Could extinct species, like mammoths and passenger pigeons, be brought back to life? The science says yes. In How to Clone a Mammoth, Beth Shapiro, evolutionary biologist and pioneer in "ancient DNA" research, walks readers through the astonishing and controversial process of de-extinction. From deciding which species should be restored, to sequencing their genomes, to anticipating how revived populations might be overseen in the wild, Shapiro vividly explores the extraordinary cutting-edge science that is being used--today--to resurrect the past. Journeying to far-flung Siberian locales in search of ice age bones and delving into her own research--as well as those of fellow experts such as Svante Paabo, George Church, and Craig Venter--Shapiro considers de-extinction's practical benefits and ethical challenges. Would de-extinction change the way we live? Is this really cloning? What are the costs and risks? And what is the ultimate goal? Using DNA collected from remains as a genetic blueprint, scientists aim to engineer extinct traits--traits that evolved by natural selection over thousands of years--into living organisms. But rather than viewing de-extinction as a way to restore one particular species, Shapiro argues that the overarching goal should be the revitalization and stabilization of contemporary ecosystems. For example, elephants with genes modified to express mammoth traits could expand into the Arctic, re-establishing lost productivity to the tundra ecosystem. Looking at the very real and compelling science behind an idea once seen as science fiction, How to Clone a Mammoth demonstrates how de-extinction will redefine conservation's future.

This report covers island fox recovery actions conducted by park staff in calendar year 2010. The recovery actions, which included island fox population and mortality monitoring, were conducted under U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Recovery Permit TE86267-0, which has separate reporting requirements (Coonan 2011). This report presents the results of our efforts in 2010 to capture and monitor island fox populations on San Miguel and Santa Rosa Island via small trapping grids and transects, and to track annual survival and mortality causes via radiotelemetry. The purpose of the monitoring was to: * assess condition of individual foxes; * replace radiocollars or affix new radiocollars as required; * establish a "sentinel" group of unvaccinated, radiocollared animals; * vaccinate foxes against canine distemper virus and rabies; and * estimate density and islandwide population size

Rhino occupy a unique part of the food chain and wide niches in specific ecosystems in which they have developed their own behaviour patterns and interactions with other species. They form an essential part of the animal kingdom and their loss would have significant ramifications for other dependant flora and fauna. The large numbers of rhino orphans and the loss of pregnant females are decimating wild rhino populations. This decline is mainly due to poaching for their horns that are made of keratin and which have no proven medical benefit to humans. Greedy markets in China, Vietnam and Yemen, and criminal syndicates offer extremely high prices for rhino horn making it more valuable than gold. Whilst tackling the poachers head on is essential, it is sadly not enough and vigorous education programmes need to be put in place to inform people of the ecological, economic, aesthetic and touristic value of rhino. This book is dedicated to the plight all rhino species face including museum specimens and fossils.