Endangered species News

Conservation group seeks protection for western Joshua trees By Karen Graham Joshua Tree - A conservation organization has petitioned for protection of the western Joshua tree under the California Endangered Species Act due to the effects of climate change and habitat destruction.

Canada investigating surge in Atlantic coast right whale deaths By Karen Graham Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is working with mammal experts, scientists and fisheries officials across Atlantic Canada to investigate the deaths of at least five endangered right whales off Canada's eastern coast.

South Africa advances plans to make sale of rhino horns legal By Karen Graham South Africa's government is advancing draft legislation that would allow the domestic trade and limited export of rhino horns, alarming conservationists around the world.

Yellow cedar could become a noticeable casualty of climate change By Karen Graham Climate change is having an impact on many plant and animal species around the world, and some species are affected by the warming trend more than others. Such is the case for a tree that thrives in soggy soils from Alaska to Northern California.

Green Thumbs Up: Saving sturgeon while producing 'desert caviar' By Karen Graham Abu Dhabi - When we think of caviar, we picture wild sturgeon found in the cold waters of the Caspian Sea, parts of Europe and the United States. But a company in Abu Dhabi is changing that perception.

Extinction of species: humans are speeding up evolution By Robert Myles Vancouver - Scientists at the University of British Columbia (UBC) claim human actions are responsible for accelerating the evolutionary process by causing the extinction of “younger” species.

Where are the humpbacks? — Hawaii still waiting for winter return By Karen Graham Hawaii have been anticipating the return of the Humpback whales since December, the usual start of the season, but some experts are wondering why the world's largest whales are taking so long to reach their winter breeding grounds.

New form of contagious cancer found in Tasmanian devils By Karen Graham About 20 years ago, the first case of devil facial tumor disease was found. Since that time, the contagious cancer has threatened to push the Tasmanian devil to the brink of extinction. Scientists have now discovered a second transmissible cancer.

Die-off of 337 sei whales in Chile is largest known to science By Karen Graham The carcasses and skeletal remains of over 330 endangered sei whales have been found in a remote inlet in Patagonia in southern Chile. The die-off is the largest ever recorded.

Caring when convenient? A conservation controversy By Edgar Wilson It takes more than declining population numbers to “threaten” a species. After a lengthy debate U.S. federal authorities determined not to change the status of the greater sage grouse to threatened or endangered.

Tasmanian devils could solve Australia’s feral cat problem By Karen Graham In July, Australia announced its plan to cull nearly two million feral cats by the year 2020. Ecologists have come up with a plan to reintroduce the Tasmanian devil to the mainland, letting the devils take care of the problem.

Link between climate change and species extinction By Tim Sandle A loss of the world's species is expected to increase dramatically climatologists warn. This is tied to a build-up of greenhouse gases. A new study draws on computer models and argues that climate change will result in disappearing animals.

Endangered sei whales found beached on Chilean coast By Karen Graham A group of foreign scientists made a gruesome discovery along Chile's southern coast on the Gulf of Penas on April 21. Over two dozen dead sei whales, averaging 33 feet in length, had washed up along the beach.

Adani's coal mine could be trashed if a little bird triumphs By Karen Graham Plans for the largest coal mine in Australia are being challenged in court this week, pitting India's Adani Group against one of Australia's many endangered species, the four-inch southern Black-throated Finch.

Monarch butterfly may be designated an endangered species By Marcus Hondro A group of 52 members of the U.S. Congress are looking to save the beautiful Monarch butterfly. To help do so the politicians sent a letter to Pres. Obama last week asking him to put the iconic insect on the endangered species list.

World's most popular Christmas tree is also home to a tarantula By Karen Graham Without a doubt, the most popular Christmas tree is the Fraser fir. With its distinctive blue-green color and pleasant scent, along with needles that retain their freshness during the whole of the holiday season, it is the perfect tree in all respects.

Endangered status sought for the Eastern hellbender By Karen Graham Albany - They may be so ugly that only a mother could love them. The Eastern hellbender is an aquatic salamander indigenous to Eastern North America, They play an important role in their ecosystem, both as predator and prey. But now, they need our protection.

A step forward in shark conservation By Tim Sandle All trade in five named species of sharks is to be regulated. This means that fishing for the sharks is restricted and to do so without a permit will be illegal across most parts the world.

Increase in California blue whale numbers By Tim Sandle San Francisco - Biologists have calculated that the numbers of California blue whales has risen. This means that the population is returning to sustainable levels.

Scientists study Amazon turtles that ‘talk,’ take care of young By Martin Laine A team of scientists studying the Giant River Turtles of the Amazon River have found the species uses various sounds to communicate with each other, even one for newly-hatched nestlings, a previously unknown parenting behavior.

Bird’s eye view: Bird threat zones revealed By Tim Sandle Scientists have produced detailed maps revealing the areas in the world where bird populations are in decline. The majority of regions are in South America.

Iranian and U.N. officials attempt to save the Asiatic cheetah By Walter McDaniel Tehran - At first glance protecting an endangered cheetah seems straightforward. However the situation in Iran is more complicated than any casual observer could realize.

Op-Ed: The high cost of being an attractive and enamoured male By Igor I. Solar Chachapoyas - Many animal features have evolved in order to enhance survival and reproductive success. In some cases being attractive may bring success in finding a mate, but it may also have adverse effect on survival. Such is the case for a Peruvian hummingbird.

Tiny java mouse deer born in Bioparc Fuengirola (Video) By Anne Sewell Fuengirola - About the size of a hamster at birth, this little guy will reach the approximate size of a rabbit when fully grown. Considered to be an endangered species, the birth of the new baby delighted all involved.

California redwoods being poached as a source for drug money By Karen Graham Criminals and drug users are entering the California National and State parks at night and poaching redwood burls and other knotty growths from the world's tallest trees, some nearly 2,000-years old.

Op-Ed: Reflections on zoos and euthanasia By Dawn Denmar The slaughter of giraffe Marius at a Copenhagen zoo has prompted interest in just how many healthy animals are actually slaughtered by zoos in Europe and worldwide. It seems numbers are unknown, however scientific thought is that slaughters are necessary

Hundreds of dead animals found at S.A. airport By Karen Graham Madagascar is the world's fourth largest island and is considered a "biological hotspot." Over 90 percent of its wildlife are found nowhere else on the planet. Man's threat to the island's diverse ecosystems, and unusual wildlife is a real concern.

Bill seeks to remove federal protection for endangered species By Justin King Washington - The Endangered Species Management Self-Determination Act, currently in committee in the Senate, seeks to leave protection of endangered species up to the Governors of each state and automatically remove protections for animals after five years.

Auction winner of rhino hunt fears he's the endangered species By Karen Graham Chris Knowlton looks forward to facing and becoming intimately involved with a black rhino. He's the lucky winner of an auction that gives him a permit to legally shoot one of the endangered beasts. Now he fears for his life, right in his own backyard.

Norway attempts to catalog every species By Tim Sandle In 2009 Norway announced that it was setting out to catalog every species contained within its borders. To date this had led to over 1,000 new species being discovered.

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