Given that turtles have been around about 220 million years and even outlasted the dinosaurs, a lot of people assume that we have nothing to worry about when it comes to turtles’ continued longevity. Sadly, that’s not the case. On the contrary, turtles are one of the most vulnerable vertebrate creatures on the planet at […]
Tag: threatened
Victory! Yellowstone’s Iconic Grizzlies Get Endangered Species Protection Back
Conservationists are celebrating a huge win for Yellowstone National Park’s grizzly bears with a federal court ruling that just restored their endangered species protection, which effectively shuts down the possibility that they’ll be killed for thrills by trophy hunters. There were once estimated to be 50,000 grizzly bears roaming across the U.S. but bounty programs […]
Another County Suspends its Contract with Cruel Wildlife-Killing Program
Conservationists are celebrating another win for wildlife with an announcement that another county in California has suspended its contract with Wildlife Services, a program run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that has come under increasing fire for its cruel and wasteful war on wildlife. Although it sounds like a program that should be […]
Eight bird species are first confirmed avian extinctions this decade
Spix’s macaw, a brilliant blue species of Brazilian parrot that starred in the children’s animation Rio, has become extinct this century, according to a new assessment of endangered birds. The macaw is one of eight species, including the poo-uli, the Pernambuco pygmy-owl and the cryptic treehunter, that can be added to the growing list of […]
Judge delays public grizzly bear hunts as he considers federal protections
A federal judge has temporarily blocked the opening of the first public grizzly bear hunts in Wyoming and Idaho in more than 40 years, as he considers whether the government was wrong to lift federal protections on the animals. The US district judge Dana Christensen’s order came just two days before the states prepared to […]
Caught in the Crossfire: Rhinoceros Hornbill
The most distinctive feature of the Rhinoceros Hornbill Buceros rhinoceros (Near Threatened) is its spectacular horn or “casque”. The casque evolved as a resonating chamber to amplify the hornbill’s echoing, otherworldly call. The casque isn’t the only fascinating thing about the Hornbill though. This bird’s courtship involves the ultimate leap of faith. After the eggs […]
POLL: Should Australia’s feral “brumby” horses be protected?
Last year, I drove up to the New South Wales high country with my oldest son. We arrived at Geehi, found a camp site, rigged up our rods and waded into the crystal clear water, hoping to snag a trout. Between casts, my attention was drawn to a pair of black cockatoos, sailing overhead. Looking […]
Wildlife Threatened Again by Cruel Hunting Methods in Alaska
Conservationists are speaking out in opposition of a disturbing proposal that would reverse Obama-era regulations intended to protect wildlife in Alaska from some of the most egregious hunting practices around. In 2015, the National Park Service (NPS) finalized a rule that amended its regulations for sport hunting and trapping in Alaska to prevent cruel killing […]