It was a foggy October afternoon on the central California coast when the Marine Mammal Center got a call on their public hotline: there were distressed cries coming from the frigid waters in Morro Bay. The center’s experts were able to determine that the calls – which sounded almost like a human baby screeching – […]
Head-butting, drowning and dive-bombing – discover 10 most aggressive, badass animals on the planet that aren’t afraid to put up a fight
They say that nice guys finish last, a sentiment with which this motely crew of mammals, reptiles, birds, fish, amphibians and insects would surely agree. As some of the most aggressive species on the planet, they’ve figured out that offence is often the best defence, whether you’re a bull shark headbutting its prey, a honey […]
Shark Bite Survivor Says the Ocean Needs Its Predators
Marine biologist Mauricio Hoyos has spent decades studying sharks, but his most recent encounter with one nearly cost him his life. While tagging a 10-foot Galapagos shark near Costa Rica’s Cocos Island, the animal suddenly lunged and bit into his head and cheek. Miraculously, the shark released him almost immediately, leaving him with deep scars […]
Pressure grows for release of penguins ‘trapped’ at London aquarium
Dozens of British lawmakers have called for the release of 15 penguins “trapped” at a London aquarium without access to daylight or fresh air, saying their living conditions are “utterly unacceptable.” The 15 Gentoo penguins are housed in an enclosure at the Sea Life London Aquarium, located next to the River Thames, a short distance […]
The great escape: seal flees killer whales by jumping on to photographer’s boat
A wildlife photographer on a whale-watching trip in waters off Seattle captured dramatic video and photos of a pod of killer whales hunting a seal that survived only by clambering on to the stern of her boat. Charvet Drucker was on a rented 20ft (6 metre) boat near her home on an island in the […]
36 extraordinary, astonishing bird facts, including a bird that has killed humans, a bird that likes to get drunk and one that can fly backwards
Did you know flamingoes are pink on the inside as well as the outside? Or how about the wild bird that’s over 70 years old? And have you ever wondered why woodpeckers don’t get concussion from their never-ending pecking? We’ve rounded up some of the most extraordinary facts about birds and their fascinating world….. 32 […]
Antarctic conservation summit closes with stalemate on MPAs & krill fishing rules
The annual meeting of the international body responsible for conservation of the marine ecosystems in the Southern Ocean concluded on Friday with no progress on two contentious issues before it: the creation of new marine protected areas and the strengthening of regulations governing krill (Euphausia superba) fishing. The 44th meeting of the Commission for the […]
Massive crocodile taken to Steve Irwin’s Australia Zoo despite traditional owners’ anger over removal
An “iconic” saltwater crocodile has been transported more than 1,600km to Australia Zoo – made famous by Steve Irwin – almost two months after its controversial removal from its far north Queensland habitat. But while the Sunshine Coast zoo said it was proud to become the “forever home” of Old Faithful, as the crocodile that […]