Humans Visit Huge Penguin Colony for First Time

The existence of a 9,000-strong colony of emperor penguins in East Antarctica has been confirmed by three people who visited it for the first time.
Signs of the penguins were spotted by satellite, which took images of large stains on the snow in 2009 that scientists suspected were penguin feces. But it wasn't until early December 2012 that three people from Belgium's Princess Elisabeth Antarctica polar research station visited the colony to glimpse the penguins for themselves, according to a statement from the International Polar Foundation, which runs the station.

The first three visitors were the station's expedition leader Alain Hubert, mechanic Kristof Soete and Swiss mountain guide Raphael Richard.

Continued: http://www.livescience.com/26068-humans-visit-penguin-colony.html

Rare Pygmy Nile Crocodile Found in New Spots (via Herp Digest)

By OurAmazingPlanet Staff, 2/9/12

Conservationists working in Uganda are finding new areas that are home to one of the least known crocodilians in Africa, the pygmy Nile crocodile.

A team of Ugandan researchers trained by the late John Thorbjarnarson, a noted crocodilian expert with the Wildlife Conservation Society, is conducting population surveys of these poorly understood crocodiles in Kidepo Valley National Park.

Pygmy Nile crocodiles were reconfirmed as still present in Uganda only three years ago, and their conservation status remains unknown.

Crocodilians are an order of animals that includes alligators, crocodiles and other large reptiles.
In 2011, scientists lead by Matthew H. Shirley of the University of Florida discovered that pygmy Nile crocodiles are not a smaller race of the more common Nile crocodile but actually a unique population of a distinct crocodile species distributed throughout West Africa.

The Wildlife Conservation Society research team also has found evidence of young crocodiles in new areas.

Thorbjarnarson died at the age of 52 on Feb. 14, 2010, from malaria.

"It is an honor to continue John's work in Uganda to protect the pygmy Nile crocodile," said Carol Bogezi, a WCS field coordinator in Uganda. "John trained us on how to survey and handle crocodiles, and we apply what he taught us every day."

Rare ladybird spiders released in Dorset (via Dawn Holloway)

One of Britain's rarest spiders is being reintroduced at a nature reserve in Dorset.


Ladybird spiders were once feared to be extinct in the UK but recently numbers have been rising.

On Thursday, a new colony is being moved to a species-rich heathland reserve.

Conservationists have found that the best way to transfer them to their new home is to make temporary burrows for the spiders out of empty water bottles.

Ladybird spiders get their name from the bright red and black markings of the mature males. They are extremely rare and are also elusive, spending most of their lives underground.


According to the RSPB, in 1994 there was just one remaining colony in the UK. A web count in that colony found that only 56 individual spiders were left.

But over the past few years, conservation efforts have seen numbers increasing to more than 1,000. This has involved captive breeding, reintroduction and habitat restoration.

Even so, the spiders are still only found at a few sites in Dorset. And on Thursday, about 30 are being released at the RSPB's Arne reserve in the county.

The reserve is already home to 240 species of spider.

RSPB Arne warden Toby Branston said: "To be introducing such a rare new species here is very exciting, and I hope we can help spread it further."


The spiders were captured at another location and put into empty mineral water bottles that were filled with heather and moss. Researchers say the bottles are an ideal shape and size for the spiders to make their nests.

The team of conservationists will dig holes for the bottles at the reserve. It is hoped that the spiders will colonise the surrounding heathland.

By Daniel Boettcher

Correspondent, BBC News

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/14479661