Rare and endangered species reports

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News regarding recent research on rare and endangered species.

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Local action for conservation

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"Albino" penguin sighted

06th Jan 2008 06:20 PM

Adelie Penguin Pygoscelis adeliae showing normal and unpigmented, albino or leucistic colouration

An "albino" - or more correctly, "leucistic" Adelie Penguin has been photographed in Antartica.

Researchers say the non-pigmented form is very rare as these individuals rarely breed and often attract predators.

The bird is 1 in a 4000 strong population. Although the scientists do tag Adelie Penguins, they haven't tagged the leucistic form and are unsure if it is the same individual they see returning each year.

Siberian tiger mauls zoo visitor to death

26th Dec 2007 04:25 AM

Tatiana - female Siberian tiger that attacked several people

A female Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) at San Francisco Zoo named Tatiana has recently mauled one zoo visitor to death and left two others critically injured. The attack occurred just after the 5pm closing time.

Authorities are investigating how the tiger escaped its enclosure. The zoo has four tigers but the other tigers did not leave their enclosure.

Police attending the zoo first found the deceased man, aged 23 before locating a second victim. Tatiana was sitting nearby and then attacked the man again. As police approached, guns drawn, the tiger turned towards them. Several officers fired and the tiger was killed.

Almost exactly one year ago Tatiana attacked a zoo keeper during feeding time and in front of horrified visitors. In that incident the keeper's arm was torn open.

Orangutan sighted in Florida USA

18th Nov 2007 08:08 PM

A wild orangutan has been sighted in Florida, USA. Some speculate it may be an escapee, surviving the storms of 2004 just as a large patas monkey which was captured one year ago.

Asiatic black bear mauls illegal poacher

14th Nov 2007 10:28 PM

Asiatic black bear mauling illegal poacher Makhan Khan in India

Makhan Khan of Kashmir, India, has survived a serious attack by an Asiatic black bear.

Mr Khan was rescued by friends who first fleed. The illegal poacher suffered serious wounds according to the article.

Captive-bred seahorses released into Sydney Harbour

12th Nov 2007 11:43 PM

Whites New Holland Sydney Seahorse - Hippocampus whitei

In a nation-first, Sydney Aquarium has released 30 captive bred White's seahorses into Sydney Harbour in the hope they will survive in the wild and boost population numbers.

The species, endemic to New South Wales is known to have a colony of only 300 individuals at Manly Cove and researchers are concerned about poachers - which have targeted the area previously - affecting numbers.

World first - five white lion cubs bred in single litter, Australia

06th Nov 2007 07:06 PM

Five male white lion cubs bred at Mojo Zoo

Mogo Zoo near Bateman's Bay on New South Wales' south coast, Australia, has announced the successful rearing of five male white lion cubs, born from a single litter - a world first.

According to the article, zoo staff have nicknamed the pride "the gangsters".

Albino ratfish found

26th Sep 2007 06:29 AM

The world's first documented albino ratfish has turned up in the United States. Ratfish are named for their rat-like teeth, used for crushing clams, crabs and worms scooped up from the ocean floor.

Although the University of Washington has 7.2 million ratfish in its collection, this is the only albino.

Rare white koala rescued and released

26th Sep 2007 06:25 AM

A rare white - not albino - koala has been rescued near Port Macquarie in Australia's state of New South Wales. The marsupial was found blind but with treatment has made a full recovery and been recently released at an undisclosed location.

Whilst being kept in care, the koala, nicknamed Mick, was segregated from other koalas - not only for health reasons but to keep its existence a closely guarded secret to prevent it being stolen for novelty collectors.

First photos of rare brush turkey

14th Aug 2007 12:05 AM

Bruijns brush turkey - Aepypodius bruijnii

Before 2002 the Brujin's brush turkey, endemic to Irian Jaya, was known only from fewer than 25 specimens.

Birdwatchers on an exploratory tour have managed to capture the first ever photographs of the species in the wild.

Dog breed with two noses

14th Aug 2007 07:16 PM

Legend has it that at the time of the Conquistadors there was a Spanish breed of hunting dog named "Pachon Navarro". There is a good chance that some of these dogs accompanied the Spanish to south America.

There is a story that legendary explorer Colonel Percy Fawcett reported dogs with two noses from the Amazon in 1913. "Nobody believed him, they laughed him out of court."

Meet Bella and her son Xingu - two double nosed dogs from Bolivia which have even attracted military interest.