No More Titanium Mines In Cardamom Mountains of Cambodia

Environmentalists and animal welfare groups are more than happy to hear this great news that the Cambodian government has reversed its orders for the construction of a huge titanium mine in the middle of Southwest Elephant Corridor in the Cardamom Mountain rainforest in Cambodia.

I am happy that we mentioned this petition several times so that the Cardamom Mountain rainforests of Cambodia are protected. The area is home to more than 100 endangered Asian elephants and many other endangered species.

Prime Minister Hun Sen reversed his February agreement with the United Khmer mining group and has denied permission to continue with the titanium mine because of the concerns of the its impact on the environment, biodiversity and local livelihoods.

Such positive announcements show that every signed petition does make a difference and one must not give up because only firm conviction may lead to success and the protection of animals who cannot fight against the cruel world themselves. Some 90,000 signatures were signed for this particular cause by Care2 members alone and we can see that it did put pressure on the Cambodian government to reverse its orders.

Wolf Emergency Action Against US State Officials

The leadership of the House and Senate and the President brokered a budget deal that sold out wolves by including a provision that would eliminate protections for gray wolves in the Northern Rockies, weakening the Endangered Species Act and leaving these magnificent animals with little safety net against the threat of widespread killing.

Besides the settlement agreement in the ongoing fight over wolf management was rejected by a federal court – blocking a collaborative path forward that could have helped ensure that science, not politics, dictated decisions on wolf management.

Meanwhile, state legislatures in the Northern Rockies continue to prove why state management of wolves is a cause for concern. For example, the Idaho legislature has passed a bill authorizing the governor to declare a state of emergency over the presence of wolves and extremists in that state are calling for law enforcement to find and kill these amazing animals.

The fate of wolves now rest in the hands of state officials. And while states like Oregon and Washington are adopting progressive plans to welcome wolves into their states, the legislatures and some governors and officials in Idaho, Wyoming, Montana and Utah are taking a more extreme approach to wolf management.

As bad as things are, the situation could get worse. Some extremists are pushing for the elimination of all wolves in Greater Yellowstone and the Northern Rockies.

So far, the shrill voices of anti-predator groups like the misleadingly named Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife and their leader Don Peay – the same group that along with Cabelas sponsored wolf killing derbies in Idaho –have carried the debate. But we can’t let the extremists win.

Tell Western governors that wolves deserve a place on our lands. Send your message now.

Adoring look of the mother orangutan cradling her newborn baby

Sumatran orangutan Comel holds her newborn son as he sleeps in her loving embrace.

The baby was born at Singapore Zoo and is the great-grandson of Ah Meng who featured on numerous ad campaigns for Singapore's tourism industry.

The Sumatran orang-utan is a critically endangered species with just 7,500 left living in the wild.

Now, zookeepers want help from Facebook users to help name Comel's child who is the 36th orang-utan to be born at the zoo and has already attracted thousands of visitors.

There are four choices - Ah Boy, Bino, Terang and Xing Xing.

Zookeepers say he is friendly and always has a smile and Ah Boy is a common term of endearment for boys in Singapore.

Bino means 'brave' in Bahasa Indonesia while Terang is Malayan for 'bright'.

Finally, Xing Xing which is Chinese for both 'star' and 'ape'.

There are two weeks left to go and at the moment Bino is the most popular name.

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1366889/Adoring-look-mother-orang-utan-Comel-cradling-newborn-baby.html#ixzz1GyApnW6G

Sweden's wolf hunt heading to court: EU

Sweden's wolf hunt violates EU law, environment commissioner Janez Potocnik said on Monday, vowing to drag Sweden to court for allowing the hunt to continue this year.

• Nearly half of Swedish wolf hunt quota met (15 Jan 11)
• Swedish wolf activists threaten to sabotage hunt (14 Jan 11)
• Wolf hunt set to proceed despite EU complaints (13 Jan 11)

"I regret that Sweden has embarked on the licensed hunting of wolves without providing a clear answer to my letter sent on December 7th," Potocnik, who is responsible for the protection of endangered species, wrote in a statement on Monday.

He emphasised that the commission has called for an intensive dialogue with the Swedish government about the fact that, as the commission sees it, the hunt may be illegal in relation to EU law.

Now, he pointed out, there is nothing else to do but to take Sweden to court.

"The Swedish authorities' actions give me few other options than to propose to the EU Commission to start a formal proceeding against Sweden for breaching the EU's environmental laws," said Potocnik.

Source:

http://www.thelocal.se/31484/20110117/

Please, help us to save our pelicans!

Brown pelicans were affected the most of all birds by the recent Gulf disaster and are dying daily. According to National Wildlife Federation "The Brown Pelican comprises 58% of all dead or injured bird species collected in response to the BP oil spill."

Rescue centers have to help many other species and they have a very limited resources. Therefore, as long as brown pelicans are not back on the endangered species list, there wouldn't be much that rescue centers could do for them. They need financial support from the state and Federal Authorities and they won't get it if brown pelicans are not on the endangered species list again. Please, ask Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar to put brown pelican back on the endangered species list!

"The government counts only oiled birds collected for rehabilitation or found dead, for use as evidence in the spill investigation. Oiled birds in the many nesting areas that dot the Gulf coast typically are left in place and not counted in official tallies."

"This is not like Exxon Valdez where you had tens of thousands of birds killed all at once," said Ken Rosenberg, director of conservation science at the Cornell laboratory. "It's more insidious because it is literally happening in waves and it's happening over and over again as the birds are moving around." What's worse, pelicans are dying on the West Coast too:

Officials say they are running out of room to help all the sick or dying California brown pelicans on the Southern and Central California coastline. Paul Kelway of the International Bird Rescue Research Center says more than 500 birds have arrived at four wildlife centers in the last month, leaving them on the brink of closure as they run out of space and money.

There is only one way we can save brown pelicans - if we put them back on the endangered species list!

http://animals.change.org/petitions/view/please_help_us_to_save_our_pelicans

Protect tigers: If you don’t buy, they don’t die!

Think Twice Pledge

I am signing the pledge below to help protect tigers and other animal victims of wildlife trade while on holiday and at home.

Sign your name pledging to do all you can to protect precious wildlife. Then read up on the tips below that you can utilize to help preserve the beautiful wild tiger.

If we don't buy, they don't die!

Here are a few actions you can take to help preserve the beautiful wild tiger:

1. Buy locally made, non-wildlife souvenirs

2. Think about animal welfare

Don't take part in any activity that is cruel to animals or promotes the poaching of wild animals. Examples include trophy or sport hunting, having your photograph taken with chimpanzees or other performing animals, visiting circuses or bullfights, or taking rides on sick, over-worked or badly treated horses, donkeys, elephants, or camels. They may look harmless, but activities like these can inflict cruelty to individual animals and encourage the over-exploitation of wildlife.

3. Report endangered species products

4. Choose responsible ecotourism

Ecotourism is tourism that has the least possible impact on the environment. It's the responsible way to see the world's wonders. But be careful — some tour operators and hotels use the label "ecotourism" because it's fashionable when, in fact, their operations leave much to be desired.

5. Help spread the word

Help IFAW spread the message: Think Twice; Don't buy Wildlife Souvenirs. Working together, we can stop the illegal trade in wildlife. We can ensure that wild animals, like tigers, are left in the wild where they belong. If we don't buy, they don't die.

http://www.therainforestsite.com/clickToGive/campaign.faces?siteId=4&campaign=TigerPledge

Stop Iceland's Cruel Whale Slaughter

Iceland's whalers have killed 148 endangered fin whales and 60 minke whales this year, in the very waters where tourists go to marvel at these gigantic creatures.

Whaling is cruel, unnecessary and doesn't make sense economically. Whale watching generates more than $15million a year for coastal communities in Iceland — a humane, sustainable and profitable alternative to whaling.

Tell Hjálmar W. Hannesson, Iceland's Ambassador to the United States, you want Iceland to end whaling and work instead to protect its valuable whale watching industry.

http://www.therainforestsite.com/clickToGive/campaign.faces;jsessionid=C7312E9A39CAD85803AB5C0607C8C988.ctg-b?siteId=4&campaign=IcelandWhaleSlaughter

Stop importing endangered reptiles for skin

What incredible torture do reptiles endure just to end up as fashionable accessories!

Water monitors are tied together and kept in plastic bags for days, until they are killed by a hammer blow to the head. However, a large number of these animals survive their severe injuries – and are skinned alive as a consequence. Snakes get an additional “water treatment” prior to flaying: A hook through the upper jaw locks them into position, and a hose is inserted that fills their bodies with water. This procedure is employed in order to stretch their bodies so straight cuts can be made before the skinning. Unequivocally, the struggling movements of the animals prove that they are alive all along.

Switzerland is the world’s largest trader in products manufactured from threatened species. Every year, the Swiss watch making industry alone imports more than one million leather watch bands made from the skins of endangered reptiles. Stop importing endangered reptiles for their skins.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/stop-importing-endangered-reptiles-for-skins/