The oldest wild bird in the world is widely thought to be the rather remarkable Laysan albatross known as Wisdom, who lives on the Midway Atoll in the North Pacific Ocean. Initially ringed by biologist Chandler Robbins in 1956 when she arrived on the island to breed, she is estimated to be an amazing 73 […]
Fishing in a fog: Ship noise hampers orcas’ hunting success
Underwater noise from ships is making it tough for killer whales, or orcas, to find and catch their favorite fish, a recent study has found. Orcas (Orcinus orca) rely heavily on sound to hunt. They emit ultrasonic echolocation clicks that bounce off objects. By listening for the echoes of these clicks, the orcas can identify […]
Marmosets Can Call Each Other Names!
Recent research has unveiled a fascinating aspect of marmoset behavior: these small primates appear to use specific vocalizations to address each other, similar to how humans use names. This discovery could shed light on the evolution of language. In a study published in Science, researchers observed that marmosets use distinctive calls known as “phee-calls” to […]
Poached condor defied death elsewhere, only to be shot and killed on Colorado visit
Condor #1061 had already beaten the stiff odds. Long one of the world’s most endangered species, there are fewer than 400 California condors in the wild of North America. And when avian flu hit the U.S. in 2023, only about 116 of the giant vultures were alive in their southwestern release territory. Avian flu killed […]
We know how many okapi live in zoos. In the wild? It’s complicated
Revered by the Indigenous Mbuti and Efe tribes as a spiritual symbol and uplifted by the Democratic Republic of Congo as a national one, the okapi is deserving of a nickname as mystical as “forest unicorn.” The dark-colored ungulates are docile, elusive, and characterized by the zebra-like stripes on their legs and rump, though they’re […]
Viral Pygmy Hippo is Getting Abused by Social Media Users
Moo Deng, a two-month-old pygmy hippo, has quickly become an internet sensation, attracting a surge of visitors to Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Thailand. Her tiny, chubby frame has inspired a devoted fanbase, with videos of her circulating widely on social media. The zoo’s TikTok account, which features clips of Moo Deng, now boasts 2.5 […]
Marmot hitch-hiker rumbled after great escape from Yosemite national park
A marmot who hitched a ride out of Yosemite National Park in the engine of a car, has been rumbled and returned to his natural habitat with the help of local firefighters. Usually found at altitudes of more than 6,500ft, this yellow-bellied marmot was discovered in Pollock Pines, California – hiding some 135 miles from […]
Just 0.7% of land hosts one-third of unique, endangered species, study
Just 0.7% of the world’s land surface is home to one-third of the world’s most threatened and unique four-legged animals, a recent study has found. In the vast evolutionary tree of life, some animals, like rats, have many closely related species that are at no immediate risk of extinction. But others, like the red panda […]