Tag Archives | endangered species

Secret Orangutan Clan Exposed

April 17, 2013

(WILDLIFE) In a forest on the Indonesian island of Borneo, a secret population of the world’s rarest orangutans has recently been discovered. Due to the fact that all Bornean orangutan subspecies are listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, this finding is more than monumental. In fact, there are believed to be only around 3,000 to 4,500 orangutans left in the subspecies Pongo pygmaeus pygmaeus—the same subspecies as the newly discovered orangutan population. Keep reading for more on this secret orangutan clan and the government’s response to protecting this endangered group. — Global Animal

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Circus Elephant Caught In Ring Of Fire

April 16, 2013

(CIRCUS ANIMALS) Carol, the elephant who was shot at a show in Tulepo, Mississippi, is packing up her trunk and taking a hiatus after making a full recovery. The Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus elephant was injured in a drive-by shooting last week, prompting a $34,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. Tupelo police are investigating the shooting, which took place around two in the morning at the BancorpSouth Arena. Police say a vehicle drove by the arena and fired at the 39-year-old animal. Read on to learn more about the details of this unfortunate event and sign the petition urging Ringling Bros. to retire Carol once and for all. — Global Animal

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Gulf Sperm Whales Considered “Special”?

April 13, 2013

(OCEANS) Even though sperm whales are currently listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has announced it will decide whether or not the 1,300 sperm whales in the Gulf of Mexico should be considered for special protection as a “distinct population segment.” Because sperm whales are genetically different than most whales and face unique threats in the Gulf area, the NOAA will now conduct a 12-month review to consider listing the whales as separate from whales outside of the Gulf—although it’s still unclear what protective measures might be taken. Continue reading to learn more about the reasons for the deliberation and the potential impact this status change could have on the whales as well as the environment. — Global Animal

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Tony The Truck Stop Tiger?

April 2, 2013

(POLITICS) Tony the tiger is not doing so great. The 550-pound Bengal-Siberian tiger currently resides in a 40-foot-by-80-foot enclosure at a Louisiana truck stop right outside of Baton Rouge. Tony is not the first tiger to have lived at the roadside establishment. Over the years, several adult tigers have been brought to this wild cat prison, and 13 cubs were born here. These unusual practices have caught the attention of animal rights organizations, local news stations, and law enforcement, and now the Tiger Truck Stop is smack-dab in the middle of a complicated legal dispute. Read the article below to learn more about Tony the tiger and the Tiger Truck Stop’s pending legal issues. — Global Animal

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New Sea Turtle Proposal Rocks Florida Beaches

April 1, 2013

(OCEANS) The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has recently announced a proposal that may help preserve the loggerhead sea turtle’s natural habitat. If passed, the entire coastline of Palm Beach County and a portion of Broward County will be deemed critical habitat for the marine reptile. This designation on certain South Florida beaches does not mean public areas will be turned into wildlife preserves, but federal agencies will have to consult with the USFWS before embarking on projects that may affect protected areas. The critical habitat proposal has definitely stirred up controversy between environmental groups and land developers with both parties firmly standing behind their beliefs. Continue reading for more on the potential effects this new motion may have on sea turtles as well as Florida’s economy. — Global Animal

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Rangers Kill Poachers To Save Rhinos In South Africa

March 29, 2013

(POACHING) Given the surging demand for rhino horn in China and Vietnam, an estimated 188 rhinos have been poached in South Africa since the start of the year, with 135 killed in Kruger National Park alone. On Wednesday, when park rangers were on patrol, they encountered a group of suspected poachers from Mozambique. When shooting ensued, three of the poachers were killed. Continue reading to learn more about the grand attempts to protect white rhino populations in South Africa. — Global Animal

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Hope For World’s Most Endangered Wild Cat

March 29, 2013

(ENDANGERED SPECIES) Hope for the world’s most endangered wild cat, the Iberian lynx, has arrived! For the first time, scientists have successfully collected and preserved the feline’s embryos which may help save the species. The cat’s declining population is in critical condition with less than 200 accounted for a decade ago. Scientists hope that by preserving the embryos, they may be able to use surrogate mothers from closely related species to boost the Iberian lynx population. Read more about the Iberian lynx and this scientific triumph. — Global Animal

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6,000 Wolves Remain With No Help From Congress

March 27, 2013

(WILDLIFE) Members of U.S. Congress are demanding the Obama administration remove the gray wolf from the endangered species list. In a letter to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the collective group of 66 Republicans and six Democrats, argued that the species no longer require legal protection and that the “unmanaged wolf population” is posing a threat to native wildlife among other issues. The letter also accused the Endangered Species Act of being bureaucratic and essentially a nuisance to hunters. The Endangered Species Act was introduced in 1973, and at the time there practically no remaining gray wolves living in the West. Right now, there are only about 6,000 of these majestic animals in the U.S., therefore it’s important to reinforce the laws protecting them. Read on to find out how quickly the gray wolf population dwindled when federal protections were lifted in the Upper Midwest last year. — Global Animal

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