WWF - Environmental News




1» Counting dolphins, critical to preserve health of South American rivers
      2010-09-07

Bogotá, Colombia - A slow-moving canoe full of marine biologists gingerly steers through a narrow Amazon tributary. On both sides, treetops surface above a flooded forest. 10 minutes later the group emerges onto a huge and placid oval lake, the Cocará lagoon, located on the Peruvian side of the Putumayo river. Suddenly, a powder-pink dolphin jumps and dives in an elegant arc.This is the 11th expedition to count river dolphins in South America, a critical way to assess not only the dolphins numbers, but also the health of rivers and related b


2» Mutual nosedive for dolphins, river health
      2010-09-07

Dwindling freshwater dolphin numbers are raising concerns about the declining health of some of the worlds most important rivers, shows a new study by WWF. The main culprit, says River Dolphins & People: Shared Rivers, Shared Future, is the increasing pressure that unchecked human demands for food, energy and other goods is placing on freshwater ecosystems. The well-being of river dolphins is a telltale indicator of river health, and their decline should sound an alarm bell for everyone our rivers are at risk, and we need to clean up our act to stop this nosedive, says Dr. Li Lifeng


3» Rattan companies from the Mekong explore global market
      2010-09-07




4» Critically endangered whales flee Russian oil, gas boom
      2010-09-07

Gland, Switzerland - Russian oil and gas company Rosneft is conducting oil and gas exploration work that may have caused the critically endangered western gray whale to flee its main feeding ground. Tests and offshore installment of equipment by Rosneft for a major seismic survey began in late August, despite repeated calls from 12 governments, NGOs, scientists and the public to postpone the survey because of potential risks to the whales. Rosneft started preparations for the survey last month near Sakhalin Island even though a small number of western gray whales mothers and calves were


5» Revoke licences call for repeat wildlife trafficking offender
      2010-09-06

Selangor, Malaysia: A six month jail sentence for one of the worlds noted wildlife trafficker is welcome but the offender should also have all licences for possession of totally protected and protected wildlife revoked, WWF-Malaysia said today.The comments come after the Malaysia Sessions Court sentenced Keng Liang Anson Wong, owner of two wildlife establishments in Penang, to six months jail today, after he was caught last August with listed boa constrictors in his luggage at Kuala Lumpur International Airport.On the other hand, the fine of merely RM190 000 ($US 60,000) appears


6» Big dry and legal doubts fuel progress to new forest burn boom in Brazil
      2010-09-03

Brasília, Brazil High temperatures, low humidity and uncertainty over the future of forest laws are fuelling a boost in forest fires over much of Brazil.Overnight on August 30, satellite data collected by the National Institute of Space Researches (Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais INPE) showed 177 fire spots in central and central west Brazil and also in the north, south and south east of the country.The 45,860 forest fires recorded so far this year is nearly 50 per cent higher than from the equivalent January to


7» Fuzzy diplomacy: more than 25,000 apply for Pambassador post
      2010-09-03

Chengdu, China In whats shaping up to be one of the worlds most sought-after jobs, over 25,000 hopefuls have applied in only one week for the opportunity of a lifetime the chance to spend one month taking care of giant pandas in Chinas southwest. Six Pambassadors will be offered an opportunity to work side-by-side researchers at the Chengdu Panda Base this October, gaining hands-on experience caring for one of the worlds most endangered species. Daily feeding and behavioral observation are part of the job description, as is participating in WWF-led field trips to learn more about whats being done to conserve the pandas in the wild. A


8» Sustainable farming options snap open for bivalves
      2010-09-03

WASHINGTON, DC: Two sets of global standards one for pangasius farming and the other for bivalve farming were finalized today by the Aquaculture Dialogues. They were developed over the past three years by 1,000 farmers, scientists, conservationists and others with a shared vision of minimizing the negative impact pangasius or bivalve farming can have on the environment, farm


9» Tigers call for roar of support
      2010-09-02

Gland, Switzerland: To save the world's remaining wild tigers, WWF is not asking people to stand-up and be heard - but asking them for a roar of support.With tigers in the wild numbering fewer than 3,200, WWF has launched a first-time campaign where web users can literally roar their support for tigers.The Tiger Roar Campaign, available at www.panda.org/ roar, is an online application where the public can add their own roars in many different ways, whether solo or in a group of friends, family, or with their colleagues. Users can upload pictures of themselves getting all roary, shoot video of their roars, and upload them to YouTube or Vimeo, and then link th


10» Historic high seas declaration at risk
      2010-09-01

Hamburg, Germany: Last minute reservations from four countries may sink the historic announcement of a network of marine protected areas over key areas of the mid-Atlantic Ridge and basin which was scheduled for the North-East Atlantic environment summit later this month.The declaration, foreshadowed by the OSPAR Commission for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic since 2008, would have been the world's first declaration of a suite of protected sites in waters outside any national jurisdiction. The sixteen Contracting Parties have been working towards a milestone achievement for several years, setting a global example to protect ocean wildlife