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☆ San Diego Zoo: First panda pair to enter the US in 21 years take off from China
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-26 | by ( Jessie Yeung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

They were given a celebratory farewell at the Chinese base, attended by American and Chinese dignitaries, including performances and a gift exchange, according to a statement from the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. China loans pandas to more than 20 countries under a program often referred to as “panda diplomacy.” Its panda loans with Washington stretch back to 1972 – though the number of loans have decreased in recent years as US-China relations have worsened. The San Diego Zoo, one of the world’s most renowned, was the first American institution to carry out cooperative research on giant pandas with China. Yun Chuan’s mother, Zhen Zhen, was born at San Diego Zoo in 2007 to parents Bai Yun and Gao Gao, according to a press release issued by San Diego Zoo in April. Grandmother Bai Yun was born in China in 1991, and arrived at the San Diego Zoo in 1996.

Persons: Yun Chuan, Xin Bao, Xi Jinping, –, Yun Chuan’s, Zhen Zhen, Bai Yun, Gao Gao, Grandmother Bai Yun, Xi, Joe Biden, “ Organizations: CNN, Diego’s, China Conservation and Research Center, San Diego Zoo, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, Washington, World Wildlife Fund, Smithsonian National Zoo, Zoo Atlanta, Economic Cooperation Locations: China, California, Beijing, United States, Sichuan province, Ya'an City, Sichuan, Washington ,, Asia, San Francisco

☆ After Outlawing Public Zoos, Costa Rica Relocates Hundreds of Animals
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Jesus Jiménez | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Costa Rica announced last week that it would close its two remaining state zoos, more than a decade after it passed a law to ban keeping wild animals in government-sponsored captivity but was met with legal blowback. Costa Rica’s Ministry of Environment and Energy said in a statement on Saturday that it would not renew its contract with Fundazoo, a foundation that had run the zoos. The move will close the country’s last two state zoos: the Simón Bolívar Zoo and the Santa Ana Conservation Center. Some of the animals have been in captivity for more than 30 years, the ministry said. Franz Tattenbach, the minister of environment and energy, said on Saturday that Costa Rica would move toward running sanctuaries for animals that cannot return to to the wild.

Persons: Costa Rica, Franz Tattenbach Organizations: Rica’s Ministry of Environment, Energy, Fundazoo, Santa Ana Conservation Center Locations: Costa, Rica’s, Costa Rica

BLYTHE, Calif. (AP) — Eight corrections officers and an incarcerated man were injured in a riot involving around 200 inmates in the recreational yard of a Southern California prison, authorities said Thursday. The Jan. 31 riot at Ironwood State Prison in the Riverside County city of Blythe started when an estimated 200 prisoners rushed corrections officers, attacking them with fists and rocks. Eight prison staff members and one incarcerated person were hospitalized with injuries, and later released. The riot began around 10 a.m. when an incarcerated man head-butted a corrections officers who had detained him as part of a contraband investigation. The head butting — which occurred as staffers were escorting the man across a prison yard — prompted 200 inmates to attack the officers.

Persons: headbutted, Michael “ Mosca ” Torres Organizations: California Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation, Authorities, Sierra Conservation Center, Mafia Locations: BLYTHE, Calif, Southern California, Ironwood, Blythe, Los Angeles, California, Riverside County, Jamestown, Sacramento

☆ Mosquitoes are driving the ‘akikiki’ to extinction. With only 5 birds left in the wild, scientists are racing to save the species
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Nell Lewis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

This summer, the team successfully rescued 10 eggs that were placed in a portable incubator and brought safely back to the Kauaʻi Bird Conservation Center. The goal is that as soon as the threat of avian malaria is eradicated, the birds can be released back into their native habitat. Eradicating mosquitoesThe looming challenge is how to eradicate avian malaria – which not only threatens the ‘akikiki but also other endangered forest birds. In June, the US government committed nearly $16 million as part of an initiative to prevent the imminent extinction of Hawaiian forest birds. The process could help to reduce the likelihood of forest birds being affected by avian malaria, which is only carried by female mosquitoes.

Persons: ”, Hannah Bailey, Bailey, we’ll, “ Organizations: CNN, state’s Department of Land, Resources, Conservation Program, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, Department of Land, Bird Conservation, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Hawaii’s Department of Land Locations: Hawaii, Kauaʻi, Maui, San

☆ The first known hybrid between a dog and a fox was discovered in Brazil after being hit by a car
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-16 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The first known hybrid between a pampas fox and a domestic dog was discovered in Brazil. Her father was a domestic dog of an unspecified breed. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe dog-fox resembles both a dog and a fox and shares characteristics with both animals, scientists said. Other names suggested for the animal were "graxorra" and "dogxim," which reference the Portuguese names for the pampas fox and female dog. This type of hybridization can threaten wildlife conservation due to risks of introgression and disease transmission by the dog, the study said.

Persons: Flávia Ferrari, Ferrari, Bruna Elenara Organizations: Service, British, The Telegraph, Telegraph, Universidade Federal Locations: Brazil, Wall, Silicon, South America, Universidade, Rio Grande do Sul, North America, Europe, Africa, Universidade Federal, Santa Maria

So far, at least 111 deaths have been confirmed in the wildfires, according to a release from Maui County. Names of other victims have been released by familiesFirefight continues : Crews are still battling the fires on Maui. “The people that were trying to put out these fires lived in those homes – 25 of our firefighters lost their homes,” Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen said Wednesday. “They watched their homes burn as they fought the fire for other homes in their neighborhood,” she explained. “That is a scar that we will carry for a very long time.”Sarah Salmonese sits where her apartment once stood in Lahaina, Hawaii, on Friday, August 11.

Persons: John Pelletier, ” Pelletier, ”, Pelletier, Josh Green, CNN’s Wolf, “, Brenda Keau, ” Keau, Jeff Hickman, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, ” Hickman, Melva Benjamin, Virginia Dofa, Alfredo Galinato, Robert Dyckman, Buddy Jantoc, Benjamin, Crews, Brad Ventura, ” Biden, Herman Andaya, would’ve, Matthew A, Foster, Richard Bissen, Aina Kohler, I’ve, Kohler, “ It’s, Jonny Varona, They’re, Wade Ebersole, it’s, who’s, ” Ebersole, ” Sarah Salmonese, Go Nakamura, Jae C, Patrick T, Fallon, Rick Bowmer, Justin Sullivan, Lauren Haley, Bryan Anselm, Makalea Ahhee, Yuki Iwamura, Mike Blake, Max Whittaker, Zoltan Balogh, Robert Gauthier, Mengshin Lin, Evelio Contreras, CNN Vixay Phonxaylinkham, Lana, Phonoxaylinkham, Marco Garcia, Claire Rush, Myrna Ah Hee, Sui, Ty O'Neil, Ku'u Kauanoe, ZUMA, Matthew Thayer, Bob Marshall, ” Marshall, Marshall, Jim Kelly, ” Kelly, ” Darren Pai Organizations: CNN, Maui Police, Authorities, Hawaii Gov, Hawaii Department of Defense, Fire, White House, Maui, Maui Emergency Management, Tuesday . U.S . Army National Guard, Staff, KITV, Maui Health, Maui Memorial Medical, New York Times, AP, FBI, Facility, Getty, AP Volunteers, Grace Baptist, Reuters, Volunteers, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Kahului Airport, Technologies, Kahului, AP Helicopters, Hawaii Army National Guard, Hawaii National Guard, Reuters Residents, ZUMA Passengers, Maui News, Whisker Labs, Maui Bird Conservation Center, The Washington, Hawaiian Electric, CNN Sunday Locations: Maui, Maui County, Hawaii, Lahaina, Tuesday ., ”, Lahaina , Hawaii, Wailuku, AFP, Kula , Hawaii, Kaanapali, Kula, Kihei, West Maui, Grace, Kahului, Napili, Honokowai, Honolulu, Maalaea, California, Las Vegas, Church, Lahaina Hongwanji, Makawao, Western Maui

☆ Sun bear: World's smallest bear finally has its time in the sun. But is that a good thing?
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-05 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Hong Kong CNN —The world’s smallest bear is finally having its moment in the sun – thanks to a viral video that sparked a conspiracy theory on Chinese social media. “With all the media attention surrounding the (sun bear videos) we have a good opportunity to further educate ourselves to save this species.”Taronga Zoo is not alone. A sun bear inside at the Vietnam bear rescue centre, in Tam Dao national park, Vinh Phuc, Vietnam, 09 July 2019. Cubs are especially cute and docile and can be easily tamed compared to bigger and more aggressive bears, said bear expert Dave Garshelis, chair of the IUCN SSC Bear Specialist Group. Will the viral videos actually help save these amazing bears?

Persons: Angela, ”, Wong Siew Te, Wong, Taronga zookeeper Logan Dudley, “, ” Afiqah Nasir, Bosco Chan, ” Chan, Minh Hoang, Dave Garshelis, Thomas Stamford, Garshelis, Shao Zhenzhen Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, CNN, Sun Bear Conservation Center, Taronga Zoo, Singapore Zoo, World Wildlife Fund, Cubs, IUCN SSC Bear Specialist Group, Thomas Stamford Raffles, Singapore Locations: Hong Kong, Hangzhou, China, Sabah, Malaysia, Southeast Asia, Sydney, Australia, Vietnam, Tam Dao, Vinh Phuc, British, Indonesia, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore

In a statement written from the perspective of a sun bear named “Angela,” officials from Hangzhou zoo said people “didn’t understand” the species. In 2013, a city zoo in the central Henan province angered visitors by trying to pass off a Tibetan Mastiff dog as a lion. Visitors at another Chinese zoo, in Sichuan province, were shocked to discover a golden retriever sitting in a cage labeled as an African lion enclosure. World’s smallest bears under threatNative to the tropical forests of Southeast Asia, sun bears are the world’s smallest bear species. Sun bears are listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Persons: “ Angela, I’m Angela Organizations: CNN, Wildlife Fund, Sun Bear Conservation Center, International Union for Conservation of Nature Locations: China, Hangzhou, Weibo, Henan, Sichuan, Southeast Asia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Sabah

☆ Opinion | The Turtle Who Came Back From the Dead
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( Margaret Renkl | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

People also take turtles from the wild to keep as pets, even though the practice is now illegal in most states. One hazard of a turtle’s extremely limited home range is that a road built through a box turtle’s habitat is a road that a turtle will need to cross, especially during nesting season. “Every creature is made to withstand some forces and break under others,” Mary Laura writes in “Bomb Shelter.” “When it’s truck tires versus turtle, tires always win.”It’s odd that human beings account for almost all the reasons this species is in trouble. I was helping a turtle cross the road in a rural part of Tennessee last year when a pickup truck slowed down and all the guys in it gave me a big thumb’s up. These measures won’t keep all turtles safe, but they will keep many of them safe.

Persons: ” Mary Laura, ”, Mary Laura’s Frank, Debbie Sykes, I’ll, I’m, he’s, Margaret Renkl Organizations: Nashville Wildlife Conservation Center Locations: Tennessee

☆ A 'Frankenfish' that can live without water for days and officials instruct to kill on sight was spotted deep in Missouri, worrying conservationists
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( Emily Swaim | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

"They're in the Mississippi River already, so that is a huge highway for the species," Knuth said. Dave Knuth, Duck Creek Conservation AreaWhile northern snakeheads normally avoid humans, they are very protective of their young. In 2019, researchers looked at how the Blackwater River watershed changed before and after northern snakeheads invaded. Dave Knuth, Duck Creek Conservation AreaIf you happen to spot a northern snakehead, the US government recommends killing it right away. If you find and kill a northern snakehead, you can report the capture to your local fish and game agency.

Persons: Dave Knuth, Knuth, White Organizations: Service, Conservation, Missouri Department of Conservation, DC, Washington Post, Fish Commission, Conservation Area, Conservation Center Locations: Missouri, Midwest, Wall, Silicon, Duck, Conservation Area, Asia, Africa, Crofton , Maryland, East, Maryland, Virginia, Arkansas, Northern, Mississippi, Blackwater, North America

☆ New museum in Mexico spotlights endangered axolotl salamander
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Alberto Fajardo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/6] An axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) swims in an aquarium at the new Axolotl Museum and Amphibians Conservation Centre, which is to promote the protection and study of this endangered species, at Chapultepec Zoo in Mexico City, Mexico, January 25, 2023. REUTERS/Henry RomeroMEXICO CITY, Jan 26 (Reuters) - A new museum and conservation center dedicated to Mexico's critically endangered axolotl salamander is highlighting the amphibian's remarkable story that has captured the attention of scientists and the public alike. With an impressive ability to heal itself, the axolotl (pronounced ah-sho-LO-tul) salamanders were showcased in the exhibit, which opened on Saturday, at Mexico City's Chapultepec Zoo. For decades, researchers have marveled at how the axolotl can regenerate amputated limbs and damaged body tissue, even its heart and brain. While the axolotl native to Mexico City's southern Xochimilco district is especially well-known, Gual points to 16 other kinds of axolotls that also call Mexico home, each one "like a wetlands ambassador."

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