Hippos are one of the most recognizable creatures on the planet, with their barrel form, massive teeth, and jaws that can expand to nearly 180 degrees. Hippos are also a keystone species because their behavior, as “ecosystem engineers,” helps form and preserve landscapes and ecosystems while also promoting biodiversity. Their presence is vital to the […]
Category: News
Do you know why US Wildlife Services slaughtered almost 2 million wild animals last year?
In 2021, an obscure US government division had a busy – and merciless – year, murdering almost 1.75 million animals around the country at a pace of about 200 per hour. The latest yearly toll from Wildlife Services, a division of the United States Department of Agriculture, has inflamed conservationists, who have branded the kills […]
Tawny Crazy Ants may have finally met their Kryptonite – a naturally occurring fungus can crush local populations
AUSTIN, Texas (KTRK) — When tawny crazy ants invade a new location, they act as an ecological wrecking ball, displacing native insects and small animals while also generating huge issues for homeowners. Scientists at The University of Texas in Austin have showed how to harness a naturally occurring fungus to kill small populations of crazy […]
Large pod of whales stranded across almost two miles of beach in South Island
Last week, around 30 pilot whales died in New Zealand’s “death trap” following mass beaching in a region known for whale deaths. A pod of around 30 whales was discovered washed up on the beach, stretching for over two kilometres. Mammal strandings are common at the Farewell Spit beach in northern New Zealand’s South Island. […]
Fierce lions become friendly kittens when ‘love hormone’ oxytocin is sprayed into their nostrils
Lions are normally highly violent in the wild, and they ferociously defend their territory from other lions. In captivity, though, this can be a major problem, especially when lions from different prides are put together. The researchers conducted the investigation with lions on a wildlife reserve in Dinokeng, South Africa, to determine if oxytocin may […]
Four maltreated Bengal tigers and four lions moved to wildlife sanctuaries after liberation from circuses
As part of two rescue operations, four Bengal tigers and four lions were saved after spending much of their lives in circuses and cramped living quarters. They will now be housed in South African wildlife sanctuaries. Two Bengal tigers were once part of a circus, but the traveling circus organizers asked a local farmer in […]
Elephants dying after eating plastic trash on open garbage dumps
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — The issue of trash-foraging elephants in Sri Lanka was brought to national attention thanks to a tweet by Hollywood icon Leonardo DiCaprio. Local conservationists, on the other hand, have long been warning about the problem, which they claim is caused by “short-sighted, politically motivated” planning that continues to harm elephants and […]
Florida panthers critically endangered as numbers fall below 200
I’m driving through southwestern Florida with photographer Carlton Ward Jr, on a busy highway outside of Naples. The roadways are lined with palm and pine trees, and the early humidity is oppressive. As he drives, backcountry supplies and camera equipment rattle in the backseat. We’re tracking down the elusive Florida panther. Scientists estimate that about […]