Wildlife/FreeLiving Animals
The End for the Axolotl?
Published November 05, 2008 @ 03:41PM PT
I was a kid the first time I saw a photo of an axolotl, and I was instantly fascinated. I had an immediate flashback to that sense of wonder when I saw the Treehugger post today featuring the salamander--and then nostalgic wonder turned to sorrow. Indeed, two Treehugger posts today were sad ones:
"Ubercool 'Mexican Walking Fish' Nearing Extinction"
We're saddened to learn that the alien-looking Axolotl salamander (Ambystoma mexicanum), aka Mexican walking fish or Mexican water monster, is seriously threatened with extinction because of habitat destruction and water pollution. One of the coolest things about Axolotl - apart from their appearance - is they ability to regenerate most body parts.
"Norwegian Lemmings Threatened by Climate Change"
See both posts for more details and photos.
Defenders of Wildlife on Palin
Published November 03, 2008 @ 02:26PM PT
With the election finally upon us, in case there's anyone reading this blog who may still be inclined to vote for the Republican pair tomorrow, I'm sharing with you the Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund's three videos covering Palin's record on animals. Oh, how I hate that even after the election, we can't let our guard down, with the trigger-happy woman now possibly looking toward 2012.
Brutal: Sarah Palin's Record on Aerial Wolf Hunting
The Vet Who Did Not Vet
Published October 29, 2008 @ 07:32PM PT
I am sharing with you a short, simultaneously amusing and disturbing, Dr. Seuss-style video sent to me by a friend from Animal Rights Hawai'i. And I will tell you before you even watch it that it's not an animal rights video. So how can I justify presenting it on an animal rights blog? Because even if I weren't horrified by the thought of Palin as vice president (or even governor of Alaska) for a thousand other reasons--even if she were in all other respects an ideal candidate--I would want her as far away from national office (and, again, office in Alaska) as possible because of her approach to (i.e., war on) animals.
Enjoy.
Bush and Bangs vs. the Wolves--Again
Published October 28, 2008 @ 08:41AM PT
Did you read about this over the past weekend? I was first alerted to it by Treehugger: One More Time with Feeling: Bush Administration Renews Efforts to Remove Gray Wolf from Protected List.
From the Washington Post article:
Having lost in court this summer in a legal battle with conservationists, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has decided to reopen for public comment its 2007 proposal to delist the wolves.
"The position of the service is, we think the wolves no longer need the protection of the Endangered Species Act. We're asking the public to weigh in to that," Ed Bangs, wolf recovery coordinator for Fish and Wildlife, said in an interview yesterday. . . .
"We'll take whatever time we need to do a good science-based decision."
Yes, I'm sure.
From the NRDC Switchboard: "When Will They Ever Learn?"
Animals in the News: Bears, Belugas, Pigs, and More
Published October 23, 2008 @ 01:41PM PT
I don't have time to write in detail (and you don't have time to read me rant) about every animal-related news story that's been popping up lately, so here is a roundup of interesting news and posts you might want to check out, with brief summaries, including an update on the incident involving the dead bear cub in North Carolina (I haven't talked about this on the blog, but I know many of you probably read the original articles) as well as a look at a "free-range" pig farm that has made news in the UK :
- Poor, poor Palin—Another animal has received protection, despite her best efforts: Beluga whales make the endangered list. (AKMuckraker muses, "Sarah Palin may have a new battle on her hands. With so many endangered animals left to endanger, and so little time, what's a governor to do?" Love it.)
No More Ivory at eBay Come January
Published October 21, 2008 @ 10:34AM PT
Our very own (and much loved) Josh Levy pointed me in the direction of this news this morning:
- Huffington Post: Pushed by Animal Rights Groups, eBay to Ban Ivory Sales
- Silicon Alley Insider: eBay To Ban One of Its Fastest Growing Businesses: Ivory Sales
Krangel poses a good question: "If eBay is really serious about stopping the ivory trade, why wait until January?"
The Whales vs. the Navy at the Supreme Court
Published October 09, 2008 @ 08:04AM PT
The Navy--which, with the Bush administration's blessing of course, wishes to ignore laws and overturn court rulings protecting whales--headed to the U.S. Supreme Court yesterday, and good ol' Scalia and Alito, among others, so far look to be leaning toward giving the Navy priority over the whales. The Navy has repeatedly decided that the laws governing protection of whales don't apply to them, and this is just the latest instance.
You might recall this from just under two years ago, for example:
Facing Suit, Navy Declares Itself Above the Law in High-Intensity Sonar Fight
With the U.S. Navy in litigation aimed at stopping its illegal use of high-intensity sonar, the Pentagon today unilaterally declared the military exempt for a period of two years from the basic law protecting whales, dolphins, and other marine mammals.
My question then was--and my question remains now--what is the point of passing laws to protect wildlife and the environment when the groups and institutions that cause them the most harm are exempt from obeying those laws? What's the point of passing laws, period, when those high up in the government can disregard them whenever they see fit? (Oh, how I could go off on tangents here.)
