Radio Frequency Identification Tags Snoops In To Wasp Behaviour

A study of wasp behaviour using radio frequency identification tags, in the tropics of Panama, by Zoological Society of London is throwing new lights on the behaviour of wasps. The target species of wasp was Polistes Canadensis. The worker wasps were observed tending nearby relative holding nests also, helping to raise the young ones. The researchers believe that this is an effort at boosting their chances of propagating the genes. Details appear in the latest issue of Current Biology

Barrow Island, Australia Needs Your Help

Barrow Island described as Australia's 'Galapagos' because of its rare and endangered species, is the second largest island in Western Australia, and is one of Australia's oldest nature reserves. It is famous for marsupials like the burrowing bettong, the golden bandicoot and many other threatened and endemic species. The Australian Government is going ahead with the development of a huge gas plant by the energy companies, Chevron, Shell and ExxonMobil against the advice of its own Environmental Protection Authority. The environmentalists of Australia need help from people worldwide to stop this atrocity. Please send mails to Australian Government and energy companies, Chevron, Shell and ExxonMobil requesting them to stop this suicidal project. To make things easier you can go to WWF site and sign a petition there.

Biplane Design Of Flying Dinosaurs

The latest issue of Proceedings of National Academy of Science Journal has interesting info about flying Dinos. It postulates that the flying Dinos dropped its hind legs with feathers below its body adopting a biplane configuration. This contrasts with earlier belief that the Dinos maintained their wings in a tandem pattern. The result is extensive research done on Microraptor gui fossils obtained from China. Microraptor lived 125 million years ago. The researchers are Sankar Chatterji and Jack Templin

Scientists Fascinated By Brilliant White SE Asian Insect

Incredibly white scales whiter than the enamel on human tooth and 10 times thinner than human hair on a SE Asian Cyphochilus beetle has fascinated the scientists and is providing fodder for lot of experiments. According to lead scientist Dr Pete Vukusic of Exeter University such pure whiteness is quite uncommon and mimicking it could lead to an array of industrial applications like papers, plastics, paints or white-light displays. The scientists have done detailed analysis of the phenomenon. The finding has been reported in the latest issue of Science Magazine.

Montgomeryshire Declared Best Wildlife Area In Wales

A survey conducted by BBC Wildlife Magazine has selected Montgomeryshire as the best wildlife area in Wales. What impressed BBC team were the enormous areas of protected land, Stunning well protected Lake Vyrnwy reserve and the tranquil unpolluted countryside where wildlife lives without human interference.

Rhino Poaching In Nepal- IUCN Members Call For Urgent Action

From a population of 612 individuals in 2000, the Rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis) population in Nepal has come down to 405 today. The main reason for this drop is poaching. Concerned about this decline, the commission members of the World Conservation Union (IUCN) in Nepal, has submitted a petition to the Environment Conservation Committee of the Nepalese House of Representatives requesting immediate action to save Rhinos. The members have also come up with a set of germane recommendations. IUCN Nepal has also handed over the much needed field gears and equipment to the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation to give a boost to the conservation efforts of Rhinos. For more info log on to www.iucnnepal.org

Protection Of Edge Animals Set To Get A Boost

Edge Animals are those having few close relatives, genetically distinct, and require immediate action to save them from extinction. Now under a scheme titled “Evolutionary distinct globally endangered project” Zoological Society of London is on to a unique conservation initiative. Species like Bumblebee Bat, Pygmy Hippo, Slender Loris will get special protection. Scientists have identified a total of 564 species that fall within the definition of edge species and the Zoological Society of London will focus on the top 100 initially.

Beavers Helping To Check Decline in Frog Population

Researchers from University of Alberta Canada, surveying streams in the forests of Alberta, believe that Beavers are helping to check decline in frog population. They believe the beaver dams may be providing favourable conditions for developing tadpoles. The scientists recorded large numbers (approximately 5,000) of male frogs and toads on streams that had beaver dams, but didn't record any on the free-flowing unobstructed streams. The beavers create an environment that seems to allow tadpoles to develop and grow. The findings have been published in the latest issue of journal Biological Conservation.

Madagascar Pochard Rediscovered

Madagascar pochard(Aythya innotata) last seen alive in 1991 has been rediscovered in the wild after a search of 18 years. Scientists of Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust made the discovery. The bird is extremely secretive and little is known about its life cycle and behaviour. Scientists had all along believed that the bird preferred marshy lakes with lots of reeds and emergent vegetation and had concentrated on these areas but the newly discovered population was found in a steep-sided volcanic lake with little shoreline marsh and reeds. The scientific world is agog with this discovery

All Set For Capture Of Rhino Birth On Webcam

In what is believed to be the first of it kind in the world, birth of a Rhino will be captured on a BBC run webcam. The historic event will take place in Paignton Zoo, in Devon, where cameras are trained on one tonne Black Female Rhino Sita. Sita is expected to give birth at the end of January or early February. Scientists around the world are eagerly looking forward to this event.

The Whale And The Sailing Boat – A Sweet Story

A Whale has accidentally hit a sailing vessel about 80 nautical miles off the west coast of North Island, New Zealand and damaged it. Lindsay Wright, the owner, was sleeping when he was awoken by a loud noise and rushed up on to the deck to find himself staring at a whale. Lindsay said he could pick up the vibes from the animal saying " Sorry mate, that was unintentional”. Emergency services were rushed to Lindsay on receipt of distress signal and a helicopter rescued him.

I am delighted by the attitude of Lindsay. Picking up vibes from the whale - that is real groovy. How sweet

Threat To Grenada Dove

Unbridled tourism development plans are posing serious threat to Grenada dove (Leptotila wellsi). Government of Grenada is planning to sell off Mount Hartman National Park to the Four Seasons hotel group, which has ambitious plans to build hotels and resorts. Ironically Grenada dove is the national bird of Grenada and a quarter of the worldwide population of Greneda dove lives in Mount Hartman National Park. Environmentalists are up in arms against this suicidal policy of the government.

This is indeed disaster and shameful. The total population of Grenada dove around 180 and the species is crtically endagered. This shows utter disregard for the environment.We exhort environmentalists worldwide to throw their weight behind the environmentalists of Grenada

White-Tailed Eagle Reintroduction Trials in Ireland

Ireland's National Parks and Wildlife Service is planning reintroduction of White-Tailed Eagle(Haliaeetus albicilla), one of the world's largest birds of prey in Ireland in an ambitious 5-year project. The birds became extinct in Ireland the early 1900s. Unbridled egg collection and shooting were the causes of the diappearance.15 chicks will be brought into the region annually from Norway and released into Killarney National Park. The authorities hope that the chicks will start breeding after four to five years.

IUCN – New Director General Takes Over

The new Director General of IUCN the World Conservation, Ms Julia Marton-Lefèvre has assumed office. Before joining IUCN, Ms Marton-Lefèvre was the Rector of the University of Peace in Costa Rica. She has worked as Executive Director of LEAD (Leadership for Environment and Development) International), Executive Director of the International Council for Science (ICSU), and Vice Chair of the World Resources Institute. She is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society of the United Kingdom. Born in Hungary, Julia moved to the United States when she was eleven years old with her parents who were political refugees. She spent most of her adult life in France, where she continued her education.

Happy New Year

Tahrcountry Wishes All Readers A Very Happy New Year

Fur Seals Threatening Whales And Penguins?

Fur seals were once hunted almost to extinction. Careful conservation measures have helped the species to rebound. They have reached record levels - an estimated four million worldwide. This has however led to fears that soon there may be too little food in the Southern Ocean to enable the area's other wildlife - whales and penguins - to survive. The key is Krill. It is feared that the spurt in the population of Seals is denying other wildlife proper access to Krill. Conservationists believe that if the present trend continues we may have to think of culling Fur Seals in the immediate future.

Happy Christmas Eve News

A Giant Panda in a Japanese zoo (Adventure World in Wakayama) has given birth to twins bringing cheer to conservationists around the world. This brings the no of ex situ births this year to 30. The sex of the cubs is yet to be confirmed. Mei Mei, the mother, 12, and her breeding partner Eimei, 14, are both on loan from China. An estimated 1,590 Giant Pandas live in the wild in China

Greetings

Tahrcountry Wishes All Readers A Joyous Christmas

Cornucopia Of New Species

Scientists have discovered 52 new species of plants and animals in Borneo. The find includes catfish glyptothorax exodon with protruding teeth and suction cups on its belly, which help it, stick to rocks in fast flowing streams. Since 1994, 361 new species have been found in Borneo. The island shared by Indonesia, Malaysia and the sultanate of Brunei, is emerging as one of the most important biodiversity centers of the world but unfortunately the rain forest continues to be threatened with large areas of forest being destroyed for rubber, oil palm and pulp production.

Fish That Dance On Molten Sulpher Ponds

Researchers from the University of Victoria, Canada, have come across tonguefish that like to skip across pools of molten sulphur of undersea volcanoes in the western Pacific. The measured temperature is more than 180C (355F). The fish live on the edge of the pools, and in a couple of cases the scientists saw them out on the surface of a pool. The fish have been studied with remotely operated submersibles. The phenomenon has amazed the scientists and they are trying to work out how the creatures survive in such a hostile environment.