The Wildlife Blog
Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) established
The Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), which was established yesterday, is a new international body that will help catalyze a global response to the loss of biodiversity and recognize the the economic importance of forests, coral reefs and other ecosystems. Its creation sets up an IPCC-like platform to bridge the gulf between…
Read MoreMy radio station to be featured on tonight’s news
Tonight a news piece about my radio station-The Radiator-will be on ABC22 at 7pm & Fox44 at 10pm (& again tomorrow AM). Focus is on passage of the Local Community Radio Act. Station manager Jim Lockridge & others talk about how awesome it is to bring local programming to a radio station like ours…
Read MoreWealth Drives Illegal Wildlife Trade
Contrary to popular belief, it is no longer poverty that drives poaching of rare and endangered species and the illegal wildlife trade but rather wealth. If it’s rare, people want it–and use that product to show off their wealth. As a result, demand for luxury goods — from ivory to tiger bone wine to…
Read MoreAnimal Wise Radio
This Sunday (12/19/10) I’m going to be on Animal Wise Radio! I’m looking forward to a great wildlife discussion with hosts Mike Fry & Beth Nelson. Even better, Animal Wise Radio will be broadcasting episodes of The WildLife. I’m thrilled to be collaborating with them. Animal Wise Radio can be heard live in Minneapolis/St. Paul…
Read MoreWildlife Forensics Photos by Jim Chamberlain
Want an inside look at the US Fish and Wildlife Service Forensics Lab? Jim Chamberlain, one of the folks working at the the lab, took this great series of photos. See: http://www.wildlifeforensics.org/AAAS/
Read MoreThe WildLife: Belize Zoo & Jaguar Rehabilitation, Sharon Matola, Part 1
Sharon Matola talks about the “best little zoo in the world,” the Belize Zoo, and its jaguar rehabilitation program. Often referred to as the “Jane Goodall of jaguars,” Matola describes to “The WildLife” host Laurel Neme her work with “problem” jaguars who have killed livestock and how she trains them to be less aggressive. She notes that typically her rehabilitated jaguars…
Read MoreVietnam Officials Plan to Sell Confiscated Tiger Parts
There’s more debate about legal trade stimulating illegal trade in wildlife products – this time vis-a-vis tigers. Vietnamese officials plan to auction over six pounds of ‘tiger paste’ confiscated from traffickers. While Vietnamese law prohibits the possession and trade of any and all tiger parts and products, an apparent loophole would allow its legal sale.…
Read MoreFun Facts from the Jungle: Orangutans
Did you know orangutans don’t like the rain? They don’t complain but instead show that necessity is the mother of all invention and fashion roofs and umbrellas out of leaves. My interview with Michelle Desilets, Executive Director of the Orangutan Land Trust, on “The WildLife” radio show divulges the interesting biology and habits of orangutans. Bet…
Read MoreDoes Legalizing Trade Help or Hurt?
Would legal trade in farmed tiger products increase or decrease poaching of wild tigers? The topic, which is explored in this Mongabay.com article, has been at the forefront of many discussions at CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) meetings, and is coming up again as government officials from tiger ranges states and conservationists prepare to meet…
Read MoreContradictions in the case for legalizing sales of rhino horn
The debate on whether legalizing a product from an endangered species–like rhino or ivory–increases or decreases poaching rages on. This article in South Africa’s The Times argues for farming rhinos, dehorning them and selling rhino horn stockpiles in order to stop poaching. The argument is: why kill a rhino for just one horn, when you could get…
Read MoreTiger Summit Briefing
The International Tiger Forum will take place Nov 21-24 in St. Petersburg, Russia, capping a year-long process to get high-level political support to move tiger conservation forward and double the number of tigers in the wild. Learn more at this Nov 16 pre-summit briefing by World Wildlife Fund and TRAFFIC International.
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