Charity not just for the birds urges us all to get outdoors

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds is increasingly styling itself as a wildlife charity interested in more than just our feathered friends. Now it is asking are you connected with wildlife?

The RSPB has yesterday launched a major national study into the public's connection to the natural world – and is calling for the help of people across the Westcountry.

This landmark work is being carried out in partnership with experts from the University of Essex and aims to leave no stone unturned in the search for the nation's love for the natural world.

Tony Whitehead, speaking for the RSPB in the South West said; "Here in the Westcountry we are surrounded by some of the best wildlife and natural places anywhere in the UK. But do we actually make the most of them? How much time do we spend outdoors in the company of wild creatures? And how does this make us feel?"

The RSPB believes that understanding our connection with nature and our love of wildlife is a crucial part of facing up to the challenges of rebuilding the natural world.

"In 2010 we failed to meet our commitments to saving wildlife as set out in the historic agreement at Earth Summit in Rio in 1992. It was a collective failure and we've set ourselves the ambitious target of helping to ensure we don't fail again in 2020.

"We are concerned though that part of the problem may be peoples growing disconnection from nature and with it the lack of personal responsibility in choices that are made that effect the natural world. And we are particularly keen to see how close young people are to the natural world, the very people that will inherit these issues this over the next couple of decades.

Continued: http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/Charity-just-birds-urges-outdoors/story-17093527-detail/story.html

Wildlife Olympics – And the Olympian that kills wildlife

Olympian wildlife killers

Sadly, at least two olympic competitors have been practicising their sport by killing wildife.  Olympic Shooter Corey Cogdel seems to be proud of her ability to shoot animals, especially in Africa, and there are many images of her on the web with some of the animals and birds she has shot. And gold medallist Kim Rhode has also been featured as a celebrity hunter on US websites.

Gold medalists of the natural world

August 2012. Humans aren't the only ones that display incredible feats of athleticism - IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) has suggested the following gold medalists of the animal kingdom.

These animal athletes, some of which are listed as threatened on The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species^TM, are the fastest sprinters, the highest jumpers and the most graceful gymnasts in the natural world. The Cheetah is the obvious gold medal winner in the 100m -reaching speeds of up to 70mph in short bursts. In field events, the Common Froghopper (Philaenus spumarius) could win the high jump as it can jump 115 times its own height! In the gymnastics events, the graceful Agile Gibbon (Hylobates agilis) and dancing birds-of-paradise would wow us with their moves. While celebrating the achievements of talented athletes across the world this summer, we should also take the time to appreciate these incredible species.

Continued:  http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/wildlife-olympics.html