Hedgehogs have declined by a third during this century. Pic: Ian S (Flickr CC)

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, wolves and bears, people do care – even as wildlife continues to disappear.

And yet…

A new ground breaking study has revealed that 60% of species in the UK have declined during the past 50 years and 10% are at risk of extinction.

From the Independent:

Its findings, based on studies of 3,148 species, offer clues to the overall fortunes of the UK’s 59,000 species. Hedgehogs, turtle doves and red squirrels were among the species seeing the biggest falls in recent years, while butterflies, moths and bats also saw rapid declines.

It’s disconcerting to imagine that a species so iconic to Britain like a hedgehog or turtledove (think Twelve Days of Christmas) will no longer exist on the Sceptred Isle.

Beloved naturalist and television presenter Sir David Attenborough has long been lending his voice to British conservation. He launched the report with these words (via the Evening Standard):

This ground-breaking report is a stark warning – but it is also a sign of hope. For 60 years I have travelled the world exploring the wonders of nature and sharing that wonder with the public. But as a boy my first inspiration came from discovering the UK’s own wildlife. Our islands have a rich diversity of habitats which support some truly amazing plants and animals. We should all be proud of the beauty we find on our own doorstep; from bluebells carpeting woodland floors and delicately patterned fritillary butterflies, to the graceful basking shark and the majestic golden eagle soaring over the Scottish mountains. This report shows that our species are in trouble, with many declining at a worrying rate.

So what’s to blame? The usual suspects, of course: unsustainable farming practices and the over use of pesticides, overfishing, climate change, construction, urbanization, and the destruction of natural habitats. You know, progress.

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, rivers and streams.

While the UK, Czech Republic, Hungary, Finland, Spain, Lithuania, Slovakia and Austria opposed the ban outright, claiming insufficient data, Germany, home to the largest neonicotinoid manufacturer (Bayer) publicly supported the ban, but lobbied for a loophole. Sneaky, right?

Meanwhile in the US, 31% of honeybee colonies died during 2012. Despite the EU’s ban, authorities in the US say there is no evidence that neonicotinoids are the main cause of Colony Collapse Disorder. But they are one of the causes.

From the Guardian:

In a report last week, the federal government blamed a combination of factors for the rapid decline of honeybees, including a parasitic mite, viruses, bacteria, poor nutrition and genetics, as well as the effects of pesticides. But scientists and campaign groups have singled out the use of a widely used class of pesticides, which scramble the honeybees’ sense of navigation.

Pic: Erik Hooymans (Wikimedia Commons)

So ban them already. Agricultural production in the US is gravely threatened by CCD and government inaction due to “uncertainty” or more likely pressure from pesticide manufacturers is no excuse to simply do nothing.

From Time Magazine:

Since 2006 an estimated 10 million beehives worth about $200 each have been lost, costing beekeepers some $2 billion. There are now 2.5 million honeybee colonies in the U.S., down from 6 million 60 years ago. And if CCD continues, the consequences for the agricultural economy — and even for our ability to feed ourselves — could be dire.

You see, we depend on honeybees to pollinate crops like apples, pears, almonds, peaches, berries, cucumbers – you name it.

But Colony Collapse Disorder is not the only thing that’s killing the bees off. In fact, if CCD were itself to disappear the bees would still be dying. The Varroa destructor, a parasitic mite, is perhaps even more of a threat to honeybees than CCD. Furthermore, research has found that the average hive contains 6 different pesticides, with a grand total of 121.

How do you like them apples? Not a hell of a whole lot, I’ll wager.

Read more in Wired.

Image by marinephotobank

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 burning cars. But other people also offer other solutions for preventing future oil spill disasters. What do the experts recommend? Here are a few thoughts.

Below are questions and answers to some of the most common questions about oil spills.

Why do we have oil spills in the first place?

This is a good question and one several experts have posited answers to. Elizabeth M. Young explains it as follows. “Of the anthropogenic causes, most of them are said to be from human dependency on oil which leads to the extraction, transport, refining, storage and waste from refined oil products.” She continues, “There are human causes that lead to collisions and human errors or malfeasance concerning oil extraction rigs, tankers and other operations. And there are natural conditions, such as rough seas, hurricanes and unexpected well blowouts.”

Are we doing anything to prevent these kinds of oil spills from happening in the future?

Every time a major oil spill happens, new laws take effect to make sure that such a crisis cannot happen again. (Those laws clearly do not always work!) This happened after the infamous Exxon Valdez spill as well as the most recent BP spill that happened in the Gulf Coast only a few years ago. For example, in the U.S. by 2015, all tankers will be required to have double hulls. Technology is also helping. Global Positioning Systems (aka GPS) help prevent collisions and groundings. Safety programs like inspections and audits require tankers and operators to stay in compliance with a number of regulations, laws, and procedures.

But are these measures enough to prevent future oil spills?

Unfortunately, these rules and regulations, while they can make spills less likely, will not be able to guarantee that they do not ever happen again.

What are the effects of oil spills?

Oil spills are deleterious to the environment, kill local wildlife, and often severely injure the local economies as well. According to the environmental justice organization, Earthjustice, “As the Gulf spill demonstrated (and 20 years ago, the Exxon Valdez spill), oil spills take an enormous toll on human communities, and are grim reapers of fishes, turtles and other endangered and threatened wildlife that Earthjustice, its clients and many others have worked for years to save from extinction.”

What more can be done to prevent future oil spills?

Luckily for the environment, the wildlife, and the locals, there are a lot of organizations fighting for the prevention of future oil spills. Earthjustice is one of the leaders of these efforts. Through a number of lawsuits, Earthjustice strives to “force federal agencies to do their jobs and stop being cozy with companies like BP, which was allowed to drill recklessly without an adequate plan to handle even a moderate oil spill, let alone the monster it let loose on April 20.” It is currently working through the court system to stall Shell Oil’s plans to drill in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas in the Arctic.

What should everyone else be doing to prevent oil spills?

It is important to always inspect for deterioration, leaks and decay, in all equipment. This should be done on an annual basis. On the boat vessel, check to see that all the fuel lines and hoses are still in good condition and that all of the seals are connected tightly. In your home, check your pipes, supply lines, and oil tank for any signs of corrosion or over-pressurization. If anything is damaged, be sure to replace it. If you have a heating system, make sure you have an oil safety valve. If you do not have one, it is time to install one. This automatically turns off the oil supply in the event that the line breaks. It is a smart feature for everyone to have in their homes if they have a heating system.

Mike Zook is a writer for MPC Containment Co.  MPC Containment manufactures environmental liners that are used to prevent oil spills and disasters. MPC Containment was instrumental in helping the Gulf Oil spill relief efforts.

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 solar companies, installing more than 500 kW of solar power each year. As an industry leader, Renewable Energy Co has seen the changes in the solar field first hand, and has found that although a number of variables play into the recent increase in affordability, there are a few main causes:

• Solar panel (PV) component prices have dropped – The price of solar has been falling for a while now, but due to an oversupply of materials in the past few years and significant advancements in solar technology and efficiency, the cost of panel components has fallen dramatically, allowing more people to afford this green energy on a residential level.
• Increased solar financing options – Not only have the costs of panels dropped, but lenders have also opened up the market by providing more solar financing options. Similar to financing for new roofs or other major home improvements, these programs allow homeowners to pay for the panels incrementally so they can get this technology without having to spend years and years saving up.
• Government incentives – Lastly, federal, state, and local tax credits and other initiatives have made this technology even more appealing and affordable for homeowners. On the federal level, homeowners can claim a tax credit of 30% of the cost of the system, with no upper limit, potentially saving hundreds or even thousands of dollars! Furthermore, this federal credit is available for both principle and second homes. On a state level, programs range from tax credits to sales tax exemptions and more. You’ll want to check with your local government to confirm details, but DSIRE Solar provides a great resource for researching incentives in your area on federal, state, and even county levels.

While residential solar is still only a fraction of our country’s total power, with costs dropping and technology advancing, more and more homeowners will be able to reap the benefits of this green energy source.

To learn more about home solar options, follow Ryan on Renewable Energy Corporation’s blog. He talks about the state of the solar industry, emerging solar technologies and answers common questions about solar and your home.

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 industries crippled.

Anti gold mine and police brutality protest in Athens. Screen capture from Press TV.

Recent strongarm techniques of the government have further angered local residents, with pre-dawn actions by police resembling kidnappings as much as arrests.

Even the Greek government’s benefit has been called into question.

From Press TV:

Astoundingly, the Greek State owns zero percent royalties in the gold mines in Skouries and another three regional gold and silver mines. Furthermore, in 2011, the Greek government was the intermediary for the transfer of ownership between the current and former owner companies, for a mere 11 million euros.

Those within Greece’s mining industry have also expressed doubts about the future of the Skouries mine. An article on mining.com covers both domestic and international concerns regarding Canadian mining projects like the one in Chalkidiki.

A protester against the mine is quoted:

Skouries is an open pit/underground gold-copper mine on top of a mountain that holds the largest water reserves in the region and has a very important ancient forest. Eldorado has mineral concessions to an area of  317 km2 and they are already aggressively exploring the next targets. […] This part of Halkidiki has always had mining (lead-zinc) but it was always a small scale underground operation. Most people in the area do not object the continuation of the old mine.

–protester Maria Kadoglou

See also – Greek Reporter: Hellas Gold Skeptical of Skouries Mine.

For an up-to-date breakdown of the situation check out the Anti-Gold Greece blog.

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.

A healthy-looking feral cat in Florida, pic: Charlie Cowins (Flickr CC)

William argues that feral cats constitute a health risk because 62-80% carry toxoplasmosis and that they are the most common transmitters of rabies. They also spread feline leukemia, feline AIDS and distemper to Florida’s wild bobcat, lynx and panther populations.

…feral cats kill migratory birds and endangered species such as honeycreepers in Hawaii and lower keys marsh rabbits and silver rice rats in Florida. But the Interior Departmentlacks the spine to back its law-enforcement agents who want to prosecute TNR practitioners. Free-ranging cats have driven at least 33 bird species to extinction.

–Williams

He may be right on all counts, but things aren’t that simple, especially when it comes to cats, which people love, including me. I mean, just look at the Internet. Youtube? HELLO!? Besides the ubiquitous racist arguments in every comment section, the biggest video-hosting site ever is dominated by clips of cats doing cute things.

He also discussed, though reportedly stopped short of advocating, the use of Tylenol (a brand of paracetamol popular in the US) as a cat poison.

The backlash from cat lovers was – predictably – robust. Audobon Magazine removed William’s “editor at large” status, suspending his contract. But was his argument wrong?

From National Geographic:

Over 80 million pet cats reside in U.S. homes and as many as 80 million more free-roaming cats survive outside. […] A study published earlier this year in Nature Communications estimated that cats kill up to 3.7 billion birds and between 6.9 billion to 20.7 billion mammals in the continental U.S. each year.

That National Geographic piece generated nearly 700 comments, both for and against euthanizing cats. Luckily a follow-up article distilled them.

I posted on Asian Correspondent a couple of months ago about a similar case of conservation vs. cat love in New Zealand, where native bird populations are particularly vulnerable, not just to feral cats, but to any house cat that ventures outside. The conservationist in question was advocating the sterilization of all cats in NZ until they die out. Of course that’s not going to fly in a country where half of all households contain a fluffy feline companion.

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 crowd and are then released when they get too big and/or expensive to take care of. Just so happens that a Florida swamp is a great places to be a python.

Everglades python, pic: Todd Pierson (Flickr CC)

Not so great if you’re a native Florida species, however. Imagine being a deer, possum, raccoon or bobcat and all of a sudden a new, giant enemy – which can slither silently through the trees or beneath undergrowth – shows up and starts eating your extended family. Pythons have even been known to eat alligators, a natural apex predator of the southern US marshlands. The fast-breeding snakes are also a threat to endangered species like the Florida panther because they eat their food sources. A thick snake that can reach lengths of 26 feet (8 meters) tends to eat a lot.

OK, so the pythons are indeed a threat to the local eco-system, but not as much as people, what with them turning complex eco-systems into cookie-cutter subdivisions with swimming pools and faux Greek columns. And let’s not beat around the Jeb Bush – it’s state and federal laws that allow the mass importation of exotic animals through the cruel international pet trade.

But if there are as many as 150,000 pythons (big and small) in the Everglades and they spend most of their time lying around in trees or on the ground, why were only 68 bagged by 1,500 hunters in a four week (January 12 – February 10) period?

One thing is pythons are pretty well camouflaged. Another is that there may not be as many as some think. Maybe most of the challengers don’t know how to hunt pythons either. The winner did. He caught or killed 6 pythons, earning himself $1,500 in the process. Two others were tied at second place with 5, receiving $750 each. There was also a category for professional python hunting permit holders, with the winner bagging 18 specimens. So that’s half the total caught by only 3 people, meaning pretty much everyone left empty handed.

Read the official Python Challenge press release here.

But what are the real results of this game? The participants can’t eat the pythons they catch as they contain too much mercury for safe consumption, which opens up an entirely different issue: why are Florida’s pythons full of poisonous mercury? This PDF of an academic presentation shows the levels of mercury and methylmercury found in Everglades pythons, but it doesn’t say why, only including that there is a mine in the park. As far as I can discover, only rock mining goes on in the Everglades, but limestone mining does result in mercury contamination, as has been observed in Everglades fish.

Conclusion: In terms of protecting indigenous wildlife, the Python Challenge is useless and a bit cruel to boot, and the Everglades ecosystem is probably in danger due to mercury contamination (not that anybody is talking about that).

Sea Shepherd anti-whaling team, pic: Greg Bishop (Flickr CC)

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 the mink on deck.

Each year that Sea Shepherd has returned to these waters since 2005 the campaign has gotten stronger and more efficient. Last season, the whalers took only 26% of their kill quota and the season before that they took only17%.

–Paul Watson, founder, Sea Shepherd Conservation society

Nisshin Maru draggin mink whale mother and calf aboard, 2008, Southern Ocean. Pic: Customs and Border Protection Service, Commonwealth of Australia

The Australian government has voiced its support for Sea Shepherd. Environment minister Tony Burke referred to the actions of Japanese whalers as “total abuse”. Australia and New Zealand are in the process of taking ongoing legal action against Japan for what amounts to illegal whaling under the guise of “scientific research”.

From the Associated Press:

Earlier this month Canberra lodged a protest with Tokyo after part of the Japanese whaling fleet entered Australia’s exclusive economic zone in the Southern Ocean near Macquarie Island.

But no physical help from any government, such as those of New Zealand or Australia, has materialized to deter the Japanese whaling fleet from catching and slaughtering protected and endangered species from unauthorized waters. Sea Shepherd Australia’s Jeff Hansen contrasts this to Australian Customs vessels pursuing and arresting Patagonian toothfish poachers.

Read Sea Shepherd founder Paul Watson’s account of the situation in a recent piece he wrote for the Guardian.

Sea Shepherd has also accused the Japanese whaling fleet of spilling oil into Australian waters, imploring Australian authorities to come to the Arctic and protect it.

Wild mother and baby orangutans. Pic: karma-police (Flickr CC).

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 parks or nature reserves. You can alternatively visit, or even volunteer at, a rehabilitation center or animal park that houses orangs, but this article will focus on where to observe them in the wild.

Read the entire article on Asian Correspondent:

Where to see wild orangutans in Malaysia

This article was part of a publication for Tourism Malaysia. If you enjoyed this article and would like to find out more about travelling to Malaysia, please visit the Tourism Malaysia website.

image credit: Thomas Breuer (Wikimedia Commons)

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 frozen sperm from a wild bull is. This makes the pregnancy newsworthy, as does the following description from BBC News of how they got the sperm:

The sperm used to impregnate her came from a wild bull elephant in South Africa, which was drugged so that an ejaculation could be induced. An instrument called an electro-ejaculator was used to collect the semen.

After you have finished searching for electro-ejaculators on eBay (they don’t come in your size anyway) check out the following video about an elephant retirement home in Burma… I mean, Myanmar… no, wait, I mean Burma. It looks like a reasonably nice place.

photo by Jenna Rose Robbins (Flickr CC)

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 of Florida recorded 807 shark attacks worldwide from 2000 to 2011. Florida had by far the most, 281, but only four of those were fatalities. Australia had 141 attacks and 15 deaths. After that came South Africa (45 attacks), Hawaii (44) and California (36).

–New York Times

On the opposite side of the world, California environmentalists are trying to make great whites a protected species in their state as well as in the entire US. The northern California groups Oceana and the Center for Biological Diversity would like great whites to be officially declared an endangered species.

Commercial and recreational fishing of great whites is already illegal in the state of California, but the groups are concerned about “incidental catches”. They would also like more research funding for the study of great whites.

From the Santa Cruz Sentinel:

Numbers are difficult to determine, but recent studies concluded there are about 220 adults and near-adults near the Central Coast region, and fewer than 400 statewide. The International Union for Conservation of Nature regards them as a vulnerable species, one step above endangered.

Read more in the Los Angeles Times.

wild wolf in Montana, USA, photo by Ellie Attebery (Flickr CC)

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 protected, while others are not. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife agents recently killed one wolf to protect ranchers’ livestock (which graze on state lands) and are planning on killing another.

From the Seattle Times:

The department has been working to recover wolf populations in the state and manage a balance with ranchers making their living where wolves now live after being hunted to extinction as a breeding species by the 1930s.

If you were already confused about how state laws can protect wolves, but since federal laws don’t always, a state department can kill them, don’t even try to wrap your head around that same agency shooting wolves while “working to recover wolf populations”.

Meanwhile in France, wolves have returned since being absent for nearly 100 years in the southern Auvergne region. Cause for celebration? Not for one shepherd turned environmental activist. He wants them shot.

I guess a shepherd never changes his spots.

This has caused a split within France’s Green movement. Shooting wolves, however, is legal in France if it is done so by government marksmen and licensed (to kill) shepherds.

Over in Switzerland, scientists are working on a collar for sheep that monitors the animals’ heart rate, notifying the shepherds via text message if the rate speeds up for extended periods of time.

Wolf attacks on flocks in Switzerland are on the increase and the collars are designed for shepherds who can’t afford to keep sheep dogs.

Don’t expect to see teenage sheep hanging around “LOLing” while they text their shepherd parents, however.

Read more about that story from the BBC.

photo by Jessicajil (Flickr CC)

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 results, we recommend that turbines are sited at least 20 metres away from potentially valuable bat habitat. This will help us to maximise the benefits of renewable energy generation whilst minimising potentially adverse effects on wildlife.

The study found that bird populations were not significantly affected by small wind turbines.

Read the Bat Conservation Trust’s statement regarding wind turbines of all sizes here.

Reasons as to exactly why large wind turbines cause bat fatalities are as of yet unknown, though it may have to do with migratory bats being attracted to the turbines or the change in air pressure caused by the rotating turbines resulting in disorientation.

photo: USFWS Pacific (Flickr CC)

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, as part of the largest river-restoration project ever undertaken, the 108-foot-high Elwha Dam was blasted down. Engineers since then have been chipping away at the even bigger Glines Canyon dam about eight miles upstream. The hope is that the $325-million project will restore the legendary fish runs that once saw 100-pound chinook salmon fighting their way up the majestic river.

–Los Angeles Times

Reintroducing farmed fish into the wild is not without controversy. Some believe that fish bred in captivity are genetically weaker, which could weaken the wild stocks. But the repopulation by wild fish is what gives the most hope: that humanity can destroy nature and nature can still manage to recover on its own.

Read more in the Los Angeles Times.

A similar story is taking place near Portland, Oregon. Record numbers of sockeye salmon are expected to return to the Northwest’s Columbia Basin this year. And all this without destroying the Bonneville Dam, which was built in 1938.

From the Associated Press:

Biologists credit habitat improvements in the Okanagan Basin of northern Washington and Canada, improved dam operations, and favorable ocean conditions for the numbers. Okanagan sockeye swim more than 500 mils to spawn.

Before improvements were made to the operations of the hydroelectric dams, they would wash away the salmon eggs before they could hatch.

The fish and wildlife director for the local tribes believes that the more the fish’s traditional habitat is restored, the more will come – up to 1 million.

minke whale, photo: Blake Maybank (Flickr CC)

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 ensure the protection of whales within the whole South Atlantic, to promote the non-lethal use of cetaceans and and benign research that’s important for conserving whales. In many countries including Brazil, those activities are bringing in financial resources to local communities, it’s really expanding, and we think the sanctuary would very much strengthen this kind of activity in the region.

In Latin America, it would seem, whale watching is considered a growth industry. South Korea, however, is choosing a different path.

The South Korean government has announced that it is considering plans to relax its ban on whaling. Under the new proposal, whaling would be permitted for ‘scientific research’. That’s right, just like Japan.

But the main argument for relaxing the ban on whaling presented by South Korea is that minke whales are eating lots of fish, damaging the livelihoods of South Korean fishermen. However, there is no conclusive evidence that this is so as there is insufficient knowledge about the feeding habits of minke whales.

Environmental groups like Greenpeace the WWF as well as the governments of New Zealand and Australia voiced their opposition to the proposal to repeal the whaling ban.

Read more on that story here.

Photo credits: MSC/Nathalie Steins (Flickr CC)

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 ashore. This policy results in boats throwing vast numbers of dead fish back into the sea – as much as 90% of the total catch for some fisheries. This is maddening at a time when, according to scientists, 80% of Mediterranean fish stocks are overfished.

From the Guardian:

More than 1m tonnes of healthy fish are annually thrown back dead into the sea by fishermen – due to EU rules, or in order to maximise their profits – and a ban on discarding fish such as mackerel and herring is likely from 2014. However for other very pressurised species such as cod, haddock, plaice and sole, the ban could be phased in from 2015, and not be fully in force until 2018. That, experts say, may be too late to be effective.

Environmental groups are disappointed in the outcome of the meetings, claiming the European Parliament missed an opportunity to create a sustainable fishing policy.

According to AFP the UK and France expressed some satisfaction in the compromise, while the Netherlands and Sweden claimed it failed to protect the oceans. Portugal, Malta and Slovenia thought the agreement too stringent against fisheries.

Read more on the story from icScotland.

Image courtesy of ARKive.org media library

Image courtesy of ARKive.org media library

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. Nestlings are cared for until April when the start of the wet season prompts migration north. A carnivore and scavenger, the greater adjutant feeds on a variety of prey, including carrion, fish, reptiles and large insects. It is also known to feed in human rubbish dumps.

Once found across south and southeast Asia, the greater adjutant is now restricted to two small breeding populations. Loss of nesting habitat and feeding sites has had a huge impact as suitable wetland habitats are cleared, drained, polluted and disturbed by humans. Hunting of the adult birds and collection of eggs also threaten the greater adjutant. This species is legally protected in many countries, although enforcement of these laws is often lacking.

For more information on the greater adjutant see the Wildlife Conservation Society website

Find more photos and videos of the greater adjutant on the ARKive website.

With thanks to @inaturalist for this weeks suggested Endangered Species of the Week!

Lauren Pascoe, ARKive Media Researcher

photo credit: Ricardo Lisboa (350.org on Flickr CC)

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 military dictatorship didn’t dare to challenge, and will be an abrogation of the country’s laudable and longstanding commitment to protection of the fragile rainforest environment.

With the Rio+20 Earth Summit 2012 just over a month away and close to 80% of Brazilians against the bill, President Rousseff has more than enough reasons to stand up to the powerful agricultural lobby and reject this bill.

Sign the petition to save the Brazilian Amazon today.

credits: C. Korkosz, source: lasy.gov.pl

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 Arms of Poland, proudly wearing a crown since the 10th century. It’s worth mentioning that the crown was removed from its head under the rules of the Soviet Union (1945-1989), as there could be only one ‘King’!

The species nowadays, is under strict protection.

The online transmission from the Bieliki’s nest is a joint educational project of The Polish State Forests and  Eagle Protection Comittee.
The nest is situated on a 120 year old pine, 30 metres above the ground. In mid March, the female laid two eggs. The first egg hatched on 27-28th April, the other chick appeared on camera on 1st May.

I was lucky enough to witness feeding time twice. Follow this link to watch Bieliki live, or, if you prefer, have a look at the highlights from the nest here.

Image courtesy of ARKive.org media library

Image courtesy of ARKive.org media library

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 have a hinged joint in the skull allowing the front part of the head to be lifted whilst feeding on fish such as cardinal fish, eels and skates. Coelacanths also have a large gel-filled cavity in the head, called the rostral organ, which can detect electric fields and may be used to locate prey or monitor its surroundings. Coelacanths are ovoviviparous (young develop inside the mother), and females may give birth to up to 26 pups. They are long lived, being thought to survive for up to 80 years.

The coelacanth is a difficult species to monitor. It is accidentally caught on lines whilst local fishermen search the deep waters for other species. A low reproductive rate means this species is particularly vulnerable to the removal of pregnant females from the population. The coelacanth is on listed Appendix I of CITES, and localised, voluntary bans on fishing protect areas where this species is known to inhabit.

Find out more about the coelacanth at the Australian Museum website.

See footage and images of the coelacanth on ARKive.

With thanks to @africanconserve for this suggested Endangered Species of the Week! If you would like to suggest an endangered species for us to profile, let us know via Twitter or Facebook.

Lauren Pascoe, ARKive Media Researcher