It’s easy to be captivated by the giants—the towering dinosaurs, massive mammals, and colossal pterosaurs. Yet, if we zoom in, quite literally, we’ll find that the true champions of evolution are the tiny organisms, often overlooked but incredibly resilient and ancient. Picture this: the Earth, freshly cooled, about 3.8 billion years ago. It’s a world […]
VOTE for the Best Photo of the Month May 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 […]
Giant 40-pound monster carp are electrocuted and removed from pond over fears Asian species is killing native fish
Colorado wildlife officials have fished 14 ginormous ‘bighead’ carp from a pond because they ate so much plankton they threatened the entire aquatic ecosystem. The 40-pound monster fish were removed from Arvada’s Jack B Tomlinson Park on Wednesday after officials deemed them ‘prolific eaters’ and a ‘nuisance species’. Colorado Parks and Wildlife said an angler […]
Final cheetah conservationists freed in Iran, but the big cat’s outlook remains grim
In December 2023, three staff members from the Iranian Cheetah Society crowded around a laptop, moved to tears by the sight of a mother cheetah and her four cubs, caught on a camera trap. Population estimates for the critically endangered Asiatic cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus) vary, but experts say fewer than 30 may remain. Once […]
Maryland Takes a Stand Against the Exploitation of Exotic Animals
Maryland Governor Wes Moore has signed a bill prohibiting the use of exotic animals in circuses and traveling shows. Sponsored by Del. Sara Love and Sen. Sarah Elfreth, the bill imposes a $2,000 civil penalty on violators. The banned species include big cats, bears, nonhuman primates, and elephants. With this action, Maryland joins the ranks […]
‘He Put Up a Fair Fight’: 13-Foot Crocodile Attacks Houseboat
A 13.7-foot-long crocodile was captured by authorities after it came mere inches from attacking a houseboat-dweller. The croc launched itself onto the houseboat in the Cardwell marina in Australia’s Northern Queensland, with owner Dean Grieve narrowly avoiding its maw. After reporting the incident to Queensland’s Department of Environment, Science and Innovation, the crocodile was captured […]
Town Saves the Threatened Bum-Breathing Punk Turtle – a 9lb Wonder Found Only in the Mary River
Australia is filled with wild and wonderful critters, but few surpass the novelty of the Mary River turtle—which was once one of the continent’s most endangered. Now however, the dedication of 800 residents in the town of Tiaro is seeing the turtle repopulate the river from which it draws its name, a point of pride […]
The Attitudes of Urban Residents on Encountering Animals in Cities
Urban environments are not just concrete jungles devoid of wildlife; they are their own ecosystems where humans and animals coexist. A recent study published in the Journal of Urban Ecology sheds light on how city residents perceive the presence of various animals in their immediate surroundings. T he study provides valuable insights into urban residents […]