In the midst of the UK’s worst drought in living memory, a host of unfamiliar experiences assault our senses in a Devon valley. Before us is a field of lush green grass. To one side is a bush of blackberries swollen huge by perfect growing conditions. Squelch, squelch go our feet through the grass. There’s […]
Tag: invertebrates

Report Shows Animals with “Charisma” Get Bulk of Conservation Funds From EU
Despite growing levels of awareness of the importance of biodiversity, aesthetically pleasing species still receive far more conservation funding than others, a new study has shown. Invertebrate species often perform vital functions in ecosystems but receive 500 times less the amount of conservation funding than vertebrates do. The big funding receivers in the EU for […]

‘Generally ignored’ species face twice the extinction threat, warns study
Plants and animals that do not have enough data to be properly assessed appear to be at twice the risk of extinction as those that have been evaluated, meaning more species may face being wiped off the planet than previously thought, a study has warned. Researchers looked at the extinction risk of species assessed on […]

The first wild bison to roam in Britain in thousands of years have escaped from their enclosure
The first wild bison to roam in Britain in thousands of years, three gentle giants escaped from a corral early on Monday morning in the Kent countryside. A dense commercial pine forest is intended to be transformed into a thriving natural woodland by the animals’ natural behavior. Their enjoyment of rolling around in dust baths […]

Female walrus charms Norwegians by dozing on boats and occasionally sinking them
A young female walrus known as Freya has charmed Norwegians for a week by lazing in the Oslo fjord’s sunshine, causing a stir in the media, and tipping a few boats. The Norse goddess of love and beauty was honored by having the 600kg (1,300lb) sea mammal bear her name. She’s been spotted in the […]

80 Critically Endangered Australian Frogs Released to the Wild After Surviving Disease and Bushfire Crises
The spotted tree frog was already recovering from local extinction when the “Black Summer” wildfires of 2019 to 2020 raged through New South Wales (NSW) in Australia. Of 250 to 300 frogs once released into the wild, only about 10 survived. But now, the critically endangered species is receiving yet another lease on life. The […]

80 critically endangered spotted tree frogs are jumping back into the wild in New South Wales
80 critically endangered spotted tree frogs are leaping back into the wild in NSW two years after the 2019-20 summer bushfires nearly wiped out the species. “Despite all the challenges this species has suffered, releasing these 80 spotted tree frogs back into the wild is a reminder to have optimism about the conservation work we’re […]

Reintroducing sea otters can be beneficial to marine ecosystems
According to a recent analysis, returning sea otters to the Oregon coast is viable and beneficial to the state’s marine ecosystem if optimum reintroduction policies are followed. However, the voracious appetites of sea otters for particular crustaceans may have “insignificant” effects on local fisheries. Sea otters have a disproportionate impact on the ecosystems in which […]