The San Diego Humane Society’s Ramona Wildlife Center is feeling festive, and it has nothing to do with Thanksgiving, but instead a birthday celebration for a hippo that turns 52. Hannah Shirley, the world’s oldest known living pygmy hippopotamus, turned 52 years old on Thursday, and celebrated with a Hungry Hungry Hippos–themed party. Hannah was […]
Singapore intercepts record stash of SA rhino horns hidden in ‘furniture fittings’
The stash of illicit rhino horns, together with an assortment of other animal parts, was destined for the south-east Asian country of Laos. The National Parks Board of Singapore confirmed this week that 35.7kg of rhinoceros horns, valued at roughly S$1.13 million (just under R15 million), were discovered earlier this month during routine cargo checks. […]
Study maps whale shark stranding hotspots in Indonesia, highlights conservation needs
A new study has mapped whale shark stranding hotspots in Indonesian waters over the past decade and linked their occurrence to oceanographic dynamics, providing a scientific basis for targeted, preventative conservation strategies. In the study published in October, marine researchers from Indonesia and New Zealand identified locations with significant reports of stranded whale sharks (Rhicodon […]
32 staggering crocodile facts: Amazing truths about one of the deadliest – and oldest – predators on the planet, including their rather tender mating strategy…
From razor-sharp senses to fierce maternal instincts and unexpected ties to birds, these reptiles are remarkable. Dive in to discover the most incredible secrets of one of the world’s largest and fiercest predators, the crocodile. 32 amazing crocodile facts 1. The saltwater crocodile is the largest reptile on the planet. Closely followed by the Nile […]
Newly described ‘lucifer’ bee found visiting critically endangered plant in Australia
In 2019, researcher Kit Prendergast was surveying the insects visiting an incredibly rare plant in the Bremer Ranges of Western Australia when a bee grabbed her attention. Prendergast and her colleague dug deeper and found that the native bee, now named Megachile lucifer, is a new-to-science species, according to a recent study. The species name […]
These 8 astonishing, brutal hyena photos reveal the raw chaos, power and intelligence of these top predators
While many think of hyenas as scavengers – as they steal most of their food from lions, they are also extremely adept hunters, chasing down prey across the savannah at impressive speeds. Hyenas can work together to bring down surprisingly large animals, such as zebras, buffaloes and giraffes – and have even been known to […]
Sea anemones and hermit crabs form a mutualistic relationship in Japan
Japanese researchers have described a new species of sea anemone that appears to share a mutually beneficial relationship with hermit crabs. The pale pink sea anemones, now named Paracalliactis tsukisome, were found attached to the shells of hermit crabs (Oncopagurus monstrosus). The researchers described the anemone based on 36 specimens that fishing trawlers collected between […]
Watch dramatic BBC footage shows desperate, ravenous leopard mother risking death for her cubs, high up in the treetops
In Botswana’s wild Okavango Delta, leopards love to feast on large ungulates, such as antelope and zebra. The Delta is usually home to a rich array of flora and fauna, attracting huge populations of elephants, hippopotamuses, crocodiles, buffalo and antelope from across the region. The abundance of prey makes it a prime location for Africa’s […]