There are many varied and clever forms of camouflage in the natural world, from the colour-changing prowess of chameleons and cuttlefish to the mimicry of orchid mantis‘ and leaf-tailed geckos, to the eye-boggling spots and stripes of zebra and tigers. But one of the weirdest has to be the transparent animal. Why are some animals transparent? One of the most out-the-box solutions to […]
Tag: tortoise
In Mexico, world’s smallest turtle faces big threats from trafficking, habitat loss
It sounds like a scene out of the Ocean’s series of heist movies. Only this one didn’t happen in Las Vegas, but at a Mexican university campus surrounded by lush tropical vegetation. And it wasn’t about taking on a casino, but stealing valuable turtles. Armando Escobedo Galván, a biologist at Centro Universitario de la Costa […]
More than 10,000 species on brink of extinction need urgent action: Study
Extinction is an overwhelming concept, difficult to grasp in its enormity and finality. Thousands of species are barreling toward that grim fate, unless we help. A comprehensive new study provides the clearest picture yet of Earth’s most imperiled species, and offers evidence that conservation can work. The study published in Nature Reviews Biodiversity found that […]
Massive tortoise rewilding in Madagascar’s spiny forest strives to save fraught species
TAOLAGNARO, Madagascar – Gabriel Andriamanjaka holds the radiotracking aerial aloft and marches into a spiky forest thicket. Branches whip around his body as he pushes through in pursuit of his quarry. The beeps emitted by the receiver he carries grow more frequent as he closes in. “Found it!” he calls back to us, pointing to […]
Ultra Rare Reptile with Only 400 Left Can Survive in Colder Temps–Sparking Hope for Western Swamp Tortoise
The recent discovery of Australia’s most endangered reptile surviving in colder temperatures has inspired conservationists in Perth to continue trying to save the species thought to have only 400-500 individuals remaining in the wild. Introductions of the Western swamp tortoise into other areas are now on the docket, as scientists look to find a suitable […]
Madagascar lemurs, tortoises seized in Thai bust reveal reach of wildlife trafficking
In May, authorities in southern Thailand arrested six people for illegally transporting 48 lemurs and more than 1,200 critically endangered tortoises, all of which had reportedly been obtained from the wild in Madagascar. The seizure is the latest in a string of illegal wildlife trade busts in Thailand. Red pandas (Ailurus fulgens), monitor lizards, snakes […]
Electrician, 56, admits to dumping 10 of his pet giant tortoise bodies in the woods after he says they froze to death over Christmas when the heating system he rigged up for them failed
An electrician has pleaded guilty to dumping the bodies of his ten giant tortoises in the woods after they froze to death. Gary Priddle, 56, failed to check on his pet reptiles between December 23 and December 29 last year which meant he was unaware the heating system had failed. Exeter Magistrate Court heard that […]
The bodies of seven tortoises worth £70,000 may have been dumped in a remote woodland by smugglers, expert says
Seven tortoises found dead in a remote woodland were worth up to £70,000 and may have been dumped by smugglers, an expert said last night. The Aldabra giant tortoises – classed as vulnerable by conservation groups – were found in Ashclyst Forest near Exeter. Police said enquiries were under way to identify the owners and […]