Rarely seen: a baby bat
Nov30

Rarely seen: a baby bat

A baby bat, referred to as a pup, in Brazil. Photo by: Rhett A. Butler. Click to see more photos of this bat pup.

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Elephant pair at the Chobe River
Nov29

Elephant pair at the Chobe River

As the day ends numerous herds of Africa elephants (Loxodonta africana) come down to the Chobe River to drink and socialize. African elephants are listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List. They are threatened by habitat loss, poaching, and human-elephant conflict. On the positive side, African elephant populations are viewed as increasing on the continent. Photo by: Tiffany Roufs. Click to see more photos of...

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Orphaned baby sloth
Nov28

Orphaned baby sloth

Orphaned baby three-toed sloth in the village of the Trio indigenous tribe in Suriname. The sloth was clinging to a stuffed panda bear. Photo by: Rhett A. Butler. Click to see more photos of the baby...

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Malaysia pushes for coal plant in paradise – conservation links of the day for Nov 28, 2010

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,2031862,00.html>Malaysia: A Coal Plant in Paradise Time.com There are worse places to be than in the eco-paradise of Sabah, a state on the northeast tip of Malaysian Borneo. To one side is the Coral Triangle, home to the world’s richest ocean diversity; to the other is the Heart of Borneo, a 22-million-hectare rain forest. In the middle is a vast swath of 1,100 palm plantations....

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Without oversight and safegaurds, REDD may be caught up in web of corruption

The issue of measurement, reporting and verification of carbon levels is set for the agenda at COP 16 in Cancun next month. Experts warn, however, that more attention must be given to the monitoring and reporting of REDD+ financial flows, which stand to be caught up in complex webs of corruption. There will be a lot at stake. In Copenhagen last year developed countries committed new and additional resources to forestry worth $30 billion for 2010-12, and set out to mobilise $100 billion annually from 2020 to address the needs of developing countries. If any of that money makes its way into bank accounts overseas, the money trail becomes difficult to follow.

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Photo: stunning yellow-headed fly

Yellow-headed Soldier Fly in Bosque Jequitibás, Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Photo by Brazilian photographer Guillermo Gimenez.

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Wild ginger
Nov24

Wild ginger

Wild ginger flower on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Photo by: Rhett A. Butler. Click to see more photos of wild ginger.

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Will forest conservation deal increase palm oil prices?

Bloomberg is reporting palm oil companies will be big winners should any forest conservation deal arise out of next week’s climate talks in Cancun, Mexico. The article quotes members of the palm oil industry, who argue that “any UN-led accord that restricts clearing rainforest for planting more palm trees would limit the supply of the edible oil crushed from their fruit and be a boon to prices for growers.” “It’s a...

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Songbirds to eat
Nov23

Songbirds to eat

While attention in the bushmeat trade is often given to mammals, birds–such as these songbirds for sale as food in Laos–are also eaten in many parts of the world. Photo by: Rhett A. Butler. Click to see more photos of the wildlife trade in Laos. Related Article: Laos Emerges as Key Source in Asia’s Illicit Wildlife...

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Fear and conformity in conservation

Conservation is like guerrilla warfare. But are the similarities flattering for conservationists? No matter how big, conventional and entwined with power conservation organizations get, they still have the posture of guerrilla groups. While conventional warfare seeks to reduce an opponent’s capability through head-on confrontation, guerrillas seek to undermine the opponents’ strength and their public support. Guerrillas...

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Face to face
Nov22

Face to face

The Wolf Guenon (Cercopithecus wolfi) is native to central Africa. Photo by: Rhett A. Butler. Click to see more photos of the Wolf Guenon.

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The World’s longest snake

The reticulated python, the world’s longest snake, in Indonesia. Photo by Rhett A. Butler The reticulated python is the world’s longest snake and longest reptile. Adults can reach a length of 10 meters (33 feet).

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New Guinea from above
Nov18

New Guinea from above

Winding river makes its way to the sea in the lowland rainforests of west New Guinea. Photo by: Rhett A. Butler. Click to see more photos of New...

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Orangutan Awareness and Caring Weeks Collide

post by by Melanie J. Martin, special to mongabay.com Sumatran Orangutan in Gunung Leuser National Park. Photo by Rhett A. Butler in May 2010 The Orang Utan Republik Foundation (OURF) and other conservation NGOs are celebrating November 7-13, 2010 as Orangutan Caring Week. The theme this year is “Back to Green,” which, according to OURF, implies returning orangutans to the wild while becoming more ecologically conscious. Meanwhile,...

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Golden-fronted woodpecker
Nov17

Golden-fronted woodpecker

A lovely golden-fronted woodpecker (Melanerpes aurifrons) in Guatemala. This species is also present in Texas and Oklahoma of the US. Photo by: Rhett A. Butler. Click to see more photos of...

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Woolly monkey hanging out

A woolly monkey hangs out in Amacayacu National Park, Colombia. Photo by: Rhett A. Butler . Click to see more photos of woolly monkeys.

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Elephant in utero
Nov15

Elephant in utero

Just 3 months into development, this image captures a rare look at a male Asian elephant in utero: showing off already its telltale trunk and big ears. Elephant mothers spend 22 months in pregnancy before giving birth. The elephant photographer here, named George, is now 6 months old and doing well. Asian elephants are classified as Endangered by the IUCN Red List. They are threatened by habitat loss, poaching, and human and wildlife...

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UK drops rule to protect rainforests – conservation links for Nov 14, 2010

Guest column: Forest code must be fixed Financial Times The incoming government in 2011 will be very aware of the 20 per cent of the vote that Marina Silva of the Green Party won in the first round of the presidential election. EU rain forest rules may hit German rapeseed Reuters German oil mills fear supplies of rapeseed for biodiesel production may be disrupted by new European Union rules requiring feedstocks come from certified...

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Founder of mongabay.com stumbles upon undescribed species in Indonesia
Nov14

Founder of mongabay.com stumbles upon undescribed species in Indonesia

According to a New Guinea beetle specialist, an apparently undescribed species of Tmesisternus longhorn beetle spotted by mongabay.com founder Rhett A. Butler in West Papua. If you have information on this possibly new species, please contact us. Photo by: Rhett A....

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Journalists being killed in West Papua – conservation links for Nov 11, 2010

West Papua: Journalists become targets for ‘playing with fire’ Scoop Media Journalists are being killed or threatened with violence for reporting on business deals, the environment, and the West Papuan independence movement. Setback Seen for E.U. Plan on Biotech Crops New York Times BRUSSELS — An effort by the European Union to give power over biotechnology crops back to local authorities has run into serious legal problems. More:...

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