Wildlife News Roundup - February 2008

In this issue of Wildlife News Roundup, we learn of the discovery of a giant fossil frog in Madagascar and a giant elephant shrew in Tanzania. There is also news of a decline in India's wild tiger population and reports that invasive predators could be closing in on Antarctica's native species. On the more positive front, the Indonesian government is taking significant steps to deter the illegal trade of turtles within their country while the WWF sets up online resources to foster a reduction in bycatch.

• Indonesian Government Moves to Regulate Turtle Trade (WWF) — February 25, 2008. The government of Indonesia is clamping down on the illegal trade in freshwater turtles and tortoises throughout the country. Tighter regulations are aimed to curb the illegal sale of turtles in pet markets in Jakarta.
• Giant Frog Jumps Continents, May Have Eaten Baby Dinosaurs (Science Daily) — February 19, 2008. A 70-million-year-old frog fossil discovered in Madagascar provides paleobiogeographical evidence which suggests Madagascar, India, and South America remained connected until the Late Cretaceous.
• New Paradigm On Ecosystem Ecology Proposed (Science Daily) — February 19, 2008. A recent study suggests that predators are more influential over community structure and function than vegetation and supply of nutrients.
• World's Largest Marine Reserve Declared (National Geographic) — February 15, 2008. Kiribati, a small Pacific island nation, has expanded the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA), a marine reserve located midway between Hawaii and Fiji. The expansion makes PIPA the world's largest marine reserve.
• Crab, Shark Invasion May Threaten Antarctic Marine Life (National Geographic) — February 15, 2008. Scientists warn that as the Earth's Oceans warm, king crabs and sharks may invade the shallow waters around Antarctica. The result could mean devastation for the region's native species, since both sharks and crabs are highly efficient predators.
• India Reports Sharp Decline in Wild Tigers (National Geographic) — February 13, 2008. The Indian government announced that the wild tiger population in the country has fallen from 3,600 individuals to 1,411 individuals in the past five years.
• India's Tigers at Risk, Census Confirms (WWF) — February 13, 2008. The WWF showed its support for the Indian government in its efforts to accurately report on falling tiger populations within the country and take immediate conservation action on the species behalf.
• New Guide to Reducing Bycatch Goes Online (WWF) — February 12, 2008. On-line resources have been set up by the WWF which provide information to fishermen and consumers about eliminating bycatch.
• Are Americans Afraid of the Outdoors? (Scientific American) — February 5, 2008. According to scientists studying trends in outdoor activities, fewer and fewer Americans are visiting national parks, camping, and enjoying the out doors.
• New Species of Giant Elephant-shrew Discovered (Science Daily) — February 1, 2008. The new species was discovered in the forests of Tanzania and is 25 to 50 percent larger than any previously described species of elephant-shrew.

About Wildlife News Roundup

Wildlife News Roundup 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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