Does a worm feel pain if it gets trodden on? Does a fly ache when its wings are pulled off? Is an ant happy when it finds a food source? If so, they may be sentient beings, which means they can “feel”, a bit or a lot, like we do. Invertebrate sentience is becoming an […]
Anger grows over plan to cull feral goats so moorland can be used for rewilding
They have roamed a moorland in southern Scotland for centuries. Now residents are fighting to save the growing population of wild goats near Langholm in the Scottish Borders after a rewilding organisation revealed it wants to cull some of them as part of its ‘future restoration plans’. Oxygen Conservation, which owns 11,390 acres on Langholm […]
Most Conservation Funding Goes to Large, ‘Charismatic’ Vertebrates Instead of Lesser-Known, Threatened Species: Study
Larger, dynamic animal species like rhinoceroses and elephants get a lot of well-deserved attention. But they also get the lion’s share of global conservation funding, leaving threatened species that are not as well-known to fend for themselves. A 25-year study led by researchers at University of Hong Kong (HKU) has found that, of the nearly […]
Juvenile sea turtles don’t just drift—they swim
Scientists don’t have much insight into what sea turtles do in their early lives once they’ve hatched on land and ventured out into the ocean. But researchers looking at dispersal movements of the young turtles found evidence of them being active swimmers rather than passive drifters. In a study published in Proceedings of the Royal […]
Raptors illegally shot and killed as they rest in barns and roosts, Utah officials say
Several species of raptors, including hawks and owls, were illegally shot and killed in southern Utah over the last few months, wildlife officials said. Eleven birds were found shot and killed between December and February, the Utah Department of Natural Resources said in an emailed news release on Feb. 27. Natural Resource officers determined all […]
African NGOs appeal judgement in controversial oil pipeline case
Four NGOs recently appealed to the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) to have their concerns about a contentious oil pipeline heard on merit. The landmark case, filed four years ago, had previously been dismissed on technical grounds. The four East African NGOs — the Center for Food and Adequate Living Rights (CEFROHT) and the […]
Cassowary Populations Sparks Concern in Australia’s Rainforests
Australia’s rugged reputation has met its match in the cassowary, a flightless bird often described as “the world’s most dangerous.” Standing as tall as a person and sporting a fierce claw on each foot, it’s no wonder these ancient-looking creatures can startle even the bravest adventurers. They roam the deep rainforests of northern Queensland, playing […]
Heartbreaking photos show a giraffe with hundreds of skin lesions thanks to a rare viral disease
Heartbreaking new photos reveal a ‘bumpy’ giraffe covered with hundreds of skin lesions due to a rare viral disease. The unfortunate creature was spotted in Kruger National Park, South Africa by wildlife photographer Marius Nortje. According to experts, the painful-looking lumps could be caused by a form of papillomavirus spread through infected blood. This family […]