Australia’s populations of threatened and near-threatened bird species have declined by 60% on average in the past 40 years, new research shows. The threatened bird index, which is produced by scientists working with the University of Queensland, reveals some of the largest declines were among species found in South Australia and Queensland. The index brings […]
Tag: threatened
Appetite for frogs’ legs in France and Belgium ‘driving species to extinction’
A voracious appetite for frogs’ legs among the French and Belgians is driving species in Indonesia, Turkey and Albania to the brink of extinction, according to a report. Europe imports as many as 200 million mostly wild frogs every year, contributing to a serious depletion of native species abroad. Scientists estimate that the Anatolian water […]
Large number of Himalayan griffon vultures killed by pesticide poisoning
More than 95 Himalayan griffon vultures and a steppe eagle were discovered dead in the Chaiygaon region of Milanpur village in Assam’s Kamrup district on March 17, 2022. Prasanna, a local conservationist in Milanpur village, told Down to Earth on March 18 that “about a hundred Himalayan vultures have died all of a sudden.” “The […]
The millionaire rewilding the countryside, one farm at a time
Julia Davies had one only goal in mind when she sold her share of the outdoor equipment company Osprey Europe a few years ago. The entrepreneur decided she was going to spend her millions turning back the clock – by returning swathes of the British farmland to wilderness. Nature is in crisis in the UK, […]
Ban selfies with seals, say British wildlife campaigners
Tourists taking photos with seals are disturbing the creatures and damaging their health, say British wildlife campaign groups. Seal conservation groups around the UK have launched a petition urging government to make it “unlawful to touch, feed, chase or worry a seal in England and Wales”, which already has more than 17,000 signatures. Volunteers have […]
Hear be kiwis: New Zealand celebrates as distinctive cry of iconic bird returns
It’s a frigid, early-winter night, and across the forests and farmlands of Northland, people are crouching in the dark. They’ve timed this night for the waning moon, so moonlight doesn’t disturb any visitors. Scattered through the night, they sit, silently, and listen. The sound they’re all hoping for is a high-pitched, piercing cry, or guttural […]
Record number of manatees die in Florida as food source dries up
More manatees have died already this year than in any other year in Florida’s recorded history, primarily from starvation due to the loss of seagrass beds, state officials have said. The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission reported that 841 manatee deaths were recorded between 1 January and 2 July, breaking the previous record of […]
Australian Palm Cockatoos Threatened with Extinction
Palm cockatoos are one of the largest cockatoos, reaching 1.2 kg and 65 cm (25.6 inches) in length. Also known as Cape York cockatoos, great palm cockatoos, black macaws, goliath cockatoos or great black cockatoos, they occur in lowland New Guinea, the Aru Islands, and Cape York Peninsula north of 14.5°S on mainland Australia. These birds […]