Rare bird has humans flocking to Julian

JULIAN — For hard-core birders, the alert that went out late last Saturday morning via an “extreme rarity” text message couldn’t have been much more startling.

“It would be like seeing a penguin in Julian. It’s impossible,” said Rick Campbell.

It was about 10 a.m. that morning when Mike Goldhamer, a serious bird photographer from San Diego, was watching the feeders behind Julian’s The Birdwatcher shop. Goldhamer saw a familiar bird, a tiny one he immediately recognized as a Common Redpoll.

Goldhamer had taken pictures of the same bird species this past summer — in Barrow, Alaska. The thing is, Redpolls are indeed common in the Arctic and Canada and Alaska, but never before, ever, has one been seen as far south in California as San Diego County. In fact, since 1899 only 11 had ever been seen in the state and none closer than Fresno.

Read on:  http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/feb/10/hundreds-flock-julian-see-rare-bird/

Written by

J. Harry Jones

Rare Chinese white dolphin gets DNA bank

A Hong Kong conservation group said Saturday it has set up a DNA bank for the rare Chinese white dolphin, also known as the pink dolphin, in a bid to save the mammals facing a sharp population decline.

There are about 2,500 Chinese white dolphins in the Pearl River Delta region, the body of water between Macau and Hong Kong, with the majority of the mammals in Chinese waters and the rest in Hong Kong.

But experts say their number has dropped significantly in the past few years due to overfishing, an increase in maritime traffic, water pollution, habitat loss and coastal development.

In a bid to save the dwindling population, the Ocean Park Conservation Foundation Hong Kong said it had joined hands with a Chinese university to set up a DNA bank, which will also spearhead a genetic research project.

"We hope to offer the scientific community a standardised genetic analysis platform to assess the sustainability of Chinese white dolphin populations," Judy Chen, the foundation chairwoman said in a statement.

"The collected data will provide important reference to governments in the region for developing critical strategies of Chinese white dolphin conservation," she added.

The biological samples of these dolphins will be sent to the DNA bank to investigate the environmental impacts on the mammal, the statement said.

The Chinese white dolphins, a sub-species of the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins, are unique for their pink skin. They are listed as "near threatened" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

The mammal was the official mascot at the handover ceremony when the former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997, while dolphin watching is a favourite tourist attraction in Hong Kong.

Its population in Hong Kong has dropped from an estimated 158 in 2003 to only 75 in 2010, according to the Hong Kong Dolphin Conservation Society.

http://news.yahoo.com/rare-chinese-white-dolphin-gets-dna-bank-110435551.html

Scientists capture first images of rare Burmese monkey

Conor Duffy, Environment reporter

Burma's extremely rare and elusive species of snub-nosed monkey has been captured on camera for the first time.

The remote mountainous forests of Burma's north are home to the monkey, an animal so elusive it was not documented until 2010 when one of them fell to a hunter.

While researchers obtained a number of other deceased animals and observed them in the wild, the monkeys had never been photographed.

Now a joint team led by Fauna and Flora International (FFI), Biodiversity and Nature Conservation Association (BANCA) and People Resources and Conservation Foundation (PRCF) have captured images of the monkey.

"The Myanmar snub-nosed monkey was described scientifically in 2010 from a dead specimen collected from a local hunter," Frank Momberg of FFI said.

"As yet no scientist has seen a live individual."

Ngwe Lin from Burma was with the 2010 team that first identified the monkey as a possible new species.

"These images are the first record of the animal in its natural habitat," Ngwe Lin said.

Much of what is known about it comes from information from locals.

Hunters have reported that the monkey's tiny, upturned nose means it constantly sneezes when it rains, sometimes giving away its location.

The animals are said to crouch down with their face to the ground to avoid rain.

Heavy rainfall and snow also made life hard for the team trying to track the species.

Jeremy Holden is based in Phnom Penh, but led the camera trapping expedition.

"We were dealing with very tough conditions in a remote and rugged area that contained perhaps fewer than 200 monkeys," he said.

"We didn't know where they lived and I didn't hold out much hope of short-term success with this work."

But in May a small group of monkeys walked past the camera trap and images were taken for the first time.

Encouragingly for the research team, some of the females were carrying babies.

Environment groups remain concerned about the future of the species and next month they plan on writing a conservation plan for the monkeys in Burma's largest city Rangoon.

"It is great to finally have photographs because they show us something about how and where it actually lives."

The photos were taken by camera traps set up in the forested mountains of Kachin State, bordering China.

The species is among the world's most threatened primates with estimates of its numbers ranging from 200 to about 330.

Photos: http://abcasiapacificnews.com/stories/201201/3406271.htm

Dormice found on Suffolk reserve for the first time

Rare discovery at RSPB nature reserve

January 2012. A sleepy surprise has been discovered at an RSPB nature reserve.

For the first time in the wildlife charity's forty-year ownership of Wolves Wood in Suffolk, signs of the rare and elusive dormouse have been found.

Mark Nowers, the warden at RSPB Wolves Wood, said: "This is absolutely fantastic news, which has come out of the blue as a survey in 2004 found no evidence of these creatures. Since then the habitat, both in size and quality, has been improved, clearly to the dormouse's liking."

Liz Cutting, the licensed dormouse-surveyor who made the discovery, said: "Dormouse can live at very low densities and are often difficult to locate. The discovery of dormice at Wolves Wood is testament that if you have a solid block of well-managed woodland with plenty of suitable habitat, dormice will respond."

http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/suffolk-dormice.html

Pneumonia Outbreak Killed 20% of Rare Goat Population

A pneumonia outbreak has wiped out as many as 20 percent of the rare wild goats in Tajikistan, Central Asia, researchers say.

Working together, researchers from Central Asia, France and the Wildlife Conservation Society determined that apneumonia outbreak that occurred in Tajikistan during September and October 2010 may have killed at least 65 markhors (Capra falconeri).

That may not seem like all that many goats, but fewer than 2,500 of the endangered goats currently exist worldwide, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Markhor goats are known for their distinctive corkscrew horns, which can grow to lengths of nearly 5 feet (1.5 meters). Despite the goats' large size, their amazing climbing ability enables them to scale cliffs and even climb trees while searching for plants to feed on. 

Read more at: http://www.livescience.com/17784-pneumonia-outbreak-endangered-goats.html

Fulvous Whistling Duck seen in Bowness

Rare duck spotted in Bowness


A RARE Fulvous Whistling Duck was spotted by a Kendal man in Bowness.


The duck, native to America, Africa and Asia, was seen by Laurie Thurlow opposite the Glebe.

“It was quite unusual really. I just noticed it in among the mallards and geese and thought it shouldn’t really be here,” said Mr Thurlow, who is a member of the RSPB. “I wondered if the strong winds over the last few days had blown it over to Windermere.”

Neil Harnott, senior conservation officer for Cumbria Wildlife Trust, said: “I’ve not heard of any sightings around here before. They are native in all parts of the world except Europe but they are sometimes spotted in southern Europe.

“For them to be seen in northern England I would expect they are escapees from a collection, possibly from a local wetland or organisation.

http://www.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk/news/9432014.Rare_duck_spotted_in_Bowness/

Hungry goats improve habitat for rare native species in Iowa project

The following is from the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University:

MAXWELL, Iowa — At the Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt in Polk County, researchers have developed a novel tool for restoring biodiversity to a landscape choked by invasive species: Set loose a herd of hungry goats.

The project began in 2008 when the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture awarded a competitive grant to Iowa Heartland Resource Conservation and Development to study the benefits of incorporating livestock onto conservation lands. By dining on unwanted buckthorn, goats helped restore a rare swamp white oak savannah and created habitat for a wide array of native species, including Blanding’s turtles, listed as threatened in Iowa.

Loren Lown, natural resource specialist for the Polk County Conservation Board, leads the project. Lown asked Deb and Eric Finch of State Center, Iowa, to let their herd of 30-plus goats browse at Chichaqua Bottoms, a 7,300-acre greenbelt along the Skunk River. The partnership allowed the Finches to raise healthy goats and rest their home pastures while Lown cleaned up the ecosystem.

The goats, rotated through a 10-acre area divided into three paddocks, munched on invasive buckthorn and other unwanted plants. Goats prefer to eat twigs, leaves and woody species first, leaving the herbaceous layer alone. Lown described them as “little buckthorn bombs.”

Read more here ...

Persian leopard photographed in Afghanistan

Camera trap images tell a story of the survival of Afghanistan's rugged wildlife and continued threats to many species
December 2011. Recent camera trap images from the rocky terrain of Afghanistan's central highlands have revealed a surprise: a Persian leopard, an apex predator long thought to have disappeared from the region, according to the Wildlife Conservation Society.

In a series of images that provides indisputable proof that the big cat persists in the country's interior, a big adult leopard can be seen prowling around the camera trap's field of view and investigating the camera itself, appearing to threaten it with canines exposed.

Lynx, wild cat & wolf
The camera traps captured dozens of images of other wildlife species, including lynx, wild cat, wolf, red fox, and stone marten, an impressive suite of predators still surviving in the Hindu Kush highlands, where Wildlife Conservation Society scientists and Afghan rangers have been conducting surveys in recent months.

"To see such a varied array of wildlife after we have endured so much conflict gives us hope for Afghanistan's future," said Mostapha Zaher, Director General of Afghanistan's National Environmental Protection Agency. "Intact ecosystems represent a foundation for our country's reconstruction and development. This is also our heritage, our natural resources, our fauna and flora. It is incumbent upon all of us to conserve and protect our environment and hand it over to the next generation of the citizens of Afghanistan."
Camera traps give conservationists a valuable research tool in remote wildlife areas. In addition to providing a cross-section of an ecosystem in terms of the presence and absence of wildlife, the devices record data that, in sufficient quantities and placement, can be used to generate population estimates for individual species.

Read more here ...

Rare butterfly sighted in State

GUWAHATI, Nov 26 – Branded Yeoman butterfly, known as Algia fasciata (earlier Paduca fasciata) to the scientists, which is not known to have been found in the North Eastern part of India before, was sighted at Kaliabor in Nagaon district by a Gauhati University (GU) research scholar Prarthana Mudai recently.

This development has proved the authenticity of the statement made by Isaac Kehimkar, the General Manager of the Bombay Natural History Society that the NE region is the ultimate Mecca for a butterfly enthusiast, Prarthana said.

On the significance of her discovery, Prarthana, who is now also working as a project assistant in the Numaligarh Refinery Ltd’s Butterfly Valley, described it to be a path-breaking finding. This has underlined the need of serious work in the area of butterfly diversity of the NE region, recognised to be one of the biodiversity hotspots of the world, she said.

She said that the butterfly she had sighted was confirmed to be the Branded Yeoman by Nikhil Bhopale, Programme Officer of the Bombay Natural History Society recently. Prarthana had sighted the butterfly on April 13 last.

Referring to The Identification of Indian Butterflies (1932) in which WH Evans, one of the most distinguished entomologists, she said the presence of this butterfly was reported from Karens-South Burma, Andaman and Nicobar Island. The distribution of this species of butterfly is reported by various sources to be spread in South Burma (Myanmar), Thailand, Indonesia, Taliabu Island and The Philippines. Its habitat is hill forests, Prarthana said.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=nov2711/at092

Rare antlions discovered in Norfolk nature reserve

Holkham the second breeding area in Britain for antlions
October 2011: Staff at Natural England's Holkham National Nature Reserve have discovered what is thought to be only the second established breeding area in Britain for the mysterious yet savage antlion, an insect whose larvae excavate cone-like pits and lurk in wait for other insect prey. And its numbers on site appear to be increasing.

There had been reports of antlions skulking in the sandy ground beneath the reserve's pine woods since 2005, but there was uncertainty about the exact species and numbers involved.

In 2008, reserve staff undertook a full survey of the site to identify the species and determine the size and distribution of any population. This survey discovered more than 700 larval pits and confirmed the species as Euroleon nostras, but the scarcity of this insect in the UK meant there was always the chance this could be temporary colonisation.

But this year, a further survey found no fewer than 1,905 larval pits, confirming not only that the colony was still present but had almost trebled in size.

Known for their ferocious young
Although the adults look like small dragonflies, antlions are members of the lacewing family and are chiefly known for their ferocious young.

The larvae's prey includes ants, woodlice and other small invertebrates. Any insect unlucky enough to wander over the rim of the cone shaped burrow finds itself sliding inexorably down the steeply angled, shifting sand.

At the bottom it is seized in the antlion's huge jaws and sucked dry. The larvae live like this for two years before pupating into flying adults in late summer. Like other lacewings, the adults lead much briefer lives than their young - less than a month.

Holkham NNR is such a suitable site for the antlion because it has open banks of sand for the larval pits, abundant prey and pine trees, where the adults mate.

Natural England's senior reserve manager, Michael Rooney said: ‘We're really pleased with what the two surveys revealed: that the antlions are thriving at Holkham, with a sizeable population spreading through the pine woodland. It will be interesting to see what will migrate north to Holkham next.'

The only other known breeding area for the very rare antlion is the Suffolk Sandlings and the confirmation of an established breeding area in Holkham is another great success for the reserve, which also hosts Britain's only breeding spoonbill colony.

All about Holkham's antlion...

• Euroleon nostras is a species of antlion found over most of Europe, but is extremely rare in Britain.
• Adults reach up to 30mm long, with a wingspan of 70mm, and larvae are around 10mm.
• Larval antlions have such efficient digestion that they do not produce solid waste and therefore do not need an anus.
• Antlions remain in their larval stage for two years before pupating. Adults emerge from the pupa towards the end of July or in the first few days of August. They gather in a tall pine tree, and a number of males attempt to attract a single female.
• After mating, the female lays her eggs in the sand. She has to be wary of antlion larvae at this time, the main predators of female adults. Males live for up to 20 days, while females last a little longer, with an average life span of 24 days.

http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/antlion-norfolk.html

First record of a Dwarf sperm whale in UK waters

Dwarf sperm whale off Cornwall
October 2011. Dr Peter Evans, Director of the marine research charity Sea Watch, has confirmed that a small whale spotted in Mounts Bay next to the Cornish town of Penzance was a dwarf sperm whale - a tropical/subtropical species that has never before been recorded off the UK coast.

The animal, little more than the size of a porpoise, swam into Mounts Bay on Sunday October 9. As it came close to shore, a local person spotted it on the beach and reported it to the local coastguard and to the Cornwall Wildlife Trust strandings officer, Jan Loveridge. A member of the public then managed to re-float the animal which subsequently swam away.

Local members of British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) and a local tourist boat operator, Marine Discovery, then observed the whale for some time before it disappeared from view. Initially they thought from its size
that it was a harbour porpoise.

On Tuesday October 11, Dr Peter Evans received a phone call from manager of Shetland Wildlife Tours, Hugh Harrop having just received photos from a friend, Glenn Overington, who on his return from a birding holiday in Cornwall was wondering what the species was that he had seen in Mounts Bay.

Read on...

Tuna washes ashore on Isle of Mull

We thought it must be a porpoise'
October 2011: A tuna has been found washed up on the shore of Laggan Sands, on the Isle of Mull, prompting an investigation by the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust (HWDT).

Morven Summers, volunteer coordinator at HWDT, said: ‘We were a wee bit dubious at first and thought that the reporter may have mistaken a porpoise, however when we arrived at Laggan Sands we were shocked to see the huge fish on the shore.'

It's believed that the fish is a bluefin tuna; a large, torpedo-shaped fish that can travel at speeds of up to 43 miles per hour and weighs, on average, 550lb, although much larger specimens are not uncommon.

'Seeing the fish up close was fantastic'The Mull tuna measured 1.8 metres long. Brain Swinbanks, chairman of the Tobermory Harbour Association, added: ‘Seeing the fish up close was fantastic, I would guess that the "Mull tuna" weighed about 150lbs.'

Atlantic bluefin tuna spawn in the Mediterranean Sea, but are highly migratory and tagged individuals have been tracked swimming from North American to European waters several times a year.

Although not many consider the waters off the west coast of Scotland to play host to such a fish, historically tuna did frequent these waters.

Dr Clive Fox, from the Scottish Association of Marine Science in Oban, explains: ‘Bluefin tuna are rare in our waters but not unprecedented, indeed there used to be a commercial and sport fishery for them before the war.'

Already evidence of bluefin tuna migrating to UKIn fact, evidence of bluefin tuna making an annual migration to UK waters goes back a few hundred years. Brain Swinbanks, chairman of the Tobermory Harbour Association, added: ‘The British rod and line record for Blue Fin Tuna is 851lb caught in the North Sea in 1933 by Mr Mitchell-Henry fishing from a ship's rowing boat 50 miles off shore and alongside the Herring Fleet.

‘A decline in the stocks of herring resulted in a decline in migratory tuna which originally came from the Mediterranean migrating all round the west coast of Scotland.'

In September 1989, a 400lb tuna was reported caught close to the Isle of Lewis. Unfortunately the tuna carcass was too decomposed for full analysis, however the fish's otoliths (ear bones) will be recovered and from these the age of the fish can be determined.
http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/tuna-mull.html

Shrike 'could recolonise' UK after Dartmoor breeding

A rare bird that has bred for the second year on Dartmoor could start to recolonise the UK, conservationists have said.

Last year red-backed shrikes bred for the first time on the moor since 1970. Two pairs have raised seven birds at an undisclosed location this year.

A 24-hour watch was put in place by conservationists to guard the birds against egg collectors and disturbance.

The RSPB said the repeat breeding indicated a possible recolonisation.

Kevin Rylands, RSPB farmland conservation adviser, said: "We are already planning for 2012 to ensure that any nesting attempts next year are fully protected, as well as making sure there is enough suitable habitat for them.

"The success is testament to the effort of more than 30 volunteers and seven partner organisations working together."

The team watched the sites around the clock throughout the breeding season.

Colin Marker, one of the volunteers, said "Having a successful outcome makes all the hours of watching, patrolling and being eaten alive by midges worthwhile."

The species used to be found across southern England in hay meadows, hedges, scrub and heath.

The UK population declined in the 1930s and the shrike was finally lost as a breeding species in the 1990s.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-15078751

New Bolivian bird species on the edge

Protecting a subspecies before it becomes an extinct species: The Palkachupa Cotinga in Bolivia September 2011. The Bolivian subspecies of the Swallow-tailed Cotinga Phibalura flavirostris merits recognition as a species, says Bennett Hennessey, Executive Director of BirdLife's Bolivian Partner Asociación Armonía, in a paper just published in The Wilson Journal of Ornithology.

Fewer than 600 birds
Now reduced to fewer than 600 individuals in a few fragments of forest within an area of just over 1,000 km2, the "Palkachupa Cotinga" will be a candidate for a high threat category in the 2012 Red List update by BirdLife International.

Rediscovered in 2000
Unrecorded for 98 years, P. f. boliviana was rediscovered at the edge of a small (2-4 km2) forest fragment near Pata, north-west of the municipality of Apolo in Bolivia's Madidi National Park, in September 2000.

Bennett Hennessey rediscovered the bird, and is now leading Armonía's efforts to conserve it. It is still relatively common in patches of good habitat, but with so little good habitat remaining the population is very low. A stronghold of the population has been found at the original collection site, near the village of Aten.

"Without more support, we have another dry season on the horizon, during which more of Palkachupa's habitat will be cut and burnt for pasture land," says Bennett Hennessey. Armonía is seeking donations of $3000 to $5000 to protect the Palkachupa Cotinga (see end of story for details on how you can help).

59 hectares published
In June 2010, Armonía achieved the first step toward the creation of a Palkachupa Nature Reserve with the purchase of 59 ha near Aten. Negotiations with landowners continue, and they hope to purchase additional land. "The area requires complete boundary fencing to prevent further cattle grazing, and to allow reforestation. Restoration of savannah breeding habitat is needed, and for this we will first need to work with neighbouring landowners on fire management. Isolated trees will be planted to improve nesting habitat" said Bennet Hennessey.

"We will initiate a programme of protecting Palkachupa Cotinga nesting trees in the Aten area by purchasing the protection rights of important trees. These trees will be fenced off, and signs will be placed declaring these small areas as sanctuaries for nesting Palkachupa."

It would not be possible to protect the Palkachupa's habitat without the support and cooperation of the people of Aten. Armonía is working with a former Madidi park guard and Aten native, William Ferufino, to coordinate research and outreach activities with the local communities.

Local people have responded enthusiastically, and images of Palkachupa play a prominent role in annual Independence Day celebrations. Four high school students are working with William Ferufino as volunteer field assistants. In recognition of this important support, and to build greater local participation, Armonía provided assistance for improvements to the Aten school, including construction of three additional classrooms.

Swallow-tailed Cotinga
The Near Threatened Swallow-tailed Cotinga has traditionally been considered to consist of two subspecies with disjunct ranges. The nominate race is found in south-eastern Brazil, and also perhaps in northeast Argentina and east Paraguay, though with no records from these countries since 1977. 2,500 km separate the nearest known population of the nominate race from the area in central-western Bolivia where three specimens of the taxon known as P. f. boliviana were collected in 1845 and 1902.

Evidence presented by Hennessey in The Wilson Journal (123(3):454-458, 2011) indicated that the Bolivian population should be treated as a separate species, Phibalura boliviana. The plumage is distinctly different: boliviana males have longer tails than flavirostris, and their body plumage is significantly less sexually dimorphic. The iris of boliviana is mustard yellow, distinct from the blood red iris of flavirostris, andboliviana has orange-yellow feet while those of flavirostris are pink. Only one vocalisation type is recorded for flavirostris, whereas at least five calls and a song are known for boliviana, which vocalises significantly more often. The Brazilian flavirostris has strong seasonal movements, whereas boliviana is sedentary.

The proposed common name proposed for the species comes from the indigenous Quechua language: "palka" meaning fork and "chupa" meaning tail.

"On first speaking with the people of Aten, their comment was that they did not know Palkachupa was so rare" says Bennett Hennessey. "Being so common in their village they assumed it was found everywhere."

Armonía is seeking donations of $3000 to $5000 to protect the Palkachupa Cotinga. Please contact abhennessey@armonia-bo.org if you wish to help efforts to save the species from extinction.

http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/Palkachupa-Cotinga.html

Rare striped dolphin washed up on beach

A RARE dolphin which washed up dead on Saunton Sands had starved to death, according to a post mortem.

The female striped dolphin was discovered by Bill Hibbs, who was walking along the beach during the bank holiday weekend when he saw the animal lying motionless on the sand.

The Swansea Coastguard was alerted and a team moved the dolphin above the high water mark, so it would not be dragged away by the sea.

The animal was then picked up by marine biologist Rob Deaville from the Institute of Zoology who carried out a post mortem in London.

Mr Deaville is the project manager for the UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme, which is funded by Defra.

He said: "The dolphin was a juvenile female which measured 1.6 metres long. She was found to be in a moderate to poor state with parasites in her stomach and externally on her fin and body, which are similar to barnacles.

"A Striped Dolphin is a relatively rare sighting with them usually being found in warmer waters such as the Mediterranean.

"Seven have been found in the UK over the last 12 months with most being in the South West."

Mr Deaville said it was difficult to determine whether the parasites were the cause of the dolphin's starvation or whether the parasites increased after little food was being eaten.

The carcass of the dolphin has since been incinerated while some of its bones have been kept for further analysis.

UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme has dealt with 20,000 strandings in its 20-year existence.

The programme is designed to discover the causes of death and disease and acts as a monitor of marine life.
http://www.thisisdevon.co.uk/Striped-dolphin-washed-North-Devon-beach/story-13289020-detail/story.html

Rare freshwater jellyfish found in China

A rare type of freshwater jellyfish has been found to be thriving in a river in south China.Schools of the endangered freshwater jellyfish were discovered by police officers conducting a dive-training session in a river in Du’an Yao county of Guangxi Zhuang region, Xinhua reported.

Wei Qinghua, a police diving coach who first noticed the jellyfish, found thousands of the creatures in an underwater cave and took pictures and sent them to biologists at the Chinese Academy of Science.
The biologists concluded that the creatures Wei saw were freshwater jellyfish, also known as “peach blossom jellyfish” for their resemblance to the flower, said Lan Qifu, chief of the regional tourism bureau.

Tong Xiaoli, an environmental professor at the South China Agricultural University in Guangzhou, said: “They look very unique and beautiful, but it is hard to tell what specific species they belong to. We will need to work with foreign experts in order to determine their species.”

Freshwater jellyfish are occasionally found in Guangdong, Fujian and Shandong provinces, Tong said, adding that the jellyfish found in Guangxi look different from those found in other provinces.

“If they are confirmed to be a new species, they will have tremendous research value,” he said.

http://www.discoveryon.info/2011/08/rare-freshwater-jellyfish-found-in-china.html

Rare sand lizards released back to the wild on Merseyside

Species has been lost from local heathland August 2011: The UK's rarest lizard has been given a helping hand, with 80 captive-bred sand lizards released on the Sefton Coast as part of a long-term conservation project to restore the species' status and historic range.

The release at The Lancashire Wildlife Trust's Freshfield Dune Heath is one of 19 projects within the Sefton Coast Landscape Partnership Scheme.

CAPTIVE BRED: Young sand lizards.
Picture: Phil Smith

In the UK, sand lizards only live on two rare habitats - sand-dunes and lowland dry heath. A healthy population still survives on the sand dunes of the Sefton Coast but they have been lost from the heathland.

Lizards are extending their rangeLast September, 34 juvenile sand lizards were released at Freshfield and a number have been found and photographed since, moving further away from the release site than had been anticipated.

Merseyside sand lizards have a unique genetic make-up and the juveniles due for release have been captive bred from local stock. The animals are being released later this month to allow them to get used to the reintroduction site before hibernation in October.

Fiona Whitfield of the Lancashire Wildlife Trust said: ‘We are excited at the arrival of a new species for the reserve and to be a part of these important local and national projects. There is a large population of common lizards on Freshfield Dune Heath so we are confident that the sand lizards will thrive here.'

The lizard release is part of a three-year Heritage Lottery Funded Project being delivered by the Sefton Coast Partnership. It is also supported by the North Merseyside Amphibian and Reptile Group, Amphibian and Reptile Conservation and Natural England.
http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/lizard-merseyside.html

Bechstein's bats found in Trench Wood in Worcestershire (via Chad Arment)

A rare bat has been found in a Worcestershire woodland by volunteers working for the Bat Conservation Trust.
Two Bechstein's bats have been discovered in Trench Wood, between Worcester and Droitwich Spa.

James Hitchcock, from Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, said: "A breeding colony has never been known this far north before."

He said Bechstein's bats are one of the country's rarest mammals and are a priority species for conservation.

The bats found in Trench Wood were a male and a young female born earlier this summer.

The Trust says this indicates that there is most likely a breeding roost in the wood.

Conifers have been cleared from the wood by the trust to allow broad-leafed trees to grow and provides a more favourable habitat for bats and other native wildlife.

Volunteers from the Worcestershire Bat Group received special training as normal survey methods have not been successful in locating Bechstein's bats.

The Bat Conservation Trust estimates that there are only 1500 Bechstein's bats in the UK

It feeds on spiders and insects picked from branches and leaves

It is most common in southern England and parts of South Wales

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-14530602

Largest single threat to England’s ancient woodland goes to public inquiry

Area the size of 30 football pitches could be destroyed

PRECIOUS: Oaken Wood near Maidstone is home to many important species of wildlife

August 2011: A controversial plan to extend a Kent quarry has been called in for public inquiry.
The application to extend the quarry into Oaken Wood near Maidstone would, if passed, see the destruction of an area about the size of 30 football pitches of irreplaceable ancient woodland.

Oaken Wood is home to wildlife species so rare they are designated nationally scarce or endangered and the scale of the plans would make it the largest case of destruction to ancient woodland England in recent times - yet the developer, Gallagher Ltd, was originally given the go-ahead by Kent County Council.

Time the Government lived up to its promises
But now, under pressure from conservation groups and local campaigners, Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (CLG), has called in the application for public inquiry.

Nikki Williams, head of campaigning at the Woodland Trust, said: ‘This is the moment for Government to make good on Caroline Spelman's promises earlier in the year to bring in better protection for of ancient woodland in the UK.

‘More than 5,500 people wrote directly to Mr Pickles demanding this call in, so if the "Big Society" is to mean anything, Mr Pickles needs to listen to their concerns.

‘Once ancient woodland is gone, it has gone for ever. You can't recreate it with new planting or by translocating soils - as Gallagher's tried to suggest in their mitigation. We now have a second chance to turn back from the brink over Oaken Wood, but frankly this application should never have got this far. It breaks government planning guidance and an independent planning consultant threw out the argument that it is needed to meet local demand.'

Will fragment and isolate vital habitats
The Woodland Trust, Kent Wildlife Trust and local action groups have lobbied for a public inquiry over the case, which is also in contravention of Planning Policy Statements 1 and 9 which both contain a strong presumption against development in areas of ancient woodland, unless the development would provide overriding benefits.

The Woodland Trust has claimed the quarrying operations will have a huge indirect impact beyond the core area of 33ha on the neighbouring woodland. Currently Oaken Wood is part of a continuous habitat covering 120ha, closely linked to another 48ha of woodland, and much of its value for wildlife lies in this connectivity.

Independent research commissioned by the trust has shown that by fragmenting and isolating habitats, species are unable to move between them and might avoid the woodland near the quarry altogether.

http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/woodland-destruction.html#cr

Large population of Critically Endangered antelope found in threatened Kenyan forest

Pictures captured by scientists reveal hidden wildlife hotspot

July 2011. A previously unrecorded population of Africa's most critically endangered forest antelope has been found living in a highly threatened forest in Northern Kenya, scientists can reveal.

Conservationists are calling for the immediate preservation of the Boni-Dodori forest after camera traps set up by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), the Kenyan Wildlife Service (KWS), Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust (WWCT), National Museums of Kenya and the WWF discovered a new population of Aders' duiker (Cephalophus adersi), a very rare small forest antelope.

Largest known population

The camera trap images from revealed the world's largest known population of Aders' duiker, which, until these surveys, was only known to exist in diminishing forest patches on Unguja Island, Zanzibar and the Arabuko-Sokoke forest in coastal Kenya.

Over 3,300 images of the antelope were recently captured on 52 camera traps set up by researchers who recognised the distinctive animal by the white ‘wrap-around' band on its lower thigh and rich mahogany chestnut tone on its upper back.

Wild dogs, elephants and lions
The camera trap pictures also revealed important populations of a number of species such as African wild-dogs (Lycaon pictus), elephants (Loxodonta africana) and lions (Panthera leo), living in and around the bio diverse forest, which is currently under threat from rapid coastal and agricultural development.

New species of giant shrew
The scientifically significant snapshots come only months after the discovery of a potentially new species of giant sengi, otherwise known as an elephant-shrew (Macroscelidea), in the same area. The biodiversity of the forest is poorly understood due to security problems and poor infrastructure limiting access for scientists.

ZSL senior conservation biologist, Dr Rajan Amin said: "The significant Aders' duiker population in the Boni-Dodori is yet another important discovery, after that of a potentially new species of elephant shrew last year. This population is a lifeline for the critically endangered antelope, which until now was thought to exist only in tiny populations in coastal Kenya and Zanzibar. Given time and conservation action we could unearth even more new species in this isolated forest, but we are running out of time to stop the forest and its hidden secrets from being destroyed by rapid coastal development."

More rare species
Andrew Bowkett of WWCT added: "This forest is extremely bio diverse and is a very important area to conserve. We have also found other important populations of forest antelopes in the area including the Harvey's duiker (Cephalophus harveyi), Suni (Nesotragus moschatus) and the Blue duiker (Philantomba monticola) which was also not previously known to occur in the Kenyan northern coastal forests".

Dr Sam Andanje, Head of Ecosystem and Landscape Conservation at KWS, who is leading the national effort to conserve the forests, said "We will use the new information on Aders' duiker and other important findings from this research to work closely with key stakeholders to develop effective strategies to conserve and protect these areas."

The research paper A new population of the Critically Endangered Aders' duiker Cephalophus adersi confirmed from northern Kenya is published online in Oryx (The International Journal of Conservation) on Thursday 28 July. The ongoing research work is building on this initial study.

The Boni-Dodori Forest is situated on the Northern coast of Kenya. The biodiversity of northern coastal Kenya until recently has remained poorly understood. However, the wooded areas in the region have great potential for harbouring unique and rare species. Recent improvements in security has allowed systematic camera-trap surveys in the largest forest patches of over 2000 km2 within the Boni, Dodori and Lunghi reserves, which are between the Tana River and the Somali border. In addition to the new species of giant sengi, and the crucial Aders' duiker population, the known ranges of the rufous sengi (Elephantulus rufescens), four-toed sengi (Petrodromus tetradactylus) and Blue duiker (Philantomba monticola) have been expanded into the region. Both desert and common warthogs occur in the area along with important populations of African wild-dog (Lycaon pictus), elephant (Loxodonta africana), lion (Panthera leo), hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius), aardvark (Orycteropus afer) etc. The adjacent coastal strip is an important nesting site for three species of marine turtles.


The forests are home to the Boni people, indigenous hunter-gatherers, whose culture co-evolved with the forests, and who have recently received attention for their ability to find honey through whistled communications with the black-throated honeyguides. Their population has fallen from 20,000 in the 1950's to just 4,000. The Boni remain important users of forest resources, and retain important indigenous knowledge.

Now that security issues are improving in the area, there is an urgent need to instigate more active participation, protection, and integrated solutions for key ecosystem, wildlife and human wellbeing issues. Land clearance for agriculture, and unsustainable use of forest resources such as tree felling for charcoal, are ongoing problems. This is likely to significantly increase if massive development plans for a railway, a new deep water port and an airport on the near-by island of Lamu proceed.
Aders' duiker (Cephalophus adersi) is classed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and there are no individuals held in captivity. The antelope was formerly only known from the coastal forest of Zanzibar Island in Tanzania and the Arabuko -Sokoke forest, near Malindi in Kenya. Population estimates show that in the last 20 years the number of Aders' duikers has fallen by around
80% from 5000 individuals to around 1000, toofew to be sure of the continued survival of this species. The Aders' duiker is endangered due toloss of habitat and hunting; as the numbers have declined the habitat has also fragmented into isolated patches, further increasing the riskof extinction. The Aders' duiker is a conservationpriority in Kenya and ZSL and partners are supporting the work of the Kenya Wildlife Service
to protect this highly endangered animal


http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/aders-duiker.html