Tag Archives | WILDLIFE

Gas Group Gives Gorillas Ground

May 20, 2013

(WILDLIFE) French oil and gas company Total reassured shareholders and animals lovers after announcing they will not search for oil in Congo’s Virunga National Park—the home to mountain gorillas and a Unesco World Heritage site. Chairman Christophe de Margerie said they will not prospect for oil out of respect for the heritage and conservation site, which is Africa’s oldest national park. Read on for more information regarding this admirable decision to preserve these species and their habitat. — Global Animal

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Can These Bees Save Lives?

May 20, 2013

(ANIMAL SCIENCE) A group of unlikely heroes are currently being trained to prevent future land mine tragedies. Croatian researchers are training sugar-craving honeybees to find unexploded mines littering their country—all of which have been responsible for about 2,500 deaths since the beginning of the Balkan wars in 1991. Because bees have a perfect sense of smell which can efficiently detect the scent of explosives, identifying their food source with the scent of TNT has proved to be a successful way to safely unveil dangerous hidden mines. Read on for more on the ways in which these everyday insects can potentially make a huge difference in Croatia. — Global Animal

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Two Tangled Eagles Take To The Tarmac

May 17, 2013

(SKIES) MINNESOTA — The Duluth International Airport received two unscheduled layovers a few days ago, when a pair of bald eagles crash-landed on to the tarmac. Although fighting for territory is customary among bald eagles, incidents like this are extremely uncommon. The two birds of prey fell to the ground when their talons became intertwined. But fear not, bird lovers—both animals are expected to make a full recovery. Continue reading below to find out how these two birds were saved. — Global Animal

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Deadly Amphibian Fungus Plagues Frogs

May 17, 2013

(ANIMAL SCIENCE) Beware, frogs! The chytrid fungus is out there! The lethal fungus, which seems to only harm amphibians, causes a thickening of the infected creature’s skin and hinders the animal’s breathing and electrolyte balance. Ultimately, the infection can lead to cardiac arrest and has already caused several Central American frog species to go extinct. One scientist even referred to the destructive fungus as “the single biggest threat to vertebrate diversity in the world.” Continue reading for more on the chytrid fungus and the study behind this amphibian epidemic. — Global Animal

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Swine Flu Strikes Seals

May 16, 2013

(ANIMAL SCIENCE) The swine flu virus has been found in elephant seals off the central coast of California, according to a recent study. The research is the first to report the H1N1 virus in marine mammals, which shows influenza viruses can be transferred among species. During the study, scientists encountered two northern elephant seals who were infected, and they discovered an additional 28 seals carrying swine flu antibodies. Keep reading for more information on the highly contagious virus and this enlightening study. — Global Animal

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20,000 Bees Safely Evacuated From Tree

May 15, 2013

(ANIMAL RESCUE) Last week in England, a tree surgeon named John Joinson was sent to the village of Childer Thornton to remove a tree that was in danger of falling into the road. When Joinson arrived at the tree, he discovered that a large colony of bees was living in it. Rather than resorting to the easier maneuver of spraying and killing them, Joinson phoned a beekeeper for help and managed to drive 20,000 bees out of the hive and into a box before cutting down the tree. Continue reading for more on the miraculous rescue mission. — Global Animal

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Elephant Escapes Death, Tramples Poacher

May 14, 2013

(POACHING) With elephant poaching at an all-time high, one elephant actually managed to save their own life after trampling a poacher who was attempting to shoot him/her. The poacher’s remains were found in Charara National Park in Zimbabwe after entering the reserve sometime between April 19 and 26 with another poacher. While many elephants normally don’t charge their attackers, this elephant’s defense could possibly mark an aggressive change in their behavior due to the frequent loss of their family members at the hands of poachers. Read on for more about this elephant’s brave resistance. — Global Animal

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Clouded Leopards Gone For Good?

May 13, 2013

(ANIMAL EXTINCTION) A team of Taiwanese zoologists have been looking for the Formosan clouded leopard—indigenous to Taiwan—for 13 years now. Sadly, last week, their greatest fears were confirmed. The leopard is extinct, and most likely has been for decades. Formosan clouded leopards, a subspecies of those found on mainland Asia, were once highly sought-after by poachers for their valuable skins. This, combined with the lack of prey, is most likely what led to their unfortunate extinction. Read on for information regarding this beautiful leopard species, how their extinction came to be, along with their spiritual connection to the forests of Taiwan. — Global Animal

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