Nearly Half of All The World’s Primates at Risk of Extinction

· Study paints bleak picture for hundreds of species
· Loss of habitat and boom in bushmeat trade blamed

http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/08/05/10813/

Giant Toads and Colossal Squid... Whatever Next?

To start with 'Toadzilla'... I have mixed feelings about introducing such a poisonous animal into the ecosystem. It is well documented that both the Cane Toad and it's offspring are very toxic if ingested by other animals. Introduction of this 'now considered pest' also rippled negative effects to farmers and other native species to this environment. "Both eggs and tadpoles are toxic to many animals. This toxic protection remains at all life stages and very young cane toads kill small reptiles that eat them (Wiki)." Our need to control nature, without taking each and every variable into consideration, turns around to bite us in the rear more often than not. This narrow vision of reality does not take all factors into consideration.

As for the half-ton Colossal squid hauled from the deep sea? Can't we let anything be? It would have been a much more interesting story if it turned around and swallowed the ship! Just kidding (or am I)?

What Significance for Chimps 'Making Tools'?

Makes perfect sense to me. I think the funny part of it all is the significance placed on the study of it. We are so closely related that it would be more absurd to think that chimps don't use tools. I actually feel that we could learn a lot more from studying their behavioral patterns and how they care for their home rather than destroy it. How many creatures do you see that have this pattern of behavior?

What does concern me is the severity in which their habitat is being destroyed for our so called 'needs'. It is truly a brutal world that corporations can have so much control that they can destroy the planet at such an alarming rate. It's truly horrendous how often you see that the leaders in some of these major corporations fluctuate so rapidly between government officials and decision makers for these businesses. Where is the separation? Hopefully, very soon, the chimps can design some tools that will destroy corporate greed... haven't these folks ever read the 'Lorax'?