Shark sanctuary declared in eastern Indonesia

This photo retrieved November 16, 2010 is from www.google.co.th. Sharks, manta rays, mobulas, dugongs and turtles are fully protected within the sanctuary, and destructive practices including reef bombing and the aquarium fish trade are banned.

November 19, 2010
JAKARTA (AFP) - Indonesia has declared a vast sanctuary for sharks, turtles and manta rays in a region known as one of the world's richest sources of marine biodiversity, officials and conservationists said Tuesday.
      
       The sanctuary covers 46,000 square kilometers (17,760 square miles) of waters around the Raja Ampat islands in eastern Indonesia, part of the so-called Coral Triangle region of Southeast Asia.
      
       Sharks, manta rays, mobulas, dugongs and turtles are fully protected within the sanctuary, and destructive practices including reef bombing and the aquarium fish trade are banned, local officials said.
      
       "Sharks, as apex predators, play a vital role in regulating the health of important commercial fish species, population balance, and coral reefs," conservation group Shark Savers and the Misool Eco Resort, which are supporting the sanctuary, said in a statement.
      
       "Despite this importance, up to 73 million sharks are killed annually with some shark populations declining by as much as 90 percent, mostly for shark fin soup.
      
       "In Raja Ampat, three fourths of its shark species are threatened with local extinction."
      
       Peter Knights, executive director of US-based conservation group WildAid which is backing the project, said: "It’s tragic that so much of Raja Ampat’s biological treasure is destined for consumers who are unaware of the impact.
      
       "Sharks are being killed for their fins, mantas are being killed for their gills, and rare reef fish are being caught for aquariums," he said.
      
       Raja Ampat marine and fishery office head Yohanis Bercmans Rahawaryn could not provide figures on shark numbers in the area, but said their numbers had "dropped steadily in the past few years".
      
       "Divers rarely find big sharks around Raja Ampat. That's the main indicator," he said.



A koala walks into Australian bar... and nods off

This photo retrieved November 17, 2010 is from www.google.co.th. The furry male marsupial stunned drinkers on Saturday night when he entered the Marlin Bar on Queensland's Magnetic Island, approached barman Kevin Martin and ended up climbing up a supporting wooden pole and settling on a beam.

November 19, 2010
SYDNEY (AFP) - A koala has caused a stir at an Australian pub, wandering inside during a stormy evening and taking up a position above the bar before promptly falling asleep.
      
       The furry male marsupial stunned drinkers on Saturday night when he entered the Marlin Bar on Queensland's Magnetic Island, approached barman Kevin Martin and ended up climbing up a supporting wooden pole and settling on a beam.
      
       "I asked him for ID and he didn't have any so that's when he got a bit disgruntled and climbed up a pole," joked Martin on Wednesday.
      
       "And he just sort of lay over the piece of wood, one of the little rafters, and flopped his arms down and just fell asleep, enjoying the atmosphere."
      
       Although the koala's visit was welcome, Martin said he called wildlife workers to remove the animal out of concern for its own welfare.
      
       The koala was later set free elsewhere on the island, which has a healthy population of the animals -- unlike elsewhere in Queensland where they are threatened by development.
      
       Martin said he does not know what prompted the koala to enter the bar, but speculated it could have been attempting to escape the rain.
      
       "He was sort of hanging outside the pub beforehand," he said. "He looked a little bit out of his element, I think he wasn't expecting to find himself in the pub. But he seemed pretty happy nonetheless."