Elephant Corridor To Link Forests

Two forest reserves in India are to be linked creating an ‘elephant corridor’. The new 2km link will help 1000 elephants who are naturally nomadic and like to roam.

Full article here: AFP

Missing Whale Link Found

An animal that looked like a small deer is believed to be the missing link between the whale and his four legged ancestors. His ancient relatives it is thought would have taken to the water to escape danger. The fossils discovered were those of a roellid, although a very different creature from the whale they share similar structures in their skulls and ears.

Full article: inthenews.co.uk

Special Sites For Marine Conservation Planed

4000 square miles have been earmarked as Britain’s first sites of ‘offshore Special Areas Of Conservation’. Areas include Darwin Mounds a coral reef to the North West of Scotland, and the Scanner and Braemar Pockmarks areas in the North Sea.

The new plans have been long awaited by environmental groups who have campaigned for such areas for over five years. The WWF welcome the news but have concerns over the time taken to announce the news and are urging the government to meet the 2012 deadline, they also questioned why Dogger Bank an important spawning area for dolphins and fish in the North Sea was not chosen for protection.

Read more: BBC News

US Pushing For Japan To Suspend Whale Hunt

The United States is pushing Japan to suspend its hunt of humpback whales, and the American ambassador to Japan said Wednesday an agreement to stop it may have already been struck.

Full article here: International Herald Tribune

Podgy Pets Cause For Concern

The RSPCA estimate that 65% of UK pets are overweight. The organisation is encouraging people to visit the petsgetslim website to help their animals ’battle the bulge’. Owners can create a profile for their pets and find tips and advice on pet weight loss.

Article here: Politics.co.uk

Ipond Tortures Fish

Ipod have launched an accessory called the ’Ipond’ which contains a Japanese fighting fish forced to live in just 650ml of water. The horrendous device has been called a ’torture box’ by animal rights activists.

Read more here: The Age

Slaughter Of Sacred Cow Outrages UK Hindus

A cow named Gangotri was put to sleep by the RSPCA at a Hare Kristna temple in Hertfordshire, causing outrage to the Hindu residents. The sacred animal resided at Bhaktivedanta Manor, which was donated in 1973 by the ex-Beatle George Harrison.

Read more: Daily India

UK Overseas Territories Need More Wildlife Protection

The RSPB‘s protection spans far outside of  England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Wildlife Extra report that the RSPB say £16.1 million pounds per year is needed to be spent on protecting wildlife in UK overseas territories over the next five years.

The current spend of £1 million per year leaves the protection programme ‘woefully insufficient’ says the RSPB. Over 30 species of birds in the 14 territories face global extinction if action isn’t taken.

Animal Sanctuary Supporters Defend Owner

Supporters of an animal sanctuary – filmed and considered ‘unsanitary’ by Gloucestershire Animal Action and the Western Animal Rights Network – have defended the centre’s owner John Warwick.

The activists claim that animals at the Swindon And District Animal Haven in Wootton Bassett are not properly looked after. Supporters say animals they have re-homed from the centre have been really healthy.

To read peoples opinions: Swindon Advertiser

Lottery Funds Whale Rescue

According to This Is North Scotland, the Cetacean Research and Rescue Unit have been awarded funds by the National Lottery to purchase a replica whale. The cash will pay for a replacement whale for their current one, which the group describe as, ‘past its best’. The old whale has been used for volunteer training purposes, to teach rescuing techniques.

The group has been allocated nearly £10,000, the new whale will cost £1,000. The rest of the money will be spent on dry suits, veterinary supplies, storage cases and a trailer to help carry equipment out to stranded whales.