The International Union for Conservation of Nature surveyed 47,677 of animal and plant species this year, ultimately listing 17,291 of the count under Red’s List of endangered species.

The Switzerland-based environmental group conducts a yearly examination of plant and animal species and 2009’s list topped last year’s by 2,800. However, the group admitted that the list is incomplete, and there remain millions of other specimens yet to be surveyed.

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Officials from the Environment Investigation Agency (EIA) recently took part in an undercover investigation that revealed the illegal big cat skin and bone trade is still taking place in China despite the fact it is against the law.  The investigation  took place from July 25th and August 19, 2009.  Other rare animal skins, including snow leopards and other big cats, were also being sold. 

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Two poachers were killed over the weekend in India’s Orang National Park after the duo allegedly killed a one-horned rhinoceros.    The poachers were hoping to use the loud sounds and noises of the Diwali festivities to drown out the sound of their gunfire.  By the time forest guards got to the scene, it was too late – a rhino had already been killed.  Her horn had been chopped off.

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September 27th, 2009, marks the beginning of the 7th annual Sea Otter Awareness Week.   Aquariums across the United States, Canada, Australia and the Netherlands are featuring a variety of activities, exhibits and educational events to raise awareness and bring attention to those utterly charming and charismatic mammals, the sea otters. 

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One of the world’s most famous gorillas died recently in Rwanda at the age of 35.  Titus, also known as the Gorilla King, starred in the popular Dr. Dian Fossey 1988 film “Gorillas in the Mist.” The silverback gorilla was also featured in a BBC documentary “Titus - The Gorilla King.”

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The ferry, a monster that could hold 866 people and 282 cars and that uses more fuel than a large plane, was kept running for a year even though it never had the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that’s required by the state of Hawaii.

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Organizers have announced a three-day music festival to take place in Port Lympne Wild Animal Park that will feature over 200 bands, visual artists, and poets. Half the profits from the event will be donated to the Aspinall Foundation.

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Fancy a new online store for eco-friendly children’s products?  Green product website Ambitious Green calls itself a “fun place to buy great products at the center of today’s environmental issues, concerns, and debates.”

Says Ambitious Green: “We think the environment and education are challenging debates worth having. Every time you make a buying decision you are telling manufacturers and the market what’s important to you.   We share the same frustrations you do - finding products that are natural, functional, friendly and fun. We believe that what’s good  for you can be good for the planet.”

Here are a few of the latest toys at Ambitious Green:

Dancing Alligator, $19.99 (shown above) “This award-winning, wooden alligator pull toy struts his stuff as he wiggles, bobs and click-clacks along.”  These toys are made in Thailand by Plan Toys, a green company that emphasizes socially responsible manufacturing.   It’s green because it’s made of organic rubberwood, non-formaldehyde E-Zero Glue, water-based dye, recycled and recyclable material and soy ink and water-based ink.

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Korea’s national creation myth also tells of a tiger and a bear who asked the son of the ruler of Heaven if he would make them human. He agreed, but only if they could endure 100 days in a cave eating nothing but garlic and mugwort. The steadfast bear endured and became a beautiful woman, who gave birth to Tangun, the legendary father of Korea in 2333 BCE. But the tiger grew hungry and impatient. He left the cave early, unable cope with the hunger and waiting, and has been slinking through the Korean mountains ever since.

That is, until the last century when hunting and habitat loss pushed the Korean tiger over the brink of extinction in the wild in South Korea. With it went an important symbol of Korea’s identity.

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