Armed with a shotgun and tracking a rare species of antelope, Ernie Dosio, 75, was killed after stumbling across the animals in dense vegetation in Gabon. The carcass collector had been moving through thick undergrowth with a professional hunter when the pair unknowingly walked into the herd. The animals were said to be so well […]
Chernobyl’s radioactive landscape is a testament to nature’s resilience and survival spirit
CHERNOBYL, Ukraine (AP) — On contaminated land that is too dangerous for human life, the world’s wildest horses roam free. Across the Chernobyl exclusion zone, Przewalski’s horses — stocky, sand-colored and almost toy-like in appearance — graze in a radioactive landscape larger than Luxembourg. On April 26, 1986, an explosion at the nuclear power plant in Ukraine sent […]
“Imagine a rainbow-coloured kitten, shrink it down to the size of your fingertip and add a few more legs.” It’s time to rethink these tiny and cute killers
If I asked you to imagine a spider, what would be your first thought? For most people, that imaginary creature would be solid, black and hairy, with long legs and piercing fangs, perhaps skittering about in the depths of a dark cave. I’d like to suggest an alternative to what the archetypal spider looks like. […]
Love Island: Rare berry bonanza spurs Kākāpō baby boom
The biggest berry bloom in New Zealand‘s forests in decades has set off a mating frenzy among the critically endangered Kākāpō, the world’s beefiest parrots. With the face of a Muppet and the physique of a Furby, the Kākāpō is an all-around preposterous creature. It’s nocturnal and lime green, and, as science-fiction writer Douglas Adams wrote, […]
“Rearing up, each reveals its two-pronged penis.” Meet the creature that fences with an unusual body part
The ruffled flatworm Pseudobiceros bedfordi (also known as the Persian carpet flatworm or Bedford’s flatworm) can be hard to spot with the human eye as they make their way through the reefs of the Indo-West Pacific. But individuals can recognise other members of their own species through their distinctive patterns, which prevents cross-species mating – and for good reason, […]
Petition: Help Protect Hedgehogs From Harm and Habitat Loss
In Germany, robot lawnmowers have become more common, often turning on in the evening to trim yards without human supervision. But this futuristic practice also means there aren’t any people to make sure the lawnmowers’ sharp blades don’t hurt innocent wildlife. And in fact, hedgehogs are emerging as a primary victim of these machines. Hedgehogs […]
10 deadliest, most venomous spiders on the planet: Are these dangerous spiders as fearsome and lethal as their reputation?
Spiders list among some of the most feared animals on earth, but is this reputation fair? It is true that some, including all on this list, can inflict a painful bite in the right conditions, but there are many myths surrounding venomous spiders and their perceived deadliness. Firstly, it is not the case that there are a […]