If I asked you to name the world’s most murderous mammal, your answer might be the human male, or perhaps a warring alpha chimpanzee, or even a territorial bull elephant seal. The truth is far more feminine – and cute. The meerkat was unmasked in a scientific study as the most homicidal of over 1,000 mammals. One-in-five […]
Tag: elephant seal
Mass drowning of chicks puts emperor penguins at risk of extinction
The mass drowning of emperor penguin chicks as sea ice is melted by the climate crisis has led the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to declare the species officially in danger of extinction. Emperor penguins rely on “fast” ice – sea ice that is firmly attached to the coast – for nine months […]
Poop pills and gut microbes: Wildlife microbiome studies aid conservation
Human microbiome research is a blossoming field of study, shedding light on the millions of microbes living within us — microscopic species frequently vital to our health. In tandem, researchers across the globe have also been delving into the microbes living inside wildlife in hopes of developing a new conservation and rewilding tool. Early research […]
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 […]
Nat Geo Photographer Paul Nicklen Reveals He Was Almost Killed by Horny Elephant Seal
Photographer Paul Nicklen is one of the most famous nature documentarians of the age, but he recently revealed how his career was nearly cut short. Sea Legacy, an ocean conservation co-founded by Nicklen and his wife Cristina Mittermeier, published a social media post recalling the time Nicklen was in South Georgia, Antarctica, in 2008 and […]
Sea lions sickened as toxic algae threatens California’s marine mammals
The number of marine mammals in California affected by a neurological toxin from algae has surged in the past week, in what could be another deadly year for animals such as sea lions, seals, dolphins and larger whales. According to the Marine Mammal Care Center, a rescue facility based in San Pedro, California, the facility […]
Four seals die on Norfolk coast after contracting bird flu
Experts have raised fears for the seals at England’s largest colony after four were found to have died after having been infected with bird flu. Government scientists are investigating to find out whether the seals died after scavenging from the corpses of infected birds. Four seals on the north Norfolk coast were found dead on […]
Canadian Officials Relocated an Elephant Seal, but He Found His Way Back to the City
Emerson, a 500-pound elephant seal, has captured the hearts of many along the rugged coast of western Canada. His story, marked by unexpected journeys and unlikely encounters, underscores the delicate balance between wildlife conservation and public fascination. Emerson’s journey began innocuously enough, born in Washington state and cared for by volunteers after being abandoned by […]