Hey, the Condors are returning to San Diego

Here is good tiding for the followers of California Condors (Gymnogyps californianus) recovery programme. Scientists say condors released in Mexico three years ago have made exploratory flights within 15 miles of the United States. The day is not far off when they will hover over the Skies of San Diego. The last reported sighting of a free flying Condor in San Diego was in 1910. California Condors are the largest flying birds in USA. They can weigh up to 26 pounds and have a wingspan of up to 9 feet. Hunting, pesticides and advance of civilization drove the bird nearly to extinction. The Condor recovery programme was started to stem this alarming situation. The species has been listed as endangered since 1967. Condors are being bred in captivity and are frequently released The death of the first condor chick hatched in the wild in Arizona in more than 80 years on 26th March this year had saddened the scientific committee. The chick was just under two years old, having hatched on May 3, 2003 in a nest cave near the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park.

Greenpeace - New Executive Director for Southeast Asia

Greenpeace has named Indonesian Emmy Hafild, a seasoned environmentalist and former director of the Indonesian Forum for the Environment, as the new Executive Director of Southeast Asia. "Mrs. Hafild will lead Greenpeace Southeast Asia through its mission to protect Southeast Asia's abundant ecosystems," greenpeace said in a press statement. Emmy will be based in Bangkok and Bogor, West Java.

Vampire Spiders

Scientists have discovered that a species of spider, Evarcha culicivora, found around Lake Victoria in Uganda and Kenya has a propensity for human blood. The spider deliberately feeds on blood by eating mosquitoes. The findings have been published this week in the proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Endangered species conservation and Viagra

A paper in the journal Environmental Conservation by Bill von Hippel from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) and Frank Von Hippel from University of Alaska, Anchorage, indicates that Chinese men are switching from traditional Chinese medicine remedies to the drug Viagra to treat erectile dysfunction. Chinese traditional medicines use products from endangered animals. The study was based on men attending a large traditional Chinese medicine clinic in Hong Kong. Von Heppel says, “ Despite their history of using traditional medicines and their alleged suspicions of Western medicine, the men we interviewed chose the product that works best”. The Hippel brothers contend that this switch to modern medicine is helping endangered species, as the demand for animal products are going down. But conservationists are not convinced. Glenn Sant, Director TRAFFIC Oceana is of the opinion that endangered animal products are utilized for a wide range of medicines apart from treatment of impotence. So this interpolation cannot stand the scrutiny.

Kansas Professor discovers new lizard.

The precincts of Avila University in Kansas is agog about the discovery of a new lizard in South Caribbean, by the University’s Professor Robert Powell and Robert Henderson, a curator at the Milwaukee Public Museum. The details of the yet to be named lizard will appear in the December issue of Caribbean journal of science. A specimen has been preserved at the University of Kansas Natural History Museum.

Wyoming – Gas development affecting mule deer

Natural gas development in western is forcing mule deer into less suitable winter range, in Pinedale Anticline. The drop of animals using the area was 46 percent from 2002 to 2005. Authorities are weighing the possibilities of using alternative technologies like directional drilling to ease the disturbance of wintering mule deer.

Chinese and Russian students join hands for conservation.

Under the aegis of WWF, Chinese and Russian college students are working together to protect and create peoples’awareness of Heilongjiang River Basin, which is shared by the two neighboring countries. The programme has been christened "Heilongjiang Green Belt Protection Forum". The border lake is famous for its rich bio-diversity

Pollution Disrupts Trout Mating Cycle - Korean Story

A research team team from Daegu Science College (N.Korea) headed by Professor Oh Han-taek has documented aberrations in mating behaviour of indigenous trout due to effects of pollution. The population of trout is dwindling

New Book - OUR INNER APE By Frans de Waal. Published by Riverhead Books

Leading Primatologist Frans de Waal in his latest book OUR INNER APE, gives a fascinating account of behaviour of chimpanzees and bonobos, and juxtaposes them with human behaviour. Despite their physical similarities, the two species behave very differently. Bonobos live in peaceful matriarchy. When conflicts arise they defuse the aggression with friendly physical contact. Chimp society is a male-dominated hierarchy. Chimps will hunt for meat and even kill members of rival groups. In this fascinating book,Frans de Waal writes inside us we have "not one but two inner apes," A great read.

Myths about the extinction of Britain’s Lynx dispelled

Experts had believed that lynx became extinct in the UK 4,000 years ago when the climate cooled and became wetter. But the latest carbon dating of bones found in a cave in North Yorkshire 100 years ago, has revealed that the bones were only 1,500 years old. Now it is apparent that the lynx was hunted to extinction or lost their territory when farming intensified.
The new findings also underscores importance of keeping archaeological collections safe for future research using more advanced technology.

Tiger Poaching-Threat looms large over Kerala

Kerala, home to India’s best managed Wildlife reserve (Periyar Tiger Reserve), is being targeted by tiger poachers. Poachers killed 4 tigers this year in Kerala, and this has sent alarm bells ringing. Authorities are leaving no stone unturned to nip this threat. Detailed investigations are going on to unravel the nexus of the arrested poachers.

Australia rejects Crocodile Safari - Hunting plan

The Federal Government of Australia has turned down the proposal from Northern Territory Government to allow crocodile hunting. Government of Northern Territory mooted the proposal as an antidote to increasing attacks on human beings by crocs.600 problem animals were identified. The provincial government had argued that hunting would help keep down crocodile numbers and consequently lessen the chances of people being killed or injured. Financial return was touted as another incentive. Environment groups were opposed to the plan right from the beginning.

Black-Footed Ferrets on the prowl in Colorado

Black footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) listed as North America’s most endangered mammal by US Fish and Wildlife Service, is limping back from the brink in Colorado. A recent midnight survey had 10 sightings including a lactating female. Ferrets have been released in Colorado since 2001 as part of National reintroduction programme. The ferret population had plummeted following extensive use of fertilizers during 1920s and 30s and they were even considered extinct for some time.

Great white shark sets fastest return migration record for marine animals

A female great white shark has travelled from Africa to Australia and back, a total of more than 20,000 kilometres, in nine months. New York-based shark researcher Ramón Bonfil of Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) conducted the study. The tracking was done with an electronic tag that had been attached on November 7, 2003.

10 Most endangered Wildlife Reserves of US

The list of 10 most endangered Wildlife Reserves of US has been announced by the environmental organisation, Defenders of Wildlife.The list includes:The Oyster Bay National Wildlife Refuge near Theodore Roosevelt's summer White House; Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge; Browns Park in Colorado; Buenos Aires refuge in Arizona; Sonny Bono Salton Sea refuge in California,include;Florida Panther refuge; McFaddin refuge in Texas; Missouri's Mingo refuge; Nevada's Moapa refuge; and North Carolina's Pocosin Lakes refuge. Defenders of Wildlife blamed air and water pollution, over development and government neglect for the problems afflicting refuges across the country.

Sir David Attenborough to the rescue of Albatross

The latest to join save Alabtross campaign is Sir David Attenborough
Albatross is facing a grim situation. An estimated 100,000 albatrosses die each year on hooks of longline fishing boats. 19 of the 21 albatross species are facing extinction.
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and BirdLife International has an ongoing project for training fishermen in albatross- friendly fishing techniques.Sir David has given his backing tothis project. Supporters of the project include Prince Charles and trailblazing yachtswoman Dame Ellen MacArthur

Spanish Fishing posing danger for Sharks

Wasteful and unregulated methods of fishing employed by Spanish fishermen are posing serious risk to Sharks. Irish, Norwegian and British marine experts revealed this in an investigation. They estimate that the practice may have wiped out four-fifths of two threatened species: the leafscale gulper shark and the siki shark, also known as the Portuguese dogfish.

Flying Reptiles - Chinese Connection

Palaeontologists have uncovered remains of 2 flying reptiles that lived 120 million years ago. The reptiles belonged to species Pterosaur.The finding was made in the North East region of China. The North East region is very rich in fossil remains. Scientists are hopeful of making further discoveries akin to the one recovered.

Conservation groups call for moratorium on bottom trawling

Rémi Parmentier from the Deep-Sea Conservation Coalition, an umbrella organisation of conservation groups, is spearheading a movement for moratorium enforced by UN on bottom trawling. Bottom trawling is highly deleterious for coral and quite a number of other organisms and is likely to pose significant risks to the biodiversity,including the risk of species extinction.Fisheries negotiations begin Wednesday at the UN in New York, and will continue to the end of November.

Canada's environment commissioner slams bad environmental management

The latest reports by Johanne Gelinas, Canada's environment commissioner has slammed the Liberal government for what she terms its patchy environmental record. The government is already under fire for its tardy environmental management. The environmental action plans rarely, if ever, reaches the finish line," she wrote. Gelinas blamed government mismanagement for serious problems with water quality, especially among aboriginals living on reserves where living conditions are poor. The government is not working hard enough to protect Canadians from unsafe drinking water," she said. She also said inadequate planning for increased number of visitors to wildlife reserves pointed to the fact "the health of Canada's national parks is also in danger"