— astrophysicists have been using thermal cameras for many decades. crucially, it turns out the techniques we’ve developed to find and characterize the faintest objects in the universe are exactly those needed to find and identify objects in thermal images taken with drones read article : conservation drones and thermal finger prints help endangered species
art ecology science & animals
By storm
AN AWAKENING?
— right now, every single remaining rusty patched bumblebee is nestled below ground waiting for the seasons to change. at this moment the entire species is composed of young females, a fresh generation of queens tasked with repopulating the earth as soon as it gets warm enough read article : trump’s attack on endangered species really stings
POLLINATORS THAT SUSTAINS US
— it is the latest in a flurry of last-minute efforts to protect the environment and preserve president obama’s legacy on climate change. in the last month, he has issued a permanent ban on offshore oil and gas drilling in large areas of the arctic and much of the eastern seaboard; announced two new national monuments in utah and nevada, protecting 1.65 million acres of federal land; and denied six permits for oil exploration in the atlantic, partly because the seismic testing harms marine animals. read article : a bumblebee gets new protection on obama’s way out
FINE DINING
—he put the beads in the seawater with the larvae under a microscope to watch the turbulence they produce around them as they swim. the beads, smaller than red blood cells, follow even small swirls of water and reflect light, so the lines of water flow are visible. what he saw entranced him. watch video: the beauty of a starfish larva at lunch
SEIZURE OF THE BIRDS
— wildlife crime control unit of bangladesh’s forest department has rescued about 300 birds of different rare and endangered species. last month the wildlife crime control unit rescued 1,451 birds of different rare and endangered species. read article : bangladesh rescues over 300 birds
THESE WOLVES ARE NOT REALLY OURS
— “it’s very bittersweet; there’s always a risk when wolves are released, but at the same time we keep reminding ourselves that that’s the whole purpose of the captive breeding program. it’s not to continue having them in captivity.” read article : wolf haven celebrates release of endangered animals
RIGOROUSLY OBJECTIVE?
— an approach like this one can help modernize the classification system, what the authors are doing, it’s almost like a plea for more data and more information to make better and clearer and more accurate assessments of where species are living. the researchers believe that their finding probably extends to mammals and amphibians as well. read article : is the endangered species list missing hundreds of species of birds?
BYCATCH
— these three components include consideration of the endangered species itself, the ecosystem in which it lives, and the connection between these conservation efforts and human livelihood. read article : the complicated landscape of endangered species preservation
THE COUGAR RULE; WHAT KIND OF DEVICES ARE WE TALKING ABOUT HERE?
— “although the cougar trapping season has already begun, it’s not too late for the game commission to take matters into its own hands by revising the cougar rule, and put an end to widespread cougar trapping”. raed article : cougar trapping law barbaric
WATCH THE BEES PLEASE
— “bees are like humans, they need a variety and a balanced diet to stay healthy.” read article : beekeeper encourages people to support local species of bees
A HUGE VICTORY
— groups including the alaska oil and gas association and arctic slope regional corporation sued to stop the listing, saying the decision wasn’t based on science and could restrict development. the appeals court rejected that argument. read article : court ruling keeps bearded seals on ESA more : center for biological diversity
THE YOUNG, TECH-SAVVY, URBAN GENERATION OF AFRICA
— the continent now has the youngest and fastest-growing human population in the world. cities are expanding. international agencies and companies are seeking a massive expansion in african agriculture. long overdue infrastructure, including ports, highways and railways, is being built. but all of that comes with a potential conservation price. so is all lost? read article : africa must not become one big game park
worldsendangeredspecies 