1. Nepal clears its final landmine
1. Nepal clears its final landmineThe United Nations declared Nepal a landmine free country in June, five years after the country's civil war ended. After China, Nepal is now the second country in Asia to become landmine-free. The UN and Khanal declared the accomplishment a victory for Nepal adding that is is, “one more milestone on the road to peace”.
2. Fourteen bears rescued in Vietnam
2. Fourteen bears rescued in VietnamFourteen Asiatic black bears were rescued from a bear bile farm in Vietnam, after the farm owner decided to renounce the illegal trade, and hand over his farm to an animal protection group. The owner, Mr Nguyen Ngoc Tien reportedly had a change of heart, after seeing the work of Animals Asia in the media.
3. Malaria jab could save the lives of millions
3. Malaria jab could save the lives of millionsResults of the the largest ever malaria vaccine study were published in October by the New England Journal of Medicine. The vaccine was trialled in 6,000 children, across sub-Saharan Africa in seven countries where malaria epidemics remain rife.
Findings revealed the vaccine cut the total number of those infected with the most serious strain of malaria by 56%, in the 12 months succeeding vaccination, compared to those who did not receive the jab.
4. Safest year for air travel
4. Safest year for air travelAccording to global airline safety rates, 2011 is set to become the safest on record for air travel, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has said. Taking into consideration the total number of fatal accidents and passenger deaths, the IATA has said that safety services have improved by almost 50% in the first 11 months of this year.
5. Hope for the resilient Sumatran tiger
5. Hope for the resilient Sumatran tigerAn in-depth study of the dense Indonesian jungle has proven the resilience of the Sumatran tiger, and identified new priorities for tiger conservation. The study has not only provided the most up-to-date and reliable information about the presence of the sub-species in the wild, but also suggests that long-term survival of the Sumatran tiger is a real possibility.
6. Dramatic elephant rescue at Kapani Lodge
6. Dramatic elephant rescue at Kapani LodgeNorman Carr Safaris together with the South Luangwa Conservation Society (SLCS) and the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA), agreed to join forces and rescue a mother elephant and her calf after they became trapped in a pool of mud at Kapani Lagoon. The rescue attempt began after the elephants' family herd failed to free the pair on their own. The team reported that both the mother and calf were saved.
7. Ukraine to free all bears in entertainment captivity
7. Ukraine to free all bears in entertainment captivityUkraine's Environment Minister Mykola Zlochevsky has vowed to free all bears kept for entertainment purposes in private zoos, restaurants and bars. The practice survived Ukraine's emergence from Soviet rule, but Mr Zlochevsky said it was inhumane and unacceptable in today's society. The ministry has said that a large enclosure in a wildlife sanctuary was being built, where it would home 80 bears, which it plans to liberate.
8. Canadian man completes 11-year walk around the world
8. Canadian man completes 11-year walk around the worldForget "around the world in 80 days", this is the inspirational story of the real life Forrest Gump who walked around the world in 11 years. Jean Beliveau's journey took him through barren desserts, over monstrous mountains and a total distance of 75,000 kilometres. Although Jean finally arrived home without a penny to his name, he said that he now has a, “wealth of knowledge and understanding.”
