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Infected Galápagos Penguins Could Get Avian Malaria
New York Times - www.nytimes.com
18 Aug 2008
E Gies
Image courtesy of Bob Hayes/Bloomberg News
Area: Galapagos Islands, Equador - Map It 
A parasite has been found in Galápagos penguins, raising fears among researchers that it could lead to avian malaria, a disease that contributed significantly to the 50 percent extinction rate of endemic birds in Hawaii. The discovery resulted from a long-term study to monitor diseases in Galápagos birds, conducted by researchers from the University of Missouri, St. Louis, the St. Louis Zoo, Galápagos National Park and the Charles Darwin Foundation. Unlike Hawaii and other remote island archipelagos, the Galápagos, 600 miles off Ecuador, retains 95 percent of its original species and all of its birds. “It’s about the best record that exists on Earth,” said Patty Parker, a professor of zoological studies at the University of Missouri, St. Louis, who discovered the parasite in the penguins.
Two-jawed mutant fish fuels oilsands dissentCalgary Herald - www.canada.com/calgaryherald
20 Aug 2008
K Cryderman
Image courtesy of Ling Wang/Mikisew Cree
Area: Lake Athabasca, Alberta, Canada - Map It
A northern Alberta native band that displayed a deformed, two-jawed fish at a weekend water conference says the grotesque specimen has ramped up efforts to collect evidence to show Alberta's oilsands are poisoning both wildlife and people. The band is therefore calling on the government to place a moratorium on oilsands development. George Poitras, a spokesman for the Mikisew Cree First Nation, said the band is deciding what to do with the large goldeye fish, which was found last week by children playing in the waters of Lake Athabasca, downstream from the oilsands plants. "What happens to the wildlife and the fish is eventually what is going to happen to us," Poitras said, adding that people have expressed "disbelief" after viewing the fish.
Searching for ‘bird’ fluDickinson Press - www.thedickinsonpress.com
20 Aug 2008
J Odermann
Image courtesy of North Dakota Game and Fish Dept.
Area: North Dakota, United States
Fear of a pandemic flu, which had originated from birds, swept the world a couple of years ago. Concerned about the possibility of a pandemic, state and federal wildlife and animal health officials instituted a program to study birds in the state in an attempt to remain vigilant if a dangerous strain of avian flu ever reaches the area. “This is just part of a continent-wide effort,” said Mike Johnson, North Dakota Game and Fish game management section leader and migratory game bird management supervisor. “There are 144 different strains of bird flu, both high path and low path. ...The one that’s been the cause of the worry is H5N1.”
OTHER WILDLIFE HEALTH RELATED NEWS
Image courtesy of David Moir/Reuters
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