Celtic Biotech, founded in 2003 by businessmen John Reid and Dr Paul Reid, has developed a treatment for advanced cancer from a powerful protein found in rattlesnake venom.

The company will this week begin testing the drug, now known as CB24, on patients at the George Pompidou University Hospital, Paris, under the supervision of consultant cancer specialist Jacques Medioni.

Celtic Biotech expects the trials to last about a year. They are designed to highlight the therapeutic value and safety of the drug.

The Irish company discovered a protein in rattlesnake venom that causes malignant cancer cells to self-destruct, a process known as cell death.

Two independent studies, by the US National Cancer Institute and University of Texas MD Anderson cancer center, have confirmed the protein’s anti-cancer properties.

Dr. David Wilson has stockpiled venom from the fangs of up to 10 Australian funnel-webs for the two-year trial. His team will isolate up to 300 molecules in the venom and expose them to cancer cells to see how they react.

Wilson said spider venom contained molecules that have evolved to perform specific functions over millions of years. "They are designed to target very specific sites and we are hoping that some of these molecules target cancer cells."

The research was revealed Monday as Australians mark Pink Ribbon Day, which raises money for breast cancer prevention programs, support services and research.

Dr. Norelle Daly said the spider research, funded by the National Breast Cancer Foundation, was in its early stages. Venom molecules are used in chronic pain prevention, and scorpion venom has also been shown to bind to cancer cells in mice.

“I don’t want to traumatize the snake here, I’m going to be as gentle as I can,” Raugust said, as he pinned the first snake to the table with a metal tool and grasped it firmly behind the head.

With one snake and then the other, Raugust manipulated their heads so the exposed fangs hung over the edge of a small glass beaker.

“Right back here is where the venom sacs are,” Raugust said as he massaged the snakes’ heads to coax the venom out of them.

“The venom has all kinds of uses. They’re studying the venom to use on Parkinson’s, partial paralysis, and there’s an anti-coagulant in it so it keeps blood from clotting,” Raugust said. “They’re doing a lot of studies with venom because it has some interesting medicinal properties.”

The planets biodiversity has provided cures for many illnesses that affect mankind. Countless other cures are still waiting to be discovered! The dilemma is that a cure may only exist in a single population that may be restricted to a single mountain range or even canyon. As urban sprawl encroaches on more and more habitat we are losing local populations of flora and fauna at an alarming rate. Former Director-General of the World Health Oranization and former Prime Minister of Norway Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland summarized it best “The library of life is burning and we do not even know the titles of the books.” Simply put, we are losing our resources before we even know they exist! Currently venom has provided mankind with drugs that treat everything from heart attacks, strokes and sickle cell anemia, to high blood pressure, diabetes, and chronic pain.

Registered in 1978, the society, which had just 26 members in 1982-83, has grown with 328 Irula members. There are 250 licenced snake catchers and 108 of them are women. “We are happy that we also play an important role in helping the society,” said supervisor S Rajendran.

According to the society, the government had given them permission to catch only four types of poisonous snakes — Indian Cobra, Common Krait, Saw Scale Viper and Russell’s Viper. “Every year, we will be given an order by the government on the number of snakes we can catch. This year, we have been ordered to catch 2,000 snakes,” said Rajendran. “We have divided that number among our licenced members. For every snake caught, the catcher is paid accordingly. The rest of our members will catch rats to feed the snakes. We also extract red scorpion’s venom, but that is done only when we get orders.”

The Irula members say that the venom is extracted four times from a snake in 28 days. It is later taken to the lab and made to powder before being sold. Every time, an extraction is made, a mark is made on the snake for identification, so it is not again brought to the society before a certain period. “We make four marks on the snake. After that, we release it in the wild. Our members do not catch the same snake till it gets its new skin,” explained a member.

The Gladys Porter Zoo spoke for the crocodiles in early summer and the work began. An American alligator exhibit was targeted for renovation. Also, import permits needed to be applied for, and it was hoped that the permit would be granted and issued well before winter temperatures began to settle in.

The Division of Management Authority for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued import permits in late September, and the exhibit renovations are nearing completion. Next week, the U.S. Orinoco Crocodile Team will meet with the Canada Orinoco Crocodile Team, and the process of extracting the animals from their cramped quarters will begin. Once the crocodiles are secured and crated, the crew will drive straight through to Brownsville to keep transport time as short as possible. This is an extremely risky procedure for Blade and Suede, because when they struggle during capture, their muscles build up high levels of acid that does not process out quickly. That is why large crocodiles frequently die during – or shortly after – capture procedures.

Orinoco crocodiles are native to Venezuela and Colombia, South America. Due to extensive exploitation for their hides, they are the most endangered New World crocodilian, suffering a population decline of over 80 percent within the last three generations.

I can remember only one instance when Rom let me walk ahead of him in a forest. That was more than a decade ago in Havelock, Andaman Islands. It was mid-morning when I came upon a green snake on the path and I exclaimed, “Look!” Rom ordered urgently, “Catch it.” But by that time, the snake had whizzed past. A few minutes later, there was another snake on the path and I couldn't help myself. “Look,” I cried. An exasperated Rom demanded, “Instead of saying “Look,” why can't you jump on it first? I can always ‘look' later.”

Leaping on snakes is not hardwired into my reflexes and I was defensive. “Why do you have to go after every snake you see?” I demanded. “Can't you just watch it? Do tiger people catch every tiger they see?” He replied, “It's impossible to watch snakes like you would mammals. And the only way to identify the species is to catch and examine it.”

That's true. Many species look identical, while some species come in a range of colours and patterns. Hence herpetologists (those who study reptiles) do not usually trust the looks of a snake. If anyone had the temerity to describe, “I saw a brown snake with bands,” the experts would retort disdainfully, “There are so many; what's the scalation?”

It could be the start of long-term government research on what is listed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as a "critically endangered" species.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will start a groundwork study next month on the population and distribution of crocodiles in the Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary in northeast Mindanao.

"This scientific study will hopefully provide us with the necessary baseline information on the abundance and area of concentration of crocodiles within the marsh, from which we will base our short term and long term management program for the crocodiles in the Agusan Marsh," said Environment Secretary Ramon Paje.

Hopefully, it will also be the beginning of a focused nationwide study that is long overdue for the Philippine crocodile.

The Chiricahua leopard frog, a five-inch, spotted amphibian of the American Southwest and northern Mexico, is poised to receive 11,467 acres of protected critical habitat -- a few crucial wet areas, in a dry region, where the frog's survival will be a high priority.

Unfortunately, the government has omitted from its critical habitat proposal some of the homes of Chiricahua leopard frogs in the vicinity of a gargantuan, proposed open-pit copper mine in the Santa Rita Mountains of southern Arizona.The Center for Biological Diversity first filed a scientific petition to protect the Chiricahua leopard frog and its habitat in 1998. This petition documented the species' widespread declines in response to habitat destruction from urbanization, livestock grazing and other factors, as well as non-native species like bullfrogs and bass. Since then the threats to this beautiful amphibian have increased.

In 2009, this copperhead gave birth to a litter of four offspring that were outwardly normal in appearance, two of which were alive at birth. Analysis of DNA from the mother, one live offspring and one of the stillborn progeny revealed no signs of genes from a father, suggesting a true virgin birth.

"With the availability of DNA fingerprinting technologies, we are now becoming aware that the process of parthenogenesis is in fact more common than we ever imagined," Booth told LiveScience.

Parthenogenesis may have evolved in these snakes as a mechanism to battle a lack of suitable mates.

"Instead of wasting eggs, which are costly to produce and a finite resource, parthenogenesis may represent an alternate means of reproduction to overcome this," Booth said. In light of the loss of habitat these snakes face, virgin births might allow this species to hold on a little longer, he added.

The fisheries Service has linked these “strandings” to drowning in shrimp fishing nets. Despite this rise in sea turtle strandings and the devastating impacts of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil disaster, the conservation groups say the agency has not fulfilled its duty to protect the imperiled animals from harm.

Recent federal reports show the number of drownings in the Gulf alone likely exceeds the allowable take for the Gulf and Atlantic shrimp fisheries combined, and also indicate significant noncompliance with existing regulations. The lawsuit aims to force the fisheries service to complete the required studies and adopt interim measures to protect turtles.

“Sea turtles in the Gulf of Mexico are still reeling from the impacts of last year’s oil spill, and they simply can’t withstand the chronic threat of drowning in shrimp nets,” said Jacyln Lopez, an attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity. “The government’s own data show that record numbers of sea turtles have perished in the Gulf of Mexico this year, yet the Fisheries Service has not taken protective measures to prevent sea turtles from dying in the shrimp-trawl fishery.”

Shrimp trawling has for many decades been the primary threat to sea turtle survival in the U.S., and turtles in the Gulf of Mexico may be more vulnerable now to drowning in shrimp nets as a result of the BP spill and cleanup efforts. The shrimp trawl fishery incidentally captures and kills thousands of threatened and endangered sea turtles each year. “Turtle excluder devices” can help prevent turtles from drowning in the nets, but not all shrimpers are required to use them and still others simply don’t comply with existing regulations.

"It's really horrible that we're in a situation where hundreds of animals are disappearing," said Kouba, director of conservation and research at the Memphis Zoo. "If the same situation had happened with mammals, the outcry would be tremendous. But we aren't receiving the same attention to the dramatic loss of these amphibians."
The Memphis Zoo has received a $300,000 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services to fund conservation research and study reproductive techniques for salamanders.

It's in some ways the second phase of a $120,000 IMLS grant that has helped the zoo become a leader in frog and toad reproduction, Kouba said.

The zoo is working with other institutions, including Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Its main partner is Mississippi State University, Kouba said.

The Reptiles at Risk: On the Road program is an exciting, hands-on program featuring live reptiles.

Did you know that snakes and turtles are at risk in Ontario? Immaculate principal, Louisa Bianchin, said she was excited for the students to experience these reptiles.

“This program teaches students the importance of protecting these reptiles so that they exist for future generations,” Bianchin stated in a press release. “Many snakes in our geographical area are harmless and should not be persecuted, and turtles that often cross busy roads need to be saved and avoided by drivers. This program encourages all of our students to recognize the importance of all living creatures.”

Students were so excited to handle corn snakes, rat snakes and garter snakes which were brought into the school, Bianchin said in the press release. Those who wanted to handle a snake were given this “awesome” experience and learned that it is their responsibility as the future generation to protect all reptiles so that they do not become endangered species.

In order to reduce the number of deaths caused by snakebites due to late administration or unavailability of anti-snake venom, a state-owned drugs company, Haffkine Bio-Pharmaceuticals Corporation Limited, has devised a 'medicines for snake bite' box, equipped with bottles of anti-snake venom and other simple, use-friendly paraphernalia that can save a bite victim.

[....]

"Every year, we see at least 500 cases of snakebites in the state of which 60 per cent result in death due to late administration of antivenom.

There have been instances wherein a snakebite victim has been rushed to a primary health centre, but they do not have anti-snake venom stored. Delay in treatment and loss of crucial time can results in death," said, Bharat Joshi, director, Sarpadarshan of India, a non-profit organisation.

The fossil is the shell of a big sea turtle called Taphrosphys sulcatus, which broke into hundreds of pieces during the eons that it lay buried in what is now near Sewell, Gloucester County.

Many of the fragments are smaller than a fingernail. There is no cardboard box with a helpful photo to show what the completed "puzzle" should look like.

And yet, little by little, the graceful curvature of an ancient reptile is emerging, as doctoral students Elena Schroeter, 27, and Paul Ullmann, 25, match up jagged edges and glue them together.

"It's a job for young eyes," said their supervisor, Kenneth Lacovara, an associate professor of biology at Drexel.

The finished product will be a nice display piece, perhaps at Drexel or its new affiliate, the Academy of Natural Sciences. It also may provide insight into various scientific questions, such as how turtles evolved and how they are related to other creatures.

Queensland Environment Minister Vicki Darling on Thursday said the Girrigun Aboriginal Corporation, which covers two clan groups in the Townsville region, had agreed to suspend hunting of both species indefinitely.

The clans are entitled to hunt both species under the Native Title Act but agreed to stop after widespread flooding across Queensland last summer damaged sea grass beds - the major food source for both animals - along the coastline.

The agreement comes two weeks after traditional owners' groups from Bundaberg to Gladstone agreed to self-imposed bans on hunting both species

The study's authors estimate that 4,600 sea turtles die each year in U.S. coastal waters.

Before measures to reduce bycatch were put in place, total sea turtle takes surpassed 300,000 annually. Of these, 70,000 turtles were killed.

The study used data collected from 1990 to 2007 by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to determine bycatch rates across more than 20 fisheries operating in Atlantic waters from the Gulf of Mexico to the Canadian border, and in the Pacific Ocean, along the West coast and around Hawaii.

It found that overall turtle bycatch rates, including both fatal and nonfatal run-ins, have fallen about 60 percent since 1990.

The 60-million-year-old freshwater relative to modern crocodiles is the first known land animal from the Paleocene New World tropics specialized for eating fish, meaning it competed with Titanoboa for food. But the giant snake could have consumed its competition, too, researchers say.

"The younger individuals were definitely not safe from Titanoboa, but the biggest of these species would have been a bit much for the 42-foot snake to handle," said lead author Alex Hastings, a graduate student at the Florida Museum of Natural History and UF's department of geological sciences.

The new species is a dyrosaurid, commonly believed to be primarily ocean-dwelling, coastal reptiles. The new adult specimens challenge previous theories the animals only would have entered freshwater environments as babies before returning to sea.

Focusing on the African grey foam nest tree frog (Chiromantis xerampelina), the researchers sought to understand why females behave promiscuously, despite the risk of disease, injury and predation.

"One hypothesis for female promiscuity is that females can increase the genetic diversity of their offspring and, in so doing, increase the chance that at least some offspring survive and reproduce," Dr Byrne said.

Dr Byrne said the argument for mating with multiple partners (polyandry) was that it increased genetic diversity cushions against fluctuating selective forces in challenging environments.
"The frog's offspring are developing in an environment that's highly unpredictable in terms of rainfall, food availability and predation risk," said Dr Byrne.

"If the environment is fluctuating, it is very difficult for females to predict which male partner will provide genes that give her offspring the best chance of performing well in the future".

The last positive sighting of a sand lizard at this site was in the 1960s.

Once commonly found on sand dunes and heathland, the lizards became endangered due to gradual destruction of their habitats.

The captive bred sand lizards, reared at Marwell Zoo, have been released at Hengistbury Head as part of a long-term conservation project to restore the species status.

During the 20th Century a 90% loss of sand lizards was recorded in Dorset.