For millions of years, the African landscape — the rainforests, woodlands, savannas and scrublands — has echoed with the booms and cackles of large, raucous, strange-looking birds: hornbills. When U.S. ornithologist Nico Arcilla came to Gabon in the late 1990s as a Peace Corps volunteer, these noisy birds enchanted her. “There’d be a big flock […]
Results of the Best Photo of the Month October 2025
We are delighted to announce the results of our latest photo competition. Marcel de Bruin wins First Prize with his outstanding image ‘Pine Marten with Prey’. Glenn Bartley wins Second Prize with his inspirational image ‘Ringed Kingfisher with Fish (Ceryle Torquata)‘. Third Prize goes to Alan Murphy with ‘Bald Eagle‘. Please give kudos to the […]
Petition: Stop Marineland From Allegedly Threatening to Euthanize Beluga Whales
In a shocking move, Marineland Canada has reportedly threatened to euthanize its remaining 30 beluga whales after the government denied its request to export them to a marine park in China. These intelligent, social animals deserve protection, not punishment. Sign now to demand that Canada build marine sanctuaries and make it illegal to randomly euthanize […]
The vampire that regurgitates its bloody stomach contents to hungry roost-mates to save them from starvation
A vampire bat’s habit of regurgitating some of its bloody stomach contents to hungry roost-mates is a textbook example of reciprocal altruism – “I’ll scratch your back if you scratch mine.” But it now seems that this sort of co-operation is more subtle than simple tit-for-tat. Vampire bats are most likely to share their blood […]
Antarctic krill: how did a paperclip-sized crustacean cause a diplomatic row – and why are they so important?
Antarctic krill are small, shrimp-like marine crustaceans (Euphausia superba). They feed on plankton and are the main food source for larger marine animals. The word “krill” comes from the Norwegian word “kril” meaning the small fry of fish. Why are they so important in Antarctica? In the Antarctic, they are the key species upon which […]
Colony of world’s highest-flying bird under threat in Uganda
LUKU CENTRAL FOREST RESERVE, Uganda — Ornithologist Ivan Oruka stops suddenly near the foot of a cliff that’s streaked with the telltale whitewash of bird droppings. He quickly presses his binoculars to his eyes. Against the clear blue sky, on a bright September morning, at least 29 large birds circle effortlessly above on broad, dark […]
California euthanizes 4 gray wolves after ‘unprecedented’ surge in livestock kills
After being wiped out in California for nearly a century, the gray wolf has been making a comeback in the state, in a change that’s been celebrated by conservationists and wildlife lovers. But as their population has grown over the last decade, so too has the number of conflicts between wolves and ranchers. It’s a […]
Petition: Canada Must Ban Cruel and Outdated Ostrich Farming
After an avian flu outbreak at an Ostrich farm in British Columbia, the Canadian government informed the farm that it had to cull the infected ostriches – at least 400 animals in total. But it wasn’t the ostriches’ fault that humans had crammed them in farmed conditions where diseases run rampant. Canadians and Americans alike […]