If during the past decade you’d wanted to see a scaly creature about the size of a house cat with a long skinny tongue for slurping up ants, California’s San Diego Zoo was the place to go in the U.S. Baba the pangolin arrived there in 2007 after wildlife officials intercepted him in an illegal […]
Tag: threatened species
POLL: Should Trump be allowed to destroy the Endangered Species Act
On May 19, we celebrate Endangered Species Day, but this year the Endangered Species Act (ESA) itself could become endangered. Those opposing the ESA want to make it easier to develop anywhere — even in wilderness areas that encroach on crucial habitats.“‘States, counties, wildlife managers, home builders, construction companies, farmers, ranchers, and other stakeholders are […]
POLL: Should there be a crackdown on the trafficking of pangolins?
Pangolins have become the most trafficked mammal on earth, and a record-breaking discovery of their scales in Malaysia has raised more concerns about their future. Pangolins, who live in Africa and Asia, are fascinating little creatures. They’re the only mammal on earth covered in true scales. Sadly, even though their scales are made of nothing […]
Last male Northern White Rhino on earth joins Tinder to find mate for life
For those of you who are single and ready to mingle, perhaps you’ve tried online dating. One popular dating app, Tinder, currently lists a rather attractive male ISO of his forever mate. He’s big-boned, in his early forties, virtually hairless, loves the outdoors and long walks through grassy savannah areas. Talk about a catch! Oh, […]
Wildlife advocates win! No Florida bear hunt for at least 2 years
If you’ve ever wondered whether public outcry really has any effect, look no further than Florida. Based almost solely on public pressure, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) decided this week against authorizing a black bear hunt in 2017 or 2018. Wildlife advocates are extremely happy with the news. Hunters, not so much. […]
Austria flouts EU law to cull otters
Lower Austria is planning to trap and shoot 40 otters in the very near future. This is in spite of the fact that otters are protected by the European Union Fauna and Flora Habitats Directive. This is in response to appeals from fishermen stating that there are too many otters. The numbers quoted for that […]
POLL: Should Australia’s feral cats be culled?
Feral cats now inhabit virtually the entire Australian landscape, and have been implicated in multiple recent mammal extinctions by conservationists. Illuminating the urgency of controlling cat populations across the continent, a new study in Biological Conservation finds that cats occupy over 99.8% of Australia. The study was conducted by over forty scientists—led by wildlife ecologists […]
The tiny corner of Asia where an Endangered songbird is thriving
The Straw-headed Bulbul Pycnonotus zeylanicus perhaps isn’t much to look at (at least compared to some other birds of South East Asia), but no-one can deny it has a great set of lungs. But unfortunately, it’s this same rich, powerful melody which is threatening to silence the species forever. As we reported during our 2016 […]