The “alarming” rate at which species are being lost could have a severe effect on humanity, conservationists warned today. Targets set eight years ago by governments to reduce biodiversity loss by 2010 have not been met, experts confirmed at a UN meeting in Nairobi, Kenya.
The third Global Biodiversity Outlook report said loss of wildlife and habitats could harm food sources and industry, and exacerbate climate change through rising emissions.
Achim Steiner, the executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), said: “Humanity has fabricated the illusion that somehow we can get by without biodiversity or that it is somehow peripheral to our contemporary world: the truth is we need it more than ever on a planet of 6 billion [people], heading to over 9 billion by 2050. Business as usual is no longer an option if we are to avoid irreversible damage to the life-support systems of our planet.”
Animal Kingdom
UN warns of the economic impact of nature loss
May 11th, 2010
Largest beaver dam discovered in Canada
May 9th, 2010
Satellite view
Photo of the dam
A Canadian ecologist has discovered the world’s largest beaver dam in a remote area of northern Alberta, an animal-made structure so large it is visible from space.
Researcher Jean Thie said Wednesday he used satellite imagery and Google Earth software to locate the dam, which is about 850 metres (2,800 feet) long on the southern edge of Wood Buffalo National Park.
Scientists find new species of lizard with double penis
April 19th, 2010Scientists have discovered a species of giant lizard as long as a full-grown man is tall and endowed with a double penis.
Lizard with double penis, Varanus Bitatawa
The secretive but brightly-coloured beast, a monitor lizard, is a close cousin of the Komodo Dragon of Indonesia. Unlike the fearsome Dragon, it is not a carnivore, nor does it feast on rotting meat. Instead, it is entirely peaceable and tucks into fruit.
Read the rest in The Telegraph
Do fast elephants walk or run?
February 12th, 2010
Source: BBC
With their awkward, lumbering gait, elephants moving at high speed are not the most graceful of animals – but are they walking or running?
Now scientists believe they have an answer: new research confirms that they do both – at the same time.
By observing elephants moving across a hi-tech track, the team found the hefty creatures run with their front legs but walk with their back legs.
Animals that are better than you
November 6th, 2009
