At around 6:40am, a passerby saw something curious on a sidewalk in Hong Kong. It looked like it was the body of an adult turtle – but it had clearly been through something heinous. The poor animal’s shell was shattered and it was lying in a pool of its own blood. But, even worse, this […]
Whales and Dolphins Abandoned in France Are Still Waiting for Rescue
Two killer whales and 12 dolphins are still trapped inside the closed Marineland Antibes park in France, four months after it shut its doors. According to People, the animals remain in decaying tanks filled with algae as legal and logistical wrangling stalls their relocation. The orcas—Wikie and her son Keijo—were born in captivity and are […]
Indonesia convicts trafficking accomplice in a Javan rhino poaching scandal
Indonesia’s highest court has overturned the acquittal of an accused translator who facilitated transactions in the international trade of poached rhino horns. The Supreme Court in Indonesia recently sentenced 72-year-old Liem Hoo Kwan Willy to one year in prison for helping communications between an Indonesian trader and a Chinese buyer in the trafficking of Javan […]
In California, Hummingbird Beaks Have Been Transformed by Feeders
The profusion of hummingbird feeders in California homes has not only allowed some hummingbirds to expand their range, but has also altered the shape of their beaks. Native to Southern California, Anna’s hummingbirds have, over the last century, extended their range into the northern end of the state. Their migration followed the adoption of feeders […]
Oceans Are Getting Darker, Shrinking the Livable Space for Marine Life, Study Finds
According to a new study, about one-fifth of the world’s oceans, spanning around 75 million square kilometers, has been getting darker over the past 20 years. The study, published in the journal Global Change Biology, explored changes to the oceans’ photic zones. As the authors explained, these photic zones are where ecological interactions depend upon […]
Birds in Florida and nationwide are vanishing — fast
Birds that call Florida’s coastline and pine forests home are in serious decline, according to a sweeping new conservation report. Why it matters: Birds are indicators of the overall health of their habitats and signal early warnings of broader trouble. If these habitats can’t support birdlife, they likely can’t sustain other wildlife — or even […]
DNA probe links Japan’s otter-themed cafes to poaching hotspots in Thailand
A glut of social media videos featuring captive Asian small-clawed otters in the mid-2000s led to what wildlife trade experts term “the pet otter boom.” Demand for the species exploded, placing pressure on wild populations already contending with widespread loss of their wetland habitats. Amid an emerging trend for otter-themed exotic animal cafes in some […]
‘Remarkable’ Right Whale Saga Continues as Vagrant Pair Become First Ever Seen in Bahamas
Down near the Bahamas, a bizarre story is unfolding as two critically-endangered North Atlantic right whales continue a rebellious streak. Maybe they’re fans of Bob Dylan or The Ramones, but the whales, named Curlew and Koala, have spent the last few months cruising down from the Mid-Atlantic coast to the tropical Caribbean seas, something described […]