Rare Loon Deaths in New Hampshire Faze Scientists
Reuters (Posted by Yahoo News)
20 Feb 2007
B Early
Photo Courtesy: Reuters
Area: New Hampshire
Scientists are struggling to explain the rare death of 17 loons in New Hampshire, saying warm weather may have confused the threatened species of bird which typically heads to the ocean for winter. Twenty-two male and female Great Northern Divers, known as Common Loons, were found on Saturday and Sunday on Lake Winnipesaukee, many them covered in snow from wind gusts with their heads tucked into their wings to keep warm.
Biologists are unclear why the loons congregated on the ice deep in New Hampshire when they normally migrate to open water such as the ocean in winter. The five that survived were transported to the ocean and released. "This is the first time I ever have seen this," said senior biologist and executive director of the Loon Preservation Committee, Harry Vogel. "It's unprecedented."
Upgraded OIE Animal Health Database Available
JAVMA News – Global Issues
01 Mar 2007 Issue
The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) has launched the World Animal Health Information Database, available at www.oie.int/wahid. The database provides access to all data within the OIE's World Animal Health Information System. It replaces and substantially extends the former online interface named Handistatus II System, which compiled data from 1996-2004.
The WAHID is a milestone in the organization's efforts to improve the transparency, efficiency, and speed with which animal health information is disseminated around the world. "(The) WAHID is designed to provide high-quality animal diseases information to all stakeholders, including veterinary services, international organizations, trading partners, academics, the media, and public," said Dr. Karim Ben Jebara, head of the OIE Animal Health Information Department. "All can access and monitor with (OIE) the evolution of animal diseases in one or several countries or regions of the world."
More New Cases of Chronic Wasting Disease In Alberta
Corus Radio
22 Feb 2007
Chronic wasting disease has turned up in Alberta's wild deer further north and west than before, and the province is taking action. Four diseased animals were found after testing of the fall hunting samples. That means 17 cases have been confirmed in the province since 2005.
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>>> Alta. Culls Deer to Attack Wasting Disease
>>> Game Commission Conducts Test of Disease Response
>>> Alta. Culls Deer to Attack Wasting Disease
Scientists Seek Rescue for Thousands of Threatened Frog Species17 Feb 2007
R Glier
Photo Courtesy: AFP
Scientists have called for a Noah's Ark-type rescue for thousands of frog species they say could face the same fate as the now-extinct dinosaurs unless drastic measures are taken swiftly. "Nearly one-third to one-half of 6,000 species are threatened with extinction," says Kevin Zipple, one of the scientists asking zoos, aquariums and botanical gardens worldwide to take in frogs and care for them until a fungus that threatens to wipe them out can be eliminated.
"It is the greatest species conservation challenge in the history of humanity," said Zipple, of the "Amphibian Ark" project, named after the biblical "Noah's Ark" that saved the world's animals from a massive deluge. "We haven't seen a crisis like this since the dinosaurs," he said at a gathering of scientists from eight countries who set the program in motion in Atlanta, Georgia this week.
Ten Years from Extinction
Mercury
23 Feb 2007
Mercury (Author M Paine)
Tasmanian devils could be extinct in just 10 years, researchers at a University of Tasmania forum in Hobart said yesterday.
Devil scientists overwhelmingly believed the last wild devil would die in under 20 years without major action.That would spell the end for marsupials like bettongs and eastern-barred bandicoots. "There was very strong consensus that if we don't do something, extinction will happen on mainland Tasmania," said Professor of Wildlife Research Hamish McCallum, senior scientist with the Devil Facial Tumour Disease program. "We have a very narrow window of opportunity.
"We've heard that at Freycinet, two different scientists have determined extinction is likely in five to 15 years. And in three or four years the disease is likely to hit the West Coast. From then, it would just be a countdown, maybe 10 to 15 years."
Journal Articles of Interest
Surveillance of Influenza A Virus in Migratory Waterfowl in Northern Europe
Emerg Infect Dis. 2007 Mar; 13 (3): Epub ahead of print
A Wallensten and et al.
Temperature Drops and the Onset of Severe Avian Influenza A H5N1 Virus Outbreaks
PLoS One. 2007; 2(2): e191
Liu, C. M. et al.
The Potential of Oral Vaccines for Disease Control in Wildlife Species.
Vet J. 2006 Nov 17; [Epub ahead of print]
ML Cross and et al.
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