WEEK TEN: Animals Traces, Toxins Found in Traditional Chinese Medicines

http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/Animal+traces+toxins+found+traditional+Chinese+medicines/6452504/story.html

DNA tests were performed on 15 different traditional Chinese medicines, and traces of several endangered animals were found within, including the Asiatic Black Bear and Saiga antelope. These are some of the most popular treatments in China, despite a lack of scientific proof that they are more effective than other medicines and the fact that they could be potentially dangerous. This does not make any logical sense. These endangered species should be removed from the medicines, especially since the effectiveness is non-conclusive and even harmful.

WEEK NINE: Endangered Porpoises Die, Raising Extinction Concern

http://www.china.org.cn/environment/2012-04/19/content_25182904.htm

Since March, sixteen Yangtze cowfish have been confirmed dead by starvation between the two lakes connected by the Yangtze river, their only habitat. In 2006, there were about 1200 of these porpoises left. This year, there are less than 470. The Yangtze river's water levels have decreased dramatically due to weather, so these creatures are left stranded in the shallow parts of the river, unable to get back to the lakes and to food. Other causes for starvation include over-fishing and water pollution. Special precautions need to be implemented to rescue these porpoises, such as water highways between lakes, the same way they do for salmon swimming upstream, as well as laws to reduce fishing and pollution.





Side Note: This posting is one day late due to the unfortunate circumstance of pressing "Save draft" instead of "Publish". The author regretfully apologizes for this inconvenient delay and will give a cookie to all who were forced to look elsewhere for information regarding endangered species.

WEEK EIGHT: Wolves No Longer Endangered, Now Labeled 'Predators'

http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/04/10644643-wolves-no-longer-endangered-in-wyoming-now-labeled-predators?lite

Two weeks ago, grey wolves were taken off the endangered list. In Wyoming, they have been given a new label - predator. This means that anyone can shoot a wolf on sight, no permit required, with the exception of national parks. The excuse for allowing this is that wolves "kill just to kill", and therefore apparently don't need protecting, even though they have been considered endangered for far longer than most species on the list. It's fantastic that they have finally made it off. Will decades of work to save this species be ruined by the government's lack of foresight? Will grey wolves be once again considered endangered in Wyoming?

 

WEEK SEVEN: Guizhou Golden Monkey's Population Doubled In Last Three Decades

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2012-04/02/c_131504147.htm

Over 1.6 million dollars US has been spent on the Guizhou Golden Monkeys in the past 10 years to improve and protect the forests they live in. In the 1980's, there were only about 300 of these magnificent creatures, and because of environmentalist efforts, there are around 800 living today. These monkeys have only one habitat, Fanjing Mountain in Tongren City, Guizhou, which is enclosed in what is now Fanjing Mountain National Nature Reserve.The golden monkeys live between 1000 - 1800 meters up the mountain in the subtropical broad-leaved mixed forest. It's amazing what can be accomplished when people actually decide that they do not want to see these creatures go extinct, and I believe we can continue to rescue more endangered animals from that fate if we stay dedicated.