It’s Australia’s largest land carnivorous mammal, yet it’s viewed very differently depending on who you ask. Revered by some as an important native predator and condemned by others as a destructive pest, few animals spark as much debate. It may look familiar at first glance, but there’s far more to this iconic Australian species than […]
Nepal’s Rhino translocation success in numbers masks habitat struggles
While Nepal’s efforts to revive its rhinoceros population is hailed as a conservation success, habitat degradation is forcing translocated rhinos to wander far beyond their designated release zones, according to a new study, reports contributor Bibek Bhandari for Mongabay. The population of the vulnerable greater one-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) in Nepal grew by 16.6% between 2015 and 2021, reaching […]
What’s the world’s smallest cat? Meet the tiny felines barely larger than a ruler
Vying for first place in the smallest cat in the world category are the rusty-spotted cat (Prionailurus rubiginosus) and black-footed cat (Felis nigripes), which are very close in size, measuring 35-48cm and 35-52cm in length respectively. The smallest cats in the world Each cat is the smallest species on its continent – the rusty-spotted cat […]
Seeking swordfish, catching dolphins and whales: EU pushes to rein in driftnets
Driftnets, vertically hanging nets that drift with ocean currents and can stretch for kilometers, are used to catch large pelagic species such as swordfish and tuna. However, they have long drawn criticism from conservationists as they also capture and kill sharks, turtles, dolphins and other marine wildlife. For decades, debate has raged about use of […]
It looks like a cat, acts like a cat, but don’t be fooled – this is no cat… Discover Madagascar’s agile, stealthy, ferocious apex predator
The fossa is a fascinating and elusive carnivore native to the island of Madagascar. Despite its importance in Madagascar, the fossa remains relatively unknown outside of scientific circles. This is partly due to its secretive nature and the dense, remote forests it inhabits. Unfortunately, the fossa is currently classified as a vulnerable species, facing threats […]
Health risk fears for storks in Europe over ‘junk food’ from landfill
Storks are gaining weight from a diet of literal junk, according to research that suggests the previously disappearing birds face potential health risks as a result of increasingly eating from rubbish dumps. Landfill offers what appear to be quick and convenient meals for white stork populations in Europe. But new research suggests they may be gaining […]
“Marine animals were mysteriously dropping dead: around 1 million were wiped out.” Scientists now know the reason why – and it’s terrifying
In 2025, trouble was brewing in a 20,000 km2 area off the coast of South Australia. For more than a year, marine animals were mysteriously dropping dead: around one million animals were wiped out and some humans even got sick. Now, scientists have confirmed that the culprit behind these mass marine animal deaths is a species of […]