Its aim is "to celebrate and promote excellence within the wildlife media industry, thereby increasing the global viewing public’s awareness and understanding of nature and the urgent need to conserve it".

This years event takes place on 19th - 24th October 2008 and the call for entries is due this month.

Visit wildscreenfestival.org for info.

The habitat of polar bears is once again being threatened by a notice of intent by the United States to open up 29.7 million acres of the pristine Chukchi Sea to oil and gas activities.

This controversial announcement comes just days before the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is due to decide if the polar bear should be listed under the Endangered Species Act due to severe habitat loss from melting sea ice in Alaska's Arctic Ocean caused by global warming.

"The polar bear is in need of intensive care," said Brendan Cummings of the Center for Biological Diversity, "but with this lease sale the Bush administration is proposing to burn down the hospital."

Visit worldwildlife.org for further details.