In Tsiigehtchic, a village in Canada’s Northwest Territories where two rivers meet, a group of hunters returns to their community with pieces of caribou on toboggans dragged by their snowmobiles. Hunters travel for up to two days to intersect with the caribou’s path in the Arctic. When they come home, they prepare the meat by […]
Petition: Help End Elephant Riding in Thailand
Elephant riding is a popular tourist experience in Thailand. But it leads to immense suffering for the elephants involved. The elephants spend hours every day carrying their handler, tourists, and a heavy seat on their backs. After years of enduring these rides, their backs become sunken and deformed. On top of this, they also endure […]
What Is Causing the Perplexing Decline of the American Kestrel?
On a chilly, overcast December morning in North Texas, a car prowls a pitted dirt road. The occupants are straining forward, looking intently at the sky. “Kestrel!” says Maddy Kaleta from the passenger seat, pointing to a tiny black blob on a power line ahead. She whips out binoculars and confirms the bird isn’t banded. […]
33 Swimmers in Hawaii Reportedly Harassed Dolphins, Officials Say
Hawaii authorities announced that they have referred 33 people to U.S. law enforcement after the group of people allegedly harassed a pod of wild dolphins. It is illegal to swim with Hawaii’s spinner dolphins because it can be harmful to their health and well-being. When humans swim with dolphins, it can cause stress to the […]
Meant to Catch Spotted Lanternflies, Glue Traps Are a Horrifying Hazard for Birds
Artist Sarah Valeri was on her way to an art studio open house in October when she stumbled across a grisly scene. Several trees lining the Brooklyn sidewalk were wrapped in strips of lime-green tape. Stuck to them were dead insects, feathers, and the carcasses of two birds. The horrifying centerpiece was a live Downy […]
Ornithologists Identify Two New Species of Toxic Birds
Most people are familiar with South and Central America’s iconic poison dart frogs, especially the golden poison frog (Phyllobates terribilis), that carry the potent neurotoxic alkaloid batrachotoxin. The discovery of two new poisonous bird species in New Guinea — which carry the same toxin in their skin and feathers — demonstrates that batrachotoxin is more […]
India cheetah births spark interest in fast felines in neighboring Nepal
KATHMANDU — News of four cheetah cubs being born recently in India has sparked interest in the species in the conservation community in neighboring Nepal, where the big cat’s historical presence has long been debated. The Indian cubs were born from southeast African cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus jubatus) reintroduced to Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh, […]
Wildcrafting: A Guide to Ethical Harvesting of Nature’s Gifts
Wildcrafting, the ancient practice of harvesting plants from their natural habitats for food, medicine, or crafting, has experienced a resurgence in recent years. From flying saucer mushrooms to medicinal roots, there are a plethora of valuable natural resources that can be found through wildcrafting. While often confused with foraging, wildcrafting is focused on the careful […]