31/12/2021

Archive

Darwin’s scientist – E O Wilson – leaves superb legacy

The naturalist was recognized for his work on social behavior and pheromones in ants and as a champion of wildlife conservation. His book “Half Earth – our planets fight for life” took on the challenge of how to save our planet – by protecting half thereof. Edward Osborne Wilson died at age 92 (December 26) in Burlington, Massachusetts. Often lauded as Charles Darwin’s natural heir, Wilson was known for his research on ant behavior and biodiversity as well as for...

Zoos – the negatives & the positives

Monday December 27th was “Visit a Zoo Day” ….. here are some thoughts about the worthiness- and some of the problems- about the “zoological park” ( zoo )   “If animals are your passion then Visit the Zoo Day gives you a great opportunity to really get close to some of the most intriguing and engaging species on the planet. Negatives… Some people think of zoos only as cruel prisons where countless animals are kept, bored and with little space...

Dragonflies threatened as wetlands disappear

The destruction of wetlands is driving the decline of dragonflies worldwide, according to the first global assessment of these species in today’s update of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™. Their decline is symptomatic of the widespread loss of the marshes, swamps and free-flowing rivers they breed in, mostly driven by the expansion of unsustainable agriculture and urbanisation around the world. With the December update, the number of species at risk of extinction on the Red List has exceeded...

Newsflash! New species discovered in 2021

In a year of challenges and frustration, here’s some good news from BBC Wildlife team… “Taxonomists – scientists that classify species – describe thousands and thousands of new extant (living) species every year, and 2021 has seen some amazing new discoveries, including impressive spiders in Papua New Guinea named after the activist Greta Thunberg and a tiny chameleon in Madagascar. Sometimes these species are completely new ones that have never been studied by scientists before, and sometimes it’s a case of...

Australia Zoo introduces its new Sumatran elephants

SUMATRAN ELEPHANT Sumatran Elephant (Elephas maximus ssp. sumatranus) is the subspecies of Asian Elephant, one of two species of elephant in the world. They dwell in lowland forest of Sumatra in province of Riau, West Sumatra, and Lampung, most of it is outside a protected area. Sumatran Elephants’ weight varies from 2.25 to 5.5 tons per individual. This huge mammal can grow up to 2 to 3 m from shoulder to toe. Sumatran Elephants explore long road while looking for...

UNESCO / World Heritage in the Pacific

UNESCO Workshop considers national and regional priorities for World Heritage in the Pacific “Suva, Fiji (19 November 2021) – UNESCO, in partnership with IUCN Oceania, recently completed a draft background report to inform the Pacific Regional World Heritage Action Plan 2021-2025. The report is based on consultation at national and regional levels, and the findings present the dynamic heritage profile of the Pacific region, including challenges, strengths and opportunities, and suggest national and regional priorities for action for World Heritage....

CITES meeting in France vital for wildlife trade issues

France is preparing to host 74th meeting of the CiTES* Standing Committee * cites – Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in Lyon, with the support of the Metropole, and ensuring safe sanitary conditions for the participants.   The upcoming 74th meeting of the CITES Standing Committee will take place in the Metropolis of Lyon (France) and bring together members and observers to review strategic, policy and species-specific matters affecting the implementation of...

Soils – new plan for healthy green countryside

  Soil is one of the world’s most precious resources, but is often overlooked. The soil does many important tasks. It provides food and energy, keeps water clean, acts as a place to store carbon in the fight against climate change, and maintains biodiversity. But some modern farming and countryside management practices have been degrading our soil, causing erosion and causing other issues in the surrounding landscape. Now soil is at the centre of a recently announced UK government policy...