The Blue Planet, broadcast in 2001, was the first natural history series to comprehensively showcase the life that teems within our oceans. Then in 2017, its follow-up created a phenomenon known as the ‘Blue Planet effect’. British universities reported an increase in applications for marine biology courses, and the series helped spark a movement against single-use plastic – which […]
Texas man convicted of buying eagle parts from a wildlife trafficking ring
A man from Humble, Texas, U.S., pled guilty to purchasing tails and sets of feathers from illegally killed bald and golden eagles, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Montana. John Patrick Butler, 71, was sentenced May 5 to five years of probation and ordered to pay $77,500 in restitution. The bald […]
“The longer it stays latched onto your skin, the more toxin it pumps in until your legs start to give way and your face and breathing muscles begin to freeze…”
If you’re strolling through grasslands in Australia, South Africa and the US Rocky Mountains in spring and early summer it’s important to check that you haven’t picked up an unwelcome and dangerous hitchhiker. The paralysis tick is a blood-sucking insect, the adult female of which has a nasty added extra – a powerful neurotoxin in […]
Primates Are Being Sold Online at Alarming Rates and Social Media Is Making It Worse
A deeply troubling trend is unfolding across the digital landscape, and it involves some of the most intelligent, emotionally complex animals on the planet. A new report from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the International Fund for Animal Welfare, and the World Wildlife Fund has uncovered a staggering surge in primates being bought and […]
“It’s rather splendidus, with dazzling hues of blue, orange and green…” The 8 most beautiful, stunningly exquisite fish on the planet
The ocean is home to some of the most breathtaking creatures on Earth – and few are as stunning as these vibrant fish. Whether it’s the electric hues of the mandarinfish, the regal flutter of a Siamese fighting fish’s tail, or the deadly beauty of a lionfish, these species blend form and function in striking […]
Petition: Cod Populations Are Falling Dangerously Low and It Is Time to Listen to Scientists
Cod has long been a staple of British fish and chips. But now, conservation experts are warning that your fish and chips may be hurting the ecosystem. Scientists say UK cod populations have fallen to dangerously low levels, with overfishing pushing stocks toward collapse despite recommendations for zero catch. The good news is that there […]
“Its venom disrupts the blood-clotting system, causing haemorrhage and kidney failure. Without prompt treatment bites can be fatal…”
This little desert hunter may not look especially imposing, but its bite can be deadly, and in India it is one of the “Big Four” snakes thought to be jointly responsible for around 58,000 mortalities per year. Those that encounter the saw-scaled viper would do well to heed the rasping warning sound it emits before […]