“Anywhere you find humans, you find the extinction of species,” says biologist Mathias Pires, a professor of biology at Campinas State University (UNICAMP) in Brazil. The near-eradication of the American bison (Bison bison), the largest land animal in North America, is a case in point. These one-ton bovines once roamed the prairies in herds numbering […]
Tag: extinction
Questions and concerns over NSW kangaroo culling program
The kangaroo is arguably Australia’s most iconic creature but in New South Wales, there are fears the species could be under pressure due to landholder culling and commercial harvesting. The industry is supposed to be tightly regulated, but the government department responsible for monitoring it has no idea how many kangaroos are killed each year […]
One of world’s last two northern white rhinos withdrawn from breeding program
Scientists striving to save the northern white rhino from extinction have announced their decision to retire one of the world’s last two individuals from their assisted breeding program. The BioRescue consortium resolved to stop harvesting eggs from 32-year-old Najin following an in-depth ethical risk assessment that took many factors into consideration, including her age, reproductive […]
How Climate Change and Road Salt Pollution are Endangering Frogs
Researchers believe that climate change may be affecting how frogs can withstand road salt pollution. The rising temperatures due to climate change could begin to lure out spring-breeding frogs, causing them to mate and lay their eggs too early, right before the worst of winter. This would throw off their entire life cycle, as the […]
One in five of Europe’s bird species slipping towards extinction
The common swift, common snipe and rook are among species slipping towards extinction in Europe, according to the continent’s latest “red list” report, which finds that one in five bird species is now at risk. From the Azores in the west to the Ural mountains in the east, birds that have been the cornerstones of […]
22 Mexican Wolf Pups Released into Wild to Avoid Extinction
A record number of 22 captive-born Mexican wolf pups have been released into the wild to be taken care of by surrogate wolf parents. During April and May, nine wolf pups were fostered in three different packs in eastern Arizona, and thirteen wolf pups were fostered in five packs in New Mexico. For six years, […]
A New Species of Beaked-Whale May Have Just Been Discovered
Scientists on an expedition with the Sea Shepherd Society believe they may have discovered a new species of beaked-whale off the coast of Mexico. They were sailing in the San Benito Islands 300 miles from the US border when they made the unique find. The team was seeking out the source of a series of […]
British Columbia’s looming extinction crisis
Chocolate brown fur, a pointy face and rounded ears give fisher the appearance of an old-fashioned teddy bear. Yet biologists call it “the ninja of the forest.” A fisher is about the size of a housecat, but stretched out like a limo, and it’s one of the fastest land animals on the planet when it […]