Wolves across Europe are set to lose their “strictly protected” status. The move is seen as a win for farmers concerned about loss of livestock, but conservationists warn that removing protections will jeopardize stable wolf populations. At a recent meeting of the Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats, EU countries […]
Hawaiian crow that went extinct in the wild decades ago released on Maui
Five Hawaiian crows on Wednesday were released on Maui for the first time as part of an ongoing effort to return the species to its home, conservationists said. The Hawaiian crows, or alala, were last found on Hawaii‘s Big Island, but they went extinct in the wild in 2002, officials with the San Diego Zoo […]
Tule Elk at Point Reyes to Gain Freedom as Fence Removal Begins
After decades of debate and advocacy, the Tule elk of Point Reyes National Seashore will soon be free to roam beyond the confines of their enclosure at Tomales Point. The National Park Service is preparing to dismantle the two-mile-long, eight-foot-tall fence that has restricted the elk since 1978. This move comes after extensive public feedback, […]
That Cuban rodent species you never knew about? Turns out it’s two species
Hutias are a strange group of rodents living on various islands of the Caribbean. Although big, and sometimes looking a little plump, they’re active climbers and spend a considerable amount of their lives in trees. They look almost like a cross between a squirrel and a beaver, but are only distantly related to either. Instead, […]
Saving ‘old and wise’ animals vital for species’ survival, say scientists
It’s not just humans who get wiser as they age – animals do too, according to a growing body of research. The bigmouth buffalo fish can reach 127 years old, the Greenland shark 392, and some sponges can live for 10,000 years or more. And age is not just a number: as animals get older […]
Vandals Paint Tortoises in Florida
Two gopher tortoises in southwest Florida are recovering after being spray-painted in a troubling act of vandalism. The Conservancy of Southwest Florida in Naples reported the incident on November 22, sharing that the tortoises were found with their shells covered in vibrant paint, including hot pink, royal blue, and gold. One tortoise even had paint […]
‘Bear’s-eye camera’ reveals elusive Andean bear cannibalism and treetop mating
In the mountains of Peru, where ancient cloud forests meet the Amazon Rainforest, an Andean bear made scientific history. For four months, a camera collar captured the wild male’s daily life, revealing behaviors never before documented in the Southern Hemisphere’s only bear species, from treetop mating rituals to unexpected acts of cannibalism. The study, published […]
World’s oldest-known wild bird lays egg in Hawaii at age 74
The oldest-known wild bird in the world has laid an egg at the ripe age of about 74, her first in four years, US wildlife officials said. The long-winged seabird named Wisdom, a Laysan albatross, returned to Midway Atoll national wildlife refuge at the north-western edge of the Hawaiian Archipelago and laid what experts estimate […]