Animals

Humans Are Driving ‘Unprecedented’ Mass Extinction in Oceans

Humans Are Driving ‘Unprecedented’ Mass Extinction in Oceans

By Nadia Prupis People are driving marine ecosystems to “unprecedented” mass extinction, according to a new study published Wednesday in the journal Science. Large-bodied animals will be the first to go, the study says—blue whales, great white sharks and bluefin tuna, for example. Their size is part of their vulnerability, making them more susceptible to […]

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    Giant Success for Giant Pandas

    Giant Success for Giant Pandas

    We’ve received some fantastic news over the weekend. The giant panda is no longer listed as endangered! Thanks to amazing conservation efforts and the commitment of the Chinese government, this iconic species has dropped down a level on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, from “Endangered” to “Vulnerable” following a remarkable growth of their […]

    World’s Largest Gorilla Declared Critically Endangered

    World’s Largest Gorilla Declared Critically Endangered

    Grauer’s gorilla (Gorilla beringei graueri), a subspecies of eastern gorilla, the world’s largest ape, and confined to eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, has been listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The announcement was made at the IUCN World Conservation Congress currently underway in Hawaii. The IUCN Red List classifies […]

    Fishing Gear Entanglement Number One Killer of Right Whales

    Fishing Gear Entanglement Number One Killer of Right Whales

    The population of endangered North Atlantic right whales is under threat due to entanglement in fishing gear and a resulting drop in birth rates, according to a study published by the journal Frontiers in Marine Science. Even though North Atlantic rightwhales numbers have modestly increased from 295 individuals in 1992 to 500 individuals in 2015, […]

    Paul Allen’s ‘Great Elephant Census’ Shows Catastrophic Decline in Africa

    Paul Allen’s ‘Great Elephant Census’ Shows Catastrophic Decline in Africa

    Results of a multiyear survey effort released Wednesday reveal that Africa’s savannah elephants are far worse off than anticipated. A survey called the “Great Elephant Census” estimates that only around 352,271 elephants remain—down from previous estimates of 419,000 to 650,000 elephants in 2013. The report’s authors estimate they recorded 93 percent of all savannah elephants […]

    Orphaned Orangutan Gets Second Chance After His Home Was Destroyed by Palm Oil

    Orphaned Orangutan Gets Second Chance After His Home Was Destroyed by Palm Oil

    By Chelsea Matthews As Conflict Palm Oil companies move into priceless rainforests like Sumatra’s Leuser Ecosystem, they are leaving a trail of destruction behind. Chocolate the orangutan is one of the few lucky survivors of this destruction and his is a story of hope. Racing Extinction, Rainforest Action Network and Wildlife Asia have put together […]

    Seals Reveal How Antarctic Sea Ice Melt Affects Ocean Currents

    Seals Reveal How Antarctic Sea Ice Melt Affects Ocean Currents

    By Tim Radford Scientists have recruited the elephant seal—the bruiser of the pinniped world—to explore and report back on the dynamics of ocean currents in the Antarctic winter. Elephant seal carrying satellite-linked sensor in Prydz Bay, Antarctica.University of Tasmania And the mammals have delivered a potentially ominous message: because fresh water is melting from the […]