Birding is indeed a fascinating endeavor. One can simply observe birds in their backyard… or they can search to the ends of the Earth. Birders can range from almost deity-like in their ability, omnipotent observers of sights and sounds most of us would miss, and at the other end of the spectrum, they can be…me. […]
Crocodile snatches wild dog from riverbank in Zambia. Then its pack turns up to try and save it
In the heart of Zambia, in an area of South Luangwa National Park known as Nsefu, top predators clash over territory – with its last remaining watering holes attracting all kinds of animals. And in footage captured for BBC’s Kingdom, an African wild dog family show just how far they’ll go to protect their own. […]
Traditional Chinese Medicine Drives Poaching of Pangolins, Records Show
The use of pangolin parts in traditional Chinese medicine is driving poaching of the small, scaly mammals, according to an analysis of legal records. The Environmental Investigation Agency, a watchdog group, looked at 169 Chinese court judgments involving pangolins, which together documented the illegal trade of 5,465 pangolins and nearly 43 tons of pangolin scales […]
“Not expected at all”: dolphin researchers just made a surprising discovery in the Mediterranean Sea
A new study challenges a long-held theory about bottlenose dolphins in the Mediterranean, revealing that they are divided by offshore and coastal ecotypes rather than being split into east and west populations. “We thought that there was a general east-west split in their populations based on quite old genetic techniques that wouldn’t be used nowadays,” […]
Cuddling capybaras and ogling otters: the problem with animal cafes in Asia
The second floor of an unassuming office building in central Bangkok is a strange place to encounter the world’s largest rodent. Yet here, inside a small enclosure with a shallow pool, three capybaras are at the disposal of dozens of paying customers – all clamouring for a selfie. As people eagerly thrust leafy snacks toward […]
“Seeing them walk free was incredibly rewarding”: 50 giant tortoises released on island in the Seychelles
Fifty formerly captive Aldabra giant tortoises have been released onto an exclusive private island in the Seychelles. The move, which places the reptiles back in their native habitat, is a boost for biodiversity and a new chapter in the lives of these iconic gentle giants. North Island is a small, tropical landmass north-west of the […]
It’s ‘whack-a-mole’: Alarming rise in pet trade fuels wildlife trafficking into California
In October, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer at California’s Otay Mesa border crossing noticed an odd bulge inside a man’s pants. Jesse Agus Martinez, a U.S. citizen who lives in Tijuana, repeatedly claimed the bump was “pirrin,” a Spanish word for penis. His history of smuggling birds into the U.S. prompted further examination, […]
