News & Public Affairs

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lists gopher tortoise as candidate for Endangered Species Act protection listen

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Tags: animals, environment, endangered species, gopher tortoise, Development

The gopher tortoise is being listed as a candidate for protection under the Endangered Species Act in the eastern portion of its range, including Florida. But, the ecologically important reptile won’t be considered a full-fledged endangered species because of a funding shortfall.

In January of 2006 environmental groups filed a petition to list the gopher tortoise as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in the eastern part of its range. In 2009 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service com...

Book chronicles efforts to save injured and orphaned animals in Africa listen

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Tags: Africa, animals, endangered species, climate change, habitat destruction

Africa is known for its herds of wild animals – but many of them are endangered because of hunting, habitat destruction, and climate change.

WMNF spoke with an author who visited a wildlife foundation in Namibia that rescues injured and orphaned animals. Barbara Bennett is professor of English at North Carolina State University. Her book about the experience and the family that runs the Harnas Wildlife Foundation is called “Soul of a Lion – One Woman’s Quest to R...

Are some great animial migrations in peril? listen

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Tags: migration, climate change, animals, global warming

What drives billions of animals to make epic migrations every year and how are migrations being affected by habitat destruction and climate change?

To address these important ecological questions, WMNF spoke with Karen Kostyal, author of the National Geographic book Great Migrations. It's is a companion to the National Geographic Television series of the same name.

"Well, I think there are two really compelling reasons animals migrate. We've called them the 'need to feed' and the 'n...

Activist wants Hillsborough to forbid pet owners from keeping their animals chained outside listen

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Tags: tethering, animals, pets, Hillsborough County

5 January 2010 update: Hillsborough County wants you to weigh in online

Should Hillsborough County forbid pet owners from keeping their animals chained outside? One community activist, Barbara LaPresti, is gathering signatures to present the County Commission in support of an anti-tethering ordinance.

“The petition is calling for Hillsborough County Board of Commissio...