New squirrel-like rodent discovered in Peru
A “strikingly unusual” new mammal has been discovered in the tree forests of
Peru. The large rodent, which has been described by its finders as a “handsome
novelty”, looks similar to a squirrel and yet is most closely related to spiny
rats. It is a nocturnal tree-climbing rodent with long dense fur, a broad blocky
Peru. The large rodent, which has been described by its finders as a “handsome
novelty”, looks similar to a squirrel and yet is most closely related to spiny
rats. It is a nocturnal tree-climbing rodent with long dense fur, a broad blocky
head, and a thickly furred tail. A blackish crest of fur on its crown, nape and shoulders add to its
distinctive appearance.
distinctive appearance.
Reintroducing wolves to the Highlands of Scotland, where they were last seen in
1769, could boost conservation and local economies, a new study suggests.
The idea has been widely debated, but the research concludes that bringing the
animals back could be a cost-effective way of reducing the overwhelming
populations of red deer, which are considered pests in the Highlands.
1769, could boost conservation and local economies, a new study suggests.
The idea has been widely debated, but the research concludes that bringing the
animals back could be a cost-effective way of reducing the overwhelming
populations of red deer, which are considered pests in the Highlands.
Wolf packs back to the Scottish Highlands?
Cheetahs in Iran bounce back
Once distributed from the Indian subcontinent across Afghanistan,
Turkmenistan and Iran to the Arabian Peninsula and Syria, the Asiatic
cheetah is now on the verge of extinction and one of the most
endangered members of the cat family in the world.
Turkmenistan and Iran to the Arabian Peninsula and Syria, the Asiatic
cheetah is now on the verge of extinction and one of the most
endangered members of the cat family in the world.
Pirates Stick By Whales
Every winter, the Japanese whaling fleet heads to the Southern Ocean
surrounding Antarctica on a mission to kill a thousand whales. Ever
since the International Whaling Commission (IWC) banned
commercial whaling in 1986, Japan has used a curious rationale for its
whaling. It does not kill a thousand whales for commercial purposes.
It kills them for scientific research. The major whaling nations, Japan,
Iceland and Norway, have been persistent in
surrounding Antarctica on a mission to kill a thousand whales. Ever
since the International Whaling Commission (IWC) banned
commercial whaling in 1986, Japan has used a curious rationale for its
whaling. It does not kill a thousand whales for commercial purposes.
It kills them for scientific research. The major whaling nations, Japan,
Iceland and Norway, have been persistent in
Eco-Funding Deal Reached for Canadian Rainforest
VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- International environmental
groups and Canadian officials said Sunday they have struck a C$120
million ($103 million) deal to help fund environmentally friendly
businesses in Canada's Pacific coast rainforest. The deal comes nearly
a year after environmentalists, the timber industry and aboriginal
groups and Canadian officials said Sunday they have struck a C$120
million ($103 million) deal to help fund environmentally friendly
businesses in Canada's Pacific coast rainforest. The deal comes nearly
a year after environmentalists, the timber industry and aboriginal
The last cheetahs in India were shot in 1947. Since then, the Asiatic
cheetah has disappeared from most of its former range. In the last 20
cheetah has disappeared from most of its former range. In the last 20
years, Iran has been the final stronghold for the Asiatic cheetah,known in Iran as yuz, although there
have been occasional reports of cheetahs in Pakistan.
have been occasional reports of cheetahs in Pakistan.
their efforts to reinstate commercial whaling. They say that the IWC is supposed to be a marine resources
management agency and that the stocks of certain whales, even endangered species like humpbacks and
finned whales, have recovered enough to allow for regulated commercial whaling.
management agency and that the stocks of certain whales, even endangered species like humpbacks and
finned whales, have recovered enough to allow for regulated commercial whaling.
communities in the coastal region reached a landmark agreement to end a long battle over
protecting wilderness valleys in the area often referred to unofficially as the Great Bear Rainforest.
protecting wilderness valleys in the area often referred to unofficially as the Great Bear Rainforest.
Singing For Survival: Gibbons Scare Off Predators With 'Song'
It is well known that animals use song as a way of attracting mates, but researchers
have found that gibbons have developed an unusual way of scaring off predators -- by
singing to them. The primatologists at the University of St Andrews discovered that
wild gibbons in Thailand have developed a unique song as a natural defence to
predators. Literally singing for survival, the gibbons appear to use the song not just to
warn their own group members but those in neighbouring areas.
They said, "We are interested in gibbon songs because, apart from human speech, these
have found that gibbons have developed an unusual way of scaring off predators -- by
singing to them. The primatologists at the University of St Andrews discovered that
wild gibbons in Thailand have developed a unique song as a natural defence to
predators. Literally singing for survival, the gibbons appear to use the song not just to
warn their own group members but those in neighbouring areas.
They said, "We are interested in gibbon songs because, apart from human speech, these
vocalisations provide a remarkable case of acoustic sophistication and versatility in primate
communication. Our study has demonstrated that gibbons not only use unique songs as a response to
predators, but that fellow gibbons understand them."
communication. Our study has demonstrated that gibbons not only use unique songs as a response to
predators, but that fellow gibbons understand them."
Hero Dog Digs Snow Tunnel To Save Couple
ALDEN, N.Y. -- An elderly couple's dog helped save them from freezing to
death during a surprise storm by digging a 20-foot tunnel through the
snow.
Eve Fertig, 81, and her husband, Norman, were taking care of injured birds
in a wildlife sanctuary on their Alden property when it hit. The storm
intensified and the couple became trapped by falling trees and heavy snow.
death during a surprise storm by digging a 20-foot tunnel through the
snow.
Eve Fertig, 81, and her husband, Norman, were taking care of injured birds
in a wildlife sanctuary on their Alden property when it hit. The storm
intensified and the couple became trapped by falling trees and heavy snow.
The couple's 160-pound German shepherd-timberwolf mix, Shana, started digging under the trees and
through the snow. She dug a 1-foot-wide tunnel 20 feet back to their home. Shana then came back to
Eve and Norman and barked. When the couple hesitated, Shana wouldn't give up. She grabbed Eve
Fertig's jacket with her mouth. They all went through the tunnel.
through the snow. She dug a 1-foot-wide tunnel 20 feet back to their home. Shana then came back to
Eve and Norman and barked. When the couple hesitated, Shana wouldn't give up. She grabbed Eve
Fertig's jacket with her mouth. They all went through the tunnel.
Hybrid Butterfly Found on Cold Mountaintops
Some, apparently, like it cold, thanks to a rare form of genetic mixing
between two butterfly species. The unnamed alpine-dwelling species of
the butterfly genus Lycaeides, seen here, appears to be a genetic mashup
of two known species—Lycaeides melissa and Lycaeides idas—according
to a new study.
"The alpine populations possess a mosaic genome derived from both L.
between two butterfly species. The unnamed alpine-dwelling species of
the butterfly genus Lycaeides, seen here, appears to be a genetic mashup
of two known species—Lycaeides melissa and Lycaeides idas—according
to a new study.
"The alpine populations possess a mosaic genome derived from both L.
melissa and L. idas and are differentiated from, and younger than, their putativeparental species," the
authors wrote in a paper published online today by the journal Science.
authors wrote in a paper published online today by the journal Science.
Rebel troops blamed for the recent slaughter of critically endangered
mountain gorillas in Central Africa have agreed to end the killing,
conservation workers have announced.
Earlier this month the dismembered remains of two mountain gorillas eaten
within ten days of each other were discovered in the Virunga region of the
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), raising fears of further deaths.
Now the rebels held responsible have vowed to stop further ape killings.
The rebels made the pledge during talks with wildlife rangers mediated by
the United Nations and the Congolese army, according to the conservation
group
mountain gorillas in Central Africa have agreed to end the killing,
conservation workers have announced.
Earlier this month the dismembered remains of two mountain gorillas eaten
within ten days of each other were discovered in the Virunga region of the
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), raising fears of further deaths.
Now the rebels held responsible have vowed to stop further ape killings.
The rebels made the pledge during talks with wildlife rangers mediated by
the United Nations and the Congolese army, according to the conservation
group
WildlifeDirect, based in Kenya and the DRC. The meeting took place near a rebel camp at Bikenge,
where the remains of the second gorilla killed were found floating in a pit latrine last week in
Virunga National Park.
where the remains of the second gorilla killed were found floating in a pit latrine last week in
Virunga National Park.
Some Insects Can Cope With Cold Weather
impossible. Complicated factors related to pest biology, temperature, food availability, and moisture
make predictions about as difficult as asking a weatherman for a prediction of the high and low
temperatures for a weekend two months in the future."
make predictions about as difficult as asking a weatherman for a prediction of the high and low
temperatures for a weekend two months in the future."
DAVIS, Calif. — Despite record cold temperatures, most insects know how
to cope. University of California Integrated Pest Management Farm Advisor
David Haviland says many factors influence the ability of insects to survive
the winter and reach pest status the following year. "Predicting the influence
of cold weather on insects is a tricky business and in most cases, nearly
to cope. University of California Integrated Pest Management Farm Advisor
David Haviland says many factors influence the ability of insects to survive
the winter and reach pest status the following year. "Predicting the influence
of cold weather on insects is a tricky business and in most cases, nearly
Glacier could be gone in five years
SAN FRANCISCO: The principal glacier of the world's biggest
tropical ice cap could disappear within five years as a result of global
warming, one of the world's leading glaciologists predicted yesterday.
The imminent demise of the Qori Kalis glacier, the main component of
the Quelccaya ice cap in the Peruvian Andes, offered the starkest
evidence yet of the effects of climate change, according to Lonnie
Thompson, of Ohio State University.
Although scientists had known for decades that Qori Kalis and the
other Quelccaya glaciers were melting, new observations indicated
that the rate of retreat was increasing, Professor Thompson said.
When he visits this summer, he expects to find that the glacier has
halved in size since last year, and he believes Qori Kalis will be gone
within five years.
tropical ice cap could disappear within five years as a result of global
warming, one of the world's leading glaciologists predicted yesterday.
The imminent demise of the Qori Kalis glacier, the main component of
the Quelccaya ice cap in the Peruvian Andes, offered the starkest
evidence yet of the effects of climate change, according to Lonnie
Thompson, of Ohio State University.
Although scientists had known for decades that Qori Kalis and the
other Quelccaya glaciers were melting, new observations indicated
that the rate of retreat was increasing, Professor Thompson said.
When he visits this summer, he expects to find that the glacier has
halved in size since last year, and he believes Qori Kalis will be gone
within five years.
Chimp "Stone Age" Finds Are Earliest Nonhuman Ape Tools
Humans might not be as pioneering as we're cracked up to be.
That's one possible explanation for new evidence that West African
chimpanzees learned to use stone tools on their own to crack nuts at least
4,300 years ago.
That's one possible explanation for new evidence that West African
chimpanzees learned to use stone tools on their own to crack nuts at least
4,300 years ago.
The research pushes back chimpanzee tool use thousands of years. It casts into doubt the long-standing
theory that direct human ancestors were the only animals to independently develop tools—and that
chimps learned to use stone tools by watching humans.
theory that direct human ancestors were the only animals to independently develop tools—and that
chimps learned to use stone tools by watching humans.
Saving the jaguar throughout its range
Two men dressed as jaguars circle each other and growl, trying to bring
rain to a village on the Pacific coast of Mexico. A Mayan farmer in Belize
finds jaguar tracks near his thatched hut, and ties his dog inside for the
night. A Guahibo shaman in Venezuela paints his face with black spots,
then snorts a powerful narcotic through a hollow jaguar bone. A cowboy
in the Brazilian Pantanal examines the fresh remains of a cow, looking for
characteristic puncture wounds or chipped vertebrae that will tell him a
rain to a village on the Pacific coast of Mexico. A Mayan farmer in Belize
finds jaguar tracks near his thatched hut, and ties his dog inside for the
night. A Guahibo shaman in Venezuela paints his face with black spots,
then snorts a powerful narcotic through a hollow jaguar bone. A cowboy
in the Brazilian Pantanal examines the fresh remains of a cow, looking for
characteristic puncture wounds or chipped vertebrae that will tell him a
jaguar is prowling the area. These modern-day events, seemingly unrelated, are tied to a cultural
heritage that thrived in pre-Columbian empires of the Americas. These are the people of the jaguar,
connected by a powerful cultural thread binding them to their ancestors, to one another, and to the
world’s third largest cat.
heritage that thrived in pre-Columbian empires of the Americas. These are the people of the jaguar,
connected by a powerful cultural thread binding them to their ancestors, to one another, and to the
world’s third largest cat.
Wildlife News
Wild Horses Munch Desolate Marshland Back to Life
CANTERBURY, England -- Close to the cathedral city of Canterbury,
wild horses linked to sinister Nazi experiments are helping to bring
wildlife and rare birds back to once desolate marshlands.
In an intriguing ecological exercise that could revitalise the
countryside, naturalistic grazing is the environmental buzzword --
the horses basically munch the marshes back to life.
wild horses linked to sinister Nazi experiments are helping to bring
wildlife and rare birds back to once desolate marshlands.
In an intriguing ecological exercise that could revitalise the
countryside, naturalistic grazing is the environmental buzzword --
the horses basically munch the marshes back to life.
The hardy Koniks, bred in Poland from the now extinct European Tarpan, are superbly adapted to
living on wetlands and revitalise reed beds as they graze.
living on wetlands and revitalise reed beds as they graze.