Climate Change: Hybrid Sharks Mark Survival Strategy

Researchers have discovered the world’s first hybrid sharks in Australian waters, indicating that animals are adapting to climate change for survival. Leading researchers in marine biology have come across 57 animals along a 2,000 km stretch from Queensland to New South Wales which they believe are the result of cross-breeding between the common black-tip shark and Australian black-tip shark, two related but genetically distinct species.


The inter-breeding between the two species shows that the animals are adapting to climate change and the hybridization can make the fishes stronger, the scientists said. They also said that hybridization can enable sharks to adapt to ecological change as the smaller Australian black-tip currently favors tropical waters in the north, while the larger common black-tip is more abundant in sub-tropical and temperate waters along the south-eastern Australian coastline.

This all is very alarming as the ecology is getting destroyed by man at a fast pace. So much so, that the majestic sharks have to adapt to new ways in order to survive. As if killing of creatures in water was not enough, man has almost destroyed the sea waters. Even the river waters have not been spared and the fish are being killed continuously. It’s a wonder why we humans don’t understand that if the ecology is destroyed, we all will be destroyed and there will be nothing left on this once beautiful earth to see, eat, and drink, forget hunting of innocent and helpless animals.





Courtesy:TOI

Bees Die in Millions near Coffee Bars

Honey bees are making a beeline for disposed paper cups instead of flowers, and it’s killing them, a study has found. The researchers said that the number of used plastic cups in these bars ranges from about 160 to 7,000 – an average of about 1,225 cups a day. The researchers also said they recorded the death of 25,211 bees in coffee bars over 30 days. The mean death rate varies with the depth of the garbage bin with cups, quantity of residual beverages, location of the sampled bars and visiting time. Maximum mortality ( 23% ) was recorded between 10 am and 2 pm in the cups with 3ml – 6ml beverage remains found at a depth of 20cm – 40cm in garbage bins.


Later, the cups were sent to recycling yard, where about 680 bees a day were killed manually to escape stinging. The observation also revealed that that bees need large quantities ( 300 cups ) of sugar-coated cups and longer duration ( 120 days – 150 days ) of display to select new coffee bars as foraging sites. But once visited, they were regular.

It was said that the killing of bees in such a manner has been reported in many countries, including India, but there is limited scientific data. There are about 1.3 billion and 800 million cups of coffee and tea consumed daily around the world by using millions of disposable cups. The bees neglect visiting flowers and are attracted by the residual sugar in the cups. This kind of foraging shift is common in honey bees, which enjoy short-term memory that acts as a fast adaptation to changing profitability of food sources. If we did not do anything about it soon, most of the bees are going to perish creating a huge imbalance in the eco-system.

Another Murderer of a Tiger – Tranquilizer Overdose

A tiger died under mysterious circumstances at the Bandhavgarh National Park in Madhya Pradesh in India recently. The 14 year old tiger was found in an injured state in Ghunghutti region bordering the tiger reserve and died while being transported to the national park. Witnesses said the tiger had sustained deep wounds that appeared 15 days old. A park official had tranquilized the tiger and it was being transported to Tala range of the national park, when it died.


A source said that the tiger’s stomach was almost empty and it probably might have died of either starvation or a combination of old age, starvation and the tranquilizer. The tiger had not eaten anything for the last many days and it may not have been able to withstand the tranquilizer.

The question is where are the safety measures while transporting tigers to some other place? Where are the millions of dollars, spent in the name of tiger conservation? As if poachers were not enough, now the tranquilizer gun is emerging as another killer of the majestic tiger! This shows very poorly on tiger conservation in India. It is very clear and apparent that the Wildlife Gods in India are simply not bothered about saving tigers.

Whales - An Innocent Death

As the gentle giants swim through the sea,
Not expecting a thing,
A sharp metal object is heading their way,
And they feel a sharp sting.

They don’t know what happened,
But they feel a lot of pain,
The innocent creatures,
Are pulled up by a chain.

Now they’ve figured it out,
They know what’s going on,
A whaling harpoon has hit them,
A massive violent gun.

As they’re pulled up to the whaling ship,
Their condition deteriorates,
They get weaker and weaker,
They’re in a terrible state.

The last thing they see,
Just before they die,
Is the satisfied look,
In the fisherman’s eye.

I hope this proves,
How cruel whaling is,
Well how would you like it,
If you were treated like this?





:Chelsie Woodhead

Dogs Have Magical Powers…

Dogs seem to have magical powers which have benefited humans for ages. We will tell you how. When it comes to getting fit, a person’s best friend might be a four legged one. Experts say studies show dog owners walk more, walk faster, and are more likely to enjoy an active lifestyle because of their companion animal. Research has proved time and again that pet owners tend to be healthier and happier than those who do not have pets at home. They not just have higher survival rates following coronary heart disease; they are also believed to be less prone to death due to heart attack.



Pets are great stress busters too. They are good companions, who listen to all your woes without any complaints! Besides the therapeutic value of keeping a pet, they are known to do wonders to a child’s development. Children who own pets develop a nurturing behavior, positive self-esteem and an enhanced all-round development.

Pets are known to be much more perceptive than human beings. They pick up even the subtlest of body signals, especially of their owners. They can easily gauge your disposition from the smell of your body. Some pet facts:


1. Pet owners visit the doctor less than those who do not own pets.

2. Pet owners are said to have lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels than non pet
owners.

3. Pets reduce stress, anxiety and loneliness especially among single owners.

4. Walking with a dog or sharing space with a dog fills the pet owner with a sense of
security.

5. Children who own pets are known to have positive self-esteem and better cognitive
development. They tend to have al all round development.

6. Companionship of pets helps one deal better with some serious illness or death in the
family.



As we can see, pets and animals have always benefited the mankind. It is always in our favor to save them and nurture them. Let’s save them, let’s save the animal kingdom!

Mob Kills Tiger Again

Despite India’s dwindling tiger population and the massive amount of resources spent to raise awareness about tiger conservation, a tigress was killed in Chhattisgardh state when with better planning she could easily have been tranquilized and released into the wild.



After six hours of being pounded by stones, when the bloodied tigress collapsed in a heap, a delirious cry broke out in Aamagon Bagrutola village. As forest officials took away her carcass, villagers took out a victory procession to celebrate the killing!



Who is to blame for these brutal killings of defenseless animals? Why the forest officials did not resist the move of villagers to kill the tiger? These are the questions which remain unanswered. Can’t the government, which claims to spend so much money in the name of tiger conservation, educate the locals about the importance of wildlife conservation?

A special drive to educate the general public, needs to be launched immediately. We have to make people understand that the conservation of wildlife is essential for the survival of the mankind. The forest officials need to be armed to fight off the menace of hostile crowds, and smugglers who kill helpless animals and trade off their body parts. What the government needs is an honest and sincere approach to end this mayhem of such majestic animals.

A Little Reprieve for Animals

It is heartening to know that the government of India has been taking good steps towards the safety of stray animals and even pets. Some time back a strict law was proposed that anybody involved in cruelty against animals will be heavily fined and even imprisoned. Similarly, mutilation of pets for cosmetic reasons has been made an offence. An advisory sent out by the Animal Welfare Board of India to veterinary councils, colleges, kennel clubs and other institutions likely to carry out such procedures states that practices like docking of tails and cropping of ears will now be punishable with both a fine, or imprisonment, or both.



Traditionally, Doberman, boxer, Great Dane and Cocker Spaniel pups have been subjected to tail docking, but veterinarians say there is no reason for this practice to continue. In fact, there is no reason for humans to inflict any kind of injury or cruelty to animals as they have been companions to humans from the beginning, and have contributed to the civilization in ways more than one.

Though the government initiative is laudable, simply making laws against animal cruelty is not going to help. We will have to ensure that these laws are enacted in the best ways. There should be task forces or committees to make sure stray animals and pets are not being tortured by whimsical people. It will largely depend on the people to understand that animals feel pain and have emotions like us humans, and that they deserve our love and compassion. A drive to educate people about animals and how they are needed for our own survival is going to help a great deal in this direction.