Wildlife News Roundup - September 2007
In this issue of Wildlife News Round-Up, we find out about a series of sightings of the 'smiling bird', a rare bird from South America that has not been seen for four decades. There is also news of the discovery of 11 new species in the rainforests of Vietnam. Yet the headlines this month are not all about species discoveries. Instead, there are a number of headlines highlighting continued species declines and concerns. A report detailing the potential fate of the polar bear over the coming decades has been released by the US Government. And there is the sad news of the deaths of dozens of endangered albatrosses due to longline fishing.
- Another Mountain Gorilla Killed in DRC (Fauna & Flora International) — September 27, 2007. A female mountain gorilla abducted by illegal wildlife traffickers in the DRC has died, raising the number of mountain gorillas killed this year to 10.
- Rediscovering the Smiling Bird (Birdlife International) – September 26, 2007. The Recurve-Billed Bushbird (Clytoctantes alixii), also referred to as the 'smiling bird', had not been seen for 40 years and was feared extinct. Now, a series of sightings in Venezuela and Columbia have inspired a renewed search for the bird.
- New Animal and Plant Species Found in Vietnam (WWF) – September 26, 2007. Eleven previously undescribed animals and plants have been discovered in the remote tropical forests of central Vietnam.
- Urgent Call to Action Follows New Zealand Albatross Deaths (Birdlife International) – September 20, 2007. A longline vessel fishing off the coast of New Zealand has reportedly caused the deaths of 36 albatrosses. Among the birds that became entangled in the lines and drowned are 12 critically endangered Chatham Albatrosses (Thalassarche eremite).
- 'Red List' Sheds Light on Species Extinction Crisis (NPR) — September 13, 2007. The World Conservation Union has released an updated version of their Red List of the world's threatened and endangered species.
- Time Running Out for Polar Bears (WWF) – September 11, 2007. A report by the US Geological Survey has been published which details the threats polar bears face over the coming decades. This report presents the scientific evidence that will be used by the US government as they decide whether or not to list the polar bear under the Endangered Species Act.
- Global Warming May Be Keeping Gray Whale Numbers Down (National Geographic) — September 10, 2007. Analysis of gray whale DNA has revealed that the species' genetic diversity is higher than previously thought. Researchers believe the average gray whale population could have been three to five times more numerous than they are today.
- Middle East Virus Likely Cause of Honeybee Collapse (NPR) — September 6, 2007. A disease known as Colony Collapse Disorder has caused a drastic decline in honeybee populations throughout the US in recent years. Now scientists think they may have identified the origin of the disease.
- Humans' Complex Social Skills Due to Larger Brains (National Geographic) — September 6, 2007. The human abilities to form relationships, talk, and gossip may all be the result of a large brain.
- The Bird Man of Midway Atoll (NPR) — September 4, 2007. Biologist Jimmy Breeden has been working to ensure the future of the Laysan Duck by establishing a colony of the birds on Midway Atoll with the hope of reducing the species' risk of extinction.
About Wildlife News Round-Up
Wildlife News Round-Up is a monthly digest featuring animals and wildlife headlines from around the web. It includes headlines from well-established sources such as the World Wildlife Fund, BBC News, New York Times, National Public Radio, National Geographic, and Birdlife International. The sources are selected with care and include only those that archive articles for many years, offer top-notch science writing, and follow stories as they develop over time.
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