Briefly As They Could from the Affected Area

rescued as many viable coral colonies Wanted: heat missing from oceans Briefly as they could from the affected area. In contrast to the planet as a whole it Divers then attached the salvaged coral seems that the oceans have been cooling polyps onto the reef base using hy- down during the last 2 years. A network draulic cement or epoxy putty. In cases of 3,000 free-floating buoys, which moni- where the reef was severely damaged tor the world’s oceans, have yielded data International reef balls, concrete hemispheres riddled showing that the upper 750 m of ocean with large holes, were constructed, onto lost enough energy between 2003 and which surviving coral colonies were 2005 to cause an overall drop in tem- grafted. The problem of obtaining suffi- perature of c. 0.02˚C. Although this Trees not so rude after all cient numbers of starter colonies is being sounds small, the energy lost is enough The revelation early in January 2006 that addressed elsewhere; researchers in to melt all of the world’s sea ice several trees were belching methane came as a Israel have established a coral nursery times over. Thankfully, researchers are shock to many, and lead to calls that the in the Red Sea, using ‘nubbins’ collected sure that this is not occurring, but where use of trees to offset carbon emissions from local reefs and growing them in the energy is going is still a mystery. should be rethought. However, two new trays on nets anchored to the sea bed. It is speculated that the heat is being studies have shown that it is more of a The success of this project has prompted radiated back into space, possibly hiccup than a belch, as the researchers the creation of more coral nurseries near because of the release of aerosols into take issue with the way in which the ailing reefs in other areas. the atmosphere from volcanic eruptions, original data were scaled up from Source: New Scientist (2006), 191(2559), or because of annual changes in cloud laboratory rates of methane production 28. cover. to global production rates. The new Source: New Scientist (2006), 192(2572), calculations suggest that the benefits of Arctic Ocean’s salt content 14. carbon storage by trees are 100 times as declines Adult salmon pass on unsuitable great as the disadvantages of methane Global warming caused the Arctic lice to juveniles emissions. Ocean to become less salty during the Before the era of farmed salmon, juve- Source: New Scientist (2006), 191(2560), last half century, and this trend looks set niles did not meet adult salmon during 12–13. to continue. The reasons for the decrease their migration from rivers to the ocean, are the faster melting of sea ice and Global warming sinks to ocean because the adults lived far out at sea. glaciers and an increase in rainfall over floor Now research shows that salmon farms, the Arctic. Between 1965 and 1995 which hold adult salmon in pens just off Deep sea ecosystems rely on nutrients increased rain and river flow alone the coast, are transferring sea lice to carried to the ocean floor from the resulted in an extra 20,000 km3 flowing juvenile salmon as the latter pass the shallow seas above. These nutrients, into the Arctic Ocean, equivalent to 40 pens on their way to the sea. Researchers consisting of sediment and organic years’ flow of the Mississippi. The found that juvenile salmon migrating matter, are funnelled through huge decrease in salinity raises fears that along the coast of British Columbia had submarine canyons, in a process pre- ocean currents may become affected in viously thought to be triggered by land- low levels of infestation by sea lice until the future as they rely on the sinking of slides and river floods. It has now been they reached the first fish farm, after dense, salty water at high latitudes. discovered that seasonal ocean currents which the infestation levels rose signifi- Changes in ocean currents may cause also play a role in the movement of these cantly. The researchers estimated that, temperatures in northern Europe to fall nutrients through the formation, at based on the infestation levels they dramatically. continental margins, of dense water as observed, sea lice from fish farms kill Source: New Scientist (2006), 191(2567), a result of cooling by wind and eva- between 9–95% of migrating juvenile 14. poration. Dense water formation will salmon. decrease if projected sea surface tem- Source: New Scientist (2006), 192(2572), peratures are correct, which will in turn Four times as many sharks killed 17. significantly reduce the frequency and for fins as reported in official intensity of seasonal currents, thus figures Sooty shearwaters’ record affecting the deep sea ecosystems that Data collected from inventories of shark migration depend on nutrients carried along with fin sales at auction have revealed that at Electronic tags attached to a small the currents. least four times as many sharks are Pacific sea bird, the sooty shearwater, Source: New Scientist (2006), 192(2578), killed for their fins as are reported by have revealed that its migration from 21. the Food and Agriculture Organization breeding sites in New Zealand to winter (FAO). Around 1.7 million t of shark fins feeding grounds in Japan, Alaska or Damaged coral reefs can be glued are sold globally each year, which California is the longest ever recorded back together equates to 73 million sharks per year. by such a method. The annual trip of Research carried out in Florida has This figure is much higher than the 64,370 km covers the entire Pacific shown that coral reef restoration follow- FAO’s estimate of 0.39 million t. The region, and takes about 200 days, with ing mechanical damage is possible. FAO cannot be blamed for the discre- the birds making a prolonged stop- Over the past 10 years the reefs around pancy in the data, but these figures do over at only one location to refuel. The Florida have had eight major ship illustrate the inaccuracies that may be shearwaters traveled up to 910 km each groundings. After each event marine inherent in fisheries data. day, and dived to depths of 68 m while biologists assessed the damage and Source: New Scientist (2006), 191(2571), 7. feeding on route. The epic nature of the

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shearwaters’ migration means that the coordination across regions, as well as most concern; 62% of waterbird popula- birds may be useful indicators of the action against illegal fishing. Although tions were found to be decreasing or effects of climate change or overfishing delegates from the world’s five tuna have become extinct. in the Pacific region. bodies called the plan a first step Source: BirdLife News (2007), http:// Source: BBC News (2006), http://news. towards arresting a decline in stocks, www.birdlife.org/news/news/2007/01/ bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/5242360.stm conservationists said the measures were waterbird_declines.html not enough, blaming illegal and unre- World’s thirst needs action gulated fishing and unsustainable quo- WWF has reported that some of the tas for tuna’s dramatic decline. WWF world’s most developed countries are has stated the delegates failed to agree facing water shortages, with economic on concrete action, and that their only Europe wealth not automatically guaranteeing a agreement was to gather more data and sufficient water supply. Some cities, talk more often. such as Houston and Sydney, are using Source: BBC News (2006), http://news. Knots in decline as food webs more water than can be replenished, bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/asia-acific/ unravel whereas others, such as London, are 6301187.stm Many marine protected areas permit leaking huge quantities of water from some exploitation of their resources, aging water mains. Meanwhile, wealthy UK in anti-whaling recruitment but the complex food webs in these countries continue to use up water from drive areas cannot always sustain this. One the developing world because most of The UK is stepping up attempts to quarter of Europe’s red knots have the goods supplied to developed coun- secure an anti-whaling majority on the starved since 1998 because their refuel- ling grounds, Europe’s supposedly pro- tries, such as food, clothes and even International Whaling Commission tected intertidal mudflats, have been jewellery, require water for their pro- (IWC). In 2006 pro-hunting nations affected by cockle fishing in the duction. WWF has called on rich coun- gained their first IWC majority for 20 Netherlands’ Wadden Sea. Until 2004 tries to set an example by tackling years. The British government is pub- 24 cockle boats were allowed to dredge leaking mains and pollution, as well as lishing a brochure aimed at encouraging the Wadden Sea, despite only small encouraging more international coop- nations opposed to whaling to join economic benefits. The dredging made eration over water. the Commission. Japan, Iceland and the mud coarser, and thus less suitable Source: BBCNews (2006), http://news.bbc. Norway, the principal pro-whaling for cockles, with the result that their co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4796909.stm nations, believe that many stocks are meat-to-shell ratio fell by 11% per year large enough and that hunting can be for 5 years. The thinner cockles could ‘Plant blindness’ a growing sustainable, and they dismiss arguments not sustain the red knots, whose popula- problem, especially among that whales are special and distinct tion fell by 80%, enough to account industrialized nations creatures as being relevant only in for the decrease in the European certain cultures. The issue was given Research from the USA has identified a population as a whole. Two years after added urgency by Iceland’s decision in worrying phenomenon: the failure of dredging stopped the mud remains people to be able to see or notice the October to resume commercial hunting, coarse and the cockles have failed to plants that occur in their daily lives, a move that brought diplomatic protest recover. known as ‘plant blindness’. This is from Britain and its allies. Source: New Scientist (2006), 192(2578), 7. particularly prevalent among industria- Source: BBC News (2006), http://news. lized nations, where the movement of bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/science/ EU decision to ban permanently the people to cities has decoupled the tradi- nature/6301681.stm wild bird trade tional association between people and The EU Commission has announced that agriculture and nature (see also Oryx, 37, Further declines for the world’s the ban on imports of birds caught in the 206–214). The researchers voice concerns waterbirds wild is to be made permanent through- that this detachment from nature has The January 2007 Wetlands International out the European Union from 1 July negative implications for those attempt- report, the fourth edition of Waterbird 2007. The move comes after a temporary ing to promote the conservation of plant Population Estimates, presents estimates ban was imposed within the EU in diversity, halt habitat loss and promote and trends for 878 waterbird species October 2005 when birds in a UK sustainable living. However, they are around the world. Of these 44% of quarantine centre were found to have optimistic that plant blindness is not an populations for which trend data were avian influenza. A number of conserva- irreversible malaise, and that education available were found to be decreasing or tion organizations have hailed the ban, work in botanic gardens has a major role have become extinct since the last edi- noting that many bird species continue to play in the reversing of this trend. tion was released in 2002. The report to be threatened by trade. However, the Source: Botanic Gardens Conservation was based on annual field surveys by Secretariat of CITES has expressed dis- International press release (28 August 15,000 voluntary observers across hun- appointment, noting that the ban risks 2006). dreds of sites worldwide, many of them casting the impression that the interna- Important Bird Areas. The new publica- tional bird trade is not effectively con- Tuna groups tackle overfishing tion highlights how human impacts such trolled, whereas in fact it is regulated by The first international plan to try to stop as reclamation of wetlands, increasing the 169 member countries of CITES. The the overfishing of tuna, which is facing pollution and illegal hunting as well Secretariat noted that by ending legal commercial extinction, has been adopted as expanding urban sprawl are factors and managed imports, the EU risks by regulators meeting in Japan. The behind the reported population declines. driving the market underground and plan called for better monitoring and Asia continues to be the continent of making it less transparent, and also risks

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undermining the impoverished commu- With the arrival of the spring tides Norway loses its taste for whale nities who depend on the environmen- the 15 ha plot of reclaimed farmland meat tally sustainable trade in birds and will be inundated with seawater Despite Norway being the only country removing economic incentives for pro- through a series of pipes and a system to have resumed commercial whaling, in tecting bird habitat. (See also Oryx, 40, of intertidal creeks. It is hoped that, once 1993, it appears that demand for whale 18–28 & 261–265). completed, the new saltmarsh will pro- meat is falling in the country. A short Source: BirdLife News (2007), http:// vide a habitat for numerous wading time before the end of the 2006 whale www.birdlife.org/news/news/2007/01/ birds and fish. hunting season in Norway fishermen eu_trade_ban.html; CITES press release (11 Source: Marine Pollution Bulletin (2006), had caught fewer than half of the 1,052 January 2007), http://www.cites.org/ 52, 1123. whales allowed by their quota. Bad eng/news/press/2007/070111_EU_bird_ weather and high fuel prices are blamed by the Norwegian government for the ban.shtml Bluefin tuna disappearing from small catch size, but environmentalists Mediterranean Bumble bees at risk from claim that whale meat, only consumed There is increasing concern about the invaders… by small populations living in the high long-term persistence of bluefin tuna Foreign bumble bees, imported to polli- latitudes of the country, is less in stocks in some of the oldest fishing nate plants in commercial greenhouses, demand now and that the industry grounds in the Mediterranean, the tradi- may pose a threat to native British should no longer be supported. tional spawning ground of the fish. bumble bees if they escape. Non-native Source: New Scientist (2006), 191(2566), 7. Catches of bluefin tuna have decreased bumble bee species have already proved dramatically over the past few years, capable of escaping from greenhouses Starving guillemots may be portent with much of the tuna caught in the and breeding in both Chile and Japan, of major crisis Mediterranean being supplied to Japan and a study has found that non-native Hundreds of dead or starving young for use in sushi. A report by WWF bumble bees would be able to survive in seabirds have been reported in Scotland presents evidence of large quantities of the British countryside. Additionally, and Northern Ireland, fuelling specula- bluefin tuna being fished illegally in the there is a risk that non-native bumble tion that these are the outward signs of a Mediterranean, and in some cases being bee species would outcompete British much larger problem affecting coastal smuggled out of the area. In addition, species, as their colonies are better at ecosystems. As most of the birds were there is a growing trend towards tuna foraging for nectar, their individuals are guillemots, capable of diving to depths farming, which places yet more pressure larger and they produce more queens of over 90 m to catch their sandeel prey, on wild fish stocks. WWF has called for the shortage of seabird food around the per colony than British species. (See also the immediate and complete closure of UK may be serious. Some birds were pp. 79–88). this fishery until a long-term action plan found as far inland as the centre of Source: New Scientist (2006), 191(2560), 4. can be agreed on. Glasgow, while others were found Source: WWF (2006) The Plunder of Bluefin swimming up small steams in an appar- … but impress with their Tuna in the Mediterranean and East Atlantic ent attempt to find food. It is feared that navigational skills in 2004 and 2005: Uncovering the Real Story shifts in the distribution of plankton Researchers at Newcastle University (http://assets.panda.org/downloads/ because of changes in climate may be to have found that bumble bees are capable wwfbftreportfinaleditionreducido_final. blame for the disintegration of the food of flying far further while foraging than pdf) chain. the 5 km previously thought to be their Source: RSPB press release (18 September limit. The bees were tagged with tiny 2006), http://www.rspb.org.uk/action/ body-hugging ribbons and released at UK failing its overseas territories guillemots.asp different sites, while a webcam pointed According to researchers working in the at the nest to record which of the bees UK’s overseas territories, the UK is not returned. Bees released at 4 pm one day protecting these areas adequately, with were seen in the nest at 9 am the the result that their biodiversity is at following morning, having navigated risk. The UK has more threatened wild- North Eurasia nearly 13 km between the release site life on its overseas islands than in the and the nest. It is hoped that this whole of Europe, yet the government technique will be useful in identi- only spends c. GBP 1 million per year on Water levels in Kyrgyzstan’s fying how sensitive different bumble these places, a paltry sum when com- largest lake on the rise bee species are to changes in their pared to the GBP 500 million spent Lake Issykku, one of the largest natural habitat. annually on protecting biodiversity in water reservoirs, is generating debate Source: The Guardian (2006), http:// the UK. The lack of spending on among researchers trying to explain why environment.guardian.co.uk/conservation/ conservation in the overseas territories its water levels are rising for the first story/0,,1846533,00.html has myriad effects. One recently discov- time for 150 years. The lake’s water ered threat to wildlife on a UK overseas levels have risen by c. 12 cm a year since Saltmarsh recreation project given territory, Gough Island in the South 1999, submerging sandy beaches and the go-ahead Atlantic, is the eating of thousands of washing plants from the shore. The A project in the Camel Estuary in the seabird chicks, including those of the causes of the water level rise are not south-west of England has been granted Endangered Tristan albatross and yet clear. Some believe that melting GBP 100,000 by the UK Government to Atlantic petrel, by invasive house mice. glaciers in the mountains around the breach existing sea defences with the Source: New Scientist (2006), 192(2574), lake are to blame but others point out aim of creating new areas of saltmarsh. 10. that water level fluctuation in Lake

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Issykku is normal, and that the level Conservation charity organizes aid has increased by 20–85% since 1984. depends on rainfall, water evaporation to villages in Lebanon Trees provide myriad benefits, such as and shifts in tectonic plates that alter the The Society for the Protection of Nature preventing soil erosion and providing shape of the lake bed. in Lebanon (SPNL), established during shade and fodder for livestock, which in Source: Environmental News Service (2006), the Lebanese Civil War, has been instru- turn produce manure that enriches the http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/aug mental in protecting one of the country’s soil. 2006/2006-08-07-03.asp Important Bird Areas (IBA) during the Source: New Scientist (2006), 192(2573), Israel-Lebanon conflict of 2006. The 11. Society orchestrated the delivery of aid to villages around the Kfar Zabad IBA, Penguins in prefabs which accommodated c. 120 displaced Up to 2,000 fibreglass houses are being North Africa and Middle families during the conflict, and where created for Vulnerable African penguins East the SPNL has initiated a revival of the on Dyer Island, South Africa. Penguin hima system, a traditional way of con- accommodation is at a premium on this serving water, grazing lands and other island, because guano collection in the Cloud-catching scheme provides natural resources. The provision of aid past deprived the birds of their natural glimmer of hope for new forests sought to prevent additional pressure of nesting substance of choice. Before the With virtually no rainfall occurring on a larger population on the Kfar Zabad installation of the artificial houses pen- the Canary Islands, the islands’ forests marshlands. guins were forced to nest on the island’s depend on fog from the Atlantic Ocean. Source: BirdLife News (2006), http://www. surface instead of in burrows, meaning Attempts to replant the bare hills birdlife.org/news/news/2006/09/kfar_ that the adults needed to be constantly of northern Lanzarote (a Biosphere zabad.html vigilant against attacks on their eggs and Reserve) have failed because the hill- young by kelp gulls. The charity respon- sides are too hot for the fog to settle on Marshes recovering sible for the installation of the penguin the ground. Instead, the fog stays c.1m The Mesopotamian marshes in southern houses, the Dyer Island Conservation above ground, beyond the reach of Iraq are recovering rapidly following Trust, is looking for sponsors for the saplings. In 2005, a pilot fog-collecting their drainage during the reign of structures. project got underway using a device Saddam Hussein. Thirty-nine percent Source: Avian Demography Unit, Univer- of the marshlands have become flooded consisting of a metal frame supporting sity of Cape Town (2006), http://web.uct. again, and many wetland plants and a plastic mesh, on which water con- ac.za/depts/stats/adu/dyerislandcon- animals have repopulated the marshes. denses and runs down into a plastic strust.htm Iraqi researchers have been performing bottle. The results were positive, with monthly surveys since 2004. The success 1m2 of mesh sufficient to collect 2 l of West African black rhino feared of the marshlands’ reclamation is due in water per day, more than enough for a extinct part to the good quality and quantity of seedling. Plans are now in place to A survey of the last strongholds of the water flowing down the Euphrates and install eight much larger nets of 12 m2 West African black rhino in northern Tigris rivers, the result of several years each to collect c. 200 l of water a day, Cameroon has failed to find any trace of of high snowmelt in the mountains of which will feed into an irrigation the subspecies, leading the African Turkey and Iran. However, researchers system for native tree saplings planted Rhino Specialist Group to speculate that warn that measures are still needed to it may now be extinct. Likewise, num- on the hillsides. safeguard the supply of water to south- bers of the northern white rhino have Source: New Scientist (2006), 191(2563), ern Iraq. reached an all time low, with only four 37–39. Source: New Scientist (2006), 191(2568), 7. individuals located during a survey of the rhino’s remaining habitat, Garamba Bombing of Lebanon results in oil National Park in the Democratic slick Republic of Congo. In both cases, it is The bombing of Lebanon by Israel the continued poaching for rhino horn Sub-Saharan Africa during July 2006 has had an effect on that is mainly to blame for the demise of the wildlife of the area. In mid July the these subspecies. There is some good Jiyyeh power plant was bombed, result- Greening the desert news for other rhino subspecies, how- ing in the release of 15,000 t of fuel oil Tree-planting in the Sahel region has ever, with populations of both the into the waters around the Lebanese converted the wastelands of this area continental black rhino and the southern coast. The resulting oil slick spread into farmland, as revealed by satellite white rhino on the increase. 150 km northwards and reached the photos of the same area in 1986 and Source: IUCN press release (7 July 2006), coast of Syria. An investigation of the 2006. Poor management and felling of http://www.iucn.org/en/news/archive/ Lebanese coast revealed the presence of trees for firewood caused the land in the 2006/07/7_pr_rhino.htm toxic chemicals such as polycyclic aro- Sahel to become barren, but since the matic hydrocarbons that can build up in mid 1980s farmers have been protecting Low-coverage vaccination helps animal tissue, and can cause the collapse the trees, with the result that 250,000 ha Ethiopian wolf of fish stocks. The clean up operation of land have become available for farm- The Endangered Ethiopian wolf, like will be hampered by the presence of the ing once more. In areas where there many other threatened species, is vul- oil on pebble beaches, which are difficult were barely any trees at all in the 1980s nerable to being wiped out by disease. In to clean. there are now between 50–100 per ha, the case of the Ethiopian wolf, rabies Source: New Scientist (2006), 191(2567), 5. with the result that cereal production outbreaks spread by domestic dogs have

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caused population crashes in the past. it has not been confirmed who killed the Another new species recorded in While it is possible to vaccinate gorillas it is unlikely to have been local Madagascar Ethiopian wolves against rabies, conven- people, who do not eat gorillas and have A new species of shrew tenrec has been tional vaccination programmes gener- been supportive of conservation work. discovered. The Tenrecidae is a family of ally require the vaccination of the Hippos and buffalos have also suffered small mammals mostly endemic to majority of individuals, which can be from heavy poaching as a result of the Madagascar, and its latest member impractical where threatened species are insurgency. Staff from the Institut comes from the Tsaratanana Massif, the concerned. However, new research has Congolais pour la Conservation de la highest mountain system on the island found that, when dealing with small Nature, supported by UN mission and one of Madagascar’s last zoologi- subpopulations such as those of the (MONUC) troops, have been attempting cally unexplored areas of montane for- Ethiopian wolf in the Bale Mountains, a to contact the dissident troops in the est. The new shrew tenrec Microgale better approach may be to prevent the Park to stop any further damaging jobihely, named after two Malagasy spread of the disease to other subpopu- activities. MONUC have been in talks words meaning dark (joby) and small lations through habitat corridors. This with General Nkunda that may bring an (hely), appears to be the only member of method, which aims to eliminate only end to this crisis. FFI is appealing to all the genus Microgale that is a localized the largest outbreaks of a disease, concerned to take immediate action to endemic. M. jobihely is currently only requires a lower rate of vaccination ensure that no more mountain gorillas known from a small area of forest among populations and should en- are harmed, and to ensure that their located outside the protected areas hance the long-term persistence of the forest habitat is safeguarded. system. population. Source: FFI press release (18 January 2007), Source: Journal of Zoology (2006), 270, Source: Nature (2006), 443(7112), 692–695. http://www.fauna-flora.org 384–398.

Madagascar protects wetlands Ebola transmitted within gorilla Chimps look both ways when crucial for people and birds groups crossing the road One of Madagascar’s most spectacular Recent research has suggested that fruit Chimpanzees have developed a protocol wildlife areas, almost 3,000 km2 of bats might be responsible for the spread- for crossing roads, and the strategy tropical wetlands, forests, savannahs ing of the Ebola virus, which has caused varies according to how dangerous the and caves, is to be protected by law. In the deaths of one third of the world’s road is. In studies of chimps in Boussou, January the Government of Madagascar lowland gorillas in the past 10 years. Guinea, it was found that adult males granted the area protected status for Researchers in the Republic of Congo’s positioned themselves at the front and 2 years, a preliminary step towards the Odzala National Park, however, suspect rear of the group as they crossed in area being granted permanent protec- that the gorillas are catching the disease single file, with females and juveniles in tion. Another wetland, Lake Alaotra in from one another, because the death rate the better-protected centre of the group. eastern Madagascar, was also granted of gorillas in the Park is consistent with The positions of the males varied similar protection. All of the wetland an epidemic model where group-living according to the perceived risks of the bird species of western Madagascar gorillas catch the disease from other road being negotiated; in some cases can be found in the Mahavavy-Kinkony group members, and also pass it on to males stood guard over the rest of the wetlands, which are also a vital solitary males. Further evidence comes group as it crossed. resource for fishing, hunting and from the fact that gorilla die offs lasted Source: New Scientist (2006), 191(2569), agriculture. The wetlands are key habi- for 10 months every year, which is 17. tats for Madagascar teal, Sakalava rail, longer than the dry season during which Madagascar sacred ibis and Madagascar gorillas encounter fruit bats. If apes are pond heron, and are also one of the last catching Ebola from one another vacci- Bushmeat markets thriving in the refuges for Madagascar fish eagle. The nation may in time halt the spread of the West area’s protection is part of President disease. A study of illegal bushmeat markets in Marc Ravalomanana’s ‘Durban Vision’, Source: New Scientist (2006), 191(2560), seven cities in North America and whereby Madagascar will increase 19. western Europe has found that over its total protected areas to 6 million ha 6,000 kg of meat moves through these by 2008. FFI acts following killings of rare markets every month. Visits to bush- Source: BirdLife News (2007), http:// mountain gorillas meat markets in London, Paris, Brussels, www.birdlife.org/news/news/2007/01/ Two mountain gorillas, both solitary New York, Chicago, Montreal and madagascar_wetlands.html silverback males, have been killed in Toronto found meat from a number of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s species, most commonly duikers, Cuckooshrike strikes back Virunga National Park. Both were killed although in 27 cases gorilla and chim- The control of predatory cats and rats on in January, and one is believed to have panzee parts were found for sale. As La Re´union is part of an action plan been eaten. It is feared that others may bushmeat is often smuggled into the designed to protect the Endangered already have been killed or are in country beneath legal shipments such as Re´union cuckooshrike, and is already imminent danger. Before the attacks, it dried or smoked fish it is difficult to having an effect. The removal of these was thought that just 700 mountain estimate how much bushmeat is enter- invasive predators from a reserve on the gorillas were left in this region, with c. ing the countries, and the findings of northern part of the island led to four 150 in the Park. Dissident troops loyal to this study are likely to underestimate the out of five pairs of cuckooshrike rearing General Laurent Nkunda have recently international trade. chicks successfully, whereas a nearby been occupying the Park, and although Source: New Scientist (2006), 191(2559), 8. area where cats and rats were not

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controlled saw only two out of six pairs Nepalese drug firm offers lifeline to have taken place is threatened by plans raising chicks successfully. Habitat loss beleaguered vultures to build a highway. and degradation, forest fires and preda- Medivet, Nepal’s largest manufacturer Source: BirdLife News (2006), http:// tion by invasive species have reduced of the drug diclofenac have been praised www.birdlife.org/news/news/2006/09/ the Re´union cuckooshrike’s population for its voluntary decision to replace the bugun_liocichla.html from 120 pairs in the 1990s to fewer than drug with a safe alternative, meloxicam, 50 pairs. at the same price. India already plans to Biodiverse karsts at risk of Source: BirdLife News (2006), http:// replace diclofenac, responsible for the disappearing www.birdlife.org/news/news/2006/09/ deaths of millions of vultures on the Formed millions of years ago, South-east reunion_cuckooshrike.html Indian subcontinent over the last dec- Asia’s limestone karsts are home to ade, with meloxicam and it is hoped many unique and threatened species, Uganda designates nine new that the move by Medivet will encou- including a blind, rock-climbing loach Ramsar sites rage the Nepalese government to follow and many endemic snail species. Karsts Uganda has added nine wetlands, ran- suit. have been understudied in the past, ging from the country’s largest tract of Source: New Scientist (2006), 191(2564), 6. leading researchers to speculate that swamp forest to a waterfall system and they may contain species yet to be papyrus beds, to the List of Wetlands of World mourns conservation heroes discovered. While c. 13% of South-east National Importance designated under Twenty-four people died in a helicopter Asia’s karst area is protected, karsts in the Ramsar Convention. The country crash in eastern Nepal in September, some countries, such as Cambodia and now has 11 Ramsar sites in total, cover- among them a group of internationally- Myanmar, have minimal or no protec- ing 354,803 ha. One of the newly renowned Nepalese conservationists. tion. A growing demand for limestone designated wetlands, Lake Opeta, is The helicopter came down in bad has caused an increase in limestone home to Fox’s weaver Ploceus spekeoides, weather while returning from an event quarrying, with the result that some karsts in the Pahang and Sabah regions the only bird species endemic to in which the Nepalese government had of Malaysia have been completely Uganda, while one of the other sites, handed control of the protected area levelled by mining companies. Lutembe Bay, close to Uganda’s capital surrounding Kangchenjunga, the Source: National Geographic News (2006), city Kampala, is visited by up to world’s third-highest mountain, to local http://news.nationalgeographic.com/ 1.5 million migrant white-winged black community control. Among the Nepalis news/2006/09/060912-stone-karst_2.html terns. who perished in the disaster were Source: BirdLife News (2006), http:// Harka Gurung, one of the world’s Earthquake appeal aids recovery in www.birdlife.org/news/news/2006/09/ leading experts on the Himalayas, Palas Valley ugandan_ramsar.html Tirtha Maskey, an expert on crocodiles A year after the massive earthquake in and rhinoceroses, and Mingma Sherpa, northern Pakistan funds raised by the first person from his ethnic group, BirdLife International have helped to the janajati, to be the warden of the repair a bridleway into a remote moun- National Park that contains Everest. tain valley where 79 people died in the Also aboard the helicopter were seven South and South-east Asia quake. The restoration of the bridleway foreigners, including the Finnish charge means that people living in the Upper d’affaires, Pauli Mustonen, and four Palas Valley have improved access to the Ultimate dolphin-friendly fishery crew members. main road, allowing them to transport protected Source: BBCNews (2006), http://news.bbc. their agricultural and other produce The government of Myanmar has estab- co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/5379598. from the valley to market and to move lished a protected area to safeguard a stm their livestock to and from their summer unique association between Critically pastures, as well as granting relief Spectacular new bird species Endangered Irrawaddy dolphins and agencies better access to the valley for fishermen on the Ayeyarwaddy River. found in India their reconstruction work. The cost of The small, beakless dolphins are very An Indian astronomer has identified a the repair was USD 15,000, but estimates skilful at herding fish into the fisher- new bird species in Arunachal Pradesh, suggest than USD 220,000 will be men’s nets and can increase the size of 10 years after he first spotted it in required to repair all the essential infra- the catch three-fold. Ironically, the dol- Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary. Returning structure in the valley. phin has been brought to the brink of with mist nets and permits, Ramana Source: BirdLife News (2006), http:// extinction by other river users through Athreya caught an adult of the new www.birdlife.org/news/news/2006/10/ becoming trapped in nets, electrocuted species, which has been named Liocichla palas_bridleway.html by illegal electric fishing, poisoned by bugunorum because most of the sightings mercury and having its habitat altered have taken place in the community by gold mining operations. The new forest belonging to the Bugan tribe. The protected area spans 70 km of the bird, a type of Asian babbler, is very Ayeyarwaddy River, and will be colourful, with distinctive calls. The East Asia patrolled regularly to enforce the prohi- fact that previous surveys had failed to bition on electric fishing and gold discover it mean its population is prob- mining. ably very small. Work has now com- Paddies could help mitigate China’s Source: Wildlife Conservation Society menced on developing an ecotourism greenhouse gas emissions (2006), http://www.wcs.org/353624/ project for Eaglenest, although the area A new soil map of China has prompted irrawaddydolphin where most sightings of the new species researchers to revise their calculations of

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the land area taken up by rice paddies North America Translocated Laysan teal breed from 30 to 45.7 million ha. Additional successfully research has found that the mean den- Laysan teal on Midway Atoll National Buffalo to roam the prairies again sity of carbon stored in the top metre of Wildlife Refuge had a successful breed- paddy soil is higher than originally Bison, once the dominant species of the ing season in 2006, 2 years after a thought. As a result, it is estimated that American west, look set to make a come- founder population of wild teal was Chinese rice paddies store 5.1 billion t of back. While there are still c. 350,000 bison moved from Laysan Island to Midway carbon, leading to the suggestion that on the prairies, these are mostly the result Atoll as an insurance policy for the the Chinese government could look for of interbreeding between cattle and population on Laysan Island. The popu- bison. Now a conservation land trust, ways to sequester carbon emissions in its lation on Midway Atoll has doubled in the American Prairie Foundation, has soils as a means of mitigating the atmo- the 2 years since its establishment, and released 20 pure-bred bison onto its land spheric increases of greenhouse gases birds now occur on, and fly between, in Montana, and it is hoped that, in produced by the country’s expanding two islands within the Midway Atoll. 100 years time, bison will once again be economy. Monitoring of the populations on integral to land management in the Source: New Scientist (2006), 192(2573), Laysan Island and Midway Atoll have American west. Bison herds are beneficial 16. revealed some interesting differences to grassland ecosystems, with evidence of between the two populations, with the wildfires burning less hot in areas grazed teal on Midway Atoll breeding at an by bison. China considering tiger farms earlier age and laying more eggs than Source: New Scientist (2006), 192(2575), A think tank in India has suggested that those on Laysan, suggesting that food or 16. the use of tiger farms could be used to habitat on the latter island may be benefit tigers in the wild by supplying limited. First ‘elepaio nest found in tiger parts to the international market, Source: US Geological Survey press release Po¯ hakuloa thus making it uneconomic to hunt (23 October 2006). The Hawai‘i ‘elepaio Chasiempis sandwi- tigers in the wild and raising revenue chensis sandwichensis is a subspecies for tiger conservation. China has 4,000 Wildlife suffers along USA-Mexico endemic to the island of Hawai‘i that tigers being reared in a few farms, but border occurs in the dry forests of south and the current law prohibits the killing of During the last 10 years or so security at west Hawai‘i. While a population of the tigers, so the farmers have to wait until birds was known to occur in the US major crossing points on the USA- the animals die of natural causes before Army’s Po¯hakuloa Training Area, no Mexico border has been stepped up, they can sell their parts. Conserva- nest had ever been observed. In 2006, with the result that migrants and drug- tionists are concerned, however, that however, two biologists came across an runners now cross the border in the opening up the trade in tiger parts will ‘elepaio nest under construction in Sonoran desert, home to the Endangered make it harder to track illegally obtained the area, and more recently the female pronghorn antelope. Not only do the tiger parts, and they also suspect that has been observed incubating. The nest immigrants and drug-smugglers pose a tigers will still be hunted as wild tiger will be monitored closely, and a rodent risk to the rich biodiversity of the area, parts are more valuable than their control grid will be maintained through- but it is not safe for researchers to work farmed equivalent. out the breeding season to prevent there; in 2002 a ranger was killed in the Source: New Scientist (2006), 192(2578), predation of the nest by rats. desert in a drug-related pursuit. Recent 16–17. Source: ‘elepaio (2006), 66(7), 55. bills in the House and Senate propose hundreds of km of additional fencing Hawai’i urges blackout for birds along the border, which would prove Mongolian saiga to be tracked The Hawaiian island of Kauai is home to hard for non-volant wildlife to cross. In The Wildlife Conservation Society have three nocturnal sea birds, the Hawaiian some areas, however, alternatives to caught eight Endangered Mongolian petrel, Newell’s shearwater and the solid fences are being used; in the saiga in the Gobi desert and fitted them band-rumped storm-petrel, all of which summer of 2006 the National Park with global positioning satellites to try navigate by moonlight. All three species Service funded the erection of a barrier and learn more about this rare antelope. are protected under the US Endangered consisting of a steel pipe one metre off The saiga’s population has fallen from c. Species Act, which, in a novel ruling, has the ground, which lets wildlife through 1 million to only 30,000, with fragmen- asked that all nonessential lights are but prevents access by cars. ted populations occurring in parts of turned off on the island between 15 Source: Nature (2006), 442(7101), 338–339. Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kalmykia, September and 15 December, the period and Kazakhstan as well as Mongolia. when the easily confused young birds Alpine plants flowering earlier The main cause of the species’ demise leave their nests for the sea. The island’s because of climate change has been hunting; saiga horns can fetch electricity company is helping the cam- A long-term investigation of pollina- more than USD 100 per kg in China. The paign by darkening all of its 3,000 tion ecology in the Colorado Rocky information gained from the collared streetlights, some of which have been Mountains has found that the timing of saiga in Mongolia will help researchers turned off entirely. The company has alpine flowering is becoming earlier and devise an effective strategy for their also installed large balls on its power the abundance of some flower species conservation. (See also Oryx, 38, 250– lines to try and reduce the number of has changed. The change in timing of 251; 39, 372–373; 40, 103–107). birds crashing into the cables. flowering may have serious negative Source: Environmental News Service (2006), Source: National Geographic News (2006), effects on both plants and their pollina- http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/oct http://news.nationalgeographic.com/ tors, particularly as evidence shows that 2006/2006-10-20-01.asp news/2006/09/060919-light-birds.html plants and pollinators are responding

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differently to climate change. The pro- extinction in the wild the species has compensate for the deforestation within blem is further exacerbated by the fact been kept in captivity, but it is estimated Cristalino State Park, but would also that climate change affects high altitudes that fewer than 100 individuals remain. conveniently remove groups that oppose in a different way than lower altitudes. Now a Socorro dove has been bred the State Government’s plans. The pri- Researchers fear that climate change will successfully at London Zoo, fuelling vate reserve was established by irrevocably disrupt the relationships hopes that this will mark a reversal in Cristalino Lodge (a successful ecotour- between pollinators and plants that have the fortunes of the species. Conserva- ism business) and the Cristalino co-evolved over thousands of years. tionists hope that Arnie, named by his Ecological Foundation (a local environ- Source: Earthwatch press release (17 keepers after Arnold Schwarzernegger, mental NGO), with the assistance of August 2006). will be part of a captive breeding Fauna & Flora International. Individuals programme that will culminate in rein- closely connected to the State Govern- Florida reports ivory-billed troduction to the forests of Socorro ment are known to have private interests woodpecker sightings Island. in lands within the Park. Mato Grosso Following the claims that the ivory- Source: BBCNews (2006), http://news.bbc. has suffered the highest rate of defor- billed woodpecker was spotted in co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6097346. estation in the Brazilian Amazon. Arkansas in 2005, researchers have stm Source: FFI press release (11 January 2007), now tracked the woodpecker down to http://www.fauna-flora.org) the Choctawhatchee River in Florida. Between May 2005 and May 2006 there Brazilian soy farmers agree to 2- were 14 sightings of the bird in the Central America and year moratorium on forest forests along the river. In addition, the Caribbean clearance researchers also heard sounds that An initiative led by the Brazilian matched those recorded for the ivory- Association of Vegetable Oil Producers Critically Endangered lizards hatch billed woodpecker. Before the current and the Brazilian National Grains eggs spate of sightings of the woodpecker the Exporters’ Association has resulted in last fully documented sighting in the Three eggs laid by blue iguanas in a Brazil’s major soy traders agreeing to a Nature Reserve on Grand Cayman USA was in Louisiana in 1944, and 2-year moratorium on buying soybeans Island have hatched. The main threat many had speculated that the bird had from areas in the Amazon deforested faced by the reptiles is rapid habitat become extinct. after July 24 2006. The agreement comes destruction. During 1993–2002 the Source: BirdLife News (2006), http:// as a result of increased public awareness amount of land they occupied decreased www.birdlife.org/news/news/2006/09/ and NGO pressure about the links by half, with the result that their florida_ivory.html between fast-food and deforestation population fell by 80%. The Blue resulting from the expansion of soy Iguana Recovery Programme was Alaskan wetlands given reprieve - farming. Soy farming is held responsible initiated in 1990, and has released 219 for the moment for much of the current deforestation in captive-bred iguanas into Salina Nature One of the most important habitats in the Amazon, and is also blamed for soil Reserve since 2004. The unmanaged the Artic has been handed a lifeline by a degradation and water pollution. population of blue iguanas is likely to Source: Arborvitae (2006), 31,2. federal judge in the face of the Bush be extinct within the next 10 years. administration’s plan to open the area to Source: BBC News (2006), http://news. Two new species of Brazilian oil drilling. The US Interior Department bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6083816.stm estimates that the area around reptile Teshekpuk Lake in Alaska contains Two new species of lizard have been c. 1.4 billion barrels of oil, but it is also described from Brazil: Stenocercus squar- the summer home of most of North rosus and Stenocercus quinarius. The South America America’s duck and geese and a calving reptiles were found in regions of cerrado ground for caribou. The Interior Depart- and caatinga. The habitat of S. quinarius ment had planned to sell leases covering Brazil approves deforestation of is the Serta˜o Veredas National Park more than 8 million acres of Alaska’s important Amazon reserve between Minas Gerais and Bahia. National Petroleum Reserve, but the US The State Government of Mato Grosso, S. squarrosus was found in the Serra District Judge ruled that the federal Brazil, has voted to reduce drastically das Confuso˜es National Park, southern government’s analysis of the environ- one of the Amazon’s most biodiverse Piauı´. The two new species live on tree mental impacts of drilling in the Reserve reserves, Cristalino State Park, which is trunks and in tree holes, where they are was flawed. a world-renowned ecotourism destina- very well camouflaged. Source: Environmental News Service (2006), tion that is home to over 550 species of Source: Conservation International press http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/sep bird and protects threatened species release (24 January 2007). 2006/2006-09-08-01.asp such as the white-whiskered spider monkey. Twenty-seven thousand ha of Illegal hunting hampers huemul Hope for Socorro dove its forest will now be unprotected and conservation The Socorro dove, native to the one of vulnerable to logging, cattle ranching Poachers have deliberately killed a the Revillagigedo Islands 600 miles off and agribusiness. The State Government huemul in a captive breeding centre the coast of Mexico, died out in the 1970s is also set to seize a private reserve on established specifically for reintroduc- after being hunted for food, having its the southern border of the park, tions. In late October a pregnant female forest floor habitat destroyed by sheep although it lacks the funds necessary huemul was shot and killed inside a 64 ha and being eaten by feral cats. Since its to manage it. This would supposedly enclosure established at Huilo-Huilo in

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the Lake District, Chile. The deer had been are already experiencing a decrease in RSPB and Leicestershire and Rutland shot through the chest and then aban- the available water supply. Wildlife Trust. Almost 19,000 people doned, suggesting that it had been killed Source: BBC News (2006), http://news. attended the event in August 2006. The deliberately. The motive remains unclear. bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/5361840.stm donation from the Fair will contribute The centre held four huemul, brought towards BirdLife’s work in the Pacific there in 2005 to start the process of Speed camera to save tapirs Islands. Pacific parrots are becoming reintroducing the species to the northern In January the Transportation Depart- extinct at a higher rate than anywhere range of the Lake District. Huemul were ment of Sa˜o Paulo State, Brazil, installed else in the world, mainly due to invasive last seen in this region approximately 20 a speed radar on the highway that alien species such as cats and black rats. years ago. This killing follows previous crosses Morro do Diabo State Park, The donation will help BirdLife cases earlier in the year when two radio- which is an important area for tapirs strengthen and raise capacity of collared huemul and a fawn were killed in and is the stronghold for the black lion BirdLife partners in the Pacific, provid- separate incidents in Tamango Reserve tamarin Leonopithecus chrysopygus. The ing a basis to halt parrot declines and in Region XI, Chile. The loss of these speed limit on the road of 70 km per hour protecting habitats through the animals, all in protected areas, indicates is to ensure that drivers have enough Important Bird Areas Programme. the scale of illegal hunting and the time to see any animals crossing the Source: BirdLife News (2007), http:// difficulties facing conservation efforts for road. A number of tapirs are killed by www.birdlife.org/news/news/2007/01/ the species. cars on this road each year. In the first british_birdfair_cheq_presentation.html Source: IUCN (2006), http://www.lun. weekend 90 cars were found speeding, com/ElDia/detalle_noticia.asp?cuerpo5 and as the tickets are expensive (BRL 701&seccion5801&subseccion5901&id- 450, or GBP 110) it is believed the fine noticia5CD9H5SQ520061101 will be a major deterrent and will help prevent animal deaths on the road. Australia/Antarctica/New Pinta to feel the patter of tortoise Source: Http://www.tapirspecialistgroup.org Zealand feet once more New coffee helps rare songbird The island of Pinta in the Galapagos ‘Fred the Thread’ wriggles his way archipelago is to be repopulated by In January the American Bird Conser- into the record books tortoises, 35 years after the last indivi- vancy announced that Cerulean Warbler Conservation Coffee is now available for Three years after finding the world’s dual of Pinta’s endemic subspecies of sale. This is shade grown coffee from thinnest caterpillar, nick-named Fred the tortoise, Lonesome George, was taken plantations in Central Colombia that the Thread, researchers have finally identi- into captivity. The 100 tortoises to be cerulean warbler, a declining songbird fied its adult form, a previously released on Pinta originate from another that nests in North America, depends on unknown genus of moth. The moth has island in the Galapagos archipelago, during the winter. Proceeds from the been given the name Houdinia flexilis- Espan˜ ola, and are not of the same coffee sales will be used to maintain the sima, because the adult moth must per- subspecies as Lonesome George, making shade plantations and an adjacent ceru- form a Houdini-esque escape to leave this the first time that a conservation lean warbler forest reserve. Shade grown the narrow stem in which the caterpillar project in the Galapagos islands has coffee plantations are at risk of being pupates. The future of the newly dis- used taxon substitution. It is hoped that converted to sun coffee and other cash covered species is bleak however, as the the introduction of the Espan˜ ola sub- crops, resulting in a loss of forest cover caterpillar lives exclusively within the species to Pinta will help restore the and bird habitat. The loss of these stems of a threatened rush-like plant island’s ecological balance and also plantations is cited as a reason for the Sporadanthus ferrugineus, only found at maintain numbers of the Espan˜ ola sub- bird’s decline. The American Bird three wetland sites in Waikato, New species, which dropped to a low of 15 Conservancy teamed up with its Zealand. individuals at one time, but now num- Colombian partner, Fundacion ProAves, Source: Landcare Research press release (19 bers in the thousands. local growers’ cooperative COOPERAN, October 2006), http://www.landcarere- Source: Nature (2006), 443(7113), 737. American Birding Association, and the search.co.nz/news/release.asp?Ne_ID5209 Thanksgiving Coffee Company to bring Brazilian ranchers to be forced to this organic coffee to market. River gets protection reforest their land Source: Http://www.abcbirds.org South Canterbury’s Rangitata River is The government of Acre state in the now protected by a Water Conservation west of Brazil has started a nursery of Order, which identifies areas of the river native seedlings outside the capital, Rio that are to be retained in their natural Branco, which are to be issued to state. It prohibits the building of new ranchers to try and halt the deforestation Pacific dams, limits activities that may alter the of this part of the Amazon. The govern- river’s flow and braided character, and ment has a long-term aim to develop protects water quality and fish passage. sustainable forestry as a key income British Birdwatching Fair supports The Rangitata River provides large generator for the state, and to this end Pacific parrots areas of unmodified habitat for aquatic ranchers may be made to reforest up to The British Birdwatching Fair has raised birds, and is probably the most impor- 30% of their land. Although Acre is only GBP 215,000 for the conservation of tant breeding ground of the Vulnerable 11% deforested, much of the destruction parrots in the Pacific, many of which wrybill, the only bird species with a is focused around the capital, with some are facing considerable threats. The bill that curves to the right. Without municipalities affected more than others. annual 3-day fair is held at Rutland protection it was feared that the smaller In some cases heavily deforested areas Water and is jointly promoted by the braids along the river would dry up as a

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result of water extraction, reducing the number of snakebites and toxicologists of blame being pointed at fishermen feeding area for aquatic birds and have treated 60 serious cases since who catch them accidentally. Conser- removing the protective moat around September. The drought is making vationists are worried that the future of their nests. snakes far more active. However, con- the species in Australian waters is at Source: Forest & Bird (2006), 321, 11. servationists have insisted that many risk, with only 500 individuals estimated snakes have been unnecessarily killed by to remain in this area, and accuse the Lungfish’s future slithering away worried residents. New South Wales state government of The Australian lungfish, which has Source: BBC News (2007), http://news. pandering to the recreational fishing survived virtually unchanged for bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6282075.stm lobby by not doing enough to protect 100 million years, is confined to two the species. Campaigners are calling for river systems in Queensland, a drought- South Georgia’s fishing industry a 1.5 km wide sanctuary zone around 16 stricken area of Australia with the gains certification critical grey shark aggregation sites that country’s fastest growing population. The long-line fishery for Patagonian would include a complete ban on fish- One of these two rivers, the Burnett, toothfish in South Georgia has been ing. The state government, however, was dammed in 2005, and there are now certified as a sustainable and well- refutes claims that it is failing its legal plans to dam the second river, the Mary. managed fishery by the Marine obligations towards the protected shark, Because the lungfish is protected, Stewardship Council. All the boats in and accuses the green groups of exag- the dam project needs to pass a the fishery use mitigation measures geration and scaremongering. federal environmental impact assess- developed by the Commission for the Source: BBC News (2006), http://news. ment before it is approved. Despite the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/5414410.stm Queensland government’s assurances Resources to reduce seabird catch. The that the lungfish will be taken into measures have been instrumental in account in the plans, to the extent of reducing the number of accidental alba- building a ‘fish elevator’ to carry lung- tross deaths from several thousand each The Briefly section in this issue fish across the dam, biologists fear that year to single figures. The toothfish is was written and compiled by the fish’s future is not secure, as the dam still threatened by illegal fishing and Elizabeth Allen and Martin will destroy its traditional spawning overfishing in other fisheries, but the Fisher, with additional contribu- grounds. certification means that consumers can tions from Patricia Medici, Source: Nature (2006), 442(7100), 232–233. now opt to buy toothfish from the Michelle Reynolds and Anthony sustainable South Georgian fishery. Rylands. Contributions from Australians face snake invasion Source: BirdLife News (2006), http:// authoritative published sources A serious drought is driving tens of www.birdlife.org/news/news/2006/09/ (including web sites) are always thousands of snakes into urban areas in toothfish.html welcome. Please send contribu- Australia, with many venomous reptiles tions by e-mail to oryx@fauna- moving into residential and business Greens threaten legal action to flora.org, or to Martin Fisher, areas in search of moisture. Many ensure grey sharks’ protection Fauna & Flora International, parts of Australia have been hard hit Despite being protected since 1984, grey Great Eastern House, Tenison by the worst drought in 100 years. nurse shark numbers off the east coast of Road, Cambridge, CB1 2TT, UK. Hospitals have reported a rising Australia continue to fall, with the finger

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