Animals
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Binoculars

Rare Arctic glaucous gull turns up in Turkey

Şahika Temur
Yeni Şafak
Tue, 16 Dec 2014 20:25 UTC
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The arctic seagull making a special appearance on Turkey's Rize coast was reportedly last seen here 140 years ago
A glaucous gull, which only recently reappeared on the Black Sea coast after more than a century, has drawn prominent birdwatchers to the northern province of Rize.

The glaucous gull is believed to have first appeared in 1874 in the busy Turkish province of Istanbul. This is actually the sole evidence of their existence in the Turkish territory, but there has been no sighting of the bird for 140 years.

The white-headed and-tailed bird has been described as the glaucous bird, which has first been recorded in 1874 in Istanbul, according to a discussion among Turkey's key bird watchers.
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Black Cat

Record number of panther attacks on farm animals in Florida

David Fleshler
phys.org
Sun, 14 Dec 2014 18:20 UTC
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A record number of Florida panther attacks on farm animals and pets took place this year, in what the state wildlife commission says is a consequence of the endangered cat's increased population.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission on Friday confirmed 32 incidents of fatal panther attacks on animals such as goats, sheep, calves, dogs and cats, with more than 50 animals killed. This year also saw a record 20 panthers killed by vehicles.

The commission attributed the increase in killings to the success of state and federal efforts to increase the panther's population. The number of panthers today is estimated at 100 to 180, with the top figure representing a recent upward revision from 160. During the 1970s, the population may have fallen as low as 30.

"Over the past 40 years, Florida panther conservation efforts have resulted in the panther population growing significantly from the 1970s, when the panther was first federally listed as endangered," the agency said. "As the population grows, the chance for interaction between the large cats and humans also increases - which can be bad for both people and panthers."
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Wolf

Young girl severely mauled by dog in Widgee, Australia


Sunshine Coast Daily
Tue, 16 Dec 2014 18:09 UTC
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A five-year-old girl who suffered severe facial injuries in a dog attack at Widgee is recovering after emergency plastic surgery.

It is believed the girl was visiting a Widgee home on Sunday when she suffered several bite marks to her face, leaving injuries to her nose, cheeks and lip.

Gympie Regional Council officers yesterday began an investigation into the incident, which occurred about 5pm Sunday on a private property on Gympie Woolooga Rd.

A worker at Widgee General Store said the girl and her mother were not locals.

The mother turned up at the shop seeking help in an area notorious as a mobile phone black spot.
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Info

Earth might face sixth mass extinction within 100 years

BenTufft
The Independent, UK
Sun, 14 Dec 2014 17:58 UTC
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The rate of extinctions could lead to what is defined as a mass extinction in the next few centuries
The earth could face a mass extinction by the next century if species continue to disappear at the current rate, according to a report by the scientific journal Nature.

Despite conservation attempts by governments across the world to save endangered species, thousands of animal types continue to face extinction every year.

Nature found that 41 per cent of all amphibian species are threatened with extinction, the highest at risk group. A more modest, but still alarming, 26 per cent of mammal species and 13 per cent of bird species are also threatened.

Habitat loss and degradation, as well as specific human activity such as hunting pose a significant hazard to wildlife sustainability and these pressures are only increasing. Similarly, it is thought that climate change will accelerate the rate of extinctions in the future.
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Attention

Wild elephant kills yet another person in Sri Lanka


Ceylon Today
Fri, 12 Dec 2014 16:46 UTC
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A man died yesterday (11th) attacked by a wild elephant in Mangalagama area.

Remains of the victim lie at Maha Oya Hospital awaiting post-mortem.

Mangalagama Police continue further investigations in to the incident.

Comment: Since August elephants on the island of Sri Lanka seems to be going berserk for some reason: Third elephant attack within 3 days in Sri Lanka: Two killed in jumbo attack

Father and son killed in elephant attack, Sri Lanka

2 people killed in another elephant attack in Sri Lanka

Wild elephant attacks kills two in Sri Lanka

One person killed in wild elephant attack in Sri Lanka

Fourth elephant attack within four weeks in Sri Lanka

Two killed in a wild elephant attack in Maankulam, Sri Lanka

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Cow Skull

Endangered northern white rhinos on brink of total extinction

Ekaterina Blinova
Sputnik
Mon, 15 Dec 2014 22:26 UTC
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© Wikipedia/ Sheep81
Scientists will make every effort to save the endangered subspecies of the world's biggest northern white rhinos through artificial insemination of female species, although the chances are slim, Vladimir Krever, the WWF Russia coordinator of biodiversity conservation program told RIA Novosti.

Earlier, the San Diego Zoo reported that one of only six northern white rhinoceros remaining in the world died of old age on Sunday, December 14. The rhino, named Angalifu, was almost 44 years old and arrived in San Diego from Sudan in August 1990.

"Angalifu's death is a tremendous loss to all of us. Not only because he was well beloved here at the park but also because his death brings this wonderful species one step closer to extinction," said Randy Rieches, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park curator as cited by the Daily Mail.

Comment: It is such a heart breaking tragedy to see this kind of human caused extinctions continuing to occur due to greed with no regard given to the animals.

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Cheese

Rat infestation worsens at One World Trade Center offices

Marianne Garvey, Brian Niemietz and Oli Coleman
New York Daily News
Fri, 12 Dec 2014 20:39 UTC
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The rodents have pestered the staffs of Vanity Fair and Vogue. Conde told employees that they cannot eat at their desks and that a complaint will be made with the city's health department.

Conde Nast's rat problem is getting worse rather than better.

While Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter tells Confidenti@l that rats stubbornly continue to occupy the new Conde Nast offices at One World Trade Center, we're also told that Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour doesn't even want to go in the building anymore.

And while there were multiple previous reports that the pests were terrorizing the glamorous staff at Vogue, we're now told they've "taken over" more of the storied publishing house.
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Attention

Raccoon attacks woman in Monroe, Louisiana

Ayla Ferrone
knoe.com
Mon, 08 Dec 2014 21:06 UTC
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One Monroe family is concerned for their safety, and the well-being of their pets after a raccoon attacked them this weekend. Now, they're speaking out so others know of the danger.

Ruth Ulrich never expected to spend her Saturday afternoon warding off a diseased raccoon.

"It was during the daylight, it's laying around as though it were a cat or something, all stretched out. Then it would wake up from that state and would have something that appeared to be like seizures," said Ulrich.

Ulrich says it was hissing and charging at her. She wasn't sure what to do, so she called the police.

"The policeman said if there's any problems, call me back, but he needed to go on and do other things," said Ulrich.

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Cow

Cow flees slaugherhouse in Pocatello, Idaho


Idaho State Journal
Sun, 14 Dec 2014 19:51 UTC
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© Idaho State JournalA Pocatello police officer watches over the cow that escaped from a butcher shop on Friday afternoon.
Police fatally shot a 1,000-pound cow Friday afternoon that had led them on a lengthy chase through the city's north side.

The heifer eventually died after being shot by a Pocatello police officer in the backyard of a residence at Henderson and Jessie Clark lanes around 1:30 p.m.

Police had shot the animal earlier in the pursuit but the wounded cow kept running.

Pocatello Police Chief Scott Marchand said the two shots his officers took at the cow were fired because of the safety risk the animal posed.
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Attention

Rescued dolphins beach themselves for second time with nine dead in New Zealand


nzherald.co.nz
Tue, 25 Nov 2014 13:32 UTC
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© Glenys UrlichUp to 20 common dolphins were stuck in shallows off Tokerau Beach until locals hearded them back out to sea.
A pod of dolphins rescued by locals at Tokerau Beach last week is believed to have re-stranded at the Cavalli Islands with deadly results.

The Department of Conservation's Bay of Islands manager, Rolien Elliot, said 14 common dolphins became stranded on Motukawanui Island, the largest of the Cavalli Islands off Matauri Bay, during incoming tide on Friday evening.

Nine carcasses were discovered by officials from DoC and Far North Whale Rescue while the rest were presumed to have made their way back out to sea.

It could have been the same pod of common dolphins that was stranded in Doubtless Bay a few days earlier, but testing would be needed to confirm whether that was the case.

The dead dolphins were due to be buried on the island yesterday.

Comment: There have now been 15 reports of dead cetaceans emanating from Australasia over the last 3 months, see also -

Six sperm whales found dead in rare mass beaching in South Australia

3 stranded sperm whales die on Rototai beach, New Zealand

12th report in 2 months of dead cetaceans Down Under: Carcass of humpback whale found drifting off Perth coast, Australia

Humpback whale carcass found on Gold Coast beach, Australia

36 stranded pilot whales die in New Zealand

Rare beaked whale found dead on Sunshine Coast, Queensland

Rare, record-sized pygmy whale found dead on Victorian beach, Australia

Eight-metre dead whale washes onto rocks in Batemans Bay, Australia

Dead humpback whale found on Kapiti Coast, New Zealand

Rare deep sea dwelling beaked whale washes up on beach near Newcastle, Australia

Denizen of deep water, cuviers beaked whale found dead on Titahi Bay beach, New Zealand

Humpback whale washes up dead at Kalbarri beach, Western Australia

Dead fin whale found on beach in Warrnambool, Australia

Two dead humpback whales wash up on NSW beaches, Australia

Creatures from the deep signal major Earth Changes: Is anyone paying attention?

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