A pod of pilot whales are stranded off the coast of Everglades National Park, Fla. At least 35 whales have moved into deeper waters, raising hopes that the situation will end on a positive note. (Credit: U.S. Coast Guard, Petty Officer 3rd Class Mark Barney)
Dozens of Pilot Whales Stranded Off Florida Coast; Rescue Mission Underway
(TakePart)
A gripping drama is playing out on Florida’s Gulf coast, where 10 pilot whales have died and another 40 or more are stranded in three feet of water. Of the 10 dead whales, six were found dead, while the remaining four were euthanized by officials from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administraion. Members of the dolphin family, pilot whales normally live in much deeper water off the Florida coast, and it is not known what drove them from their natural habitat. More
NEWS FROM NORTH AMERICA
Polar Bear Numbers in Hudson Bay of Canada on Verge of Collapse
(The Guardian)
Polar bear populations are a sensitive topic for the Canadian government, which has faced international criticism for its policies on climate change and for allowing limited hunting of bears, mainly by indigenous communities. The Canadian environment minister provoked outrage last October when she discounted abundant scientific studies of polar bear decline across the Arctic, saying her brother, a hunter, was having no trouble finding bears. More
2,000 Mice Dropped on Guam by Parachute — to Kill Snakes
(NBC News)
They floated down from the sky Sunday — 2,000 mice, wafting on tiny cardboard parachutes over Andersen Air Force Base in the U.S. territory of Guam. But the rodent commandos didn’t know they were on a mission: to help eradicate the brown tree snake, an invasive species that has caused millions of dollars in wildlife and commercial losses since it arrived a few decades ago. That’s because they were dead. And pumped full of painkillers. More
Sage Grouse Protection Plan Released in Canada
(The Record)
The Canadian federal government has revealed details of a last-ditch plan to save an iconic prairie bird from vanishing from the grasslands, but officials acknowledge an emergency order to protect the sage grouse isn’t enough on its own. “There’s going to have to be a number of measures,” said David Ingstrup, regional director of the Canadian Wildlife Service. “The order is one of several things that will have to happen if we’re going to ensure recovery of this species.” More
Florida Boaters are Warned to be on the Lookout for Migrating Manatees
(Clearwater Gazette)
Florida manatees are beginning their annual migration to warmer waters, which is their instinctual response to winter’s approach and surviving the cold. As these slow-moving aquatic mammals migrate along rivers, canals, bays and coastlines, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission cautions boaters to slow down and watch out for manatees. The average adult manatee is 1,000 pounds and 10-feet long but may be difficult to spot despite its size. More
5 Distinct Humpback Whale Populations Identified in North Pacific Ocean
(redOrbit)
A new genetic study shows there are five distinct humpback whale populations in the North Pacific Ocean. There is currently a proposal to try and designate North Pacific humpbacks as a single distinct population segment, which could ultimately threaten the species’ endangered status. Humpback whales are listed as endangered in the U.S. under the Endangered Species Act, but the species has recently been downlisted by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature on a global level. More
WILDLIFE HEALTH AND DISEASE NEWS
Manitoulin Island Turtle Deaths Worry Researchers
(CBC)
Researchers at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, say they are stumped in the case of more than 50 dead turtles found on Ontario’s Manitoulin Island. The turtles were found by a Canadian Ministry of Natural Resources scientist earlier this year and, so far, the cause of death is unknown. A Laurentian herpetologist — a researcher who studies amphibians and reptiles — is working on the investigation. More
Dolphin Deaths Along Florida Beaches Blamed on Virus
(First Coast News)
An unusually large number of dolphins are getting a measles type virus and dying along the east coast. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration estimates that it started in New York this past July and has steadily moved south. It’s called morbillivirus, and NOAA as well as Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission have been tracking its movement south as more dolphins are found washed up on beaches. More
Endangered Status for Bats Urged Again by Canadian Scientists
(CBC)
Canadian scientists have issued a second appeal to Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s government to protect bat populations being rapidly wiped out in the Maritimes. The endangered status the scientists are seeking would force the federal government to develop a plan to save three bat species. “The die off has been dramatic,” said Graham Forbes, a biologist with the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton. More
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Catastrophic Collapse of Sahara Desert’s Wildlife
(Science Daily)
A new study led by the Wildlife Conservation Society and Zoological Society or London warns that the world’s largest tropical desert, the Sahara, has suffered a catastrophic collapse of its wildlife populations. The study by more than 40 authors representing 28 scientific organizations assessed 14 desert species and found that a shocking half of those are regionally extinct or confined to one percent or less of their historical range. More
Indian Tiger Conservation Plan Approved
(Wildlife Extra)
India’s National Tiger Conservation Authority has approved the tiger conservation plan for the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve, targeting sustainable development of one of the major forest areas of the state of Western Maharashtra for the next 10 years. NTCA inspector general of forests H S Negi recently gave his written approval. More
Africa’s First Aerial Elephant Census to Capture Falling Numbers
(The Guardian)
A fleet of 18 light aircraft will notch up two years of flying time in 2014 to conduct the first aerial headcount of Africa’s elephants. Trained counters will attempt to take photographs of virtually every herd on the continent, which will then be used to verify their count. Dr. Mike Chase of Elephants Without Borders is leading what is called the great elephant census. He and a team of 46 scientists will conduct the ambitious research project due to commence in February. More