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Threatened Species Commissioner’s latest progress report now available
On the trail of the wolf, Europe’s much maligned and misunderstood predator
When Poland banned wolf hunting, numbers doubled. But now animal scientists fear that politicians could turn back the clock
Robert Mysłajek stops dead. Between two paw prints on a muddy mountain track, the scientist finds what he is looking for. “Scats!’’ he enthuses. Wolf sightings are so rare that a flash of faeces marks a good day, even for a seasoned tracker.
But it is getting easier. There are now an estimated 1,500 wolves in Poland. The number has doubled in 15 years. Wolves are – along with the brown bear, the lynx and the wolverine – Europe’s last large predator carnivores. Conservationists from Britain, Germany and the Netherlands are beating a path here to find out how the country has saved this protected species, slandered even in fairytales.
Continue reading...Northern Territory removes 290 saltwater crocodiles from waterways in a year
Residents are warned to take more care as 2015’s figure is announced – it’s a high one, based on recent years, although not a record
Wildlife rangers pulled almost 300 saltwater crocodiles from Northern Territory waterways in 2015, more than in either of the two previous years.
As part of its population management program, the Parks and Wildlife Commission NT (PWCNT) removed 290 crocodiles of various sizes from NT rivers, harbours and waterholes, the largest measuring 4.38m from the Daly River.
Continue reading...The Indian village learning to live in harmony with snow leopards
To stop snow leopards killing valuable livestock, villagers in Himachal Pradesh have changed the way they manage land to increase the endangered cat’s wild prey, while an insurance scheme offers compensation for lost stock
In the high altitude treeless expanses of Kibber, Himachal Pradesh, India, snow leopards use boulders and ridgelines to stalk blue sheep and Himalayan ibex. But they also feast on yak calves and horse foals, much to the chagrin of villagers. These animals fetch a pretty penny, and the compensation paid by the state was so measly that livestock owners didn’t even bother to file claims. Had nothing been done to resolve the problem, people’s hostility to snow leopards could have turned volatile.
After studying the situation, scientists at Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF), Karnataka, came up with a couple of ideas. Since livestock overran the pastures, wild ungulates were too few to sustain snow leopards. If people’s losses were to be reduced, the population of wild prey animals had to increase.
Continue reading...Wylfa nuclear plant closes in Wales
Station in Anglesey, the oldest in the UK, shuts as focus is on energy provider EDF over its plans for new facilities at Hinkley Point
Britain’s oldest nuclear plant closed on Wednesday, leaving in its wake a £700m decommissioning bill and further questions about the UK’s ability to keep the lights on.
The closure of the Wylfa plant in Wales after 44 years of service puts more pressure on EDF Energy to take a final investment decision for new reactors at Hinkley in Somerset.
Continue reading...UK floods: torrential rain lashes northern Britain – video
Parts of Britain are under water again as torrential rain from Storm Eva causes mass flooding in the north west of England on Boxing Day. The Met Office has issued severe weather warnings for rain, snow, wind, fog and ice
Continue reading...Countdown begins to prevent loss of thousands of footpaths and alleyways
Right-to-roam law means pre-1949 rights of way that are not on official maps must be recorded in next 10 years or will no longer be protected
Thousands of footpaths, alleys and bridleways across the UK face being lost forever within a decade under a clause in right-to-roam legislation, campaigners have warned.
From 1 January, walkers, horseriders – and even those taking regular shortcuts to the shops in towns – will have 10 years to apply to save any rights of way that existed before 1949 but do not appear on official maps.
Continue reading...More Chinese cities issue red alerts for heavy smog
Authorities respond to forecasts of heavy smog by issuing first red alerts for pollution in 10 cities, following two warnings in Beijing this month
More Chinese cities are issuing their first red alerts for pollution in response to forecasts of heavy smog, after the capital, Beijing, issued two this month following criticism for not releasing them earlier.
Shandong province in eastern China issued alerts in four cities after warning that the density of particulate matter in the air would exceed high levels for more than 24 hours. The Shandong environmental protection bureau said the alerts started Thursday morning and that kindergarten, primary and middle schools should close and construction of buildings and roads, and demolition work, should stop.
Continue reading...Australia’s Second Biennial Report
Tracking to 2020: an interim update of Australia's greenhouse gas emissions projections
Quarterly Update of Australia's National Greenhouse Gas Inventory: June 2015
Quarterly Update of Australia's National Greenhouse Gas Inventory: June 2015
Reef Trust Phase Three Investment Programme now open
Shark ‘jumps’ on surfer’s board at Bondi beach
‘Obviously I screamed a little bit. The shark jumped off my board, swam off in the other direction,’ says surfer after close encounter of the marine kind
A Sydney surfer has had a run in with a six-foot shark after it “jumped” on to his board at Bondi beach.
Related: Shark 'eco-barrier' nets for NSW north coast to be installed after Christmas
Continue reading...SENG wishes you a safe and happy festive season 2015
Loss of monkeys and birds in tropical forests driving up carbon emissions
Overhunting affects seed dispersal and thus survival of hardwood trees, resulting in drastic reduction in Earth’s natural carbon storage, study finds
Large fruit-eating monkeys and birds in tropical forests have been revealed as surprising climate change champions, whose loss to over-hunting is driving up carbon emissions. This is because their seed-spreading plays a vital role in the survival of huge, hard-wooded trees.
Tropical forests store 40% of all the carbon on the Earth’s surface and the slashing of trees causes about 15% of the greenhouse gases that drive global warming.
Continue reading...Kellingley colliery closure: 'shabby end' for a once mighty industry
The last deep coal mine in Britain closes today, drawing to an end a series of closures in an industry once known as King Coal
When the last shift of underground miners emerges at Kellingley colliery in North Yorkshire on Friday, it will bring down the final curtain on one of Britain’s most successful and enduring industries.
Coal has been dug out of the ground since pre-Roman times. It fuelled the Industrial Revolution and was still providing 40% of power for electricity generation as little as three years ago.
Continue reading...Second Saharan dust cloud to hit England and Wales this weekend
Cocktail of Saharan dust and diesel fumes prompts officials to issue health warning for Saturday as unseasonably warm weather continues
A further spell of air pollution caused by a cocktail of Saharan dust and diesel fumes is expected to hit England and Wales on Saturday as temperatures remain unseasonably warm.
Parts of eastern, central and southern England are already being affected by a moderate pollution episode on Thursday, causing officials to warn adults and children with lung problems to reduce physical activity outdoors.
Continue reading...The 19th-century whaling logbooks that could help scientists understand climate change
The public are being enlisted to read through detailed logs of whaling ships which include records of ice flows and weather conditions
Maritime historians, climate scientists and ordinary citizens are coming together on a project to study the logbooks of 19th-century whaling ships to better understand modern-day climate change and Arctic weather patterns.
The crew of whaling ships kept meticulous daily logbooks of weather conditions during their often years-long voyages searching the globe for whales, valued for their light-giving oil, said Michael Dyer, a senior maritime historian at the New Bedford whaling museum in Massachusetts, which is supplying much of the data.
Continue reading...Saharan dust cloud bound for UK prompts health warning
Older people, asthma sufferers and those with breathing difficulties are most at risk as pollution levels expected to rise
A Saharan dust cloud is expected to settle over parts of the UK on Thursday, prompting health experts to issue warnings to elderly people and those who suffer from breathing problems.
High levels of pollution are expected over southern and central England, with Lincolnshire bearing the brunt of the cloud.
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