Thursday, May 15, 2008

eNews: Amphibians Slipping Away


Defenders of Wildlife

 

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Slipping Away

Green Frog (Photo: US Fish & Wildlife)Frogs, salamanders and other amphibians are on a slippery path to extinction. Habitat loss, disease, global warming and other factors are taking their toll. Worldwide, a third of these key players in the web of life are considered threatened -- making amphibians the most vulnerable group of animals in the world.

This month, Defenders Magazine profiles the plight of these slick critters -- and takes a look at what people are doing to save them.

Read more in Defenders Magazine



Action of the Month

Fight for the 'Right' Bill

The North Atlantic right whale is in trouble. But the Bush/Cheney Administration refuses to act. Now, legislation is moving in the Senate that would help protect the fewer than 400 right whales from their number 1 enemy: Ship collisions.

Tell your Senators to support The Ship Strike Reduction Act of 2008 -- vital legislation to protect struggling right whales.


Take Action


North Atlantic right whale
Defenders Updates
Wolf Toll Mounts
Little more than a month after federal protections were lifted from Greater Yellowstone and Northern Rockies wolves, reports indicate that 37 wolves have been killed in the region. While our court case -- Defenders vs. Hall -- is underway, we’re busy at work on the ground. Read the latest about our efforts on our blog.
>>Read More

Beluga Decision Delayed

Just over a year ago, federal officials proposed listing Alaska’s struggling Cook Inlet beluga whales as an endangered species. But politics has once again trumped science as a final decision has been delayed until October.
>>Read More

Break for Bison

More than 50,000 activists like you wrote messages to Montana tourism officials last month, expressing outrage over the senseless slaughter of bison outside Yellowstone National Park. Governor Brian Schweitzer and federal officials announced a deal to create a much-needed winter corridor outside Yellowstone National Park and committed to seek broader solutions for these icons of the American West.
>> Read More

Florida
Forever
Defenders and our allies celebrated this week as the Florida legislature unanimously approved funding for Florida Forever. Thanks to programs like Florida Forever, the state has purchased and protected more than 2 million acres of land for conservation and recreation, including vital habitat for Florida's wildlife.
>> Read More

This Celebration’s for the Birds

This month, you can celebrate our feathered friends on International Migratory Bird Day. IMBD officially takes place on the second Saturday in May, but festivities will continue throughout the month. Visit BirdDay.org for more information.
>> Learn More

Searching for World’s Greenest
Do you consider yourself the king or queen of compost? How about the sultan of sustainability? If you think you’re up to snuff, web portal 3rdWhale.com is looking for you. Enter their Greenest Person on the Planet contest and you could have a pod of beluga whales adopted in your name from our very own Wildlife Adoption Center.
>> Learn More

Gray Wolf
Staff Profile

Jason Rylander

As staff attorney, Jason Rylander is on the frontlines defending wildlife in the courts. His cases have involved gray wolves, grizzly bears, piping plovers, pygmy owls, red knots, and other imperiled species. He’s even represented ten of America’s most renowned scientists, including E.O. Wilson, Jared Diamond, and Paul Ehrlich, in a brief before the U.S. Supreme Court.

His most recent victory came in defense of North Carolina’s Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Jason and attorneys from our conservation partners crafted an agreement to help preserve vital habitat on Cape Hatteras without sacrificing traditions like beach driving, fishing and surfing that are so important on the National Seashore.

>> Read More

Jason Rylander

Adopt a Penguin for Mom: an eCard lets her know its coming


Creature Feature

OrangutanOrangutan
As the largest tree-dwelling mammals in the world, orangutans could be living the high life. But deforestation is taking its toll on these graceful forest apes.

Find out more about orangutans and how you can protect these "people of the forest" in Defenders Magazine.




Envirotip

Cleaning out your medicine cabinet? Don’t flush those pharmaceuticals! Head on over to SMARxT Disposal to find out how to properly -- and safely -- get rid of your meds.

Have an Enviro Tip to share?
E-mail us!

Upcoming Events

Whether you are an activist looking for ways to make your voice heard or a biologist seeking a conference where you can share your latest paper, Defenders has an event for you.

Click here for the latest upcoming events.

© Copyright 2008 Defenders of Wildlife

Defenders of Wildlife is a national, nonprofit membership organization dedicated to the protection of all native wild animals and plants in their natural communities.

Defenders of Wildlife can be contacted at:
1130 17th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036

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