species is considered threatened if it is likely to become endangered in the future. A cross section of these less-known members of the ESA’s list are described in detail here…

(read more: Smithsonian Magazine)

(photos: T - Atlantic Salmon by E. Peter Steenstra/USFWS; ML - Short-tailed albatross by USFWS; MR - White abalone by John Butler, NOAA; B - Staghorn Coral by Albert Kok)