South Australia bans fishing of many sharks and rays in its waters

South Australia bans fishing of many sharks and rays in its waters

The state of South Australia has banned fishing of several endangered or critically endangered sharks and rays in its waters. In a media release dated Dec. 11, the state government said the new rules prohibit both recreational and commercial fishing of critically endangered species such as the whitefin swellshark (Cephaloscyllium albipinnum), oceanic whitetip shark (Carcharhinus […]

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Britain’s Wildlife Baby Boom Continues: There Were No Seals And ‘The next day there were 200’

Britain’s Wildlife Baby Boom Continues: There Were No Seals And ‘The next day there were 200’

Grey seal colonies are flourishing along England’s east coast after being absent or scarce for years. Thousands of pups are born every year along breaches that are closed to the public in winter, something which one ‘seal warden’ described as Britain’s greatest “wildlife safari.” Even though lower England is one of the most densely populated […]

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‘Extraordinary longevity’: great whales can live a lot longer than we thought – if we leave them alone

‘Extraordinary longevity’: great whales can live a lot longer than we thought – if we leave them alone

In Moby-Dick, Herman Melville’s epic novel of 1851, the author asks if whales would survive the remorseless human hunt. Yes, he says, as he foresees a future flooded world in which the whale would outlive us and “spout his frothed defiance to the skies”. Moby Dick was a grizzled old sperm whale that had miraculously […]

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Wild Geese and Sporting Traditions: Ontario’s Unique Outdoor Connection

Wild Geese and Sporting Traditions: Ontario’s Unique Outdoor Connection

Ontario’s wild geese migrations have long been a symbol of the province’s natural beauty, drawing communities together to celebrate wildlife through hunting, bird-watching competitions, and outdoor sporting traditions. These events not only foster a connection with nature but also serve as cultural and recreational cornerstones, weaving together Ontario’s wildlife and sporting spirit. The Significance of […]

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In Conservation Success Story, Massachusetts Piping Plovers Have Their Second Record Nesting Year in a Row

In Conservation Success Story, Massachusetts Piping Plovers Have Their Second Record Nesting Year in a Row

For the second year in a row, Massachusetts beaches have recorded more nesting Piping Plovers than anytime in the last four decades — 1,196 nesting pairs, a 1.5 percent increase over 2023 and a 500 percent jump since the program began, according to preliminary data gathered by MassWildlife’s Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program and […]

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Florida’s manatees are actually relative newcomers, historical research suggests

Florida’s manatees are actually relative newcomers, historical research suggests

Manatees, long considered among Florida‘s most beloved and enchanting inhabitants, are not native at all, and only came to the Sunshine state for warm temperatures and clear blue waters like any other visitor, researchers have found. The surprise revelation by scientists at the University of South Florida (USF) and George Washington University (GWU) upends decades […]

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