EcoWorldly

Javan Rhinos Confirmed in Vietnam!

Rhishja Larson — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:55:40 +0000

Dung-sniffing dogs have confirmed that Javan rhinos are indeed still surviving in Vietnam.

The WWF survey of Vietnam’s Javan rhino population is off to a promising start: Two dung piles and recent footprints!

Rhinos: 11 Incredible Facts, Plus Photo Gallery

Rhishja Larson — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:44:18 +0000

Thanks to rampant poaching and habitat destruction, rhinos have the unfortunate distinction of being one of the most endangered animals on earth.

Over the last 30 years, the world’s overall rhinoceros population has declined by over 90% - and if not for dedicated conservation efforts over the last 100 years, it is likely that all rhinoceros species would already be extinct.

To help raise awareness for these proud pachyderms, here are 11 incredible facts about rhinos - plus a compilation of beautiful photos (except for one very graphic photo) and a couple of videos, too. Enjoy!

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How Ironic! Extremely Rare Crocs Found at Wildlife Rescue Center

Jace Shoemaker-Galloway — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:25:49 +0000

Talk about ironic! While searching for the world’s most endangered crocodile species, conservationists discovered nearly 70 extremely rare crocodiles lounging in plain view at a wildlife rescue center in Cambodia!

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#3 Portland, Oregon (USA): Great Bicycle City Photo Tour

Zachary Shahan — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:53:01 +0000

With bike weddings, bike parades, hundreds of naked bicyclists, bike fashion shows, popular & interesting cargo bikes, and travelling bike pubs, Portland is #3 on this great bicycle city photo tours list.

Portland has great bicycle facilities (colored bike lanes, bike boxes at intersections, great bike signs, off-road bicycle paths, etc.), a large number of people using the bicycle for transportation, and a bike culture that brings the fun of bicycling to another level.

As a result of these factors and more, Portland was the first large city in the US to achieve the Platinum level Bike Friendly award from the League of American Bicyclists (LAB) — the Platinum level being the highest level possible (above Gold, Silver and Bronze). It is truly a world-class bicycle city now, and the amazing photos in this photo tour help to show that.

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Glowing Bacteria Could Join Rats, Dogs, and Watercress in De-mining Agricultural Land

Dave Harcourt — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:02:55 +0000

The complexity and cost of clearing land mines, which are still responsible for to twenty to thirty thousand casualties a year, has lead to a microorganism based detection method that should speed the location mines.

The awesome power released by a detonating mine

The New Mine Detection Technology

Researchers at the University of Edinburgh have engineered a bacteria using the latest BioBrick technology. BioBrick an open source technology of the BioBricks Foundation, a not-for-profit organization founded by engineers and scientists from MIT, Harvard, and UCSF. Simplistically stated, it offers the ability to introduce standardised strands of DNA with known function into bacteria. In this case the Bricks gave the ability to detect the chemicals leaked by buried explosives and to produce chemicals that cause it to glow green. Linking these new functions together produces a safe, easy to grow bacteria that after application to the ground in a coulourless liquid glows green within a few hours. With the location of the mine noted, de-mining can be undertaken quickly without the risk of undetected mines.

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Reindeer Tragedy: Ice Collapses, Hundreds Die

Jace Shoemaker-Galloway — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:36:01 +0000

A trek across a frozen lake proved to be a deadly journey for hundreds of reindeer last week. Sami herders in Sweden were leading 3,000 reindeer to “greener pastures” across a frequently-traveled route during their annual migration to their winter grazing grounds when tragedy struck.

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I Want A Goat, M—– F—–! (Explicit) Video

Rhishja Larson — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:56:41 +0000

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The video is explicit, the message is simple: You can transform lives in one of the poorest districts of India by donating a goat.

A life-changing experience in India inspired volunteer Debbie Glasband to launch a program to provide an alternative source of income for tribal people: Goats.

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Throwing Out Food and Paper Will Be Illegal

Chris Milton — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:04:04 +0000

Quebec has taken a long hard look at itself, and decided it doesn’t like what it sees.

Its policies simply aren’t working. Overall waste generated has nearly doubled in the past 10 years, with waste going to landfill rising by over 10% in the same period.

One of its key targets was to get 60% of the province’s waste food into composting by 2012 has had to be abandoned: the current figure is only 12% and the target just cannot be met.

However, rather than just trying to fiddle with green taxes, the government has gone straight for the jugular and announced plans to make it illegal to dump rubbish and food waste.

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Child Dies After Ingesting Pesticide Also Used to Kill Lions

Jace Shoemaker-Galloway — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 03:59:16 +0000

According to reports, little Kimutai, a three-year-old child from Kenya, died hours after ingesting carbofuran, an odorless pesticide used to control insects on many crops including rice, beans, bananas, pineapple, coffee and vegetables.

But the highly toxic pesticide, sold under the name Furadan and manufactured by Farm Machinery and Chemicals Corporation (FMC), is also used by cattle herders for different reasons. Furadan is often added to carcasses in order to poison and kill lions, hyenas and other wildlife that prey on livestock.

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Wilderness Protection Agreement Formed in North America

Beth Graddon-Hodgson — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 03:25:27 +0000

With the US and Canada sharing a border while Mexico meets with the United States, in order to protect North American wildlife and wilderness a collaborative effort is necessary, particularly as global climate change is beginning to put many North American species at risk.

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