2010–2011 midwinter animal mass death events
The 2010–2011 midwinter animal mass death events (humorously referred to as Aflockalypse) have gained considerable publicity worldwide. Media attention was particularly high for this period. This is despite the fact that the mass deaths of fish and of birds are quite common. Livestock have also been known to suffer such incidents.
December 2010
January 2011
March 2011
Explanations
According to most scientists, massive die offs of animals are not unusual in nature and happen for a variety of reasons including bad weather, disease outbreaks and poisonings, with pollution and climate change adding to the stresses on wildlife. The U.S. Geological Service's website listed about 90 mass deaths of birds and other wildlife from June through December 12. For instance, Louisiana's State Wildlife Veterinarian Jim LaCour has stated that there have been 16 similar mass blackbird deaths in the past 30 years. According to Italy's WWF president Giorgio Tramonti, mass dove deaths like the ones that occurred in Italy have never happened before 2010. The event in Arkansas was attributed primarily to an unexpected temperature change causing turbulence, visible on NEXRAD Doppler weather radar images, above their roosting areas and disorienting them.
Apocalyptic?
Some Christians assert that this particular cluster of animal mass deaths is a sign of the Apocalypse. They reference a passage in the Book of Hosea in the Hebrew Bible which reads: "By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood," and the prophecy continues "Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away."
The term aflockalypse was adopted by some media commentators in reference to the 2010–2011 bird deaths. Aflockalypse is a portmanteau of the words "flock" and "apocalypse".
See also
References
External links
Retrieved from : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010%E2%80%932011_midwinter_animal_mass_death_events
