Published on November 20th, 2009

Thanks to rampant poaching and habitat destruction, rhinos have the unfortunate distinction of being one of the most endangered animals on earth.
Over the last 30 years, the world’s overall rhinoceros population has declined by over 90% - and if not for dedicated conservation efforts over the last 100 years, it is likely that all rhinoceros species would already be extinct.
To help raise awareness for these proud pachyderms, here are 11 incredible facts about rhinos - plus a compilation of beautiful photos (except for one very graphic photo) and a couple of videos, too. Enjoy! Read the rest of this entry »
Tags:
africa,
Asia,
Asian Rhino Project,
black rhino,
Ceratotherium simum,
China,
chinese,
Conservation,
critically endangered,
Dicerorhinus sumatrensis,
Diceros bicornis,
endangered species,
greater one-horned rhino,
India,
indian rhino,
international rhino foundation,
javan rhino,
nepal,
poachers,
poaching,
rhino facts,
rhino photos,
Rhino Resource Center,
rhinoceros,
rhinoceros sondaicus,
Rhinoceros unicornis,
SOS Rhino,
sumatran rhino,
white rhino
Published on November 18th, 2009
The complexity and cost of clearing land mines, which are still responsible for to twenty to thirty thousand casualties a year, has lead to a microorganism based detection method that should speed the location mines.

The awesome power released by a detonating mine
The New Mine Detection Technology
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh have engineered a bacteria using the latest BioBrick technology. BioBrick an open source technology of the BioBricks Foundation, a not-for-profit organization founded by engineers and scientists from MIT, Harvard, and UCSF. Simplistically stated, it offers the ability to introduce standardised strands of DNA with known function into bacteria. In this case the Bricks gave the ability to detect the chemicals leaked by buried explosives and to produce chemicals that cause it to glow green. Linking these new functions together produces a safe, easy to grow bacteria that after application to the ground in a coulourless liquid glows green within a few hours. With the location of the mine noted, de-mining can be undertaken quickly without the risk of undetected mines. Read the rest of this entry »
Published on November 15th, 2009

According to reports, little Kimutai, a three-year-old child from Kenya, died hours after ingesting carbofuran, an odorless pesticide used to control insects on many crops including rice, beans, bananas, pineapple, coffee and vegetables.
But the highly toxic pesticide, sold under the name Furadan and manufactured by Farm Machinery and Chemicals Corporation (FMC), is also used by cattle herders for different reasons. Furadan is often added to carcasses in order to poison and kill lions, hyenas and other wildlife that prey on livestock. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags:
carbofuran poisonings,
Farm Machinery and Chemicals Corporation,
FMC Corporation,
Furadan,
human wildlife conflict,
hyena,
Kenya,
Kimutai Kigai,
lion,
lion pesticide,
lion poison,
Nahashon Kigai,
vultures,
wildlife poisoning
Published on November 7th, 2009
SAB Miller, South African grown, second largest brewer in the world has introduced anaerobic digestion to treat the waste leaving its Alrode Brewery in Gauteng, South Africa. Anaerobic fermentation of organic material produces methane, which is used to reduce the consumption of fossil fuel based energy.

Copper brewhouse in a Trappist brewery
Brewery Waste & Biogas
In the brewery the waste is a collection of unavoidable losses of carbohydrate and protein rich materials, which would otherwise be sold as beer or byproduct and the large quantities of water used to maintain a hygienic operation. Read the rest of this entry »
Published on November 6th, 2009

Is Ross Perot Jr. taking legal action over the head of a rhino he shot and wounded during a trophy hunt?
The son of former American Presidential candidate Ross Perot - Henry Ross Perot Jr. - is reportedly engaged in a legal battle involving South African wildlife authorities over the head of rhino he wounded during a trophy hunt earlier this year.
Perot supposedly shot a bull rhino at Mkhuze game reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, but the animal escaped. However, Perot believes he’s still entitled to his trophy - the rhino’s head.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags:
Conservation,
Forbes Richest Americans 2009,
former American Presidential candidate,
Henry Ross Perot,
Hill Perot,
IUCN Red List Threatened Species,
KwaZulu-Natal,
Mkhuze game reserve,
rhino,
rhinoceros,
Ross Perot Jr.,
South Africa,
Texas,
Texas tycoon,
trophy hunting
Published on November 5th, 2009

Despite the fact that Mount Kilimanjaro is located in one of the world’s warmer climates, like any other mountain with such high altitude, it has snowy peaks and glaciers that add interest to climbers, (although it doesn’t do much for the wildlife on the mountain); however, according to research, as a result of climate change, we can expect that snow atop Mount Kilimanjaro is a fleeting thing.
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Published on November 3rd, 2009

Tanzania is reportedly preparing to ask CITES to lift the trade ban on elephant ivory, much to the dismay of its EAC neighbors, conservationists, and members of the tourism industry.
In a move that would surely undermine East African conservation efforts, Tanzania has taken up the position that a sanctioned sale of elephant ivory would provide much-needed financial support to the country’s anti-poaching measures.
This comes as a shock to the East African Community (EAC), considering that last year’s sanctioning of a one-off ivory auction is to blame for igniting a scourge of rampant elephant killings throughout Africa - particularly Kenya.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags:
activism,
africa,
China,
chinese,
CITES,
Conservation,
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species,
EAC,
East African Community,
elephant,
endangered species,
extinction,
ivory,
ivory auction,
ivory trade ban,
Kenya,
poachers,
poaching,
Tanzania,
Zambia
Published on November 3rd, 2009
The International Ecotourism Society is offering a
Surperb Safari Experience as an auction to raise funds for global environmental awareness. The Safari location is at
Ol Seki Mara Camp.
Safari Details: Located in the heart of Eastern Koiyaki, Kenya, Ol Seki Mara Camp offers luxury “Nina” tents with 270 degree panoramic views of the famous Maasai Mara.
Magnificent Wildlife: Eastern Koiyaki, provides an opportunity to enjoy wildlife viewing in a pristine oasis nestled amongst Cordia and Acacia trees attracting an abundance of wildlife and birds.
Your Dream Vacation: Elegant candle lit dinners, romantic dining for honeymooners, a resident masseuse – a delight for all senses!
What are Ol Seki Mara Camp’s specific sustainability Practices?
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags:
501(c)(3),
African Safari Auction,
bio-cultural diversity,
Conservation,
environmental education,
environmental outreach,
environmental protection,
environmentalism,
nonprofit organizations,
sustainable community development,
TIES
Published on November 3rd, 2009

About 200 rhino have reportedly been killed by poachers in Zimbabwe over the last three years, and wildlife officials warn that international and regional poaching syndicates are benefiting from local cooperation.
Disappointing news: Zimbabwe may have lost a quarter of its rhino population in just three years, due to the increasing strength of organized poaching syndicates and a network of local support.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags:
activism,
China,
chinese,
Conservation,
endangered species,
Morris Mutsambiwa,
poacher,
poaching,
poaching syndicate,
rhino,
rhino horn,
rhinoceros,
Zimbabwe
Published on October 31st, 2009
Eskom, the South African state owned electricity generator, recently announced that it has budgeted a billion dollars over the next ten years for a demonstration and pilot concentrated solar power (CSP) plant. However, moving from budget to implementation is proving more difficult!

Why Concentrated Solar Power
Two of the widely used alternatives for collecting the suns energy are the concentrated solar power (CSP) plant where sunlight is focussed on a receiver in which a circulating working fluid is heated and used as the heating media for a conventional power station and the photo voltaic (PV) plant where sunlight is converted directly into electrical energy. Read the rest of this entry »