 | Thai studenta at Ko Kai or Egg island Phang Nga Bay To see or download mini-video, go to http://news.prd.go.th/news_detail.php?newsid=216666 Young Reporter for Andaman News NBT (VHF dial) at 8.30am & local Cable TV channel 1 + maybe FM90.5 Radio Thailand 6pm, broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket provinces, & possibly FM108 Mazz Radio 7.30pm in Phuket, Thursday 10 April 2008 & http://news.prd.go.th or http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish Over 40 students from schools in Koh Yao or Yao Island district in Phang-Nga enjoyed a trip out to Koh Kai or Egg Islands. They had an opportunity to experience outdoor lessons, learning about the marine ecological system. Here they really got to know about coral reefs, sea grass, and rare sea animals. They admitted that the trip led to more awareness in marine resources: Voice *** girl "I learn about sea grass how many types they are, as well as names of coral reefs. I also learnt about mangrove forest and its usefulness and how we can benefit from the resources. After this I would love to explain or share with my friends or people in the community the importance of sea grass, mangrove forest, and how we can help preserve or look after them for the next generation." The day trip was part of a Youth Camp on marine resources conservation which is organised by the Phuket Marine and Coastal Resources Conservation Centre, aiming at educating and raising awareness for conservation. They are then expected to be networks or key members in prevention and resolving any exploitation of coastal resources. Koh Kai is located just 15 minutes from the east coast of Phuket Island. There, the turquoise water is so clear and so full of life, that we do not really have to snorkel and the beach is so white and so nice that people can enjoy sun bathing or exploring there. The island is so popular with snorkellors, including Asian or European tourists. After this fun learning experience, the students realize the value of natural resources, and vow to help conserve the environment as it is a precious asset for local communities and the country as a whole. This is Mathilde, reporting for Andaman News. |
 | Discovering a Coyote Den On a Barrier Island... A brief video clip of the discovery of a canid den on Cape St. George Reserve, Palm Sunday, 2008. The freshly dug den was dug out of the side of a 22 foot sand dune ridge, one of the oldest on the island. After reviewing these images, biologists at the US Fish & Wildlife Service and Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve, have confirmed that it is likely a coyote den. Bad news for some of the endangered species in these barrier islands; the invading coyotes depredate the Loggerhead sea turtle nests for eggs, and potentially threaten the Red Wolf breeding program on nearby St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge. Once established, coyotes are difficult to trap and remove. True to their reputations, they are very "wiley" escape artists. Let's hope this mama is caught before she has a litter of pups! |
 | Fresh Fish On Santa Cruz Island February 17--In the latter half of the 8 o'clock hour, Bald eagle K-10 brings a fresh fish to his nest. He eats part of it and works on getting the nest ready for eggs. He's quite the busy baldie! Please visit http://www.iws.org |
 | Komodo dragon eggs In the Center of Investigations Herpetológicas Reptilandia, our naturalist Jim Pether has achieved enormous success world-wide, managing to breed 17 dragons, for the first time in Europe. Spain and the Canary Islands, with its ideal climate, are now a great hope for perpetuating the species. For the conservation and perpetuation of this species, breeding in captivity is fundamental. Of 32 eggs, 17 were fertile, only in two more occasions the reproduction has been achieved in captivity, the United States and Indonesia, now, Spain and the Canary Isles have obtained it. |
 | Sea Turtle Nest Assessments on St. Vincent NWR Just about the time the loggerhead sea turtle egg laying tapers off on St. Vincent NWR, the turtle program volunteers really get down to business. The first nests of the season are ready to be inventoried for the all-important hatch out data. We excavate the marked nests and record the number of successfully hatched eggs, as well as the total number of eggs laid. Turtle biologists use this information in all sorts of ways, but it is one very strong indicator of future subspecies population trends. It is often the emotional climax of the season, as well. Although it can be satisfying to find a large, successful clutch of 150 hatched eggs,at times, we find nests that have been totally inundated with storm tides and erosion. And rarely, as you'll see here, we find a laggard hatchling at the bottom of a nest. As we release those stragglers into the Gulf of Mexico, it is a bittersweet parting. While it gives us concrete knowledge that we have helped at least one, handling their fragile little forms is a tangible reminder that the odds against their survival are great. For more information, visit our volunteer website at: http://st.vincentvolunteers.googlepages.com/home or for more refuge and volunteer photos go to: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stvincentvolunteers/sets/ |
 | Breeding in captivity Komodo dragon Breeding in captivity of the first ones Dragons of Komodo in Europe in Reptilandia Park. In the Center of Investigations Herpetológicas Reptilandia, our naturalist Jim Pether has achieved enormous success world-wide, managing to breed 17 dragons, for the first time in Europe. Spain and the Canary Islands, with its ideal climate, are now a great hope for perpetuating the species. For the conservation and perpetuation of this species, breeding in captivity is fundamental. Of 32 eggs, 17 were fertile, only in two more occasions the reproduction has been achieved in captivity, the United States and Indonesia, now, Spain and the Canary Isles have obtained it. |
 | ProNatura Turtle Program: Holbox Mexican conservation organization ProNatura's effort to monitor and protect an important nesting beach for sea turtles on the island of Holbox, Quintana Roo. Rodrigo Valle and Fidel Pena organize volunteers and conduct the monitoring. For more information: http://www.pronatura-ppy.org.mx/ |
 | Green Turtle Eggs Green turtle eggs found on Perhentian Island. They will be taken to a hatchery for the purpose of turtle conservation |
 | Least Tern http://mdc.mo.gov From about mid-May through August, the endangered Least Tern makes its home on sand bars and islands of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. The Least Tern is a bird that has adapted to raising its young on desert-like habitats. It lays a nest of one to five eggs in sand or gravel and faces many hazards. Predators take their toll, and careless humans can trample colonies of the well-disguised nests. Even in the best of times, the Least Tern must battle the extremes of the environment. Sand temperatures can range from 55 degrees at night to 125 degrees during the day... so the birds must keep the eggs warm at night and try to cool them during the day in order for them to survive. |
 | Artificial reefs Kata Phuket To listen or download mini-video, go to http://news.prd.go.th/news_detail.php?newsid=216213 Special Report for Andaman News TV11 (VHF dial) at 8.30am & local Cable TV channel 1 + maybe FM90.5 Radio Thailand 6pm, broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket provinces, & possibly FM108 Mazz Radio 7.30pm in Phuket, Monday 11 February 2008 & http://news.prd.go.th Being well known for rich underworld resources, the Andaman Sea in south Thailand is a diver's dream destination but some are apparently or unavoidably harming some coral reefs. Related agencies are now working on creating artificial reefs to reduce affects on natural reefs. Our special report today takes a good look at the operation to place artificial reefs in Kata Bay. These 150 concrete blocks were dropped into the sea near Koh Poo or Poo Island in Kata Bay off Phuket as part of the Marine and Coastal Resources Conservation Centre under the Marine and Coastal Resources Department in reviving marine resources. When over 100 concrete blocks are placed on top of one another at the sea ground, they can become new homes for marine life. To humans they are expected to become interesting new artificial coral reefs. The project is initiated to alleviate the natural resources exploitation in the Andaman region. Being famous for its spectacular diving sites, the Andaman Sea and Phang-Nga Bay which cover the ocean in Phuket, Phang-Nga and Krabi are sources of income earned from the fishing industry and tourism like diving. According to the department's data, as many as over 100 diving companies and tourist operators take their clients to different diving spots in the Andaman including Phi Phi, Koh Khai or Egg islands, Racha, Koh Poo or Poo island and other islands or bays around Phuket including Patong, Karon and Kata. These marine resources are however all affected or damaged in one way or another by various factors including over-fishing, pollution, soil erosion from land, climate change, and natural as well as human activity. The department then came up with the operation aiming to reduce the number of boats with visiting divers to the coral reefs, while the region still needs to attract tourists so the artificial reefs can create new diving spots as well. Projects with artificial reefs or using old ship or plane wrecks have been carried out successfully in Japan and many states in the US. When time passes the concrete blocks or artificial reefs are proved to be perfect homes for marine lives and favorite spots for divers which in turn help spread out divers from congested areas. "We then expect the artificial reefs will be beneficial in the long term. We have experimented and proved that the reefs have soft corals, sea fans, and have become very fertile to be perfect diving spots in the future." - Paitoon Panchaiphum, Director, Marine & Coastal Resources Conservation Centre, Phuket. In Kata and Karon beaches attract many holiday makers, and many love to also take long tail boats out to appreciate coral reefs. That's why the local government like the Karon Municipality stepped in to support the project. Fertile oceans mean local income. The Karon Deputy Mayor Sompong Dap-petch explained that the municipality put the budgeting in support of the project in its 3 year plan. In Phuket the concrete blocks were placed in six locations, two around Racha Island, and two at BangTao bay, which began in 2005 and now two more in Kata Karon bays, while two more are to be placed near Koh Yao Yai and Shark Point in Phang-Nga Bay. |
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