PSNI probing suspected incident of badger baiting in Belfast
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Bird Flu is the New Silent Pandemic Ravaging Global Wildlife
6 hours ago
By Nicholas Vincent
Image Credit :TukkataMoji/Shutterstock
https://www.onegreenplanet.org/animals/bird-flu-is-the-new-silent-pandemic-ravaging-global-wildlife/
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In an unfolding ecological crisis, avian influenza H5N1, commonly known as bird flu, is decimating wildlife populations worldwide, with millions of birds and a growing number of mammals falling victim to this deadly virus. Originating from domestic geese in China in 1997, H5N1 quickly demonstrated its lethal potential by jumping to humans in Southeast Asia, boasting a mortality rate of 40-50%. This virus has not only wreaked havoc among poultry but has also been fatal to mammals, including endangered species like Owston’s palm civet.
Source: Reuters/YouTube
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Despite initial infections being largely contained to zoos and rescue centers in Thailand and Cambodia, a comprehensive analysis revealed that nearly half of all bird orders contain species that have been fatally infected by H5N1. This suggests that the virus is highly pathogenic across a broad range of bird species, posing a significant threat to global biodiversity. Mammals, including primates, rodents, and large carnivores such as Bengal tigers and domestic cats, have also been susceptible.
Over the past two decades, H5N1 has spread to every continent, causing unprecedented wildlife casualties from the high Arctic to mainland Antarctica. Recent outbreaks have led to the deaths of 26 countries’ mammal species and affected aquatic mammals like sea lions and dolphins. The UK has witnessed significant declines in bird populations, including over 75% of its great skuas and 25% in northern gannets due to the virus.
Human infections remain a concern, with 882 cases reported across 23 countries since 2003, half of which were fatal. The potential for H5N1 to mutate and become more infectious to humans underscores the urgent need for continuous surveillance and research.
To combat this global threat, experts advocate for a radical overhaul of poultry production practices. This includes making farms self-sufficient and halting the trend towards mega-farms to prevent the spread of H5N1 and protect both wildlife and human health. As the world grapples with this silent pandemic, it’s clear that our approach to managing poultry production is at the heart of preventing further devastation.
Montana man pleads guilty to wildlife trafficking charges in scheme to clone and sell sheep
Coyote hunting now banned in Michigan for three months, while pups are still in the den
Montana Rancher Breeding Huge Hybrid Sheep for Trophy Hunting Facing Serious Legal Trouble
FRIDAY MARCH 15, 2024
Senior Editor
STAFF
The Marco Polo sheep, also known as the Argali sheep, is the largest species of wild sheep. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
An 80-year-old Montana rancher is facing criminal charges after it emerged that he illegally created giant sheep hybrids with the intention of selling them to hunting outfits.
“Arthur “Jack” Schubarth, 80, of Vaughn, Montana, is the owner and operator of Sun River Enterprises LLC – also known as Schubarth Ranch – which is a 215-acre alternative livestock ranch in Vaughn,” the US Department of Justice wrote in a release. “The Schubarth Ranch is engaged in the purchase, sale and breeding of ‘alternative livestock’ such as mountain sheep, mountain goats and various ungulates. The primary market for Schubarth’s livestock is captive hunting operations, also known as shooting preserves or game ranches.”
Schubarth used body parts from a huge subspecies of sheep called the Marco Polo sheep. That species is native to Kyrgyzstan and can grow to over 300 pounds with horns growing to five feet in width. Those horns are what make them so attractive to hunters, but the State of Montana banned them in an attempt to protect the native sheep populations.
Schubarth trafficked the sheep parts into the US illegally, without reporting them to the necessary authorities, then sent them to a lab to make cloned embryos. Those were then implanted into some of his ewes, which resulted in a strain of sheep Schubarth named the “Montana Mountain King” or MMK. Semen from the MMK sheep was then used to impregnate other species of ewes, creating a hybrid sheep far larger than the ones native to Montana.
“Court documents explain that Schubarth worked with the other unnamed coconspirators to use MMK’s semen to artificially impregnate various other species of ewes – all of which were prohibited in Montana – and create hybrid animals,” the US Department of Justice continued. “Their goal was to create a larger and more valuable species of sheep to sell to captive hunting facilities, primarily in Texas.”
There were at least five other people involved in the scheme, which took place between 2013 and 2021. Schubarth, along with the others, forged veterinary documents pertaining to the species of sheep, and also were able to get their hands on illegally obtained genetic material from Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep.
“This was an audacious scheme to create massive hybrid sheep species to be sold and hunted as trophies,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “In pursuit of this scheme, Schubarth violated international law and the Lacey Act, both of which protect the viability and health of native populations of animals.”
It’s important to enforce laws like the Lacey Act, since the species in Montana should be protected.
“The kind of crime we uncovered here could threaten the integrity of our wildlife species in Montana,” said Ron Howell, Chief of Enforcement for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP). “This was a complex case and the partnership between us and U.S Fish and Wildlife Service was critical in solving it.”
Schubarth faces a multitude of felony counts, each of which comes with a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and three years of supervised release. He’s scheduled to hear his sentence on July 11th.
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Blind 750-pound alligator seized from New York home, setting up showdown as owner vows to “fight them to get him back”
By Cara Tabachnick
March 16, 2024 / 11:49 AM EDT / CBS News
A 750-pound, 11-foot-long alligator named Albert was seized from a New York home this week, setting the stage for a confrontation between the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation and the animal’s self-proclaimed owner.
The alligator lived in an in-ground pool in the backyard of owner Tony Cavallaro’s Hamburg, New York home, and has multiple health problems, including blindness in both eyes and spinal complications, officials said. Cavallaro allegedly allowed members of the public “to get into the water to pet the unsecured alligator,” according to the department.
Albert was seized on Wednesday in “the interest of public safety and the health, safety, and protection of the alligator,” the department said. He has been placed with a specialized caretaker who can care for him while the damage was assessed.
Cavallaro refuted claims that he had not properly cared for the animal, writing in an online petition calling for Albert’s return that he treated the alligator better “than most people take care of their kids.” He also criticized the department for the way the seizure was managed, writing that 20 agents came to his home in full body armor and carrying weapons.
“It was like I was a gun dealing drug dealing criminal the way they acted. The scene that they made on my street is very disturbing and totally wrong,” he wrote.
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Officials said that Cavallaro had a license to own the alligator that expired in 2021. Cavallaro said that two years ago, the rules around owning an alligator had changed, and he attempted to renew his license in 2021 but was unable to contact the necessary authorities.
“I’ve had him 34 years and abided by all of them and renewed my permit annually as required,” he wrote.
Cavallaro said that he plans to fight to regain custody of Albert.
“I ask it all of my friends and people who love Albert will support me when this date comes available and if you can join me at the Hamburg town court to help me fight them to get him back,” he wrote.
