10 Penguin species to be added to the Endagered Species List, guess why?

my2handsmy2hands Posts: 17,117
edited July 2007 in A Moving Train
has anyone seen "the march of penguins" or the episode of "planet earth" on these amazing animals? they are unbelievable! what the hell are we doing to our little corner of the universe?

Agency Takes First Step to Protect Emperor Penguin and Nine Others
By Felicity Barringer
The New York Times

Wednesday 11 July 2007

The federal Fish and Wildlife Service took the first step yesterday toward declaring that the emperor penguin and nine other species of penguin need the protections of the Endangered Species Act. One of the factors to be examined in the birds' decline will be the impact of climate change on their habitat.

Acting on a petition by the Center for Biological Diversity, an environmental group based in Arizona, the service said it had enough evidence to begin a full-scale review of the 10 groups of penguins. The review is to determine things like the rates of decline and their possible causes.

One possibility is commercial fishing, which can affect the birds directly when they are caught in nets, or can provide competition for their prey, like the tiny shrimp known as krill. Other factors to be studied include habitat loss, predators and climate change, officials of the service said in a conference call yesterday.

The penguins may join a short but growing list of species, including polar bears and two corals found off Florida, whose survival is deemed at risk in part because of the increasing warmth of the atmosphere and the oceans.

In addition to the 1,313 American species listed as endangered or threatened by the federal government, the lists include 568 foreign species, according to Ken Burton, a public affairs officer at the Fish and Wildlife Service. The United States government's ability to protect them, beyond banning trade in the animals, is largely limited to working in partnership with other governments or through international groups, officials of the service said.

A news release from the Center for Biological Diversity said the emperor penguin colony in Antarctica that was featured in the 2005 film "March of the Penguins" "has declined by more than 50 percent because of global warming." The group's petition said krill "has declined by as much as 80 percent since the 1970s over large areas" of the oceans in the far Southern Hemisphere.

The 10 species named by the wildlife service include the African and Humboldt penguins, as well as southern and northern rockhoppers and the macaroni, white-flippered, erect-crested, fiordland-crested and yellow-eyed penguins.

The Galapagos penguin is already under the protection of the Endangered Species Act.

http://www.truthout.org/issues_06/071107EB.shtml
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • my2handsmy2hands Posts: 17,117
    i guess no one cares about the penguins :(
  • Purple HawkPurple Hawk Posts: 1,300
    my2hands wrote:
    i guess no one cares about the penguins :(

    environmentalism is a growing religion, (in fact, it IS THE religion of the left) but it's fate doesn't seem too promising if a passionate post like this cant generate a response :)
    And you ask me what I want this year
    And I try to make this kind and clear
    Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
    Cuz I don't need boxes wrapped in strings
    And desire and love and empty things
    Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
  • catefrancescatefrances Posts: 29,003
    if the penguins cant get their act together then too bad for them. ;) what they really need are those militant penguins from madagascar. those little birdies were psychotic. :)
    hear my name
    take a good look
    this could be the day
    hold my hand
    lie beside me
    i just need to say
  • PaperPlatesPaperPlates Posts: 1,745
    "10 Penguin species to be added to the Endagered Species List, guess why? "




    Is it becaue Al Gore is serving them at family functions? ;):p
    Why go home

    www.myspace.com/jensvad
  • Eliot RosewaterEliot Rosewater Posts: 2,659
    my2hands wrote:
    i guess no one cares about the penguins :(
    I care.
  • know1know1 Posts: 6,794
    I care about the penguins, but the earth is a very dynamic environment and species come and go. There might be some cool new species that eventually inherits the niche that penguins inhabit.
    The only people we should try to get even with...
    ...are those who've helped us.

    Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
  • polarispolaris Posts: 3,527
    if the markets determine penguins time are done ... then they are done ... :|
  • tybirdtybird Posts: 17,388
    know1 wrote:
    I care about the penguins, but the earth is a very dynamic environment and species come and go. There might be some cool new species that eventually inherits the niche that penguins inhabit.
    We would never see the "cool new species."
    All the world will be your enemy, Prince with a thousand enemies, and whenever they catch you, they will kill you. But first they must catch you, digger, listener, runner, prince with the swift warning. Be cunning and full of tricks and your people shall never be destroyed.
  • my2handsmy2hands Posts: 17,117
    environmentalism is a growing religion, (in fact, it IS THE religion of the left) but it's fate doesn't seem too promising if a passionate post like this cant generate a response :)

    your still buying that bullshit being sold by the jurrasic park dude? i thiught we thoroughly showed he was a fraud last time you mentioned this stuff?

    and quite frankly, you are right, mother nature and the enviroment is far more important than any myth, god, or religion...
  • know1know1 Posts: 6,794
    tybird wrote:
    We would never see the "cool new species."

    Somebody or something would.

    I think preventing new species from evolving is somewhat akin to allowing other species to go extinct.
    The only people we should try to get even with...
    ...are those who've helped us.

    Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
  • tybirdtybird Posts: 17,388
    know1 wrote:
    Somebody or something would.

    I think preventing new species from evolving is somewhat akin to allowing other species to go extinct.
    I don't think that saving species from extinction is preventing the evolution of new species. That's not good science. Saving them may actually give the process of evolution the time that it needs to work its magic. New species come only from old species, and once an old species is gone....that ends a pathway for evolution. The fewer pathways that exist.......the lesser the odds for continued evolution. A lack of bio-diversity will hinder future evolution, because there will exist no need to evolve in a sterile environment.
    All the world will be your enemy, Prince with a thousand enemies, and whenever they catch you, they will kill you. But first they must catch you, digger, listener, runner, prince with the swift warning. Be cunning and full of tricks and your people shall never be destroyed.
  • Royals32Royals32 Posts: 160
    This is really sucky news.

    On the other hand, the snow leopard has been endangered for a long long time and because of climate change, it's home range is being affected in a positive way. This animal preys on a specific species of mountain goat that spends its life on the edges of snowy mountains eating whatever greenery is available. As the climate warms, the mountain goat species will thrive on increased food availability, which in turn will provide the snow leopard with more available prey, strengthening it's species as a whole.

    I know, I know, I'm not saying that this makes up for the loss of Penguins or any other species, and I'm not so sure about the "cool new" species, but climate change will absolutely strengthen some species that are in big trouble right now.

    Just trying to counter the bad news with some good...
    #==(o )

    You are not your job.
    You are not how much money you have in the bank.
    You are not the car you drive.
    You are not the contents of your wallet.
    You are not your fucking khakis.
  • tybirdtybird Posts: 17,388
    Royals32 wrote:
    This is really sucky news.

    On the other hand, the snow leopard has been endangered for a long long time and because of climate change, it's home range is being affected in a positive way. This animal preys on a specific species of mountain goat that spends its life on the edges of snowy mountains eating whatever greenery is available. As the climate warms, the mountain goat species will thrive on increased food availability, which in turn will provide the snow leopard with more available prey, strengthening it's species as a whole.

    I know, I know, I'm not saying that this makes up for the loss of Penguins or any other species, and I'm not so sure about the "cool new" species, but climate change will absolutely strengthen some species that are in big trouble right now.

    Just trying to counter the bad news with some good...
    Interesting news about the Snow Leopard.......carnivores are such slow breeders that they need all the help that they can get from the environment.

    Do you happen to have a source for someone who might be interested in reading about the Snow Leopard situation?
    All the world will be your enemy, Prince with a thousand enemies, and whenever they catch you, they will kill you. But first they must catch you, digger, listener, runner, prince with the swift warning. Be cunning and full of tricks and your people shall never be destroyed.
  • polarispolaris Posts: 3,527
    Royals32 wrote:
    This is really sucky news.

    On the other hand, the snow leopard has been endangered for a long long time and because of climate change, it's home range is being affected in a positive way. This animal preys on a specific species of mountain goat that spends its life on the edges of snowy mountains eating whatever greenery is available. As the climate warms, the mountain goat species will thrive on increased food availability, which in turn will provide the snow leopard with more available prey, strengthening it's species as a whole.

    I know, I know, I'm not saying that this makes up for the loss of Penguins or any other species, and I'm not so sure about the "cool new" species, but climate change will absolutely strengthen some species that are in big trouble right now.

    Just trying to counter the bad news with some good...

    the thing is the snow leopard is endangered not because of climate change - its endangered because of continued loss of habitat and the infringement of grazing animals creating a conflict with farmers ... this is not changing and unless they protect the habitat they require - its still a problem for snow leopards
  • THCTHC Posts: 525
    polaris wrote:
    if the markets determine penguins time are done ... then they are done ... :|


    :eek:
    “Kept in a small bowl, the goldfish will remain small. With more space, the fish can grow double, triple, or quadruple its size.”
    -Big Fish
  • tybirdtybird Posts: 17,388
    polaris wrote:
    the thing is the snow leopard is endangered not because of climate change - its endangered because of continued loss of habitat and the infringement of grazing animals creating a conflict with farmers ... this is not changing and unless they protect the habitat they require - its still a problem for snow leopards
    plus the slow breeding cycle that is seemingly inherent in members of the Order Carnivora.
    All the world will be your enemy, Prince with a thousand enemies, and whenever they catch you, they will kill you. But first they must catch you, digger, listener, runner, prince with the swift warning. Be cunning and full of tricks and your people shall never be destroyed.
  • polarispolaris Posts: 3,527
    tybird wrote:
    plus the slow breeding cycle that is seemingly inherent in members of the Order Carnivora.

    yes ... and plust the poaching of these animals isn't helping either ...
  • Royals32Royals32 Posts: 160
    more grass = more food for goats = more goats for snow leopards to eat = snow leopards have a better chance.

    It's not really that simple and there's no guarantee, but there's also no guarantee that we'll lose 10 species of penguins. All i'm saying is that as hope fades for one, it is renewed for another.
    #==(o )

    You are not your job.
    You are not how much money you have in the bank.
    You are not the car you drive.
    You are not the contents of your wallet.
    You are not your fucking khakis.
  • Royals32Royals32 Posts: 160
    polaris wrote:
    the thing is the snow leopard is endangered not because of climate change - its endangered because of continued loss of habitat and the infringement of grazing animals creating a conflict with farmers ... this is not changing and unless they protect the habitat they require - its still a problem for snow leopards


    I never said it was endangered because of climate change.
    #==(o )

    You are not your job.
    You are not how much money you have in the bank.
    You are not the car you drive.
    You are not the contents of your wallet.
    You are not your fucking khakis.
  • Royals32Royals32 Posts: 160
    tybird wrote:
    Do you happen to have a source for someone who might be interested in reading about the Snow Leopard situation?


    Sorry, no source...I actually saw it on a show on animal planet where they did a 10 minute bit on the snow leopard. The narrator said that with an increase in global temperatures, the retreating glaciers are now becoming grazing areas for animals in those mountains which offers a glimmer of hope for the predatory animals in that region - including the snow leopard.
    #==(o )

    You are not your job.
    You are not how much money you have in the bank.
    You are not the car you drive.
    You are not the contents of your wallet.
    You are not your fucking khakis.
  • polarispolaris Posts: 3,527
    Royals32 wrote:
    I never said it was endangered because of climate change.

    but your reasoning for its improved state doesn't factor what's causiing it's demise ... so, in the end your theory is not gonna hold true ...
  • Royals32Royals32 Posts: 160
    polaris wrote:
    but your reasoning for its improved state doesn't factor what's causiing it's demise ... so, in the end your theory is not gonna hold true ...


    It's not "my" theory, but it makes sense to me. See post #21.

    It's the exact opposite situation as the great barrier reef. As prey animals go, so do their predators. I'm sure you know about the food chain. So, conversely, as prey animals thrive it offers the opportunity for predators to thrive as well. I'm not saying the snow leopard will be off the endangered list next Thursday. I didn't say there's a 100% recovery on the horizon. All I'm saying is the species (along with others) has renewed hope. Renewed hope. A fighting chance. That's all. Of course there will still be poachers and farmers and human impact on their habitat and whatever else is causing their demise, but you can't deny that the bigger the snow leopard population, the better chance they have.

    Sheesh!
    #==(o )

    You are not your job.
    You are not how much money you have in the bank.
    You are not the car you drive.
    You are not the contents of your wallet.
    You are not your fucking khakis.
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