Locals Release 10 Endangered Siamese Crocodiles into Laos Wetlands to Save Species from Extinction

One of the Siamese crocodiles released – credit Phetpakay Bounhaxay © WCSWhile less than 1,000 Siamese crocodiles remain in the wild, community members in Laos have released ten of the rare animals into a local wetlands to boost the population.While crocodiles are not hunted, the species (Crocodylus siamensis) is ranked as Critically-Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature because of the threats of entanglement in fishing nets, the clearance of wetlands, and seasonal draining of habitat to expand dry-season rice cultivation.Unlike many of its other aggressive cousins, the Siamese crocodile is not a threat to humans. Communities that reside close to the species’ habitat hold the crocodiles in high regard spiritually—believing they bring good luck.The Xe Champhone Wetland where they were released is located in the Savannakhet province which represents the larger of two ‘Ramsar sites’ (Wetland of International Importance).It’s home to an abundance of aquatic biodiversity such as endangered turtle species and waterfowl.A dedicated conservation program for the Siamese crocodile is in place in the four target districts where they’re found. Volunteers work with government officials and eggs are collected to be transported to the village administration office for incubation at ambient temperature for about two months.Once...

Read More........→June 05, 2025

Indonesia's Semeru volcano erupts again, spewing ash 1 km above summit

Jakarta, (IANS): The Semeru volcano, located in Indonesia's Java, erupted again early on Monday at 03:35 a.m. local time, spewing thick grey ash up to 1 kilometre above its summit."This eruption was recorded by a seismograph with a duration of 122 seconds and a significant maximum amplitude," said Ghufron Alwi, an officer at the Semeru Volcano Observation Post.Earlier, at 01:47 a.m. local time, a similar eruption occurred with a duration of 146 seconds and an ash column height of 1 kilometre, indicating high volcanic activity in the past few hours, Xinhua news agency reported.From January until November 11, 2024, Mount Semeru has erupted 1,738 times, with volcanic activity dominated by eruption tremors, signaling continuous magma pressure beneath the surface.The Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) has prohibited people from conducting any activities within an 8-kilometre radius of the summit, including along the Besuk Kobokan River, which is at risk of hot ash clouds and lava flows.Authorities also warned of the potential for hot ash and lava flows to extend up to 13 kilometres from the summit, given the increasing eruption intensity. Indonesia's Semeru volcano erupts again, spewing ash 1 km above summit | MorungExpress | morungexpress....

Read More........→December 04, 2024

Tears as Malaysia-born panda cubs head to China

KUALA LUMPUR - Tearful Malaysians said goodbye to two panda cubs as authorities prepared to send them to China after years of delays because of the Covid-19 pandemic.Yi Yi and Sheng Yi -- born in 2018 and 2021 respectively -- were to be transported as part of an agreement between the two countries to send cubs born in captivity to China when they reach two years of age.The female pandas are the offspring of Xing Xing and Liang Liang, animals China loaned to Malaysia in 2014 for a decade to celebrate 40 years of diplomatic relations. They will remain in the country.Watching videos of the animals at Malaysia's National Zoo, panda lovers like 24-year-old photographer Cindy Lai gathered in hopes of catching a glimpse of the pair before their departure later in the day."It is an emotional send-off. I feel very sad since I will not be able to see the two lovely cubs," she said."I will definitely cry when they are loaded into the truck to be transported to the airport."AFP | Mohd RASFANYi Yi and Sheng Yi will be taken on a cargo flight to the Chinese city of Chengdu, an official familiar with the travel plan told AFP.A farewell ceremony attended by China's ambassador to Malaysia and Kuala Lumpur's deputy environment minister was held at the zoo."I hope that these Giant Pandas... can further promote understanding and close cooperation between...

Read More........→September 25, 2024

How Singapore Became an Unexpected Stronghold for a Critically Endangered Bird

Straw-headed bulbul – credit Michael MK Khor CC 2.0. FlickrFrom the sprawling urban city-state of Singapore comes the unlikely story of a critically endangered songbird and a dedicated group of environmentalists helping it thrive as the population collapses overseas.The straw-headed bulbul is a victim of its beautiful song, which has seen it extirpated from the wilds of Thailand, Myanmar, and Java as poachers capture it for the illegal songbird trade.But as early as 1990, conservationists, birdwatchers, and government workers in Singapore have taken action on this species’ behalf.“Whenever I hear its resonant, bubbly song, the forest seems to erupt with life,” conservationist Ho Hua Chew told Smithsonian Magazine.Because of men like Ho, the peripheral wetlands of Singapore, the offshore island of Pulau Ubin, and the large green spaces in the city state’s interior together play host to 600 straw-headed bulbuls.Nature Society Singapore, of which Ho was a member, was the first to push for nature protections on Pulau Ubin, the site of an old granite quarry, where nevertheless a concentrated population of these birds could be found.This resulted in a Nature Area designation for the island in 1993, achieved through advocacy and outreach among millions of Singaporeans.Smithsonian lists this as an early victory in the history of environmentalism...

Read More........→April 05, 2024

Saltwater crocodiles are slowly returning to Bali and Java. Can we learn to live alongside them?

 Brandon Michael Sideleau, Charles Darwin UniversityOn January 4 this year, a three-metre saltwater crocodile heaved itself out of the water and up the beach. Nothing unusual about that – except this croc was on Legian Beach, one of Bali’s most popular spots. The emaciated reptile later died. Only four months later, a large crocodile killed a man who was spearfishing with friends in Lombok’s Awang Bay, about 100 kilometres east of Bali. Authorities caught it and transferred it to captivity. You might not associate crocodiles with Bali. But the saltwater crocodile once roamed most of Indonesia’s waters, and attacks are still common in some regions. I have been collecting records of crocodilian attacks since 2010, as the creator of the worldwide database CrocAttack. What’s new is that they’re beginning to return to areas where they were wiped out. Does this mean tourists and residents should be wary? It’s unlikely these islands can host anywhere near the same population densities as the wide, fish-filled rivers of Australia’s tropical north. And in Bali, it’s unlikely we’ll see any crocodile recovery because of the importance of beaches to tourism and a high human population. This 4.6-metre saltwater crocodile was captured in Lombok after the fatal attack in May. Bali Reptile Rescue, CC BY-NDWhat happened to Indonesia’s...

Read More........→October 30, 2023