Often overshadowed by lions, leopards and hyenas, the African wild dog is one of the continent’s most extraordinary predators. With its striking patchwork coat, oversized ears and remarkable teamwork, this endangered hunter boasts one of the highest success rates of any large carnivore on Earth Are African wild dogs wolves or dogs? African wild dogs […]
Scottish gannet chick hunt blocked for first time in 400 years
A controversial Scottish seabird hunt has had its licence refused for the first time in 400 years, in what campaigners have called a “victory for common sense”. In the annual guga hunt, up to 2,000 gannet chicks are killed over a 10-day period on the uninhabited Hebridean island of Sula Sgeir, 40 miles north of […]
Its legs are as thick as wrists and it’s able to rip monkeys from branches with its deadly talons: Meet the world’s most powerful bird
Harpy eagles are iconic, almost prehistoric-looking birds of prey that regularly feature near the top of ‘birds-to-see-before-you-die’ lists. Seeing one of these majestic eagles in the wild is a truly special moment for birders. What are harpy eagles? The harpy eagle is one of the world’s biggest and most impressive birds of prey. How big are […]
Lynx Rescued in War-torn Ukraine Walks on Grass for the First Time (WATCH)
A Eurasian lynx rescued from misery in Ukraine took her first steps on grass —and soon rolled over onto her back—after being rescued by a UK animal sanctuary. The big cat named Ursa was found seriously ill in January after being illegally kept as a private pet in Kyiv. She was moved to a wild […]
It barks like a dog and howls like a human – and is a silent, deadly hunter
The barking owl is a striking-looking hunter found in Australia’s woodlands. Compact, powerful and yellow-eyed, it spends the day roosting in foliage before emerging to hunt mammals, birds, reptiles and insects as the light fades. It is often heard before it is seen: alongside its dog-like bark, this owl can produce an eerie, wavering scream […]
‘Bumbling, mumbling’ tidiers of our world: the unexpected superpowers of the common woodlouse
Chucky pig. Slater. Monkey pea. Roly-poly. Boat-builder. Butchy boy. Cheeselog. Hobbling Andrew. Wood pig. If there were a prize for the range and joyfulness of a creature’s English-language names, the humble woodlouse would undoubtedly triumph over its million-plus invertebrate rivals. Over centuries of easy cohabitation with humans, it has acquired more than 300 regional names in Britain […]
What’s the biggest, heaviest eagle in the world? Meet the contenders – including a giant with a monster 3-metre wingspan
Today the biggest eagle in the world is often claimed to be the Steller’s sea eagle, a fish-eating species from North-East Asia. Steller’s sea eagles are one of the rarest raptors in the world. Birdlife International estimate there’s 3600-4670 mature individuals in the wild and say”it is suspected that it will decline at a rate of 20-30% […]
Huge great white spotted traveling off US and Canada as shark sightings surge
The largest tagged male great white shark in the Atlantic Ocean has been identified traveling up the US and Canada coastline amid a surge in sightings of sharks that are increasingly shifting their movement patterns due to the overheating of the oceans. The great white shark, named Contender, is nearly 14ft long and weighs more […]