Maryland Governor Wes Moore has signed a bill prohibiting the use of exotic animals in circuses and traveling shows. Sponsored by Del. Sara Love and Sen. Sarah Elfreth, the bill imposes a $2,000 civil penalty on violators. The banned species include big cats, bears, nonhuman primates, and elephants. With this action, Maryland joins the ranks […]
‘He Put Up a Fair Fight’: 13-Foot Crocodile Attacks Houseboat
A 13.7-foot-long crocodile was captured by authorities after it came mere inches from attacking a houseboat-dweller. The croc launched itself onto the houseboat in the Cardwell marina in Australia’s Northern Queensland, with owner Dean Grieve narrowly avoiding its maw. After reporting the incident to Queensland’s Department of Environment, Science and Innovation, the crocodile was captured […]
Town Saves the Threatened Bum-Breathing Punk Turtle – a 9lb Wonder Found Only in the Mary River
Australia is filled with wild and wonderful critters, but few surpass the novelty of the Mary River turtle—which was once one of the continent’s most endangered. Now however, the dedication of 800 residents in the town of Tiaro is seeing the turtle repopulate the river from which it draws its name, a point of pride […]
The Attitudes of Urban Residents on Encountering Animals in Cities
Urban environments are not just concrete jungles devoid of wildlife; they are their own ecosystems where humans and animals coexist. A recent study published in the Journal of Urban Ecology sheds light on how city residents perceive the presence of various animals in their immediate surroundings. T he study provides valuable insights into urban residents […]
Terrifying moment woman comes face to face with a mountain lion in her backyard
Video footage captured the astonishing moment a woman came face-to-face with a mountain lion who was literally ‘hanging out’ in a tree in her backyard. Homeowner Corinna Bubenheim, of Woodland Hills in Los Angeles, first spotted the striking animal when her German Shepherds began running around her avocado tree in her yard on Thursday. Expecting […]
New Global Wildlife Crime Report Finds 4,000 Species Being Targeted in 162 Countries
A new report from the United Nations’ Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has found that more than 4,000 wildlife species are targeted worldwide for illegal trade, and about 162 countries have active illegal wildlife trading. According to the latest edition of the UNODC’s World Wildlife Crime Report, the third of its kind, more than […]
Brooklyn Man Pleads Guilty to Selling Illegal Exotic Animal Parts
A recent case in Brooklyn sheds light on the disturbing illegal trade in exotic animal parts. Usher Weiss, a 26-year-old resident, pleaded guilty after being caught selling items including a mounted cougar head and other prohibited wildlife products to an undercover officer from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). The undercover operation […]
Scientists reveal why hundreds of fish in Florida Keys are spinning to death and washing up on popular beaches
Scientists may have discovered what has caused hundreds of fish off the coast of the Florida Keys to spin in circles until they die. Reports of the bizarre behavior first surfaced in October 2023, leading to nearly 500 reports of dead fish washing ashore as of May 8. Researchers at Florida Gulf Coast University recently […]