WildLeaks Launches

These contraband wildlife trade items were seized by the UK's Border Force. 

 

A group of organizations fighting wildlife crime have come together to launch WildLeaks - the first global, secure online whistleblower platform dedicated to wildlife and forest crime.

"We hope that offering a secure platform for information that will be followed up will encourage those with inside information to let us know about it."

Wildlife crime is the 4th largest transnational crime in the world, worth at least US$ 17 billion annually, after narcotics, counterfeiting, and human trafficking.

It now the most immediate threat to many species including elephants, rhinos, big cats and apes. Forest crime, which is the illicit trade in illegally logged timber, degrades forests and destroys wildlife habitats. These crimes also cause a significant human and economic toll.

Blowing the whistle on wildlife crimes, especially when criminals and corrupt government officials are involved, is a risky endeavor. But with WildLeaks a big part of that risk has been taken away.

Source: TheEcologist.org 

The coolest 'when owners resemble their pets'

Albino Baby Dolphin Captured

An albino baby dolphin was immediately singled out from the massive pod netted in last weeks dolphin drive at Taiji and taken into captivity. This baby, along with 3 others, are currently being held at the Taiji Whaling Museum. Whether they will remain there or will be sent elsewhere is yet to be determined. Animal activists are concerned for the albino's health since there is little (if any) shade provided over dolphin tanks, and the water is typically too shallow to filter sunlight and provide relief from the sun's rays. Albino animals are susceptible to sunburn and have very sensitive eyes that can be easily damaged by the bright light of the sun.

Sunday Snowday

Since most of the US is being effected by the current Arctic blast coming down from the north, here's some pictures of animals in the snow

WildAid's Top 5 Stories of 2013

#5- Ivory Busts
As the poaching crisis gained attention this year, the media reported on the ongoing smuggling efforts of illegal traders. CNN’s Ramy Inocencio reported on “one of the biggest busts of its kind in Hong Kong” when officials seized 1,120 ivory tusks and 13 rhino horns valued at more than $5.3 million.

 #4- Big Names Join Demand Reduction Campaigns
This past year saw several big names join the fight to reduce the demand for endangered wildlife products. The Clinton Global Initiative launched a campaign to save African elephants while the Obama administration sought input from NGOs, including WildAid to stop demand for products like ivory and rhino horn. The Duke of Cambridge spoke out in support of demand reduction, even in Mandarin, joining us in our latest message that also features iconic athletes David Beckham and Yao Ming.

 #3- Ivory and Terrorism
National security became the focus of several media reports as more evidence linked the trade in illegal wildlife products to groups including Somalia's al-Shabaab and Joseph Kony's Lord's Resistance Army.

#2- Rhinos Killed in Record Numbers
Rhinos were poached at a record pace this year. Nearly 1,000 were killed in South Africa for their horns, up from a then record 668 in 2012 and 13 in 2007. The grim reports came directly from South Africa’s Department of Environmental Affairs and were tempered slightly in December with news that Thandi, a rhino who survived poachers taking her horn, is now pregnant.

 #1- Sharks Gain Respect 
In 2013 we saw children come together (on a beach) to protect sharks as well as some airlines pledging not to ship fins. Several states in America banned shark fin and even Hong Kong took a stand against shark in soup. However, news that China banned shark fin from state banquets two years ahead of a self imposed deadline sent a message around the globe that will put other governments on notice.

WildAid.org 

Biggest new animal discoveries of 2013

 

Thousands of species were scientifically described for the first time in 2013. Many of these were "cryptic species" that were identified after genetic analysis distinguished them from closely-related species, while others were totally novel. Below are some of the most interesting "new species" discoveries that took place or were formally announced in 2013. 

Click here for the complete list of discovered species in 2013

Salvador Dali and His Pet Anteater

Endangered Species Act Celebrates 40th Anniversary

For 40 years, the Endangered Species Act has protected America's imperiled plants and animals—from the carnivorous green pitcher plant of Southeastern wetlands, to the western snowy plover of northwestern beaches, to the iconic polar bear of the Arctic.

This video takes us through the successes the ESA has brought in the last four decades, and looks ahead to the work that still needs to be done. - See more at: http://www.fws.gov/endangered/esa40/#sthash.c4QSyBCm.dpuf

For 40 years, the Endangered Species Act has protected America's imperiled plants and animals—from the carnivorous green pitcher plant of Southeastern wetlands, to the western snowy plover of northwestern beaches, to the iconic polar bear of the Arctic.

This video takes us through the successes the ESA has brought in the last four decades, and looks ahead to the work that still needs to be done. - See more at: http://www.fws.gov/endangered/esa40/#sthash.c4QSyBCm.dpuf

There are approximately 2,140 species listed under the ESA. Of these species, approximately 1,515 are found in part or entirely in the U.S. and its waters; the remainder are foreign species.

The Endangered Species Act itself also needs protecting. Politics, commercial industry, and funding cuts threaten to weaken or choke the ESA's ability to protect endangered species. With more and more species being added the the Endangered Species list, now more than ever is it important that the ESA remain intact.

25 Most Endangered Species on Earth


Fish & Wildlife Service
Defenders of Wildlife
National Wildlife Federation
Sierra Club
World Wildlife Fund
Nature Conservancy

Season's Greetings!

B is for Butterfly

Check out this amazing poster of all 26 letters of the alphabet found on butterfly wings! There is also a variation of the alphabet poster featuring different animals. The website also provides the option to pick your own letter combination to make names or messages! The perfect gift for any nature lover!

Click here to purchase: ButterflyAlphabet.com

Happy Steve Irwin Day!

November 15th is designated for remembrance of one of the greatest friends an animal could ever have. Get your khakis on and tune in now to catch the live events at the Australian Zoo-

 Steve Irwin Day Broadcast

Crikey, we miss you, Steve!

Happy Veterans Day- Animals of War

Did you know dogs and horses weren't the only types of animals used in war? A variety of species were used to carry out different tasks such as detection, protection, therapy, and sledging.

Carrier Pigeons carried messages. Cher Ami saved 200 US troops by carrying a message 25 miles despite being blinded and shot twice.

Dogs pulling machine guns

Camel Corps

 Mule Team

Oxen Team

Canaries used to help calm wounded soldiers

Dolphins were used for locating underwater mines

Glow worms were collected and used to light maps and charts in the trenches in WWI

Circus Elephants were used to pull heavy loads and plow fields as horses and mules were taken off to war. They were also used in WWII to haul supplies through jungles, and across rivers and mountains. The movie Operation Dumbo Drop was based on a true story.

African Rats are being trained to sniff out landmines that still remain several years after the civil war in Mozambique. Rats are easy to train and their light weight prevents tripping any mines that may be in the search area.

As you can see, a variety of animals were used in war. No matter how big or small, they all played a significant role and were held with high esteem. Of course, behind every great animal there is a great handler as well. Whether 2 legged, 4 legged, feathered, finned, or furred, your dedication to your country is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Sources: Denver Post

GWPDA.org

Slate.com

BBC News

History.com

80-year-old Orca 'Speiden' missing, presumed dead

 

SEATTLE -- An 80-year-old Orca whale has been missing for about six weeks and Orca spotters are presuming her dead.

The Orca J8, also known as "Speiden," was last seen on Sept. 19 near Victoria and has not been seen the last two times the J Pod was in the Puget Sound's Saratoga Passage, officials with Orca Network said. Speiden has a distinct sound when she breathed and a notch at the base of her fin making her easy to identify, day or night.

"At 80 years old, she was right in the upper limits of longevity for females," said Howard Garrett, co-director of the Orca Network. "It was probably just a natural passing after a long life."

Garrett said that Speiden was not known to have any offspring during their studies, but it's hard to know for sure since their research didn't begin until after the whale capture era from 1966-1976, when dozens of whales were taken from the area waters.

"Over 40 were delivered from her family, so she may have lost several offspring during those years," Garrett said.

Garrett says Speiden is especially missed now that her J Pod and neighboring K Pod families have both been sighted in the Puget Sound waters this week.

"She was always great to have out there because she was so familiar," Garrett said. "We'll miss her. It's always reassuring to see the whales that we know and recognize out there. She was one of the ones that everybody who watched these whales knew very well."

The Orca Network said Spieden was not the most senior Orca in the pod. Orca J2, "Granny," is believed to be 102 years old.

Source: Komo News 

Just a lil reminder.....

..... to "Fall Back" today!!!

(for those that apply)

Don't forget to set your clocks back an hour before you go to bed tonight, and enjoy that extra hour of sleep!

Police dogs blessed during Tihar Festival

Blessing of the canines

Nepalese police dogs wear marigold garlands and vermillion pigment on Nov. 13 during the local Tihar festival in Kathmandu. Tihar is the Nepalese equivalent of Diwali, an important five-day festival celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, Sikhs and Arya Samajists. Each day of the festival is dedicated to different religious figures including cow, crow and dog, which signifies the relationship between human beings, god and animals.

 

Source: Mother Nature Network 

What the duck is up with this traffic?

Traffic stops as over 5,000 ducks cross a road in Zhejiang, China.

Source: Pets.ie 

An important message from the White House

On a more serious note, President Obama speaks out against BSL stating that targeting a dogs breed is ineffective and a waste of resources-

We don’t support breed-specific legislation — research shows that bans on certain types of dogs are largely ineffective and often a waste of public resources.
In 2000, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention looked at twenty years of data about dog bites and human fatalities in the United States. They found that fatal attacks represent a very small proportion of dog bite injuries to people and that it’s virtually impossible to calculate bite rates for specific breeds.
The CDC also noted that the types of people who look to exploit dogs aren’t deterred by breed regulations — when their communities establish a ban, these people just seek out new, unregulated breeds. And the simple fact is that dogs of any breed can become dangerous when they’re intentionally or unintentionally raised to be aggressive.
For all those reasons, the CDC officially recommends against breed-specific legislation — which they call inappropriate. You can read more from them here.
As an alternative to breed-specific policies, the CDC recommends a community-based approach to prevent dog bites. And ultimately, we think that’s a much more promising way to build stronger communities of pets and pet owners.

 A huge victory for ALL dog owners and dog lovers who have fought tirelessly against the monster that is BSL. Hopefully this will lead to more effective solutions and the reversal of state level BSL regulations.

Sources: LifeWithDogs.tv

TailsInc.com

Can Orcas keep pets?

We often observe fur seals or Dall's porpoises following groups of fish-eating orcas. But this group we saw some days ago had an unusual companion. A single Pacific white-sided dolphin was travelling with the orcas, as a normal group member, for at least 1.5 hours. At first we mistakenly thought he was a strangely coloured calf. This is amazing to us not only because of this weird companionship, but also because Pacific white-sided dolphins are rarely seen in this area. We have never observed them before in the nearshore waters of the Commander Islands. Perhaps this dolphin was travelling with orcas for a while and then followed them to our research area from offshore or more southern waters where this species is more common. The more you look closely at nature, the stranger it becomes.

Source: RussianOrca.org 

Orca Hunt Photo Series

Check out this amazing series of photos showing the final moments of 2 hour chase between an Orca and its prey, a bottlenose dolphin-

Source: DailyMail.co.uk