Seal Meat and California Condor conservation

With its total wild population currently standing at 130, California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus) remains one of the world's most endangered birds. Writing this week in the journal, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Page Chamberlain, professor of geological and environmental sciences at Stanford University in California, brings out interesting features about dietary preferences of Condors and how a change in diet can help their conservation. By comparing carbon and nitrogen traces in the birds' feathers and bones researchers were able to tell whether condors historically ate remains of land or marine mammals. The analysis of modern, historic (1800 to 1965), and prehistoric (up to 36,000 years ago) condor remains revealed major shifts in the bird's diet since the last ice age, which ended around 8,000 years ago. It switched from land to marine and back to land. The study team now recommends reacquainting California condors with marine-mammal meat as part of efforts to establish viable condor populations in the U.S. Loss of habitat for large mammals in the Central Valley and southern California would most certainly reduce the possible food sources for wild condors. The California sea lion population is increasing by 5 to 6 percent a year, with total numbers up to around 240,000, according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Chamberlain says, “If condors can tap into this food source, the prospects of the birds spreading across their former West Coast range are excellent." Scientists aim to encourage the birds to eat seal carcasses by setting up holding and release sites near these rookeries. The initial results of the experiment is very encouraging.

England – Red Squirrel conservation strategy launched

Red Alert North England, which is made up of wildlife trusts, the Forestry Commission and landowners, has launched North England Red Squirrel Conservation Strategy. The effort is intended to save Britain's native red squirrels from extinction. The species has been declining since American grey squirrels were introduced in the 19th Century and outnumber reds by 66 to 1. The strategy will focus on carefully selected red squirrel reserves in forests in Cumbria, Yorkshire, Merseyside and Northumbria. Management strategies have been worked out which will cancel out the grey squirrel's natural competitive advantage.

Drunken elks

Two tipsy elks laid siege to an old people’s home in Sibbhult, southern Sweden.
The elks got drunk on some fermented apples outside the home. The female elk and her calf developed a taste for the tipsy stuff and refused to leave the premises. Police had to be called in. The exasperated police had to seek the services of a professional hunter with dog to chase the animals away.

Fiji's Great Sea Reef to become marine protected area

Efforts are on to form one of the world's largest networks of underwater sanctuaries in Fiji. The local chiefs of Great Sea Reef have launched the first of a series of marine protected areas. Great Sea Reef, locally known as Cakaulevu, is globally important in view of its rich diversity. The islands of the Fiji archipelago, which number more than 300, are scattered over a 1.3 million square kilometer area. Fiji archipelago is often called the soft coral capital of the world.

DIRECTOR OF ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, KEW TO STEP DOWN

Director of Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew,Professor Sir Peter Crane FRS will step down in summer 2006 after seven years in the job. Prior to his appointment at Kew Sir Peter spent 17 years in Chicago as the Director of the Field Museum of Natural History. He will return to the USA to take up a new position at the University of Chicago. The post of Director Royal Botanic Gardens is one of the world's most prestigious botanical-horticultural posts..

Florida - Ingenious way of smuggling birds

A woman who tried to smuggle a rare green parrot by hiding it in her bra has landed in jail in Florida. Florid Fish and Wildlife officials say the offence is punishable by imprisonment for 5 years and/or $ 5000 in fine or both.

Pilot tracks 4800 KM Monarch Butterfly migration

Vico Gutierrez a pilot flying his ultralight for 72 days has ended his 4,800-km odyssey of following the migration of Monarch butterfly. His journey from Canada ended near the Angangueo Sanctuary set aside for Monarchs in Mexico. Not one butterfly makes the round-trip journey. The offspring of those who start it head instinctively for a place they have never been. It takes three or four generations of monarch butterflies to reach their summer grounds in Canada and northern areas of the United States.

There is a plus side to global warming for Norway

A study by Norwegian institute for water research indicates that global warming may benefit Salmon in the rivers of Norway. A problem with Salmon was the poisoning due to the nitrates. Nitrates have been acidifying the rivers of Norway caused by industrial gases blown in from other parts of Europe. The warming has induced more rains. This is benefiting Salmon smolt by diluting the nitrates. Even though immediate effects are rosy long term Global warming effects could bring catastrophe in the form of droughts, floods and inundations.

Mexico Coral Reef set back 100 years by Wilma

Mexico’s National protected area Commission says in its report that the delicate coral reefs off the coast of Yucatan province will take at least 100 years to recover from the damages inflicted by Wilma. Work is on to assess and repair the damage. The commission has requested help from outside agencies to repair the damage.

Tri-Nation agreement in Pacific augurs well for leatherback conservation

Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands have committed to a partnership for conserving the critically endangered western Pacific leatherback turtle within the Bismarck-Solomon Seas Ecoregion. The beaches of these three countries harbour the largest remaining leatherback turtle populations in the Pacific Ocean. Leatherback turtles are classified as critically endangered. Some populations in the region have declined by as much as 90 per cent in the last twenty years. The new initiative will also ensure protection of large number of species ranging from coral reefs to migratory species such as tuna and whales in the region.

Sydney – Robot to the rescue of bird

A robot meant for diffusing bombs has come to the rescue of a stranded cockatiel. The cockatiel was stranded for two days after a building partially collapsed, undermined by a new tunnel. No one was allowed near the precariously perched building. The owner Karen Bruce was running from pillar to post for the rescue of her pet when help came in the guise of robot. The robot emerged from the building carrying the bird in her cage. Karen was profuse in her thanks to the police force.

England - RSPB seeks help to find Hen Harrier

RSPB has sought the help of concerned citizens to track one of England's rarest birds of prey. Hen harriers.
Hen harriers have been described as 'the most endangered bird of prey in England'. The male hen harrier performs gravity-defying aerial food passes as part of courtship rites. In recent years, only a handful of hen harriers have nested in England, usually on moorland. Five chicks fledged from a nest near Geltsdale, the highest number in England this year. Three were fitted with wing tags and miniature radio transmitters. The young birds have now moved away from the nature reserve at Geltsdale. Two of the harriers have been tracked down. One of the harriers has disappeared off the radar and the RSPB is asking for help to locate it. The young birds can be recognized from the coloured and uniquely numbered wing-tags fitted on both wings. The tags are numbered 5, 6 and 7. The harrier that disappeared is a female bird and has a blue tag on the right wing and a yellow tag on the left - the tag is marked with the number 7. If you are a reader from England and if you come across this bird please email dave.ohara@rspb.org.uk. Others may please bring this to the kind attention of friends from England if they are not already aware of it.

International Day of Action on Climate Change -Demonstrations around the world planned for Dec 3

To coincide with the 'Meeting of Parties' Climate talks in Montreal, November 28th -December 9th , International Day of Action on Climate Change has been planned, endorsed by the Assembly of Movements of the World Social Forum in January 2005. Synchronized demonstrations are planned around the world - in as many places as possible - to press for urgent action on climate change. For more info email info@globalclimatecampaign.org

Honduras – Forests shrinking due to illegal logging

The Environmental Investigation Agency, a US -based environmental group says Illegal logging driven by an underground timber trade is destroying the forests of Honduras. The underground activities have links in Europe and United states. The report urges the United States, the European Union and other nations to ban imports of illegal timber. Honduran officials say they are hamstrung by lack of resources and personnel.

Fiji – New species discovered in Great Sea Reef

A WWF survey of Great Barrier Reef of Fiji has come up with a bounty of new discoveries. 43 new hard coral species and a new damselfish( pomacentrus sp.) The Great Sea Reef is the world’s 3rd longest great barrier reef.

Bees can solve complex colour puzzles

University college London researchers Beau Lotto and Martina Wicklein have discovered that bees are capable of solving complex colour puzzles. The study will be of great help in robotics. Developing a visual system that deciphers information is an obstacle facing robotics. The study appears in the proceedings of National Academy of Sciences.

Manas National Park sprucing up for Centenary Celebrations

Manas National Park in Western Assam, contiguous with the Royal Manas National Park in Bhutan is bedecked to celebrate its 100 years of existence. Bodoland Territorial Autonomous Council (BTAC) authority and Assam Forest and Wildlife Department spearhead the celebrations. The yearlong centenary celebration of the national park would be kicked off with a four-day inaugural ceremony from December 12 to 15. The park has 60 species of mammals, 312 species of birds, 42 species of reptiles, 7 amphibians and 54 species of fish. The park is also a World Heritage Site.

Love songs by Mouse

A team from Washington University headed by Tim Holy and Zhongsheng Guo has discovered that male mouse sing ultrasonic love songs as part of the courtship rites.
Mice now joins the exclusive club of mammals that can sing, which has until now has been the preserve of only human beings, bats and cetaceans. The discovery was quite accidental. The scientists were dabbling with pheromones. When the males encountered a swab with pheromones they broke into song. The details have been published in the scientific journal PLoS Biology.

Greenpeace fined

Environmental organisation greenpeace has been fined $7,000 for damaging coral reef at a world heritage site in the southern Philippines. The organisation’s flagship, the Rainbow Warrior II, hit the coral reef while negotiating, and damaged about 100 square metres of reef. Greenpeace blamed inaccurate charts supplied by Philippines for the mishap. The park authorities said they appreciate the good work being done by Greenpeace but the fine is mandatory for the damages.

Environmentalists protest against new Italian – French rail link

Environmentalists have expressed anguish at the proposed high-speed rail link between Turin in Italy and Lyon in France. LTF a consortium of French and Italian railway operators moot the project. According to environmentalists, the environmental impact of this new project is enormous. Italy’s green party has asked interior minister Gieusepe Pisano to intervene.