Founder’s Briefs: An occasional series where Mongabay’s founder Rhett Ayers Butler shares analysis, perspectives and story summaries. The war in the Democratic Republic of Congo isn’t just killing people — it’s tearing down forests, silencing activists, and fueling an illicit trade worth millions of dollars. The resurgence of the M23 rebel group in the eastern […]
Heartwarming Rescue: Mother Elephant Saves Her Calf from Mud! (VIDEO)
As we learn more about the emotional lives of elephants, all it takes is a simple observation to see that these beautiful giants are very intelligent and emotional beings. As a species, the news about elephants hasn’t been too positive lately with increased poaching and even threats from palm oil. However, the tide may be […]
March Madness is underway. So is March Napness, the tournament for hibernating bears
Bears across Europe are competing, not for food or mates, but for who can sleep the longest. Inspired by March Madness, March Napness is an annual bracket-style tournament where hibernating bears “compete” to see who will remain in hibernation the longest. It is run by Four Paws, a global animal welfare organization. “The sleepiest bear […]
Larger Animals Get More Cancer but Evolved to Fight It, New Study Shows
A groundbreaking new study has found that larger animals like elephants, giraffes, and pythons experience higher cancer rates than their smaller counterparts—challenging decades of belief around size and cancer. The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and led by researchers from the University of Reading, University College London, and Johns […]
In a land where monkeys are seen as pests, Sri Lanka’s white langurs are winning hearts
COLOMBO — Monkeys were expected to be among the chief culprits identified as Sri Lanka carried out a nationwide survey on March 15 of crop-raiding animals. But in a small village near the Sinharaja Forest Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, an unusual population of langurs has captured attention, becoming a local tourist attraction. Purple-faced […]
Wildlife photographer shocked after “ghost neighbor” cougar he tracked for four years is killed by hunters
John Marriott had been tracking the cougar for four years using trail cameras, and recently he was shocked to discover that hunters killed her and left her kittens to fend for themselves Residents of Canmore, Alberta, Canada have been left disturbed after a female cougar with kittens was shot – after living peacefully alongside them […]
Man Saves Fox Cub with Head Trapped in Tin Can – Watch the Heartwarming Rescue! (VIDEO)
Everyone’s been asking, “What does the fox say?” – well, not much when his head is stuck in a metal can. We’ve seen foxes curl up in backyards and diving headfirst into the snow, but the baby fox in the video below gets himself into a rather precarious position. This poor little cub became a […]
Bears are waking up at Yellowstone National Park – here’s how to stay safe
The bears are waking up at Yellowstone National Park. Earlier this month, staff observed the first bear tracks of 2025, signaling the beginning of spring at America’s oldest national park. Unmistakable, large grizzly bear prints were observed in the northern part of the park on March 9. The next day, local wildlife organization Jackson Hole […]