News Review: Good News Out of Africa (and other continents)

Naaaaaah-so-when-yaaaaaa-gonna-buy-me-pizza-bro?

All too often, Africa is a continent we see as a tragic place for wildlife: poaching, bushmeat, illegal pet trade, ect. But here today, I've found some articles of good things going on with wildlife in Africa, as a reminder that there is always a bright side.

Rats Trained to Detect Landmines
In Mozambique, rats are trained to pick up the scent of TNT in the ground and alert crews of the location of landmines. It's similar to how dogs will sniff packages in an airport, and the rats' small size allows it to walk over dangerous ground unharmed. I won't go on a rant about animal stereotyping, but people often see rats as pests that should be destroyed. Well, here's an example of how smart and helpful they can be!

Often called the deadliest snake, you don't want to mess with a black mamba. 

Anti-Poaching Rangers Win "Champions of the Earth" Award 
The Black Mambas are a mostly-female anti-poaching unit in South Africa's Kruger National Park. They have protected many animals, but most significantly, have prevented any rhinoceros from being killed, while neighboring reserves lost over 20. They can also boast the reduction of snaring by 76%. It's no wonder they won this prestigious United Nations award! 

O. M. G. is that Yao Ming? Hey, hey Bruce, I saw Yao Ming!!

Even better, I have good news to share with you from other parts of the world too!

Yao Ming Saves Sharks
The former NBA player is big- not just on height, on conservation too! He has teamed up with WildAid to help bring awareness to the plight of sharks because of shark fin soup. As such a huge celebrity, his influence has garnered a lot of support for the ban on shark fin soup in China. And, what's more, he's looking to help other forms of wildlife too! Yay Yao!

Disney's Food and Wine Festival is Promoting Sustainability
The annual autumn event at DisneyWorld in Florida is focusing on food that is healthy for the planet! With celebrity chefs, Disney encourages guests to look at the bigger picture. I know this isn't about wildlife, but a) wildlife depends on a healthy Earth, often damaged by human agriculture, and b) I like love Disney.

Thanks for reading everyone!