On Saturday 1 October, something remarkable happened. The Eurasian beaver was officially recognised as both a “native” and a “protected” species under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017. In England, that means it is now illegal to deliberately kill, injure, or capture the world’s second largest rodent, or disturb their dams, lodges or […]
Tag: wetlands
Tiny new tree frog species found in rewilded Costa Rican nature reserve
Nestled in a valley between two volcanoes, Donald Varela-Soto heard something unfamiliar. For six months, he searched for the source of a shrill frog call along the edge of a wetland in Tapir Valley Nature Reserve, a former cattle ranch in northern Costa Rica. “I kept hearing this different sound in the wetland but was […]
EU to crackdown on chemical pesticides in order to restore ecosystems
For the first time in 30 years, legislation addressing the EU’s catastrophic loss of wildlife has been proposed. Along with a crackdown on chemical pesticides, legally enforceable goals for all member states to restore wildlife on land, in rivers, and in the sea were revealed today. Targets set forward by the European Commission include reversing […]
In Sri Lanka, a waterbird flips the parenting paradigm on its head
COLOMBO — When it comes to super dads in the animal kingdom, the striking-looking waterbird known as the pheasant-tailed jacana is in a universe all its own. From incubating the eggs to taking care of the young, the male of the species excels. And in a reversal of the typical roles that play out in […]
Shocking Undercover Investigation Lays Bare the Horrifying Cruelty of Animal Trapping
A recently released undercover investigation, led by animal welfare and conservation non-profit Born Free USA, in collaboration with the Humane Society of the United States and Human Society International, has exposed the horrifying cruelty of animal trapping in the United States. The work has led to renewed calls for the introduction of the Refuge from […]
Audubon and The Nature Conservancy to Lead Great Salt Lake Water Trust
Salt Lake City—Today, the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands (FFSL) announced the National Audubon Society (Audubon) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) as the recipients of the Great Salt Lake Watershed Enhancement Program grant funds. These organizations, with dedicated staff and conservation expertise in Utah, will utilize the $40 million appropriated during the […]
How Urban Isolation Could Make Snakes More Vulnerable to Climate Change
Could urbanization make it harder for some animals to adapt to the climate crisis? A study published in the journal PLOS ONE last year found that the populations of Western tiger snakes (Notechis scutatus occidentalis) that were the most cut off from others due to urbanization in and around Perth, Australia, had reduced genetic diversity, making […]
Green light for return of red-footed tortoises to Argentina
It may be one of the slowest-moving conservation projects in history, not just because of the red tape, but due to the animals themselves: 40 red-footed tortoises are being released into El Impenetrable national park in Argentina in the coming weeks after being rescued from the illegal pet trade in Paraguay and transported to Argentina. […]