In the 1990s, conservationists in Cambodia feared the Siamese crocodile had disappeared for good. Fishing and hunting had devastated the species throughout the 20th century, leaving populations across its native south-east Asia on the brink of extinction. But in villages dotted among the wetlands of the remote Cardamom mountains, Indigenous Chorng communities still reported seeing […]
“A father’s input often ends at copulation, so males must impress females.” Why males are such show-offs
Male and female animals of the same species usually come in different forms or ‘morphs’. The two sexes have distinctive features that include not only visible differences in features such as colour, size and shape, but also in unseen traits that dictate physiology and behaviour. So why does this sexual dimorphism exist? What’s a sexual […]
A new cat species was just discovered. Several more may follow
Editor’s note: Last week, the description of a “new” cat species from Bolivia made headlines around the world. The tilcayo (Leopardus tilcayo), a small spotted cat from Bolivia’s Yungas cloud forests, was described as the first new living cat species discovered in more than a century. Unlike several cats recognized as new species in recent […]
Results of the Best Photo of the Month September 2026
We are delighted to announce the results of our latest photo competition. Suhan Sajee wins First Prize with his outstanding image ‘Lucy the Leopard of Great Wonders‘. Jess Findlay wins Second Prize with “Cream-coloured Woodpecker”. Third Prize goes to Alan Murphy with ‘Snow Geese at Dawn – Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge’. Please give […]
Scientists once thought it could only live for 70 years – turns out it’s double that. Here’s how they made the amazing discovery
Whales have some of the longest lifespans in the animal kingdom, with several whale species being recorded as living for more than 100 years. In the past, researchers have used several methods to measure the longevity of this these marine mammals. They count layers in their earwax, which increase year after year; they measure a chemical […]
Millions of dollars in funding but still no plan: can Quebec save its caribou from extinction?
The caribou of Quebec are at breaking point. The province, home to 15% of Canada’s population of woodland caribou, has seen numbers crash to about half of what they were a decade ago. For years, local First Nations people, researchers and environmental groups have criticised the provincial government’s lack of action on protecting caribou, an […]
“One is like a motorbike while the other is a pushbike…” What’s the difference between cold-blooded and warm-blooded animals?
What’s the difference between cold-blooded and warm-blooded? The animal kingdom can be split based on how body temperature is controlled (thermoregulation): ‘cold-blooded’ ectotherms use external sources of heat, such as solar energy, whereas ‘warm-blooded’ endotherms generate internal heat via metabolism. But while this difference helps define features and behaviour, some species show that the distinction […]
Copper boom fueling energy transition puts Earth’s wildlands at risk
In the high Andes of Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina, you can still find the vicuña, a shy, elusive camelid, revered by Indigenous people. It has reasons to be cautious of humans. Long-prized for its fine wool, European colonists hunted it relentlessly. Flocks in the millions were reduced to 6,000 individuals by the 1960s. Indigenous-driven […]