The World's oldest known tagged seabird is a Laysan Albatross named Wisdom. She is at least 64
years old and was tagged in 1956.
And this year she is back at her nest site at the Midway Atoll National Wildlife refuge and preparing to lay yet another egg. She has already raised around 37 chicks over the years.
It takes both parents about six months to rear a single chick.
During her lifetime she has flown over six million miles over the Southern Oceans.
The biggest threat to most Albatrosses is pollution in the form of plastic waste. Most species
are endangered.
Wednesday, 2 December 2015
Chiton mollusks can see with eyes embedded in their shells
The chiton is a type of mollusk, and the species that was studied is named Acanthopleura granula. It
was found that these animals have lots of small lenses with mineral bases that are scattered
across their armored shells. Each is smaller than a tenth of a millimeter across.
The eyes allow the animals to see what is happening in their nearby environment without having
to open a shell or anything like that. In effect they are seeing through the shell. The rest of
the shell is opaque, and only the eyes are transparent.
A team at the at the Argonne National Laboratory, performed high-resolution X-ray tomagraphy
tests on individual eyes in the chiton shell, in order to confirm that the lenses can form images. The chitons can rapidly respond when predators approach. They do so by gripping onto the substrate below them and not allowing themselves to be dislodged from it.
There is a downside to this. The study team also learned that as chiton eyes increase in size
and complexity, the armor actually performs less effectively as the eyes weaken it somewhat.
was found that these animals have lots of small lenses with mineral bases that are scattered
across their armored shells. Each is smaller than a tenth of a millimeter across.
The eyes allow the animals to see what is happening in their nearby environment without having
to open a shell or anything like that. In effect they are seeing through the shell. The rest of
the shell is opaque, and only the eyes are transparent.
A team at the at the Argonne National Laboratory, performed high-resolution X-ray tomagraphy
tests on individual eyes in the chiton shell, in order to confirm that the lenses can form images. The chitons can rapidly respond when predators approach. They do so by gripping onto the substrate below them and not allowing themselves to be dislodged from it.
There is a downside to this. The study team also learned that as chiton eyes increase in size
and complexity, the armor actually performs less effectively as the eyes weaken it somewhat.
Thursday, 26 November 2015
Nematodes and tardigrades: survivors of the apocalypse?
In the very deepest, hottest and inhospitable parts of some Gold Mines, there live some tiny worms which creatures are the deepest living animals that have ever been discovered.
How they got there is a mystery, as is how long they have been living there. There is not much food or oxygen down there. These creatures are a type of Nematode worm.
Tests have been done on the worms to make sure they are not being brought in from outside, and also it has been found that they prefer to feed on the bacteria present in the mine rather than those present on surface. Bacteria have been shown to live up to 12Km underground so who knows how far down the worms can go.
Nematodes are widespread through most environments in the Earth, from hot deserts to the top of cold mountains and also in the bodies of other livng beings, including humans.
They can survive oxygen levels down to just 0.5% and have been found to tolerate temperatures up to 61 deg C.
If things get really really tough they have another survival technique ready to deploy. They can go into a kind of stasis triggered by releasing a pheromone and slow their metabolism right down in what is known as the Dauer stage. Dauer is a non aging duration that does not affect the adult lifespan. In this stage they have survived re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere from space.
Other amazing survivors are a group of tiny animals known as Tardigrades.These are tiny (0.5-1.5mm) water dwelling, eight legged, segmented micro animals. They are some of the toughest of known organisms.
They can cope with conditions that would be rapidly fatal to nearly all other known life forms.
They can withstand temperatures from just above absolute zero to above the boiling point of water (100 °C), pressures about six times greater than those found in the deepest ocean trenches, ionizing radiation at doses hundreds of times higher than the lethal dose for a human, and the vacuum of outer space.
Some were stuck on a space craft and not only survived the jouney but a few of the females had laid eggs.
They can go without food or water for more than 10 years, drying out to the point where they contain 3% or less water, only to rehydrate, forage, and reproduce once given the chance.
Most eat mosses lichens and algae, but some are carnivorous.
I think tardigrades would make the perfect pets.
How they got there is a mystery, as is how long they have been living there. There is not much food or oxygen down there. These creatures are a type of Nematode worm.
Tests have been done on the worms to make sure they are not being brought in from outside, and also it has been found that they prefer to feed on the bacteria present in the mine rather than those present on surface. Bacteria have been shown to live up to 12Km underground so who knows how far down the worms can go.
Nematodes are widespread through most environments in the Earth, from hot deserts to the top of cold mountains and also in the bodies of other livng beings, including humans.
They can survive oxygen levels down to just 0.5% and have been found to tolerate temperatures up to 61 deg C.
If things get really really tough they have another survival technique ready to deploy. They can go into a kind of stasis triggered by releasing a pheromone and slow their metabolism right down in what is known as the Dauer stage. Dauer is a non aging duration that does not affect the adult lifespan. In this stage they have survived re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere from space.
Other amazing survivors are a group of tiny animals known as Tardigrades.These are tiny (0.5-1.5mm) water dwelling, eight legged, segmented micro animals. They are some of the toughest of known organisms.
They can cope with conditions that would be rapidly fatal to nearly all other known life forms.
They can withstand temperatures from just above absolute zero to above the boiling point of water (100 °C), pressures about six times greater than those found in the deepest ocean trenches, ionizing radiation at doses hundreds of times higher than the lethal dose for a human, and the vacuum of outer space.
Some were stuck on a space craft and not only survived the jouney but a few of the females had laid eggs.
They can go without food or water for more than 10 years, drying out to the point where they contain 3% or less water, only to rehydrate, forage, and reproduce once given the chance.
Most eat mosses lichens and algae, but some are carnivorous.
I think tardigrades would make the perfect pets.
Wednesday, 25 November 2015
Not all rats are bad
The NGO APOPO has announced plans to raise funds via crowdfunding to transform a former
military site in Mozambique into a nature reserve.
The organisation uses specially trained rats that can sniff out explosives. They are known as
HERO Rats. There are sixteen African giant pouched rats used in operations at this site.
They are trained from an early age to first associate a 'click' sound with food. Then they are taught to scent out TNT and are rewarded with food and a click when they correctly differentiate this smell.
Food is then hidden in a sandbox and the rat has to find it and walk down lanes back to its
trainer. After that they enter field training and then fianlly they are used for real operations.
The work is ongoing at the Malhazine site in Maputo. There have been several explosions therein
the past which have left many civilians either dead or maimed, and ammunition scattered across
the Landscape.
The site will be transferred into an ecologial park and will be staffed by locals.
So far in other operations, principally mine clearing, HERO Rats have cleared 13274 mines, 28792
small arms and ammunition, and 1142 bombs, and returned 11,000,000 m2 of land to the public.
Not all rats are bad.
military site in Mozambique into a nature reserve.
The organisation uses specially trained rats that can sniff out explosives. They are known as
HERO Rats. There are sixteen African giant pouched rats used in operations at this site.
They are trained from an early age to first associate a 'click' sound with food. Then they are taught to scent out TNT and are rewarded with food and a click when they correctly differentiate this smell.
Food is then hidden in a sandbox and the rat has to find it and walk down lanes back to its
trainer. After that they enter field training and then fianlly they are used for real operations.
The work is ongoing at the Malhazine site in Maputo. There have been several explosions therein
the past which have left many civilians either dead or maimed, and ammunition scattered across
the Landscape.
The site will be transferred into an ecologial park and will be staffed by locals.
So far in other operations, principally mine clearing, HERO Rats have cleared 13274 mines, 28792
small arms and ammunition, and 1142 bombs, and returned 11,000,000 m2 of land to the public.
Not all rats are bad.
Tuesday, 27 October 2015
Bananas may bash viruses
A new study of Bananas says that with slight changes, the favourite yellow fruit holds the potential to battle many viruses, including influenza.
The technique that creates the protein that fights viruses may also be the first step to developing other drugs that take hold of the "sugar code" used by our cells to talk amongst themselves. Viruses and other invaders tend to hijack that code and use it for their own purposes.
What happens is a protein called banana lectin, or BanLec, can "read" sugars on the exteriors of viruses and cells and block them. It was already known that the same thing could prevent the virus that causes AIDS from entering cells, but there were side effects that kept it from becoming useable.
A team of scientists have put together a new version of BanLec which is effective against the
viruses behind AIDS, influenza and hepatitis C in tests in blood samples and tissue. In mice,it also worked at preventing infection by the flu virus.
However it is years away from being able to be used by humans.
The technique that creates the protein that fights viruses may also be the first step to developing other drugs that take hold of the "sugar code" used by our cells to talk amongst themselves. Viruses and other invaders tend to hijack that code and use it for their own purposes.
What happens is a protein called banana lectin, or BanLec, can "read" sugars on the exteriors of viruses and cells and block them. It was already known that the same thing could prevent the virus that causes AIDS from entering cells, but there were side effects that kept it from becoming useable.
A team of scientists have put together a new version of BanLec which is effective against the
viruses behind AIDS, influenza and hepatitis C in tests in blood samples and tissue. In mice,it also worked at preventing infection by the flu virus.
However it is years away from being able to be used by humans.
Camels and the MERS virus
Nearly half of all camels in Kenya have been infected by the virus that causes Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), a new study shows. These findings shed light on the role the desert animals might play in transmitting this emerging disease to humans.
Camels May Transmit Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) To Humans
Camels May Transmit Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) To Humans
Friday, 25 September 2015
IVORY TRADE BAN IN AMERICA AND CHINA
WASHINGTON (Sept. 25, 2015) — In a historic accord to
save Africa’s elephants from a poaching crisis killing 33,000 elephants
annually, President Barack Obama and President Xi Jinping agreed Friday
to end commercial ivory sales in the United States and China.
Thursday, 17 September 2015
Robot being used to Kill Queen of Thorns Starfish on Great Barrier Reef
On Australia's Great Barrier Reef, the Crown-of-thorns starfish destroys large swathes of coral
and threatens the overall health of the reef. This starfish is proving difficult to find and eradicate with conventional methods.
Queensland University of Technology researchers have created a hunter-killer robot – the COTSbot – that's designed to automatically search out and destroy these aquatic pests.
the COTSbot is fitted with stereoscopic cameras to provide it with depth perception, along with
five individual stability thrusters, GPS navigation, pitch-and-roll sensors, and the weapon that gives it its killer status: A pneumatic injection arm is used to give a COTS a lethal dose of bile salts.
If the robot is unsure that something is actually a COTS, it takes a photo of the object to be
later verified by a human, and that human feedback is incorporated into the robot's memory bank.
The robot has been trained to think for itself over a period of six months.
and threatens the overall health of the reef. This starfish is proving difficult to find and eradicate with conventional methods.
Queensland University of Technology researchers have created a hunter-killer robot – the COTSbot – that's designed to automatically search out and destroy these aquatic pests.
the COTSbot is fitted with stereoscopic cameras to provide it with depth perception, along with
five individual stability thrusters, GPS navigation, pitch-and-roll sensors, and the weapon that gives it its killer status: A pneumatic injection arm is used to give a COTS a lethal dose of bile salts.
If the robot is unsure that something is actually a COTS, it takes a photo of the object to be
later verified by a human, and that human feedback is incorporated into the robot's memory bank.
The robot has been trained to think for itself over a period of six months.
Thursday, 16 July 2015
New Horizons spacecraft survives encounter with Pluto
A signal received from the New Horizons spacecraft shows that it survived its historic
encounter with Pluto.
Data in its first call home since Tuesday's flyby suggest the spacecraft experienced no upsets
as it hurtled past the icy world at 14km/s (31,000mph).
The signal came through a giant dish in Madrid, Spain - part of a Nasa network of
communications antennas.
The message took four hours 25 minutes to traverse 4.7 billion km of space.
Pluto has mountains made of ice that are as high as those in the Rockies, images from the New Horizons probe reveal.They also show signs of geological activity on Pluto and its moon Charon
Mission scientist John Spencer told journalists that the first close-up image of Pluto's surface showed a terrain that had been resurfaced by some geological process - such as volcanism - within the last 100 million years.
"We have not found a single impact crater on this image. This means it must be a very young surface," he said.
A true explorer - now set to wander the Galaxy for a long time to come.
encounter with Pluto.
Data in its first call home since Tuesday's flyby suggest the spacecraft experienced no upsets
as it hurtled past the icy world at 14km/s (31,000mph).
The signal came through a giant dish in Madrid, Spain - part of a Nasa network of
communications antennas.
The message took four hours 25 minutes to traverse 4.7 billion km of space.
Pluto has mountains made of ice that are as high as those in the Rockies, images from the New Horizons probe reveal.They also show signs of geological activity on Pluto and its moon Charon
Mission scientist John Spencer told journalists that the first close-up image of Pluto's surface showed a terrain that had been resurfaced by some geological process - such as volcanism - within the last 100 million years.
"We have not found a single impact crater on this image. This means it must be a very young surface," he said.
A true explorer - now set to wander the Galaxy for a long time to come.
Pine Martens back in England
The first confirmed sighting of a wild pine marten in England for over a century has been
recorded in a Shropshire woodland.
An amateur photographer spotted the mammal, thought to be extinct, in early July, and passed
photos to the Shropshire Wildlife Trust.
There have been numerous reports in the county, but trust mammal expert Stuart Edmunds was able
to verify the image.
He said the animals may have been living in the area for years.
Great news. Lets hope they spread.
recorded in a Shropshire woodland.
An amateur photographer spotted the mammal, thought to be extinct, in early July, and passed
photos to the Shropshire Wildlife Trust.
There have been numerous reports in the county, but trust mammal expert Stuart Edmunds was able
to verify the image.
He said the animals may have been living in the area for years.
Great news. Lets hope they spread.
Insect farming in Democratic Republic of Congo
Experts hope that the love of edible insects in the Democratic Republic of Congo may hold the key to tackling widespread hunger among its approximately 65 million people by scaling up a millennia-old consumption habit.
Six and a half million people live in food insecurity in the country. Edible insects have always been popular in the Congo. Often served as bar food or on special occasions, they are grilled and commonly served with hot pepper, lemon and onions.
“This is the main food of the Congolese,” said Marie-Colette Bena, who sells clothing at the market. “I’m proud to eat that food.”
The average household in the capital, Kinshasa, consumes about 300g of caterpillars a week, but the supplies are seasonal and expensive. In Kinshasa, a kilogramme of crickets costs more than twice the price of beef.
Congo’s environment ministry and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) are introducing a new programme to promote insect cultivation; in the hope that prices will come down.
The project, due to begin in October, will train two hundred people – most of them women – in western Congo to cultivate caterpillars and crickets. Laurent Kikeba, who oversees the project for the FAO, said it would be the first of its kind in the world. Insects are easily raised in confined spaces and need little capital investment.
“For the fight against malnutrition, this is an ideal food,” said Paul Monzambe, a professor of agronomy at the National Pedagogic University (UPN) in Kinshasa, who is collaborating on the project. “The crisis is such that we must think now of all possible approaches.”
In a 2013 report, the FAO hailed insect cultivation as a practical and environmentally-friendly tool to boost food production as supply struggles to keep pace with global population growth.
The report notes insects are bountiful, widely consumed and contain high levels of protein, fat, vitamins, fibre and minerals. They tend to require less feed and yield more meat per kilogram than traditional protein sources.
- See more at: http://africageographic.com/blog/insect-farming-combat-malnutrition-help-women-drc/#sthash.mfBsayPT.dpuf
Six and a half million people live in food insecurity in the country. Edible insects have always been popular in the Congo. Often served as bar food or on special occasions, they are grilled and commonly served with hot pepper, lemon and onions.
“This is the main food of the Congolese,” said Marie-Colette Bena, who sells clothing at the market. “I’m proud to eat that food.”
The average household in the capital, Kinshasa, consumes about 300g of caterpillars a week, but the supplies are seasonal and expensive. In Kinshasa, a kilogramme of crickets costs more than twice the price of beef.
Congo’s environment ministry and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) are introducing a new programme to promote insect cultivation; in the hope that prices will come down.
The project, due to begin in October, will train two hundred people – most of them women – in western Congo to cultivate caterpillars and crickets. Laurent Kikeba, who oversees the project for the FAO, said it would be the first of its kind in the world. Insects are easily raised in confined spaces and need little capital investment.
“For the fight against malnutrition, this is an ideal food,” said Paul Monzambe, a professor of agronomy at the National Pedagogic University (UPN) in Kinshasa, who is collaborating on the project. “The crisis is such that we must think now of all possible approaches.”
In a 2013 report, the FAO hailed insect cultivation as a practical and environmentally-friendly tool to boost food production as supply struggles to keep pace with global population growth.
The report notes insects are bountiful, widely consumed and contain high levels of protein, fat, vitamins, fibre and minerals. They tend to require less feed and yield more meat per kilogram than traditional protein sources.
- See more at: http://africageographic.com/blog/insect-farming-combat-malnutrition-help-women-drc/#sthash.mfBsayPT.dpuf
Tuesday, 19 May 2015
Rhinos being airlifted to safety in Botswana
The largest airlift of rhinos ever undertaken has begun. As on the 28th April, the first group of rhinos, caught in South Africa, were released into Botswana.
Because of the long and porous border between the Kruger National Park in South Africa and Mozambique, it is proving impossible to protect the rhino population in the park and elesewhere from the constant stream of poachers from villages just inside Mozambique who are hell bent on killing them for their horns.
Horns are now valued at over $65000 per kilogram and are more valuable than gold, platinum or even cocaine. Mostly they are sold in Se Asia, particularly in Vietnam where they are thought to cure a variety of ills from a hangover to cancer.
These rhinos will form part of a seed population that will have a chance to expand in number and gene diversity, whilst being protected by the latest technology and a specialised anti-poaching unit.
At least 100 rhinos are being moved to Botswana as part of the Rhinos Without Borders initiative in partnership with andBeyond.
They will soon be able to get the next group to safety.
- See more at: http://africageographic.com/blog/record-number-rhinos-airlifted/#sthash.ATCUNMAc.dpuf
Because of the long and porous border between the Kruger National Park in South Africa and Mozambique, it is proving impossible to protect the rhino population in the park and elesewhere from the constant stream of poachers from villages just inside Mozambique who are hell bent on killing them for their horns.
Horns are now valued at over $65000 per kilogram and are more valuable than gold, platinum or even cocaine. Mostly they are sold in Se Asia, particularly in Vietnam where they are thought to cure a variety of ills from a hangover to cancer.
These rhinos will form part of a seed population that will have a chance to expand in number and gene diversity, whilst being protected by the latest technology and a specialised anti-poaching unit.
At least 100 rhinos are being moved to Botswana as part of the Rhinos Without Borders initiative in partnership with andBeyond.
They will soon be able to get the next group to safety.
- See more at: http://africageographic.com/blog/record-number-rhinos-airlifted/#sthash.ATCUNMAc.dpuf
Tuesday, 14 April 2015
Baby turtles dont just drift
A tracking study in the Gulf of Mexico has shown that young sea turtles make a concerted effort to swim in particular directions, instead of drifting with ocean currents, as was previuosly thought..
There are seven species of sea turtle and all of them are endangered or threatened.
Baby turtles disappear at sea for up to a decade and it was once assumed that they spent these "lost years" drifting. US researchers used solar powered satellite tags to track 44 wild turtles, aged between six months and two years, in the Gulf of Mexico and compared their movement with that of floating buoys. Each time a baby turtle was caught it was released with two "drifters" - to see how the movements varied. The drifters and turtles diverged quickly and had very different movement properties.
Different species of turtles showed different movement patterns as well. The green turtles, for instance, were really set on going east a lot of the time. And the Kemp's ridley turtles, were convinced that they should be swimming north.
There is still a lot more to learned, especially about hatchling turtles who are too small to have a tracking device attached to them.
There are seven species of sea turtle and all of them are endangered or threatened.
Baby turtles disappear at sea for up to a decade and it was once assumed that they spent these "lost years" drifting. US researchers used solar powered satellite tags to track 44 wild turtles, aged between six months and two years, in the Gulf of Mexico and compared their movement with that of floating buoys. Each time a baby turtle was caught it was released with two "drifters" - to see how the movements varied. The drifters and turtles diverged quickly and had very different movement properties.
Different species of turtles showed different movement patterns as well. The green turtles, for instance, were really set on going east a lot of the time. And the Kemp's ridley turtles, were convinced that they should be swimming north.
There is still a lot more to learned, especially about hatchling turtles who are too small to have a tracking device attached to them.
Sunday, 22 March 2015
Stockholm Water prize awarded to man in India
The award, also known as the "Nobel Prize for water" was won by Rajendra Singh, who is often called "the water man of India" for his work in making water much more accessible and available to people in around 1000 villages.
The water table had dropped as groundwater was sucked dry by farmers in many areas. Consequently crops failed, forests died off and wildlife disappeared.
Mr Singh uses a modern version of the ancient Indian technique of rainwater harvesting. His method of helping villages was to improve year round water management by building low level banks of earth to hold back the flow of water in the rainy season, so that it had more time to seep into the ground and replenish supplies before the dry season set in.
It is a cheap and simple technique, and judges of the competition for the prize at the Stockholm International Water Institute believe it could be applied worldwide. Further benefits of his technique were that floods were prevented, soil and rivers were restored, and wildlife was able to return.
They also said that his lessons were essential as climate change alters weather patterns round the World.
The water table had dropped as groundwater was sucked dry by farmers in many areas. Consequently crops failed, forests died off and wildlife disappeared.
Mr Singh uses a modern version of the ancient Indian technique of rainwater harvesting. His method of helping villages was to improve year round water management by building low level banks of earth to hold back the flow of water in the rainy season, so that it had more time to seep into the ground and replenish supplies before the dry season set in.
It is a cheap and simple technique, and judges of the competition for the prize at the Stockholm International Water Institute believe it could be applied worldwide. Further benefits of his technique were that floods were prevented, soil and rivers were restored, and wildlife was able to return.
They also said that his lessons were essential as climate change alters weather patterns round the World.
Friday, 20 March 2015
Eclipse of the Sun in UK
There was a partial Eclipse of the Sun in the UK this morning. It started at about 08:40 where I am in the Midlands and reached it's peak at 09:30.. About 85% of the sun was obscured.
The weather was hazy sunshine, but I still needed a couple of Neutral Density filters on my camera to get the shots. The filters imparted a mysterious purple tint to the blue grey sky.
All in all a lovely experience.
The weather was hazy sunshine, but I still needed a couple of Neutral Density filters on my camera to get the shots. The filters imparted a mysterious purple tint to the blue grey sky.
All in all a lovely experience.
Friday, 13 March 2015
Lion seen in a part of Gabon where it was thought to be extinct
New footage out of southeastern Gabon has captured a male lion on camera in a region where the species was believed by scientists to be “locally extinct.” Two camera trap videos taken in the same fortnight captured a single male lion roaming along an elephant path in the Gabonese region of the Batéké Plateau – a savannah landscape extending across southeast Gabon and into Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) where the lion last roamed in any great number in the 1950s.
The last survey was in 2003 when a team found almost no wildlife in the region, and camera traps set during the surveys produced more photos of Congolese poachers than of animals.
The videos demonstrate that the efforts of the Gabonese authorities to protect this landscape, starting with the designation of the Batéké Plateau as a National Park in 2002
I think the President of Gabon, Ali Bongo Ondimba, is one of the most environmentally and wildlife commited men in Africa - a real Star
The last survey was in 2003 when a team found almost no wildlife in the region, and camera traps set during the surveys produced more photos of Congolese poachers than of animals.
The videos demonstrate that the efforts of the Gabonese authorities to protect this landscape, starting with the designation of the Batéké Plateau as a National Park in 2002
I think the President of Gabon, Ali Bongo Ondimba, is one of the most environmentally and wildlife commited men in Africa - a real Star
Sunday, 1 March 2015
Numbers of wild Pandas are increasing
The good news is that a new survey estimates 1,864 pandas live in the
wild. That’s a 16.8% increase since the last survey released in 2003.
The latest rise in the estimate is particularly encouraging, as the 2004 increase was in large partly down to researchers using better techniques and surveying a wider area. The new figures show that the hard work of the Chinese government, local communities, nature reserve staff and WWF is paying off.
Saturday, 28 February 2015
Sierra Nevada Red Fox seen in Yosemite National Park
One of the rarest animals in North America, the Sierra Nevada red fox, has been captured by a camera trap in California's Yosemite National Park for the first time in nearly a century. One image was captured in December and another was taken in January. It is not known if it was the same animal or not.
There are only about 50 of these is incredibly rare red foxes (Vulpes vulpes necator) in North America. Red fox populations were devastated by hunting and trapping for their fur during the 19th and 20th centuries.
The fox, which historically ranged throughout the Sierra Nevada mountains, is now limited to two small populations in California: one around Lassen Volcanic National Park and another around Sonora Pass.
There are only about 50 of these is incredibly rare red foxes (Vulpes vulpes necator) in North America. Red fox populations were devastated by hunting and trapping for their fur during the 19th and 20th centuries.
The fox, which historically ranged throughout the Sierra Nevada mountains, is now limited to two small populations in California: one around Lassen Volcanic National Park and another around Sonora Pass.
Wednesday, 25 February 2015
Cape Vulture released back into the Wild
Vulture conservation history was made on 15 February 2015 with the release of ten captive bred Cape vultures at VulPro. These chicks took their first flight into the wild to join the Magaliesberg’s Cape vultures, marking the initiation of a population recovery plan which has taken years of preparation.
Seven captive bred Cape vultures from VulPro and three from the National Zoological Gardens were released into VulPro’s open-top enclosure, Moving birds to the open-top enclosure allowed them to ‘release’ themselves when they feel ready to leave.
Each vulture was fitted with a tracking device on to its back to monitor their movements with locality readings, altitude, speed, temperature and direction every 15 minutes.
Cape vultures are endemic to southern Africa and classified as regionally endangered and globally vulnerable with under 4 000 breeding pairs remaining.
- See more at: http://africageographic.com/blog/captive-bred-vultures-fly-free/#sthash.8iAqTZLO.dpuf
Seven captive bred Cape vultures from VulPro and three from the National Zoological Gardens were released into VulPro’s open-top enclosure, Moving birds to the open-top enclosure allowed them to ‘release’ themselves when they feel ready to leave.
Each vulture was fitted with a tracking device on to its back to monitor their movements with locality readings, altitude, speed, temperature and direction every 15 minutes.
Cape vultures are endemic to southern Africa and classified as regionally endangered and globally vulnerable with under 4 000 breeding pairs remaining.
- See more at: http://africageographic.com/blog/captive-bred-vultures-fly-free/#sthash.8iAqTZLO.dpuf
Elephant Numbers in Botswana
In July to October 2014, Elephants Without Borders (EWB) in collaboration with the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) undertook an aerial survey counting elephants and other wildlife in the northern part of the country, he said. It was part of the Great Elephant Census (GEC) which was fully sponsored by Mr. Paul Allen and his sister, Jody.
For his part, EWB director, Dr Michael Chase said the total elephant estimate in the northern part of Botswana was over 129,000, the largest population in Africa. He said the elephant population in Chobe appeared to be decreasing while in Makgadikgadi and Nxai Pan national parks it grew at a rate of 15% per year. “Many of the changes in the local elephant population are due to movement of elephants between different parts of Botswana and surrounding countries,” he said.
Dr Chase said during the survey, they saw 18 elephant carcasses but that none appeared to have been killed by poachers. He said this showed improvement as the 2010 EWB survey showed that 20 per cent of the fresh elephant carcasses were attributed to poaching. The survey indicated that there were about 48,000 zebras, 26,000 buffaloes, 9,000 giraffes, 57,000 lechwe, 9,000 hippos and over 72,000 impalas. The survey showed a decline of between 7 to 10% for wildebeest, tsessebe and springbok. Ostrich are also declining by 9% annually in the northern part of Botswana.
For his part, EWB director, Dr Michael Chase said the total elephant estimate in the northern part of Botswana was over 129,000, the largest population in Africa. He said the elephant population in Chobe appeared to be decreasing while in Makgadikgadi and Nxai Pan national parks it grew at a rate of 15% per year. “Many of the changes in the local elephant population are due to movement of elephants between different parts of Botswana and surrounding countries,” he said.
Dr Chase said during the survey, they saw 18 elephant carcasses but that none appeared to have been killed by poachers. He said this showed improvement as the 2010 EWB survey showed that 20 per cent of the fresh elephant carcasses were attributed to poaching. The survey indicated that there were about 48,000 zebras, 26,000 buffaloes, 9,000 giraffes, 57,000 lechwe, 9,000 hippos and over 72,000 impalas. The survey showed a decline of between 7 to 10% for wildebeest, tsessebe and springbok. Ostrich are also declining by 9% annually in the northern part of Botswana.
Tuesday, 17 February 2015
South Africa's bearded Vulture in serious decline
Scientists have turned to outer space to explain the mysterious disappearing act of one of Africa’s most famous birds. Satellite trackers attached to 18 bearded vultures have confirmed conservationists’ worst fears: humans are largely to blame for the rapid demise of the species.
Bearded Vulture.
Once widespread throughout much of Southern Africa, the bearded vulture is now critically endangered in the sub-continent, with a nearly 50 percent reduction in nesting sites since the 1960s.
And the main reasons for their decline are collisions with power lines and poisoning, two major vulture hazards that killed half of the birds in the satellite tracking survey.
Once widespread across South Africa, the bearded vulture population is now restricted to the Drakensberg mountains in Lesotho and South Africa. But even in these isolated mountains the population continues to decline due to human encroachment on nesting sites and feeding territory.
- See more at: http://africageographic.com/blog/southern-african-bearded-vulture-decline/#sthash.qS9WVDHM.dpuf
Bearded Vulture.
Once widespread throughout much of Southern Africa, the bearded vulture is now critically endangered in the sub-continent, with a nearly 50 percent reduction in nesting sites since the 1960s.
And the main reasons for their decline are collisions with power lines and poisoning, two major vulture hazards that killed half of the birds in the satellite tracking survey.
Once widespread across South Africa, the bearded vulture population is now restricted to the Drakensberg mountains in Lesotho and South Africa. But even in these isolated mountains the population continues to decline due to human encroachment on nesting sites and feeding territory.
- See more at: http://africageographic.com/blog/southern-african-bearded-vulture-decline/#sthash.qS9WVDHM.dpuf
Scientists
have turned to outer space to explain the mysterious disappearing act
of one of Africa’s most famous birds. Satellite trackers attached to 18
bearded vultures have confirmed conservationists’ worst fears: humans
are largely to blame for the rapid demise of the species.
Once widespread throughout much of Southern Africa, the bearded
vulture is now critically endangered in the sub-continent, with a nearly
50 percent reduction in nesting sites since the 1960s.
And the main reasons for their decline are collisions with power lines and poisoning, two major vulture hazards that killed half of the birds in the satellite tracking survey.
Once widespread across South Africa, the bearded vulture population is now restricted to the Drakensberg mountains in Lesotho and South Africa. But even in these isolated mountains the population continues to decline due to human encroachment on nesting sites and feeding territory.
- See more at: http://africageographic.com/blog/southern-african-bearded-vulture-decline/#sthash.qS9WVDHM.dpuf
© Sonja Krueger
And the main reasons for their decline are collisions with power lines and poisoning, two major vulture hazards that killed half of the birds in the satellite tracking survey.
Once widespread across South Africa, the bearded vulture population is now restricted to the Drakensberg mountains in Lesotho and South Africa. But even in these isolated mountains the population continues to decline due to human encroachment on nesting sites and feeding territory.
- See more at: http://africageographic.com/blog/southern-african-bearded-vulture-decline/#sthash.qS9WVDHM.dpuf
Why do Pigs love looking for truffles?
Pigs and dogs used by truffle hunters can get very excited when they are close to making a find. Their behaviour may best be described as animated. Or possibly even frantic. So why so truffles get them so worked up?
Italian scientists may have found the answer. Tthe black truffle (Tuber melanosporum) contains a “bliss molecule” similar to the substance that gives cannabis its psychoactive properties.
Italian scientists may have found the answer. Tthe black truffle (Tuber melanosporum) contains a “bliss molecule” similar to the substance that gives cannabis its psychoactive properties.
Steamy sex in nature, and more
Male sticklebacks are turned on by steamy sex scenes. A team from the University of Fribourg, in Switzerland, showed male three-spined sticklebacks two films featuring computer-animated fish showing flity and brood caring behaviour. One showed flirty behaviour and the other brood-caring. After a few minutes a female was introduced to the male’s tank to spawn. In each case the male ejaculated more sperm over the eggs if it had seen the 'sexy' film.
The male Shaw’s Jird, a small North African desert rodent, can mate an impressive 224 times in just two hours. He possibly deserves the title of nature's most highly sexed animal and definitely puts us men in our place. (And I thought Lions were good - mating three times an hour for four days).
Several mammals are known to practice oral sex, with short-nosed fruit bats even shown to benefit from increased durations of fellatio. The female licks the male's penis during sex and this surprisingly increases the duration of the copulation.
Chimps are also known to use leaves in an 'enticing' manner to attract females, and some male birds impersonate females to sneak up on real females.
It all goes on out there.....
The male Shaw’s Jird, a small North African desert rodent, can mate an impressive 224 times in just two hours. He possibly deserves the title of nature's most highly sexed animal and definitely puts us men in our place. (And I thought Lions were good - mating three times an hour for four days).
Several mammals are known to practice oral sex, with short-nosed fruit bats even shown to benefit from increased durations of fellatio. The female licks the male's penis during sex and this surprisingly increases the duration of the copulation.
Chimps are also known to use leaves in an 'enticing' manner to attract females, and some male birds impersonate females to sneak up on real females.
It all goes on out there.....
Tuesday, 10 February 2015
White Elelphant seen in the Kruger NP
A baby albino/leucistic elephant has recently been seen in Kruger National Park. David Johnson spotted the baby elephant while travelling between Tshokwane and Satara in January 2015.
Copyright David Johnson
There have been instances before:
In 2005 a baby white elelphant was spotted in the Kruger National park by Odette Joubert. She said the baby had pink eyes and white eyelashes.
In 2006 George and Iris van Rensburg saw a pink elephant hear Olifants camp in the Kruger.
Accoring to elephant experts, the recessive genes for non-pigmented elephants occur naturally in the elephant population and as the population grows more pale animals will be born. The growing number of tourists in Kruger also increases the chances of someone spotting a pink elephant.
Copyright David Johnson
There have been instances before:
In 2005 a baby white elelphant was spotted in the Kruger National park by Odette Joubert. She said the baby had pink eyes and white eyelashes.
In 2006 George and Iris van Rensburg saw a pink elephant hear Olifants camp in the Kruger.
Accoring to elephant experts, the recessive genes for non-pigmented elephants occur naturally in the elephant population and as the population grows more pale animals will be born. The growing number of tourists in Kruger also increases the chances of someone spotting a pink elephant.
Wild Card Magazine recently posted a photo on their Facebook page of what could possibly be an albino/leucistic elephant in Kruger National Park.
According to the post David Johnson spotted the baby elephant while
travelling between Tshokwane and Satara in January 2015. Professor Rudi
van Aarde of Pretoria University says he has never encountered an albino
elephant and wonders if the colouration may be due to a sand and mud
bath. - See more at:
http://africageographic.com/blog/white-elephant-in-kruger/#sthash.w2PPTKaU.dpuf
Wild Card Magazine recently posted a photo on their Facebook page of what could possibly be an albino/leucistic elephant in Kruger National Park.
According to the post David Johnson spotted the baby elephant while
travelling between Tshokwane and Satara in January 2015. Professor Rudi
van Aarde of Pretoria University says he has never encountered an albino
elephant and wonders if the colouration may be due to a sand and mud
bath. - See more at:
http://africageographic.com/blog/white-elephant-in-kruger/#sthash.5Z6AhidE.dpuf
Wild Card Magazine recently posted a photo on their Facebook page of what could possibly be an albino/leucistic elephant in Kruger National Park.
According to the post David Johnson spotted the baby elephant while
travelling between Tshokwane and Satara in January 2015. Professor Rudi
van Aarde of Pretoria University says he has never encountered an albino
elephant and wonders if the colouration may be due to a sand and mud
bath. - See more at:
http://africageographic.com/blog/white-elephant-in-kruger/#sthash.5Z6AhidE.dpuf
Thursday, 29 January 2015
Wild Beavers allowed to live in Devon
A family of beavers have been allowed to stay living in the river Otter in Devon. Natural England
have issued a five year license to Devon Wildlife trust which permits them to stay. Originally they were going to be removed but Friends of the Earth launched a legal challenge to this plan.
This is the first family of beavers to live in the wild in England for 500 years. There are thought
to be eight adults and three young ones.
There are certain safegurds and restrictions involved. They will all have to be trapped and tested for disease and tapeworms. Also it must be ascertained that they are a European species.
Beavers can have a big effect on the environment as they fell trees for food and to build dams which create pools for them to live in. Dams can help to slow down flood waters and also create more wetland habitat. Anglers are opposed to the reintroduction as they think the beavers will
adversely affect the fisheries.
Nobody knows for sure how the beavers got there but it is suspected that they were released deliberately.
There is a wild population of about 150 beavers on the River Tay in Scotland.
Good on 'em I say!
have issued a five year license to Devon Wildlife trust which permits them to stay. Originally they were going to be removed but Friends of the Earth launched a legal challenge to this plan.
This is the first family of beavers to live in the wild in England for 500 years. There are thought
to be eight adults and three young ones.
There are certain safegurds and restrictions involved. They will all have to be trapped and tested for disease and tapeworms. Also it must be ascertained that they are a European species.
Beavers can have a big effect on the environment as they fell trees for food and to build dams which create pools for them to live in. Dams can help to slow down flood waters and also create more wetland habitat. Anglers are opposed to the reintroduction as they think the beavers will
adversely affect the fisheries.
Nobody knows for sure how the beavers got there but it is suspected that they were released deliberately.
There is a wild population of about 150 beavers on the River Tay in Scotland.
Good on 'em I say!
Wednesday, 14 January 2015
Breakthrough in the search for new antibiotics
US scientists have made a breakthrough in bacterium culture that could help to discover new types of antibiotics. Most antibiotics were discoverd in the 1950s and 1960s and no new classes have become available since the late 1980s.
Many bacteria are becoming ever more resistant to existing products and some are almost untreatable.
Since most antibiotics were found in microbes in soil, this is where the scientists turned to look again. One of the problems is that only about 1% of microbes in the soil can be grown in the laboratory. But the researches have developed a new way of culturing them in separate pods in the soil, and can now grow many more types - almost half in fact.
The microbes produce chemicals which are tested for their antibacterial properties, and so far 25 new antibiotics have been discovered. Of course its a long way from here to a commercially viable antbiotic, but it gives scientists a whole host of new chemicals to start refining.
Many bacteria are becoming ever more resistant to existing products and some are almost untreatable.
Since most antibiotics were found in microbes in soil, this is where the scientists turned to look again. One of the problems is that only about 1% of microbes in the soil can be grown in the laboratory. But the researches have developed a new way of culturing them in separate pods in the soil, and can now grow many more types - almost half in fact.
The microbes produce chemicals which are tested for their antibacterial properties, and so far 25 new antibiotics have been discovered. Of course its a long way from here to a commercially viable antbiotic, but it gives scientists a whole host of new chemicals to start refining.
Tuesday, 6 January 2015
Bowhead Whale is the longest lived mammal on Earth
The bowhead whale can live over 200 years old, and it is the longest-lived mammal on Earth.
Scientists have checked the sequence of the genome of the bowhead whale, against that of other
shorter-lived mammals.
Observations showed that bowhead whales have genetic differences unique to their species. For
example, genetic alterations related to cell division, DNA repair, cancer, and ageing may have
helped increase its lifespan and helped it to avoid contracting diseases associated with old age.
Some large whales like the bowhead have over 1,000 times more cells than humans do. It is
thought that this natural mechanism is responsible for the animal's cancer resistance.
Also, whale cells have a much lower metabolic rate than those of smaller mammals. Changes have
been found in one gene that is involved in thermoregulation, and this may also have an effect
on metabolic rate, and hence ageing.
Bowhead whales are also one of the heaviest animals on Earth, of the heaviest, reaching 100 tons
, which is second only to the blue whale. There are thought to be 7000-10000 of them living mainly in cold waters of the Arctic.
Scientists have checked the sequence of the genome of the bowhead whale, against that of other
shorter-lived mammals.
Observations showed that bowhead whales have genetic differences unique to their species. For
example, genetic alterations related to cell division, DNA repair, cancer, and ageing may have
helped increase its lifespan and helped it to avoid contracting diseases associated with old age.
Some large whales like the bowhead have over 1,000 times more cells than humans do. It is
thought that this natural mechanism is responsible for the animal's cancer resistance.
Also, whale cells have a much lower metabolic rate than those of smaller mammals. Changes have
been found in one gene that is involved in thermoregulation, and this may also have an effect
on metabolic rate, and hence ageing.
Bowhead whales are also one of the heaviest animals on Earth, of the heaviest, reaching 100 tons
, which is second only to the blue whale. There are thought to be 7000-10000 of them living mainly in cold waters of the Arctic.
Scientists discover a protein that quality controls other proteins
The proteins made in any cell are built using instructions from DNA. New research however, has
found some exceptions to this fundamental rule.
The building blocks used to make proteins are much smaller molecules known as amino acids. They
are assembled from what are in effect 'blueprints' encoded into DNA, inside cellular structures
called ribosomes. There all a vast array of proteins which can be used for anything from hair
building to organ building or any of the cells within the body.
Another large molecule known as messenger RNA carries the information from the DNA to the
ribosomes, where the magic is performed.
In the newly discovered method another protein, known as RqC2 (no not R2D2) does the job of
the messenger RNA. And it seems to function when there has been a mistake in the normal
process, and the protein is slightly wrong. Somehow the ribosomes know this and send for the
RqC2 and other proteins, to rectify the situation. It does this by getting the transfer RNA to
insert two amino acids at random points in the protein chain.
This may be a way of telling the process that this protein is wrong and should be sent for
destruction, or at least recycling.
It is hoped that as this process is understood more, it may lead to new ways for treating
diseases such as Alzheimer's which is thought to be caused by faulty proteins in the brain.
found some exceptions to this fundamental rule.
The building blocks used to make proteins are much smaller molecules known as amino acids. They
are assembled from what are in effect 'blueprints' encoded into DNA, inside cellular structures
called ribosomes. There all a vast array of proteins which can be used for anything from hair
building to organ building or any of the cells within the body.
Another large molecule known as messenger RNA carries the information from the DNA to the
ribosomes, where the magic is performed.
In the newly discovered method another protein, known as RqC2 (no not R2D2) does the job of
the messenger RNA. And it seems to function when there has been a mistake in the normal
process, and the protein is slightly wrong. Somehow the ribosomes know this and send for the
RqC2 and other proteins, to rectify the situation. It does this by getting the transfer RNA to
insert two amino acids at random points in the protein chain.
This may be a way of telling the process that this protein is wrong and should be sent for
destruction, or at least recycling.
It is hoped that as this process is understood more, it may lead to new ways for treating
diseases such as Alzheimer's which is thought to be caused by faulty proteins in the brain.
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