Indonesia is on fire. Right now, tens of thousands of small forest fires are burning across the islands of Sumatra and Borneo, the only habitats for orangutans and other rare species. Many of the fires appear to have been intentionally set by palm oil companies, which employ slash-and-burn agriculture to clear land of native trees to plant their cash crop, which is used as an … [Read more...]
Rediscovering ourselves in nature
When we no longer shudder at the ecological warning calls of science, the only voice left that can awaken us belongs to the poets. To hear that voice is to hear the language of the soul. Author and activist, Ian McCullum shares how we are impacting our environment and what we need to do as a human race to reverse the negative effects of over-population and our lack of care … [Read more...]
BP killed 2-5 trillion larval fish, 37-68 trillion invertebrates
Louisiana's coastal marshes will be the key focus of $8.8 billion BP will pay to restore vast natural resource losses caused by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010, part of a $20.8 billion settlement with federal and Gulf state governments announced Monday (Oct. 5). The environmental portion also includes targeting significant money on Gulf of Mexico resources, federal … [Read more...]
Bats save corn farmers $1 billion per year
Bats deserve a better reputation. They may be creepy or troublesome when they occupy our attics, but overall they're more pesticide than pest. Not only do they suppress disease-carrying flies and mosquitoes, but they also devour insects that plague our food supply — and without the side effects of synthetic pesticides. The flying mammals thus carry a lot of economic clout … [Read more...]
An uncertain future for our living blue planet
A new report on the health of the ocean finds that the marine vertebrate population has declined by 49 percent between 1970 and 2012. WWF’s Living Blue Planet Report tracks 5,829 populations of 1,234 mammal, bird, reptile, and fish species through a marine living planet index. The evidence, analyzed by researchers at the Zoological Society of London, paints a troubling … [Read more...]
Scientists alarmed about ‘seismic blasting’ in the Arctic Ocean
Firing seismic airguns to find new oil reserves in the Arctic Ocean is ‘alarming’ and could seriously injure whales and other marine life, according to a new scientific review. The oil industry is increasingly looking towards the region as climate change melts large areas of Arctic sea ice. A Norwegian company operating off east Greenland recently began firing airguns that … [Read more...]
‘Cecil who?’ Zimbabweans ask
Cecil the Zimbabwean lion has gained more worldwide prominence in death than it ever did during its lifetime. Since Simba of “The Lion King” fame, no other lion has captured the world’s imagination in this way. The brutal killing of Cecil by Walter Palmer, an American dentist, has horrified and outraged people around the world. Palmer has been the subject of much criticism in … [Read more...]
Demand justice for Cecil the lion in Zimbabwe
Cecil the Lion was the most famous lion in Zimbabwe's Hwange National Park – but now he's dead, and his killer may not even face any jail time. Reporters are working to confirm the horrifying details of Cecil's death. Here's what sources are saying: this month an American dentist named Walter James Palmer used bait to lure Cecil out of the park, then shot him with a bow and … [Read more...]
Are captive-born predators fit for release into the wild?
The Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) is growing increasingly concerned about the proliferation of captive facilities holding a range of carnivores in South Africa for the sole purpose of tourism and financial gain. We urge the public to consider a few facts when visiting any of a number of these facilities that hold lions, Cheetah, Leopards, Wild Dogs, hyena and even some exotic … [Read more...]
Fate of wild cats at predator park unclear
Confusion surrounds the future of a number of wild cats which were reportedly darted during an attempt to remove them from the Jugomaro Predator Park, in Limpopo, on Wednesday afternoon. One of the owners of the park, Justin Fernandes, made an impassioned plea for help on Facebook when he heard one of the tigers had been shot by the men darting the animals. Fernandes and … [Read more...]
Temperatures soar as heatwave sweeps across Europe
A heatwave is sweeping across Europe, with temperatures set to exceed 40C in some countries. The summer heat has taken hold of Italy, with temperatures over 35C in many cities. Rome's zoo is helping animals deal with the high temperatures by handing out iced treats and encouraging frequent bathing in cold water. Iced lollies made with yogurt and fruit were a hit with the … [Read more...]
New study confirms Earth’s sixth mass extinction has begun
We are currently witnessing the start of a mass extinction event the likes of which have not been seen on Earth for at least 65 million years. This is the alarming finding of a new study published in the journal Science Advances. The research was designed to determine how human actions over the past 500 years have affected the extinction rates of vertebrates: mammals, fish, … [Read more...]
Nominations sought for rhino conservation heroes
Since 2012 the annual Rhino Conservation Awards have served to recognise the remarkable individuals and organisations that protect Africa’s rhino population. Nominations have now opened for the Rhino Conservation Awards 2015. Nominations are invited from all African rhino range states, in categories including; Best Field Ranger, Best Conservation Practitioner, Best Political … [Read more...]
