Conservation News ~ May 24 2019

• San Diego Zoo announces male lion M’Bari passes away at 15 years old from age-related disease: https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Mbari-San-Diego-Zoos-15-Yea-Old-Lion-Dies-from-Age-Related-Complications-510296451.html
• Costly cancer lawsuits may spur search to replace world’s most common weed killer: https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/05/costly-cancer-lawsuits-may-spur-search-replace-worlds-most-common-weed-killer
• Plastic straws, cotton buds, and drink stirrers to be banned in England: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/05/22/england-will-ban-plastic-stirrers-straws-and-cotton-swabs-from-2020.html
• ‘Extreme draining’ of Oregon reservoir eliminates invasive species, helps endangered salmon: https://www.oregonlive.com/environment/2019/05/extreme-draining-of-oregon-reservoir-eliminates-invasive-species-helps-endangered-salmon.html
• A new species of snowdrop from north west Turkey, Galanthus bursanus, has been published: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12225-019-9806-5
• Over 3000 dolphins found dead on the coast of Peru: https://greenworldwarriors.com/2019/04/21/over-3000-dolphins-found-dead-on-the-coast-of-peru/
• Native plants amazingly resilient when invasives removed: https://www.pennlive.com/life/2019/05/native-plants-amazingly-resilient-when-invasives-removed-says-penn-state-study.html
• Garden feeders are supporting rising numbers of urban birds: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/may/21/garden-feeders-are-supporting-rising-numbers-of-urban-birds
• Plan to return lynx to UK receives fresh boost: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/may/21/plan-to-return-lynx-to-uk-receives-fresh-boost
• Riverside County planners punt on 8,500-home proposed town south of Joshua Tree National Park: https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/2019/05/20/paradise-valley-community-proposed-south-joshua-tree-national-park-still-pending-development-land/3704862002/
• New species found in Gediz Delta: http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/new-species-found-in-gediz-delta-143598
• New species of endangered Grassland Earless Dragon lizard found in Perth: https://www.perthnow.com.au/lifestyle/new-species-of-endangered-lizard-found-ng-s-1945384
• SD Zoo’s bird conservationists release endangered species into the wild: https://www.myvalleynews.com/story/2019/05/17/regional/sd-zoos-bird-conservationists-release-endangered-species-into-the-wild/66009.html
• North Carolina Fish, Salamander proposed for Endangered Species Act protection: https://biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press-releases/north-carolina-fish-and-salamander-proposed-for-endangered-species-act-protection-2019-05-21/
• Bauxite mining and Chinese dam push Guinea’s chimpanzees to the brink: https://news.mongabay.com/2019/05/bauxite-mining-and-chinese-dam-push-guineas-chimpanzees-to-the-brink/
• Interest in protecting environment up since Pope’s 2015 encyclical: https://news.mongabay.com/2019/05/interest-in-protecting-environment-up-since-popes-2015-encyclical/
• Bolivia’s Nature rights tribunal condemns TIPNIS project: https://news.mongabay.com/2019/05/bolivia-nature-rights-tribunal-condemns-tipnis-project/
• New species of ancient shark discovered from the coast of Madagascar: https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2019/may/new-species-of-ancient-shark-discovered-from-the-coast-of-madaga.html
• New species of orchid discovered in Tibet: http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-05/18/c_138069568.htm
• The ‘superblack’ patches on these spiders make their other colors flow: https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/05/superblack-patches-these-spiders-make-their-other-colors-glow
• First Blue-eyed Ground-dove chick recorded in Brazil in 75 years: https://www.birdlife.org/worldwide/news/first-blue-eyed-ground-dove-chick-recorded
• Scientists discover a new coral species off San Francisco: https://baynature.org/2019/05/16/scientists-discover-a-new-coral-species-off-san-francisco-and-there-might-be-more/
• Bedbugs date back to the time of the dinosaurs: https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/05/bedbugs-date-back-time-dinosaurs-new-family-tree-suggests
• Scientists propose rethinking ‘endangered species’ definition to save slow-breeding giants: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/05/190517081640.htm
• Koalas are “functionally extinct,” say campaigners: https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/48284392
• 17-year-old Black-footed Albatross tagged in French Frigate Shoals observed in Monterey Bay: https://sanctuarysimon.org/2019/05/17-yr-old-black-footed-albatross-tagged-in-french-frigate-shoals-observed-in-monterey-bay/
• The scandal of calling plantations ‘forest restoration’ is putting climate targets at risk: http://theconversation.com/the-scandal-of-calling-plantations-forest-restoration-is-putting-climate-targets-at-risk-114858