Reserves alone cannot stop biodiversity collapse (Earth Times)

• Scientists are finding reserves are not enough to avoid the sixth mass extinction. We need to consume less and control population more.
• Our current reserve rates are two low (6 percent of the land, and less then 1/10 of 1 percent of the oceans) and will take too long to protect biodiversity without other measures.

A fishing vessel was apprehended in the Galapagos National Park for illegal shark fishing (Blue Chanel 24)

• The ship was found 20 miles within the boundary of the Galapagos Marine Reserve.
• 357 dead sharks were found aboard – one of the biggest shark poaching cases in the history of the park.

Balancing climate pragmatism with moral clarity (Grist)

• “A new climate strategy should take a page from… pragmatism — which values pluralism over universalism, flexibility over rigidity, and practical results over utopian ideals.”
• Grist writer Roberts discusses the likelihood of a top-down vs. bottom up climate action.
• “Climate change is: a moral imperative, a threat to the lives and welfare of our children and generations that will follow. That just isn’t the kind of thing you keep quiet about.”

Japan might be leaning towards ending Antarctic whaling (Discovery News) 

• A minority opinion in the Fisheries Agency of Japan’s recent panel claimed: “If we cannot gain understanding on the research whaling in the international community, we should scale it down or halt it.”
• Internal and external pressures including interference from the Sea Shepard (which led to drastically lower whale catches) are changing opinions on whale hunting activity.

Adorable video: baby hippo dancing underwater (Huffpost Green)

• This seven month old hippo loves to play in his home at the San Diego Zoo:

If the above embedded video does not display, here to view it.