kaufDA,  a team in Germany, has started an initiative called “Make it green” whose goal is to reduce carbon emissions worldwide.  One aspect of the program is to offset the carbon footprint resulting from the use of the Internet by both raising public awareness about protecting the environment and by planting more trees.  Working with the Arbor Day Foundation, kaufDA will plant one tree in the Plumas National Forest in Northern California for every participating blog. 

If you have a blog, you can have a tree planted in your honor by spreading the word about the program.  See the kaufDA website for more details.

About Carbon Emissions and Global Warming
The climate change phenomenon known as global warming is a result of increased carbon emissions from driving cars, home energy use, and the energy used to produce all of the products and services we consume.  The steady upward trend in temperatures has, and will continue to have, a drastic effect on the planet and its inhabitants.   For example, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) has predicted a loss of two-thirds of the world’s polar bears by 2050 due to declines in ice habitats.  According to a Climactic Change journal report by the World Wildlife Fund, by 2070, the sea levels near Bangladesh will rise 11 inches, submerging 96% of the Bengal tiger habitat.  Many animals will be threatened by the change and loss of habitat due to global warming.

About Planting Trees
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) assumes a yearly absorption of one tree to be approximately 10kg (20lb.) of carbon dioxide emissions. The Arbor Day Foundation is working to plant more trees in the Plumas National Forest in Northern California, which lost 88,000 acres of forest due to fires in 2007.

Aside from planting trees, you can help curb global warming by reducing your carbon emissions. This includes walking or taking public transportation instead of driving, using energy saver appliances and light bulbs, buying locally grown produce, recycling, and more.

This lynx found his way onto the downhill skiing course at the Olympics in Vancouver last week.

Photo credit: Washington Post

Ratu, a Sumatran  rhinoceros, is pregnant. This is newsworthy because Sumatran rhinos are endangered and births in captivity are incredibly rare. Ratu’s mate, Andalas, was the third Sumatran rhino born in captivity in 112 years. If all goes well, Ratu’s baby will be the fourth.

Sumatran rhinos are the most endangered of all rhinoceros species. Their numbers have decreased due to habitat loss and human poaching.

To read more about Ratu, visit CNN.com.

To read about the Indian rhinoceros, a relative of the Sumatran rhino, visit Animal Fact Guide.

The oarfish is a rarely seen giant of the deep. Measuring up to 17 meters (55 feet), the oarfish had previously only been seen dead or dying after being washed up on shore. This sighting, by scientists in Gulf of Mexico, may be the first of the fish in its natural habitat.

The creature was spotted using a remotely operated vehicle, which allows scientists to observe sea life at depths that are otherwise unreachable.

For more and to see a video of the oarfish, visit BBC News.

Discovery Cove in Orlando, Florida has welcomed a baby tamandua, or lesser anteater, to their animal family. The baby was born recently and will cling to his mother back until he is able to walk and find his own food. These anteaters are native to Mexico and South America, living in forests. Anteaters like this will eat up to 9000 ants a day! They use their sharp claws and long tongue to catch their tasty treats.

Read more at DiscoveryCove.com

Very little has changed in the vampire squid since it first appeared about 300 million years ago. The large eyes of the creature are required to see in the dark depths of the ocean it calls home. The eight arms of the vampire squid can curl around its body when it is frightened. This gives the squid the appearance of being inside out and the sudden change can help it avoid attack.

For more, visit National Geographic.

Recently scientists have announced the discovery of the true color of two dinosaurs.

One group of researchers used electron micrography to determine that Sinosauropteryx, a turkey-sized carnivore, had reddish-orange feathers and striped tail.

Another group of researchers determined that Anchiornis huxleyi, a chicken-sized dinosaur, had black and white wings and red crown – similar some woodpeckers. This group used scanning electron microscopes to study pigment samples from fossilized feathers.

To read more and see additional photos, visit National Geographic here and here.

Three year old panda Mei Lan and her 4 year old cousin, Tai Shan, were flown this morning from the United States to China aboard a plane dubbed “The Panda Express.” The two pandas were living at Zoo Atlanta and the National Zoo in Washington, respectively. They were on loan from China and are being sent back to help repopulate the endangered species.

One of the interesting transitions for the pandas to make will be to learn to understand commands in Chinese. Being raised in the United States, the pandas have been trained in English. Therefore, a Chinese language teacher is being hired.

For more, visit CNN.

Maniwa City, Japan is home to a quite unusual creature, the giant salamander. With a length of around 1.5 meters (5 ft) and jaws that can tear open a human hand the Japanese giant salamander can be a fearsome creature to encounter in the wild.

These salamanders are aquatic and nocturnal, meaning they live in water and are active at night. They are found in clear, cool water and hunt for  insects, fish, and frogs. They will often snap at water comes into their reach hoping for food.

The giant salamander of Japan is only related to two other species, the Chinese giant salamander and the hellbender, found in the United States.  However, the skeleton is a match of fossils from 30 million years ago. This means that the giant salamanders we see today are almost exactly like the ones that lived with dinosaurs!

For more about these fascinating creatures and a video, visit BBC News.

You can read about the distant relative of the giant salamander, the spotted salamander, here on Animal Fact Guide.