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When Planet X entered the inner Solar System in late 2002 - early 2003, it was not just the Earth that reacted, as it did with an increase in earthquakes, volcanism and extreme weather, the animal life on Earth also started showing signs of the approaching monster.
The most noticeable symptoms were:
- Crazy Animal Behaviour: Reports of bizarre behaviour including animal attacks from normally passive creatures and spiders spinning webs over whole fields.
- Confused Animals: Whales and dolphins stranding themselves on beaches in droves or getting lost upstream in coastal rivers.
- Large fish and bird kills: Flocks of birds falling dead from the sky and shoals of fish dying and floating to the surface of lakes, rivers and washing up along coastlines.
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Crazy Animal Behaviour
Reports of crazy animal behaviour have included sheep that charged a farmer’s wife off a cliff, deer attacking a car and rabbits biting pedestrians. Spiders have spun webs over whole fields and caterpillar larvae have covered whole trees in silk.
As usual, the Zetas explain the true causes:
http://www.zetatalk.com/transfor/t154.htm (Jan 11th 2003)
Animal behavior also has been noted as almost crazed, where animals normally passive and seeking to avoid confrontation will attack with provocation, or fly in the wrong direction during migration. This is due to signals the animals or insects get from the core of the Earth, signals not known to man, but nonetheless there. [……] Spiders weaving webs to an extreme so that acres are covered under webs, get noted, but the base behavior is normal for a spider. EOZT
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Confused Animals
Other erratic behaviour among animals included a seeming loss of direction with whales and dolphins swimming inland and stranding themselves on beaches.
Unreliable Compasses (March 28th, 2009)
The compass is unreliable for the past few years, and lately has gotten very extreme in its variance. Many animals and insects have a biological compass, recording during migrations where that compass laid, and when taking a return trip relying on the recording to guide them back. If the Earth's N Pole swings away from the press of Planet X, which is increasingly pointing its N Pole at the Earth, then these animals are not given correct clues and aim for land or up a river. Sad to say, this will only get worse as the last weeks and the pole shift loom on the horizon. EOZT
Are due to the Magnetic Clash (July 1st, 2006)
The compass anomaly, swinging to the East, is indicative of the Earth adjusting to the approach of Planet X and the clash of their magnetic fields. The change is indicative of a clash in magnetic fields as Planet X comes ever closer to the Earth, their fields touching. It is the combined field that Earth must adjust to, and continue to adjust to, not the exact position of the N Pole of Planet X within these fields, and the Sun's magnetic field enters into the equation too. This dramatic change, noted by a conscientious tracker, checking dual compasses daily for years, indicates that the Earth is trying to align side-by-side with Planet X, bringing its magnetic N Pole to point toward the Sun, as Planet X is currently doing in the main. These adjustments are temporary, and change about, as magnets can make dramatic and swift changes in their alignment with each other. Put a number of small magnets on a glass, with iron ore dust, and move a large magnet about under them, and watch the jerking about they do. Are we saying the Earth's magnetic field is going to get more erratic in the future, dramatically so? There is no question that this will be one of the signs that will come, yet another not covered by the Global Warming excuse. EOZT
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Large fish and bird kills
Hundreds, if not thousands, of these events have taken place with the frequency increasing year on year. Poignant examples include the 20 tonnes of dead herring which washed ashore in Norway and 1200 pelicans found on a beach in Peru.
Earth Farts (January 9th, 2007)
We have explained, in great detail, that the stretch zone does not register great quakes when rock layers pull apart and sink, as this is a silent Earth change. Nancy has carefully documented breaking water and gas mains, derailing trains, dislocating bridge abutments, mining accidents, and outbreaks of factory explosions, showing that these have occurred in rashes on occasion, when the rock layers pulled apart. [……] In September-October of 2005, a smell of rotten eggs was sensed from LA to Thunder Bay on Lake Superior to the New England states and throughout the South-Eastern US. We explained at that time that this was due to rock layers being pulled apart, releasing gas from moldering vegetation trapped during prior pole shifts, when rock layers were jerked about, trapping vegetation. We explained in March of 2002 that black water off the coast of Florida was caused by this phenomena. Do these fumes cause people to sicken, and birds to die? Mining operations of old had what they called the canary in a birdcage, to warn the miners of methane gas leaks. Birds are very sensitive to these fumes, and die, and this is indeed what happened in Austin, TX. Were it not for the explosions associated with gas leaks, it would be common knowledge that gas leaks sicken, as the body was not structured to breathe such air for long. EOZT
Zetatalk Explanation (January 8th, 2011)
Dead fish and birds falling from the sky are being reported worldwide, suddenly. This is not a local affair, obviously. Dead birds have been reported in Sweden and N America, and dead fish in N America, Brazil, and New Zealand. Methane is known to cause bird dead, and as methane rises when released during Earth shifting, will float upward through the flocks of birds above. But can this be the cause of dead fish? If birds are more sensitive than humans to methane release, fish are likewise sensitive to changes in the water, as anyone with an aquarium will attest. Those schools of fish caught in rising methane bubbles during sifting of rock layers beneath them will inevitably be affected. Fish cannot, for instance, hold their breath until the emergency passes! Nor do birds have such a mechanism. EOZT
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Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/18/thousands-of-dead-fish-was...
Thousands Of Dead Fish Wash Ashore In South Carolina, Twice In One Week
The Huffington Post | By Cavan Sieczkowski Posted: 01/18/2013 10:55 am EST
WMBFNews.com, Myrtle Beach/Florence SC, Weather
Tens of thousands of dead fish washed ashore on a South Carolina beach on Tuesday, for at least the second time in a week.
Approximately 30,000 to 40,000 menhaden fish washed ashore along a mile-and-a-half-long stretch of beach from Georgetown County, S.C., to Pawleys Island, said Pawleys Island Police Chief Michael Fanning, according to NBC News. It seemed likely that thousands more of the 6- to 8-inch-long fish would wash ashore later.
This is the second time in one week such an incident has occurred in the area, notes NBC News. Late last week, hundreds of thousands of the small, oily fish washed up near Masonboro Island, N.C.
"One time I was here I saw a bunch of jellyfish," South Carolina resident Bill Vogel told NBC local affiliate WMBF News of the dead fish. "They were all on the shore but nothing like this, it's really weird."
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) tried to explain the fish die... on Wednesday.
"It's an occurrence called hypoxia," Sergeant Steve Pop told WMBF. "That is dissolved oxygen levels in the water that drop to a level that is not sustainable for the fish... We've got some deep holes off of north inlet that holds these fish. This time of year the fish congregate in these holes which is depleting the oxygen source."
Mel Bell, Director of the Office of Fisheries Management for S.C. DNR, elaborated on the theory: “On Friday we had a new moon [which caused] real high high tides and real low low tides,” he told The Sun News. “Probably what happened was a school [of menhaden] got in an area of water on a high tide, in a hole or depression, and at low tide they were trapped and depleted the oxygen in the water. Then, all the fish would suffocate."
On Thursday, however, the DNR ruled out low dissolved oxygen, algal bloom or cold temperatures as the culprit for the fish death, according to The Sun.
Mass animal deaths made headlines back in 2011 when thousands of animals were found dead in countries around the world. The mass deaths continued into 2012. Hundreds of Humboldt squid beached themselves near Santa Cruz, Calif., in December. In September, dead seagulls and fish washed ashore on Lake Eerie.
Jan 19, 2013
Howard
30+ Miles of Sarasota Beach Florida Inundated With Dead Fish (Jan 19)
"It's a pretty big event today." Standing on Nokomis Beach Friday, Sarasota County Parks & Recreation Manager George Tatge is setting up every resource he has -- a small army to pick up a massive amount of dead sea creatures.
By early morning they've already scouted the 30 plus miles of coastline in the county. "At Manasota Key it is handwork by county staff. At the north beaches it is mechanized work. Right here we have both county staff and the work offenders."
Now even considering hiring outside contracted help. So many, the fish are a nuisance to health, safety, and to the almighty dollar. Many typical tourism hot spots on a clear blue day as empty as could be. "It is certainly not something we want in our tourist locations. We do those first."
Some visitors like Joe Tryzna from Chicago say the shifting winds making breathing on the beach Friday bearable. "Yesterday was terrible. You could not breath on the beach. You coughed and sneezed and your eyes ran. Today is perfect that way anyway."
Nearly unnoticeable if not for the fish and their smell. "Gosh, you have to get rid of them."
From machine to hand a tedious process with no definite end in sight says Tatge. "Hopefully our beaches will be clean of fish by the end of the day. That is what we are shooting for. We will work through the weekend and rotate those crews depending on where they are best needed."
Wet sand is considered public access. County officials are now using low tide to get to some private beaches now inundated with dead fish.
Source
http://www.mysuncoast.com/news/south_newsroom/more-dead-fish-washin...
Jan 20, 2013
Mark
ANOTHER STRETCH STENCH:
The great French stench: Gas leak in Rouen leaves foul-smelling cloud of gas wafting over southern England
Authorities are blaming a leak in a chemical factory in Rouen for the foul smelling gas which has somehow managed to waft over 50 miles to Paris where it has been causing people to get ill and at the same time, also drift 150 miles in the opposite direction to London. Now that's some trick!
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/the-great-french-ste...
Jan 23, 2013
Nancy Lieder
New ZetaTalk on the Paris-London stretch stench!
SOZT
The question that the public should be asking, re the Rouen gas leak, is how quickly Mercaptan dilutes, over vast distances, and how it is that it could escape to London and southern England, and also to Paris, without likewise escaping to most of France? The locations suffering with headaches and nausea, signs of methane poisoning, are too localized, too distant from the supposed source, and if the concentrations were such in London and Paris then the populace in Rouen WOULD BE DEAD. Gas dilutes, evaporates and rises. Where are the explosions that would be associated with such an intense concentration of a volatile gas? This is clearly a convenient excuse, with a cooperative corporate entity willing to take a slap on the hand for maintaining the cover-up over the Earth changes being caused by the near presence of Planet X.
EOZT
Jan 23, 2013
Robyn Appleton
Dead seals washed up on beach
CARCASSES BEING EXAMINED TO ESTABLISH CAUSE OF DEATHS
District Conservation Ranger Lorcan Scott with one
of the seals that washed up on Duncannon Beach last week.
THE RESULTS of a post mortem examination are being awaited to establish what caused the deaths of three seals found washed up on Duncannon Beach.
The mammals were discovered on Tuesday by the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
According to Tony Murray, Conservation Ranger for South County Wexford, prior to Christmas the National Parks and Wildlife Service were contacted by the Seal Sanctuary after seals were washed up in Waterford Harbour and also in Wexford.
Photographs were taken of the dead mammals, their carcasses were documented and a physical assessment was carried out of their remains.
On foot of these reports Tony and his colleague in Waterford have been continuously monitoring the situation.
On Tuesday Tony travelled to Duncannon Beach where he found three new seals that he hadn't seen on a previous visit.
'All were freshly dead,' explained Tony, adding that on examination they appeared to have no injuries.
' Having three dead seals on a beach is quite unusual,' he added.
Contact was made with the Department of Agriculture and one of the seals was taken to the District Veterinary Laboratory in Kilkenny on Tuesday for a post mortem examination.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service are now waiting to hear from lab as to the results of the post mortem.
Source
Jan 23, 2013
Robyn Appleton
Costa Rica probes death of 280 sea turtles
SAN JOSE: An investigation was launched on Tuesday to determine the cause of death of about 280 sea turtles in the Gulf of Dulce, on the southern Pacific coast, a situation that was denounced by environmentalists, Costa Rican authorities said.
"The initial aim is to collect information and verify if it was ... caused by human action," the Costa Rican environment ministry said.
The alert over the finding of the dead turtles was given by the environmental organization Widecast, which had received a report from residents of the Osa peninsula.
The reports of the environmentalists say that along with the turtles, other sea creatures had turned up dead along the coast, including sailfish and marlin.
Source
Jan 23, 2013
KM
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2267632/Thousands-dead-star...
Thousands of dead starfish wash up on Lincolnshire beach following stormy weather
By Emma Reynolds
PUBLISHED: 13:49 GMT, 24 January 2013 | UPDATED: 18:14 GMT, 24 January 2013
Thousands of dead starfish have washed up on a beach in Lincolnshire after a period of stormy weather.
Shocked photographer Simon Peck estimates that 4,000 starfish - along with whelks' eggs and pieces of shell - had surfaced on Cleethorpes beach.
Experts think that the animals were dislodged by rough waters in the recent wintry weather, with a similar incident happening at the same time last year.
Puzzle: Photographer Simon Peck was shocked to find around 4,000 starfish and bits of shell on the beach
Jan 25, 2013
Robyn Appleton
At least eight common dolphins have been found dead on the beaches of Achill Island, the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) is reporting.
According to the Group: "Photos sent to us by local people show most of the dolphins died very recently although there are no reports of any live strandings there over the last few days.
"So far, dead common dolphins are confirmed at Keel Beach, Keem Beach and Dookinella. While there are occasionally live strandings involving groups of dolphins, it is very unusual in this country to see this number of dead dolphins washed ashore over a 10km area."
Source
Feb 2, 2013
Howard
Thousands of Dead Fish Along 8 Km of Shoreline in Australia (Feb 1)
Liz Richardson from Good Hope Tourist Resort told The Yass Tribune the amount of dead fish was "unbelievable".
"Every type of fish," she said. "Lots of baby fish, lots of small cod."
Around eight kilometres of shoreline, downstream of Taemas Bridge and past Good Hope, was littered with fish carcasses.
The Department of Primary Industries said the cause of the fish kill was unclear.
Fisheries officers inspected the site on Tuesday and observed hundreds of native golden perch and Murray cod among the thousands of dead fish.
"Sizes of fish affected ranged from 5 to 80 centimetres.
"The fish were observed floating in the water, along the water's edge and on the shoreline over an area of approximately eight kilometres within the impoundment," a DPI spokesman said.
Sources
http://www.bordermail.com.au/story/1273425/dead-fish-a-mystery/?cs=...
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/thousands-of-dead-fish-an-...
Feb 3, 2013
Mark
100 birds covered in mysterious sticky substance wash up on south c...
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) was called to the south coast on Thursday after the troubled guillemots, a member of the auk family, were discovered on Lyme Bay near Weymouth, Dorset.
The seabirds have been taken to West Hatch Animal Centre in Taunton, Somerset, but early attempts to clean them have been hampered by not knowing what the substance is, the RSPB's Grahame Madge said.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/environment/9844404/Mysterious-gel...
Feb 3, 2013
Mark
Millions of herring have died in Icelandic lake: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2273992/The-herring-apocaly...
Stretching as far as the eye can see, dead herring blanket the ground in these chilling pictures taken today.
It is not yet known what is causing the mass fish deaths in Iceland, but today's grim find is the second such occurrence in two months.
The herring, weighing an estimated 25,000 to 30,000 tonnes and worth £18.9million, were found floating dead in in Kolgrafafjorour, a small fjord on the northern part of Snæfellsnes peninsula, west Iceland, according to the country's Morgunbladid newspaper.
Feb 6, 2013
Howard
'Immeasurable' Dead Fish Along 40km of Queensland River (Feb 8)
"It's absolutely shocking, I've never seen anything like this before."
Mr Price said that he had travelled more than 40km up the river and there was an "immeasurable" number of dead fish on the banks for that whole section.
"I've seen plenty of floods in my time, but I've never seen anything like this happen afterwards," he said.
"I know it's been said that all the organic material that has washed down has caused this, but there was all of that with the other floods, so what is different this time?"
"I don't even think I saw one dead fish after the 2011 floods."
Environment Minister Andrew Powell yesterday said tests by Fitzroy River Water found dissolved oxygen levels were 1.7-1.8mg/l. "The optimal dissolved oxygen level for fish is 5mg/l. Below 2mg/l they are not likely to survive," Mr Powell said.
"Fish need oxygen to live; it's as simple as that.
Source
http://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/news/dead-fish-fitzroy-river-f...
Feb 8, 2013
lonne rey
Strandings of dolphin, whales and porpoises 'very unusual'
ANNE LUCEY
The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group says the stranding of high numbers of common dolphins and other species, which has become apparent over the past two weeks here, is “very unusual”. An apparently otherwise healthy dolphin along with two pilot whales have now been washed up at Cuas Croom near Cahirciveen and there have been continuous strandings of dolphins, particularly in Mayo and Donegal.
At the end of January at least eight common dolphins have been found dead on the beaches of Achill Island, Co Mayo. Mick O’Connell of the whale and dolphin group said the strandings in Mayo and Donegal were “way bigger” than might be expected. Porpoises had also been washed up . These were not live stranding and young dolphins had been involved.
Source
Feb 8, 2013
Kris H
http://m.gawker.com/5982891/meanwhile-in-brazil-its-raining-spiders
Feb 9, 2013
Lynne Warbrooke
30% of the breeding stock of the Yellow Eyed penguin have washed up dead on the beaches on Otago peninsula in NZ
Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/8292974/Unknown-cause-for-mas...
Feb 12, 2013
Starr DiGiacomo
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/environment/flora-fauna/around-...
15 Feb, 2013, 11.08PM IST, TNN
Around 40 birds, fishes found dead in Lakhota lake
Jamnagar: Large number of birds and fishes were found dead in Lakhota Lake in the city on Friday. According to sources, besides nearly 40 birds, fishes, a snake and turtles have also died.
While the exact reason for their deaths is not immediately known, it is suspected that they died after consuming something poisonous.
The birds found dead included pelicans, spot-billed ducks, coots among others. Interestingly, it was only after TOI called up forest department that their staff rushed to the spot.
When contacted, S M Parmar, deputy conservator of forests, Jamnagar, said, "It seems like the birds and aquatic animals died due to polluted water. But the exact cause will be known only after we get the postmortem report."
Wildlife activist and bird watcher Jaydeep Purohit said that water pollution in Lakhota Lake has assumed serious proportions, which his affecting the dissolved oxygen levels in the water body.
"Moreover, huge amount of garbage is strewn in the lake. People keep feeding these birds with grains and other snacks like gathiyas, which can sometimes turn deadly," he claimed.
Feb 16, 2013
KM
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2279847/Half-jellyfish-half...
Half jellyfish, half slug? the strange sea creature washing up on the Washington coast to the surprise of marine experts
The creatures have what appear to be green horns at one end and rows of muscles at the other end
By Daily Mail Reporter
PUBLISHED: 22:59 GMT, 16 February 2013 | UPDATED: 23:15 GMT, 16 February 2013
Beach combers and marine educators near the Washington state coastline are finding something they’ve never before seen on the shores.
A gelatinous, nearly transparent sea creature that resembles a jelly fish and a slug, known as a salp.
The creatures have what appear to be green horns at one end and rows of muscles at the other end.
Scroll down for video
What is it? This gelatinous, nearly transparent sea creature that resembles a jelly fish and a slug is known as a salp
Odd: The creatures have what appear to be green horns at one end and rows of muscles at the other end
Feb 17, 2013
Howard
100,000 Dolphins Gathering off San Diego Coast (Feb 14)
Thousands of dolphins spanning across 7 miles of ocean were sighted off the coast of San Diego on Thursday.
Capt. Joe Dutra of Hornblower Cruises said he saw a “super mega-pod” of common dolphins Thursday around noon while he was on his daily tour. He said the pod was more than seven miles long and five miles wide.
Dutra said the boat tour followed the pod for more than an hour and said he’s never seen anything like it.
Guests aboard the boat started screaming and pointing when they first saw the school of adult and juvenile common dolphins. Dutra estimated there were about 100,000 dolphins swimming in the area.
“They were coming from all directions, you could see them from as far as the eye can see,” he said. “I’ve seen a lot of stuff out here… but this is the biggest I’ve ever seen, ever.”
Dolphins typically travel in groups of 200 or less.
Source
http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/02/17/16994814-super-mega-pod-...
Feb 18, 2013
Howard
Nearly 100 Dead Sea Creatures Wash Ashore in Peru (Feb 23)
The bodies of 18 sea turtles, 22 sea lions, eight dolphins, 16 sharks and 22 marine birds were found along 77 miles of the Lambayeque coastline.
The carcasses, in various states of decomposition, were measured, placed in bags and then taken away for analysis by government officials
In the past couple of years, a worrying number of dead sea creatures have been ending up on Peru's shores.
Officials have yet to conclusively pinpoint a cause.
Source
http://news.sky.com/story/1056048/peru-dozens-of-dead-sea-creatures...
Feb 23, 2013
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2013/02/thousands_of_fish_...
Thousands of fish found dead in Cuyahoga River near Heritage Park in the Flats: (slideshow)
CLEVELAND, Ohio--Thousands of dead fish were found Sunday floating in the Cuyahoga River and lining the river banks between Heritage Park and Merwin Avenue in the Flats.
Red bruise-like marks appeared on some of the fish, which varied in size.
"I've seen large clumps of them floating down the river for the last three days," said T.J. Towner, who works in the area.
The cause of the fish kill was not immediately known.
Officials with the state Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Natural Resources were notified of the fish kill but could not be reached for comment Sunday.
Feb 25, 2013
Starr DiGiacomo
http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/2013/02/26...
Tragedy in New Zealand: Dozens of Critically Endangered Birds Dead,...
By John R. Platt | February 26, 2013
Efforts to save the critically endangered shore plover from extinction in New Zealand have suffered a major setback: nearly 60 of the birds have died due to unknown causes, reducing the world population of the species to just 200.
Shore plovers (also known as shore dotterels or Tuturuatu, Thinornis novaeseelandiae) lived on both of New Zealand’s main islands before European settlers introduced cats and rats that nearly eradicated the species during the nineteenth century. Luckily a small population of 130 birds survived 800 kilometers away on one of the country’s smaller islands, South East Island (also known as Rangatira), from which a captive-breeding program began in the 1990s. The New Zealand Department of Conservation (DOC) has spent the last 20 years establishing small, additional populations on other New Zealand islands, including Portland Island (a.k.a. Waikawa), where the dead birds were found at the end of 2012.
Portland Island is a privately owned sanctuary that to the best of the DOC’s knowledge does not contain rats, cats, stoats (a type of weasel) or other bird-killing predators. DOC has now set up cameras and recently brought in dogs capable of sniffing out any stoats, but nothing has turned up. The department is also performing disease screenings and autopsies on the dead birds. At least one previously established island population failed when the birds contracted a disease called avian pox.
Feb 27, 2013
KM
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2285463/Dozens-mobula-rays-...
Mystery of the massacred mobula rays: Just why DID dozens of these bloodied sea creatures wash up on the beach in Gaza?
By Mark Duell
PUBLISHED: 18:20 GMT, 27 February 2013 | UPDATED: 23:31 GMT, 27 February 2013
Dozens of Mobula Ray fish were mysteriously washed up on the beach in Gaza City today and carted off to market by Palestinian fishermen.
It was the first time the fish had been seen on the beach for six years, according to a local video report purporting to show fisherman examining the Rays.
The fish are of a similar appearance to the more well-known Manta Rays, which are in the same family, and can reach a width of up to 17ft.
Feb 28, 2013
Mark
What's interesting about the Gaza article on the Daily Mail website is that it is featured right at the top as the headline article, when PX related stories such as fish this are usually posted way down the page.
A new type of emphasis being given it seems.
Feb 28, 2013
Starr DiGiacomo
Hazmat in Jamaica, possible Methane release.
http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/site/?pageid=event_desc&edis_id=HZ...
The island's environmental management agency was last night still trying to determine the source of noxious fumes that resulted in more than 50 persons, some of whom collapsed, being rushed to hospital in Kingston. The mystery fumes also caused discomfort to many more persons in the vicinity of the Central Sorting Office (CSO) on South Camp Road, plunging the area into chaos for a few hours. Several businesses in the area were forced to close, classes were suspended at nearby schools, and persons were evacuated from the CSO building as the police restricted traffic movement from East Queen Street to South Camp Road in an effort to protect people from potential harm. At the same time, firefighters, medical personnel and National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) officials tried to find the source of the fumes. "The report that we received is that at about 10:00 am workers (from the CSO) raised an alarm after several of their colleagues started to complain that they were having difficulty breathing," Post Master General Michael Gentles said as police tried to restore calm and provide quick help for affected individuals.
That, however, did not prevent people from panicking as CSO workers and curious onlookers began to collapse. "Jesus Christ, what is happening? Somebody tell us what is going on, nuh!" screamed one woman as her colleague fainted. The woman, who used a handkerchief to cover her nose, was one of several frightened-looking CSO employees seen running around as medical officials rushed several persons to ambulances. Police at the scene said medical officials made at least six trips to the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH). "The hospital ambulances were filled with people complaining that they were finding it difficult to breath," one policeman told the Jamaica Observer. That was confirmed by a medical official at the KPH who asked not to be named, as he was not authorised to speak to the media. He said a large group of persons suffering from dizzy spells and respiratory problems were taken to the hospital.
Mar 1, 2013
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.goerie.com/article/20130301/NEWS02/303019945/Heavy-die-o...
Updated: March 1, 2013 1:47 AM EST
Heavy die-off of fish around Presque Isle Bay
Hundreds of dead gizzard shad are shown washed up on the beach at Leo's Landing at Presque Isle State Park on Feb. 27. The annual fish kill is a natural occurring event in Presque Isle Bay, but this year it's larger than normal, with up to a million dead fish, according to an Erie biologist. CHRISTOPHER MILLETTE//ERIE TIMES-NEWS
If you have seen thousands of dead fish washed up across the shorelines of Presque Isle Bay, you're not alone.
Biologists and other officials with the Department of Environmental Protection began spotting the gizzard shad about two weeks ago.
The fish kill is a natural occurrence, and is unrelated to pollution, officials with DEP's northwest regional office said.
"We're talking about upward of a million fish," said Jim Grazio, DEP's Great Lakes biologist in Erie.
Grazio called the fish kill a "very heavy die-off" that officials haven't seen locally in 10 to 15 years.
"The die-off is ongoing. It's not done," the biologist added. "You can see fish struggling at the surface of the water."
Gizzard shad, especially young ones, are particularly sensitive to cold temperatures.
"They likely began dying under the ice several weeks ago," said Gary Clark, a DEP community relations coordinator based in Meadville. "Warmer temperatures melted the ice and exposed them."
Grazio said he doesn't know why our region is seeing such a heavy die-off of gizzard shad this year.
"Presque Isle Bay provides a warm refuge from the cold temperatures of Lake Erie," he added. "Maybe the fish simply congregated in the bay in greater numbers than in years past."
Grazio said on Wednesday there was a "dramatic accumulation" of thousands of dead fish on the shorelines near Presque Isle State Park's Vista 1 parking lot.
Clark said the gizzard shad have also been spotted on the lakeside and bayside around Marina Lake, Misery Bay and Horseshoe Pond.
"It's nothing to worry about. We'll continue to monitor it," Clark added.
"But if you see them, don't handle dead or dying fish. If you're out there walking your dog, I wouldn't let them get near the fish."
DEP officials said there will be no large cleanup of the small herrings.
"They will rot and recycle into the environment," Grazio said. "It's a nuisance in terms of people who go out there should expect a stinky spring."
Clark on Thursday said the DEP "does not expect a secondary fish kill to occur in the main body of Presque Isle Bay."
Mar 1, 2013
Starr DiGiacomo
Large release of Methane off Los Angeles Coast-Unusual concentrations detected by haz-mat crews
CBS Los Angeles, March 3, 2013 (Emphasis Added): Authorities say a foul odor that spurred calls to fire departments throughout the city on Sunday is possibly the result of the large release of methane in the Santa Monica Bay. Santa Monica Fire said in a department statement that they believe the strong odor was caused by a naturally occurring methane leak below the ocean floor. “This morning there was a large release of natural ocean floor methane released in the Santa Monica Bay,” the statement said. [...] Brian Humphrey, a spokesman for the Los Angeles City Fire Department, said the odor was noted inland from the Santa Monica Bay.
KPCC March 3, 2013: Santa Monica fire haz-mat crews detected unusual concentrations of odorless methane gas in the air that they believed to be coming from either a patch of pungent algae or a sulfurous gas-laced methane bubble, said a dispatcher. That may night be the case, however. Sam Atwood, a spokesman for the Air Quality Management District (AQMD), said his agency has not confirmed the Santa Monica Fire Department’s theory.
KTLA, March 4, 2013: Officials say a foul stench in Santa Monica over was probably caused by a large release of methane in the ocean. [...] A Santa Monica fire hazmat team took readings off the coast near San Vicente Blvd., and found methane in the water. [...] Authorities said that recent changes in water temperature may have caused plankton and algae beds to bloom, releasing methane just below the surface. The gas also might have been produced by a geologic event, such as a shift in tectonic plates.
KABC, March 3, 2013: Santa Monica hazmat crews found unusual concentrations of odorless methane gas in the air. Officials believe either a pocket of stinky algae, or a bubble of methane laced with sulfurous gas, surfaced in the ocean.
Mar 5, 2013
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.nvi.com.au/story/1342713/dead-fish-at-lake-keepit/?cs=373
Dead fish at Lake Keepit, NSW Australia
NSW Fisheries believes low oxygen levels are to blame for the deaths of thousands of fish that were found along the eastern shore of Lake Keepit at the Manilla Ski Gardens.
Local fisherman and residents reported the incident on Thursday, after a small number of Murray Cod and Golden Perch, along with hundreds of carp and thousands of bony brim were found along a two kilometre stretch of the dam.
Hundreds of shrimp were also spotted.
Gunnedah fisherman Alan Wicks was out on the water last Wednesday when he found the dead fish.
A keen angler, he said there were at least nine Murray Cod up to 40 pound in weight that were dead.
“It was shocking,” he said.
“They were all dead and had started to bloat up on the edge of the bank everywhere. There were a few floating around in the water.”
The incident was reported to the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) and a fisheries officer was sent to inspect the kill.
A spokesperson for the DPI said the deaths appear to have occurred some time ago and therefore any water samples taken would mean the results would be inconclusive.
The suspected cause, however is dissolved oxygen levels, which is associated with hot and dry weather, coupled with high rainfall.
It’s understood fish kills caused by low oxygen levels is common in the summer months.
“Weather conditions prior to the kill were hot and dry, followed by afternoon thunderstorms with approximately 25mm of rain recorded in the area,” the DPI spokesperson said.
The dam at the time of the kill was down to 34.5 per cent capacity, but has since had about 4000ML of inflow, bringing the capacity up to approximately 35.5 per cent.
The DPI says it is monitoring the situation and asking the public to report any further sightings of dead fish as soon as possible to the Fishers Watch hotline on 1800 043 536.
Immediate reporting is necessary to ensure that fish and water quality samples can be obtained as close to the time of the incident as possible.
Mar 5, 2013
Tracie Crespo
Gallinippers! Monster mosquitoes poised to strike Florida
UF IFAS / Sean McCann
An adult gallinipper feeding on human blood.
One of the most ferocious insects you've ever heard of — it's the size of a quarter and its painful bite has been compared to being knifed — is set to invade Florida this summer.
The Sunshine State, already home to man-eating sinkholes, invading Burmese pythons, swarming sharks, tropical storms and other disasters, can expect to see an explosion of shaggy-haired gallinippers (Psorophora ciliata), a type of giant mosquito, according to entomologist Phil Kaufman of the University of Florida.Gallinipper eggs hatch after a rainstorm or flood, and the state saw a big jump in the numbers of gallinippers last summer after Tropical Storm Debby dumped its load on Florida. Eggs laid last year could produce a bumper crop of the blood-sucking bugs this summer if Florida sees a soggy rainy season.
"I wouldn't be surprised, given the numbers we saw last year," Kaufman said in a statement. "When we hit the rainy cycle, we may see that again."
As insects go, gallinippers are particularly formidable. Their eggs lay dormant for years, awaiting the floodwaters that will enable them to hatch. Even in their larval stage, gallinippers are so tough they'll eat tadpoles and other small aquatic prey. [Ouch! Nature's 10 Biggest Pests]
And as adults, the voracious pests feed day and night (unlike everyday mosquitoes, which generally feed only at dawn and dusk). Their bodies are strong enough to bite through clothing, and they're known to go after pets, wild animals and even fish, MyFoxOrlando.com reports.
"It's about 20 times bigger than the sort of typical, Florida mosquito that you find," Anthony Pelaez of Tampa's Museum of Science and Industry told Fox Orlando. "And it's mean, and it goes after people, and it bites, and it hurts."
Pelaez described the gallinipper's bite as so painful it "feels like you're being stabbed."
The term "gallinipper" isn't recognized by most entomologists, but over the past century, the word — and the insect — entered popular legend through Southern folktales, minstrel shows and blues songs, according to a report from the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences at the University of Florida.
The earliest description of the pest comes from 1897 by a writer who called the insect "the shyest, slyest, meanest and most venomous of them all." (Gallinipper bites don't actually contain any venom — they just feel that painful.)
Will insect repellents help to protect people from the dreaded gallinipper? Maybe, Kaufman said, though the pests may be more resistant to bug repellents — even those containing DEET — because of their large size.
If there's a silver lining to a possible invasion of gallinippers, it's the fact that their larvae are so ravenous they eat the larvae of other insects, including mosquitoes, thus reducing the populations of those pests. And they're not known to carry any diseases, though that may be small comfort to beleaguered Floridians.
http://science.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/09/17249991-gallinippers-m...
Mar 10, 2013
Howard
Dead Birds Litter Arlington Texas Parkway (Feb 28)
Arlington Animal Services responded to reports from drivers Tuesday morning of about 150 birds lying dead on Pioneer Parkway.
The birds were found just east of Walgreens at 2200 E. Pioneer Parkway and running north across Pioneer to the next pole.
The City of Arlington’s contract veterinarian, Dr. Jani Hodges, performed an examination of one of the birds to determine the cause of death. The results were inconclusive.
Winds gusts of 40 mph were reported Monday night and lasted through the early hours of Tuesday morning. Winds, coupled with the fact that the birds were found directly under an electrical transmission line, resulted in one theory for the bird deaths.
According to an e-mail from Arlington Office of Communication Director, Rebecca Rodriguez, “The transmission lines touched briefly, causing an arc which could have electrocuted the birds.”
There were no reports of power outages or power surges in the area.
There was no evidence of electrical burns on the birds.
Source
http://www.arlingtonvoice.com/story/news/02/28/2013/dead-birds-litt...
Mar 10, 2013
lonne rey
More dead pigs found floating in river
Despite pledges on water safety by Shanghai authorities, public concerns remain after reports that more than 2800 dead pigs were found floating in the upper Songjiang section of the Huangpu River, igniting fears among city residents of contaminated tap water, according to state news media reports on Monday.
Officials were trying to determine who had dumped the carcasses into the river, the Huangpu, which slices through the heart of Shanghai. Some reports blamed farmers. Officials were seeking to track the source of the pigs from marks on their ears, and a preliminary inquiry found that the dumping occurred in Zhejiang Province, which is south of Shanghai and upstream on the Huangpu.
A statement issued Monday by the Shanghai government and posted on its Web site said that there were piglets in the river as well as adult swine weighing hundreds of pounds. Residents in the Songjiang district, the area southwest of downtown Shanghai where most of the pigs have been discovered, said this was not the first time they had seen dead pigs in the Huangpu. But this time, the number was higher than in the past, according to the city government’s statement.
Songjiang district officials said they were gathering all the dead pigs in one place to safely dispose of them, Xinhua reported.
Source
Mar 11, 2013
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.wivb.com/dpp/news/buffalo/dead-fish-ducks-found-floating
Dead fish, ducks found floating
Updated: Tuesday, 12 Mar 2013, 6:05 PM EDT Published : Tuesday, 12 Mar 2013, 6:05 PM EDT
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - News 4 is working to learn more about a disturbing sight along the Union Ship Canal in Buffalo.
Our viewers tipped us off to loads of dead fish and even ducks in the water. So far, there's been no official explanation about how these animals died.
Mar 13, 2013
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.peruthisweek.com/news-3732-peru-thousands-of-dead-fish-f...
Peru: Thousands of dead fish found in Lake Titicaca
Dead fish floating in Lake Titicaca in the region of Puno (Photo: El Comercio)
By Manuel Vigo
March 12, 2013
Puno (Map: Wikipedia)
Thousands of dead fish were found floating in Lake Titicaca, in the region of Puno, El Comercio reported.
According to the daily, regional officials have taken water samples and are currently investigating what killed the fish. Meanwhile, local residents reported seeing a “strange liquid” in the lake last week.
According to officials, early reports indicate that water samples had low levels of oxygen, with levels of one to two millimeters per liter, below the normal range of five to eleven.
The lack of oxygen in the water, officials said, could have been caused by pollution in the water sources that feed Lake Titicaca.
The news is the latest incident to shake the local fishing industry. On Monday President Ollanta Humala said warned that Peru’s anchovy was in danger of extinction due to over fishing.
"We recognize the sacrifice of small fishermen, but we also know of irresponsibility and corruption among big companies that have plundered anchovies,” the president said.
Mar 13, 2013
Howard
65 Tons of Dead Fish in Brazil Lagoon (Mar 13)
Tens of thousands of shad have died in the Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon in Rio de Janeiro due to low oxygen levels in the water.
65 tons of dead fish have been removed from the lagoon as of Wednesday, March 13.
The lagoon is set to host the rowing events when Brazil hosts the 2016 Olympic Games and is connected to the Atlantic Ocean via a canal that splits the beaches of Ipanema and Leblon.
Sources
http://www.windsorstar.com/travel/Brazil+tons+dead+fish+removed+fro...
http://news.msn.co.nz/worldnews/8627277/thousands-of-dead-fish-in-o...
http://news.yahoo.com/lightbox/pollution-kills-thousands-of-fish-in...
http://www.hispanicallyspeakingnews.com/latino-daily-news/details/b...
Mar 16, 2013
KM
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2294571/Scientists-struggle...
Scientists struggle to solve mystery of hundreds of starving sea lion pups that have been washing ashore in Southern California
By Daily Mail Reporter
PUBLISHED: 22:35 GMT, 16 March 2013 | UPDATED: 22:46 GMT, 16 March 2013
Hundreds of malnourished sea lion pups have been washing ashore along the Southern California coastline in recent months, and scientists still cannot say for sure what is causing this disconcerting phenomenon.
The first pups showed up on local beaches in early January. Since then, the number of reported strandings has been on the rise, with the small emaciated marine mammals flooding rescue centers between San Diego and Santa Barbara.
As of March 13, nearly 520 young sea lions have been admitted to five rescue facilities, which is higher than the annual total for some years.
Stranded: Since January, more than 500 emaciated and dehydrated sea lion pups have been admitted into rescue centers in Southern California
Skin and bones: Pups that have been showing up on local beaches weigh about half of what they supposed to weigh at nine months, and they also suffer from dehydration and hypothermia
The pups that have been showing up on Southern California beaches are about nine months old. At that age, healthy sea lions weigh between 55-66lbs, but the animals that have been inundating rescue centers weigh only half that.
Sharon Melin, a wildlife biologist with the National Fisheries Service, told Wired that she believes the pups have weaned themselves early and left their colonies.
But being too weak to find food on their own, the critters have been stranding themselves on California beaches in a desperate attempt to survive.
What remains a mystery to scientists is why the youngsters are leaving home ahead of schedule in the first place.
By the time they are admitted to rescue centers, many of the pups are skin and bones, and suffering from dehydration and hypothermia. Those who can be saved spend a couple of months gaining weight before being returned into the ocean.
The pups' treatment begins with a liquid diet and a gruel-like mix of electrolytes, protein, sugar, and ground up fish bits before they move to solid foods like herring.
Onslaught: Malnourished sea lions pups line the floors of the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach after 18 rescues in two days, putting the current patient count at 84 sea lions
Exodus: Experts say the pups have weaned themselves early and left home, but being too weak to find food on their own, they have been coming ashore in a last-ditch effort to survive
Sea lion rehab: The youngsters' two-month treatment begins with a liquid diet and fishy smoothies before they move to solid foods like herring
Rescue facilities up and down the coast have been struggling to keep up with the relentless onslaught of stranded pups in dire need of help.
'We have admitted over 250 [pups] since January 1,' said Marine Mammal Care Center director David Bard. 'We normally have numbers in the teens for these animals.'
The Pacific Marine Mammal Center declared a state of emergency this week after performing 18 rescues over the course of two days.
Despite the growing strain on their resources, rescue facilities have been largely successful at rehabilitating the malnourished mammals. Sarah Wilkin, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, said the mortality rates among the pups are relatively low, ranging from 20-30 per cent.
No easy answers: Wildlife experts have been struggling to understand what is causing the pups to leave their colonies ahead of schedule
Precedent: The last time rescue centers in California have seen so many pups getting stranded was in 2009, which was an El Nino year
The bad news is that it is not even peak stranding season yet, and experts expect the number of pups showing up on beaches to go up in the next two months.
Whatever is causing young sea lions to leave their colonies early also has been taking a toll on adult females who have been aborting pregnancies or delivering premature pups.
Wildlife experts have been struggling to explain this dramatic spike in the number of strandings. Scientists have been taking blood samples from animals and collecting data in the colonies on San Nicolas Island as part of an ongoing investigation.
The last time local rescue centers have seen so many pups washing ashore in California was in 2009, when food supplies in the Pacific Ocean took a major hit as a result of the El Nino - a band of anomalously warm ocean water temperatures that develops every three-seven years.
But 2012 was not an El Nino year, suggesting that something else has been causing the young sea lions to leave home in search of resources, often at their own peril.
Mar 17, 2013
Derrick Johnson
Yunderup fish kill examined
Some of the dead fish that have washed up in South Yunderup. Authorities to look into the cause.
"SOUTH Yunderup residents are urged to avoid touching the dead fish that washed up on the shores of the lake near Wellya Crescent, a Department of Fisheries spokeswoman said.
She said mass deaths were usually the result of natural events.
However, they can be due to other environmental and human-induced factors.
Wellya Crescent residents were appalled to find hundreds of dead fish washed up on the shores of the lake last week.
The spokeswoman said a fish kill was characterised by a large number of fish dying over a short period in one area.
Shire of Murray officers are also investigating |the kill."
Source
Mar 20, 2013
KM
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-21872210
Wave of prawn deaths baffles Chile city of Coronel
Thousands of dead prawns have washed up on a beach in Chile, sparking an investigation.
Hundreds of dead crabs were also washed ashore in Coronel city, about 530km (330 miles) from the capital, Santiago.
Fishermen suggested the deaths may have been caused by local power stations that use seawater as a cooling agent. The power firms have not commented.
Experts are looking into water temperature and oxygen levels and other details to explain the deaths.
"We're investigating the Coronel Bay to establish the physical parameters of temperature, electric conductivity and, above all, the oxygen," said local environment official Victor Casanova.
Local fishermen blamed nearby power generation plants Bocamina 1 and 2 and Colbun.
"I'm 69 years old and started fishing when I was nine, but as a fisherman, I never saw a disaster of this magnitude,'' Gregorio Ortega told local Radio Bio Bio.
While some blame pollution, others say the death of the crustaceans could be a consequence of the El Nino phenomenon, which warms the waters of the Pacific.
Marisol Ortega, a spokeswoman for the fishermen, said she feared the deaths would affect the livelihood of their community.
"The way everything is being destroyed here, come the high season in November, we're already thinking we won't have anything to take from the sea," she said.
Mar 21, 2013
Howard
15 Tons of Dead Fish in South Africa Lagoon (Mar 20)
The dead mullets (commonly known as harders) started washing up on the shoreline on 15 March.
"The exact cause is being investigated, but may be difficult to determine," the City's Wilfred Solomons-Johannes said in a statement.
"It is suspected, however, that the fish deaths could be attributed to high nutrient levels, high water temperatures and low oxygen levels."
Summer low water levels could have added to the low available oxygen, Solomons-Johannes added.
"At this stage there is no evidence of any toxic spill."
He said samples of fish tissue were being analysed by the department of agriculture, fisheries and forestry.
Meanwhile, members of the public are advised not to collect or eat the dead fish, the statement said.
In addition, recreational users of the vlei and local residents are urged to avoid swimming and other water-based recreational activities such as canoeing downstream of the Otto du Plessis Drive bridge.
To date, approximately 10 tons of fish have been removed and taken to the Visserhok landfill site and a further 5 tons are expected to be cleared away.
Source
http://www.news24.com/Travel/South-Africa/Dead-fish-shuts-Milnerton...
Mar 21, 2013
Carlos
100 pelicans found dead in Brevard County; cause unknown
BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. —About 100 brown pelicans have been found dead in Brevard County in the past two months and officials are not sure why, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said.
The birds are found emaciated and filled with parasites.
"The pelicans are emaciated and have heavy parasite counts, and, to our knowledge, other bird species have not been affected," said FWC researcher Dan Wolf in a press release.
Researchers are assessing the birds to figure out what is going on.
They sent samples to the National Wildlife Health Center for testing but have not yet heard back.
Additional testing will tell researchers whether botulism is the cause. According to officials, botulism is sometimes the cause of die-offs like this.
But botulism usually kills birds too quickly for them to become emaciated.
Source: http://www.wesh.com/news/central-florida/brevard-county/100-pelican...
Mar 23, 2013
lonne rey
Pilot whales beach in South Africa
Sunday, March 24, 2013 at 4:53 AM
Six of 19 pilot whales that were stranded Sunday on a beach in the South African city of Cape Town have died and authorities said they planned to euthanize some of the surviving whales
JOHANNESBURG —
Six of 19 pilot whales that were stranded Sunday on a beach in the South African city of Cape Town have died and authorities said they planned to euthanize some of the surviving whales.
Police and other rescue workers had hosed down the surviving whales at Noordhoek Beach to try to keep them alive.
The South African Press Association quoted Craig Lambinon, a spokesman for the National Sea Rescue Institute, as saying authorities had considered whether to try and refloat the whales, which washed up on the beach on Sunday morning.
Source
Mar 24, 2013
Mark
PROOF of the methane being released:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2298728/Usually-I-ca...
In these cases, not so much from shifting ground but from the permafrost melting as the ground is being heated from below by the swirling core.
Mar 25, 2013
KM
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-21921145
China pulls 1,000 dead ducks from Sichuan river
Around 1,000 dead ducks have been pulled from a river in southwest China, local officials say.
Residents found the dead ducks in Nanhe river in Pengshan county, Sichuan province, and alerted the environmental department, they said.
Local residents and livestock were not at risk as the river was not used for drinking water, officials added.
The news comes as the toll of dead pigs pulled from Shanghai's Huangpu river passed 16,000.
Speaking in an interview with China National Radio on Sunday, Liang Weidong, a deputy director in Pengshan's publicity department, said that the authorities were first made aware of the ducks on Tuesday.
Officials discovered over 50 woven bags which contained the carcasses of around 1,000 ducks in the river.
They were unable to determine the cause of death as some of the ducks were already decomposed, Mr Liang said, adding that the bodies had been disinfected and buried.
An initial investigation suggested that the duck corpses had originated from upstream and were not dumped by local Pengshan farmers, he said.
'Thick soup'
The news has prompted concern and criticism from some users on weibo, China's version of Twitter, with many expressing incredulity at the government's assurance that the water is safe.
"Dead pigs, dead ducks... this soup is getting thicker and thicker," wrote one person with the username Baby Lucky.
"The dead pigs haven't even disappeared yet, and now the dead ducks emerge - does this society enjoy being competitive?" wrote netizen sugarandsweet.
"The dead ducks in Pengshan river present us with a very practical problem, and show how society's bottom line is getting lower and lower," weibo user If So said.
The news came as Shanghai's municipal government confirmed that over 16,000 pigs corpses had been pulled from Huangpu river, which supplies drinking water to Shanghai.
The work of fishing out the dead pigs in the river was "basically finished", the government said in a statement released on Sunday.
Workers have been pulling dead pigs from Huangpu river for the past two weeks, sparking concern amongst residents and on China's microblogs. It is still not clear where the dead pigs came from.
Mar 25, 2013
KM
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-21955740
Madagascar hit by 'severe' plague of locusts
A severe plague of locusts has infested about half of Madagascar, threatening crops and raising concerns about food shortages, a UN agency says.
The UN's Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) said billions of the plant-devouring insects could cause hunger for 60% of the population.
About $22m (£14.5m) was urgently needed to fight the plague in a country where many people are poor, the FAO added.
It was the worst plague to hit the island since the 1950s, the FAO said.
FAO locust control expert Annie Monard told BBC Focus on Africa the plague posed a major threat to the Indian Ocean island.
'Generation of locusts'
"The last one was in the 1950s and it had a duration of 17 years so if nothing is done it can last for five to 10 years, depending on the conditions," she said.
"Currently, about half the country is infested by hoppers and flying swarms - each swarm made up of billions of plant-devouring insects," the FAO said in a statement.
"FAO estimates that about two-thirds of the island country will be affected by the locust plague by September 2013 if no action is taken."
It said it needed donors to give more than $22m in emergency funding by June so that a full-scale spraying campaign could be launched to fight the plague.
The plague threatened pasture for livestock and rice crops - the main staple in Madagascar, the FAO said.
"Nearly 60% of the island's more than 22m people could be threatened by a significant worsening of hunger in a country that already had extremely high rates of food insecurity and malnutrition," it added.
An estimated 85% of people in Madagascar, which has a population of more than 22 million, live on less than a dollar a day.
The Locust Control Centre in Madagascar had treated 30,000 hectares of farmland since last October, but a cyclone in February made the situation worse, the FAO said.
The cyclone not only damaged crops but created "optimal conditions for one more generation of locusts to breed", it added.
Mar 27, 2013
lonne rey
update
Starving Sea Lion Pups Overwhelm Southern California Rescue Organizations
By SUE MANNING 03/29/13 06:05 PM ET EDT
LOS ANGELES — Hundreds of starving sea lion pups are washing up on beaches from San Diego to Santa Barbara, overwhelming rescue centers and leaving scientists
It's gotten so bad in the past two weeks that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration declared an "unusual mortality event." That will allow more scientists to join the search for the cause, Melin said.
Live sea lion strandings are nearly three times higher than the historical average, said Jim Milbury of the National Marine Fisheries Service, part of NOAA.
Between Jan. 1 and March 24, 948 pups were rescued, Milbury said. The bulk of those were in Los Angeles County, which had 395, followed by San Diego, Orange, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, he said. Last year, only about 100 pups needed saving during the same period.
At the Pacific Marine Mammal Care Center in Laguna Beach, there were 139 animals being cared for Friday. Of those, 131 were sea lion pups, said spokeswoman Melissa Sciacca. She said the center has treated more than 220 sea lion pups so far this year, while the center treated 118 in all of 2012.
Southern California rescue facilities have become so crowded they have had to start sending pups to Northern California, said Jeff Boehm, executive director at The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, which was caring for 30 starving pups.
There has been no sign of adult female mortality, Melin said. But the pups' situation on the beaches is so bad, rescuers have had to leave the worst of them in an effort to save the strongest ones, she said.
Scientists expect the death toll to rise in April when weaning is supposed to take place. They also expect it to move further north, Melin said.
Source
Mar 31, 2013
Derrick Johnson
British butterfly species facing extinction after wettest summer
Britain's butterflies suffered catastrophically in 2012, which saw the wettest summer on record for England. No fewer than 52 of the 56 resident British species suffered declines in the relentless rain and cold, some to such an extent that they now face extinction in parts of the country, according to the annual survey of the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme.
The weather created disastrous conditions for species such as fritillaries as they struggled to find food, shelter and mating opportunities; butterflies fell to a record low, and 13 species suffered their worst year on record.
The critically endangered high brown fritillary fell by 46 per cent, the vulnerable marsh fritillary was down 71 per cent and the endangered heath fritillary saw its population plummet by 50 per cent.
The black hairstreak, one of the UK's rarest species, saw its population fall by 98 per cent.
Source
Apr 2, 2013
Howard
Thousands of Livestock Killed by Severe Winter Weather in Northern Ireland & Wales (Apr 5)
Michelle O’Neill said 3,130 sheep have been collected to date, and had some words of reassurance for farmers in doubt about who will and will not be eligible for help.
Mr Campbell, 45 and from near Banbridge, said: “It is soul-destroying looking at the amount of dead animals and the losses which the farmer has.
“Basically you’re just seeing a pile of dead carcasses — predominantly sheep — and bags upon bags of lambs that farmers have gathered up.
“I’m at it about seven or eight years now,” he said.
“I’ve never seen it as bad – just the volume of animals that’s lying dead, and probably a whole lot more we haven’t got yet.
Across North Wales, thousands of sheep are feared to have died under snowdrifts up to 15ft in the worst lambing disaster since the snow crises of 1947 and 1963.
Llanfairfechan farmer Emyr Williams said it would be impossible to deal with the devastation in seven days and some animals could be buried under snow for weeks.
Sources
http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/headlines/more-than-3-000-dead-ani...
http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/headlines/farmers-left-counting-co...
http://www.itv.com/news/update/2013-04-05/over-3-000-animals-found-...
http://www.northwalesweeklynews.co.uk/conwy-county-news/local-conwy...
http://www.euronews.com/nocomment/2013/03/26/thousands-animals-fear...
Apr 5, 2013
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.caribbean360.com/index.php/news/trinidad_tobago_news/678...
Tuesday April 9 2013
Trinidad environmentalists investigate mystery death of hundreds of black vultures
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, Tuesday April 9, 2013 - The Environmental Management Authority (EMA) says it is unable to identify any environmental reasons why more than 100 black vultures (Coragyps atratus) died in West Trinidad on Monday.
The EMA said it is also working on the theory that the birds may have been feeding on the carcass of an animal which had been poisoned.
“We can’t identify an environmental cause as such that they were exposed to. There were 150 birds, we estimated. There was nothing else in the vicinity. We have been liaising with the Poultry Surveillance Unit, which is part of the National Disease Centre, to see if it was a case of the avian flu,” EMA chief executive officer Dr. Joth Singh told the Trinidad Guardian newspaper.
But he said preliminary tests had shown avian flu had not killed the birds.
“That was not the cause and there is speculation that they may have been poisoned, that they were poisoned by an animal or carcass that they ate. We are trying to eliminate the causes and we have not found any chemical spills or seen any anywhere,” he said.
A member of the environmental activist group, Papa Bois Conservation, said the birds showed signs of poisoning with foam leaking out of their beaks and their talons curling up.
Stephen Broadbridge said the deaths follow the apparent release of poison into the Marianne River in Blanchiseusse, south east of here last week, killing a significant number of fishes.
Late last month, a number of dogs on the outskirts of the capital were found poisoned.
“This is criminal. If someone is found to be responsible, that person should face legal consequences, because the fact is that if the birds have been poisoned, then that poison can be introduced into our eco-system and end up getting back to humans.
“We are part of the food chain. And when you poison birds, they can fall anywhere, including the ocean, and be eaten by fish that we consume,” Broadbridge told reporters, adding that the apparent killing of the birds was also “terribly cruel” as most of the animals would have suffered for long periods before dying.
The dead birds were found in Chaguaramas and according to a statement issued by the Chaguaramas Development Authority (CDA) investigations are being carried out to determine the cause.
“Following the sightings, the Veterinary Public Health Unit of the Ministry of Health, the Poultry Surveillance Unit of the Ministry of Food Production, Environmental Management Authority (EMA) and Forestry Division were all alerted and samples of the carcasses have been taken for testing. We will advise later of the test results,” it said.
The dead birds are being bagged and insulated in large metal bins
Apr 9, 2013
Starr DiGiacomo
http://english.sina.com/china/p/2013/0406/579121.html
Hundreds of kilos of dead fish found in river in Shanghai
About 250 kilograms of dead fish have been retrieved from a river in Sijintang River in Shanghai since April 3, local water authorities said on Saturday.
Mr. Gao, head of Songjiang District Water Supplies Bureau, said the water quality of the river is within safety range according to the latest test.
“To figure out the cause of the death, dead fish samples will be sent to Shanghai Municipal Agricultural Commission for further study,” Gao added.
Apr 9, 2013
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/life-savers-and-councils-demand-an...
Lifesavers and mayors demand answers over dead fish washing up on our shores
CONCERN: Surf life saver Dick Olesinski has never seen so many dead fish on the beach. Picture: Laffer Stephen Source: adelaidenow
BEACHGOERS, lifesaving clubs and councils are united in demanding answers over the mass death of marine life littering local beaches.
They have welcomed a decision by the State Government, in the face of mounting public concern, to set up a taskforce of scientists to investigate the mass fish kill.
But they warn the findings must be acted upon to quell community concerns of a repeat event.
Seacliff Surf Life Saving president Andrew Chandler said he was eager to learn the outcome of the investigation.
"We need to know if it is a natural phenomenon or caused by humans to show us that we are not doing anything wrong as a community, or if it does come from pollution then this is something we must address," he said.
Thousands of dead fish have washed up along the foreshore at Moana Beach.
SIXTEEN dolphins have mysteriously washed up on beaches in the past month;
TWO penguins were found dead locally, one at Holdfast Shores and the other at Seacliff, and;
TENS of thousands of small fish as well as snapper, whiting, kingfish and mulloway were found washed up in the sands between Brighton and Marino.
Thousands of dead fish have washed up along the foreshore at Moana Beach.
Henley Surf Life Saving Club president Neville Fielder said the spate of dead marine life was the worst in his 40 years at the beach.
"We had a lot of dead carp wash up on the shore a few years ago but that was nothing like this," Mr Fielder said.
Christies Beach Surf Life Saving Club president Ron Harwood said clubs urgently needed to know what was causing the fish to die.
"If it's a water issue we have to take whatever steps are necessary to keep people out of the water," Mr Harwood said.
Dead fish on Seaford beach . Picture: Roger Wyman
Recfish SA executive director Gary Flack said the carnage of marine life along Adelaide's coast was unprecedented.
"The main concern is that is that they (the deaths) are ranging across a mix of species from shallow water fish like yellow fin whiting to reef dwellers like snapper," Mr Flack said.
Brighton Tackle and Fish owner Pete Whiting said an investigation by an independent body was needed to reassure the public the desalination plant was not to blame.
"The talk is all about the desal plant, it doesn't mean it is the desal plant but we need an independent inquiry," Mr Whiting said.
Dead fish on Seaford beach . Picture: Roger Wyman
Holdfast Bay Mayor Ken Rollond said he wanted to learn whether pollution and run-off from creeks, rivers, and drains could be a cause of algal blooms.
"The investigation is a worthwhile thing, we need independent scientists," he said.
Onkaparinga Mayor Lorraine Rosenberg said it was crucial to find out if the cause was natural.
"We need to know whether it is natural or not, because if it's not then we have to look at what mechanisms can be done to prevent it," Ms Rosenberg said.
Dead fish on Seaford beach . Picture: Roger Wyman
Onkaparinga councillor and former Surf Life Saving SA president Bill Jamieson said: "We need to work out what's happening with it because it's a pretty special gulf and a lot of unique species live down our way."
Biosecurity SA manager of aquatic pests Vic Neverauskas said the fact most of the dead fish were small, shallow-water species coupled with signs of irritated and swollen gills suggested an algal bloom was to blame.
Algal blooms, believed to be caused by a hotter-than-usual March, deplete oxygen in the water and cause fish to die.
Fisheries Minister Gail Gago said testing of fish and water samples would be completed as soon as possible.
Dead fish on Seaford beach. Picture: Roger Wyman/NewsForce
"To date, pathology tests show no evidence of disease, with evidence so far tending to suggest the predominantly juvenile fish that have died have been subjected to heat stress or lower oxygen levels consistent with algal blooms," Ms Gago said.
"(However) all findings will be made public."
This dead young dolphin washed ashore on Seacliff beach last week. Picture: Newsforce
Some of the dead fish washed ashore at Moana. Picture: Andy Sintome
This large fish is among the dead marine life being washed ashore along the Adelaide metropolitan coastline. Picture: Stefann van Damme/Newsforce
Apr 9, 2013
Howard
Alarm as 'Mass Mortalities' of Marine Life Wash Ashore in Eastern UK (Apr 8)
An estimated count of 800,000 marine animals have washed ashore in a 10-mile stretch of Holderness coastline from Barmston to Bridlington.
In all, 150,000 velvet swimming crabs, 10,500 edible crabs, 2,000 common lobsters and a staggering 635,000 mussels have been lost.
Cuttlefish bones have been recorded along the length of the East Coast, as well as increased numbers of dead harbour porpoises on Lincolnshire beaches.
The death of hundreds of seabirds, found washed up on beaches from Aberdeenshire to North Yorkshire with over 200 dead or dying puffins has been recorded on Yorkshire beaches alone between Scarborough and Withernsea.
The RSPB have described it as the worst puffin “wreck” seen for half a century, with around 10 per cent of the puffin population lost at Bempton.
The Natural History Museum Strandings team says over 150 porpoises have washed up along the East Coast this year, with 12 reported on the Lincolnshire coast. Evidence from post-mortem examinations shows a high level of disease and bacterial infection, which is being attributed to the prolonged winter and stormy weather.
Fisherman have been unable to put out to sea because of the strong easterly winds and when they have been able to fish the catches have been low, less than half this time last year, with lobsters still dormant because of the unseasonally low temperatures.
Source
http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/at-a-glance/general-news/alarm-...
Apr 10, 2013
Tracie Crespo
http://science.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/04/12/17721486-two-headed-pig...
Two-headed pig born in China
This picture taken on April 10, 2013 shows a newly born two-headed pig in a village in Jiujiang, east China's Jiangxi province.
On the heels of recent news about a two-headed bull shark, a two-head pig has been born in a village in east China's Jianxi province, according to the news reports.
The photo shows a pig with two snouts, two ears and what appears to be a shared eye. A local veterinarian told the AFP news agency the animal is suffering a deformity and is unlikely to survive.
The deformity may be the same condition, called "axial bifurcation," that researchers determined was the cause of the two-headed bull shark in a study published this March in Journal of Fish Biology.
It results from an embryo splitting into two separate organisms, or twins, but the process is incomplete.
"Halfway through the process of forming twins, the embryo stops dividing," Michael Wagner, a researcher at Michigan State University, told LiveScience.
The mutation, he added, occurs across animals, including humans.
While rare, in addition to the pig shown here and the shark, two-headed turtles, snakes, kittens, and other critters have been reported in recent years.
Apr 12, 2013