Earthweek: A Diary of the Planet

> > Quote > GRASSROOTS > Earthweek: A Diary of the Planet > > Courtesy of Earthweek.com > Earthweek: A Diary of the Planet > Birds vs. Fish > > Two sets of conservationists in the western United States are at odds over plans to kill 11,000 double-crested cormorants on Oregon’s East Sand Island to protect endangered juvenile salmon and steelhead trout from the Columbia River. > The Army Corps of Engineers is preparing to cull the live birds with shotguns and pour oil on the nests of about 26,000 birds to prevent their eggs from hatching. > The move has drawn criticism from the Audubon Society of Portland and Care2. > The Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission counters that it’s hard enough for the fish to make it through a network of dams on the river without being eaten up by a large number of cormorants at the river’s mouth. > “This is a difficult situation,” said Corps spokeswoman Diana Fredlund. “We are trying to balance the salmon and steelhead versus the birds.” > End quote > > I am so angry I don’t know what to do. So we destroy the fish population by our poor behavior and decide to kill the birds to repair our poor behavior. And humans are the most intelligent animal on earth. sigh > > And on a happier note. > > quote > Croc Fun > A crocodile may not seem like the best choice for a human playmate, but research reveals the reptiles do love to have fun. > Vladimir Dinets, a zoologist at the University of Tennessee, says he found that crocs can form powerful and playful relations not only with their own kind, but also with species like river otters and even humans. > “A man who rescued a crocodile that had been shot in the head became close friends with the animal. They happily played every day until the crocodile’s death 20 years later,” said Dinets. > Writing in the journal Animal Behavior and Cognition, Dinets says he found three types of play the animals engage in. > Playing with objects was the most common, while social play with others and locomotive play, like surfing or riding on currents, were observed less frequently. > Dinets suggests zoos should provide captive crocodiles with toys and other opportunities for play to make them happier and healthier. > End quote > > I claim that fish are smarter than we give them credit for I would bet that crocodilians, especially older crocodilians are probably a lot smarter than we give them credit for. > > Bob 310 429 8477 > http://www.PuraVidaAquatic.com