KATHMANDU — The discovery in a Nepali river of an armored catfish native to the Amazon has alarmed researchers and conservationists, who say it’s still not clear how the species found its way from the South American rainforest to the Himalayan nation. Forty-three specimens of Pterygoplichthys disjunctivus, known as the vermiculated sailfin catfish, were discovered […]
Petition: Tell the U.S. Forest Service to Not Allow Economic Interests Override the Well-Being of Our Ecosystems
In a shocking disregard for environmental conservation, the U.S. Forest Service greenlit a gold mining exploration project in California’s pristine Sierra Nevada Mountains. Had it not been reversed by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, the decision would have threatened the existence of unique and endangered species – some that are not found anywhere […]
Yellowstone bison gores 83-year-old tourist, lifting her off the ground
An 83-year-old woman has been seriously injured in Yellowstone National Park after being gored by a bison that was “defending its space,” park officials say. The tourist from Greenville, South Carolina, was targeted by the bison on June 1 near the Storm Point Trail at Yellowstone Lake in Wyoming, according to the National Park Service. […]
VOTE for the Best Photo of the Month June 2024
Welcome to the “Best Photo of the Month” competition showcasing and celebrating the biodiversity of Planet Earth. Voting is easy and lots of fun. By popular request the number of images to be selected has been increased to six. First click an image and the slideshow will start automatically. Select the SIX images you like best […]
Sick chimps seek out medicinal plants to heal themselves, study finds
Wild chimpanzees actively seek out plants with medicinal properties to treat themselves for specific ailments,a new study has found. While most animals consume foods with medicinal properties as part of their routine diet, few species have been shown to engage in self-medication in a way that suggests they have basic awareness of the healing properties […]
Formerly Neglected and Abused Zoo Animals are Thriving at an Animal Sanctuary
Over 200 wild exotic animals rescued from neglect and cruelty at St. Edouard Zoo in Canada five years ago have found new life and happiness at Black Beauty Ranch in Murchison, Texas. Once confined to dungeon-like stalls and inadequate enclosures, these creatures, including tigers, kangaroos, and a variety of other species, now thrive in a […]
A Bear Killed and Ate an Elderly Woman in Her Home. It’s the First Fatal Black Bear Attack in California’s History
More than six months after the death of an elderly woman, California officials are finally shedding some light on what they say is the first confirmed fatal black bear attack in state history. The November attack took place in Downieville and involved 71-year-old Patrice Miller, who was mauled to death in her own home, according […]
Female giraffes drove the evolution of long necks in order to feed on the most nutritious leaves
Everything in biology ultimately boils down to food and sex. To survive as an individual you need food. To survive as a species you need sex. Not surprisingly then, the age-old question of why giraffes have long necks has centered around food and sex. After debating this question for the past 150 years, biologists still […]