Lemurs could be extinct ‘very soon’ – ‘One cyclone or other natural event could wipe out the entire population. In fact, anybody who decides to go out lemur hunting could tip the species over the edge.’

By Kashmira Gander20 February 2014 (The Independent) – Lemurs could “very soon” be extinct, some of the world’s leading experts on the primates warned as they unveiled a three-year plan to save them, on Thursday. A combination of the destruction of their habitat and bush meat hunting by impoverished local people, means that Lemurs are […]

Ivory’s shocking toll: 65 percent of forest elephants killed in 12 years – ‘At least a couple of hundred thousand forest elephants were lost between 2002-2013 to the tune of at least sixty a day, or one every twenty minutes, day and night’

By Jeremy Hance 12 February 2014 (mongabay.com) – Forest elephants have suffered unprecedented butchery for their ivory tusks over the past decade, according to new numbers released by conservationists today in London. Sixty-five percent of the world’s forest elephants have been slaughtered by poachers over the last dozen years, with poachers killing an astounding nine […]

There have been five mass extinctions in Earth’s history. Now we’re facing a sixth.

By Brad Plumer11 February 2014 (Washington Post) – There have been five mass extinction events in Earth’s history. In the worst one, 250 million years ago, 96 percent of marine species and 70 percent of land species died off. It took millions of years to recover. Nowadays, many scientists are predicting that we’re on pace […]

Study finds 59 percent of Marine Protected Areas are ineffective

By Loren Bell, Mongabay-Indonesia contributor 10 February 2014 (mongabay.com) – Protecting large, isolated areas of no-take zones for over 10 years with strong enforcement is the key to effective Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), according to a letter published this week in Nature. However, 59% of all MPAs meet less than three of the five criteria, […]

35 pictures of the sharkfin trade that will shock and dismay you

7 February 2014 (mongabay.com) – Last month scientists released a study warning that one quarter of all sharks and rays are threatened with extinction. The research, published in the open-access journal eLife on January 21, was the result of collaboration between 300 scientists from 64 countries. It concluded that overfishing is the biggest threat to […]

Graph of the Day: Worldwide population estimates of large-carnivore species

10 January 2014 (Science) – Worldwide population estimates of large-carnivore species. Error bars represent the low and high range of the estimates when available. Population estimates were not available for all species. Species ranges vary widely, and range sizes can have a strong influence on species population levels (table S1). Sources: Gray wolf (90), all […]

Video: Raw footage of Japan whale poaching fleet ramming Sea Shepherd ship

2 February 2014 (SSCS) – At approximately 0650 AEDT today, the Bob Barker was hit by the Japanese whaling fleet’s harpoon vessel, the Yushin Maru No. 2, as the harpoon vessel crossed in front of the bow of the Sea Shepherd ship at 67° 29′ S 164° 01′ W. The incident is a part of […]

Japan whale poachers running out of steam – ‘The Nisshin Maru has resigned itself as unable to outrun the determination of the Sea Shepherd Fleet’

25 January 2014 (SSCS) – The Japanese whaling fleet has abandoned its plans to out-run the Sea Shepherd Fleet, with its factory vessel, the Nisshin Maru, slowing down to 12 knots after a 36 hour chase at full speed. At approximately 1300 AEDT today, the Nisshin Maru, flanked by the harpoon vessels, Yushin Maru and […]

Entire family of pantropical spotted dolphins obliterated in the killing cove at Taiji, Japan – ‘Exhausted and panicked, the dolphins clung together and adults were seen protecting their young calves’

24 January 2014 (Sea Shepherd Cove Guardians) – Pantropical Spotted Dolphins January 24, 2014 An entire family of Pantropical Spotted dolphins (Stenella attenuata) was obliterated this morning in the killing cove. Despite worldwide media attention on Taiji, the dolphin killers continue to hunt, kidnap and murder dolphins. The killing is not limited to just one […]

Orcas at the Olympics?

By GARY CHITTIM24 January 2014 SEATTLE (KING 5 News) – Northwest whale groups are outraged by reports that recently captured orcas may be on exhibit during the Olympic Games in Sochi. Paul Spong, Co-Founder of OrcaLab, a marine research facility in British Columbia, said there was a confirmed capture of seven orcas near Japan last […]

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