Sea ice extent is at record, and near record, lows for this time of year in both polar regions, leaving the planet increasingly vulnerable to the cascading effects of global warming. This March, the Arctic sea ice winter maximum reached its lowest extent in the 47-year satellite record, while the Antarctic sea ice summer minimum […]
Three Orangutans Rescued from Illegal Captivity Finally Returned to Their Forest Realm
In a heartwarming milestone for great ape conservation, Mary, a rescued orphaned orangutan, has been released into the jungles of Borneo following rehabilitation. After spending four years at the Bornean Orangutan Rescue Alliance (BORA) Rescue and Rehabilitation Center learning how to survive independently in the jungle, she has been allowed to return to her home […]
Five lions traumatised by war in Ukraine settle in to their ‘forever home’ at UK sanctuary
The animals were rescued by the Wild Animals Rescue Centre, run by Natalia Popova, a Ukrainian woman who has saved hundreds of abandoned pets and zoo animals. One malnourished lioness had spent her life confined to an apartment. Another was so shell-shocked she could barely walk. They are among five traumatised lions rescued from the […]
The untold environmental toll of the DRC’s conflict
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 […]