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Articles in: Nature
Conservation, May 22nd, 2013,
We are perhaps more accustomed to hearing about the conservation of exotic endangered species in tropical biodiversity hotspots in places such as Southeast Asia. We tut and swear at foreign governments and multinational corporations who wantonly destroy the habitats of cuddly pandas, beautiful tigers and supremely sympathetic orangutans, but what about the already-industrialized world? Have the British given up on the UK’s wildlife? Hardly. Scarcely a week goes by when I don’t read about a controversial badger cull, arguments over urban foxes and even bats’ vulnerability to wind turbines. So in the land that exterminated all of its native beavers,…
Tags: David Attenborough, Environmental Conservation, UK wildlife
Animals, Videos & Documentaries, Weird Stuff, May 17th, 2013,
Since I discovered that YouTube has gone HD, I’ve been devouring animal documentaries. The BBC’s Natural World is my favorite. Unusual and uplifting stories about gorillas, koalas, jaguars and other intelligent or beautiful animals are generally what I’m looking for, but I try to keep an open mind. What are especially appealing are stories about unlikely friendships or adoptions between not only humans and animals, but also between different species of wild animals. “Kangaroo Dundee”, about a guy who lives in the Australian outback and acts as a surrogate mother to orphaned kangaroos, ticks all the boxes. Another episode was…
Tags: interspecies adoption, unlikely animal friendships
Animals, Climate Change, Conservation, Pollution, May 9th, 2013,
The European Union recently voted to ban (or at least limit) three pesticides, which have been linked to large-scale bee die-offs. The three neonicotinoids damage the bees’ neurotransmitters so that they become lost and cannot find their way back to their hives. Neonicotinoids are used directly on seeds rather than sprayed onto foliage or fruit. A recent study by the American Bird Conservancy found that neonicotinoids have a negative impact on “birds, terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates, and other wildlife.” Birds can die from consuming the seeds directly and agricultural runoff from farms using neonicotinoids can poison groundwater and contaminate lakes,…
Tags: CCD, Colony Collapse Disorder, honeybee die-off, neonicotinoids
Animals, Nature, Weird Stuff, Wildlife & Flora, May 8th, 2013,
Species: North Island brown kiwi (Apteryx mantelli) Status: Endangered (EN) Interesting Fact: The North Island brown kiwi is more like a mammal than a bird, with fur-like feathers, muscular legs and even cat-like whiskers on its face. Kiwis are the national bird of New Zealand, and are some of the most unusual of all birds. One of five kiwi species, the North Island brown kiwi is flightless and lives on the ground, where it shelters in a burrow during the day. Its long, thin bill has sensory pits at the end which can detect prey moving underground, while, uniquely among birds, the nostrils are…
Tags: endangered species of the week
Nature, Weird Stuff, Wildlife & Flora, May 6th, 2013,
With net migration to the United States from Mexico at zero, paranoid people need something else to freak out about. The “good” news is that there is always plenty of things to make both the sane and the insane flip their wigs. So where do the weird, invasive fish that have been turning up in America’s iconic parks, coastlines and even on dinner tables figure in? Big deal, minor curiosity or somewhere in between climate change and wind farms spoiling the view? Let’s look at a couple of recent examples of invasive fish hype: Fishzilla – the name alone says…
Tags: invasive species, lionfish, northern snakehead
Animals, Nature, Wildlife & Flora, May 5th, 2013,
Wildlife enthusiasts love to flaunt their knowledge about different species. If you are from the same group or wish to be a part of it, then have a look at the top interesting facts about the one-horned rhinoceros and sharpen your knowledge base. Rhino horn is not a bone but a compacted mass of hairs Keratin is the substance that makes the horn of rhinos. It is the same material that is used in making of human hairs and fingernails. So there is no bone in the rhino horn; rather, it is just a trampled bunch of fibers or hairs….
Conservation, Natural disasters, Pollution, Science & Technology, May 4th, 2013,
Over the last several decades, there have been a number of headline making oil spills that have left the world with shocking images. We have seen the results of drilling in the ocean floors to find oil. We know that our dependency on fossil fuels drives an industry that requires destroying some of our most precious resources. Seeing pelicans covered in sludge and oil and other birds that can’t spread their wings, many people say that it is time we finally get off of depending on these tainted, dirty resources. These people champion electric vehicles as alternatives to regular oil…
Animals, Weird Stuff, Wildlife & Flora, May 3rd, 2013,
Status:Critically Endangered (CR) Interesting Fact: The kakapo is the largest parrot in the world, and is also the only flightless parrot species. An extremely rare, nocturnal parrot, the kakapo was once widespread across New Zealand, but is now confined to two predator-free offshore islands. This unusual bird feeds on a variety of fruits, seeds and other plant material and generally lives alone, coming together only to breed. During the breeding season, male kakapos produce a loud ‘boom’ call to attract a mate, which can be heard up to five kilometres away. The kakapo is long-lived but breeds slowly, usually only once every two…
Tags: endangered species of the week
Animals, Videos & Documentaries, Apr 29th, 2013,
People love cats. Much more so than dogs, they’re an intriguing mix of a wild animal and a house pet. A dog adopts its human family as its pack, or looked at another way, dogs remain as “children” for the duration of their lives. Cats can act like kids too. Like dogs, they know where they’re next meal is coming from. Yet in terms of hunting small game, keeping hidden and multiplying, cats win. They’re just more adaptable and better overall at surviving. In Alan Weisman’s fascinating book “The World Without Us”, scientists propose that if humanity were simply to…
Tags: african wild cat, domestic cats, feral cats
Conservation, Green living, Science & Technology, Apr 26th, 2013,
For many homeowners, solar power has long seemed like a great idea that’s just out of reach. Who wouldn’t want to watch their electric meter turn backwards and get checks rather than bills from the power company? Unfortunately for many people, it just didn’t seem financially possible. However, times have changed, and solar today is much more affordable than many people think. Located in Timonium, MD, Renewable Energy Corporation provides solar installation services throughout Maryland, Northern Virginia, Southern Pennsylvania and Washington DC. Under the direction of company president Ryan McNeill, they have become one of the Mid-Atlantic region’s largest residential…
Nature, Wildlife & Flora, Apr 25th, 2013,
Do you notice the articles on wildlife that get published these days? Everything in negative light….no hope for sustenance, loss of habitat, declining population of various species and what not. As if the world has come to an end and only the worst possible things will happen last of the survivors. However, tell truth…..do you actually believe a picture to be that bleak? You know, there are good people trying to put in their expertise and efforts to make things better, even if that seems only an inch to those who do nothing but sit, observe and throw their…
Animals, Nature, Weird Stuff, Wildlife & Flora, Apr 24th, 2013,
Species: Saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica) Status: Critically Endangered (CR) Interesting Fact: The large proboscis-like nose of the saiga antelope is thought to help with body temperature control. The strange looking saiga antelope has an extremely distinctive appearance, with an enlarged nose that hangs down over the mouth. This impressive nose is thought to warm and moisten inhaled air during the winter, and act as a filter against dust during the dry summer. Saiga antelope feed by grazing on various plants, and are usually active during the day. They are nomadic, and undertake long seasonal migrations of up to 1,000 kilometers. During the mating season, male…
Politics, Pollution, Wildlife & Flora, Apr 16th, 2013,
Acute and far-reaching effects are still being felt some three years after the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig and resulting oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Here are some updates on the fallout from the United States’ worst ever environmental disaster: Poisoned wildlife From the Independent: Scientists believe that the 1.8 million gallons of dispersant, sprayed as part of the clean-up, have cemented the disaster’s toxic effect on ocean life and human health. The dispersant, called Corexit, caused what some scientists have described as “a giant black snowstorm” of tiny oil globules, which has been carried around…
Tags: deepwater horizon spill, gulf of mexico pollution, offshore drilling
Conservation, Politics, Pollution, Apr 12th, 2013,
Last month concerns over the Canadian controlled Skouries gold mining project on northern Greece’s Chalkidiki peninsula were brought to the World Social Forum in Tunisia. Though the Hellas Gold/Eldorado Gold Corporation mine promises to bring 5,000 jobs to the region, local opposition has been strong. Previous protests have included the trashing of portacabins and equipment plus several local demonstrations as well as large shows of support in Thessaloniki and Athens. Local residents of believe that their natural riches will be ruined in order for foreign companies and the Greek state to exact a quick profit, leaving their fishing and tourism…
Tags: gold mine greece, Skouries
Animal Rights, Animals, Videos & Documentaries, Apr 8th, 2013,
Sex, food, recreational drugs and videos of cats. What do these four vices have in common? They are all connected to the release of the dopamine, a neurotransmitter and hormone associated with “reward-driven learning”. Recent research shows that looking at live webcam feeds of cute animals affects the brain’s pleasure centers by releasing dopamine. So that’s why people (me included) can spend inordinate amounts of time looking at videos of cats, puppies, gibbons, etc., on Youtube. It’s like a drug. So is cuteoverload.com the new crystal meth or crack? Not really. Maybe the new nicotine is a more appropriate comparison….
Tags: asmr, cat videos, cuteoverload, dopamine, justin bieber
Animal Rights, Conservation, Wildlife & Flora, Apr 1st, 2013,
The ongoing spat between crazy cat people and tree-hugging fanatic eco-fascists has reared its ugly head yet again. What I mean to say is that a recent article by one variety of animal-lover has rekindled a debate between conservationists and cat lovers. Back in mid March the Orlando Sentinel published an op-ed by Audubon Magazine editor “at large” Ted Williams, which put forth that feral cats should be trapped and euthanized – for reasons of conservation and human health – in place of the common practice of trapping, neutering and re-releasing them. William argues that feral cats constitute a health…
Tags: feral cats, florida wildlife, invasive species
Nature, Politics, Pollution, Videos & Documentaries, Wildlife & Flora, Mar 28th, 2013,
A provider of sanctuary to WikiLeaks founder and champion of transparency Julian Assange and staunch ally of the recently bereaved Venezuela, Ecuador has been punching above its weight of late. In terms of international relations, that is. Ecologically speaking, Ecuador is a bonafide heavyweight. According to Conservation International, it is one of the world’s 17 megadiverse countries, with the highest density of biodiversity per km on Earth. The Galápagos Islands alone should cement the nation’s global environmental value, but even without them Ecuador’s natural wealth is invaluable. Half the area of the country is covered by the Amazon rainforest and…
Tags: Ecuador Amazon, oil in Ecuador
Nature, Wildlife & Flora, Mar 25th, 2013,
Is the cloning of extinct species, or de-extinction, simply a fascinating exercise in futility? Or perhaps you consider it blasphemous – a bunch of modern-day Doctor Frankensteins “playing God”. On the other hand maybe could it lead to something truly exciting and monumental – a doable Jurassic Park where the visitors don’t get eaten? There are, of course, a host of potential issues that pop up as is the case with any experimental technology. Genetically engineered hoards of revived passenger pigeons could spread disease. And do we want billions to be spent on reintroducing species only to have them die…
Tags: cloning, de-extinction, extinction, woolly mammoth
Animals, Wildlife & Flora, Mar 21st, 2013,
The elephant seal, massive, fleshy and sometimes violent, is something to behold. Their pups are as cute as any other seal pups, but dwarf even adult harbor, harp or monk seals. Of course it’s the adult males that really live up to their namesake, with bulls reaching weights of 3,000 kilos (6,600 lbs) and a lengths of up to 6 meters (20 feet). When these blubbery bulls fight it’s like sumo wrestling with teeth. Conservation If there are any doubts as to whether species conservation works, the history of the elephant seal should dispel them. According to the Wildlife Conservation…
Tags: elephant seal brazil, elephant seal pups, elephant seal video
Animals, Nature, Mar 18th, 2013,
“St. Patrick: Come back. All is forgiven,” read the personals announcement. We’re sorry we’ve turned a religious holiday into an excuse to get drunk, have a fight and wear green jumpers. The snakes are back and we need you. Ireland, along with New Zealand, Greenland, Iceland and Antarctica, in fact never had a native snake population. Don’t you go believing that St. Patrick legend. Next thing you’ll be telling me the Pied Piper is real too. He isn’t, is he? Anyway, whether the Piper is real or not, since Ireland has plunged into economic recession and then crisis, many people…
Tags: ireland's abandoned horses, snakes in ireland, st. patrick
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