Animals

February 14, 2022

Iceland Will Officially Ban Whale Hunting by 2024

Whaling is an ancient practice. Indigenous peoples have long hunted the giant marine mammals for food, blubber, and other resources. However, commercial whaling efforts to harvest blubber and baleen began in the 17th century and continued through the mid-20th century. By that time, wasteful over-hunting had pushed many species of whale close to extinction. Subsequent conservation efforts and the establishment of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) have since helped repair much of this damage.

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February 8, 2022

Custom-Made Aquarium Gives Cat Front-Row Seat to Watching Fish

What would your pets watch on TV? Well, one family commissioned a special “cat TV” that their feline companion can watch whenever he wants. TikTok and Instagram star Jasper the Cat was given his own front-row seat in a custom-made aquarium by Cincinnati-based store Aquatics and Exotics. The rectangular nook allows the kitty a 360-view of what goes on underwater.

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February 3, 2022

Male Same-Sex Foster Penguins Are Proud Parents of an Adorable Newborn Chick

Congratulations are in order for two male Humboldt penguins at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse, New York. After adopting an egg last year, Elmer and Lima—the same-sex foster couple—successfully incubated an egg and became parents to the new hatchling on January 1, 2022. Elmer and Lima formed a “pair bond” for the current breeding season and are the first same-sex foster couple at the zoo.

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January 31, 2022

Hawaii Is the First State to Ban Shark Fishing in State Marine Waters

The islands of Hawaii are known for their beautiful beaches and surrounding waters full of marine life. Teeming reefs and crystal waters host over 400 species of fish and 40 types of shark. To preserve the ocean's biodiversity for the next generation, measures must be implemented where needed. Hawaii has taken an important conservation step by banning shark fishing in state waters— a measure which went into effect in early 2022.

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