It’s hard to believe that in 2019, someone would accuse an animal of being a witch, but unfortunately that was the case recently in the municipality of Mexico called Durango. There are traditions and superstitions involving certain animals, but it should never lead to cruelty or death. Two men in Durango recently violently killed a […]
Tag: owl
Over half the world’s raptors have declining populations
Why is it important to focus on the status of raptors in particular? From ghostly owls to majestic birds of prey, raptors are among the most iconic birds, but they are also highly threatened, with many of the larger species requiring large tracts of intact forest, and others persecuted because of their supposed impacts on […]
Snowy Owl faces frosty future: classed as Vulnerable for the first time
Striking, widespread and widely recognised, thanks in part to the Harry Potter books, the Snowy Owl Bubo scandiacus was previously listed as Least Concern, the lowest threat category of the IUCN Red List. However, this assessment was based on earlier figures that estimated the global population to number around 200,000 individuals, and the absence of […]
POLL: Should the illegal Indonesian owl trade be closed down?
When you hear the words “Harry Potter,” certain indelible images come to mind. You likely remember Harry, Hermione and Ron. And you probably think of Hogwarts and all those fascinating professors of magic. But don’t forget the magnificent owls. You’d love to you get your mail delivered by a friendly owl, wouldn’t you? Of course, […]
POLL: Should Thailand’s illegal bird trade be stopped?
Thousands of birds are being sold — often illegally — in Thailand’s markets, a new study has found. On a single weekend in March 2015, researchers from TRAFFIC, the wildlife trademonitoring network, found a total of 117 species of birds on sale at the Chatuchak weekend market in Bangkok, Thailand. These included nine species listed […]
Wildlife catastrophe at Amazon dam a warning for future Tapajós dams
When the Balbina Dam was completed in 1986, it flooded primary forest in the state of Amazonas along Brazil’s Uatumã River, forming a massive reservoir speckled by 3,546 flood-induced islands. In 1990, the Reserva Biológica (REBIO) do Uatumã was established, protecting the entire 443,700 hectare (109,6427 acre) reservoir, dubbed Balbina Lake, along with the adjacent […]
Owls use ‘stealth technology’ to help capture prey
Owls are equipped with highly developed stealth technology that helps them swoop on prey undetected, a study has shown. The nocturnal hunters have feathers that absorb aerodynamic sound and suppress the vibrations that occur when a bird beats its wings. During flight, an owl’s feathers extract mechanical energy and convert it into heat. The result […]