Long, arboreal and often dazzlingly green, the boomslang looks more like a vine with eyes than a killer. Yet this member of the Colubrid snake family carries an incredibly potent venom, capable of causing catastrophic internal bleeding. It is shy and much less likely to bite than some other more aggressive venomous snakes, such as the saw-scaled […]
Everglades Restoration Project Ongoing for 20-Plus Years Sees Huge Rewilding Success
A huge area of the Everglades that was drained in an attempt to convert it to suburbia has been restored to a somewhat native ecosystem after 2 decades of reverse-landscape engineering. Picayune Strand is a big, almost perfect rectangle of south Florida wetland located northwest of Everglades National Park, northeast of Thousand Islands Nat. Wildlife […]
Results of the Best Photo of the Month May 2026
We are delighted to announce the results of our latest photo competition. Steve Wagner wins First Prize with his outstanding image ‘Hyacinth Macaw‘. Alan Murphy wins Second Prize with “Red Fox”. Third Prize goes to Glenn Bartley with ‘Andean Motmot (Momotus Aequatorialis)’ Please give kudos to the photographers by leaving comments at the bottom of […]
It’s four feet long, weighs 29kg and has a phenomenal 100-160,000 hairs per cm², sporting more than a billion hairs in total
The title of the hairiest animal goes to the sea otter, whose luxurious fur, according to a 2010 study, comprises a phenomenal 100- 160,000 hairs per square centimetre (an adult probably sports more than a billion hairs in total). Sea otters lack insulating blubber, so dense water-repellent fur is an important asset in the chilly […]
Fabulous Vietnam Pheasant Not Seen in 20 Years Returns to Wild Thanks to Zoo Coalition
For over 20 years, the forests of central Vietnam have been missing one of their most remarkable inhabitants. Now, an international alliance of conservation organizations, zoological institutions, and Vietnamese partners has come together with a shared goal: to return the Vietnam pheasant to the forests where it once lived. The project represents one of the […]
“An attack can be fatal, due to their venom and bacteria…” The 3 deadliest, most lethal lizards the planet
When we think of dangerous animals, lizards might not seem as though they’d be top of the list – but a few scaly species prove that reptiles can be just as lethal as big cats or venomous snakes. From venom that has been transformed into trailblazing diabetes treatment to toxins that inhibit blood clotting, lizards have some of the most […]
As economic case for deep-sea mining weakens, industry should halt urgency to begin operation (commentary)
Why do we need deep-sea mining? Given the potential consequences for the health and biodiversity of the ocean, that seems a vital question to answer before any commercial mining starts. The question is even more important as the economic case for deep-sea mining is being increasingly undermined by financial evidence, and is nowhere near strong […]
“Over the next 6 months, it will prey on the defenceless larvae until it’s 100 times its original size.” This undercover carnivore may look harmless – but don’t be fooled
The large blue butterfly (Phengaris arion), the largest and rarest of the UK’s blue butterflies, has a remarkable lifecycle. It relies entirely on a single species of red ant (Myrmica sabuleti) to survive. In the third episode of the BBC TV series Wild Isles, Grasslands, David Attenborough narrates a chilling chain of events. “This caterpillar is one of the very few in the […]