Shrinking goats, shrinking forests and expanding Saki species. Some mammals in the news

Here are a few recent mammal articles that you might find interesting…

Alpine goats shrinking due to global warming. Climate change is causing Alpine goats in the Italian Alps to shrink, say scientists from Durham University. See http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/shrinking-goats.html#cr

Northern White Rhino on brink of extinction.The death of a Northern White Rhino has left the species on the brink of extinction as now only six remain in the world, and just one breeding male. See http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/rhino-extinction.html#cr

Speaking of Rhinos, U.S. Indictment Accuses South African Brothers of Trafficking Rhino Horns. U.S. authorities today announced the indictment of the alleged kingpin of a South African rhino poaching and trafficking syndicate, Dawie Groenewald, and his brother, Janneman, and their company Out of Africa Adventurous Safaris on multiple charges, including conspiracy, money laundering, and wildlife crime. See http://focusingonwildlife.com/news/u-s-indictment-accuses-south-african-brothers-of-trafficking-rhino-horns/

Meanwhile in South America …. Scientists uncover five new species of ‘toupee’ monkeys in the Amazon. While saki monkeys may be characterized by floppy mops of hair that resemble the worst of human toupees, these acrobatic, tree-dwelling primates are essential for dispersing seeds across the vast Amazon landscape as they primarily dine on fruit. After long being neglected by both scientists and conservationists, a massive research effort by one intrepid researcher has revealed the full-scale of saki monkey diversity, uncovering five new species. See http://focusingonwildlife.com/news/scientists-uncover-five-new-species-of-toupee-monkeys-in-the-amazon/.

And in Peru, Saving the Peruvian Spider Monkeys. Projects Abroad releases Peruvian spider monkeys (Ateles chamek) back into the wild. See http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/world/spider-monkey-release.html#cr

But in Brazil the Use of mammals is still prevalent in Brazil’s Conservation Units. A new study published in mongabay.com‘s open-access journal Tropical Conservation Science has found that the undocumented use of animals, particularly mammals, continues to occur in Brazil’s protected areas
Read more at http://news.mongabay.com/2014/1006-raza-mammals-brazil-tcs.html

And some depressing reading on the plight of the Bornean Orangutan Marooned in shrinking forests, Bornean Orangutans hang on as disaster looms. See http://focusingonwildlife.com/news/marooned-in-shrinking-forests-bornean-orangutans-hang-on-as-disaster-looms-part-i/

Jon