The Wildlife Blog
Bill Introduced in NY to Ban Commercial Trade in Bear Bile & Gallbladders
On Monday, March 14, a bill to protect bears from profiteering by banning the commercial trade in their gallbladders and bile (which is used in traditional Asian medicine) was introduced in New York. Like my home state of Vermont, New York shares the dubious distinction of being one of only five states that allow trade…
Read MoreThe WildLife: The Dark Side of New Species Discovery, Bryan Stuart
Bryan Stuart, curator of amphibians and reptiles at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, talks about the dark side of the discovery of new species. He tells “The WildLife” host Laurel Neme about his experience following his scientific discovery in Laos of a warty salamander (Paramesotriton laoensis) with striking markings. Shortly after describing the previously…
Read MoreStandards for Wildlife Forensics
When the 2009 National Academy of Sciences report, Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward, criticized the scientific reliability of certain forensic techniques, such as fingerprint analysis, that is commonly used to fight human crime, wildlife forensic scientists feared the findings might also undercut their testimony in courts of law. In response,…
Read MoreCustoms Enforcement Initiative Seizes Massive Volume of Illicit Wildlife Products
Over 22 tonnes and 13,000 pieces of protected wildlife covering 31+ species were seized during a a trans-regional operation to combat cross-border trade in great apes and other wildlife. This recent enforcement initiative was coordinated by the World Customs Organization (WCO) and conducted under the Swedish-backed Project GAPIN (Great Apes and Integrity), which aims to…
Read MoreExpansion of Bear Bile Production by Chinese Firm?
A blog from The Wall Street Journal notes that Gui Zhen Tang Co., one of China’s largest bear bile production facilities and southern China’s largest bear farm, recently raised $11 million to expand its business in the traditional medicine market. An article in the UK’s Telegraph notes that local media reports of the company’s plans to be listed on…
Read MoreRango: Film May Have Unintended Impact and Spur Pet Trade
On March 4, the animated feature film, Rango, starring Johnny Depp as the movie’s star–a pet chameleon who ditches his pet lizard tank and winds up in Dirt, a Mojave desert town–opens. While the movie may very well delight viewers, it may also spark a spike in sales of these exotic reptiles as pets. Trends in…
Read MoreCoral Reef CSI
The international Coral Reef CSI program is now under the auspices of the Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL). Designed in 2006, the Coral Reef CSI program trains authorities to use forensic science strategies underwater. It has worked in thirteen countries and trained over 300 marine protected area resource managers, enforcement officers, academics, and litigators in underwater evidence collection.…
Read MoreFirst Federal Prosecution in Florida for Striking & Killing Manatee with Boat
Boats speeding through manatee zone are a not uncommon occurrence. Unfortunately, it’s also a major threat to endangered manatees, as noted on my “The WildLife” radio show on December 6, 2010 when Craig Pittman, author of MANATEE INSANITY, talked about threats to these gangly creatures. These gentle giants of tropical waters have a number of things going against…
Read MoreFirst Elephant Underpass to Address Habitat Fragmentation
Wildlife all over the world is under increasing pressure from human development. The result is fragmentation of habitat that makes it harder for wildlife to survive. One solution is to encourage connectivity by protecting corridors or building them. Where roads and railways are a problem, highway wildlife crossings — as underpasses or overpasses — are…
Read MoreThe WildLife: Simple Things to Help Wildlife, Mark Fraser
Naturalist Mark Fraser discusses some of the simple things you can do to help wildlife–from less mowing to avoiding pesticides. Plus, he takes “The WildLife” host Laurel Neme on a “virtual tour” of New England forests to meet local wildlife. He reveals the special characteristics of fishers, coywolves, salamanders, songbirds and more so that you’ll gain a new appreciation…
Read MoreWildlife Forensics Helps Evaluate Death of Vietnam’s Last Javan Rhino
Wildlife forensic analysis proves the Vietnamese Javan rhino discovered last April in Cat Tien National Park was shot a few months before it died. The Javan rhino is extremely rare. There are just an estimated 60 left in the world and are found only in two small protected areas in Viet Nam and Indonesia.…
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