Good News
credit: SteveD
In the first ever study using satellite tracking of these "devilfish" scientists found that giant Manta Rays travel. A lot. And it's no wonder -- these animals grow up to 25 feet wide and are filter feeders, collecting tiny zooplankton and fish eggs as they swim through the water. It takes a whole lot of zooplankton to feed these guys but their travel habits weren't widely known. Until now.
Red Alert
credit: Rebecca Jackrel
Tasmanian Devils are facing a devilish disease that could wipe them out within decades. Called the Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD), the problem is a contagious cancer that causes huge lesions to form on the face. It has killed more than 80% of Tasmanian devils since 1996 and there has been an 84% decrease in devil sightings across Tasmania as of February 2011. The Tasmanian devil has been listed as an endangered species.
News in Photos
credit: Google Earth
Google Earth has proven itself to be more than just a way to travel the world from your desk, it's become a real tool for conservation and preservation of species and habitats in amazing ways.
Good News
credit: Wikimedia Commons
Ocean Expedition Uncovers a Million New Species
Stephen Messenger reports, "For two and half years, the crew of the French vessel Tara surveyed the ocean depths for new lifeforms, and boy did they find plenty. According to researchers, their exploration yielded a more than a million preciously undiscovered aquatic species -- ranging from several new types of fish and squid, to a multitude of microscopic organisms, like plankton."
Stephen Messenger reports, "For two and half years, the crew of the French vessel Tara surveyed the ocean depths for new lifeforms, and boy did they find plenty. According to researchers, their exploration yielded a more than a million preciously undiscovered aquatic species -- ranging from several new types of fish and squid, to a multitude of microscopic organisms, like plankton."
Bad News
credit: prb10111 - awol
The Tragic Bureaucratic Bungle That Led to the Extinction of the White Rhino
A sad story reported by David Defranzo, "In 2006, there were possibly as many as 15 northern white rhino left in the wild—and, spearheaded by renowned conservationist Lawrence Anthony, a strong movement to protect the species. Today, the white rhino is thought to be extinct in the wild. What happened in those six years is a tragic example of the challenges conservation initiatives face around the world."
Saving the "Modern Day Unicorn" from Extinction
One of the rarest and most elusive animals on the planet is the saola, a relative of the ox though it looks closer to a deer or antelope with it's dainty features and two distinctive horns. Two years ago, the species made news after the capture of a saola in Annamite Mountains, an event that almost never happens. While the animal died shortly after being captured, it has helped conservationists understand much more about this virtually unknown mammal.
Taking Stock: World Fish Catch Falls to 90 Million Tons in 2012
According to Lester Brown, "With the wild catch no longer increasing, aquaculture has emerged as the world’s fastest-growing animal protein source, soon to overtake beef in total tonnage... But a commonly cited drawback of aquaculture is that wild-caught forage fish—smaller plankton consumers that support the higher levels of the food chain—are often turned into fishmeal and oil used to feed farmed predatory fish, such as salmon and shrimp."
10 Amazing but Endangered Shark Species: How Many Do You Know?
There is an astounding variety of shapes, sizes and even diets among sharks, but one thing most species have in common is how quickly they are disappearing.
World's Rarest Gorilla Caught on Film in Cameroon
Extinction Rates Soar in Brazil's Fragmented Forests
Researchers surveyed wildlife populations in 196 isolated patches of Atlantic Forests. But sadly, the formerly thriving hotspot of biodiversity was found to be hotbed of extinction.
A sad story reported by David Defranzo, "In 2006, there were possibly as many as 15 northern white rhino left in the wild—and, spearheaded by renowned conservationist Lawrence Anthony, a strong movement to protect the species. Today, the white rhino is thought to be extinct in the wild. What happened in those six years is a tragic example of the challenges conservation initiatives face around the world."
Good News
credit: Bill Robichaud
Saving the "Modern Day Unicorn" from Extinction
One of the rarest and most elusive animals on the planet is the saola, a relative of the ox though it looks closer to a deer or antelope with it's dainty features and two distinctive horns. Two years ago, the species made news after the capture of a saola in Annamite Mountains, an event that almost never happens. While the animal died shortly after being captured, it has helped conservationists understand much more about this virtually unknown mammal.
Red Alert
credit: malias
Taking Stock: World Fish Catch Falls to 90 Million Tons in 2012
According to Lester Brown, "With the wild catch no longer increasing, aquaculture has emerged as the world’s fastest-growing animal protein source, soon to overtake beef in total tonnage... But a commonly cited drawback of aquaculture is that wild-caught forage fish—smaller plankton consumers that support the higher levels of the food chain—are often turned into fishmeal and oil used to feed farmed predatory fish, such as salmon and shrimp."
News in Photos
credit: Chris Gotschalk
10 Amazing but Endangered Shark Species: How Many Do You Know?
There is an astounding variety of shapes, sizes and even diets among sharks, but one thing most species have in common is how quickly they are disappearing.
Good News
World's Rarest Gorilla Caught on Film in Cameroon
Stephen Messenger reports, "Cross River gorillas rank among the world's most endangered and elusive species. Numbering as few as 250 individuals, the rarest of African apes has scarcely been observed in the wild, even by those committed to studying their behavior. But now, for one of the first times ever, the Cross River gorilla's haunting beauty and incredible strength have been caught on film in the wild."
Bad News
credit: Stephen Messenger
Extinction Rates Soar in Brazil's Fragmented Forests
Researchers surveyed wildlife populations in 196 isolated patches of Atlantic Forests. But sadly, the formerly thriving hotspot of biodiversity was found to be hotbed of extinction.
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