Indeed we were surprised to learn that Hollywood actor Martin Lawrence owns a farm in Virgina but what was more surprising to know was of his farm mates. Looks like several different types of animals and birds like geese are calling the farm their home driving the comedian bonkers. A neighbour reported that Lawrence is struggling to find a way to deal with the situation and perhaps a gun may answer all his troubles. However, Lawrence’s publicist clarifies that there was a more humane side to the entire episode.

Looks like a hunting licence has been applied for by the farm manager but Lawrence is looking for all possible humane ways to tackle the problem of overpopulation while preserving the animal habitat in which they reside. Sources reveal that there are many different enterprises in rural Virginia that make their living assisting property owners on how to handle and manage migratory geese. It is very sad that a neighbour who has never met Martin or discussed the matter with him, would issue irresponsible public statements. Yeah, celebs do pay the price for their fame.

Via EcoRazzi

Tuatara, the ancient reptile found in New Zealand is under survival threat from none other than global warming. Also, known as a “living fossil” / “living dinosaur”, this reptile has lived on our planet from the past 220 million years! That’s quite a long time. But now, this endangered animal known for its “spiny back” is facing extreme pressure on survival front due to rising global temperatures. The phenomenon of climate change has started showing its true colors in various parts of the world now. In wake of an impending threat to humans due to catastrophic events popping out as a result of both global warming and climate change, one can only imagine what little chance a reptilian species has! Tuatara is one of the oldest and relatively un-evolved species alive today. Commonly mistaken for lizards or mini crocs this animal is very different from the two and has a very primitive bone structure.

Reptiles as such are known for their sensitivity to thermal changes. Mostly being endothermic or cold-blooded creatures, the population of reptiles faces a challenge when their breeding cycles get disturbed owing to fluctuations in temperature. Something similar is happening with this New Zealandian reptile as well. Australian researches predict that with every 3-4 degree rise in air temperature the tuatara will only be able to produce male offspring by 2085. This means complete wipeout of females of the species! The researchers say their finding highlights the need for ways to predict climate change impacts in animals where sex of the offspring is determined by temperature.

A radio interview with Dr. Nicola Mitchell, from the Centre for Evolutionary Biology at the University of Western Australia, on www.radioaustralia.net reveals that by the predicted time frame, the sex change in tuatara newborns will lead to a drastic situation. In a scenario where no biological females would be found, the species will face a big question mark upon its reproductive propagation in natural habitats. Upon being asked by presenter Steve Holland as to what could be the preventive measure to this situation,

Dr. Mitchell informed about the ongoing breeding program that might be the only hope to see the species flourish some 75yrs ahead in future. But, she had her doubts on the profound effects of such artificial intervening measures. We all know that nature has her own mechanisms and one of the most powerful of them being natural selection followed by reproduction of animal species which leads to variation. The latter being very important from the point of view of survival of any species on earth.

Reflecting upon the grave issue, I’m just left wondering when are we actually going to start respecting other organisms as living beings, esply. Those, who have been sharing Earth for millions of years with us!

The picture is taken from nationalgeographic.com

Via RadioAustralia

Nestled in the Aravali Hills, Sariska National Park (Rajasthan, India) today, welcomed a male tiger flown in from Ranthambore National Park. This is the first time a big cat has been relocated from one forest to another. Sariska has been an abode for tigers in India and was one of the seats of Project Tiger in India. But in 2004, the tiger population was wiped out completely from this national park by Sansarchand and other poachers.

After this episode of national shame, the Wildlife Institute of India in Dehradun and National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) had been thinking about relocating tigers in this area. The proposal to relocate tigers from another national park with relatively large number of tigers (Ranthambore) was cleared by the PM himself sensing the seriousness of the matter. So, the king of the jungle was given a royal treatment and was flown into the park’s Nayapani area in a tranquilized state.

The Indian Air Force was only too happy to join in and provided a MI-17 helicopter to carry the beast. This 3.5yr old male weighing 220 kg is the first among others to be relocated. The WII and NTCA have plans to relocate a tigress in coming week. Other tigers will be brought in Sariska in a period of few months to effectively initiate tiger breeding programs at the national park.

To prevent the sad events of 2004, this time all the relocated tigers will be tightly monitored using GPS collars. These collars help in keeping a close eye over the movements of animals using satellite-based tracking systems. Besides WII officials alongwith Sariska officials will strictly monitor the new king in the region which awaits a name as yet. Also, watchtowers have been set up near Nayapani to observe the settling-down process of the park’s latest inmate.

The event is indeed promising. Here’s wishing good luck to the big cat!

Via TOI

In what could be called as the first ever move to bring “non-human” hominids and humans on the same platform, Spain is about to pass a law that grants ‘human rights’ to these creatures. According to the members of parliament’s environmental committee in the country, “Great apes should be given the human rights to life and freedom”. This view is in compliance with the objectives of the Great Apes Project (GAP) founded by Peter Singer and Paola Cavalieri in 1993. This international organization now consists of primatologists, psychologists, ethicists, and other experts who all work in the direction of providing basic legal rights to great apes: chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas, and orangutans, as conferred upon their human descendents. These scientists and ethicists believe in treating our intelligent ancestors at par with us in terms of legal rights & protection because they also have varied social, emotional and cognitive skills. Now, Spain’s MPs have also joined hands with philosophers at GAP. Spain is known for bull fighting. The latter being a gory display of animals being used for human entertainment has been highly criticized by animal rights activists and campaigners.

This recent move however, illustrates the more humanitarian side of the country. Spanish MPs alongwith cross-party support, now hope that the law regarding this issue will soon see the light of the day! According to Pedro Pozas, Spanish director of the Great Apes Project, “This is a historic day in the struggle for animal rights and in defence of our evolutionary comrades, which will doubtless go down in the history of humanity”.

Under this new law, the filming of T.V. commercials or keeping great apes in circuses for entertainment purposes and conducting scientific experiments on these animals will become a criminal offense. This is one of the most promising news about animal protection in recent times. Here’s hoping the law get enacted soon and Spain leads an example for the rest of the world in respecting our smart ancestors.

Source

It’s the same tug-of-war for people of Kenya, which every nation wanting to progress, faces today. The issue being is it development or devastation in the name of development? The recent decision of Kenyan government to approve a biofuel project in the Tana River delta area has created an uproar among people. The biofuel project requires the setting up of a sugar cane plantation in the 80 sq mile river delta. Much of the crop produced at the plantation would be converted into ethanol. This would be done in a nearby purpose-built factory. The factory will provide employment opportunities to the locals. This is the government’s side of story. The other side is provided by the local farmers and fishermen. These people along with the environmentalists detest the approval to the project. The Tana River delta is an area of biodiversity in terms of animal and plant species found there. The land is home to hippos, lions, rare shark species, primates and 345 bird species. It also sustains the local community of thousands of fishermen and farmers. Their protests against this project, it seems have fallen on deaf ears! According to Paul Matiku, executive director of Nature Kenya (a Nairobi- based conservation group), the whole project is an ecological disaster. “It will seriously damage our priceless national assets and will put the livelihoods of the people living in the delta in jeopardy,” Paul said.

For the government, the biofuel project holds a promise to gain valuable euros and dollars. Biofuels are prepared from ethanol which in turn, is in huge demand in the European Union and the U.S. For the locals this project spells devastation than development. The gulf between the two sides deepens as the locals say their protests are being ignored by the powers-that-be. In order to achieve a sustainable development it is important that the government realizes the deep-set ecological concerns rather than blindly approving rampant projects.

Via Guardian

The Edmonton Valley’s Zoo (Canada) witnessed the birth of twin panda cubs this year on May, 26th. Zoo officials told media that the babies were healthy at 112grams and 147 grams. Since then the tiny tots have put on weight – a sure indication of their enhanced survival rates. The cubs named Tai and Pip were removed shortly after birth when the mother began aggressively holding and grooming one of the babies endangering its life. Red pandas are fur bearing animals resembling raccoons, have white-and-red markings on their bodies which help them in blending with their surroundings. Their number is the wild are dwindling because of their illegal poaching done for soft fur and tails.

Adult red pandas like to lead solitary lives. This makes their reproduction programs inside zoo a tricky affair. The birth of Pip and Tai, has boosted the effort to protect and propagate these highly endangered creatures under captivity. Here’s wishing long and healthy life to the newborns.

Via TheStar