Biologists To Investigate Why 25 Whales Died Off Florida

Ann Novek( Luure)--With the Sky as the Ceiling and the Heart Outdoors

Biologists on Friday examined the carcasses of 25 dead pilot whales found off the coast of southwest Florida, collecting samples from the animals to try to determine the cause of a recent spike in whale deaths.

Wildlife officials completed necropsies on six whales among the group of 16 females and 9 males a day after they were spotted by boaters near Kice Island, Florida, said Kim Amendola, a spokeswoman for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The whales were part of a pod originally seen swimming in shallow waters near the city of Naples on Sunday, prompting a team of wildlife officials concerned about a spate of stranded whales, to mark the animals to better identify them.

Earlier this week, eight other whales were found dead after they swam into shallow waters near Fort Myers, Florida.

The group of 25 whales were found to be thin and showed no…

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King Amendment Officially Dead – MFA Blog

Life or Lunch?

In a victory for farmed animals across the nation, the reviled King Amendment was dropped from the House farm bill Monday, stopping the provision dead in its tracks.Sponsored by the notoriously anti-animal Representative Steve King of Iowa, the King Amendment would have wiped out virtually every state law protecting farmed animals from even the most horrific cruelty.The King Amendment was proposed to nullify the few state laws that do provide protection to farmed animals, such as laws banning cruel crates and cages, prohibiting the force-feeding of ducks, and forbidding horse slaughter and shark finning.It was also seen as a threat to laws governing environmental protection, worker safety, and more. Its failure means that laws such as California’s groundbreaking Prop 2 get to stay on the books where they belong.Mercy For Animals would like to thank everyone who wrote letters and made phone calls to their members of Congress. This victory…

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Your Keystone Pipeliners (TransCanada) Just had It’s Pipeline Explode; Go Figure! But Don’t Worry About Keystone XL In the USA. That Will Never Explode.

China halts poultry trading after H7N9 cases spike: mass culling ordered in Hong Kong

The Extinction Protocol

January 28, 2014 – CHINA – The H7N9 bird flu virus has killed 19 people in China this year, with the total number of human infections now 96, according to the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. That compares with 144 confirmed cases, including 46 deaths, in the whole of 2013. But Shu Yuelong, director of the Chinese National Influenza Center, said a large-scale H7N9 epidemic is unlikely during the Spring Festival holiday, as no H7N9 virus mutation that could affect public health has been identified so far, Xinhua news agency reported. “There is no evidence of constant inter-human transmission, and the risk assessment of H7N9 epidemic outbreak is unchanged,” said Shu. Shu reiterated that H7N9 is more prone to human infection than H5N1, with H7N9 case fatality rate reaching 20 to 30 percent. Twelve people have been killed by H7N9 bird flu in Zhejiang Province this month. More…

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China Faces Another Outbreak of Bird Flu — 19 dead, 96 human cases reported

Quote Of Today II—Many Dolphins From The Japanese Drive Hunt In Taiji Go To China

Ann Novek( Luure)--With the Sky as the Ceiling and the Heart Outdoors

In Japan, some 50 aquariums keep around 600 dolphins and take many of the Taiji dolphins, with business also coming from many aquariums abroad. And with growing demand for dolphins from China, which already has 35 aquariums displaying dolphins, the sale of live dolphins from the Taiji drive hunt is lucrative business.—National Geographic

Photo: Reuters

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Rungna Dolphinarium In North Korea Is Now Open For Business

Ann Novek( Luure)--With the Sky as the Ceiling and the Heart Outdoors

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North Korean Dolphin Aquarium

When you’re Kim Jong Un, the young dictator of an extremely insulated country, you can building a dolphin aquarium regardless of what others may think of the project. According to The Atlantic, the leader of North Korea decided it was time for his people to enjoy the lovable antics of highly-trained dolphins. Instead of addressing the numerous problems his nation is currently facing, Kim thought the money would be better spent elsewhere. After all, who in the country is brave enough to say he’s wrong?

The Chicago Tribune reports that recent flooding in the nation has killed approximately 170 people and left more than 212,000 without homes. As of this writing, nearly 400 people are thought to be missing as a result of the floods. Although the United Nations said it would be a while before North Korea’s food supply can…

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The World’s Biggest Marine Park Built In China With Orcas Taken From The Wild

Ann Novek( Luure)--With the Sky as the Ceiling and the Heart Outdoors

Photo: Far East Russia Project

It cost a reported US$5 billion to build. It features the world’s biggest aquarium. It showcases what it claims is the world’s longest roller coaster. And it boasts a massive collection of whales, sharks and animals rarely, if ever, seen in captivity in China.

There’s no question about it: Ocean Kingdom, the giant theme park on Hengqin island, at the southern tip of Zhuhai, which was scheduled to open this weekend, in time for the Lunar New Year holiday, is destined to make something of a splash.

Owned by the Chime-Long Group, which runs China’s biggest theme park – Chime-Long Paradise, in Guangzhou – Ocean Kingdom is about twice the size of Hong Kong’s Ocean Park and three times the size of the city’s Disneyland.

A turreted, fairy-tale palace-like 1,888-room resort hotel has already opened next to the massive main attraction, which – although it…

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Idaho Wildlife Managers Want To Allow Children As Young As 10 years To Hunt Big Game

Ann Novek( Luure)--With the Sky as the Ceiling and the Heart Outdoors

Idaho wildlife managers are aiming to allow children as young as 10 years old to hunt big game such as bears and mountain lions, lowering the permissible age from 12 to recruit more young hunters.

Under a measure expected to be approved by the state’s Republican-led legislature, children ages 10 and 11 could use long-range rifles to take down everything from elk to wolves, provided the youngsters have passed a hunter education course and are accompanied by an adult licensed to hunt in Idaho.

For years, sales of hunting and fishing licenses in Idaho have been flat, hovering at 335,000 in 2013 despite growth in the state’s overall population, wildlife managers say. Department of Fish and Game officials hope to boost the number of licensed hunters by promoting hunting as a form of family recreation in an era where children are often preoccupied with more sedentary activities such as texting…

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