Like all lemur species, ring-tailed lemurs are endemic to Madagascar, an island off the coast of East Africa. Lemurs are the world’s most endangered group of mammals; they are even the world’s most endangered group of vertebrates. The 2020 IUCN Red List update found that 98% of lemur species are Endangered, and 31% of species are […]
Tag: birds of prey
It has piercing blue-grey eyes, a 2m wingspan, a spectacular shaggy crest – and is powerful enough to take monkeys in its deadly talons
The Philippine eagle is one of the world’s largest and rarest birds of prey. Found only in the Philippines, this forest raptor has piercing blue-grey eyes, a wingspan that can exceed 2m and a spectacular shaggy crest that lends it a certain star quality. Powerful enough to take monkeys – hence its historic name, the […]
“Its compelling exteriors hide a vicious secret. Its venom’s so powerful it can kill a human in 5 minutes.” World’s 10 most beautiful lethal killers
Some of the most ferocious predators in the world are also some of its most attractive animals – a marriage of stunning looks and lethal power, says Sheena Harvey. !0 most beautiful killers in the world Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) Nothing sums up majestic beauty and dangerous killer more than the Bengal tiger. Our spirits […]
Its legs are as thick as wrists and it’s able to rip monkeys from branches with its deadly talons: Meet the world’s most powerful bird
Harpy eagles are iconic, almost prehistoric-looking birds of prey that regularly feature near the top of ‘birds-to-see-before-you-die’ lists. Seeing one of these majestic eagles in the wild is a truly special moment for birders. What are harpy eagles? The harpy eagle is one of the world’s biggest and most impressive birds of prey. How big are […]
Can harpy eagles attack humans? Amazon case rekindles scientific debate
In a remote area of French Guiana, a 29-year-old woman was attacked by a harpy, considered the world’s largest eagle, in October 2023. In an area with extensive tracts of preserved forest, such interactions between humans and wildlife are extremely rare but garner widespread media attention and scientific interest. A recently published study highlighted this […]
It might look like a rabbit and act like a rabbit, but this is no rabbit – OR even a hare, instead it’s something far more peculiar…
With dainty forelimbs tucked against their fluffy belly and a wonderfully solemn expression on their whiskered face, the sight of a sunbathing mountain viscacha is sure to raise a smile. This Andean rodent is perplexing and endearing in equal measure, looking as if someone has assembled it from spare parts, with rabbit ears, a squirrel […]
Indonesia’s native hornbills are being hammered by online and offline trade
Among the many inhabitants of Southeast Asia’s dense rainforests are hornbills — a group of birds that stand out with their raucous call, large, ostentatious beak and colorful feathers. Indonesia harbors 13 species, the most of any country in Asia, three of which are found nowhere else. Hornbills are rapidly losing their homes as large swaths of […]
“They’re equipped with 15cm claws, can run at speeds of 50kph, clear 2m when jumping and deliver a mean kick – just how worried should I be?”
Cassowaries live in the rainforests of Queensland. But despite their size, they’re not easy to find, explains Steve Portugal. There can be few more imposing sights in nature than an adult cassowary. Standing nearly 2m tall and weighing up to 50kg, it is no mystery why these large, flightless birds, found in north-eastern Australia and […]