Elephants make themselves at home Jul 28, 2009
-- It's not a savannah in Tanzania, but the Pittsburgh Zoo's International Conservation Center on 724 rolling rural acres appears to be a good fit for Bette and Kallie, two 20-something African elephants from the Philadelphia Zoo ... There are about 300,000 African elephants in the wild, a large number but one that is down substantially from the 1. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA)
* Scientific evidence at last: Your cat is manipulating you Jul 15, 2009
McComb, whose usual subjects include African elephants and lions in the wild, began the research into domestic cats after noticing the manipulative purring of her own cat, Pepo. I wondered why this purring sounded so annoying and was so difficult to ignore, she said. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World Business)
Kenya Seizes Ivory, Rhino Horn Heading To Asia Jul 15, 2009
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species banned trade in ivory in 1989 after a wholesale slaughter of African elephants by poachers in the 1970s and 1980s. But some countries have done little to enforce the ban. (CBS News -- World)
Snooze in the wild with 'Roar and Snore' at San Diego's Wild Animal Park Jul 14, 2009
Both girls are excited about camping in a zoo, less than a football field's distance from troops of African elephants, Sumatran tigers, African lions and curvy-horned cape buffaloes. What kid wouldn't be. (FOX61, CT)
Elephant-size Loopholes Sustain Thai Ivory Trade Jul 9, 2009
1, 2008) African elephants are being slaughtered for their ivory at a pace unseen since an international ban on the ivory trade took effect in 1989, but a conservation biologist believes there is little. (Jan. (Science Daily)
Forensic Tools Battle Ivory Poachers Jul 6, 2009
The illegal slaughter of African elephants for ivory is now worse than it was at its peak in the 1980s. New forensic tools based on DNA analysis can help stop the cartels behind this bloody trade. (Scientific American)
Science » Jul 5, 2009
A herd of African elephants in search of water battles a sandstorm in the Kalahari Desert. updated Wed Apr 22 2009 23:55:02. (CNN)
Bandra-Worli sealink opens midnight Jun 30, 2009
30 Jun 2009, 1003 hrs IST, Chittaranjan Tembhekar & Ashley DMello , TNN. MUMBAI: After 10 years of expectations , delays and, of course, hardcore planning and labour, the spectacular Bandra-Worli Sea Link is set to open at midnight on Tuesday. (India Times, India)
Dinosaurs: Not so terrible Jun 26, 2009
A specimen of Apatosaurus (better known to many laymen as Brontosaurus) that had been examined using the previous method is now thought to have weighed 18 tonnes rather than 38 tonnes the equivalent of only about three fully grown African elephants, instead of seven. A Brachiosaurus slimmed down from 32 tonnes to 16. (The Economist)
Philly Zoo elephants get new home in SW Pa. Jun 25, 2009
Daily American - Philly Zoo elephants get new home in SW Pa. Kallie and Bette will join Jackson, a male African elephant, at the Pittsburgh Zoo s center for rare and endangered species. (Somerset Daily American, PA)
More elephants expected soon at ICC Jun 25, 2009
Kallie and Bette will join Jackson, a male African elephant, at the Pittsburgh Zoo s center for rare and endangered species. The Philadelphia Zoo doesn t have the money to bring its elephant habitat up to modern standards. (Somerset Daily American, PA)
Illegal ivory thrives in Thailand, group warns Jun 20, 2009
BANGKOK - Thailand's government has failed to crack down on one of the world's largest markets of illegal ivory, allowing vendors to openly sell products that come from African elephants, a wildlife tracking group said in a report released Friday ... Thailand is a signatory to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, which banned trade in ivory in 1989 after a wholesale slaughter of African elephants by poachers in the 1970s and 1980s. (MSNBC -- International)
Activists decry expanded elephant displays Jun 19, 2009
But zoos that are expanding say they are contributing to public awareness, acting as ambassadors for these majestic animals and aiding conservation efforts for endangered Asian elephants and threatened African elephants ... "This is obviously not the way they would live in the wild," Derby said while visiting with four African elephants that were trumpeting, tossing hay on their backs and snapping branches off scrub oaks. (MSNBC -- Technology)
Africa: Conservationists Agree to Protect Elephants Jun 1, 2009
com: Africa: Conservationists Agree to Protect African Elephants (Page 1 of 1). Africa: Conservationists Agree to Protect African Elephants ... Kigali Representatives from six African states have agreed to stand firm and speak with one voice to protect one of the largest land mammals on Earth's- African elephants. (allAfrica.com)
Illegal wildlife traders rake in RM100mil in 3 months Jun 1, 2009
Among the animals and animal-parts confiscated were Bengali tigers, African elephants, black panthers, Malayan sunbears, blood pythons, clouded monitor lizards, civet cats, Sumatran tigers, exotic birds, parrots, cockatoos, leopards, boars, owls and monkeys. On January 9, the Malaysian police in Penang had a standoff with 12 men during a hostage drama after a wildlife trade went sour. (The Star Online, Malaysia)
EarthTalk Q&A: climate, peat and people May 21, 2009
In 1930, there were between five and 10 million wild African elephants, plying the entire African continent in large bands. Just 60 years later, when they were added to the international list of critically endangered species, only about 600,000 were scattered across a few African countries. (MSNBC -- Environment)
Elephants need at least 3 in a family May 6, 2009
"In 1971 there were 1.3 million African elephants in the wild. There are 400,000 now and it's clear there won't be any in the wild soon unless we can learn about how humans impact on their survival," Mr. Keele said. "Human-elephant conflicts are a huge problem and we think we can help.". (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA)
So how does elephant breeding really work? May 4, 2009
Daily American Online - So how does elephant breeding really work. We developed him to be a breeding bull, said Willie Theison, elephant manager at the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium. (Somerset Daily American, PA)
Discovering the different animal planets of ‘Earth' May 2, 2009
We watch the parental rituals of African elephants in the Kalahari Desert, the North Pole's polar bears and the traveling trials and tribulations of humpbacked whales in the Antarctic and we see the harsh truth and realities facing Earth's creatures. Unlike the shows from my youth, we are offered a much closer, more personal connection with the animals. (Cedar Park Hill Country News Weekender, TX)
LETTERS: NCT, April 29, 2009 Apr 29, 2009
" Thus, the theory of global warming is still conjectural in contrast to matters of actual fact.Ralph "Pete" PetersEncinitasDon't mention a movie you haven't seen!Charles Bagwell makes the same mistake many other global-warming deniers have made on this page: He mentions Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth" in a negative way without seeing the movie! Please, folks, whether you support Al Gore's campaign to do something about this threat or not, don't comment on a film you have not seen. You only... (North County Times)
Investigating Animal Crimes Apr 18, 2009
African elephants used to be poached mostly by farmers an elephant would raid someone's crops and it's a year's worth of work and their entire income, so of course he's going do everything to stop it. But now you have organized gangs that come and kill groups of elephants on purpose for profit. (Time.com)
Diet Secrets Of Elephant Family Named 'The Royals' Apr 16, 2009
(May 27, 1999) Habitat loss is a bigger threat to African elephants than the ivory trade and the conventional wisdom is that declines in elephant populations mirror increases in human populations ... 9, 2007) At a time when encroaching human development in former wildlife areas has compressed African elephants into ever-smaller home ranges and increased levels of human-elephant conflict, a new study. (Science Daily)
Circus to showcase feats of strength Apr 14, 2009
Asian and African elephants differ in a number of ways, but one way to tell them apart is by the shape of their ears. The former have ears shaped like Asia, and the latter have ears shaped like. (Sioux City Journal, IO)
Elephants' Tail Tell Stories of the... Apr 14, 2009
Professor Cerling used analysis of carbon and other isotopes in the tail hair of African elephants (Loxodonta africana) to find out their dietary preferences. The research team added Global Positioning System mounted on radio collars to monitor the movements of animals. (Suite101.com)
African Elephants - The New Mineswe... Apr 13, 2009
African Elephants - The New Minesweepers: Using Elephants To Search for Landmines ... African Elephants - The New Minesweepers ... African Elephants - The New Minesweepers. (Suite101.com)
Zoo celebrates 18-year-old elephant's birthday Apr 13, 2009
Soundbite: Ye Wei, Changsha Zoo We will introduce Asian Elephants and African Elephants to Pamai. As elephants are social animals, the big changes in living environment will help Pamai find a mate. (Xinhuanet, China)
Elephants in Fairhope: Property picked for pachyderms (33) Apr 12, 2009
Elephants in Fairhope: Property picked for pachyderms (Somerset Daily American, PA)
GEORGE B. KAUFFMAN: Earth Day a tipping point Apr 11, 2009
On Earth Day this year -- April 22 -- Disneynature, Disney's sector charged with producing environmental and wildlife movies, will celebrate Earth Day by releasing "Earth." Narrated by James Earl Jones, it tracks migration patterns of polar bears, African elephants and humpback whales. Buy a ticket during its first week, and Disney will plant a tree in your honor in the endangered Brazilian rainforest. (Fresno Bee -- Opinion)
Jackson in the great outdoors Mar 26, 2009
If an elephant of his size and demeanor can be excited, then I would say Jackson was excited, said Tracy Gray, a spokeswoman for the Pittsburgh Zoo quarium (Somerset Daily American, PA)
Fair Chair Announces Entertainment Lineup Mar 25, 2009
A new exhibit this year will be Elephant Encounter, an educational show featuring Asian and African elephants. The program features Cora, a 50-year-old Asian elephant, and Shannon, a 22-year-old African. (Missourian Publishing, MO)
Pink elephant is caught on camera Mar 21, 2009
Experts believe it is probably an albino, which is an extremely rare phenomenon in African elephants. They are unsure of its chances of long-term survival - the blazing African sunlight may cause blindness and skin problems for the calf. (BBC News -- Science)
Mammoth Evolution Mar 18, 2009
Asian elephants headed out of Africa, as did the mammoths, leaving African elephants alone on the continent ... Males and females had tusks, as in modern African elephants. (Suite101.com)
* World News Quick Take Mar 8, 2009
The Thanh Nien newspaper quoted Dang Tat The, a national wild animal expert, as saying the tusks were from African elephants. According to a Traffic survey, ivory prices in Vietnam could be the worlds highest, with tusks reportedly selling for up to US$1,500 per kilogram and small, cut pieces selling for up to US$1,863 per kilogram. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
Elephant, caretakers swap staph infections Mar 7, 2009
None of the other African elephants at the zoo, including the calfs mother, tested positive for MRSA.. The CDC report recommended better training and increased attention to hand washing, protective clothing and disinfecting surfaces. (MSNBC -- Health)
Elephant debate Feb 28, 2009
Their spokesman Rob Atkinson told the BBC: "It's a freezing cold February day for a start, these are tropical animals, and they don't like in groups of mixed species. The public want to see performing animals as long as they can see they're happy and well looked after Chris Barltrop, Great British Circus "For African elephants that's completely unnatural. They're not related, which all elephant herds are. (BBC News -- UK)
SD Zoo euthanizes 60-year-old elephant Feb 26, 2009
Her death leaves the zoo with four Asian elephants and 11 African elephants. Three females and one male reside in the zoo's Wild Animal Park. (Fresno Bee -- State)
Asian Elephants Under Increasing Threat As Illegal Ivory Prices Soar Feb 24, 2009
27, 2007) New research shows African elephants are being slaughtered for their ivory at a rate unprecedented since an international convention banning ivory trade took effect in ... 1, 2008) African elephants are being slaughtered for their ivory at a pace unseen since an international ban on the ivory trade took effect in 1989, but a conservation biologist believes there is little. (Science Daily)
Vietnam a Threat to Asian Elephant Feb 23, 2009
This small step will give a shot in the arm for the conservation of Asian and African Elephants. The 2004 report by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) states that over 4,000 elephants were illegally killed each year in the African Range States. (Suite101.com)
Gallagher: At 25,000 feet: 'How 'bout those Hawks?' (36) Feb 22, 2009
"They told us we can carry two African elephants, but I haven't seen that done yet," said Berger, a C-17 pilot since October 2005. And while Berger has flown these hulks for 3 1/2 years, he'd never served as an aircraft commander when the plane refueled in midair. (Sioux City Journal)
A flying road for Asia's embattled elephants Feb 14, 2009
The jumbo flyover is another step towards saving the Asiatic elephant, scientifically called Elephas Maximus, whose current population is estimated to be only around 45,000, compared to 600,000 African elephants. Even though the larger African elephant population has also dramatically shrunk from about five million between the 1930s and 1940s, wildlife conservationists say the African jumbo (Loxodonta Africana) does not face the threat of extinction as seriously as its smaller Asian cousin. (Asia Times Online)
Tuskology, the Study of Mammoth Tus... Feb 12, 2009
The study of their tusks, deemed tuskology, reveals far more about the lives of individual mammoths than can be guessed by studying their closest relatives, Asian and African elephants. Cores (cylindrical samples perpendicular to the length of the tusk) are taken by boring out a section of tusk which contains a line where each ring passes through that section of tusk, and tests can be performed on the rings of the core, which are relative to the animal s age at the time the ring was formed. (Suite101.com)
