hoan kiem swinhoe softshell turtle

極度瀕危的斑鱉是世上體型最大的龜類之一，居於淡水水域。世上只餘下四隻，兩隻於越南，另外兩隻於中國。可是，棲息於越南河內還劍湖被稱為「還劍鱉」的斑鱉近日去世，估計80-100歲。

the critically endangered swinhoe softshell turtle is one of the world’s largest turtle. there are only four of these freshwater turtles left on earth; two of them in vietnam, and the other two in china. recently, one of the swinhoe softshell turtle that lives in Hoan Kiem lake in central Hanoi, vietnam, was found dead, and it was said to be 80-100 years old.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/20/vietnam-mourns-death-of-sacred-giant-turtle

http://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/trad/world/2016/01/160120_vietnam_turtle

trap prey for later

如果沒有冰箱，你會怎樣保存食物？有研究指埃莉氏隼會把抓到的獵物塞進石縫裡，讓獵物無法逃走，到需要時再食用。這行為多出現於繁殖期，估計是為確保幼鳥有足夠的食糧。

how could you keep your food fresh without a refrigerator? Eleonora’s falcons have been observed trapping their preys fresh by jamming them in rock crevasses for later meals. they often do that when they rear their chicks, to ensure they got enough food to feed.

http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/stories/falcons-found-keeping-other-birds-prisoners-eating-them

https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn28745-falcons-imprison-live-birds-to-keep-them-fresh-for-a-later-meal/

US banning microbeads

美國立法禁止一系列含塑膠微粒的產品，當中包括日常用品如牙膏、潔面乳、沐浴露等。這些塑膠微粒因未能被過濾而大量排出大海，危害整個海洋生態。雖然美國每年的塑膠垃圾量遠遠低於其他國家，但單單紐約州每年就制造19噸的塑膠微粒垃圾。

the US government approved a bill on banning products that contain microbeads, which includes many daily products like toothpastes, facial soaps, bodywahses,etc. these microbeads are too tiny theta they couldn’t be filtered before they wash out to the ocean and highly damaging our ocean and wildlife. US is not one of the top countries that produce the most ocean plastic waste, but new york state alone is producing 19tons of microbeads that ends up in our ocean each year!

http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2016-01-06/ban-on-microbeads-won-t-save-seas-from-plastics

http://www.businessinsider.com/why-obama-banned-microbead-soap-2015-12

beavers moved-in

近來有一對河狸搬進了溫哥華奧運村裡的人工湖，牠們在湖裡游泳、磨牙及建水壩，相信正計劃於那裡繁殖。公園暫時把一些較大及較脆弱的樹用金屬網保護，避免被河狸破壞。

a pair of beavers have recently moved to a man-made pond of the Olympic Village in Vancouver. they are spotted swimming, felling trees and building dam. there is a big chance they are starting a family there. the park has no plan of removing or relocating the beavers, but they have wrapped large and more vulnerable trees with metal mesh to protect them from the beavers.

http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/blogs/beaver-couple-occupies-manmade-pond-middle-vancouver-bc

http://globalnews.ca/news/2432724/leave-it-to-beavers-toothy-rodents-fell-dozens-of-trees-in-vancouver/

cage-free eggs

籠子養殖的雞被關在擁擠、衛生差並容易患病的環境下生活。美國有15家連鎖餐廳承諾會逐步改用非籠子養殖雞蛋，並定立目標期限。除了餐廳，一些食品供應商也承諾會改用更人道的養殖方法所生的雞蛋。相信長遠美國能消除籠子養殖雞的方法，改變養殖雞的命運。

caged chicken are packed in small cages with bad living environment and easily to catch disease. 15 chain restaurants in america pledged to move to 100% cage-free eggs in their supply chains on different timelines. beside that, some of the biggest food producers have also made commitment to swtich to cage-free eggs. as more are willing to meet cage-free demand, hopefully this could eliminate the traditional cages for chicken farming.

http://www.epochtimes.com/b5/15/12/26/n4604720.htm

http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/12/30/461483821/the-year-in-eggs-everyones-going-cage-free-except-supermarkets

poaching “guide”

大多學者於科學論文發佈發現新物種時，會提及發現的位置作研究證據。發現新物種原本是個好消息，但有些黑商竟然藉此資訊去獵捕這些稀有物種。這令學術界關注並思考不再公開位置資訊，免得成威脅這些動物的幫兇。

when scientists discover a new species, they usually would reveal geographical data in the academic journal. however, black market traders and poachers would use these information to collect these rare species. scientists are now thinking about prohibiting the publication of location data of endangered species, in order to avoid becoming the accomplices in putting them in greater danger.

http://news.ltn.com.tw/news/world/paper/945862

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jan/01/poachers-using-science-papers-to-target-newly-discovered-species

remove dam to rebound ecosystem

美國Elwha River的水覇本來把生物分隔，破壞生態平衡。自2011年起花了幾年時間把它拆掉，成功令原居那裡的生物重新回來！當中鮭魚的再度出現，為河流的動植物帶來豐富物質，有利整個生態鏈。
the Elwha River Dam in Washington State used to block the flow and divid the local ecosystem until it was torn down starting 2011. the removal of the dam has brought back many local wildlife. the return of salmon brings nutrients and food to the fresh water for the other plants and animals, which benefit the whole food chain.

http://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/18975/20151228/dam-removal-restores-rivers-natural-flow-improves-local-ecosystem.htm

http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com/2015/12/ecosystem-rebounding-quickly-wake-elwha-river-dam-demolition

sea otter baby

美國加州一個水族館上月發現有一隻野生海獺常探訪館的戶外池，園方表示擔心，因健康的海獺很少會到訪。直到有一天早上，他們發現那隻海獺帶著一隻小海獺在池裡游，明白牠是借用這安全的地方生小孩。

a wild sea otter has been visiting monterey bay aquarium’s outdoor pool quite often. as it’s rare for a healthy sea otter to visit the pool, so the staff started to worry if it is alright. until one morning, they found a new pup resting on its belly, and realized it was looking for a safe place to give birth.

http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/stories/wild-sea-otter-gives-birth-aquarium-give-birth

opens door for stray dogs

希臘一家咖啡館在關門後會讓流浪狗進去休息。原來當地街上有很多流浪狗，當地人會餵飼牠們，跟牠們玩，更會為牠們帶上頸圈，避免牠們被送往收容所。讓這些流浪狗變成整個社區共同照顧的狗隻。

a cafe in Greece let its door open for stray dogs to rest. there are many stray dogs in Greece, and many of the local people would put collards on them to prevent them being put in shelters. people would feed and care for these dogs, and these stray dogs became pet of the community.

http://www.tanews.org.tw/info/9523

https://www.thedodo.com/coffee-shop-stray-dogs-1519759697.html

orangutan has sense of humor

有人為動物園裡的紅毛猩猩表演了一個簡單的魔術，然後牠非常興奮及忍不住大笑。這證明除了人類，動物也有幽默感。
a man showed an orangutan in the zoo a simple magic trick, and the orangutan watched through the glass wall and collapsed in laughters. this showed that human is not the only animal that has sense of humor.

http://abc7chicago.com/pets/video-orangutan-bursts-into-laughter-after-zoo-visitor-performs-trick/1117823/

http://news.sina.com.hk/news/20151216/-9-4551698/1.html