KATHMANDU — Following decades of speculation, skepticism and lack of consensus, Nepal’s government has announced the country’s first-ever consolidated national estimate of snow leopards (Panther uncia): 397 individuals. The figure, which translates to 1.56 individuals per 100 square kilometers (38.6 square miles), was reported by an expert committee following months of work which involved aggregating […]
Bonobos Communicate in Complex Phrases, a Language Process Once Thought Unique to Humans
Bonobos—the closest living relatives to humans—create complex and meaningful combinations of calls resembling the word combinations of humans, says a new study that challenges long-held assumptions about what makes human communication unique. The study conducted by researchers at Harvard and the University of Zurich, has investigated the vocal behavior of wild bonobos on the Kokolopori […]
Sniping koalas from helicopters: here’s what’s wrong with Victoria’s unprecedented cull
Snipers in helicopters have shot more than 700 koalas in the Budj Bim National Park in western Victoria in recent weeks. It’s believed to be the first time koalas have been culled in this way. The cull became public on Good Friday after local wildlife carers were reportedly tipped off. A fire burned about 20% […]
Petition: Urgent Action Needed — Investigate the Tragic Death of Anchorage’s Reindeer Star
The people of Anchorage have lost a local treasure. Star, the beloved reindeer who had become a symbol of joy and tradition in the heart of the city, was euthanized after a series of disturbing incidents. For years, Star was a fixture of the Anchorage community, bringing happiness to children and adults alike. Star’s presence, […]
Rare dragonfly introduced into remote area of Cumbria to reverse its decline
With its chalk-white face and bright flame-coloured markings, the white-faced darter dragonfly is a distinctive sight as it flutters around England’s peat bogs. The rare dragonfly, which breeds in mossy pools, is at threat of local extinction, but now conservationists are trying to end its population crash by introducing it into a remote corner of […]
Indigenous nations fought for a new national monument. Will it survive Trump?
In northeastern California, the Upper Pit River undulates through evergreen forests, wet meadows and rugged mountains. It’s part of the snow-fed headwaters of the Sacramento River, the largest river in the state. The Sacramento flows some 611 kilometers (380 miles) to the San Francisco Bay, supporting diverse and unique ecosystems and carrying water to cities […]
Petition: Starving Polar Bears Show Why Amazon, FedEx, and Walmart Must Go Green Now
We are all familiar with the images of confused polar bears trapped on rapidly thinning patches of ice in the Arctic as climate change decimates their home habitats. Now, we’re learning that even polar bears in Canada are at risk of starving to death – because as global warming melts the ice in their homes, […]
Country diary: Watching bats until it’s too dark to see
We’ve sneaked back to the office after hours. My partner has been working late here recently and has promised me that if I sit by the window as the sun sets, I’ll see something special. Our office rental is on the top floor of an old Midlands shoe factory. From our window, we can see […]