Wildlife & Biodiversity

Global Eco Watch: Major ecological happenings of the week (November 13 – 17)

Down To Earth brings you the top happenings in the world of global ecology

 
By DTE Staff
Published: Sunday 17 November 2019

Costa Rica launches campaign to make travellers not take wildlife selfies

Costa Rica, the Central American country that is home to five per cent of the world’s biodiversity, has launched a campaign to urge tourists to not take wildlife selfies, according to a media report.

Wildlife in Costa Rice is the property of the state, which believes that humans getting in contact with animals can be bad for both. Wild animals can transmit pathogens to humans and vice versa.

The campaign has urged people not to throw food at wild animals in protected areas as well as rescue centres, not to grab, touch or hold them, not to throw objects at them and not to make loud noises at them, all with the aim of grabbing their attention.

Paris bans the use of wild animals in circuses

The Paris municipality has adopted a proposal that will refuse permits to any circus that features display of wild animals from the end of next year, a media report has said.

Under the new measures, any circus that is willing to give up its animals, will be given an amount of 50,000 Euros over three years to help it adapt.

The change comes after two years of intense discussion. A total of 65 municipalities in France already ban the use of animals in circuses. However, France only has municipal-level bans.

A total of 12 western European countries have a full, national ban, while another 11 have partial bans according to anti-circus group One Voice.

Kanpur Zoo animals affected because of air and noise pollution

Animals at the Kanpur Zoo are getting affected because of air and noise pollution in the city, especially in the area where the zoo is located, according to a media report.

The zoo’s veterinary officer was quoted in the report as saying that dust particles had been found in the lungs of a tiger that had died recently.

Moreover, mountain bears and rhinoceros have not been able to mate because of disturbance caused due to the construction of a roadways terminus near the zoo. The construction had been banned by the National Green Tribunal but was recently allowed by it under certain conditions.

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