Our results paint a bleak picture of the global status of mammals worldwide," the team led by Jan Schipper of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature in Gland, Switzerland, concluded. "We This sucks. We estimate that one in four species is threatened with extinction and that the population of one in two is declining," the researchers said in a report to be published Friday in the journal Science. MORE

The event is a fun run/walk and fundraiser that supports The Marine Mammal Center. Animal lovers, here is a great way to help seals and have fun at the same time! If you are in California, check out Run for the Seals ! MORE

My hands-on experience is with small mammals/critters and cats. I just watched episode 1, season 1, of Dogtown , the National Geographic Channel TV show about Dogtown at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, UT. We really enjoyed it. The first episode featured three dogs: Noche, a terrier who displayed food and people aggression; Willa, a puppy mill rescued Scottie with neurological problems and a cute wobble; and Wiley, a rescued dog who loses a leg because of a hit-and-run. MORE

It’s not surprising that animals—especially, but not only, mammals—share many emotions with us because we also share brain structures—located in the limbic system—that are the seat of our emotions. Grief, friendship, gratitude, wonder, and other things we animals experience. by Marc Bekoff. MORE

intelligence, having a sense of past and future, having social ties, being a mammal or a bird). No living group of nonhuman animals--no existing species of invertebrate, fish, amphibian, reptile, bird or nonhuman mammal--is ancestral to humans. I realize that in writing about "old speciesism" I failed to define this term that Dunayer uses. I think of "old speciesism" as analogous to racism and sexism in that it is exploitation based on species. MORE

The deaths are a violation of the Marine Mammals Act and, because it’s a protected species, the shooting death of a Steller sea lion also violates the federal Endangered Species Act. This is in our own backyard. Total cowards. I hope they're caught because they could face a 50 thousand dollar fine. Of course, will be there sufficient resources expended to catch the killers? MORE

The market for Canadian seal pelts has gone dry but the federal government will still allow sealers to kill 400,000 of the marine mammals when the annual hunt opens next Monday. This despite a dry market for seal products and a warming climate that is hurting the species? Really, Canada? Really? For the full article, go to The Globe and Mail here. MORE

Many diners are huge fans of its taste, describing the mammal's meat as somewhere between duck and veal. Definitely a niche market ,but demand has been increasing. And this is despite the bad press received by the annual seal hunts. For time immemorial seal has been eaten -- raw -- as a traditional food by indigenous people such as the Inuit. It also has been a traditional food for generations of hunters in Canada's east who serve it up roasted, or sometimes with a hearty Burgundy sauce. MORE

Like other mammals, they are capable of strong emotions. I particularly question the use of chimpanzees in medical research. From what I recall, chimpanzees share at least 95 percent of human DNA, although the number that floats around the most is 98.6 percent. The following is from The Dragons of Eden by Carl Sagan. If chimpanzees have consciousness, if they are capable of abstractions, do they not have what until now has been described as "human rights"? MORE

Animal Care and Animal Planet Co-Host the Annual ANIMAL CARE Gala Fundraiser on Thursday, October 22, 2009 at PACHA New York. Animal Care & Control of New York City is pleased to announce their second annual fundraising gala, which will be co-hosted by the popular cable network Animal Planet. MORE

In 2007, the National Academy of Sciences published a report calling on the Environmental Protection Agency to make a fundamental shift in its toxicity testing strategies away from testing on mammals and focusing increasingly on new, more accurate—not to mention, more ethical—in vitro toxicity testing. I'm behind on my email and only just read this action alert from the Animal Legal Defense Fund. Another crass attempt at primate slavery for money wrapped in "we put people first" robes." MORE

I think that ocean life, with the exception of mammals, are often overlooked because they are not the sentient, communicating species that we identify with, like primates, dogs, cats, etc. We support two ocean protection organizations: People for Puget Sound (local) and the Ocean Conservancy. I was reading Ocean Conservancy's magazine today. For the past couple of issues I've read, it has had a "sustainable seafood recipe." MORE

To the Editor: Re “ One in 4 Mammals Threatened With Extinction, Group Finds ” (news article, Oct. 7): Man’s activity, whether through global warming, overhunting or clearing of habitat, has led to the loss of species at a rate that would have been unimaginable 100 years ago. When the population of any species, including Homo sapiens, grows so quickly and consumes so many resources, it is clear that the effect on other life will be staggering. MORE

The goal is to decrease the harm that sonar does to marine mammals. Meanwhile, the Navy is also asking NMFS to allow incidental harm and fatalities to marine mammals from training exercises in a 122,400-square-mile section of the Pacific Ocean off the Northwest coast. The use of sonar is controversial because of its harmful effects on marine life such as whales. The Navy has been able to get away with using it for "national security" reasons. MORE

Most mammals have a critical window of socialization, and dogs are no exception. Socialize Your Dog to Other Dogs. Socialization is the single best predictor of a dog’s future personality. Well-socialized dogs are calm and unaggressive even in stressful situations. MORE

Each one of the sleek, whiskered sea lions recovering at the Marine Mammal Care Center at Fort MacArthur in San Pedro has its own story. Some of the damage was caused by humans who shot, clubbed or threw so-called seal bombs at the mammals. From the Contra Costa Times. Some are visibly struggling for life and lie listlessly near in-ground pools. Others swim, play and jostle with one another. MORE

If you have a bird, small mammal, or reptile in a terrarium, don’t leave them in their normal place while you paint or sand paint fumes and dust that are only a mild annoyance to you can make small pets (particularly birds) very sick, or even kill them. MORE

The amendments to the Marine Mammal Regulations, which include strengthened federal enforcement, come just over a month after newly appointed federal Fisheries Minister Gail Shea said Canada is "going straight ahead for the 2009 hunt. Here they go again. Trying to put a humane face on a barbaric practice. MORE

As noted in another post, no protections for marine mammals. But plenty of drivel about improving law enforcement for wildlife protection. Just more drivel out of a toothless organization. MORE

At issue is the population of {the Cook Inlet beluga) whales, which were put under the protections of the Marine Mammal Protection Act eight years ago, which scientists argue hasn't sped their recovery: Palin begs to differ. First wolves, then polar bears, now beluga whales. And those are just the endangered animals (remember the turkey being ground up during her tv interview?) MORE

Dogs aside, I’ve tended to plenty of small mammals and reptiles in my years, and have seen some pretty interesting things. We are pleased to welcome Garth Stein for today’s guest post. Garth is the author of Racing in the Rain: My Life as a Dog. Enjoy! The Mysterious Case of Fighter the Fighting Fish. by Garth Stein. As a boy myself, and again as a father of three boys, I can tell you, I’ve had some pets in my life. MORE

Ruminants are four-footed, hoofed, even-toed, cud-chewing mammals with four stomachs. Responsible Policies for Animals Members & Friends! Today, March 30th, at 3:00 East Coast time, Susan Soltero of Puerto Rico will interview me live on the air at WALO Radio about Responsible Policies for Animals' 10,000 Years Is Enough campaign to get our universities out of the meat industry! MORE

But now a French scientist has said the majestic mammals - which can reach 80ft in length and weigh the same as a passenger jet - could also suffer from heartbreak. I came across this British article from 2008. Very disturbing and sad hypotheses, especially in light of the unconscionable actions (or lack of) by CITES recently. From the Daily Mail. MORE

Mammals. Today is the launch of. I'm excited to be a blogger for Animal Rights Zone because its target market is people who don't usually subscribe to blogs. Also, it has the added bonus of organizing my content better than I have. MORE

It is estimated that due to conflicts with humans, the bushmeat and body parts trade, disease and habitat destruction, large mammals in Africa may be extinct by the end of this century. MORE

The overall numbers are still tiny compared with the original populations before whaling started, but the trend is at last in the right direction,” said John Calambokidis, a marine scientist whose research on whale movements and populations has just been published in the journal Marine Mammal Science. And here's some good news for today. MORE

The analogy to mammals we rescue is interesting; it's a good point. An Animal Person reader wrote me with the following question: There are many species of cichlids in Lake Victoria that are on the verge of extinction, and most are hardy and small enough to be kept in an aquarium. MORE

When a mosquito bites an infected bird and then bites a human or mammal, it can transmit the virus. It can affect humans, birds, horses, dogs, cats, and other mammals. We would like to thank Leslie Douglas for this great guest post! MORE

Just to be clear, this book deals with the nonhuman animals who are most like us: social vertebrates, and specifically social mammals (and there are a handful of references to cetaceans who behave similarly). MORE

ad_icon The practice, however, is fiercely criticized by researchers and marine mammal conservationists, including the educational anthropologist widely credited with having invented it, retired Florida International University researcher Betsy Smith. Knowing now how highly intelligent these animals are, I am very resistant to "using" them for therapy. From the Washington Post. MORE

Stacking up logs of wood creates a great habitat for insects and small mammals, and rockeries can have the same effect. With spring just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to start thinking about how you can attract all creatures great and small to your garden. MORE

As the future of whales once more comes under global debate, some scientists say the marine mammals are not only smarter than thought but also share several attributes once claimed as exclusively human. From the AFP. Self-awareness, suffering and a social culture along with high mental abilities are a hallmark of cetaceans, an order grouping more than 80 whales, dolphins and porpoises, say marine biologists. MORE

The law has been around since 1962 and it's the legacy of an albino dolphin named Snowball. MORE

The Humane Society of the United States cited Senator Cantwell’s efforts to improve marine mammal rescue capability, including such challenges as disentangling marine mammals from fishing nets. She is a US Senator from our home state of Washington. My husband worked for her years and years ago, when she was just a State representative. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) received the Humane Society’s Legislative Leader award for her leadership in protecting animals. MORE

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On the one hand, there is “the potential for harm to marine mammals,” Chief Justice John G. Not surprising. Roberts Jr. said Wednesday at a Supreme Court argument over the Navy’s use of sonar in training exercises off the coast of Southern California. On the other, the chief justice continued, there is “the potential that a North Korean diesel electric submarine will get within range of Pearl Harbor undetected” if Navy personnel are not properly trained in the use of sonar. MORE

They have the second largest brains of all marine mammals. That's pretty impressive and demands a deeply introspective review of how we treat them. MORE

The one found in West Seattle was a California sea lion, protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. This has happened before. I don't know whether these are disgruntled fishermen or regular jerks. Here's the whole story from the Washington Post National. Washington wildlife officials say eight sea lions have been found dead in the Puget Sound region in recent weeks — all apparently shot. MORE

The land ethic, in sum, is as much opposed, though on different grounds, to commercial traffic in wildlife, zoos, the slaughter of whales and other marine mammals, etc., The land ethic, it should be emphasized, as Leopold has sketched it, provides for the rights of nonhuman natural beings to a share in the life processes of the biotic community. MORE

We are overfishing, over-trawling, and mutilating and slaughtering bycatch by the millions of tons (17-39 million tons/year, not including marine mammals, sea bids and some invertebrates). "We are fighting a war against fish, and we are. winning." MORE

During training with active sonar, we protect marine mammals by employing rigorous protective measures. To the Editor: Re “ Of Whales and National Security ” (editorial, July 2): Today’s threats to national security are not “exaggerated”; they are increasing. With the price of gasoline topping $4 a gallon, consider what could happen if a rogue state with quiet diesel-electric submarines were to threaten tanker traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. MORE

According to this AP Newswire issued yesterday: "President Bush exempted the Navy from an environmental law so it can continue using sonar in its anti-submarine warfare training off the California coast — a practice critics say is harmful to whales and other marine mammals. Sonar would have to be shut down when mammals are spotted within 2,200 yards, under the order. MORE

Today, according to Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, Ginichi Y Ohira was charged in Los Angeles federal court with selling whale meat in violation of the Federal Marine Mammal Protection Act. From examiner.com. Sea Shepherd Conservation Society is just about ready to chalk up a win against a California seafood dealer who imported endangered whale meat from Tokyo and sold it to Califorian restaurants. MORE