A boa constrictor in the U.K. gave birth to 14 babies—without a mate. Is it a miracle? The result of a secret rendezvous? Probably not. Females of species have the ability to reproduce asexually, without sperm from a male. The process is called parthenogenesis, from the Greek words for “virgin” and “birth.” Some plants and […]
Rare “Grolar” Bears of Canada’s Arctic Studied
A unique family of bears stands as a testament to the changing face of wildlife Conservation. Known as “grolars,” these hybrids are the offspring of polar bears and grizzly bears, marking a rare intersection of species in a rapidly transforming environment. Recent research, detailed in the journal Conservation Genetics Resources, has shed new light on […]
Freya the rescued lion cub is safe in South Africa, but many other lions there are bred to be shot
PAARL, South Africa — Freya, a 6-month-old lion cub rescued from the wildlife trade in Lebanon, poked a curious nose out of her transport crate and sniffed the air. Satisfied, she took her first cautious steps in her new forever home in a sanctuary in South Africa. Freya’s relocation to the Drakenstein Lion Park is […]
Recovery of the Bluefin Tuna Achieves Major Goals A Decade Ahead of Schedule
One of the culinary world’s most prized fish, and one of the sea’s fastest most accomplished predators, has left regulators stunned at the power of its recovery. A target for the pan-Pacific stock of bluefin tuna has already been reached a decade in advance, with one federal fisheries policy analyst suggesting the world isn’t far […]
The Consequences of Forbidden Romances in the Animal Kingdom
In the animal kingdom, tales of forbidden romances between endangered wild animals and their domestic counterparts weave a complex narrative fraught with consequences. From yaks seeking affection from docile cows to testosterone-fueled wild camels charging pastoralist herds, these encounters pose serious challenges with far-reaching implications. The dwindling populations of many endangered species, coupled with shrinking […]
Remains of Girl, 12, Found After Crocodile Attack: ‘Devastating’
The body of a missing 12-year-old girl feared attacked by a crocodile has been discovered by police. The girl was reported missing on Tuesday evening local time, after swimming in a river named Mango Creek in Australia’s Northern Territory, some 220 miles southwest of the city of Darwin. The girl’s remains showed injuries consistent with […]
‘No chain stores, but moose on every corner’: as Colorado herds thrive, clashes with people rise
One morning in the winter of 1978, a handful of state wildlife staff huddled together in the Uinta Mountains in north-eastern Utah. Deep snows coated the peaks and filled the valleys. A pair of helicopters cruised over the frozen landscape, helping those on the ground search for their prize: a cow moose in a snowy […]
Hawaii Deploys Millions of Mosquitoes in Bold Move to Save Endangered Birds
In an extraordinary conservation effort, millions of specialized mosquitoes are being released in Hawaii from helicopters to prevent the extinction of the archipelago’s rare honeycreeper birds. These native birds, known for their vivid colors and unique songs, are facing a deadly threat from malaria transmitted by non-native mosquitoes, originally introduced in the 1800s by European […]