NAIROBI — The decline of many migratory bird populations is a red flag that ecosystems around the world are under increasing pressure, conservation experts warn, adding it’s time for governments to come together and coordinate conservation efforts across national borders. Representatives from governments, conservation agencies, NGOs, financial institutions, and donors gathered in Nairobi from Sept. […]
“They’re powerful enough to break human skin – and contain venom.” 7 longest (and deadliest) fangs on the planet
In the animal kingdom, teeth come in all shapes and sizes. Some are anchored in the jaw for chewing or seizing prey, while others – known as fangs – are elongated teeth (often hollow or grooved), specially adapted for piercing flesh and injecting venom. A walrus‘s tusks, for example, are enormous canine teeth that can […]
The bird that changed Ecuador: how a chance discovery of a rare species helped to save many more
I have to confess that I rarely enjoy birding in montane cloud forests. The birds that live in these mountainous, cool and humid habitats are masters of disguise, usually passing themselves off as a leaf or other form of foliage. But if I want to see antpittas – elusive, ground-dwelling birds that rarely show themselves […]
“He was grabbed by its powerful forelimbs. In the ensuing ‘embrace’ he suffered multiple puncture wounds from its razor-sharp foreclaws”
At first, being hugged to death by a giant anteater doesn’t sound like such a bad way to go. It’s up there with being caressed by kittens, nuzzled by lambs or tickled by baby goats. But there’s a catch. You may have seen videos of anteaters standing on their hind legs, arms outstretched as if inviting you […]
World Dolphin Day: Reporting unusual behavior, threats and increased protections
Nine dolphin species, and several more subspecies and local populations, are currently critically endangered or endangered, according to the most recent assessment by the IUCN, the global wildlife conservation authority. September 12 marks World Dolphin Day, an awareness day created in 2022 by marine conservation nonprofit Sea Shepherd to bring attention to the threats that these highly intelligent […]
Meet the deadliest rat on the planet – it contains enough poison to kill an elephant
Did you know there’s a rat poisonous enough to kill an elephant? Lophiomys imhausi, also known as the crested rat, the maned rat, and the African crested rat, is a deadly rarity says Aoife Glass. The crested rat is the only known poisonous rodent, and the only known mammal to sequester plant toxins for use as […]
Baby orangutans found in forest in India spark trafficking investigation
Five baby orangutans have been found in a forest in India, prompting authorities to investigate if they were trafficked into the country from south-east Asia. The orangutans, native only to the islands of Borneo and Sumatra and known for their shaggy red fur, were found in Balasore district of Odisha state, thousands of kilometres away from their natural […]
Its fate is “sealed by a clinical decapitation” – watch this praying mantis meet a cruel end
In this clip from the BBC’s Swarm: Nature’s Incredible Invasions, narrated by David Tennant, a praying mantis meets a cruel end when it gets caught up in an ant swarm. A colony of ants is not an opponent you want to mess with – especially when it’s on a mission. “In defence of the trail, the ants take no prisoners […]