CHIANG MAI, Thailand — A plan to construct seven dams in one of mainland Southeast Asia’s last intact forest systems could cause widespread habitat loss and sever important wildlife corridors, activists warn. The Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai (DPKY) Forest Complex is a vast and biodiverse region that spans six provinces in eastern Thailand. It was declared […]
Tag: leopards
Key species at risk if planet heats up by more than 1.5C, report finds
Corals will bleach, penguins will lose their Antarctic ice floes, puffins around the UK coast will be unable to feed their young, and the black-headed squirrel monkey of the Amazon could be wiped out if the world fails to limit global heating to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels. Beyond a 1.5C rise, many species will face […]
Two tigers gunned down in China’s latest escaped-cat blunder
Two escaped tigers killed their keeper in China and were shot dead, state media reported, in the latest incident underlining the country’s chaotic handling of dangerous animals. Tuesday’s incident in central Henan province comes with authorities still hunting for one of three leopards that escaped in eastern China, in a separate case that shocked the […]
South Africa Ends Captive Lion Breeding and Bone Trade
South Africa will end its lucrative captive lion industry and will consent to the international ban on rhinoceros horn and elephant ivory trade. The government released a report on policies, legislation, and practices on breeding, hunting, handling, and trade of elephants, rhinos, lions, and leopards. “The panel identified that the captive lion industry poses risks […]
Perverse ‘pay-to-slay’ clause will allow sick trophy hunters to import slain animals
Hunters will still be able to import slain lions, rhinos, elephants and even polar bears under a new law’s perverse “pay-to-slay” clause. A ban outlawing the importing of the sick souvenirs was unveiled in the Queen’s Speech last Tuesday: Banning the import of hunting trophies from endangered animals abroad and ending the advertising for sale […]
South Africa pulls the plug on controversial captive lion industry
The South African government has made a landmark decision to end the nation’s captive lion breeding industry. This includes closing down facilities that offer touristic experiences like canned hunting and lion petting, and halting the commercial use of captive lions and their derivatives. News of this decision was made public May 2, when the government […]
Farmers move to occupy a critical elephant corridor in Sri Lanka
UDAWALAWE NATIONAL PARK, Sri Lanka — Earlier this month, more than 300 people gathered near the borders of the Dahaiyagala Wildlife Sanctuary in Sri Lanka’s Uva province armed with axes, long knives, ropes and handheld hoes called mamoties. Their apparent intention: Take control of sanctuary lands and expand their farms. Triggered by a rumor that […]
Lemurs and giant tortoises among species at risk if global heating hits 3C
Unique island species including lemurs and the Galapagos giant tortoise could be at high risk of extinction if the planet warms by more than 3C above pre-industrial levels, new research warns. Analysis of 270 biodiversity hotspots suggests almost half of endemic marine species and 84% of endemic mountain species will face extinction if the planet […]