After hunting season, many animals are still being killed. To stop poachers from killing anymore deer, Robo-deer was invented. In Florida, Robo-deer is being used by Fish and Wildlife Conservation officers. Officers are able to control Robo-deer's movements from up to 50 feet away, by using a remote-controlled device. If a poacher shoots Robo-deer, the officers will arrest them. Maximum penalties for poaching range between 60 days, to a year. While poaching is increasing around the world, creating new methods for catching poachers is as important as ever.
Personally, I think Robo-deer is a great idea! Unfortunately, poaching is increasing, and a lot of species are becoming extinct. With the help of Robo-deer, hopefully poaching can be stopped in Florida. I think that many other robotic animals should be invented to stop the poaching of other extinct species. This article relates to class, because without deer, the food chain will become smaller. Robo-deer can help arrest poachers, and save many more deer lives.
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A new species of monkeys have been discovered in northern Burma. These types of monkeys are known as snub-nosed monkeys, obviously because of their uniquely shaped nose. When it rains, their upturned nostrils fill with water, which causes the monkeys to sneeze. The Primate Conservation Programme have noticed that it's very easy to find the stub-nosed monkeys when it's raining, because they can hear them sneezing.
Unfortunately, this species of monkeys are "critically endangered, with an estimated population of 300 or less." Other species of monkeys are known to be in Vietnam and China, while snub-nosed monkeys were the first to be discovered in Burma. AFP have recently reported that this monkey species is geographically separated from other species because the snub-nosed monkey's habitat, which is located in an area in Kachin State, is cut off by the Salween and Mekong rivers. Unfortunately, it's habitat is exposed by deforestation, which is due to logging. Deforestation in this specific area is caused by local and Chinese companies operating illegally. Not only is this a problem, but hunting is a major problem as well. Providing better enforcement is greatly needed to withstand "the illegal international wildlife trade."
I personally think that more should be done to stop hunting and deforestation in the snub-nosed monkey's habitat. With only 300 snub-nosed monkeys living, more should definitely be done to stop them from becoming more endangered. This topic relates to class because with a new species discovered, there are more animals located on the earth. Therefore, the population is increasing, instead of decreasing.
In Hungary, a river of red-orange coloration has flooded part of the Hungarian countryside. The toxic sludge is a byproduct of the aluminum manufacturing process from the Alumina plant. This river of sludge has killed eight people; four of them have drowned. Not only has it killed eight citizens of Hungary, but it has also caused significant damage to the land. This disastrous river has unfortunately reached the Danube River, which is one of the major waterways in Europe. To try and stop the toxic sludge from entering the Danube River, authorities were pouring plaster into the Marcal River, which unfortunately didnt work.
I personally think that authorities should think of new ideas to stop the flow of the toxic waste. The river of toxic waste will majorly impact Hungary, as well as the ocean. This article relates to class, because as the water runs through the Danube River, it will eventually reach the ocean. When the sludge enters the ocean, it will unfortunately kill marine animals.
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A new study has shown that air pollution is being linked to new cases of adult diabetes in the United States. Pollution is still a major risk factor after other factors have been accounted for, such as ethnicity and obesity.
Air pollution, especially particulate matter, between 0.1 and 2.5 micrometers may possibly be a neglected risk factor for diabetes. This is dangerous, because of its small size and it can invade human organs in the vascular and respiratory systems.
Laboratory studies have found that precursors to diabetes have resulted from exposure to air pollution. This is one of the first efforts to examine the connection of air pollution and diabetes on a large scale; which is examining the human population. Scientists examined the pollution from the contagious people in the United States between 2004 and 2005, and compared it against Centers for Disease Control and the United States Census data for adult diabetes and other risk factors. The laboratory results showed that there was a very strong correlation between air pollution and diabetes.
My opinion is that we should obviously create less pollution, to reduce the risk of diabetes. This also relates to class because while we reduce pollution, we're helping the environment, as well as helping reduce the risk of diabetes.
A new study has shown that there are 42 conservation areas for saving tigers. It seems that the logical thing to do would be to find the key areas where tigers breed and conserve those specific areas, but that isn't being done.
The problem is that only one third of the 3,200 tigers living in the wild are breeding females, which is only 6% of the available habitat. Most of the breeding areas are in India, Eastern Russia, Indonesia, and some parts of Asia. Decreasing poaching in these areas would definitely help the population of tigers. The Wildlife Conservation Society suggested increasing law enforcement and surveillance, but that would cost around $82 million a year; $35 million for larger population monitoring, community organizing, and law enforcement, and $42 million for conserving the source sights. There have been efforts that were successful in the past for tigers, and even African rhinoceros.
The Wildlife Conservation Society's Dr. Joe Walston stated that in the past, efforts have failed to prevent the poaching of tigers and their prey, and the focus needs to be on securing the sites where the 6% of tigers live.
In my opinion, the Wildlife Conservation Society should help decrease poaching in the areas where the tigers breed, and everywhere tigers live, for that matter. The tiger population has already dropped by 97% in the last 20 years, and I personally think that number shouldn't drop anymore. This relates to class because the tiger population is decreasing and without tigers, the animals they eat will be overpopulated, which would definitely change the environment.
I'm Mckenzie & I'm a junior. I like hanging out with friends, listening to music, and shopping. In environmental this year I would like to learn about the many different issues concerning the environment. I would also like to learn how to fix those certain issues.
