The first time that Terry Vandenbos watched a bear run from a drone, on a spring day two years ago, he was chasing the animal himself. After he saw the grizzly cross a road near his property, the Montana rancher hopped on his all-terrain vehicle, planning to scare it away from his cattle if needed. […]
Koala deaths almost double in housing developments in south-western Sydney, data shows
Koala road deaths have nearly doubled in a development hotspot in south-western Sydney, according to conservationists who are demanding the Minns government improve protection for the endangered species in new housing areas. In a letter – signed by more than 20 community and national environment groups – to the New South Wales premier, Chris Minns, […]
Tennessee Woman Shoots Vervet Monkey in Alleged Self-Defense, Animal Later Dies at Zoo
In Thrasher, Tennessee, a woman shot a vervet monkey who reportedly tried to attack her while she was feeding her cats. The woman, whose identity has not been disclosed, said she had recently undergone hip surgery and struggled to evade the monkey, according to a statement from the Soddy-Daisy Police Department. To “defend herself,” she […]
Birdwatch: a close encounter with a flying rhino in Borneo
I’d never seen a flying rhino before. Then again, I’d never visited the lowland rainforest of Borneo. This is the main stronghold of the rhinoceros hornbill, one of the largest and most imposing of its bizarre family. So when a huge black-and-white bird flew out of the forest canopy, I was suitably impressed. I was […]
Shorebird populations drop globally, some by a third: Report
Sixteen shorebird species have been reclassified to higher threat categories as the global population of migratory shorebirds across the world saw a substantial decline, according to the latest update to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Conservation partnership BirdLife International, which helps examine the status of the world’s birds for the IUCN Red List, […]
Endangered Sea Turtle Completes Incredible 5,000-Mile Journey Back to Gulf of Mexico
A rare Kemp’s ridley sea turtle, one of the smallest and most endangered sea turtles, recently completed a remarkable return to the Gulf of Mexico after being found thousands of miles away in Europe. This resilient turtle, affectionately named Boeier after the boat that rescued her, had an unexpected adventure that spanned over 5,000 miles […]
South African tiger farms illegally smuggling body parts, says charity
The largest tiger farms outside Asia are operating freely in South Africa, facilitating the illegal smuggling of tiger body parts, according to a report by an animal welfare charity. Research by Four Paws, which is campaigning to shut down South Africa’s big cat industry, found 103 places in the country where tigers were kept in […]
Local groups drive creation of new Puerto Rico marine protected area
The U.S. territory of Puerto Rico recently gained a new marine protected area off the island’s central north coast. The MPA, named Jardines Submarinos de Vega Baja y Manatí or the Vega Baja and Manatí Underwater Gardens, spans 202 square kilometers (77 square miles) and is the culmination of a 16-year effort by a coalition […]