San Diego Zoo Launches California Condor Cam!

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/09/san-diego-zoo-launches-california-condor-cam.php?campaign=th_rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+treehuggersite+%28Treehugger%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

Photo: USFWS Endangered Species / cc

Picture: This picture shows a California condor, a bird that has almost been extinct, but certain facilities like the San Diego Zoo have been keeping them safe and the population has been rising!

Summary: There was once less than two dozen California condors left. That is less than 24, which isn't a whole lot for a species of birds. Lately, the condors population has been rising, and places like the San Diego Zoo has a condor breeding area where they have installed a web cam, so people can follow and watch this bird from anywhere around the world. The web cam allows people to see this wonderful bird in action, and once they lay eggs the web can will be focused onto the eggs. Soon there will be a bunch of baby condors being born! It's an amazing sight for people to watch. It isn't just for entertainment purposes though. The whole point of this is to have these condors in this breeding center, so they can be saved and the population can be risen. They were once very very close to extinction. 80 condors have been released from this breeding center back into the wild. This shows that these breeding centers are really working and the condors are being saved, and everyone can watch it happen right from their computer at home.

Opinion/Reflection: When I first saw this, I was really excited! I think it's a great idea that people can experience these condors being saved, and be released back into their habitat, and experience new baby condors being born. They were once so close to extinction, and now there are many more being brought to life. They should really keep this going, and hopefully the condors won't be endangered at all anymore!

Questions:

1. Why do you think the condor gets a lot of attention for being endangered, but other endangered species don't?

2. Do you think the idea of this web cam is a good idea? Why or why not?

3. What do you think would happen if the condor went extinct?

Bee Lovely: The hand cream standing up for insects!

http://www.theecologist.org/green_green_living/health_and_beauty/1053379/bee_lovely_the_hand_cream_standing_up_for_insects.html

PICTURE: Bees carry pollen, bees make honey, bees do lots of things for our ecosystem. I wonder what it would be like if they were... gone?


Summary: UK's threatened bee population is rising day by day. Someone's gotta do something before their eco system comes crashing down. Neal's Yard Remedies has come to the rescue with a campaign, oh and a limited edition hand cream! Neal's Yard made a new hand cream that not only makes soft and healthy skin, but also has plans to save Britain's bees. For every tube of the limited edition Bee Lovely Hand Cream, Neal's Yard will donate 1 euro to protecting UK's threatened bee population as a part of the brand's Save the Bee's campaign. Neal's Yard is also running a petition to outlaw nemonic pesticides which is a pesticide that damages the nerves in an insect resulting in paralysis, one of the biggest threats facing UK's bees! Based on reviews and buyers of the cream, it's supposed to work wonders too!

Opinion/Review: Honestly I think this is a wonderful idea! While they are providing people with whatever honey hand cream they usually buy from other companies, they are helping the situation too. I think unlike other companies, they aren't taking advantage of their products. Think about it, if bees disappear, who will take pollen from flower to flower, who will make honey? Bees are a very very important part of our ecosystem, and if they die off, we are in big trouble.

Question 1: Why don't we hear about the extinction of bees a lot in the media?
Question 2: What could have caused the bees population to be threatened?
Question 3: Do you think bees may be endangered in North America too?

Making Headway in the Movement to Protect the World's Sharks

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/11/science/earth/11shark.html?_r=1&ref=endangeredandextinctspecies

Picture: A restaurant in San Fransico, California serves shark fin soup. This restaurant is no longer able to serve this soup since the California Legislature has banned the selling of the shark fins.

Summary: california has decided to ban the selling and possesion of shark fins. This is a billion-dollar global trade that has been killing millions and millions of sharks every year! When making soup with a shark fin in Asia, one bowl may cost up to $100. Since the demand for shark fin soup has increasingly gorwn in Asian countries, it has led to over fishing around the globe. Even though it is a big demand in Asia, several celebraties native of those countries and environmentalist group have been trying their hardest to ban the use of shark fins. If the shark finning industry continues to grow, their is a great chance that some shark species can go endangered or even extinct. By starting to ban shark finning, it will slow down the industry and hopefully stop the killing of these innocent sharks.

Opinion/Reflection: I was very surprised while reading this article! To be honest I have never even heard of shark fin soup or shark-finning. This is actually a major issue if you think about it. If all the sharks are being killed, what will eat the other big fish,seals, and other animals? Things may end up getting over populated and more problems can occure! I am glad that some states in the United States are banning the sale and possesion of these shark fins, that way less shark can get hurt!

Questions: 1: What would happen if some shark species went extinct? 2: Why isn't this issue talked about alot in the media? 3: Even if all the states in the U.S. ban shark finning, will the other countries in Asia start hunting for the sharks at greater amounts, since they don't have competition?

Bringing Black Turtles Back from the Brink

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/09/bringing-black-turtles-back-from-the-brink-with-photography.php?campaign=th_rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+treehuggersite+%28Treehugger%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

PICTURE: In this picture, it depicts a skull of the black turtle. This kind of turtle is on the brink of extinction. Not many are still alive.

SUMMARY: The issue of extinction of rare animals has been a great problem. From natural extinction, to poachers and hunters, trying to make a profit. To this day the black turtle has nearly been extinct and is close to complete extinction of its species. A special project has been started to help save this species. A photography project that will show and get the word out there about these turtles. It is a great thing, that will hopefully raise lots of money. Their main goal is to show a relationship between biology, art, science, and storytelling. It will be presented to teach about tradition, folklore, corrupt officials, and poor fishermen, illegal pollution, and survival. They will also spread the word through the Internet, podcast, lectures, and interviews. Hopefully, it will reach their targets fundraisers, legislation, and editorials. Their success depends on how other people will try to save this precious, rare species.

OPINION/REFLECTION: When I read about the black turtles in this article, I had no idea what they were. As expected, this rare species is not well known. The media is not well known for telling us about species that are endangered. I hope that this doesn't end like other endangered species. Completely gone. I do not think I can do anything from my situation, but hopefully others can.

QUESTIONS:

1.Why do I not hear more about this, media, etc.?

2. What can I/you do?

3. What exactly caused this endangerment?

Deforestation Making Somalia Famine Worse, Forestry Experts Say

http://treehugger.com/files/2011/09/deforestation-making-famine-worse

Picture: The graphic shows Somalians trying to find food. Clearly they are not having much luck considering that the kids are carrying sticks and the mother is carrying the only significant amount of food.

Summary: Somalia has had trouble in the past with famines and deforestation of their forest isn't helping out their latest famine. Experts say that chopping down trees,especially in places familiar to famines, it makes it harder on people. People affected by this include the poor and especially those who are depend extremely on agriculture. Lets not forget that in places like Somalia, water is not that easy to get a hold of, this making the famine much worse. The growth of population also plays a major factor in this famine. The more people there are, the more people there are to feed. On the other hand, the dry lands near Somalia provide crops that can sustain these droughts and famines, making it a little bit easier. However, even with the help, this Somalian famine could claim the lives of 750,000 people or more, in the next four months alone.

Opinion/Reflection: I was shocked to see how severe a famine can be. Of course, I had never been part of one, but it still really took my breath away. The U.S. is not home to many famis, but places like the Horn of Africa (places near Somalia) are home to many. It also surprised me how many lives a famine can take.

Questions:

1- Why isn't other countries helping Somalia out as much?

2- Why aren't things like this brought to people's attention more often?

3- Why are places like Somalia and Niger home to so many famines?

4- What is a way I can help the famine in Somalia today?