Amid mixed responses from conservationists and animal activists, a group of rhino breeders and game reserve owners in South Africa is taking legal action to overturn a domestic ban on the trade of rhino horn. Arguing that horns are a renewable resource, the group has filed a case in a civil court claiming that selling […]
Author: Supertrooper
Video: Racing baby elephants understimate the muddiness of mud
Apparently “slow and steady wins the race” isn’t part of the baby elephant curriculum. This playful trio was far too busy racing to a watering hole in South Africa’s Madikwe Game Reserve to remember that mud is … well, muddy. While their mothers had no trouble traversing the sticky pit, the little ellies got a […]
Lion among 23,000 species threatened with extinction
The mighty lion, reclusive cave crabs and the world’s rarest sea lion are among nearly 23,000 species at risk of dying out, a top conservation body warned on Tuesday. In an update to its “Red List” of threatened species, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) hailed some clear advances in saving endangered […]
Vaquita porpoise going extinct right before our eyes
If you’ve never heard of the vaquita, then picture a porpoise about the size of a small human with black-lined, expressive eyes and a rounded mouth. The smallest members of the porpoise family, vaquitas are today found only in the waters of Mexico’s northern Gulf of California – and pretty soon, you won’t find them […]
Iberian lynx: back from the brink of extinction … and run down by cars
The world’s most endangered feline species, the Iberian lynx, is making a comeback in Spain after being pushed to the brink of extinction. But the costly efforts to reintroduce the spotted cat into the wild face an unexpected enemy – cars. The number of lynx killed by collisions with vehicles has soared since Spain’s economic […]
Bees feeding on fungicide-dosed flowers develop health issues, studies say
While the relationship between insecticides and bees has made headlines – and controversy – for years, two recent studies have shown that another class of agricultural chemicals, little-appreciated but used in ever-increasing amounts, may also pose a threat to pollinators. The new studies have raised concerns about fungicides: in one, foraging on fungicide-dosed flowers harmed […]
Five dead Tasmanian devils may have been poisoned, says ranger
Investigations are under way into the discovery of five dead Tasmanian devils south of Hobart as new research shows a decline in population of the threatened species is affecting the island state’s ecosystem. The carcasses of five of the carnivorous marsupials, including a mother with two babies in her pouch, were found near the township […]
Results of the Best Photo of the Week Ended 20 Jun 2015
We are delighted to announce the results of our latest photo competition. Morkel Erasmus wins First Prize for his brilliant composition “The Promise of Rain”. Chas Moonie wins Second Prize for his outstanding capture “It Must Be Love”. Third Place goes to Ruth Thiessen for “Pretty Baby”. See detailed results below: (click on thumbnails for full […]