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Our Daily Planet: Wildlife Smugglers Busted and Arkansas Earthquake Swarm

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By Brett Israel
published

Each weekday morning, OurAmazingPlanet takes the pulse of the Earth, reporting on natural phenomena and exploration news from around the globe.

Wildlife Smugglers Busted: Wildlife activists in central Africa have brought down a smuggling network and recovered hundreds of pounds of ivory, African gray parrots, tiger and lion skins, and turtle shells. [Related: Grim Trade in Tiger Parts Still Strong Globally, Report Finds .]

Stubborn as an Ox: As a mascot for life in the Arctic, the musk ox is the best choice. It can withstand miserable weather like no other, scientists say.

Is Seafood Safe?: The government has declared Gulf of Mexico seafood safe after the BP oil spill. Some scientists aren't so sure. [Related: Oceans in Peril: Primed for Mass Extinction? ]

Quake Swarm: What is causing the unusually frequent earthquakes in Guy, Arkansas? Geologists have a mystery to solve.

Wolverine Worries: Wolverines should be protected as an endangered species, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has announced. They'll have to wait in line, however, behind other, higher-priority species. [Related: 10 Species You Can Kiss Goodbye.]

Southwest Drought: Worst case scenario for the American southwest: A 60-year stretch of heat and drought, not witnessed since the 12th century.

Previously on Our Daily Planet: Metrodome Collapse and Cancun Climate Talks

Reach OurAmazingPlanet staff writer Brett Israel at bisrael@techmedianetwork.com. Follow him on Twitter @btisrael.

Brett Israel
Brett Israel was a staff writer for Live Science with a focus on environmental issues. He holds a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and molecular biology from The University of Georgia, a master’s degree in journalism from New York University, and has studied doctorate-level biochemistry at Emory University.