Wildlife beyond boundaries: The clue lies in corridors - The Economic Times

The elephants stood at the stream's edge. As the adults drank in measured trunkfuls, calves gambolled in the water. Just above them, on the slope, a large sambar stag emerged silently from the undergrowth. From a cluster of trees above came the scolding call of a giant squirrel, as a troop of Nilgiri langur foraged in the canopy.

Just as we were slipping into a reverie, imagining ourselves in pristine wilderness, a woman called loudly to her children playing nearby as she washed clothes outside a neat row of houses, a mere hundred metres upslope of the elephants.

This vignette, from the Anamalai Hills of southern India, is not all that unusual. Across large parts of our country, a wide range of species still occur outside the confines of wildlife reserves, and even in the middle of busy, human-dominated landscapes. This is possible because a variety of natural and human-modified habitats - forest fragments, coffee plantations, orchards, paddy fields, marshes and lakes – still exist outside our reserves. These habitats may offer permanent residence for smaller creatures, whereas larger species may use them as passageways to move between wildlife reserves.

But the size, location and status of these habitats that lie outside reserves often belie their importance to the survival of endangered animals. This is so for many reasons.

Firstly, our wildlife reserves, crafted more by circumstance than by design, look like islands when seen on a map. But not long ago, wild animals occupied vast unbroken stretches of habitat – the Western Ghats that run across five states is a good example – and have evolved to move and migrate across such large landscapes.



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Wildlife beyond boundaries: The clue lies in corridors - The Economic Times

America's Great Outdoors IdeaJam - Designate wildlife corridors of national importance

President Obama has launched a national dialogue about conservation in America to learn about some of the smart, creative ways communities are conserving outdoor spaces.

The voting tool is available to encourage interaction among those interested in America's Great Outdoors. All comments submitted will be considered.

What are your ideas on the following topics:

• Challenges - What obstacles exist to achieving your goals for conservation, recreation, or reconnecting people to the outdoors?
• What Works - Please share your thoughts and ideas on effective strategies for conservation, recreation and reconnecting people to the outdoors.
• Federal Government Role - How can the federal government be a more effective partner in helping to achieve conservation, recreation or reconnecting people to the outdoors?
• Tools - What additional tools and resources would help your efforts be even more successful?

Your ideas and comments from the previous three topics have been archived and will be delivered to the America's Great Outdoors team for inclusion in the report to the President. The four new topics now match those on comment cards provided at AGO Listening Sessions, in order to optimize the organization of ideas and comments.

Read more about the America’s Great Outdoors conversation

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America's Great Outdoors IdeaJam - Designate wildlife corridors of national importance

Avril Lavigne Video for Animals

Watch Out for Wildlife Awareness Week - Defenders of Wildlife

September 12, 2010- September 18, 2010

Nationwide

Every year Defenders of Wildlife organizes and promotes Watch Out for Wildlife Awareness Week, a week designated to raise public awareness of the serious obstacles facing the nation's wildlife due to its transportation infrastructure – both by roadway deaths and through habitat fragmentation.

Transportation infrastructure, though vital, cuts through the habitat of wildlife populations and creates the danger of wildlife-vehicle collisions. Each year in the US more than 200 people are killed in collisions with deer, elk and other wildlife; more than 1.5 million animals are estimated to be hit on roads; and the cost of property damage caused by collisions surpasses $1 billion. For some wild populations, roadkill added to other threats such as habitat loss, fragmentation, climate change and invasive species, is severely reducing their viability.

The main goal of Watch Out for Wildlife Awareness Week is to reduce risks of collision for the benefit of people and wildlife.

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Watch Out for Wildlife Awareness Week - Defenders of Wildlife

Tortoise helps tortoise

Giant blue plankton mass seen from space

Satellites have photographed an electric blue mass of plankton almost as big as Ireland drifting in the Atlantic Ocean.

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Giant blue plankton mass seen from space

ALERT : DO NOT ADOPT ANIMALS TO THIS MAN!

HUGE DNA ALERT...CONNECTICUT...PLS CROSS POST FAR AND WIDE...

Tuesday, July 27, 2010 at 4:01am

This is urgent - Jay Baldwin, animal abuser - Please cross post!!!!!

Please cross post to all shelters, ACOs and anyone doing adoptions! He will torture and kill any animal he gets his hands on. He sometimes has a woman helping him. It is best to check driver's licenses to verify identity.

Subject: Do Not Adopt!!!!

I work at an animal shelter in northwest CT. Today we had to keep all our doors locked and check people (license, etc) before they entered our shelter and keep the security camera on at all times. There is a man called Jay Baldwin who just got out of jail on Thursday and on Friday he stopped at a local vet and tried to get an animal from them. They recommended our shelter and another local one (not knowing his reputation, he is known for animal abuse). Our director alerted the police who kept an eye on us and will continue to do so. He may even break into a building to get an animal.

Jay Baldwin is in his 50s, tanned and likes to wear hats. He will pay an adoption fee to get the animal and can even get violent and take the animal if thwarted. He may also send friends in to get the animal. He will use other names. So it this makes it hard to tell who he is. Hopefully adoption screening will help keep animals from him.

Please let other shelters you know of know this.

First Names: Jay

Last Name: Baldwin

City/State: Derby, CT

Posting: This guy was charged with 10 counts of animal cruelty in Derby, CT Superior Court.He is 59 years old, tall and pot belly heavy, bald and a very smooth talker.He is prohibited from having any pets now and anyone who knows of him trying to adopt a pet should contact Ansonia Police directly at:203 734 1651.

This is JAY BALDWIN....someone circulated a different picture of an animal abuser and confused him as Jay Baldwin as listed above..This, according to the West Waldwick shelter, is Jay Baldwin.

SOURCE:
Facebook | Vancat Onlion: HUGE DNA ALERT...CONNECTICUT...PLS CROSS POST FAR AND WIDE...

Breaking news: The progressive Delaware Companion Animal Protection Act

Great Seal of the State of Delaware

The State of Delaware has just passed the most forward-moving animal companion law in the country. The law, initiated by the non-profit No Kill shelter Faithful Friends, in Wilmington, Delaware, modeled itself after the No Kill Advocacy Center’s Companion Animal Protection Act, notes the No Kill Advocacy Center, which initially reported the recent ratification of the law.

The Delaware Companion Animal Protection Act will insist upon collaboration between shelters and rescue groups. Thus, a shelter will be unable to kill an animal if a rescue group is willing to save that animal’s life. It also makes illegal “convenience killing,” mandating that shelters can no longer euthanize an animal if there are cages available or if the animal can share a cage or kennel with another one.

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Breaking news: The progressive Delaware Companion Animal Protection Act

The Judds - Love Can Build A Bridge (Subtitulada al Español)

BBC News - Secret trade in illegal rare species

By Claire Marshall BBC News

Skulls of hundreds of exotic animals and birds were found in Alan Dudley's house

From his semi-detached house in a quiet Coventry suburb, Alan Dudley played a small part in a huge global trade in endangered species.

It is a trade that is pushing many species to the edge of extinction, and the National Wildlife Crime Unit says there are clear indications it is on the increase.

When investigators raided Dudley's home they found the skulls of hundreds of exotic animals and birds in an upstairs room.

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BBC News - Secret trade in illegal rare species

Chemical Index | Simple Steps

Wonder whether the chemical used in your pet's flea collar is safe? Or if that sweet smell from a new shower curtain is of concern? Use our searchable Chemical Index to learn about chemicals commonly used in everyday products, find out what the health concerns and sources of exposure are, and how to stay safe.

Arctic Sea Floor

The Beautiful Planet Earth

The Beautiful Planet Earth 2

ENTJ - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is about the Myers-Briggs personality type. For the Socionics ENTj, see Logical Intuitive Extrovert.

ENTJ (extraversion, intuition, thinking, judgment) is an abbreviation used in the publications of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) to refer to one of sixteen personality types.^[1] The MBTI assessment was developed from the work of prominent psychiatrist Carl G. Jung in his book Psychological Types, which proposed a psychological typology based on his theories of cognitive functions.

From Jung's work, others developed psychological typologies. Jungian personality assessments include the MBTI assessment, developed by Isabel Briggs Myers and Katharine Cook Briggs, and the Keirsey Temperament Sorter, developed by David Keirsey. Keirsey referred to ENTJs as Fieldmarshals, one of the four types belonging to the temperament he called the Rationals.

ENTJs are among the rarest of types, accounting for about 2–5% of those who are formally tested.^[2][3] They tend to be self-driven, motivating, energetic, assertive, confident, and competitive. They generally take a big-picture view and build a long-term strategy.

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ENTJ - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

State Reps: Too many animals euthanized

Solar Windows by Pythagoras Solar Seek to Achieve Net Zero Buildings | Green Talk™

Solar Windows by Pythagoras Solar Seek to Achieve Net Zero Buildings | Green Talk™

About the KHSfoster's Blog

I am posting this to tell everyone about the KSHfoster's Blog. (Not affiliated with us or this blog) but a very helpful site for homeless pets in Kansas. The KHSfoster's Blog is about all of the animals who are at the Kansas Humane Society in need of a loving forever home, and awaiting adoption at the shelter or in foster care. Shelters need more people to be a foster home for animals...time and space are precious. All about the fosters who care for animals from the KHS - all animals are in need of loving forever home.

Please adopt an animal from your local animal shelter. Don't shop from a breeder.

Below is a posting from the KHSfoster's Blog

HelpingAnimals.com // Help An Animal // Factsheets // The AKC and Dog Breeders: Partners in Crime

If you’ve decided to welcome a dog into your family, you may be considering buying a puppy from a breeder. While many potential canine guardians have heard about the horrors of puppy mills and “backyard breeders,” they mistakenly think that buying a puppy from a so-called responsible breeder is acceptable. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Why Breeding Dogs Is Killing Dogs
Approximately 6 to 8 million animals are handled by animal shelters in the United States each year. Some are reclaimed or adopted, but nearly 4 million unwanted dogs and cats are left with nowhere to go.(1) Animal shelters cannot humanely house and support all these animals until they die of natural causes—the animals would be forced to live for years, lonely and stressed, in cramped cages or kennels. And other animals would have to be turned away because there would be no room for them.

The births and deaths of millions of homeless animals could be reduced and prevented through spaying and neutering. Yet countless numbers of puppies are born every day, thanks to breeders who often breed closely related dogs in order to retain certain breed characteristics. Not only does this contribute to the overpopulation crisis, it has also led to genetic diseases in virtually every breed. Because the gene pool is so limited, there are now more hereditary canine diseases (about 370) than there are dog breeds

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HelpingAnimals.com // Help An Animal // Factsheets // The AKC and Dog Breeders: Partners in Crime

Ohio Dairy Farm Investigation | Mercy For Animals

Ohio Dairy Farm Investigation | Mercy For Animals


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Chilling undercover footage recorded during a new Mercy For Animals investigation exposes dairy farm workers sadistically abusing cows and young calves.
Captured on hidden camera, the shocking scenes of abuse reveal a culture of cruelty at Conklin Dairy Farms in Plain City, Ohio.
During a four-week investigation between April and May, MFA's investigator documented farm workers:

• Violently punching young calves in the face, body slamming them to the ground, and pulling and throwing them by their ears
• Routinely using pitchforks to stab cows in the face, legs and stomach
• Kicking "downed" cows (those too injured to stand) in the face and neck – abuse carried out and encouraged by the farm's owner
• Maliciously beating restrained cows in the face with crowbars – some attacks involving over 40 blows to the head
• Twisting cows' tails until the bones snapped
• Punching cows' udders
• Bragging about stabbing, dragging, shooting, breaking bones, and beating cows and calves to death

After viewing the footage, Dr. Bernard Rollin, distinguished professor of animal science at Colorado State University, stated: "This is probably the most gratuitous, sustained, sadistic animal abuse I have ever seen. The video depicts calculated, deliberate cruelty, based not on momentary rage but on taking pleasure through causing pain to cows and calves who are defenseless."
Immediately upon completion of the investigation, Mercy For Animals contacted the City Prosecutor's Office of Marysville regarding the ongoing pattern of abuse at Conklin Dairy Farms. MFA is pushing for employees of the facility to be criminally prosecuted for violating Ohio's animal cruelty laws.
The deplorable conditions uncovered at Conklin Dairy Farms highlight the reality that animal agriculture is incapable of self-regulation and that meaningful federal and state laws must be implemented and strengthened to prevent egregious cruelty to farmed animals.
Although many of the abuses documented at Conklin Dairy Farms are sadistic in nature, numerous MFA undercover investigations at dairy farms, pig farms, egg farms, hatcheries and slaughterhouses have revealed that violence and abuse to farmed animals – whether malicious or institutionalized – runs rampant nationwide.
Compassionate consumers can end their direct financial support of farmed animal abuse by rejecting dairy, and other animal products, and adopting a vegan diet.

Source: Mercy For Animals