Dogs and their guides have been transported to the Galapagos Islands as part of a K9 project to track down poachers and reduce crime against wildlife.

The K9 units are now set for regular inspections, beginning at airports, harbors and random checkpoints on all three islands in order to halt illegal poaching activities which have plagued many of the islands’ unique flora and fauna.

Read more of this story »

Croatia and Hungary signed an agreement yesterday to protect a major biodiversity area that crosses borders along three rivers. The agreement is being called a “Trans-Boundary UNESCO Biosphere Reserve” and has resulted in the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) awarding the two countries with a “Leaders for a Living Planet” award.

The reserve will preserve several endangered species, among other environmental jewels. There is also the possibility of the reserve expanding several times over into neighboring countries in the future.

Read more of this story »

Finally, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is reviewing the status of the Pacific walrus to determine whether or not the marine mammal will receive Endangered Species Act protections.

The Center for Biological Diversity stated that the Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) is facing a double threat to its ice habitat: Global warming and increased oil development.

A petition seeking protection for the Pacific walrus was submitted by the Center back in February 2008. After the USFWS failed to respond to the petition, the Center filed a lawsuit - prompting the USFWS to take action.

Read more of this story »

One of only three wolf pairs in Oregon was killed by U.S.D.A. Wildlife Services with approval from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The Center for Biological Diversity announced today that Oregon’s wolf recovery program suffered a serious setback when a pair of wolves residing in the Eagle Cap Wilderness in eastern Oregon were killed over the weekend by wildlife authorities.

Read more of this story »

Disturbing information suggests that the wording of a Chinese forestry administration document is ambiguous enough to allow trade in products derived from critically endangered tigers.

According to The Times UK, wildlife trade monitoring network TRAFFIC has sounded the alarm about a document issued by the Chinese State Forestry Administration, warning that the wording is “loose” enough to encourage China’s deplorable tiger farmers to begin processing tiger-derived products.

Read more of this story »

Are poachers in KwaZulu Natal now targeting dogs - in addition to wildlife?

Shocked residents living near the Everton Conservancy in Kloof are fearing for the safety of their dogs. According to a disturbing report in The Times SA, authorities suspect that dogs are being stolen from families and being used as bait by poachers to lure wild animals into illegal snares.

Read more of this story »

The “Women on Conservation” event was kicked off by Surdevi Community Forest User Group President lighting the ceremonial candle.

This lively theatrical competition was held at the Surdevi Community Forest User Group Office on August 23, 2009 and presented by Partnership for Rhino Conservation and Friendship Chitwan. A total of seven groups from the Chitwan Buffer Zone and surrounding villages participated in the program with songs, poems, and stories about wildlife conservation.

Read more of this story »

Read more of this story »

An expert advisory committee this week released recommendations on restoring Minnesota’s dwindling moose population, whose decline one expert said is related to gradual warming of the state’s climate. “The moose, of course, is not an animal that deals very well with heat,’’ panel chairperson Rolf Peterson of Michigan Technological University said. “We wouldn’t even be here today if it wasn’t for climate change.’’

Read more of this story »

During this trip we cloth diapered and had a potty trainer on our hands! The condo at Bass Lake had a washer and dryer and while camping in Yosemite we used the laundry mat at Curry Village. I only did the washing at Curry Village and let the diapers & undies air dry in the sunshine on a tree branch at our site. We were prepared to use a bucket and gloves if we did not have access to a washer! It worked out nicely though. My 2 yr. old loved being in nature and really enjoyed boat rides on the lake. He saw tons of wildlife including a BEAR! While driving back to our campsite, our first day in Yosemite, we watched a bear eating in a meadow through the car window. It was neat. Tristan also saw a “Big ole Buck” on a bike ride first thing in the morning around the campground.

It was so amazing to see nature through his eyes. He chased the squirrels to their holes and around the campsite and collected specimens to put into his bug kit. Our hike to Vernal Falls was quite a journey and I think he understood it’s significance. My husband and I consider ourselves experienced campers. We’ve done a lot of camping. Every time I walk away from a campsite, I have a new perspective on life. Unplugging for the few days and recharging your soul with Mother Nature is a must! Getting away from all the stimulus and “roughing -it” for a few days makes you appreciate the things we have in life.

Read more of this story »

One of the gifts my son received for his 2nd birthday was a subscription to Wild Animal Baby published by the National Wildlife Federation. The magazine is printed on FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified paper. Wild Animal Baby is a children’s magazine for the age range 12 months to 4 yrs.

Wild Animal Baby is a wonderful way to get your toddler involved in reading at an early age. The magazine encourages children to get outdoors and appreciate nature. My son loves to get the mail and often asks to check the mailbox for his monthly copy of Wild Animal Baby.

Wild Animal Baby is just the right size for toddler hands. The pictures are bright and engaging and it is filled with several interactive activities for your child. Including I spy, letter/color/shape recognition, songs with illustration motions, captivating stories, child participation and much more.

My son loves to look for Sammy Skunk! I enjoy reading Wild Animal Baby to him because it is  educational and entertaining. We burn up some good time going through the pages and doing the activities.

Read more of this story »

India’s tiger conservation efforts have suffered a multitude of major setbacks, and threats from inside and outside the country may lead to extinction of the wild tiger. Can the tiger be saved?

When Project Tiger was launched in 1973, India reported a tiger population of 1,827 tigers - a decline from 40,000 tigers in India at the turn of the century. Now, the tiger population in India is only approximately 1,400. The Indian public is outraged, and recently held a rally in support of saving its tigers.

It has now become clear that the almost four decade old Project Tiger has not been able to do much in stabilizing, let alone enhancing the tiger population in India. Its recent successor, the National Tiger Conservation Authority is said to be, for lack of better words, without teeth. And the tiger, perhaps unaware that so much is happening in its name is fast losing the battle to survive.

How did the tiger population in India get to such a sorry state?

Read more of this story »

This post contains additional media. Click here to view the full post.

The nostalgic bear that educates the public on the dangers of wildfires turns 65, today! Smokey Bear’s first public poster release was August 9, 1944. In case you don’t know, Smokey Bear is one of the most recognized symbolic images of the United States Forest Service.

According to Wikipedia, Smokey Bear is often unofficially referred to as ”Smokey the Bear” after two songwriters added the word “the” for rhythm purposes. Smokey Bear vigilantly reminded us with his popular slogan “Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires”. It wasn’t until April of 2001 that his message was updated to “Only You Can Prevent Wildfires” which included all unwanted, unplanned fires in natural areas.

When I think of campfires, I envision the fictional character, Smokey Bear. Growing up, there were posters of “Smokey the Bear” plastered on every classroom wall. I can even remember the commercials. A recent study proved 95% of those surveyed could finish the sentence when given the first words of his famous slogan.

Read more of this story »

Conservationists in Bangladesh are thrilled after the discovery by local villagers of a clouded leopard cub, a species which was previously thought extinct in that country.

This is the first time a clouded leopard has been spotted in Bangladesh in 20 years. The cub, which was captured by the villagers, was seen with a sibling and their mother while they were eating a dead monkey. That means there may be a small but healthy breeding population surviving in the wild.

Read more of this story »

Plans are underway to move a 48km section of Kruger National Park specifically to allow for trophy hunting.

The new section will be opened as an exclusive private nature reserve where hunters would target animals like elephant and buffalo for contracted killing. “This cannot be disguised as anything but a green light for hunting in Kruger National Park, which makes no ecological, biological, ethical or economic sense,” said Jason Bell-Leask of the International Fund for Animal Welfare.

Read more of this story »

A new species of monitor lizard closely related to the Komodo dragon has been discovered by German scientists in Indonesia.

The discovery was made after close examination of the new specimen using morphological characteristics and DNA analysis. Taxonomically classified as Varanus lirungensis, the new species “illustrates the high diversity of monitor lizards in Indonesia,” according to André Koch, who found the lizard.

Read more of this story »

Select hunters have been given permits in Florida to hunt and kill non-native pythons in the wild.

Experts say the alien constrictors number in the tens of thousands in Everglades National Park, and they are wiping out native endangered species. An official with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said the hunt is just the beginning of a much larger eradication program.

Read more of this story »

The recovery of peregrine falcons is one of the great success stories of conservation. Now their population in Florida has rebounded enough to remove them from the state’s endangered species list.

Upon approving their removal from the list, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission called the combined efforts of wildlife managers and individuals to save the species “one of the best examples of wise conservation practices.”

Read more of this story »

Six businessmen from Tanzania were charged today for smuggling 11 tons of elephant ivory worth $600,000 into the Philippines and Vietnam.

The men were charged under 11 counts of conspiracy, unlawful hunting, exporting concealed and undeclared items as well as making false documents. It’s likely that the intricate smuggling job was conducted between October 2008 and March this year.

Read more of this story »

One of India’s most wanted poachers is now being held by WPSI. He is accused of killing eight lions and is considered the main supplier of large carnivore skins, including endangered tiger and leopard.

The Times of India reports that Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI) provided the Madhya Pradesh forest department officials with the intelligence information they needed to finally nab notorious poacher Duruu Harpasad Pardhi.

Law enforcement had been after Duruu since 2007, when 65 animal skins (1 tiger, 21 leopard, 43 otter) were seized and he was identified as the supplier. Police have also been after Duruu for laying animal traps in the Umarzari area of Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra (FDCM) adjacent to Nagzira wildlife sanctuary and two traps in Wadsa forest division.

In 1998, Duruu’s father was caught with traps, but was freed on bail.

WPSI fed up with “ad hoc wildlife protection”

WPSI’s Central Director Nitin Desai said, “We have had enough of wildlife protection on an ad hoc basis.” He stressed the need for “intelligence-led enforcement.”

India has come under fire lately for losing all of the tigers in Panna Tiger Reserve - 24 of the big cats in three years - to poachers.

Image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/iboy/ / CC BY-SA 2.0

Translation: “Open Women Festival Song Competition: Women on Conservation - Welcome”

The banner welcomes contestants and audience members, and prominently features Nepal’s flagship animal: The Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros.

A teacher from the local community presents his conservation-related poem.

In addition to the Chitwan Buffer Zone groups and villages, local individuals and community-based organizations were encouraged to participate in the “Women on Conservation” festivities.

Lively performances were enhanced by festive attire.

Local community leaders were in attendance, and appealed to audience members to join them in supporting conservation issues. President of Friendship Chitwan, Koshraj Dallakoti chaired the event. The jury committee was chaired by Suman Bhattarai, Team Leader of Partnership for Rhino Conservation.

For Teej, red is considered auspicious and fabric stores stock up well in advance!

In the past, Teej included traditions such as arranged marriages for girls as young as five years old. But in these modern times, women of Chitwan celebrate Teej by singing conservation songs to mark the importance of protecting wildlife in their local areas.

Local children showed off their theatrical talents for an audience of over 800 people.

Suman Bhattarai, Team Leader of Partnership for Rhino Conservation, believes that children are the future of natural resource conservation and management. Sustainable conservation and management of wildlife can be expected only if this new generation embraces conservation.

A group of Korean ladies joined the festivities on stage.

“Women on Conservation” turned out to be an international event: People from outside Nepal arrived to enjoy the performances and support Chitwan Buffer Zone conservation efforts.

First place winner Jaya Manakama Youth Club!

Second place went to Parewashwori Community Forest User Group, and third to Surdevi Youth Club.

In all, there were seven participant groups:

• Hands for Conservation
• Surdevi Youth Club
• Parewashwori Community Forest User Group
• Jaya Manakamana Youth Club
• Parewashwori Dugdha Utpadak
• Ban Devi Community Forest User Group
• Pashu Pati Kailashpuri Community Forest User Group

Event organizer Suman Bhattarai was pleased with the contestant participation, audience commitment, and overall turnout for the event. He declared “Women on Conservation” a successful educational outreach endeavor.

Here’s to Women on Conservation!

All images courtesy of Suman Bhattarai, PARC/Nepal.