High rates of inbreeding among hooded vultures in Ghana and South Africa spell trouble for their future, according to a newly published study. The study found that despite wide differences in the population size of the birds in the two countries, both face similar risks associated with low genetic diversity. It underlined the need to […]
There are lots of beautiful, impressive, awe-inspiring animals out there. But some are just simply cute! Why is it that we find some animals cuter than others? The answer has evolutionary roots. Humans are biologically programmed to pay attention to babies – our own babies that is. The way they grab our attention is a […]
The government of Zimbabwe has ordered a cull of 200 elephants amid an ongoing drought and food shortages in the country. The order will be the first elephant cull since 1988. Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority (ZimParks) has been tasked with the cull. Fulton Mangwanya, director general of ZimParks, said that the culling will be […]
Indian authorities are trying to capture the last member of a wolf pack they believe is responsible for killing children in northern India. But there are still many unanswered questions surrounding the attacks — and some experts are waiting for definitive evidence that the wolves are to blame. Nine children and one adult have reportedly […]
A national “butterfly emergency” has been declared by Butterfly Conservation after the lowest Big Butterfly Count since records began. An average of just seven butterflies per 15-minute count were recorded by participants in this summer’s butterfly count, the lowest in the survey’s 14-year history. It was the worst year on record for once-ubiquitous species, including […]
Condor #1061 had already beaten the stiff odds. Long one of the world’s most endangered species, there are fewer than 400 California condors in the wild of North America. And when avian flu hit the U.S. in 2023, only about 116 of the giant vultures were alive in their southwestern release territory. Avian flu killed […]
Revered by the Indigenous Mbuti and Efe tribes as a spiritual symbol and uplifted by the Democratic Republic of Congo as a national one, the okapi is deserving of a nickname as mystical as “forest unicorn.” The dark-colored ungulates are docile, elusive, and characterized by the zebra-like stripes on their legs and rump, though they’re […]
Large pigeon flocks in urban areas can pose significant environmental challenges. These birds, while often seen as harmless city dwellers, can create substantial issues when their populations grow unchecked. Pigeon droppings carry health hazards, containing bacteria, viruses, and fungi that can lead to respiratory problems and other diseases in humans. Urban environments provide pigeons with […]