Doubts Over Chernobyl Wildlife Recovery
An argument has erupted over the environmental health of the area surrounding the Chernobyl nuclear reactor that exploded catastrophically more than two decades ago.
Humans are still forbidden to live within 30 kilometres of the site of the 1986 accident, described as the worst environmental disaster of all time. But this evacuation zone is still home to many bird and animal species. Some research has determined that this wildlife is still suffering the effects of the disaster; other ecologists have declared that the area`s ecosystem is thriving and that the radiation has had no lasting effect on wildlife.
Full story: UNIAN
Filed under Uncategorized | Comment (0)Badly Burnt Bear Rescued
IAR’s [International Animal Rescue] partners in India have carried out an unusual rescue mission to save a wild bear that had been electrocuted. The young male of about 15 months old had his muzzle badly burnt and was completely blinded in one eye after climbing an electricity transmission pole in search of honey.
Full story here
Filed under Uncategorized | Comment (0)Japan Refuses To Halt Whaling
News from International Animal Rescue:
Japan has pledged to push ahead with its plans to hunt whales, despite the Australian election being won by a party who have previously questioned the legality of its whaling missions.
The Australian Labor Party, which triumphed in national elections on Saturday (November 24th), had previously called for legal action against Japanese whaling in Antarctic waters, Reuters reported.
However, while a Japanese government minister recognised the anger that its latest hunt for humpback whales was causing in Australia, he stated that they had no plans to change their research whaling programme.
“Humpback whales are very popular in Australia. I have heard that to catch and kill a humpback whale is a very emotional thing,” said Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura.
“We have discussed this within the government, but for the moment we are continuing as planned,” he added.
The Japanese fleet heading to the Antarctic is aiming to kill up to 50 humpback and 50 fin whales, as well as 935 minke whales, USA Today reported, with the country’s Fisheries Agency claiming it is their largest ever scientific whale hunt.
Filed under Uncategorized | Comment (0)MP Adopts My Auntie
Hastings and Rye MP Michael Foster has adopted a humpback whale to show his opposition to Japanese whaling.
The adoptee, named My Auntie, was brought to Mr Foster’s attention by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), which aims to protect this and other vulnerable species.
Robbie Marsland, director of IFAW UK, said: “IFAW is very grateful to Michael for showing his support for the whales. Whaling is inherently cruel – there is simply no humane way to kill a whale.”
“Our scientists have analysed footage of Japanese whaling which shows whales taking over half an hour to die a very slow and agonising death. We urge the UK government and other anti-whaling nations to take diplomatic action at the highest levels to protect whales.”
Read more: Politics.co.uk
Flipping Busy Time
With a steady stream of animals being brought in to the Middlebank in Fife, the Scottish SPCA run rescue centre is bursting at the seams, and new accommodation is being sought. The seal unit is usually full to capacity with pups and adults rescued from the east coast of Scotland.
Winter storms wash up many seal pups, the lucky ones are rescued and bought to the centre; the cost of keeping a single seal is £1000.
For further reading and a picture of the most beautiful seal pup: The Scotsman
Filed under Uncategorized | Comment (0)Scallop Dredging Criticised
Scallop dredging at one of Britain’s most praised marine wildlife sites is having a devastating impact on the environment, campaigners say.
Devon Wildlife Trust (DWT) claims that the reefs at Lime Bay on England’s south coast are under threat from dredging, which destroys both seabed species and their habitats.
It is calling for fisheries minister Jonathan Shaw to bring in a ban on the practice as it says voluntary agreements have broken down.
The calls come during a consultation by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) on the future of the bay, which concludes in three weeks on December 21st.
Read More: In The News
Filed under Uncategorized | Comment (0)Teenage Animal Activist Wins Award
From New Jersey Online:
When was the last time you heard of a 7-year-old taking college courses? My answer would have been a resounding “never” — until I learned about Marcelo Hoynowski of Clark, who began a crusade to stop the slaughter of seals in Canada and has taken college courses since he was 7. Now 14, Marcelo received the 2007 International Action Award for his activism from the International Fund for Animal Welfare.
Full story here
Filed under Uncategorized | Comment (0)Political Victory For The Whales
Sea Shepherd Press Release:
The Labor Party of Australia has won the election and they have won by a landslide and this could be wonderful news for the whales ofAntarctica.
Why?
Because Peter Garrett, two weeks ago as the former Shadow Minister for the Environment said that his government if elected would send a naval vessel to the Southern Oceans to monitor the Japanese whaling fleet. Mr. Garrett also promised to take a much more aggressive position against Japanese whaling activities.
The former Liberal government were outspoken against whaling but did very little to actually stop the Japanese from continuing with their illegal activity.
Hundreds of people have notified the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society that they voted Labor because of the threat to the whales. Labor now has the opportunity to demonstrate that they will be a government of their word.
The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society expects to see an Australian Naval vessel dogging the pirate Japanese whaling fleet this year. Australians are incensed that Japan is targeting endangered humpback whales.
“What Japan is doing is deliberately insulting Australians by saying we are going to kill humpbacks, we may even kill Migaloo and there is not a thing that you can do about it because your government does not have the guts to stop us,” said Captain Paul Watson.
RentAPet
The Telegraph reports on the worrying new trend of renting a pet in Japan. People can hire anything from dogs and cats to ferrets and turtles, for anything from one hour to a week.
James Hart a British man living in Tokyo said,
‘Kai [his 3 year old son] loves animals but we don’t want the hassle of having a full-time pet,”. Continuing “For us, it means we can enjoy a pet without having to deal with things like cleaning, feeding or even dying.’
I found James’s comment very sad, both for the child and animal.
Filed under Uncategorized | Comment (0)Andrex The Piglet Is Doing Well
Sky News reports that Andrex, the 3 week old piglet found in the back of a Tesco lorry, is doing fine and may already have found a new home.
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