South African Police kill poacher...

When I read stories and news about certain things, though it shouldn't, it sometimes has a sense of 'that's what you get' and in the case of this attempt to poach rhino horn in Johannesburg, something says it loud and clear! One man shot dead, one wounded, and another six were arrested when police stopped two rhino poaching attempts in Limpopo on Sunday.

The incidents occurred on Rietvley Farm in Polokwane and Welgevonden Farm outside Modimolle in the late afternoon. He is alleged to have refused surrender, and pointed an R5 automatic rifle at police, who naturally retaliated with gunfire. Another suspect was shot in the 'butt' and taken to hospital under police guard, the other three accomplices chose to surrender.

The second poaching attempt, in Welgevoden Farm, had two suspects - one who is reportedly an employee of the Limpopo provincial government! Before their chance arrived, the couple were cornered by police, and laid down their arms without any resistance. Begging to question how high up this poaching goes, if there are members of government involved!?

During both operations, police managed to recover a police-issued R5 automatic rifle with 34 live rounds, a silencer, a Toyota van, two axes, and a .307 rifle with a silencer. This is state of the art military equipment, which must have been provided, or at least funded for the team, whom (excluding the Limpopo government employee), were all Mozambican and Zimbabwean nationals residing in Tembisa and Soshanguve townships in Gauteng. All suspects  are to appear in the Modimolle and Polokwane Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.

This is the second time this month attempts have been foiled by the local authorities, after five suspected rhino poachers were arrested in Malelane, Mpumalanga. Police, again acting on a tip-off about illegal rhino hunting at a private game reserve in Low's Creek, found two suspects trying to jump the fence and sneak into the premises. They were armed with a rifle and butcher knives.

"I hope this will be a lesson to other poachers that police are serious about their work and will not hesitate to protect themselves and arrest anyone including government officials who are fuelling this criminal act."

- Lieutenant General Amon Mashigo, Limpopo Provincial Commissioner 

Whipsnade Zoo announces new Lynx kitten arrivals...

The Zoological Society of London have announced yet another new arrival at their 600 acre zoo in Dunstable, UK. The new pair of rare Eurasian Lynx, named Rhubarb and Custard are the first-borns of mum, Maja, and dad, Timo, and newest arrivals, reinforcing the stability and success of their internal breeding programs.

Rhubarb and Custard are already showing off their distinctive pointed-ears, but haven’t yet developed their spotted-markings on their coats, which will begin to appear as they get older. The kittens have only just began to investigate their outdoor enclosure, after staying tucked away in their den with mum for their first few weeks. Now that they are big enough to venture out by themselves, visitors to the Zoo can spot them playing hide and seek amongst the trees together.

Known as a crepuscular species, Euroasian lynx are the largest of the lynx family, and the kittens will one day grow up to 1.2m. Most active at dawn and dusk, the kittens are already showing signs of this behaviour – with keepers spotting them in the morning stalking birds that fly into their enclosure.

WHIPSNADE ZOO

ARKive... endangered species of the week...

Species: Western barred bandicoot (Perameles bougainville)

Status: Endangered (EN) 

Interesting Fact: It has one of the shortest gestation periods of any mammal, just 12 days long!

The western barred bandicoot is a small, nocturnal marsupial mammal found only in Australia. It is a solitary species preferring to build its own nest, which it sleeps in during the day. As with other marsupials, the female possesses a pouch which the young will occupy after being born. Western barred bandicoot young are born just 12 days after being conceived! The young remain in the pouch to suckle and develop further for 45 to 60 days, and by two and a half months old they are ready to disperse on their own.

Thought at one point to be extinct, the western barred bandicoot is restricted to just two islands off the coast of Australia. Its disappearance from mainland Australia is thought to be mainly due to predation by introduced foxes and feral cats. Captive breeding efforts are currently underway in order to re-introduce this species back to its former range, once introduced predators have been eradicated.

ARKIVE

New Giant Wasp species discovered...

The new species of wasp, discovered by Lynn Kimsey, director of the Bohart Museum of Entomology and professor of entomology at the University of California, Davis, on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, is one of the world's largest wasps. Kimsey is a noted wasp expert who oversees the Bohart Museum's global collection of seven million insect specimens, including 500,000 wasps. 

The jaw-dropping, shiny black wasp appears to be the "Komodo dragon" of the wasp family. It's huge. The male measures about two-and-a-half-inches long, Kimsey discovered the warrior wasp on the Mekongga Mountains in south-eastern Sulawesi on a recent biodiversity expedition funded by a five-year grant from the International Cooperative Biodiversity Group Program.

The insect-eating predator belongs to the genus Dalara and family Crabronidae, and is to be named Garuda, after the national symbol of Indonesia, a powerful mythical warrior that's part human and part eagle, boasts a large wingspan, martial prowess and breakneck speed. 

"The first time I saw the wasp I knew it was something really unusual, I'm very familiar with members of the wasp family Crabronidae that it belongs to but had never seen anything like this species of Dalara. We don't know anything about the biology of these wasps. They are only known from Sulawesi."

- Lynn Kimsey, director of the Bohart Museum of Entomology

BOHART MUSEUM OF ENTOMOLOGY

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATIVE BIODIVERSITY GROUP

New monkey species discovered in Brazil...

They just keep on coming! New species are saying hello on an almost a daily basis with improved support for exploration investigation, and news that our planet is home to over 8.5 million species (of which only 1.7 million have been discovered!) So to find a new large mammal is certainly a rewarding discovery, so please say hello to the brand new species of monkey. This reddish primate has yet to be named, but belongs to the Callicebus genus, also known as titi monkeys.

The newcomer was discovered on an expedition in December 2010. WWF, the conservation body that sponsored the expedition, announced the find today. The monkey lives in the north-west of Mato Grosso State, one of the last unexplored areas in Brazil. 

Julio Dalponte, who discovered the primate, spotted features on the monkey's head and tail that had never been seen before on other titi monkey species found in the same area.

A specimen of the monkey has been given to the Emílio Goeldi Museum in Brazil for study, but it will be several months before the new species is fully described by zoologists.

The expedition also uncovered two possible new fish species: a catfish and a brightly-coloured freshwater tetra. They join the 48 mammal, 208 fish and 313 bird species counted in the area. 

WWF

PETA India uncovers shocking elephant training in Nepal...

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India released video footage and photographs taken during an undercover investigation showing elephants in Nepal being abused by trainers. The accompanying statement informs that elephants are taken from their mothers at the age of two, chained and immobilised and reportedly spend several days crying and struggling to get free.

The calves are then trained in order to give rides - this involves being hit and prodded with sticks and being subjected to loud noises. Flaming torches are brushed against the calves' faces, trunks, legs and bodies. The investigation also revealed that the animals' flesh is often punctured by the chains, restrainers and iron nails that are used to restrict their movement. 

Many elephants have open wounds on their foreheads as a result of sustained beatings with sticks, while any attempts to retreat from frightening situations will result in further attacks.

An estimated 35,000 British tourists visited Nepal last year, many of whom will have unwittingly supported this treatment by taking elephant rides and paying for performances with the animals. The number of Brits travelling to Nepal is expected to rise as the Nepalese embassy in London continues its high-profile publicity campaign to boost tourism from the UK as part of the National Tourism Year 2011 programme.

PETA's US affiliate has also obtained video footage of abuse by trainers in Thailand who repeatedly gouged the flesh of baby elephants until the immobilised animals bled profusely and screamed out in pain.

PETA

(contains disturbing images)

Relocation of squirrels to save the burrowing owl...

Despite having cute, fuzzy tails and playful antics, the California ground squirrel has a bad reputation as a pest. But because this species plays a critical role as a grasslands engineer, creating homes for other animals, San Diego Zoo Global scientists are relocating squirrels to aid a species of concern, the burrowing owl.

On Tuesday, Colleen Lenihan, Ph.D., a San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research scientist, led a team of four to check on previously translocated squirrels in Jamul. To date, the Zoo's newest hometown conservation program has relocated more than 350 squirrels to three sites within San Diego County that are thought to be suitable habitat for squirrels and owls.

Together with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, San Diego State University, California Department of Fish and Game, San Diego Area Governments and others, the Zoo has hit the ground running. The relocation of the squirrels and observation of existing burrowing owl nesting sites is the first phase of a science-based conservation program. The project aims to create a plan on how to manage local grassland habitat for burrowing owls and other species integral to the ecosystem that can be adopted in other areas where management is needed.

The burrowing owl is currently listed as a species of concern by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, but its population is crashing and may require listing as an endangered species if not assisted. The population has dropped because this species is found only in grasslands, favouring flat ground with low vegetation, which is habitat that is also ideal for development and where invasive plants can be prevalent. In undeveloped areas, habitat destruction does not explain the dwindling numbers of owls, but the elimination of ground squirrels may have made these areas unsuitable as burrowing owl breeding sites.

Because burrowing owls have adapted to human landscapes, and as they can lay up to 11 eggs per clutch, this species has an increased likelihood for successful recovery if an adaptive management plan is created now.

Goals for the burrowing owl conservation program include developing a model that addresses habitat needs, genetic viability and conservation threats such as loss of habitat due to development and invasive species. In this first year, San Diego Zoo Global scientists hope to create suitable habitat that is self-sustaining by restoring a more intact, functional ecosystem.

"The re-establishment of California ground squirrels is a critical component of any long-term recovery plan for burrowing owls and the larger ecosystem because squirrels provide vital resources. Sites with ground squirrel colonies have a greater diversity of reptiles, amphibians, insects and birds than sites where they are absent."

- Colleen Lenihan, Ph.D., San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research

SAN DIEGO ZOO

The Great Ape Film Initiative...

GAFI is an innovative, grass-roots based organisation that aims to promote great ape conservation by engaging and inspiring people to create local and sustainable solutions to the problems facing great apes and their environments around the world.

GAFI uses cinema and television to help save the endangered animals in their vulnerable habitats in places like Africa and South East Asia. Reaching millions of people whatever the culture or country, television is foremost media touching our lives.

To Madelaine Westwood (Founder of GAFI) and her team, it was an obvious tool to use to reach everyone be it a state president to an agricultural farmer; to army officers to school students, young and old. Screening wildlife documentaries to people that shared or impacted the same habitat as an endangered animal, was highlighting the cause where it mattered and where a real difference can be made immediately.

GAFI

All time low for European farm birds...

Farmland bird populations across Europe are at their lowest levels since records began, new figures reveal. The Pan-European Common Bird Monitoring Scheme looked at population figures for 145 of the most common bird species in 25 European countries between 1980 and 2009. The results show that farmland birds are the most threatened species group, and are at an all-time low. Half of the top ten most threatened birds across Europe are farmland birds, including Grey Partridge, which has declined by 90% in the UK, and Linnet, which has declined by 57%.

Conservationists say the results prove the need for reform of the Common Agricultural Policy so that it rewards and encourages farmers who put conservation measures in place on their land. Proposals for the upcoming reform of the CAP are set to be published in October and the RSPB is concerned that it does not contain enough support for agri-environment schemes which fund wildlife-friendly farming measures.

Recent EU Budget announcements have made it clear that decision-makers plan to allocate less money to Pillar 2 environmental payments, such as England's Entry Level Stewardship and Higher Level Stewardship schemes. A recent leaked CAP document has also revealed that they plan to allow member states to move money away from agri-environment schemes and into other areas.

The results of the European bird population survey suggest that after missing its 2010 biodiversity conservation target, the EU will go on to miss the 2020 biodiversity conservation target unless further action is taken.

The new EU Biodiversity Strategy commits the EU to "halt the deterioration in the status of all species and habitats covered by EU nature legislation". Although Member States endorsed the new strategy in June this year, they have yet to make any commitment to deliver the actions needed to achieve its aims.

"We know that farmland birds have halved in number in the UK since the 1970s, but these shocking figures show that the story is the same across Europe. This is no coincidence — the one thing that farmed landscapes in European countries all have in common is that they are shaped by the Common Agricultural Policy. This policy has helped farmers to produce more food, but wildlife has suffered as a result."

- Jenna Hegarty, RSPB CAP policy officer

RSPB

PAN-EUROPEAN BIRD MONITORING SCHEME

Blog a tree campaign...

This blog just planted a tree!!! Confused, you needn't be, as a new campaign fighting for reforestation is causing a huge impact on restoring nature back to it's former glory. The Blog-A-Tree project aims to plant a tree for each blog that pledges to take on their initiative by composing a blog or post about their campaign that showcases a revolutionary green product that is the first of its kind.

Coming in August 2011 is a hair care product that contains not only wonderfully natural ingredients, but the bottle itself bio-degrades and grows a tree! Organic Salon Systems feel very fortunate to be able to feature the first known hair product with a negative carbon footprint!
The product is manufactured in a factory that utilizes solar and wind energy as its power source. Uses soy ink printing that contain no harsh chemicals, they use recycled reverse osmosis water, and the packaging is derived from waster fruit and vegetables and acts as a fertilizer that germinates the seeds!

For each blogger that participates they will receive a Blog-a-Tree badge (authenticating their participation) , a tree planted in honor of their blog, and will be eligible to win their blog ad space in the green aware, New York Times!

Get blogging and support the encouragement of production of a negative carbon footprint!

BLOG A TREE

ORGANIC COLOR SYSTEMS

Marriot Hotel Resort supports Eco-Triathlon in Costa Rica...

Triathlons are some of the toughest races around, challenging the endurance of participants on land and sea. The Los Sueños Marriott Ocean & Golf Resort invites trained athletes to push their bodies to the limit at Ecotriathlon Marriott Los Sueños 2011. The event, which takes place September 3-4, offers a number of different distances, for all ages, from 200m all the way up to 10 km. Many of the races begin from the Los Sueños Marriott Resort. However, this Costa Rica resort wanted to sponsor much more than just a triathlon. Not only does the Los Sueños Marriott Resort offer great Costa Rica vacations, but this hotel is also committed to preserving the environment. On September 3, before the events begin, athletes will have an opportunity to plant a tree, provided by the Los Sueños Marriott. These new trees will help ensure that future generations can enjoy the splendour of the natural environment for years to come.

Also on September 3 at 8 PM, this hotel in Costa Rica will release baby sea turtles back into the wild. The Los Sueños Marriott Resort participates in a sea turtle program, which cares for baby sea turtles until they are ready to be release back into the wild. The program has saved a countless number of sea turtles.

This hotel in Costa Rica is proud to host an eco-friendly triathlon. Not only will these efforts go a long way in preserving the natural environment, but these green initiatives will continue enticing visitors back time and time again for fabulous Costa Rica Vacations.

ECO TRIATHLON COSTA RICA

Help support the awareness of amphibians and reptiles in London...

For the biggest city in Europe, London has quite a substantial biodiversity, playing host to an amazing range of wild animals, from parakeets to wallabies, as well as the regular local wildlife, that includes no less than 9 of the 13 native species of herpetofauna. There are also other species, some of which are not naturally found in Britain thriving in small pockets of land in London. With a lack of study and data on these communities, there is a new scheme put forward to help gain a wider awareness and understanding of the levels and habitats these amphibians and reptiles reside in.

ARC has teamed up with London Wildlife Trust, Greenspace Information for Greater London (GiGL - the Capital's Environmental Records Centre), London Amphibian and Reptile Group (LARG) and London, Essex & Hertfordshire Amphibian and Reptile Trust (LEHART) for this exciting new project, and with support from the Heritage Lottery Fund, have begun 'Connecting London's Amphibian and Reptile Environments.'

Campaigning for wider public involvement, as well as educating the public on their local wildlife, the campaign aims to raise profile and understanding of herps and their distribution around the Capital. The project will be headed up by CLARE project officer Sophie Hinton, who aims for the project to become a success over the next 12 months.

The aims of the project are:

- to find out more about where London's amphibians and reptiles can be found

- to provide information that will help look after them into the future.

- to ask people to look for these animals and to tell us where they have seen them

- to provide an opportunity for people to see what they look like and to find out how best to look for them in the wild through a series of events

- to produce an atlas of distribution based on records and on predictive mapping/ modelling

- to provide specific training and advice to help staff and volunteers of the London Wildlife Trust, London Amphibian & Reptile Group and others, to promote amphibian and reptile conservation, especially on LWT Reserves and through LWT projects

- to provide more opportunities for people to see just how fascinating these little animals are!

"Amphibians and reptiles suffer from having a much lower public profile that some of our other native animal groups.  With the CLARE Project, I want to achieve new heights for the public profile of herpetofauna by increasing awareness and understanding of them in the London region." - Sophie Hinton, ARC project officer

ARC TRUST
CLARE PROJECT

Campaigns and petitions - a how to...

On a daily basis my Twitter feed and Facebook are filled with countless causes and petitions that call for supporters to up arms and join the fight for the protection or prevention of something in regards to the welfare and conservation of animals and their natural habitat. What a lot of people don't know is that I only follow a few, and for good cause...here is why. When something catches your eye in the news, or from a post, or even a personal experience, it is hard in most cases to stand by and just let it be. It is in the true nature of an animal lover, activist or campaigner to automatically raise the gauntlet in challenging the powers that be to 'sort it out', and you can help, in many ways, IF you do it right.

More often or not I am given links and recommendations for various petitions, often for the same cause, some even on the same sites, and this is extremely counter-productive in the fight against the wrong-doers of this world. I tend to read each article, news report, petition, and when available research reference materials, to get a bigger picture of the cause I am offering my support to. Whilst doing this, I notice so much emotion and involvement in the fight, that in many cases the petitions miss the point. It is of utmost importance, especially with news stories and petitions that the facts are CORRECT. If a petition is signed on the basis of false evidence and data, in most cases, irrelevant of your battle to gain 100,000 signatures, it will more than likely be thrown out on the basis of this false pretence, there is no harm in doing your research. 

When setting up a cause, a petition, or even just writing a news piece, there are a few things you NEED to do to ensure you are taken seriously, and more importantly gain the attention of the people you are petitioning, the public you are rallying, and also the national and international media, who are your biggest tool in your fight. Here are a few suggestions to get you started.

The first thing you should ALWAYS do, and it involves a little research, is to see if anyone has done it before. I know it sounds a commonsensical idea, but the number of people who set up petitions or write stories, and wonder why people don't respond to them, is usually on the basis that there are already charities, causes, or campaigners who have done it before, in many cases, having succeeded. This also comes down to checking the time period of events you are reporting, a news piece on a story from last December will get a lot less of a response, and is almost guaranteed to have been reported and acted on before, than an instance of welfare abuse that happened yesterday, or in some cases, has yet to happen.

One of the most important things you also need to establish is the target of your document. If it is a petition, do your background checks and ensure that you are writing about, or to, the specific member(s) of the organisation, or company, that you need to address it to. In some cases this could be an environmental officer, president, CEO, animal welfare representative, etc... If the petition or article is aimed at the wrong person, there are many instances where your hard work will just get thrown out with the rest of the trash.

The next thing you need to do, and this is by far the most important of all, is research, research, research!!! Research everything from top to bottom, from the main body and content of the debate or topic, to the statistics and figures you are referring to. It is important to focus on facts, and try to include only facts (not feelings - I know this can sometimes be hard). Get hold of documents, papers, research publications, copies of laws, policy statements, company mission statements, as well as first person accounts, evidence and experiences. If you cover all your bases and have the information at hand to back up any claim you wish to make, then there will be A LOT less trouble in getting media support, and minimal fight from the target's of your document. In the case of a petition, communication is key. There are three elements a petition needs to be effective, these are the situation, the resolution and the reason. Keep it simple and basically state what is going on, what needs to be done and why, it is that simple. You will also want to include a deadline, and a target goal of signatories, in many cases you may need to contact the people who are being petitioned (especially in the case of council or government) in regards to getting knowledge of a required petition size for an audience about reform of your issues.

The final thing you need to do is get your cause out there. If you are a journalist, then you will have channels to distribute your information through media and news sites, blogs and other multimedia formats. If not, fear not, as it is as simple as getting an email template drafted up with an outline of the cause or news story, in press release form, and contact your local, national, and international media reporters. With the world of viral internet - Facebook, Blogger and Twitter - there are endless possibilities for the distribution and rallying of support for your cause, a lot of the biggest petitions to date have been driven forward through response on Facebook and Twitter. 


The only other really important thing to do is get some support. Find like minded enthusiasts and campaigners who can help distribute through their channels, join web groups dedicated to campaigning, and approach major campaign organisations like PETA, WWF, your regional SPCA, etc... The other thing you can try and do is get celebrities on board, there is nothing that screams media attention than a celebrity tweet or blog about how they would like to rally the support of their fans in spreading word of YOUR cause.

That is about it, the one thing I will say is that it IS hard work, you really have to put a lot of effort in, from the research right through to deadline, in most cases spending hours a day online emailing, contacting, researching, and supporting your cause through to the finish. I would recommend you do ALL the background before getting started, as in a lot of cases, people just aren't aware of the amount of effort this area of campaigning and reporting entails, so be sure you are prepared for the workload and commitment required to make a difference.

Useful sites for petitions, blogs, causes, etc.

CARE2

iPETITIONS

CAUSES

BLOGGER

PETA

WWF

PETA to launch .xxx site - exclusive statement...

Headlines and rumours have been popping up on a global scale in regards to the new domain availability for the .xxx web address. It is no secret that companies on an international level are hastily rushing to purchase up trademarks and copyrights to ensure the implications of an explicit or controversial site do not damage fragile corporate reputations, but one charity is making bigger headlines in regards to what they intend to do with their .xxx domain.

PETA are no strangers to controversial media stunts and marketing campaigns, having pioneered the shock tactic with their numerous risky publicity, supported, in large, by the world's leading celebrities, such as Pamela Anderson, Charlize Theron, Ricky Gervais, Moby, Natalie Portman, but to name a few. After speaking with a representative from PETA, I have come to understand, and appreciate what they have planned for the launch of their .xxx domain.

Firstly, to better understand .xxx here is a brief explanation of what x-rated culture is... to begin with, X-rated culture originated, not in adult movies and pornography (as it is commonly perceived as today), but the rating of any type of footage that was deemed inappropriate for public viewing, whether it be violent, graphical or explicit in content. What PETA intend to do is use the .xxx domain to expose an alarming amount of x-rated footage illustrating the devastating reality behind animal cruelty and welfare through-out the entire globe. 

There has been a strong backlash in regards to the ethics behind PETA's .xxx campaign, and the stir they have whipped up in the international media is certainly doing them A LOT of favours in the area of publicity and marketing, but until now it has been all rumour and here-say as to the intended content of the website. Some animal rights activists have been shunning their brash decisions to approach the adult market (again misinterpreting the meaning behind what is .xxx) while some have been in full support of their campaign.

Although there has been no statement of exactly what content the website will include, all I can say is that the publicity and awareness they will generate from the introduction of an international and charitable .xxx site will do wonders for raising awareness for current and future animal welfare issues.

“PETA US hopes to launch PETA.xxx this autumn in order to avoid missing out on connecting with such a huge market, and obviously whether people like sex, are total prudes,  or are somewhere in between, everyone can be asked to be kind to animals. The PETA.xxx content will be graphic because there are more ways than one to lay bare what animals endure in far less savoury trades, such as the meat, fur, and circus industries. The "Not Safe for Work" site will feature video too explicit to show on television—stuff that opens people's eyes wide to the dirty treatment that animals get in human pursuits like hunting and fishing.

"We’re sure that PETA US’ PETA.xxx domain will be three times as effective in bringing important animal protection issues to a large audience and showing how easy it is to love your body with a vegan diet.” 

- PETA Head Office!

PETA

Today's my first day off...kind of?!

Having spent all of yesterday, and the whole of last night wide awake investigating reports, policies and agreements between the Costa Rican Government, ICE and the Inter-American Development Bank, as well as seeking life experiences and research documentation from field scientists who have studied the steady decline of the  Costa Rican wildlife, I can honestly say there is something BIG going on in that country. There is too little I have set down, so far, to give a full report, but my theories, based on the facts I have gathered have certainly opened my eyes to a few very unsettling things, which I will put out in a full report once I have all the facts, evidence and data together in one place (and in some circumstances translations from Spanish to English!)

Safe to say I am just a little on the tired side. This is by far the biggest investigation I have ever done on my own, and I know the risks involved in reporting on a subject that is so important to the Costa Rican way of life. In fact, for a country that is so vocal about a sustainable future and the protection of the natural environment and wildlife, as well as being the world leaders on renewable energy, I have been quite astonished by some of my findings. I am still waiting to hear back from the Ministry of Environment & Energy, as well as from ICE, as I would like to have the whole picture, and from every angle, before I write my piece - but from the subject matter involved, I am half expecting a no comment. Despite this, I hope to have a reasonably substantial report out next week, so keep checking back to see what I have found out.

As for today, don't expect many blogs out of this tired man, I think a cup of cocoa and bed is in order as it's well over 24 hours since my last nap.

Nature Jobs Career Expo launch registration...

Registration is now open for the 2011 Naturejobs Career Expo. The UK's largest career fair and conference for the scientific community will take place on 22 September 2011 at the Business Design Centre in Islington, London. Now in its fifth year, the expo attracts more than 1,000 scientists actively seeking their next career move.

In the exhibition hall, jobseekers can meet with potential employers actively recruiting to fill vacancies. Highlights of the conference programme include publishing and teaching in academia, non-traditional careers and science mobility. The keynote lecture, 'Standing up for Science', will be delivered by Julia Wilson from Sense about Science. The program includes speakers from organizations including Unilever and law firm Bristows. Sessions will also be led by experts from universities including King's College London, Imperial College London, Queen Mary, University of London and the University of Southampton.

The cost to attend the conference is £50 and entry to the career fair is free with pre-registration. All attendees must register. Some sponsorship opportunities and exhibitor places are still available. Naturejobs is the worldwide career resource for scientists, providing a wide range of career advice and information across NPG journals as well as centrally at naturejobs.com. Job seekers can find a wide range of scientific career information and news as well as expert advice, all free to access at naturejobs.com. Employers can also post jobs free of charge on naturejobs.com, the world’s largest dedicated scientific jobs board with over 10,000 live vacancies.

"The conference plenary and workshop sessions will provide a unique opportunity to meet high profile scientists and gain careers information and advice. The expo promotes scientific careers in the UK and Europe, and further afield, be it in industry, research organizations or academia. It presents the best opportunities from some of the most respected organizations: public, private, national and international." - Nils Moeller, European Manager for Naturejobs

NATURE JOBS CAREER EXPO

Dolphin slaughter's to begin next week...

Since the release of the shocking, and award winning, documentary 'The Cove' last year, international outrage has been constantly thrown at Japanese officials for the way in which they deal with the annual dolphin hunting season, and the inhumane slaughter, that has been captured on video, of some 20,000 dolphins a year.

With this year's hunt set to kick off next week on September the first, rallying protesters and global volume for the cause has certainly been at it's strongest. There are countless petitions, equating to over 100,000 signatories, with almost every major animal welfare and conservation society having rallied a call for support, and what are the Japanese government doing about it...nothing!

I say 'nothing' in the commonsensical term, as the government are putting a lot of effort in to the annual hunt, all in the name of tradition. The Wakayama Governor was quoted last month saying "We understand that people have different views about dolphin hunts in Taiji, but we must crack down on actions such as harassment, slander, vandalism and trespassing, which clearly constitute crime", and that is certainly what they are doing. 

Over one hundred police have been instated, and provided with extra training and tactical guidance in expectation of a vast number of international protesters flocking to Taiji, to help prevent the village's 'slaughter-fest' that provides 10% of the country's annual dolphin stock. Through-out the 2010-2011 hunting season Cove Guardian Activists from Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, as well as Save Japan Dolphins were in Taiji every single day of the dolphin slaughter, which ran from September to March...yet the tragedy continues.

Thanks to their work in capturing the abominable behaviour displayed by the Taiji Fishers Union, the international media now knows the truth, and we can still help to make a difference. 

WATCH THE COVE DOCUMENTARY

SIGN AND SHARE THE PETITION

PROTEST OUTSIDE YOUR LOCAL JAPANESE EMBASSY ON 1ST SEPT

VOLUNTEER WITH SEA SHEPHERD CONSERVATION SOCIETY

SPREAD WORD ABOUT THE COUNTDOWN TO COVE

SUPPORT SAVE JAPAN'S DOLPHINS

Why Zoos often hand rear babies...

Today, as ever, I was doing a bit of research, digging up interesting news and events from around the globe when I came across this article about hand rearing animals in zoos. I for one am impartial to how an animal is raised, as long as it is in as natural an environment as possible, retains it's health and 'wild' instincts, and is not rejected by it's own kind. 

There is constant debate as to how, when and why intervention is required in Zoos around the world, especially in the case of breeding programs for rare and endangered species, where each survival is a step closer to the main goal of raising the species population through re-introduction. Some people say that there should never be intervention, and that the natural course of events should be left to unfold, though in many circumstances this will lead to the loss of life on the part of the newly born, due to mothering skills, or lack of nutrients from the parent animals.

All in all, the write up from the Smithsonian Zoogoer really enlightens you in to the causes, effects, procedures and reasons for intervention in the raising of newly born animals in a zoological environment. Find out more about the Smithsonian Zoo, and their staff from their website.

Report: RAISING BABIES BY HAND

SMITHSONIAN ZOOLOGICAL PARK

Prevent the electrocution of wildlife in Costa RIca... pt.2

SIGN THE PETITION HERE

For those of you who follow me on twitter and facebook , you will certainly be aware that I have very strong feelings in regards to this cause, and with just a few days research I have made astonishing progress in getting hold of images to illustrate the situation's nightmarish impact it is having on the wildlife of Costa Rica.

I am not going to go in to much detail, as I have already blogged the story, but I will elaborate on the fact that there have been numerous reports of electrocutions to the endangered Red Bellied Macaw, some of which were actually re-introduced by local sanctuaries running breeding programs, years of work ruined by the complacent disregard by the country's energy suppliers.

I am putting up a collection of DISTURBING images below, to illustrate just some of the devastation, these are all incidents that have occurred in the past six months in Costa Rica, resulting in dead, injured or orphaned monkeys. Please help spread the word about the situation and to get people to sign the petition.