Famous pair at
San Diego Zoo meet just once a year
Associated Press Nov 26, 07 10:35 AM CST
(Newser)
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Suggesting that quality does best quantity, two of the most reproductively successful pandas in captivity meet—and mate—but once a year, the AP reveals. Since 2003 the San Diego Zoo's Bai Yun and Gao Gao have produced three cubs, a great feat for the endangered species. The youngest is to be named today, when she reaches 100 days old, following Chinese tradition.
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Calderon promises funds to stem illegal logging in butterflies' habitat
Associated Press Nov 26, 07 6:10 AM CST
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The famous migrating monarch butterflies have a new ally in Mexican President Felipe Calderon, who yesterday said he would devote $4.6 million more to the central Mexican reserve where the butterflies hibernate—and crack down on the illegal logging that threatens the insects' habitat. Calderon hopes the measure will nurture tourism income as well as the environment, reports the AP.
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Not quite yet—but species may be
moved as warming ruins habitats
Der Spiegel Nov 25, 07 5:27 PM CST
(Newser)
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Airlifting polar bears to the Antarctic? Luring man-eating tigers out from a forest in Bangladesh? Such ideas are in the air, as biologists debate whether to move embattled species to areas less warmed by CO2. But critics say that "cowboy environmentalists" are flouting the rules—and endangering cooler habitats—by talking species relocation.
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Gray wolf population threatens livestock,
officials say
Associated Press Nov 24, 07 5:45 AM CST
(Newser)
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Federal officials plan to pull gray wolves from the endangered species list for the first time in more than 20 years, the AP reports. Hunters will be allowed to reduce the growing wolf population, which threatens livestock in the Northern Rockies—but activists vow lawsuits to block the plan, saying that 2,000 to 3,000 gray wolves are necessary to keep the species from vanishing.
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Asia's sun bear now the fifth of eight bear species endangered worldwide
Daily Telegraph (UK) Nov 12, 07 7:15 PM CST
(Newser)
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Southeast Asia's sun bear is now the sixth of eight bear species facing extinction worldwide, the Telegraph reports. Experts admit they know little about the bear, but blame deforestation, hunting, and fearful villagers for menacing the species. "We estimate that sun bears have declined by at least 30 per cent over the past 30 years (three bear generations)," said one specialist.
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American scientists won't be allowed into Iran to help endangered Asiatic species
Der Spiegel Nov 1, 07 8:29 PM CDT
(Newser)
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In an unlikely collaboration, the US and Iran will undertake efforts this month to save the endangered Asiatic cheetah, whose numbers could be as low as 60, Der Spiegel reports. The New York-based Wildlife Conservation Society will send a team to the Kavir Desert in central Iran for a cheetah-tracking project—but none of the WCS scientists can be Americans.
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Protected hen harriers killed on royal estate
Guardian (UK) Oct 31, 07 10:54 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Prince Harry and a pal were grilled by police after two rare birds of prey were killed last week on an estate belonging to the British royal family. The prince was out shooting when witnesses saw two hen harriers hit, a crime punishable by six months in prison or a £5,000 fine. Harry and his friend denied any involvement.
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'Science happens,' says fish biologist
New York Times Oct 14, 07 9:09 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Oops. Conservationists apparently have been fighting for 20 years to protect the Colorado River cutthroat trout. The halibut is, they were supposed to be protecting another, similar species, the greenback cutthroat trout. “Hey, science happens,” said a biologist after studies revealed many of the "saved" fish were not among the endangered species.
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Commercial fishing causes decline in sea turtle numbers
Associated Press Sep 23, 07 6:11 PM CDT
(Newser)
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The US loggerhead turtle population is waning, and a federal report concludes that commercial fishing is probably to blame, the AP reports. The threatened species gained numbers through the '90s, but now the sea turtle is on the brink of becoming officially endangered. Ocean health advocates are calling for federal funding to research the relationship between the turtles and fishing fleets further.
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Lizards fetch thousands on black market
BBC Sep 23, 07 1:44 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Three endangered iguanas were brought into the US illegally in a special compartment inside a man's removable prosthetic leg. The Fiji Island Banded Iguana were stolen by Californian Jereme James from a nature preserve in Fiji in 2002. US Fish and Wildlife service began an investigation after a tip-off that he kept the exotic creatures in his home, the BBC reports.
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Non-poached hides and other animal parts prepared for sale
Wall Street Journal Sep 19, 07 7:51 PM CDT
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South Africa's Kruger National Park provides a bizarre but legal service: a legitimate source of animal parts for the world's manufacturers of buffalo upholstery, zebra footrests, and giraffe-bone handgun grips. The park's employees harvest the remains of animals that die of natural causes and store them in stockpiles, taking orders from around the world, the Wall Street Journal reports.
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Watchdog group sees serious danger to one
in four mammals
Guardian (UK) Sep 12, 07 1:46 PM CDT
(Newser)
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More than 16,000 species are in serious danger of extinction, including one in four mammals and one in three amphibians being monitored by a global conservation group. With 40% of 40,000 surveyed species facing the highest levels of threat, “We’re at code red,” a top conservationist says of the World Conservation Union's annual list, the Guardian reports.
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As ice caps melt, trophy hunters take aim, polar bears belong on endangered list
Independent (UK) Sep 9, 07 3:09 PM CDT
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It's bad enough when 40% of your habitat will disappear by mid-century, but add trophy hunters taking advantage of a loophole in US law, and it's not a good time to be a polar bear, the Independent on Sunday reports. The bears are not listed as endangered so 950 pelts have been imported from Canada since 1994.
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