Reptiles In Papayas

GEORGE TOWN: A shipment declared as papayas was found to contain hundreds of cobras and freshwater turtles worth some RM110,000 meant for the cooking pot in Hong Kong.

The animals were rescued by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) in a joint raid with the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services at the KL Airport Services local cargo complex in Batu Maung near here.

Penang Perhilitan director Jamalun Nasir Ibrahim said the 555 cobras and 171 turtles were found inside 80 polystyrene boxes which were kept among 100 boxes of papayas in a container.

Safe and sound: Penang Wildlife and National Parks Department enforcement officer Zainuddin Ishak showing the seized cobras and turtles during a press conference in George Town Friday.

The shipment, he said, was declared as papayas bound for Hong Kong.

Endangered Asian Pond Turtle

He said the driver of the lorry transporting the container was arrested during the raid around 4.30am on Wednesday.

“We arrested the driver, who is in his 40s, to facilitate investigations to track down the mastermind,” Jamalun said yesterday.

He believed a syndicate was behind the smuggling of the giant Asian pond turtles (Heosemys grandis) and the monocellate cobra (Naja kaouthia).

Endangered Monocellate Cobra

“We believe the animals were to be smuggled out to meet the demand for exotic animal dishes,” he added.

Jamalun said the cobras could fetch RM200 each for the bigger ones and about RM800 each for smaller ones while the turtles cost about RM200 each.

Both species, he said, were listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, which meant that trading in them was only permitted with an export permit and certificate of origin.

Based on the shipment's documentation, he said, the papayas were harvested from a farm in Kedah.

Jamalun said the case was being investigated under Section 10 of the International Trade in Endangered Species Act that carries a fine of not more than RM100,000 for each animal but not more than RM1mil in aggregate, or a maximum seven-year jail term or both.

Built For The Kill

   

Megafishes

    

Earth Day - Ten Most Threatened Forests

   People around the world will plant trees in their neighborhoods as part of Earth Day celebrations.

But Earth Day efforts won't be enough to replace the trees in forests like the Amazon, which are disappearing due to human activities, said Richard Donovan, vice president of sustainable forestry at A Rainforest Alliance.

"We're very supportive of tree planting, but tree planting by itself is not enough—we need to conserve forests, not just trees," Donovan said.

(Explore an interactive map of the embattled Amazon in National Geographicmagazine.)

While the rate of Amazon deforestation has slowed somewhat in recent decades, it's still among the highest of any forest in the world, he said.

Large tracts are being cleared annually to make way for cattle ranches and cash crops such as soy beans and, more recently, palm oil.

Another concern are the growing number of roads through the rain forest, which are aiding loggers and serving as entry points for everyone from farmers and developers to oil and mineral prospectors.

Endangered Birds

     

Endangered Mammals

      

Adopt An Animal

Animal Planet and World Wildlife Fund are working together to highlight the plight of endangered species across the globe with the animal advocacy campaign, Animal Planet R.O.A.R.

You can help protect the future of endangered species by symbolically adopting one of the 40 animals featured in the WWF adoption center. Contributions provide financial support needed to help protect some of the world's most imperiled species and to combat the global forces that threaten their future such as climate change, toxic pollution and habitat destruction. WWF fights threats to these animals by linking on the ground conservation work with policy and private sector involvement to produce lasting change by altering the forces that devastate nature. The programs are developed with an understanding of and concern for the lives of indigenous peoples, which keeps efforts focused on building a sustainable balance between humans and nature.

World Wildlife Fund ( WWF )

We have reached a moment in the history of the earth when the actions we take over the next decade will determine whether or not our children will live in a world with magnificent animals like pandas, gorillas, elephants, tigers and whales.

The rate at which species and their habitats are being destroyed means that we must change the course of events immediately, or in 10 years it will be too late to ensure that there are natural resources left to provide habitats, freshwater, food and clean air - not only for animals, but for people as well.

WWF has a bold plan to make a lasting difference in the fate of our world. World Wildlife Fund is unique because it partners around the world and works at every level, from on-the-ground conservation to global policy, creating innovative solutions that meet the needs of both people and nature.

Join World Wildlife Fund's efforts to protect endangered species and their precious habitats!

Donate to Support WWF's Conservation Programs.

Symbolically adopt a panda, tiger, sea turtle, gorilla or any of over 40 animals included on WWFs Online Adoption Center.

Visit WWF's Web site.

Rare White Killer Whale Spotted Off Russian Coast

                         

'Iceberg' ... The fin of an albino killer whale travelling in a pod of 13 orcas near Bering island in the Commander islands in Russia.

Scientists have glimpsed a pure white adult orca, or killer whale, while on a research expedition off the far eastern coast of Russia.

The sighting in waters off the Kamchatka peninsula is believed to be the first time such a whale has been seen in the wild.

Researchers said the marine mammal, which they nicknamed Iceberg, was swimming with its mother and siblings and appeared to be fully accepted by its 12-strong family.


White whales are not unheard of, but only young white orcas are thought to have been recorded by marine conservationists before.
The whale was seen by scientists on a research cruise co-led by Erich Hoyt of the Far East Russia orca project.
"We've seen three white orcas in the past few years, but this is the very first time we've seen a mature animal that is all white," Mr Hoyt, a senior research fellow at the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, told The Guardian.
The team is returning to the same waters next month to try to track it down again.
The scientists hope to confirm whether or not Iceberg is an albino by photographing its eyes.
"If we can get a full close-up of the eyes and they are pink, it would confirm Iceberg is an albino, but we don't know much about albinism in orcas," Mr Hoyt said.
Fully albino orcas can have weak immune systems and die young, but partial albinos can live into adulthood.
Iceberg appears to be white all over and, judging by its two-metre dorsal fin, is at least 16 years old, Mr Hoyt said.
"We've photographically identified 1500 orcas in the region in the past 12 years there," he said. "If we see any of his pod and he's not there, we'll know he's gone."
During the expedition from May to September, researchers will lower hydrophones into the sea to record the sounds the whales make.
There are believed to be three to four "clans" of whales in the waters the team surveyed, each with its own distinctive dialect.

Rhino Poaching: An African Tragedy. A Global Responsibility!

                            

The Lovely & Endangered Polar Bear

Steve Irwin ( Crocodile Hunter ) 1962 - 2006 Tribute

                              

Special Photographic Tour With Paul Goldstein

                                

Endangered Bengal Tiger

                                    

Paul Goldstein To Conquer Africa's Tallest Peak To Raise Funds for Endangered Bengal Tigers With 9ft Cuddly Toy On His Back

This has to be one of the wackiest ascents of Africa's highest peak ever.

Briton Paul Goldstein, 49, is climbing Mount Kilimanjaro for charity with a nine foot toy tiger which weighs 30lbs on his back.

And having agreed to take on two marathons in a week, this was not exactly what people were thinking when the 49-year-old, from Wimbledon, said he needed to paws for thought.Tough going: Paul Goldstein is preparing to summit Mt Kilimanjaro in Tanzania with a 30lb tiger on his back for charity

Paul has already completed the Brighton marathon on Sunday with the weighty passenger on his back, in an impressive six hours, and are now ascending Africa’s fearsome peak.

They then hope to take on the London marathon on Sunday, two days after scaling Kilimanjaro's 5,895m (19,341ft) summit.
Paul, a wildlife photographer and tour guide, stopped long enough to pose for a few pictures as he boarded a Kenya Airways flight from London Heathrow to Nairobiout on Monday - while having only just got his breath back after finishing the Brighton Marathon the previous evening.

Then the pair surveyed the impressive peak that awaited them.

This morning, when Paul last made contact, he was at around 4,260m (13,976ft).

He said: ‘Rain now turning to snow, this just a whole lot harder.’

Getting comfortable: The tiger and Paul Goldstein settle down on thhe Kenya Airways flight to Nairobi in preparation for the gruelling effort to come

Mounting up: People must have been giving Paul some quizzical looks as he arrives at Jomo Kenyatta, Nairobi with a tiger on his back

Paul, who was supported at the East Sussex event by his children Joshua, five and 18-month-old Lucas, said of his first marathon: ‘There was a fairly strong wind which added to the challenge of running with a nine foot tiger on my back.

‘At around three o'clock yesterday the tiger's roar had been reduced to a whimper. But six hours, a personal best, God knows where that came from.’

Paul has embarked on the week-long challenge to support a charity project to protect the Bengal tiger. 

He is hoping to raise more than £25,000 for the Friends of Conservation charity project in Bandhavgarh National Park, India.On the move: The enormity of what Paul is facing up to looms on the horizon as he strides off with the nine foot tiger on his back

Wildlife Photographer Paul Goldstein Runs Four Marathons With A Tiger On His Back

Award-winning wildlife photographer Paul Goldstein is running four marathons in one week with a 9ft-high, 30lb aluminium-framed tiger strapped to his back, to try to raise more than £30,000 to protect the Bengal tiger, one of the world’s most endangered animals.

For Paul, the London Marathon on 17 April will be the fourth marathon he runs next month; after Brighton (10 April), Manchester (12 April) and Cardiff (15 April) – all wearing his tiger costume.

Paul Goldstein

Paul Goldstein is an award-winning wildlife photographer and guide and has worked for Exodus for 16 years. He lectures throughout the year about wildlife, photography and conservation. The Sunday Times described as 'preposterously vivacious, a guide of almost psychotic gusto.'

He owns four camps (Kicheche) in Kenya and thinks nothing of running Marathons in 10 foot high Bengal Tiger suits to raise money and awareness for these beloved predators.

Outspoken, Paul is never short of an opinion – you might even find yourself agreeing with him on occasion.

Extinct & Soon To Be Extinct Animal/Species

                        

Poaching of Animals

                                      

Wildlife is on the brink of extinction due to poaching. Poaching is the act of hunting, killing and selling ( or using ) of wildlife species for moneytary or materialistic gains. It is illegal to hunt or poach. Many species are already endangered, vying for an effective monitoring policy.

Top 20 Most Endangered Animals

                         

Extinct Animals 20th Century

                          

My Macro Teaching Lesson Plan

Vanished and Endangered
Teaching and Learning Activities Video 1
Teaching and Learning Activities Video 2
 Curriculum Specifications SCIENCE Year 6

A Free Tour To My School

         
                                                              SJK(C) PAI TEIK, NIBONG TEBAL
                                                      Enrolmen     :   1824
                                                      Bil. Guru      :    89
                                                      Bil Kelas      :    51
                                                      Sesi               :   Pagi

Extinct and Endangered Animals Slide Show

        

Ways To Prevent Extinction

Endangered species must be protected. Malaysian government has taken steps to preserve this biodiversity and prevent further species extinction. Efforts are being taken to conserve and protect these species. To prevent habitat destruction and species extinction, the government has designated conservation areas where plants and animals are protected in their natural habitat in forest reserves and national parks. National and state parks, wildlife sanctuaries and marine parks, and forest reserves are examples of such areas. In these areas, agricultural and development activities, collecting of plants or plant parts, hunting or killing of animals are not allowed.

Another way of protecting animal species is by keeping and breeding them in captivity such as zoos. In 1967, it was found that the river terrapin (tenting sungai) was in danger of extinction because the eggs are collected to be sold and eaten. This prompted the setting up of the first captive breeding place in Bota Kanan, Perak in 1968. This programme is under the Department of Wildlife and National Parks.

Besides that, the government has also implemented a tighter legislation regarding the protection of plant and animal species. The government has endorsed laws to protect wildlife. It is against the law to hunt or kill these protected animals.

Introducing and enforcing laws is not enough. What is more important is educating the public and enhancing awareness about all aspects of Malaysia’s natural heritage, biodiversity and the importance of conservation. This can be done through school curriculum and programmes, and public campaigns to avoid consuming and using products made from any parts of endangered species.

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) such as Malaysian Nature Society (Persatuan Pencinta Alam Malaysia), the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Malaysia, Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) and Environmental Protection Society of Malaysia (EPSM) have played an important role in complimenting efforts by the government to promote environmental consciousness among Malaysian public. It is very essential to educate the public and inculcate awareness of the importance of preservation and conservation.

Factors of Plants and Animals Facing Extinction

Deforestation is the process of cutting down and removing trees for timber or to create open spaces for growing crops or animal farming. When humans clear the forests and cut the hills to build homes and other development projects such as factories, highways and farming, the environment is being changed to sit to human needs. When this happens, plants and trees that shelter the animals are being destroyed.

Human also pollute the environment by releasing the toxic gases and substances such as lead, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide into the air. The widespread use of agrochemical in agricultural sectors pollutes the soil and water. This kills many animals. Agrochemicals are compounds or substances that are used to protect crops from pests and to fertilize their growth.

Excessive and illegal hunting and killing or poaching of animals for their meat, skin and fur, eggs, horns and other animal products also contribute to the decline in the number of certain species.

Article - Endangered Animals

Malaysia is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. The rich and diverse in plant and animal life forms make Malaysia as one of the most biodiversity countries in the world. But this great biodiversity is slowly being threatened by human activities which destroyed the natural habitat of this natural environment.

Before a plant or an animal species become extinct, their numbers will decline. If the numbers continue to decrease, the species become rare, and it is said to be endangered. Endangered species means those which are facing the threat of extinction. To prevent extinction, these endangered species must be protected and preserved. Some of the endangered animals are giant panda ( Ailuropoda melanoleuca ), jaguar (Panthera Onca), red wolf ( Canis rufus ), the Californian condor ( Gymnogyps californianus ), the golden lion tamarin ( Leontopithecus rosalia ) and the Galapagos Land iguana ( Conolophus pallidus ).

Some examples of our own Malaysian animals which are endangered include elephants, rhinoceros hornbill ( kenyalang / enggang lilin ), tapir (tenuk / cipan ), sun bear ( beruang matahari ), mouse deer ( kancil ), sambar deer ( rusa ), barking deer ( kijang ), leatherback turtle ( penyu ), river terrapin ( tuntung sungai ), seladang, long-tailed porcupine ( landak ), clouded leopard ( harimau dahan ), Malaysia peacock pheasant ( merak pongsu ), the milky stork ( burung upeh ), the gibbon ( siamang and ungka ) and otter civets ( musang ). It was believed in Malaysia, there are only 60 to 100 milky storks left.

Article - Extinct Animals

The dinosaurs, mammoth. dodo, the great auk, the Tasmanian tiger, Carolina parakeet, the Irish elk, the sabre-toothed tiger and many other animals were history. They are said to be extinct. The phenomenon when a certain animal or plant species become rare to find and cease to exist is called extinction. Extinction means the permanent dissappearance of a living species.

Dinosaur means ''terrible lizard''. Not all dinosaurs are giant sized. Some dinosaurs are slightly bigger than a small dog. The biggest dinosaur is the tyrannosaurus rex which eats meat. The first dinosaur is believed to have lived on Earth about 200 million years ago. Then, 65 million years ago, they became extinct.

The dodo (Raphus cucullatus) is a large, chubby bird, slightly bigger than a turkey. The wings are too short for flying and the legs are too short for running. It was found living in the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean, by Portugese sailors in 1507. The sailors killed the bird and collect the eggs for food during their journey. The dodo became extinct in the year 1685.