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Last updated on  February 3rd, 2012

Nature's Surprise: 365 New Species Spotted in Peru (LiveScience.com): Click here
LiveScience.com - Hundreds of species never before seen in a Peruvian national park have been found during an inventory of the Amazonian forests there, according to a conservation group.

Hormel ending tight confinement for pregnant pigs (AP): Click here
AP - Hormel Foods Corp.'s company-owned farms are phasing out the use of small metal crates for confining pregnant hogs by the end of 2017 — a move welcomed Thursday by the Humane Society of the United States, which had pushed for the change.

Group opposes plan to make "Toto" breed Kansas state (Reuters): Click here
Reuters - An animal rights group is objecting to proposed Kansas legislation that would make the Cairn terrier the state dog in honor of Toto, Dorothy's loyal pooch in the movie classic "The Wizard of Oz."

Lions apparently not enough to keep intruders out (AP): Click here
AP - With 120 lions, tigers and other big cats on the grounds, the owner of a Colorado refuge didn't think he needed a security system.

Feds declare Atlantic sturgeon endangered species (AP): Click here
AP - The Atlantic sturgeon, a prehistoric fish whose once bountiful populations were depleted by anglers seeking its coveted caviar, has been declared an endangered species by federal officials, a decision that could lead to moves to protect its habitats along the East Coast.

Fewer zoos may have elephants under new standard (Reuters): Click here
Reuters - Fewer zoos of the future may have elephants but those that do would have happier animals under a new policy requiring American zoos with two elephants to add space for a third in case one dies.

China streams live panda video to foster conservation (Reuters): Click here
Reuters - China began Wednesday streaming live video footage of its pandas around the world via webcam in an attempt to boost awareness of conservation efforts for its beloved but endangered animal ambassadors.

Two pig farms in Oklahoma accused of abuse (Reuters): Click here
Reuters - The Humane Society on Tuesday accused two pig-breeding facilities, one of which supplies retail giant Wal-Mart Stores Inc, of mistreating the animals by confining sows in cages during pregnancy.

Edinburgh Zoo pandas back on display after illness (AP): Click here

FILE - Giant panda named Tian Tian, explores her enclosure  at Edinburgh Zoo in Edinburgh, Scotland Friday, Dec 16, 2011. The UK`s only giant pandas went back on public display Monday Jan 30 2012 after a bout of illness.The male, Yang Guang, was removed from public viewing earlier this month because he had colic.Tian Tian, the female panda, was taken off show on Saturday with the same condition. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell, file)AP - Two giant pandas on loan to a Scottish zoo are back on public display after they were removed to be treated for colic.



AP Enterprise: Monkey owners flee La. crackdown (AP): Click here

In this Jan. 24, 2012 photo, Jim and Donita Clark play with two of their four Capuchin monkeys in the bedroom inside their RV at an undisclosed location near the Louisiana Border in Texas. Even in their Texas hideout, the Clarks are terrified that wildlife agents from their home state of Louisiana will descend on their motorhome and seize the four Capuchin monkeys they've reared for 10 years. Exotic animal owners like them say wildlife agents have been cracking down in Louisiana and around the country after high-profile cases of exotic animals getting loose or attacking people. At least six states have also banned the ownership of wild animals since 2005, and Congress is also mulling tighter restrictions. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)AP - Even in their Texas hideout, Jim and Donita Clark are terrified that wildlife agents from their home state of Louisiana will descend on their motorhome and seize the four Capuchin monkeys they've reared for 10 years.



Michigan Gray Wolves Off Endangered Species List (ContributorNetwork): Click here
ContributorNetwork - Gray wolves in Michigan have taken off the federal endangered species list and may now be shot if they pose a threat to local wildlife. Last December, the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) placed management of wolves into the hands of local DNR officials in Michigan. The Wolf Management Plan went into effect Friday, says Click on Detroit. Here are details about Michigan's wolf population and the new guidelines surrounding them.

Bats occupy Israeli army ghost bunkers (Reuters): Click here
Reuters - Abandoned Israeli army bunkers along the Jordan River are providing a lifeline for bats on the endangered species list, researchers say.

Minnesota laying groundwork for gray wolf hunt (Reuters): Click here
Reuters - Minnesota officials on Thursday outlined plans to permit a hunting season for the gray wolf this year following its removal from federal endangered species protections, prompting opponents of the plan to consider a court challenge.

Jumping Spiders' Unique Vision Revealed (LiveScience.com): Click here
LiveScience.com - Jumping spiders, which hunt by pouncing on their prey, gauge distances to their unsuspecting meals in a way that appears to be unique in the animal kingdom, a new study finds.

Six new breeds to debut at Westminster Dog Show (Reuters): Click here
Reuters - Six new breeds of dogs, including Mexico's hairless Xoloitzcuintli, the Finnish Lapphund and the Norwegian Lundehund, will be competing in the 2012 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show next month.

Sumatran elephants driven closer to extinction: WWF (Reuters): Click here
Reuters - The Sumatran elephant could be extinct in the wild in under 30 years unless immediate steps are taken to protect its rapidly diminishing habitat, environmental group WWF said on Tuesday.

Sweetness in Seattle: Zoo Animals Have a Snow Day (LiveScience.com): Click here
LiveScience.com - Last week, life in much of Seattle came to a standstill.

Habitat for Endangered Leatherback Turtles Designated (ContributorNetwork): Click here
ContributorNetwork - According to the Associated Press, more than 41,000 square miles off the West Coast have been designated by the National Marine Fisheries as a habitat for endangered leatherback sea turtles. The designation will go into full effect Feb. 25 and will help protect the area, which is used by the migrating turtles for feeding on jellyfish after traveling thousands of miles across the ocean from its original nesting grounds.

3 shark attacks in Australia in less than 3 weeks (AP): Click here
AP - A snorkeling guide was attacked by a 10-foot (3-meter) tiger shark off a remote beach in Australia's third attack this month. That's as many attacks as the country generally sees in an entire year.

Ohio man who released exotic animals had "plan": report (Reuters): Click here
Reuters - The man who set off a panic in Ohio last October by releasing dozens of dangerous wild animals including lions and tigers, had told an employee before the incident that he suspected his wife of cheating and that he "had a plan."

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