OneforAll-Earthlings @oneforall-earthlings-blog - Tumblr Blog

Fog at sunrise and large cypress? Pretty much photo heaven. This backwater area in Sunwanee River Valley in north Florida has trees up to 50 feet in circumference. They aren’t the oldest trees, they just form large bases from the flooding and water fluctuation—@paulmarcellini.

tony-not-toni

Pictured: The amazing moment a diver swims alongside one of nature’s most lethal killing machines … an 11ft crocodile

By MAIL FOREIGN SERVICE UPDATED: 10:45 EST, 28 January 2010

Just off the coast of Cuba, a diver displays nerves of steel as he swims alongside an 11ft, 1,000lb crocodile.

Risking his life for the potentially deadly experience, diver Israel Gonzalez, 31, got close enough to be tolerated for over two hours by one of nature’s most lethal killing machines.

Swimming in an area known as The Queen’s Gardens, the lone female crocodile was returning to her nest on one of the 50 or so tiny islands that make up the offshore paradise.

Around 60miles from the south coast of Cuba, Mr Gonzalez and underwater photographer David Doubilet matched the enormous crocodile for pace during their encounter.

‘This crocodile exhibited very benign behaviour for such a notorious predator,’ said Mr Doubilet.

‘As a wildlife photography opportunity this was extremely exciting to capture not only the rare and overlooked American crocodile, but also to run the gauntlet with the animal.

‘Honestly after the initial rush when we encountered the crocodile, our levels of fear dropped down quite considerably.’

Travelling to The Queen’s Gardens with a diving team, which also included local Cuban fishermen familiar with the area, the pair trawled the island chain for the elusive American crocodile.

‘Most people don’t know that there are crocodiles which live in the Americas,’ explained Mr Doubilet.

'They assume that they live only in Egypt, in sub-Saharan Africa and Australia.

'However, there are around 1,500 American crocodiles living in Florida and the same number across Central America and South America.

'They are classed as a threatened species.’

Gliding alongside the croc, Mr Doubilet and Mr Gonzalez were aware that at any minute the situation could turn life threatening.

'Unfortunately we had no protection on us. No sticks, no harpoons, nothing that would have saved our lives had the crocodiles turned nasty,’ said David.

'But we were not unduly worried. We were careful to know our limits and not to stress the creature.

'We were there to observe this rare occurrence.’

wondrousworld

Trolltunga, Odda, Norway by Austin Rhee

riolaselica

POINT OF VIEW: FWC needs to change in wake of bear hunt

With Florida’s bear hunt on ethics par with clubbing baby seals, it’s clear that our Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) needs change. POINT OF VIEW: FWC needs to change in wake of bear hunt

lewa-wildlife

On Lewa, vervet monkeys are well known for their mischief - this little guy forgot to get rid of evidence after stealing @batian_kenya’s biscuits!

#funny #clever #wildlife #wild #animals #nature #naturelovers #monkeys #vervetmonkey #lewa #lewawildlifeconservancy #WhyIlovekenya #Kenya #Africa (at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy)

wildlifesos

#WildlifeSOS veterinarians recently treated a #Leopard from the Bannerghatta Biological Park. For more information and pictures, follow the link; http://wildlifesos.org/blog/leopard-from-the-bannerghatta-biological-park-treated-by-the-wsos-veterinarians/

linnywines

Last year, hunters killed more than 12,000 coyotes in the state of Utah. Half of those were rewarded with a $50 bounty that the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) set aside to encourage the animals’ annihilation. According to officials, this is in an effort to protect the mule deer population, an animal popular among hunters in the state. The problem is the DWR has no idea how many coyotes live in Utah and no way of truly controlling the impact of their bounty hunt incentives. The biggest threat to the mule deer population isn’t the coyote, rather it's the changing habitat. In fact, a six-year study in neighboring Idaho found that coyote removal did not effectively increase the mule deer population. Without sound evidence to support its coyote bounty program, Utah should ban coyote hunting. In essence, the state of Utah is allowing the uncontrolled slaughter of one of the most important animals in the food chain, so Utah’s hunters can kill more mule deer. There is no logic to the plan and I want the state to discontinue their bounty program that encourages the population’s annihilations rather than control. The Sierra Club, Utah Humane Society, and the Western Wildlife Conservancy have all expressed their opposition to this practice. Join me in standing up for coyotes in Utah. Sign my petition and ask the state of Utah to end their coyote bounty program.

queer-political-nerd

The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission on Monday voted to remove the animal from the list in a move that changes little about current wolf management but opens up the possibility for a controlled wolf hunt in the future.

elygantthings

Poachers just gunned down two Cambodian forest rangers in their sleep: Hot Off The Press! mashable.com - A forest ranger and a police officer were gunned down Saturday in Cambodia while on a team patrolling a national forest to prevent logging and poaching, the Wildlife Conservation Society said Monda… Tweeted by @redzoneemb https://twitter.com/redzoneemb/status/663862462966398976 http://dlvr.it/Cj12Dk

rainforestalliancedeutschland-d

“Vögel sind Umwelt-Indikatoren. Sind sie in Schwierigkeiten, wissen wir, bald sind auch wir in Schwierigkeiten.”

- Roger Tory Petersen -

typhlonectes

The New England Cottontail Project

Close work between U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service biologists and landowners help to create quality habitat for vulnerable New England cottontail rabbits on the aptly named “Cottontail Farm.” Gradually removing invasive shrubs and replanting with native shrubs is one key to success…

(read and learn more: New England Cottontail)

photograph via: USFWS Wildlife & Habitat Conservation