The Independent frontpage: Extinct

[Greeby]

http://environment.independent.co.uk/wildlife/article2843953.ece

After more than 20 million years on the planet, the Yangtze river dolphin is today officially declared extinct, the first species of cetacean (whale, dolphin or porpoise) to be driven from this planet by human activity.

An intensive six-week search by an international team of marine biologists involving two boats that ploughed up and down the world's busiest river last December failed to find a single specimen.

Today, the scientific report of that expedition, published in the peer-reviewed journal of the Royal Society, Biology Letters, confirms the dolphin known as the baiji or white-fin in Chinese and celebrated for its pale skin and distinctive long snout, has disappeared.

To blame for its demise is the increasing number of container ships that use the Yangtze, as well as the fishermen whose nets became an inadvertent hazard.

[malaise]

1. How sad

Humans are evil.

[BeHereNow]

5. Humans are the ONLY species that shit in their nest.

Unfortunately, we have the habit of shitting in other
species nests too.
Between you and I, I don't think the mother has much choice
but to rid herself of us.
BHN

[Benhurst]

2. Very sad news. Recommended #3

[Karmadillo]

3. And what does this have to do with Lindsay Lohan's rehab?

K & R

[LSdemocrat]

4. I had a college biology lecture a few years ago that argued we are on the verge of a mass extinction

and while these things are cyclical, human activity is bringing it on in a hurry. Sadly we're probably going to see a lot more of these in the coming years.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. Did the lecture also cover the fate of Apex

species?

(we are, and it is never good)

[Phrogman]

7. Viewed from space, the Earth's human infestation must look like a toxic, black mold...

the planets deadly parasite...

[BeHereNow]

8. Twenty years ago, my dad said- the earth will rid herself of us by viruses.

Given what the global warming scientists say about climate change
activating viral life that humans are not prepared to fight-
I'd say my dad was ahead of his time. But then he always has been.
GO MOTHER EARTH.
Shake the fleas off your back.

BHN

[Karmadillo]

9. Kick

nt