Unique South African
penguin faces
perilous future.
As the only species
of penguin to originate
in Africa, populations of
the species have declined
by 95% since
pre-industrial times,
with numbers
that continue to plummet. Climate change
and fishing are among
the greatest threats
to the approximately
80,000 that remain.
Also known as
the Black-footed penguin,
this species' vulnerability
was placed in further
jeopardy by a massive
oil spill in the year 2000.
A swift outpouring
of international help
at that time was credited
with saving nearly
40,000 birds that
were either rescued
from oil contamination
or evacuated to safety. However,
the Black-footed
penguin's numbers have
continued to go down,
and biologists at
the California Academy
of Sciences in the USA
are now coordinating
with zoos throughout
North America
to maintain populations
there, in the hope of
re-introducing them
to the wild once their
natural habitat stabilizes.
Speaking of the need
to address both
global warming
and fishing practices,
biologist Brooke Weinstein
of the California
Academy of Sciences
stated, “I don't think
it is too late, but I do think
it's really imperative that
people make the kind of
changes that we need
to make, because
no one wants a world
without penguins.”
Our thanks,
Ms. Weinstein,
California Academy
of Sciences, and all
who are working with
love and dedication
to save the South African
penguin.
Let us all join by
choosing the life-saving
plant-based diet, which
lightens the human
footprint on our planet
and allows other species
to thrive.
With deep concern
for the plight of our
animal co-inhabitants,
Supreme Master Ching Hai
during an August 2009
videoconference
in Thailand
urged humanity, as on
many previous occasions,
toward greater
consideration to ensure
the welfare
of all beings on Earth.
Supreme Master Ching Hai : It's a very sad thing
because our animal
friends are suffering
terribly due to the effects
of global warming.
Many of the animals are
dying or at the brink
of extinction
or already gone due to
unbearable temperatures
or they are being forced
out of their habitats,
just like human
climate refugees, except
they are not nearly
as equipped as we are
at adapting to
new environments.
To ensure the peace and
comfort of all our
animal co-inhabitants,
we really should first
cease to consume them,
any animals at all.
Then, the wild areas and
habitats will be restored
as will be the animals'
natural lives.
That's the best way to
protect them, to show
our love to them.
http://english.cntv.cn/program/newshour/20110108/106722.shtmlhttp://intbirdrescue.blogspot.com/2010/10/bittersweet-great-penguin-rescue-in.html,
http://www.boston.com/news/science/articles/2011/01/09/to_the_rescue/
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