Crows are widely known to be one of the most intelligent animals on the planet, along with elephants, chimpanzees, orangutans and dolphins. A new study has revealed that at least one crow species can recognize regularity in geometric shapes — the ability to pick out a shape that differs from others — a skill previously […]
Indonesia court hands down ‘heaviest sentence’ yet for tiger poacher in Sumatra
A court in Indonesia has sentenced a man to five years in prison for the killing of a critically endangered Sumatran tiger in September last year in North Sumatra province. “As far as I know, it’s the heaviest sentence ever imposed for crimes involving protected wildlife in Indonesia,” Iding Achmad Haidir, chair of the Sumatran […]
In West Africa, hooded vultures vanish as abattoirs modernize
Critically endangered hooded vultures in Nigeria that once fed on the carcasses of wild animals are now largely dependent on scraps discarded by people. But changes in the way waste is disposed of at slaughterhouses has left them desperately short of food, researchers say. In the 1970s, hooded vultures (Necrosyrtes monachus) were among at least […]
Norfolk bird surveyors find Britain’s oldest known oystercatchers
If your ears are assaulted by the shrill piping calls of an excitable bird on the east coast of England, fear not: it’s probably an oystercatcher experiencing a midlife crisis. Two of the handsome black and white birds with bright red-orange bills have been found to be the oldest known oystercatchers ever recorded in Britain, […]
Antarctic Krill Supertrawler Kills Humpback Whale
A criminal complaint has been lodged against a Chilean-flagged krill supertrawler named Antarctic Endeavour for killing a humpback whale on the 25th of March, the same day that it was witnessed by crew on board the Sea Shepherd vessel Allankay, dragging its trawl net through waters where Sea Shepherd scientists documented humpback whales foraging on […]
Nepal announces its snow leopard population after first-of-its-kind assessment
KATHMANDU — Following decades of speculation, skepticism and lack of consensus, Nepal’s government has announced the country’s first-ever consolidated national estimate of snow leopards (Panther uncia): 397 individuals. The figure, which translates to 1.56 individuals per 100 square kilometers (38.6 square miles), was reported by an expert committee following months of work which involved aggregating […]
Bonobos Communicate in Complex Phrases, a Language Process Once Thought Unique to Humans
Bonobos—the closest living relatives to humans—create complex and meaningful combinations of calls resembling the word combinations of humans, says a new study that challenges long-held assumptions about what makes human communication unique. The study conducted by researchers at Harvard and the University of Zurich, has investigated the vocal behavior of wild bonobos on the Kokolopori […]
Sniping koalas from helicopters: here’s what’s wrong with Victoria’s unprecedented cull
Snipers in helicopters have shot more than 700 koalas in the Budj Bim National Park in western Victoria in recent weeks. It’s believed to be the first time koalas have been culled in this way. The cull became public on Good Friday after local wildlife carers were reportedly tipped off. A fire burned about 20% […]