Each week a brief planet report with the latest news about wildlife, national parks and the environment is added to this site. You are welcome to copy for FREE the report if you would like to use it in printed publications, such as student newspapers, staff magazines, print out for noticeboards, community newsletters, or read out on volunteer radio stations. The only condition is you mention the website address www.planetreport.net

To use it on websites, you can copy and paste the first story then add - 'To read the rest of this weeks report please visit www.planetreport.net' and hyperlink the web address so readers can click through.

26th October 2011 - Report 3.

www.planetreport.net

ROOM FOR ONE MORE?!
The world population is due to surpass 7 billion by the end of October. The planet has had an unprecedented population boom since the end of World War Two. In 1952 the year HM Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom was coronated the population of the planet was just over 2 billion. Next year when she celebrates her Diamond Jubilee of 60 years on the throne the global population will be more than 7 billion, an increase of 5 billion in just 6 decades.

IT’S A BOY!
After a 700 day pregnancy, Aziza an Asian elephant at Whipsnade Zoo in the UK has gave birth to healthy baby boy elephant. The little one was small for a newly born elephant but still weighed in at over 16 stones (101 KG). The young elephant is having to get on its tiptoes to reach his mothers milk.The herd is enjoying have a new arrival as part of the family.

CHINA CLEAN SEAS
The regional government of Bohai, a province in the north of China is to spend $2.4 billion over the next five years to improve the marine environment. The money will be spent on projects to improve pollution and and the marine eco system

TIGER TRIPLETS
The world population of Sumatran Tigers has increased by three, after a tiger at Taronga Zoo in Sydney, Australia has had triplets. There is only 400 or so Sumatran Tigers left in the wild and only 7% of their natural habitat still exists on Sumatra, an island part of Indonesia. Their father,Satu, had been flown in from a zoo in Germany to breed with their mother, Jamilah in an effort to introduce new genetics into the region. The young tigers are beginning to explore their enclosure and are growing in size and confidence each day.

BEAR BOOM
Black bear numbers are rising in south Michigan in the USA, and increased sightings of them are being reported. Recently a Black Bear showed up at a Soccer pitch in the city of Grand Rapids, and sadly was killed shortly after being hit by a car on a road. The Department for Natural Resources explained that Black Bears are doing well in the more forested north, and as a result young male bears are moving south looking for new territory. Black bears are elusive and relatively harmless if they are left alone.

THAI FLOOD
Thailand has suffered their worst floods in over half a century, that has wiped out the rice crop of 14% of their paddy fields. This years monsoon floods in the country have killed at least 366 people since July and affected almost 2.5 million. Over 113,000 are living in shelters. Bangkok’s flood defences are being tested, and the airport was closed after being inundated with water.

EXTINCTION ALERT
The WWF believe the Javan Rhino is now extinct in Vietnam after no sightings for over a year since the last known rhino was found dead after being poached for its horns. Their habitat has halved since 1988. The world population of Javan Rhinos is down to about 50 that can be found in Ujung Kulon National Park in Indonesia, with none in captivity.