Sightings of humpback whales surge in Rio de Janeiro, fueling demand for whale-watching trips

Sightings of humpback whales surge in Rio de Janeiro, fueling demand for whale-watching trips

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Sightings of humpback whales off Rio de Janeiro’s coast are surging as they recover from decimation due to commercial whaling, prompting an acceleration in the demand for whale-watching excursions to spot the huge marine creatures during their annual migration. The species’ population has jumped from around 2,000 to around 35,000 […]

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“Swollen lesions appear around the mouth, nose, eyes, ears and genitalia with death normally occurring within 10-15 days”

“Swollen lesions appear around the mouth, nose, eyes, ears and genitalia with death normally occurring within 10-15 days”

UK red squirrels face a number of threats, but one of the most devastating is squirrel pox. This viral disease, carried harmlessly by invasive grey squirrels, has contributed significantly to their decline. What is squirrel pox? Squirrel pox is a fatal, yet easily transmitted disease that affects red squirrels. When did squirrel pox first arrive in […]

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‘Scavenger’ dolphins increasingly rely on trawlers for food in overfished Adriatic, say scientists

‘Scavenger’ dolphins increasingly rely on trawlers for food in overfished Adriatic, say scientists

Bottlenose dolphins in the Adriatic are increasingly following trawlers to scavenge for food, with baby dolphins learning the technique from their parents, a study has found. “These days the easiest way to find [bottlenose dolphins] is to look for trawlers,” said Giovanni Bearzi, a co-author of the study and the president of Dolphin Biology and Conservation in […]

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They’re one of the weirdest type of animals on the planet, famous for their pouches, but what on Earth are marsupials and why do they have pouches?

They’re one of the weirdest type of animals on the planet, famous for their pouches, but what on Earth are marsupials and why do they have pouches?

What are marsupial? Do all of them have pouches – and while we are on that subject – why are pouches needed? All you need to know about the fascinating group of animals known as marsupials. What are marsupials? Marsupials are pouched mammals and are a group of mammals that most of us probably associate […]

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Iran rearrests prominent conservationists freed just two years ago

Iran rearrests prominent conservationists freed just two years ago

Iranian security forces in Tehran arrested wildlife conservationists Houman Jowkar and Sepideh Kashani, alongside Sepideh’s sister, Sima Kashani, on July 1, 2026, according to reports from multiple Iranian news sources. Jowkar and Sepideh, who are married, are experts on the critically endangered Asiatic cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus) and were previously arrested in 2018 on espionage […]

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“When they use these spines, they puncture them really deeply into their attacker. They can deliver venom into the wound”

“When they use these spines, they puncture them really deeply into their attacker. They can deliver venom into the wound”

In a new study, researchers compared the features of 30 different stingray spines to find out why some break off while others remain sturdy Scientists have gained a fascinating insight into how stingrays’ iconic spines differ across species and the trade-off between different features. “Stingray spines are highly modified scales,” says Emily Poulin, a PhD candidate […]

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“Its toxins affect the nerves and heart and it has enough poison to kill 10 grown men”

“Its toxins affect the nerves and heart and it has enough poison to kill 10 grown men”

One of Earth’s most toxic animals, poison dart frogs are famed for their colourful, vibrant appearance. Despite their small size, measuring just one inch in length, these tiny amphibians possess enough potent toxins to deter or even kill predators many times their size. Their bright hues serve as a warning signal to potential threats, showcasing […]

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This peculiar rodent is the size of a domestic cat and weirdly covered in bands of deep, rich reds and blues

This peculiar rodent is the size of a domestic cat and weirdly covered in bands of deep, rich reds and blues

Squirrels don’t come much bigger than the Malabar giant variety. Weighing four times as much as a grey squirrel and much bigger than the red squirrel, this robust rodent is about the size of a domestic cat. But it’s not the Malabar giant’s size that turns heads and drops jaws, but rather its colour scheme. Meet the rainbow […]

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