News
We bring you the latest from around the World in wildlife and conservation news.
Rescuers Manage To Free Entangled Humpback Whale Calf
The Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) managed to free a baby humpback whale that had become entangled in rope of the coast of New South Wales. The young calf was first seen near Bermagui and was being protected by its mother. Unfortunately initial efforts to rescue the whale were prevented due to bad weather.
Last Male Sumatran Rhino In Captivity Flown To Indonesia To Breed
The Sumatran rhino is a critically endangered species and one of the last remaining males living in a US Zoo has been flown to Indonesia in the hopes that it will mate with females on the island. It is hoped that the species will be saved if the male is successful. Harapan is an eight year old male Sumatran rhino that was born in captivity in Cincinnati and was the last Sumatran rhino living in the Western hemisphere.
Giant Panda Cub Is Named At The Smithsonian National Zoo
The Smithsonian National Zoo has finally named a giant-panda cub. The new arrival will be called Bei Bei which in Mandarin means “precious treasure.” The naming ceremony took place at the Smithsonian in Washington D.C. at the end of September. Bei Bei’s name was revealed by the First Ladies of the United States And China. Michelle Obama and Peng Liyuan announced the name with the help of third graders from a charter school in Washington. The name was unveiled on a scroll which contained Bei Bei’s name in both English and Mandarin.
All Chimpanzees Are Now Considered Endangered In The United States
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has announced that Chimpanzees have been added to the Endangered Species Act. For decades wild and captive chimpanzees has different status. The FWS used to list captive chimps as just a threatened species, whilst wild chimps were considered as endangered. Under the new designation, from September 14th all Chimpanzees are now considered endangered.
Man Saves Daughter By Punching Mountain Lion In The Face
A man from Vancouver Island saved the life of his two year old daughter by punching a mountain lion in the face after the animal attacked the girl whilst she was playing in her backyard. In an interview with the Vancouver Sun, the girl’s mother said Bree Nielsen sustained some puncture wounds to her chest, face and back, but other that that was in relatively healthy condition.
Three Rare Javan Rhino Calves Born
There was some good news on the rhino conservation front. According to a report by National Geographic, there is evidence which suggests the critically endangered Javan rhino is reproducing in Indonesia’s Ujung Kulon National Park. The park serves as home to the last 60 Javan rhinos on the planet. Video taken from the park’s camera traps show there are now three new rhino calves. The footage shows there is cause to be optimistic says Barney Long director of species conservation for WWF who maintain the camera traps.
Rare Species Of Wallabies Spotted For The First Time In Two Decades
For the first time in two decades, the extremely rare black flanked wallaby has been spotted about 580 kilometres North of Perth in the Kalbarri National Park. The two marsupials which measure just 45cm high are also referred to as warru or black footed wallaby. The animals were photographed by a rock climber in a gorge back in August. Albert Jacob, the environment minister for Western Australia said it was obvious that these shy animals have been living in the national park unseen since 1995 when they were last sighted.
Sumatran Rhino On The Brink Of Extinction
The Sumatran rhino is very near extinction according to a leading conservation organisation. There are less than 100 of the animals left on Indonesian island of Sumatra’s rainforests and the Kalimantan province of Borneo. It has been nearly two years since the last Sumatran Rhino was spotted in the Sabah region of Borneo and experts have now declared the species extinct in Malaysia. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is now warning the future is far from bright for the fate of the species which could become extinct without urgent action.