TOP STORIES
Czech study might help combat white-nose syndrome threatening U.S. bats
Czech and other European bats may help North American bats dying due to a fungal disease known as "the white nose syndrome", according to Czech expert Natalia Martinkova, from Masaryk University in Brno.
While in North America the bat populations are seriously threatened by the white-nose syndrome, bats in the Czech Republic seem immune to it. Only a small part of them died to the disease in the Czech Republic and Europe in general.
An article by an expert team, including Martinkova and her Czech and foreign colleagues and published in the latest issue of the Journal of Wildlife Diseases, says North American bats might be saved if the reasons of the immunity of European bats against the fungal infection are revealed.
23 Jan 2012
Photo courtesy of Prague Monitor Daily
Bird Flu Researchers Postpone Work Amid Bioterrorism Concern
In an almost unheard-of move, scientists who study the deadly H5N1 bird flu announced a 60-day voluntary moratorium on studying the virus to allow time "to clearly explain the benefits of this important research and the measures taken to minimize its possible risks."... The request has rekindled a debate among scientists and in the media about how transparently to share delicate information that could help researchers develop ways to prevent and contain a disease threat but could also fall into the wrong hands.
20 Jan 2012
A Khan
Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Times
Humans still threaten California condors
The San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research study of the deaths of wild California condors at all release sites in California, Arizona and Baja, California, Mexico, found 70 percent (53 out of 76) of condor mortalities could be attributed to human influences.
Lead toxicosis from the ingestion of spent ammunition was the most important factor in mortality in juvenile condors, birds between the age of 6 months and 5 years, and was the only significant cause of death in adults, a release from the Zoological Society of San Diego said Friday.
OTHER WILDLIFE HEALTH RELATED NEWS
- ProMED Archive# 20120123.1018797: Anthrax, human, wildlife - Zimbabwe [Update][View on Digest's News Map here
]
- Bulgaria is the best place for building international center for disease control: CIC President [building an international center for control over wildlife diseases]
- 2 dead whales wash ashore on Long Beach Peninsula [Washington, USA - Map It ]
- Mass whale stranding: race to help 39 still alive [Update - View on Digest's News Map here][New Zealand]
Climate Change News
It Ain't All Bad News
- Catalina Island fox makes astounding comeback [California, USA]
- Rare bird find in WA's north boosts hope [Western Australia]
