Posts Tagged ‘About Animals’
Thursday, August 6th, 2009
A man in Toronto with 13 prior wildlife crime convictions will serve time after being busted with “a plethora” of poached wildlife.
In a “precedent-setting” sentence, The Star has reported that Toronto-based Pak Sun Chung has been sentenced to 106 days plus an additional nine months in jail for two federal offenses under the Species at Risk Act. The judge also banned him from hunting or fishing in Ontario.
Repeat offender Chung was found this time with what is described as “a plethora of wildlife, alive, dead, and quartered.” He also reportedly has $27,000 in fines related to the 13 prior convictions. Chung was previously arrested twice for the same turtle poaching crime in less than six weeks during 2007.
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Tags: About Animals, Canadian Wildlife, Federal Offenses, Fishing In Ontario, Fishing Ontario, Hunting Fishing, Hunting Ontario, In The Americas, Nine Months, Plethora, Prior Convictions, Repeat Offender, Six Weeks, Species At Risk, Species At Risk Act, Sun Chung, toronto, Turtle, Wildlife Crime
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Thursday, August 6th, 2009
After writing an article last week on if the UN was making a mistake in their plans for gorilla conservation, titled “Are Gorillas Doomed, Is the UN Making a Huge Mistake,” I got a lot of great feedback from readers. In the article I pointed out some of the things that we as individuals can do to help gorillas. Reader, naturalist, and artist Dave Derrick commented that there is an art for gorillas program on the Year of the Gorilla 2009 Website (http://www.yog2009.org) that he is a part of. Special thanks to Dave for pointing this out. You can check out Dave’s Artwork who’s proceeds go to gorilla conservation here. The art for gorilla program also has some fine photographic prints available for sale.
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Tags: About Animals, About Environment, Artwork, Dave Derrick, Feedback, Gorilla Conservation, gorillas, In Africa, In Europe, In Global, In The Americas, Lot, Mistake, Naturalist, Photographic Prints, Proceeds, Special Thanks
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Thursday, August 6th, 2009
Comparing DNA from seized ivory to an elephant DNA database is revealing new information on how poaching syndicates and illegal dealers are operating.
The development of a DNA forensics technique may prove to be a valuable weapon in the bloody war against elephant poaching.
According to BBC News, Professor Sam Wasser of the Center or Conservation Biology at the University of Washington is fighting back against these criminals using DNA collected from elephant dung and ivory to expose poaching hotspots.
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Tags: About Animals, About Science, Bbc, Bbc News, Bloody War, Conservation Biology, Criminals, Csi, Dna Database, Dna Forensics, Elephant, Elephant Dung, Elephant Ivory, Elephant Poaching, Illegal Dealers, In Africa, Professor Sam, Syndicates, University Of Washington, Wasser
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Saturday, August 1st, 2009
A shocking undercover journey reveals that a poaching cartel known as ‘The Crocodile Gang’, led by Zimbabwe’s Emmerson Mnangagwa, is slaughtering rhinos and elephants to fulfill ‘requests’ for horn and ivory.
Dubbed the Crocodile Gang, this cartel - whose existence can be revealed by the Mail today - is behind the ‘industrial-scale slaughter’ of black rhinos, prompting warnings that the species will be hunted to extinction in the region within two years.
And the “godfather” of the poaching cartel is said to be Emmerson Mnangagwa - known by locals now as “The Crocodile.” Also referred to as “The Butcher of Matabeleland”, he is the architect of Zimbabwe’s terrifying state security apparatus, creator of Zimbabwe’s Central Intelligence Office (CIO) - and rumored to be next in line for president after Mugabe.
Probably risking his life, Andrew Malone, a writer for The UK’s Daily Mail, reports that he went undercover, posing as an overseas buyer of illegal rhino horn to dig deeper into the widespread rhino massacre that stands to wipe out an entire species. What he reveals is an appalling world of cruelty, corruption, death threats - and the consequences suffered by those who have tried to speak out.
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Tags: About Animals, Andrew Malone, Black Rhinos, Cartel, Central Intelligence, Chinese Nationals, Crocodile, Daily Mail, Death Threats, Elephant Ivory, Emmerson Mnangagwa, In Africa, In Asia, Intelligence Office, Mail Reports, Mugabe, Overseas Buyer, Rhino, Rhino Horn, rhinos, S Central, Security Apparatus, State Security
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Saturday, August 1st, 2009
The efficiency of current animal farming practices is an “illusion”, according to a report released last Summer by the Pew Charitable Trusts (May 30, 2008).
This “illusion” is made possible by “cheap grain, cheap water and prison-like confinement systems.” Underpinning this status is the drive for the lowest possible labor costs–meaning automated feeding, watering, and waste disposal is the norm–which undermines and impoverishes traditional, family and small farm operations (farms which are typically bought out by corporate farming conglomerates, who then receive the lion’s share of subsidies; about half a trillion since 2001).
What some call “industrial” farming and others –like the Union of Concerned Scientists–more descriptively refer to as “confined” farming, results in massive over-crowding of livestock where unsafe/unhealthy conditions prevail for both the animals, and the workers. These conditions make the spread of disease easier, and lead to over use of antibiotics (which are also often used to keep young calves sickly, and their meat more tender). *
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Tags: About Animals, About Economy, About Environment, animals, Antibiotics, Calves, Cheap Water, Confinement Systems, Conglomerates, Corporate Farming, Current, Efficiency, Farm Operations, Farming Practices, Illusion, Lion, Livestock, Norm, Pew Charitable Trusts, Subsidies, Trillion, Union Of Concerned Scientists, Waste Disposal
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Saturday, August 1st, 2009
The efficiency of current animal farming practices is an “illusion”, according to a report released last Summer by the Pew Charitable Trusts (May 30, 2008).
This “illusion” is made possible by “cheap grain, cheap water and prison-like confinement systems.” Underpinning this status is the drive for the lowest possible labor costs–meaning automated feeding, watering, and waste disposal is the norm–which undermines and impoverishes traditional, family and small farm operations (farms which are typically bought out by corporate farming conglomerates, who then receive the lion’s share of subsidies; about half a trillion since 2001).
What some call “industrial” farming and others –like the Union of Concerned Scientists–more descriptively refer to as “confined” farming, results in massive over-crowding of livestock where unsafe/unhealthy conditions prevail for both the animals, and the workers. These conditions make the spread of disease easier, and lead to over use of antibiotics (which are also often used to keep young calves sickly, and their meat more tender). *
Read more of this story »
Tags: About Animals, About Economy, About Environment, animals, Antibiotics, Calves, Cheap Water, Confinement Systems, Conglomerates, Corporate Farming, Current, Efficiency, Farm Operations, Farming Practices, Illusion, Lion, Livestock, Norm, Pew Charitable Trusts, Subsidies, Trillion, Union Of Concerned Scientists, Waste Disposal
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Friday, July 31st, 2009
U.S. District Court has sentenced a Vermont man to a week in jail for killing an endangered lynx - after he left the carcass with a taxidermist for mounting.
According to the Bangor Daily News, Vermont Fish and Wildlife officials were tipped off by the taxidermist, who said the man claimed he thought was “shooting at a coyote” while enjoying a deer hunting excursion in Maine.
This marks the third time in less than three years that someone has been sentenced for killing an endangered Canadian lynx (Lynx canadensis).
U.S. Magistrate Judge Margaret Kravchuk believed the jail time was necessary, saying that
We have the Endangered Species Act to protect, restore and save these types of animals. I do think this defendant deserves jail time. Just a fine would be a meaningless punishment.
The man who killed the lynx, Alan B. Clark Jr. 38, of South Hero, VT, admitted to Kravchuk that he knew it was a lynx when he took it to the taxidermist, and pleaded guilty to the federal misdemeanor crime of possession of unlawfully taken wildlife.
Although Clark faced up to six months in jail, and a fine up to $25,000, his attorney got him a reduced sentence, citing “recent chronic health problems” and “inability to work.” Clark’s jail time starts Thursday afternoon at the Penobscot County jail.
Apparently, Clark’s right to possess guns and hunt will not be affected by the conviction.
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Tags: About Animals, Bangor Daily News, Canadian Lynx, Carcass, Chronic Health Problems, Deer Hunting, Endangered Species Act, Fish And Wildlife, In The Americas, Jail Time, Kravchuk, Less Than Three Years, Lynx Canadensis, Lynx Lynx, Magistrate Judge, Misdemeanor Crime, Penobscot County Jail, South Hero Vt, Types Of Animals, Vermont Fish And Wildlife, Vermont Man, Wildlife Officials
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Friday, July 31st, 2009
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Shark Specialist Group (SSG), found that one third of sharks are at risk for extinction. The group analyzed 64 known species of open ocean (pelagic) sharks and rays and found that globally, 32 percent or 20 species, are considered Threatened, which includes Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable. The threat is even higher, 52 percent, for the 21 species regularly caught in high seas fisheries.
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Tags: About Animals, About Environment, Bad News, Conservation Of Nature, Extinction, High Seas, In Global, Jaws, Open Ocean, Risk, Seas Fisheries, Shark Specialist Group, Sharks
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Friday, July 31st, 2009
In a move praised by environmentalists fighting to protect vulnerable species, thousands of restaurants across the UK and Ireland have taken 69 fish off their menus.
The Compass Group, world’s largest contract caterer, is setting an example in addressing fisheries’ sustainability and helping to reduce demand for over-exploited fish. According to today’s Guardian, the 69 species on the Marine Conservation Society’s (MCS) “Fish to Avoid” list will no longer be served at 6,500 outlets across the UK and Ireland supplied by Compass.
Head of conservation at MCS, Simon Brockington, in the same article, praised the company’s decision, calling it a “crucial step in ensuring the long-term survival of vulnerable fisheries.”
Currently, a decision on whether or not to offer “official advice” to consumers on eating ethically is under consideration by the government’s Food Standards Agency. If the agency moves forward with the decision, it will encourage consumers not to buy or eat endangered fish,as well as direct them to the MCS and the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC).
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Tags: About Animals, About Environment, Brockington, Buy Fish, Compass Group, Consumers, Contract Caterer, Endangered Fish, Environmentalists, Exploited, Fisheries, Food Standards Agency, Guardian, In Europe, Ireland, Marine Conservation Society, Marine Stewardship Council, Mcs, Menus, Restaurants, Sustainability, Term Survival, Vulnerable Species
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Thursday, July 30th, 2009
Ecologists and biologist who study the world’s flora and fauna have been reporting a species decline amongst amphibians for over a decade or more. This decline has been attributed to a combination of habitat loss and diseases (a fungus pandemic, a virus). A 2007 paper (Becker, et al) made a case for “habitat splitting” wherein certain Brazilian, Amazon frog species that are born in water, but then occupy land ecosystems as adults, are “cut off” from making this transition, due to human road building and development.
And yet, despite this trend, there remain biological (or biodiversity) “hot spots” around the globe in which a great many amphibian species are found to be thriving in the same ecosystem. In some cases, such hot spots offer potentially hundreds of new species for discovery and analysis. One such hot spot is the island of Madagascar. It is an “Eden” for amphibians.
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Tags: 4270, About Animals, Amphibian Species, Amphibians, Becker, Biodiversity Hot Spot, Biologist, Brazilian Amazon, Diseases, Ecologists, Ecosystem, Eden, Flora And Fauna, Frog, Frog Species, Fungus, Habitat Loss, Hot Spots, In Africa, Island Of Madagascar, Land Ecosystems, Pandemic, Species Decline
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