British Dog Breeds ‘At Risk Of Extinction’

British dog breeds such as the English Setter are being pushed towards extinction by the growing popularity of more exotic dogs such as Chihuahuas, new figures suggest.

Biodiversity as natural capital

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One fifth of animal and plant species are threatened by extinction, a global study warns, but conservation efforts have pulled some back from the brink. Host Lisa Mullins talks with biologist Thomas Lovejoy about the economic value of biodiversity and intact ecosystems. Lovejoy is in Nagoya, Japan, for a global summit on the biodiveristy crisis. Download MP3
Video:Thomas Lovejoy on marketing for biodiversity

Lizard extinction and oil in the deep ocean

In the science podcast we’re looking at a new study suggesting the world’s lizards are increasingly threatened by climate change. And a scientist on board a research vessel tells us what he’s seeing around the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

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Lizards in peril

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In recent decades, scientists have documented serious threats to frog species across the globe. Frogs and other amphibians have vanished from many areas. The exact cause is in question. It might be an infectious disease, or pollution, or habitat destruction. A study published by the journal Science suggests the world’s lizards are also in peril. And what’s threatening lizards is climate change. The World’s science correspondent Rhitu Chatterjee has the story. Download MP3

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Europe presses to ban bluefin tuna trade

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European Union leaders are throwing their weight behind a proposed international ban on the trade in bluefin tuna from the Atlantic and Mediterranean. The prized fish is one of the world’s most over-harvested marine species. The World’s Gerry Hadden has the story.

Haruki Murakami’s fans, confessions of a kanji-holic, and kwassa kwassa

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We check out a claim that with the aid of a super-computer, it’s possible to predict which words will become extinct in a few centuries. Also, a report on the extraordinarily devoted fans of Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami. That’s followed by a conversation with Eve Kushner, a devoted fan of those Japanese characters known as kanji. Finally, Vampire Weekend’s Ezra Koenig on his favorite phrase out of Africa: kwassa kwassa.