Animals
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Death toll of seals in Kazakh Caspian reaches 724


RIA Novosti
Sat, 28 Apr 2007 06:42 UTC
The death toll of seals washed ashore on the oil-rich Caspian in Kazakhstan since March 31 has risen to 724, the Central Asian state's emergencies ministry said Saturday.

"The overall number of dead seals as of Friday night reached 724, including 528 baby seals," the ministry said. "The coast is continuing to be monitored."

The dead seals have been found along the seashore between two major oil fields in western Kazakhstan. But officials in Kazakhstan cite weather conditions as a possible reason.

"Until February 20, most of the northeastern Caspian did not freeze, and on February 21-22 the northern Caspian had a covering of thin ice that melted by March 20. It could have had a negative effect on the baby seals," the Ministry of Environmental Protection said earlier.
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Question

Fish kill again observed in Shenandoah River Region

Rex Springston
Times-Dispatch
Fri, 27 Apr 2007 12:07 UTC
A mysterious affliction is killing fish once again in the Shenandoah River region.

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Magnify

Researchers link fungus to bee losses in U.S.

Jia-Rui Chong and Thomas H. Maugh II
LA Times
Thu, 26 Apr 2007 14:03 UTC
A fungus that caused widespread loss of bee colonies in Europe, Asia and even on O'ahu may be playing a crucial role in the mysterious phenomenon known as Colony Collapse Disorder that is now wiping out bees across the U.S., University of California, San Francisco researchers said Wednesday.
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Attention

Taiwan stung by millions of missing bees


Reuters
Thu, 26 Apr 2007 08:43 UTC
Taiwan's bee farmers are feeling the sting of lost business and possible crop danger after millions of the honey-making, plant-pollinating insects vanished during volatile weather, media and experts said on Thursday.

Over the past two months, farmers in three parts of Taiwan have reported most of their bees gone, the Chinese-language United Daily News reported. Taiwan's TVBS television station said about 10 million bees had vanished in Taiwan.

A beekeeper on Taiwan's northeastern coast reported 6 million insects missing "for no reason", and one in the south said 80 of his 200 bee boxes had been emptied, the paper said.

Beekeepers usually let their bees out of boxes to pollinate plants and the insects normally make their way back to their owners. However, many of the bees have not returned over the past couple of months.
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Attention

Destructive Mite Threatens Hawaii Bees


Physorg / AP
Thu, 26 Apr 2007 08:40 UTC
A tiny mite that has devastated mainland honeybee populations showed up in Honolulu hives for the first time this month and has now been confirmed in bee colonies across Oahu.

The infestation by varroa mites has led the state to ask beekeepers to restrict transport of bees around the islands. There are concerns it could threaten the Big Island's thriving queen bee export industry, which has so far tested free of the mites.

"This is going to be for us a nightmare," said Michael Kliks, head of the Hawaii Beekeepers' Association and owner of Manoa Honey Co. "When I saw that mite I knew exactly what it was. I knew exactly what it meant and I fell to my knees and almost began to weep because it's inexpressible what that sea change is for us in Hawaii."

The parasites are blamed for destroying more than half of some mainland beekeepers' hives and wiping out most wild honeybees there.
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Evil Rays

Mobile phone mast sends swans in circle


Daily Mail
Wed, 25 Apr 2007 10:59 UTC
When a group of swans began circling a church spire, villagers' bemusement soon turned to concern.

©
A nature charity thinks a mobile phone mast could be interrupting the Bewick's swans' navigational senses
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Evil Rays

Bees Vanish, and Scientists Race for Reasons

Alexei Barrionuevo
New York Times
Tue, 24 Apr 2007 09:10 UTC
What is happening to the bees?

More than a quarter of the country's 2.4 million bee colonies have been lost - tens of billions of bees, according to an estimate from the Apiary Inspectors of America, a national group that tracks beekeeping. So far, no one can say what is causing the bees to become disoriented and fail to return to their hives.

©New York Times

Comment: See To Bee or Not to Be.

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Question

605 seals die in Kazakh Caspian, weather or oil possible cause


RIA Novosti
Tue, 24 Apr 2007 06:13 UTC
The death toll of seals washed ashore on the oil-rich Caspian in Kazakhstan since March 31 has risen to 605, the Central Asian state's emergencies ministry said Tuesday.

"The overall number of dead seals as of Monday night reached 605, including 489 baby seals," the ministry said. "The coast is continuing to be monitored."

The dead seals have been found along the seashore between two major oil fields in western Kazakhstan. But officials in Kazakhstan cite weather conditions as a possible reason.

"Until February 20, most of the northeastern Caspian did not freeze..., and on February 21-22 the northern Caspian had a covering of thin ice, ...which melted by March 20, ... and it could have had a negative effect on the baby seals," the Ministry of Environmental Protection said earlier.
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Bizarro Earth

Red tide causes a stink

Saffron Howden
The Daily Telegraph
Fri, 20 Apr 2007 11:39 UTC
IT'S guilty of looking crook and causing an almighty stench, but innocent of leaving swimmers with itchy skin.

The stunning white sand beaches of Jervis Bay have been swamped with a bloom of red algae washed ashore by sea breezes.

©The Daily Telegraph
Crimson coast ... the usually white sands of the beach at Huskisson at Jervis Bay is turned red by an algae bloom.
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Question

Conservation Officer: Wolf Chased Cars


Live Science / AP
Fri, 20 Apr 2007 06:25 UTC
When conservation officer Steve Peterson got a call that a timber wolf was chasing vehicles on a country road near Brimson, he thought it was prank or a misidentified German shepherd. But then he saw it firsthand.

"I couldn't believe it. It was like a dog chasing cars,'' Peterson said. "It looked like a big, healthy male wolf. No mange.''

Responding to the call last Friday, Peterson saw the animal hide in the ditch as a pickup approached and then come bounding out to chase it.

The wolf did the same when Peterson drove to that spot, where he stopped his vehicle.
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