News
The number of news found: 53.
05/31/2013 CHINA'S APPETITE FOR PORK SPURS $4.7 BILLION SMITHFIELD DEAL
China's Shuanghui International plans to buy Smithfield Foods Inc (SFD.N) for $4.7 billion to feed a growing Chinese appetite for U.S. pork, but the proposed takeover of the world's No. 1 producer has stirred concern in the United States. The transaction, announced on Wednesday, would rank as the largest Chinese takeover of a U.S. company, with an enterprise value of $7.1 billion, including debt assumption.
05/29/2013 CELEBS ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION IN WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY
Every June, some of the world's most eco-conscious celebs speak out in celebration of World Environment Day (WED). The cause has three celeb ambassadors who want you to participate: Gisele Bundchen, Don Cheadle and Ian Somerhalder. The three of them are speaking out about this year's theme - the reduction of food waste. Bundchen and Cheadle made a PSA about this year’s WED, which happens June 5th. According to the statistics in the video, 1/3 of all the food around the world is being wasted or lost. They're asking us all to reduce our footprint, because cutting back on food waste saves water, land use and emissions. Although Somerhalder isn't featured in the PSA, he is definitely taking part. He's encouraging his foundation supporters to participate in "Waste-Free Wednesday" on World Environment Day, with the goal of working toward a "Waste-Free Week."
05/28/2013 MILLIONS MARCH AGAINST MONSANTO
Two million people marched in the U.S. and worldwide Saturday in protest of seed grower Monsanto, according to an Associated Press report. According to the AP, protestors are trying to call attention to dangers posed by genetically modified food. Organizers said the protests were held in 436 cities and 52 countries, according to the AP report. The AP report said genetically modified plants are grown from seeds that are engineered to resist insecticides and herbicides, add nutritional benefits or otherwise improve crop yields and increase global food supply. The AP reports that most corn, soybean and cotton crops grown in the U.S. today are genetically modified. Monsanto Co. is based in St. Louis. According to the AP report, the company said it respects the protestors' rights and said its seeds improve agriculture by helping farmers produce more crops while conserving resources.
05/27/2013 ICELAND TO KILL RARE FIN WHALES FOR DOG SNACKS
Iceland is to resume commercial whaling next month, killing up to 184 endangered fin whales over the coming summer partly to supply a burgeoning Japanese market in luxury dog snacks. Kristjan Loftsson, the millionaire entrepreneur who owns two whaling vessels dating back to the 1950s, said they would head out to sea again next month after a refurbishment. Much of the meat from the creatures, which are second only to the blue whale in size, is expected to be sent to Japan, with some going for human consumption but most destined for use in speciality dog foods. That revelation will anger environmentalists, who say that Iceland is acting in defiance of the global moratorium on hunting great whale species agreed by members of the International Whaling Commission (IWC).
05/24/2013 INDIA BANS CAPTIVE DOLPHIN SHOWS
India has, along with Costa Rica, Hungary and Chile, banned captive dolphin and orca shows. India has declared that cetaceans' high level of intelligence grants them the status of "non-human persons," which elevates the animals' rights. The new law partly stems from the fact that cetaceans do not historically fare well in captivity. India's Ministry of the Environment and Forests stated in the ban, "Confinement in captivity can seriously compromise the welfare and survival of all types of cetaceans by altering their behaviour and causing extreme distress." According to Treehugger, the statement also bans "any person / persons, organizations, government agencies, private or public enterprises that involves import, capture of cetacean species to establish for commercial entertainment, private or public exhibition and interaction purposes whatsoever."
05/24/2013 STUDY REVEALS HOW FISHING GEAR CAN CAUSE SLOW DEATH OF WHALES
Using a "patient monitoring" device attached to a whale entangled in fishing gear, scientists showed for the first time how fishing lines changed a whale's diving and swimming behavior. The monitoring revealed how fishing gear hinders whales' ability to eat and migrate, depletes their energy as they drag gear for months or years, and can result in a slow death.
05/23/2013 BIEBER'S MONKEY OFFICIALLY BECOMES GERMAN PROPERTY
Justin Bieber's pet monkey, Mally, was only 14-weeks-old when the singer abandoned him in Germany. Now, 20-weeks-old, Bieber's representatives have unofficially told the German shelter that is holding the primate that they would like them to find a zoo for him. While the shelter has been doing its best to care for Mally, they acknowledge that keeping the young male isolated from his own species has not been best for him. According to Herald, the shelter will not be disclosing which zoo the primate will be moved to. Because there has been so much buzz around Mally, the shelter has chosen to keep that information private.
05/23/2013 EIGHT COUNTRIES SUBMIT ACTION PLANS TO COMBAT ILLEGAL TRADE IN ELEPHANT IVORY
Eight countries identified as being the most affected by the illegal trade in elephant ivory have submitted national action plans to the United Nations-backed treaty for the conservation of endangered species containing measures to combat the scourge. The Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) received plans from China, Kenya, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Uganda, Tanzania and Viet Nam – identified as primary source, transit and import countries affected by the illegal trade in ivory. The plans – which contain specific activities in the areas of legislation and regulations, national and international enforcement, outreach and public awareness – were requested by the CITES Standing Committee as a response to the dramatic rise in the number of elephants poached for their ivory. Data gathered by CITES-led programme known as MIKE, or Monitoring Illegal Killing of Elephants, found that an estimated 17,000 elephants were illegally killed in 2011. Data for 2012 shows the situation did not improve, and actual figures for last year may be much higher.
05/22/2013 NEW SNAKE SLITHERING ONTO ENDANGERED LIST?
A new species of pit viper has been confirmed in the highland forests of Honduras. Named after late conservationist Mario Guifarro, the new species of snake could be an extremely rare occurrence in the wild. In fact, some scientists argue the new viper should be classified as critically endangered, as threats to the snakes’ limited environment are increasingly imminent.
05/22/2013 SHELTER DOGS AND CATS BECOME COLORADO'S OFFICIAL STATE PET
Shelter dogs and cats are getting a new honor in Colorado, as Gov. Hickenlooper recently made these wonderful animals the official state pet. According to local Colorado news station KREX, Hickenlooper just signed the bill into law and officials hopes this will raise more awareness for rescues and demonstrate the importance of adopting animals. Of course, good news always seems to come with bad news. Some are opposing the bill and think this might open up an entirely new area for businesses transactions. Several opponents also feel that the shelter pets might not even be Colorado residents.
05/21/2013 RICKY GERVAIS DREAMS OF OPENING A WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
Ricky Gervais has opened up to GQ about why it's so important for him to lend his voice to help keep animals safe. When asked if the rumors were true that Gervais wants to open up a wildlife sanctuary at some point, he said, "When everyone asked, 'What ambition have you got?' I could never think of one. That's the only thing I could think of, that I'd want my life to be: just my house, but I open the back doors and it's like a fucking Disney cartoon. I want fucking muskrats and beavers and horses and three-legged wolves and blind bears. I wouldn't want for anything else. My life now, with every endangered or hurt animal saved."
05/21/2013 RUSSIA BRINGS MICE AND NEWTS BACK FROM MARS RESEARCH MISSION
Russian Mission Control said the Bion-M craft landed softly with the help of a special parachute system in the Orenburg Region about 1,200 kilometres (750 miles) southeast of Moscow. The capsule was also carrying snails and gerbils as well as some plants and microflora. Rossiya state television said not all the animals survived, but provided no other details.
05/21/2013 UNITED STATES SENTENCES VIETNAMESE RHINO TRADERS TO 3.5 YEARS IN PRISON
The Judge went easy on two rhino horn traders in the United States when she sentences one to 42 months and another to 46 month in prison. This was less than the sentences that the US Federal prosecutors called for. The father and son team who were Vietnamese emigrants were also fined and ordered to pay compensation. Vinh Chuong "Jimmy" Kha, 50, and Felix Kha, 27, both of Garden Grove were arrested and charged last year with conspiracy, smuggling, wildlife trafficking in violation of the Lacey Act, money laundering and tax evasion. Vin Chuong Kha was sentenced to 42 months and Felix Kha was sentenced to 46 months. The prosecutors had called for 5 years and 6 years respectively.
05/20/2013 POLICE OFFICER FINDS DOG CARING FOR TRAPPED KITTEN
A South Carolina police officer got a pleasant surprise while attempting to rescue a dog from a ravine last Monday. It turned out that the dog was actually calling for help on behalf of the small kitten it was protecting. The pair was discovered near Anderson, S.C.'s North Pointe Creek after a local reported hearing a dog barking from the area, according to Fox Carolina. Officer Michelle Smith reported to the creek and found the dog nursing the kitten at the bottom of the ravine. Smith told Fox that the dog had likely only stayed in the ravine to care for the kitten. Both the animals were taken to the Anderson County P.A.W.S. where they are waiting for the dog's guardian to arrive.
05/20/2013 ELEPHANT ESCAPES DEATH, TRAMPLES POACHER
With elephant poaching at an all-time high, one elephant actually managed to save their own life after trampling a poacher who was attempting to shoot him/her. The poacher's remains were found in Charara National Park in Zimbabwe after entering the reserve sometime between April 19 and 26 with another poacher. While many elephants normally don't charge their attackers, this elephant's defense could possibly mark an aggressive change in their behavior due to the frequent loss of their family members at the hands of poachers.
05/19/2013 TRAPPING OF MILLIONS OF BIRDS IN EGYPT THREATENS EUROPEAN BIRD POPULATION
Disturbing evidence has emerged from the Mediterranean coast of Egypt: Bavarian Broadcasting have documented a total of 700 kilometres of nets set to catch birds. The birds are then offered as a delicacy in markets and restaurants across Egypt. The nets are very difficult to avoid for many migratory birds as they form a barrier across their flight path either across the Mediterranean or the Sahara when they are looking for a place to rest. The exact number of birds caught in this way can only be estimated, but experts believe that tens of millions are killed each year.
05/18/2013 GATSBY GETS MILLIONS TO SAVE WILDLIFE
The Great Gatsby star Leonardo DiCaprio is saving the wildlife, one celebrity donation at a time. The famed actor hosted the 11th hour auction in New York on May 13, raising $38.8 million for his charity, The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation. The foundation will use the funds raised during the art auction to protect endangered species as well as the various wild lands they inhabit. The best selling piece of the nigh, an oil painting created by Mark Grotjahn, sold for $6.5 million—an auction record for the artist.
05/18/2013 LION CUB IN TWITTER SALE IS SEIZED BY AUTHORITIES
On Monday a lion cub was put up for sale on the Twitter web site. Photographs of the cub was tweeted together with a price tag of Dh30,000 by a Dubai based pet shop. Wildlife officials of the United Arab Emirates have taken the cub into custody. The pet shop owner who is currently unidentified but went under the Twitter name of PetMateUAE has since taken down the tweets and claimed that he was not selling the lion cub but just looking for a home for it. The store owner who shop tagline is "selling all sorts of pets in the UAE" said an official from the Ministry of Environment and Water, the agency responsible for animal welfare in the emirates, had taken custody of the lion.
05/17/2013 GILLNETS KILLING A MINIMUM OF 400,000 SEABIRDS EVERY YEAR
A new study, published by BirdLife scientists and marine biologist Dr Ramunas Zydelis, reveals that a staggering 400,000 birds are killed each year in gillnet fisheries. This number exceeds the estimated toll of bird deaths documented in longline fisheries. This is the first time the massive scale of this problem has been laid bare - making it clear that urgent action is needed to tackle it.
05/17/2013 INDIAN VILLAGERS RESCUE BABY ELEPHANT
A baby elephant in India is resting comfortably after surviving a harrowing ordeal. The female calf was traveling with her herd — but lagging in the back — when she became trapped in a muddy ditch. Her mother heard the baby's frantic cries and attempted to rescue the calf, but was unsuccessful. That's when humans stepped in. Alerted by the noise, nearby villagers came to the rescue and used rope to pull the trapped calf out of the mud. The baby was then transported to the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation at the Kaziranga National Park, where she was treated with food and fluids.
05/16/2013 PAUL MCCARTNEY WANTS GLOBAL BAN ON COSMETIC TESTING ON ANIMALS
Every animal lover looked at Europe as a beacon of what could be when the EU implemented its ban on cosmetics that have been tested on animals. Now that Europe is covered, advocates want to take the movement worldwide. Sir Paul McCartney is speaking out on behalf of Cruelty Free International (BUAV) to advocate for a much broader ban. BUAV notes on their website that over 80% of countries, including the USA, Australia, Korea, Japan and India, still allow animal testing for cosmetics. In the USA, testing is optional and up to the companies, but in countries like China, testing is mandatory for a product to be sold there. And with huge potential customers in China, many companies outside of China choose to keep testing even though it's unnecessary for the safety of their products and cruel to animals. McCartney isn't alone in his mission. Joss Stone, Peter Dinklage and Ricky Gervais have also spoken out against animal testing.
05/16/2013 ANIMAL RIGHTS BECOMES HOT TOPIC IN NYC MAYORAL RACE
The topic of animal rights has recently become unexpected kindling in the mayoral race for guardianship of the city that never sleeps. What was once considered a fringe issue, started to emerge front-and-center when efforts to ban the horse-drawn carriage industry were repeatedly opposed by Christine Quinn, the City Council speaker and Democratic mayoral candidate. Almost immediately, concerned citizens showed that Quinn’s disregard for animal welfare was a blemish on her credibility as a the candidate "committed to equal rights." Most recently, Steve Nislick, a parking garage magnate and the founder of NYCLASS, a group dedicated to banning horse-drawn carriages and replacing them with energy-efficient horseless carriages, helped pay for a series of ads attacking Quinn's record. And her popularity plummeted. And while Quinn descended in to further scrutiny and received more venom from animal activists and everyday New Yorkers alike, other contenders in the race for Mayor took notice, and began posturing their campaigns as more animal-friendly.
05/15/2013 EMILY DESCHANEL AND PETA WANT YOU TO DITCH DAIRY
Her fans know and adore her as Dr. Temperance Brennan on "Bones," but the animal world loves Emily Deschanel for her animal activism and veganism. Most recently, she teamed up with PETA asking others to ditch dairy and take a stand against the cruel dairy industry. Some might think diary is healthy for them, but according to PETA and Deschanel, it's not. The actress notes cows milk is not meant for humans, and can lead to all sorts of health ailments including allergies, acne, diabetes, cancer and obesity. Deschanel hopes people will take this seriously and do something about it. She asks everyone to go vegan and eliminate dairy from their diets.
05/15/2013 PIT BULL RESCUES GUARDIAN FROM FIRE
A New York woman narrowly escaped a house fire, and she says all the credit goes to her pit bull, Cain. Long Island resident Jackie Bonasera was drying her hair in an upstairs bathroom when she was alerted to trouble by Cain's frantic barking. Bonasera went downstairs and discovered her house was on fire. The flames had spread from the front to the back of the home, and had begun engulfing the garage. Panicked, she ran outside - without Cain, who was still trapped in the house. "I ran out of the house and my neighbors came running over, and then I thought about the dog - I'm like, 'He saved my life, I have to save his,'" says Bonasera. "So I just put my robe over my face and I ran back in and I grabbed the dog and then I stood out here and I watched my house burn." Bonasera is certain she would have been trapped upstairs in the burning home if not for Cain's warnings. The fire was so intense, 70 firefighters were required to put it out.
05/14/2013 SHOCKING ANIMAL RIGHTS ABUSE IN CHINESE ZOOS
The shocking extent of animal rights abuses in China's zoos is laid bare in a series of pictures that have emerged from the country. The sickening snaps - taken by a Brit visiting the communist state - show bears, monkeys, lions and tigers all being forced to perform circus acts for the watching crowds. A panda and an ape are also shown lying motionless in their small cages at the animal park in Shijiazhuang, a city to the south east of capital Beijing. The man who took the pictures is Nick Hopkins, a 24-year-old from Swansea. He said: "I can only describe the way the animals were treated as horrific."
05/14/2013 HOUSEHOLD PRODUCT TESTING - USELESS?
A 10-year study found that billions of dollars of research and billions of lives of mice have gone down the drain in experiments on mice that have proved completely useless when applied to humans. Now a follow-up report says that any number of household, food and cosmetic products that have been tested on mice and other animals may not be as safe as we have been assured. The safety of all these products – household cleansers, baby foods, gardening products, paints, shampoos and many more – should all now be held suspect, loaded as they are with synthetic chemicals and poisons. The false results produced in the household product tests may be even more harmful to more people than the tests on medical products. That's because virtually 100 percent of us are being subjected to a whole array of these products every day, while fewer of us are being subjected to new-fangled medical products.
05/13/2013 THE CAT WHO REFUSES TO EAT MEAT
It is hard to imagine a cat that would refuse to eat meat - and whose palate cannot even be tempted by fish. Called "Dante," the black and white feline was found by Miss Becky Page, abandoned and starving, as a fluffy kitten. A tasty bowl of chicken was rejected. Dante also turned his nose up at a serve of fish. But when he spied some leftover vegetables, the starving youngster hungrily devoured them. Now two years old, Dante has resolutely stuck to his vegetarian diet ever since, despite many offers of even the finest canned cat food. His guardian grows most of the organic delights he savors - both fruits and vegetables. His favorites include brussels sprouts and asparagus, melon and rhubarb, and he "has been known to raid the fruit bowl for bananas."
05/13/2013 WORSE THAN GERMS - THE CHEMICALS USED TO DISINFECT MEAT
The meat and seafood you buy probably looks and smells fine. But processors may be using unsavory drugs to retard bacterial growth and the drugs do not appear on the label. Many human antibiotics are used in meat production like penicillin, neomycin and sulfa and Cipro-like drugs. The FDA and medical community are trying to clamp down on the massive use of such drugs on large scale farms because they contribute to resistance of the very the germs they are supposed to kill. Livestock operators fight antibiotic restrictions suggested by the FDA, doctors and scientific groups because the pills save them money. Without antibiotics, animals would need to be given more room - the packed conditions they live in on many farms today would cause illness and death. Large commercial meat producers also use common cleaning chemicals like chlorine and ammonia to kill the germs endemic to livestock operations. Chickens are routinely given a chlorine bleach "bath" before sold to the public. And who can forget the ammonia puffs that Pink Slime was treated with to kill E. coli?
05/12/2013 MAN SINGLE-HANDEDLY CREATES FOREST AND WILDLIFE HABITAT
Thirty years ago, the Mulai forest near Assam, India was nothing more than a barren sandbar, where nothing thrived. Then Jadav Payeng came along and transformed it. Today, it's an incredible ecosystem. In 1979, at just 16, Payeng saw a large number of snakes wash onto the sandbar during a flood. But when the waters receded, the reptiles died as a result of the harsh, sunny conditions. The experience gave Payeng a mission in life. The teenager gave up his education and home and moved to the sandbar - alone. There, he single-handedly planted, watered and pruned the bamboo, and the forest slowly began to grow and thrive. The success spurred him to try other plants. He dedicated his life to creating a new ecosystem - he still lives there - and today, Mulai Forest (named after Peyang’s nickname) is a 1,360-acre habitat to numerous species, including rhinos, elephants, endangered tigers, deer, rabbits and vultures. Peyang does his best to preserve the wildlife in the forest, which is threatened by poachers. Now nearly 50, Peyang has no intention of slowing down. In fact, he wants to create similar ecosystems in other parts of India.
05/10/2013 BRIGITTE BARDOT CALLS FOR ACTION AGAINST FOIE GRAS SALE
Avid animal activist Brigitte Bardot is once again taking a stand against the mistreatment of animals. This time around, she is seeking the end of foie gras sales. Alongside her Brigitte Bardot Foundation, the Society for the Protection of Animals and many other animal rights groups, the former French model and actress has joined PETA's fight against UK superstore Fortnum & Mason. The groups sent a letter to Ewan Venters, the store's managing director, to stop its sale of foie gras. Foie gras is created by force-feeding ducks and geese large amounts of grain, which is pumped into their stomachs with metal pipes that are shoved down their throats - sometimes several times a day. This process is banned in the UK, but allowed in five European countries including France. Fortnum & Mason reportedly pays French farmers to force-feed birds on its behalf to get "high welfare" foie gras.
05/10/2013 LEONARDO DICAPRIO'S MASSIVE ART AUCTION MAY NET $25M FOR GREEN CAUSES
Leonardo DiCaprio is staying true to his word about using some time off from acting to "do some good for the environment." The 38-year-old has partnered his Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation with auction house Christie's to host "The 11th Hour Charity Auction," featuring donated pieces from more than 30 of the most important living artists. Organizers are hopeful the event will raise $25 million for various environmental initiatives. "My Foundation has worked on environmental issues since 1998, and despite the great efforts by organizations all over the world, our planet is in trouble," DiCaprio said in a statement. "Given that less than 2 percent of philanthropic giving goes to environmental conservation projects, we are grateful that Christie's and the participating artists are providing this incredible opportunity." Notable names who have donated pieces, many created specifically for the event, include Kai Althoff, Banksy, Peter Beard, Carol Bove, Joe Bradley, Cecily Brown, Dan Colen, George Condo, John Currin, and many more.
05/09/2013 RUSSIA RAISES FINES FOR POACHING TENFOLD
President Vladimir Putin has signed a law raising fines for poaching tenfold. The document was posted on the government's official legal information website on Wednesday. The bill was approved by the Federation Council, Russia's upper house, on April 27. According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), poachers kill up to 200 polar bears in the Russian Arctic annually. Ecologists from Russia’s Primorsky Region added that there has been a significant increase in the smuggling of tiger pelts in the past 12 months, noting that Siberian tigers are on the verge of extinction.
05/09/2013 RESCUED MOON BEAR GIVEN LIFE-SAVING BRAIN SURGERY IN LAO PDR
A rare Moon bear (Ursus thibetanus) suffering from hydrocephalus recently underwent a world-first neurosurgery at the Tat Kuang Si Bear Rescue Centre in Lao PDR. Moon bears are a globally threatened species and are given the highest level of protection in Laos, where they are targeted by poachers to feed the demand for their bile and other body parts. The bear, named ChamPa, was brought to the Free the Bears-sponsored sanctuary as a cub in 2010, after being rescued from wildlife traders. ChamPa was estimated to be just a few months old at the time of her arrival at the sanctuary. Her sibling, captured at the same time as her from forests in northern Laos, had already died whilst in the hands of illegal wildlife traders, who had hoped to sell her into a life of misery on one of the many bear bile extraction facilities that can be found throughout Laos and neighboring countries.
05/09/2013 BOB BARKER'S PRICE IS RIGHT TO SAVE UNIVERSITY CATS
Recently, PETA released a video of a cruel animal testing practice at Washington University in St. Louis (WUSTL) called Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS). In most universities, this procedure is performed on a simulator, but for some reason the antiquated system at WUSTL allows students to perform this traumatic procedure on nine live cats, and sometimes even up to 15 gruelling intubations per session. Following the release of PETA's video, "The Price Is Right" host Bob Barker - known for his immense dislike of animal experiments - sent a letter to the school's chancellor offering $75,000 to buy the state-of-the-art pediatric simulators to spare the cats from this harrowing experience. In his letter, the Missouri native expressed that he was "deeply troubled" by by his wife's former medical school's use of live cats "for no good reason."
05/08/2013 MEXICAN STATE BANS BULLFIGHTING
Sonora last week became the first Mexican state to ban bullfighting, passing a law against cruelty to animals, which, however, does not include the very popular spectacle of cockfighting, local legislative officials said Saturday. "It has caused quite a stir because we are the first state of the republic to pass this law. I really didn't expect, I say this with all the honesty in the world, I didn't expect the repercussion this would have, nationally and internationally," the local lawmaker of the Ecologist Green Party of Mexico, or PVEM, Vernon Perez Rubio, said.
05/08/2013 HOPE FOR GALAPAGOS WILDLIFE THREATENED BY MARINE INVADERS
Increasing tourism and the spread of marine invasive non-native species is threatening the unique plant and marine life around the Galapagos Islands. UK scientists from the Universities of Southampton and Dundee are currently investigating the extent of the problem following a grant from the UK Government's Darwin Initiative, which aims to protect biodiversity and promote sustainability around the world.
05/08/2013 MEKONG WILL LOSE 30% OF FOREST IN 20 YEARS
The Greater Mekong subregion in Southeast Asia risks losing more than a third of its remaining forest cover within the next two decades if regional governments fail to boost protection, value and restore natural capital, and embrace green growth, warns a new WWF report. WWF's analysis reveals the Greater Mekong has retained about 98 million hectares of natural forest, just over half of the region's land area, but further rapid loss is expected if current deforestation rates persist. Between 1973 and 2009, the five countries of the Greater Mekong lost just under one-third of their remaining forest cover. During this period, Cambodia lost 22 per cent of its 1973 forest cover, Laos and Myanmar lost 24 per cent, and Thailand and Vietnam lost 43 per cent.
05/07/2013 SCIENTISTS CALL FOR SEISMIC TESTING BAN TO PROTECT THE WORLD'S RAREST DOLPHINS
Some of the world's leading marine mammal scientists are calling on the New Zealand government to stop and ban seismic testing in the habitat of the world's rarest sub-species of dolphin. With just 55 thought to be remaining the Maui's dolphin (Cephalorhynchus hectori maui) lives off the west coast of North Island in New Zealand. The scientists believe that noise from the seismic testing could damage the hearing of the dolphins and also drive them into fishing grounds where they could be caught in nets. Fishing is the primary cause of death among the last 55 surviving Maui's dolphins – which are the smallest as well as the rarest dolphins in the world. Gillnets and trawling kill about nine per cent of the population a year – that's 75 times more than the sustainable limit.
05/07/2013 SEA TURTLES GET CAUGHT IN THE BYCATCH
In a new study, Bryan Wallace and a team of researchers illustrate the relationship between sea turtle bycatch, (unwanted animals which are caught by fishing boats then discarded) and small-scale fisheries. Although there is little research backing bycatch and mortality rates in terms of endangered species like marine turtles, Wallace, in his research, learned that on average, the hardest places to be a sea turtle were in the East Pacific, Northwest, Southwest Atlantic, and Mediterranean. With such a vast number of sea turtles being killed in the bycatch of small-scale fisheries, it is critical for these small-scale fisheries to become a sustainable business.
05/07/2013 THE WORLD'S FIRST BIONIC DOG
After becoming the first dog to be fitted with a complete set of prosthetic paws that work naturally and allow him to run, jump, and swim, Naki'o has been given a new leash on life. The mixed-breed puppy was abandoned at a foreclosed Nebraska home and was eventually discovered alone in the cellar, with his paws and tail frozen into a puddle of icy water. Fortunately for Naki'o, he met an extremely compassionate veterinarian assistant named Christie Pace of Colorado Springs, Colorado, who was looking to help an animal in need. "I have a soft spot for rescue animals in general. I was looking for something different, unique. I wanted to make more of a difference than a regular dog. I knew I could help him out," she told ABC.
05/06/2013 109 KING COBRAS SEIZED IN ONE DAY IN VIETNAM
Authorities in Vietnam undertook 2 operations which resulted in the seizure of 109 King Cobras. 53 were found in a sack in a car being driven in Hanoi and 56 were seized in Hoang Mai District. The world's most verminous snake which grows up to 18 feet in length is also sadly sought for use in traditional Chinese medicines. Trading in King Cobra is banned in Vietnam and the seizures are some of the results of an operation that was launched after a survey by the Wildlife Conservation Society was published at a wildlife conference in Hanoi last month. The survey showed the widespread and open trading of endangered and protected wildlife species on Vietnamese web sites.
05/06/2013 AUSTRALIA SUSPENDS LIVE CATTLE EXPORTS TO EGYPT OVER VIDEO
Australian livestock exporters said on Saturday they were suspending live cattle exports to Egypt after a graphic video purportedly showed animal cruelty in Egyptian abattoirs and prompted Canberra to launched an investigation. Agriculture officials said they had taken the matter up with Cairo, as Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig said he was "dismayed" that the footage provided by animal rights group Animals Australia had not been made available sooner. Animals Australia, which is campaigning for an end to the live export trade, said the footage was shot over recent months at two abattoirs approved under a joint agreement which allowed the resumption of live animal exports to Egypt in 2010.
05/06/2013 TOURISM FEARS AS DOLPHINS BLOWN UP
The Secretary of the Tanga Tourism Network Association (TATONA) in Tanzania, Sibylle Riedmiller, is reported to have written to authorities that tourists have witnessed dynamite fishermen local to Tanga Coelacanth Marine Park close to Kigombe targeting dolphins and catching them. The meat is then used as bait for sharks or sent to fish markets in the capital. Despite the dolphins being protected in the marine park and also protected under the country's fisheries regulations it is claimed that the local fisherman are ignorant of the protection in place. Riedmiller is calling for a major education campaign in the region to highlight how important the dolphins are to the tourism industry and to remind people that dolphins are protected by law.
05/05/2013 NO RHINOS LEFT IN LIMPOPO NATIONAL PARK
Wildlife officials in Mozambique have announced the devastating news that there are no rhino left in the Limpopo National Park in the south of the country. Uncontrolled poaching over the last couple of years has resulted in the last rhino being killed in the park. The Limpopo National Park authorities were clear in who they blame for the loss. They said the markets for rhino horn in China and Vietnam was responsible.
05/05/2013 SINGER MIRANDA LAMBERT: THE VOICE FOR FOSTER DOGS
Country darling Miranda Lambert has a big heart for animals - particularly dogs. Mrs Blake Shelton already has five dogs in her family, but she also makes sure to open her house to foster animals. The "Gunpowder & Lead" singer told People magazine, "Every time I find one [dog], we keep 'em until we can find them the right home. You kind of know what dog fits with your family. We keep ‘em until we find a family they fit with." The star also admitted that husband Blake Shelton was a little baffled with her animal loving ways at first, but that he is used to it now.
05/05/2013 UN CALLS TO DEMOLISH IVORY TOWER
Nonsensical cures and asinine rituals continue to stimulate the demand for ivory in Southeast Asia. Rhinos and elephants have long been sought after for their precious tusks and horns, as their ivory is believed to cure a number of ailments. Of course, these cures aren’t rooted in fact, but belief in them has contributed to a recent surge in the poaching of these threatened species. Fortunately, the head of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, Yury Fedotov, is pushing for tougher penalties for illegal poachers.
05/04/2013 CAT CRUELTY EXPOSED AT WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
Recent undercover footage from animal rights group PETA has revealed a troubling practice at Washington University in St. Louis (WUSTL). During a medical training exercise called Pediatric Advanced Life Support, students were asked to intubate cats. Most medical facilities use lifelike simulators for this practice but in WUSTL the cats are put through up to 15 gruelling intubations per session. Some cats even began to wake up during the procedure. PETA writes, "Of the more than 1,000 PALS training facilities, WUSTL appears to be the last facility in the country that is still abusing cats in the course, in defiance of modern science and ethics."
05/03/2013 NYC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ADOPTS ALL-VEGETARIAN MENU
A city public school is one of the first in the nation to adopt an all-vegetarian menu, school officials said Tuesday. Public School 244, in the Flushing section of Queens, has been serving tofu wraps and vegetarian chili since going all-veggie earlier this year, schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott said during a lunchtime visit. P.S. 244 opened in 2008 and houses just over 400 students in pre-kindergarten through third grade. The school, which wanted to offer the children healthy food options, started serving a vegetarian lunch three times a week and then increased it to four times a week before making the switch to an all-vegetarian menu every day. It is the city's first all-vegetarian public school.
05/03/2013 BEEF INDUSTRY ASKING OTTAWA TO APPROVE IRRADIATION TO KILL DANGEROUS E. COLI
Canada's beef industry is about to ask the federal government to approve the use of irradiation in meat-processing plants to kill dangerous E. coli bacteria in a full range of meat products. The Canadian Cattlemen's Association says it is updating an application that was first made to Health Canada in 1998 for ground beef, but was turned down because of public concerns. Irradiation involves bombarding meat with radiant energy similar to X-rays.
05/03/2013 MALTESE HUNTING AND CONSERVATION OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHED SHOOTING INSIDE A BIRD SANCTUARY
Edwin Vella, a high-ranking of the Malta Hunting and Conservation Federation (FKNK) official has been fined 1000 Euros after being photographed hunting illegally inside the Foresta 2000 Bird Sanctuary, only hours after another Maltese man, Chris Gauci, was convicted of the same offence.
05/02/2013 MAD COW INFECTED BLOOD "TO KILL 1,000"
Up to 1,000 people could die of the human form of "mad cow" disease through infected blood given to them in British hospitals, ministers have been told. Government experts believe there is still a risk of people contracting variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD) through blood transfusions, as about 30,000 Britons are likely to be carrying the brain-wasting illness in a dormant form - double the previous estimate. They warn the current total death toll of 176 from vCJD could rise more than five-fold as the infection has not been wiped out of the blood supply like it has been in the food chain.
05/02/2013 NEW CALEDONIA CREATES HUGE SHARK SANCTUARY
New Caledonia has created a vast 1,245,000 square kilometres (480,000 square miles) shark sanctuary giving comprehensive and permanent shark protection in an area roughly the size of South Africa. The ocean around New Caledonia is still considered healthy and intact, and home to spectacular marine life, including approximately 50 species of sharks.
05/02/2013 NEW ZEALAND CHANGES FISHING RULES TO PROTECT SEA BIRDS
The New Zealand Government has released a statement of intent to save native seabirds, including endangered albatrosses and petrels, from being killed by commercial and non-commercial fishing activity. The statement is much welcomed by NZ conservation body, Forest & Bird.
The number of news found: 53.
