Global News - April 2008
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US birds threatened by river pollutants
Mon 21 April 2008 14:00 UK — North America,Birds
New research from the US has suggested that birds near the South River in Virginia are at risk of extinction because mercury from the polluted water is still getting into their food chain.
In an article in the journal Science, researchers from The College of William & Mary showed that songbirds feeding near the contaminated South River were still showing high levels of mercury, despite the fact they were not eating directly from the waterway.
The scientists said they had discovered that the mercury was entering the food chain via spiders eaten by the birds.
One of the researchers, Dan Cristol, explained: "In bodies of water affected by mercury, it's always been assumed that only birds or wildlife that ate fish would be in danger.
"But we've now opened up the possibility that mercury levels could be very high in the surrounding terrestrial habitat, as well.
"It's not just about the fish, the people who eat the fish and the animals that eat the fish. We've also got to look at a strip of habitat all the way around the lake or river that is affected."
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July 2008
Wildlife traders sent to prison in Indonesia
Following a joint raid earlier this year by the Forestry Department, International Animal Rescue and the Institute of Animal Advocacy (LASA), two traders in Jatinegara market, Jakarta, Indonesia were arrested. June 2008
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