Asia

Elephants to now get same level of protection as tigers

Source: The Times of India NEW DELHI: The government on Tuesday accepted the Elephant Task Force report and decided to set up a National Elephant Conservation Authority along the lines of that existing for the tiger. The task force, led by Mahesh Rangarajan, submitted its report to the environment and forests ministry and recommended that [...]

1Sep2010 | Sara | 0 comments | Continued

Panel: India must create more elephant reserves

By NIRMALA GEORGE (AP) NEW DELHI — India should protect its elephant population by creating new reserves, curbing poaching and restricting development in the corridors they use to travel between forested areas, a panel recommended Tuesday. Poaching for ivory and increased conflicts between people and elephants due to their dwindling habitat are key problems faced [...]

1Sep2010 | Sara | 0 comments | Continued

Lion dies at Vandalur zoo

Source: The Times of India CHENNAI: A male lion which was ailing for nearly a month died in the Vandalur zoo on Saturday afternoon. According to sources, Babu, the ten-year-old male lion was rescued from a circus nearly six years ago. It was kept in the rescue and rehabilitation centre on the zoo premises until [...]

29Aug2010 | Sara | 0 comments | Continued

Endangered Hawksbill turtles released off Singapore

(AFP) SINGAPORE — Thirteen endangered sea turtles born and bred in Japan were released off Singapore waters Tuesday as part of efforts to conserve the species. The five one-year-olds and eight three-year-olds are the offspring of Hawksbill turtles donated by the Underwater World Singapore aquarium to the Port of Nagoya aquarium in 1997 and 2002. [...]

24Aug2010 | Sara | 0 comments | Continued

Zoo set to welcome new guests

Source: The Times of India KANPUR: The Kanpur Zoological Park will soon be welcoming another pair of barking deer (a rare specie) which is known for producing a strange sound, like that of a dog. With an aim to add a variety to its animal kingdom, the zoo is presently making fresh endeavours to go [...]

23Aug2010 | Sara | 0 comments | Continued

China launches global search for six panda keepers

(AFP) BEIJING — A Chinese panda centre said Tuesday it had launched a global search for six people who would spend a month looking after the endangered animals, as part of an awareness and conservation campaign. “Project Panda,” launched by the Chengdu Panda Base in the southwestern province of Sichuan and the WWF, aims to [...]

17Aug2010 | Sara | 0 comments | Continued

Taiwan zoo fined after birth of ‘ligers’

(AFP) TAIPEI — A private zoo in Taiwan has become the first on the island to see the birth of “ligers”, hybrids of lions and tigresses, with the owner facing a fine for violating wildlife rules, officials said Monday. The three cubs were born Sunday at the “World Snake King Education Farm” in the south, [...]

16Aug2010 | Sara | 0 comments | Continued

Vandalur zoo celebrates silver jubilee

Source: The Times of India CHENNAI: Schoolchildren crowd around the animal enclosures at Vandalur zoo, pointing and chattering excitedly. Even on a weekday, the zoo is packed. At the chimpanzees’ enclosure, Srinivasan watches them with a hawk’s eye, ensuring that no one throws plastic and hushing the children gently when they get too noisy. “These [...]

15Aug2010 | Sara | 0 comments | Continued

Nepal zoo opens ‘honeymoon suite’ for rhinos

(AFP) KATHMANDU — Nepal’s only zoo has opened a new “honeymoon suite” for its two one-horned rhinos in the hope of persuading the endangered pair to breed for the first time. Kancha, 20, and 22-year-old Kanchi have lived together in captivity for most of their adult lives, but have never bred — something the zoo’s [...]

14Aug2010 | Sara | 0 comments | Continued

Warning: All animals at Indonesian zoo in danger

By NINIEK KARMINI (AP) JAKARTA, Indonesia — The animals at Indonesia’s largest zoo — many of them critically endangered — all could be dead within five years unless strong action is taken to change the culture of neglect and corruption that permeates the facility, a zoo official said Saturday. Hundreds of animals die every year [...]