Animals
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Researchers discover native malaria parasite in American white-tailed deer

Phys.org
Fri, 05 Feb 2016 00:00 UTC

Two years ago, Ellen Martinsen, was collecting mosquitoes at the Smithsonian's National Zoo, looking for malaria that might infect birds—when she discovered something strange: a DNA profile, from parasites in the mosquitoes, that she couldn't identify.

By chance, she had discovered a malaria parasite, Plasmodium odocoilei—that infects white-tailed deer. It's the first-ever malaria parasite known to live in a deer species and the only native malaria parasite found in any mammal in North or South America. Though white-tailed deer diseases have been heavily studied—scientist hadn't noticed that many have malaria parasites.

Martinsen and her colleagues estimate that the parasite infects up to twenty-five percent of white-tailed deer along the East Coast of the United States. Their results were published February 5 in Science Advances.

Deep Blue: World's largest shark filmed off coast of Mexico

abc7ny.com
Sat, 06 Feb 2016 14:34 UTC

The world's largest great white shark, named Deep Blue, is recorded on video off Guadalupe Island.

She's the world's largest shark, dubbed Deep Blue, and she was captured on video off the coast of Mexico.

New video has surfaced of Deep Blue, which is as big as a metro bus, and it's giving scientist a better perspective at the giant that shocked the world when her existence was first revealed.

Michael Maier was the man behind the camera and he released more video from the aquatic encounter that captivated the world.

Maier and his fellow divers were submerged off Guadalupe Island, which is located about 300 miles southwest of San Diego.

The divers were dangling large chunks of meat when the leviathan slowly emerged from the depths.

Deep Blue appeared and she made a move at one of the divers, but the diver quickly ducked into the safety of the cage.

Comment: See also: Giant 7 metre shark seen off Adelaide's coastline, Australia

35 brown pelicans found dead on Grand Isle, Louisiana

Mark Schleifstein
nola.com
Thu, 04 Feb 2016 13:37 UTC

The brown pelican, Louisiana's state bird

As many as 35 brown pelicans have been found dead on Grand Isle in the past two weeks, prompting an investigation by scientists with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. They've dismissed suspicions that the birds were shot but have yet to determine the cause of death.

The dead pelicans were first reported to the Grand Isle Police Department, which asked state officials to investigate. "In the wintertime, we always get some calls about dead pelicans, but this seems to be an extraordinary amount," said Cheryl McCormack, secretary to Police Chief Euris DuBois. "We're alarmed about the number of them."

The brown pelican, Louisiana's state bird, was removed from the federal list of endangered and threatened species in 2009, but it is still protected under federal law. The birds had largely vanished from Louisiana's coast by the mid-1960s, after exposure to the pesticide DDT resulted in too-fragile eggshells.

More than 1,200 pelicans were imported from Florida in 1968. But the time of delisting, there were more than 12,000 breeding pairs in Texas and Louisiana.

Plant shop faces massive sinkhole again in Anderson Township, Ohio

T.J. Parker
wcpo.com
Sat, 06 Feb 2016 19:24 UTC

Sinkhole formed feet from an Anderson Twsp

In a horrible episode of déjà vu for an Anderson Township plant shop, a massive sinkhole opened Wednesday after heavy rains deluged the Tri-State.

Plants by Wolfangel owner Barb Henry reported on Facebook Thursday that the hole was quickly fenced off.

"The unknown of an event like this is scary," Henry told WCPO Thursday. "Just standing there yesterday watching the earth crumble in, the sounds of it, the smell of it, it's all familiar and it doesn't bring back good memories."

Plants by Wolfangel was shut down for nearly two years after sinkholes in April and June 2011 swallowed the parking lot and threatened to cut the property in half. The store reportedly lost merchandise into the hole that was never found.

Dead whale found on beach in Odisha, India

Debabrata Mohanty
The Indian Express
Sat, 06 Feb 2016 18:52 UTC

Two days after a 33-feet long Sperm whale beached on coastline of Ganjam district in Odisha, a 66-feet long whale washed ashore on an unmanned island of Kendrapara district in the state.

Though it is not clear to which species the whale belongs, Rajnagar divisional forest officer Bimal Acharya said the 66-feet-long animal bore no injury marks. It may have been a normal death, he said. Whales are Schedule-I animals.

The carcass of the whale was found at Chinchira beach, an unmanned island under Rajnagar block of Kendrapara district on Saturday after which local fishermen thronged to see it.

Two days ago the 33-foot sperm whale, which washed up on the Rushikulya beach of Ganjam district, its carcass bore injury marks. Experts said the whale might have died after being hit by fishing trawlers. The district officials later got a crane to lift the carcass and bury it.

Hydrogen sulfide poisoning suspected for mysterious cattle deaths in Kansas

Julianne Geiger
Oilprice.com
Wed, 03 Feb 2016 22:04 UTC

Following the mysterious death of seven cattle near an oil field in Kansas, public health authorities are investigating whether oil drilling could be the cause.

In late December, seven dead cattle were found near an oil field in the Cimarron National Grassland, Kansas, and authorities believe that cows inhaled something toxic, prompting them to deny public access to the 2,500-acre Cimarron National Grassland until at least May.

Six of the cattle were discovered together in a low-lying area, while a seventh was found a short distance away, with local veterinarians identifying the ingestion or inhalation of something toxic leading to pulmonary edema or fluid in the lungs as a possible cause, though the cause of death has not been officially declared.

More specifically, they suspect the cattle may have inhaled hydrogen sulfide—a toxic gas that can be released in the oil and gas drilling process. They haven't pinpointed the cause officially, but it was enough to implement an emergency order to halt public access to the area for a prolonged period.

Comment: As well as hydrogen sulfide being released in the oil and gas drilling process, natural outgassing of toxic gases can also occur.

Other possible cases of outgassing around the United States in recent times include:

Fish rain down on Dire Dawa, Ethiopia

Habesha2day.com
Fri, 29 Jan 2016 18:31 UTC

Fish on road

Residents of Dire Dawa observed the rains of fish in the town. According to sources, it was dust particles that was dropping in balls. Later the fish drop everywhere. The residents are familiar with such a rain since it rain in the past.

While asked his comments on the unusual incident Haromaya University Academician in the field of Meteorology and Climate Mr Efrem Mamo said such incidents are common in areas where ocean currents and winds are heavier than the usual. Mamo who said he had once heard similar thing happening in Hawasa about 10 years ago added, to have a clear view on today's happening it will be necessary knowing recent day's metrological data of Dire Dawa town.

Source: gudnew.com

Young beached gray whale rescued in Mexico

Mexico News Daily
Wed, 03 Feb 2016 18:19 UTC

Federal environmental officials have rescued a young gray whale stranded on a beach in Baja California Sur.

The environmental protection agency Profepa said the whale was found during a routine inspection at El Mariscal on the Laguna Ojo de Liebre in Guerrero Negro near the city of Mulegé.

A roll-and-tow technique was used to rescue the whale, which was found to be in good condition, and release it back into the sea. Officials said it might have been separated from its mother, become disoriented or caught by a low tide.

The Ojo de Liebre is one of two lagoons in the El Vizcaino Whale Sanctuary and are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Source: Notimex

Body of sperm whale that died on Norfolk beach to be tested; 29th to die in Europe within 4 weeks

The Guardian
Fri, 05 Feb 2016 14:11 UTC

Tests are to be carried out on a sperm whale that died after washing up on a Norfolk beach in an attempt to explain a spate of recent deaths.

British Divers Marine Life Rescue said the bull died shortly after 8pm on Thursday. It had been stranded at Hunstanton since that morning.

Stephen Marsh, operations manager at the rescue organisation, said: "We're very sad to confirm that the whale has died but it is a bit of a relief because it had been in quite a lot of suffering." He added that work would now be carried out to establish the circumstances surrounding the beaching.

The whale is the 29th to have died after becoming stranded on beaches in northern Europe and the east coast of England.

Last month, three dead whales washed up on the Lincolnshire coast and another was found at Hunstanton.

Dozens of dead and dying starlings found on road in Wichita, Kansas

Lily Wu
kake.com
Thu, 04 Feb 2016 11:46 UTC

Starling

About 40 Starlings were found dead on a street and in a neighborhood in West Wichita on Wednesday.

"It's kind of weird," said Seth Dugan, who works nearby.

The birds were found dead on Carr Avenue, south of Kellogg and Maize Road.

"Completely clear and then come back out 20 minutes later and there was a ton of birds laying out here and people were stopping and taking pictures on their cell phones," said Dugan.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Wichita Fire Department responded to the scene and gathered the dead birds. The Kansas Department of Wildlife Parks and Tourism also responded and investigated the cause of death.

Wildlife Biologist Charlie Cope has ruled out poison and guns as the cause of death.