A North Carolina species of fish and salamander are being considered for the Endangered Species Act
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed the Carolina madtom catfish and the Neuse River waterdog salamander for protection under the Endangered Species Act. The Carolina madtom is described as a “small but feisty” catfish by the Center for Biological Diversity, which filed a petition and lawsuits to have the animals protected. Both species are only found in North Carolina. The madtom lives in the Tar River basin and has already disappeared from 75 percent of its range. The Neuse River waterdog is found only in the Neuse and Tar-Pamlico river basins and has disappeared from 35 percent of its range. Both the Carolina madtom and the Neuse River waterdog are threatened by water pollution from development, logging and factory farms.
Missouri man and his dog lived off the land while lost in Alaska
A missing Missouri man and his dog that became separated from their group while hiking in Alaska has been found izn good condition, authorities say. Logan Holmer, 26, began hiking the Far Mountain Trail on May 7 but lost track of his group the next day. Holmer was carrying two days of food and finished it on his fourth day in the wilderness, supplementing his diet with plants. More than 40 rescuers, including Alaska State Troopers, air patrol, Wilderness Search and Rescue and search dog teams participate in the effort to locate Holmer. He was spotted after he flagged down a helicopter by waving his jacket. Holmer carried a compass but no map or GPS device. He was found nearly 30 miles from Chena Hot Springs Resort east of Fairbanks.
Botswana, home to 1/3 of Africa’s elephants, lifts hunting ban
Botswana, home to the largest elephant population in the world, has reportedly lifted its ban on big game hunting. There are nearly 160,000 elephants that live in Botswana, a number that has tripled since 1991. The increased population has caused conflicts between farmers and the animal, which can destroy crops. Though the country has vowed to reinstate hunting in an orderly and ethical manner, the move is being criticized as a political effort to win the votes of the country’s rural regions. In 2018, despite a ban on hunting, Botswana was home to one of the worst elephant-slaughters on record, identified after a non-profit, Elephants Without Borders, discovered the tusks of 87 elephants during an aerial survey.
