Home/Articles in: Conservation
Articles in: Conservation
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
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…
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…
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, 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
Animals, Conservation, Wildlife & Flora, Feb 28th, 2013,
Shooting giant snakes in the Florida Everglades may sound like an exciting and exotic opportunity for many hunters. In fact, the state’s recent Python Challenge attracted over 1,500 participants, though it only resulted in the killing or capture of 68 of the massive constrictors. 68 isn’t really a dent in the number of Burmese pythons purported to be thriving in the wilds of Florida. No one really knows how many of the invasive snake species actually live in the Everglades, but estimates range from the “tens of thousands” to 150,000. The snakes start out as pets for the childish adult…
Tags: Everglades, florida pythons, mercury poisoning
Conservation, Politics, Feb 18th, 2013,
Environmental activist group Sea Shepherd is once again confronting Japanese whaling efforts in the Southern Ocean. A few days ago the Japanese whaling vessel the Nisshin Maru harpooned a mink whale in what Sea Shepherd claims are Australian Antarctic waters. It was the first time the Japanese whaling fleet killed a whale in the presence of the activists since 2009. Sea Shepherd attempted to prevent the Nisshin Maru crew from hauling their catch onboard, but claim the Japanese ship lunged at the much smaller Sea Shepherd vessel, the Bob Barker, which took evasive action, enabling the the whalers to hoist…
Tags: Japanese Whaling, Nisshin Maru, paul watson, Sea Shepherd
Animals, Conservation, Nature, Wildlife & Flora, Aug 26th, 2012,
Malaysia, along with Indonesia, is the only place in the world where one can witness orangutans in the wild. These solitary but social simians are the only great apes which are unique to Asia. Orangutans mostly feed on fruit, but also eat leaves, shoots and other vegetation and the occasional insect, egg or small vertebrate. The name “orangutan” comes from the Malay words “orang” meaning person and “hutan” meaning forest. The forest is the orangutan’s home and the best place to observe these gentle, highly intelligent primates. In order to see orangutans it is therefore recommended you visit Malaysia’s national…
Tags: Malaysia, wild orangutans
Animals, Conservation, Videos & Documentaries, Aug 15th, 2012,
Seems some elephants are getting a bit of European style social welfare lately. Captive ones, that is. Oh, and only some captive elephants. Those in British circuses, many zoos and touristy theme parks in Thailand for instance, have it pretty rough indeed. Like I said, an elephant’s life can be pretty shit these days. Nonetheless, one African elephant at an Austrian zoo has received an artificial insemination treatment and is now 9 months into her 22 month pregnancy. 22 months – must be why Christian symbolism uses the elephant to represent patience. Though artificially inseminating elephants is nothing new, using…
Tags: artificial insemination, Austria, Burma, electro-ejaculator, elephants, zoo
Animals, Conservation, Wildlife & Flora, Aug 13th, 2012,
According to a piece in the New York Times, great white sharks are responsible for most overall shark attacks world wide as well as most fatal and unprovoked attacks. There have been 5 fatal shark attacks off the coast of Western Australia in the past 10 months, sparking speculation that the population of great whites is increasing and discussion about removing the shark’s protected status. Great whites have been protected in Australia since 1999. Despite the dangers that some varieties of sharks sometimes pose, experts recommend managing human behavior rather than reducing shark populations. A shark attack registry maintained by the University…
Tags: attack, endangered, great white, protected, shark, species
Animal Rights, Animals, Conservation, Nature, Wildlife & Flora, Aug 8th, 2012,
Across the globe it’s once again humans vs. wolves. This timeless battle has changed its face from hunters and farmers simply shooting wolves in order to protect their livestock and assuage their communities’ fears, whether real or imagined. It’s now a confusing mix of laws, politics and technology. Wiped out, endangered, protected species… it doesn’t matter. While humans can’t get enough of their domesticated off-shoots (dogs, incase you don’t catch my drift) many still hate and fear wolves. In the US, where local and national laws often collide confusingly, some wolves in some parts of the State of Washington are…
Tags: France, shepherds, Switzerland, USA, Washington State, wolves
Animals, Conservation, Green living, Nature, Aug 1st, 2012,
It’s not easy being eco-friendly and energy independent. Just ask the bats that live near small wind turbines. I hate reading news like this, but we must not be blind to what we do, even if we do it with the best intentions (or just to save a bit of cash). New research shows that small wind turbines, like the ones you might mount on your roof or erect in your backyard (no innuendos intended), can reduce bat numbers by up to 54%. The leader of the Stirling University study, Kirsty Park, is quoted by the BBC: Based on our…
Tags: bats, small wind turbines
Animals, Conservation, Nature, Wildlife & Flora, Jul 17th, 2012,
In Port Angeles, Washington State, USA a rare wildlife success story is taking place. The first wild steelhead trout has been seen in 100 years, since the construction of the Elwha and Glines Canyon dams. Efforts by government scientists and members of the Lower Elwha Klallam tribe to repopulate fish in the Elwha river (previously obstructed by the dams) have included releasing coho salmon and steelhead trout into the wild. But what surprised them most was not spotting the released fish, but discovering a wild steelhead that had found its own way to the previously cut off territory. In September,…
Tags: dam, fish, northwest, salmon, steelhead trout
Animal Rights, Animals, Conservation, Jul 6th, 2012,
It’s been a bad week for whales. First, a proposal to create a whale sanctuary in the South Atlantic was rejected at the International Whaling Commission (IWC) conference in Panama. Though there were more votes to create a sanctuary than there were against the measure, a three quarters majority is needed for it to pass. Latin American countries are in favor of creating the sanctuary due to the dual benefits of conservation and tourism. Brazil’s commissioner to the IWC, Marcos Pinta Gama, is quoted by the BBC: We believe that the sanctuary is a veryimportant initiative in order to…
Tags: ban, South Korea, whale-watching, whaling
Conservation, Politics, Jun 13th, 2012,
Fisheries ministers from around the European Union have agreed to ban the practice of throwing unprofitable, but edible, catches back in the sea. This extremely wasteful custom has been legal in Europe for the past 40, threatening fish stocks and the survival of some species. Delays and exceptions in implementing the ban are viewed by experts as extremely dangerous, perhaps a case of too little too late for some of the EU’s fish stocks. Currently, European fishermen can reach their quota for a certain species, but continue fishing for others, as long as they don’t bring more than their quota…
Tags: discards, EU, Europe, fisheries
Conservation, Nature, Weird Stuff, Wildlife & Flora, May 14th, 2012,
Species: Greater adjutant (Leptoptilos dubius) Status: Endangered (EN) Interesting fact: The greater adjutant is named after an adjutant (military officer) because of its stately manner and habit of standing motionless for long periods of time. With its naked pink head, very thick yellow bill and low-hanging neck pouch, the greater adjutant is a rather eye-catching stork. Colonies of greater adjutants can be seen gathering in India and Cambodia at the start of the dry season in October. Large nests are constructed on tall trees, and eggs are laid between November and January. These hatch after about a month of incubation….
Tags: ARKive.org, endangered birds, endangered species, Greater adjutant, Leptoptilos dubius
Climate Change, Conservation, Politics, May 13th, 2012,
Join Brazilian environmental and human rights organizations, along with the WWF and Greenpeace to stop Brazil’s new ‘forest code’. Sign this petition to urge Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff to veto the proposed law that would open up new areas to deforestation and provide amnesty to landowners who have previously cleared forestland illegally. This new law could result in the destruction of an area of Amazon rainforest equivalent to the size of France and the UK put together. Patrick Cunningham of the Indigenous People’s Cultural Support Trust is quoted in the Guardian: The changes will overturn a law which even Brazil’s…
Tags: amazon, Brazil, Dilma Rousseff, Forest code, petition, veto
Animals, Conservation, Nature, Videos & Documentaries, Weird Stuff, Wildlife & Flora, May 7th, 2012,
White-tailed Eagle is one of the largest birds of prey in the world. It weighs up to 6 kilograms, with a 2.5 metre wingspan. “During the period 1800-1970, White-tailed Eagles in most of Europe, underwent dramatic declines, and became extinct in many regions of Western, central, and Southern Europe. While Norway, Germany, Poland, and Iceland harboured the largest surviving populations, pockets of reproducing pairs remained in several other countries” – according to Wikipedia. The White-Tailed Eagle (Polish: Bielik, plural Bieliki) is considered Poland’s national symbol and it is believed that it’s this noble bird that appears on the Coat of…
Tags: babies, chick, eggs, live transmission, nest, nestling, Poland, while-tail eagle
Conservation, Nature, Weird Stuff, Wildlife & Flora, ,
Species: Coelacanth (Latimeria chalumnae) Status: Critically Endangered (CR) Interesting Fact: The coelacanth is a member of an ancient lineage that has been around for over 360 million years. It may be the closest living relative to the first creature to walk on land! The enigmatic coelacanth was believed to have gone extinct with the dinosaurs until its remarkable rediscovery in 1938. Fossils have been found all over the world except for Antarctica. Living coelacanths have been found in deep submarine caverns, reefs and slopes in a number of locations off the coast of Africa. Unlike any other living animal, coelacanths…
Tags: archive.org, Coelacanth, critically endangered, Latimeria chalumnae, oceans
Conservation, Green living, Nature, Wildlife & Flora, Apr 28th, 2012,
Species: Southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii) Status: Critically Endangered (CR) Interesting fact: The southern bluefin tuna is one of the largest bony fish in the world, growing up to 4.3 metres long! The southern bluefin tuna is an incredibly streamlined and powerful fish capable of reaching speeds of up to 70 km per hour through the water. Swimming together in shoals, the southern bluefin tuna migrates vast distances from the spawning grounds in the Indian Ocean to the feeding grounds in colder, southern waters. During the spawning period, a mature female will produce several million eggs. Southern bluefin tuna are opportunistic…
Tags: ARKive.org, Conservation, critically endangered species, endangered species, fish, oceans, Southern bluefin tuna, Thunnus maccoyii
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