Rare frog breeds in Deep Sea World in North Queensferry

            A species of frogs found only in the forests of Eastern Madagascar that are critically endangered have been successfully bred in an aquarium for the first time. The golden mantella frog has been listed as critically endangered after its population has decreased be about 80 percent in the last three generations. They are endangered because their habitat is surrounded by human settlements and is being fragmented by logging of the forests. After looking after a group of seven adult frogs for four years, the Deep Sea World aquarium in Scotland now has fifty golden mantella tadpoles. This is the first time that they have ever been bred in captivity. People are now thinking of starting captive breeding programs around the world to increase the population as much as possible.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-16267292

Eroding taboos see lemurs end up on dinner tables

            A recent study shows that the population of lemur in Madagascar has been decreasing very quickly. This is due to the hunting of the lemurs for bushmeat. Originally, natives believe that they were family ancestors and protected. However, outside influences have caused these ideas to deteriorate. Because of this increase in demand for meat and the decrease in traditional beliefs, this protected species have been being illegally hunted. Some people believe that their cultural ideas didn’t degrade, it is just the only meat available to them. Many families in that area are too poor to afford meat. A survey of 1,154 households showed that most of the meals eaten over the three day period did not even contain meat. The meats that were consumed were usually fish of domestic animals. But because lemurs have a slow reproduction rate, this has a large impact on their population.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-16138206

Butterflies: 72% of UK species in decline

            According to a recent study done by the Butterfly Conservation and the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, many of species of butterfly have been in decline in the UK. The study showed that about 72 percent of the species living there have shown a decline in population. The most probable reason for this decrease is the loss of suitable habitats for them to live in. Because of some conservation efforts, some of these species have shown some increase recently. One of the most important reasons they have been increasing is because the caterpillars have been being studied and found out that they dependant on a certain species of ant. One of these species is the Large Blue, which was extinct in the UK but re-introduced in the 1980s. This population has shown as increase over the years. Understanding and studying these species is key to saving them.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-16054895