Every year, the Natural History Museum's Wildlife Photographer of the Year (WPY) competition produces stunning images for the world, but among this year's best images is one that might be masking dark, sinister undertones.

The picture titled 'The bonobo and the mongoose' was clicked by Christian Ziegler in the rainforests of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

At first glance, it seems as though this is a moving scene between the two animals, in which one animal is taking care of another. However, according to experts, it's more likely that the bonobo took the young mongoose cub after slaughtering its mother.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/bees-that-are-fish-to-the-elephant-thats-human-five-defining-cases-in-animal-rights-487335/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

On the Natural History Museum (NHM) website, the image carries the following text: "Bonobos are mainly herbivorous but occasionally they hunt. The mongoose pup – eventually released unharmed – may have been taken when its mother was killed."

According to the BBC, the Bonobo may have intended to eat the baby mongoose.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hippos-might-join-list-of-worlds-most-endangered-animals-report-503029">Hippos might join list of world's most endangered animals: Report</a>

In a conversation with the BBC, a behavioural ecologist and evolutionary anthropologist Dr Barbara Fruth said that sometimes when Bonobos catch large prey, and the meal is too big, the ape does not immediately kill all its victims. Instead, they keep some of their prey alive as pets. Usually, these prey are eaten later.

Dr Fruth,&nbsp;who is the head of the LuiKotale Bonobo Project, and has been researching these animals for more than 20 years, thinks that this is most likely what was happening when the image was taken.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/is-it-a-bee-is-it-a-fish-it-is-endangered-and-needs-to-be-protected-rules-california-486556">Is it a bee? Is it a fish? It is endangered and needs to be protected, rules California court</a>

The tiny mongoose pup from the picture did eventually escape the grim fate and get its freedom.

Describing the scene, the photographer said: "The bonobo held and stroked the little mongoose for more than an hour," adding that the ape, carried "the pup carefully as it climbed a tree to eat fruit."

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Every year, the Natural History Museum's Wildlife Photographer of the Year (WPY) competition produces stunning images for the world, but among this year's best images is one that might be masking dark, sinister undertones.

Every year, the Natural History Museum's Wildlife Photographer of the Year (WPY) competition produces stunning images for the world, but among this year's best images is one that might be masking dark, sinister undertones. The picture titled 'The bonobo and the mongoose' was clicked by Christian Ziegler in the rainforests of the Democratic Republic of Congo. At first glance, it seems as though this is a moving scene between the two animals, in which one animal is taking care of another. However, according to experts, it's more likely that the bonobo took the young mongoose cub after slaughtering its mother. On the Natural History Museum (NHM) website, the image carries the following text: "Bonobos are mainly herbivorous but occasionally they hunt. The mongoose pup – eventually released unharmed – may have been taken when its mother was killed." According to the BBC, the Bonobo may have intended to eat the baby mongoose. Also read | Hippos might join list of world's most endangered animals: Report In a conversation with the BBC, a behavioural ecologist and evolutionary anthropologist Dr Barbara Fruth said that sometimes when Bonobos catch large prey, and the meal is too big, the ape does not immediately kill all its victims. Instead, they keep some of their prey alive as pets. Usually, these prey are eaten later. Dr Fruth, who is the head of the LuiKotale Bonobo Project, and has been researching these animals for more than 20 years, thinks that this is most likely what was happening when the image was taken. Also read | Is it a bee? Is it a fish? It is endangered and needs to be protected, rules California court The tiny mongoose pup from the picture did eventually escape the grim fate and get its freedom. Describing the scene, the photographer said: "The bonobo held and stroked the little mongoose for more than an hour," adding that the ape, carried "the pup carefully as it climbed a tree to eat fruit." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Heartwarming moment or something ominous? Truth behind this award winning picture will shock you

Africa's Uganda has stepped up efforts to save biodiversity as authorities deploy ways to tackle wildlife poachers. Mitigating wildlife threats are a priority.

Uganda steps up efforts to save biodiversity as authorities deploy ways to tackle wildlife poachers

A Wildlife ranger in Kenya looks after a baby Rhino. Salome Lemalasia is a community ranger in Sera Conservancy in Kenya. Watch this report.

A Wildlife ranger looks after a baby Rhino in Kenya

Australia's unique wildlife is being devastated by bushfires, drought, habitat loss and global warming, a government report said Tuesday, warning that more species are headed for extinction.

The five-yearly State of the Environment report prompted calls for dramatic action to reverse the "poor and deteriorating" state of flora and fauna depicted by scientists on land and at sea.

The damage is being hastened by a climate that has warmed&nbsp;Australia's average land temperature by 1.4 degrees Celsius since the early 20th century, the report said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/worlds-largest-wildlife-overpass-begins-construction-this-month-469956">Construction of world’s largest wildlife overpass to begin this month in US</a>

A failure to manage the pressures "will continue to result in species extinctions," scientists warned in the report.

Australia's environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, said it was a "shocking document".

"If we continue on the trajectory that we are on now, we will see more threatened species, we will see drier rivers, we will see degraded landscape, we will see reefs dying," she told journalists.

"The path we are on is not sustainable."

Plibersek, a member of the centre-left Labor Party that came to power in May elections, criticised the previous conservative government for failing to publish the report, which it had received in December 2021.

She promised to carve out more of&nbsp;Australia's land and oceans for protection, pursue "fundamental reform" of environmental laws and empower a new environmental protection agency.

Ecological bomb

Australia's 2019-2020 "Black Summer" bushfires burned more than eight million hectares of native vegetation and killed or displaced 1-3 billion animals, the report found.

The fires were an "ecological bomb ripping through southeastern&nbsp;Australia", Plibersek said.

Marine heatwaves caused mass coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef in 2016, 2017 and 2020, scientists said in the report. Since then, a government report in March found the reef had again suffered mass bleaching.

Watch |&nbsp;Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary treats pets

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/bonorong-wildlife-sanctuary-treats-pets-487908/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Millions of hectares of primary forest had been cleared since 1990, the report said.

More than seven million hectares of habitat for&nbsp;threatened species were cleared between 2000 and 2017 without being assessed under&nbsp;Australia's environmental conservation laws, it found.

In five years, more than 200 plant and animal species of national significance had been added to the list of threatened species under&nbsp;Australia's environmental laws.

"Australia&nbsp;has lost more mammal species than any other continent," the report said, with the number of new species listed as being under greater threat up by eight percent in five years.

Heartbreaking

Australia's cities are also growing at a rapid clip, scientists found, raising urban heat, pollution and waste while stretching water and energy resources.

"Sydney has lost more than 70 percent of native vegetation cover through development," the report said.

Sydney Habour's stormwater drains also created hotspots of pollution with concentrations 20 times higher than when the harbour was pristine.

"The findings of this report are heartbreaking, and the leadership failures that have led to loss at this scale devastating," said WWF-Australia&nbsp;acting chief executive Rachel Lowry.

"If we ignore the warnings of this report then iconic species like koalas across eastern&nbsp;Australia, or our largest gliding mammal, the greater glider, will disappear forever on our watch."

WWF-Australia&nbsp;said the report should be a "turning point" that lead to greater investment and stronger laws to protect&nbsp;Australia's wildlife and wilderness.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australian-watchdog-investigates-kmart-and-bunnings-over-consumers-faceprints-technology-despite-ban-496962">Australian watchdog investigates Kmart and Bunnings over ‘faceprints’ technology</a>

Lowry urged the new government to act quickly, condemning existing environmental legislation for "failing miserably" to protect threatened species.

The "devastating" new report showed coasts and marine environments were deteriorating, the Australian Marine Conservation Society said.

"We need to do more now, or we put at risk everything we rely on our oceans for -- our health, wellbeing, livelihoods and our culture," said the society's chief executive, Darren Kindleysides.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Australia's unique wildlife is being devastated by bushfires, drought, habitat loss and global warming, a government report said Tuesday, warning that more species are headed for extinction.

Australia's unique wildlife is being devastated by bushfires, drought, habitat loss and global warming, a government report said Tuesday, warning that more species are headed for extinction. The five-yearly State of the Environment report prompted calls for dramatic action to reverse the "poor and deteriorating" state of flora and fauna depicted by scientists on land and at sea. The damage is being hastened by a climate that has warmed Australia's average land temperature by 1.4 degrees Celsius since the early 20th century, the report said. Also read | Construction of world’s largest wildlife overpass to begin this month in US A failure to manage the pressures "will continue to result in species extinctions," scientists warned in the report. Australia's environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, said it was a "shocking document". "If we continue on the trajectory that we are on now, we will see more threatened species, we will see drier rivers, we will see degraded landscape, we will see reefs dying," she told journalists. "The path we are on is not sustainable." Plibersek, a member of the centre-left Labor Party that came to power in May elections, criticised the previous conservative government for failing to publish the report, which it had received in December 2021. She promised to carve out more of Australia's land and oceans for protection, pursue "fundamental reform" of environmental laws and empower a new environmental protection agency. Ecological bomb Australia's 2019-2020 "Black Summer" bushfires burned more than eight million hectares of native vegetation and killed or displaced 1-3 billion animals, the report found. The fires were an "ecological bomb ripping through southeastern Australia", Plibersek said. Marine heatwaves caused mass coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef in 2016, 2017 and 2020, scientists said in the report. Since then, a government report in March found the reef had again suffered mass bleaching. Watch | Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary treats pets Millions of hectares of primary forest had been cleared since 1990, the report said. More than seven million hectares of habitat for threatened species were cleared between 2000 and 2017 without being assessed under Australia's environmental conservation laws, it found. In five years, more than 200 plant and animal species of national significance had been added to the list of threatened species under Australia's environmental laws. "Australia has lost more mammal species than any other continent," the report said, with the number of new species listed as being under greater threat up by eight percent in five years. Heartbreaking Australia's cities are also growing at a rapid clip, scientists found, raising urban heat, pollution and waste while stretching water and energy resources. "Sydney has lost more than 70 percent of native vegetation cover through development," the report said. Sydney Habour's stormwater drains also created hotspots of pollution with concentrations 20 times higher than when the harbour was pristine. "The findings of this report are heartbreaking, and the leadership failures that have led to loss at this scale devastating," said WWF-Australia acting chief executive Rachel Lowry. "If we ignore the warnings of this report then iconic species like koalas across eastern Australia, or our largest gliding mammal, the greater glider, will disappear forever on our watch." WWF-Australia said the report should be a "turning point" that lead to greater investment and stronger laws to protect Australia's wildlife and wilderness. Also read | Australian watchdog investigates Kmart and Bunnings over ‘faceprints’ technology Lowry urged the new government to act quickly, condemning existing environmental legislation for "failing miserably" to protect threatened species. The "devastating" new report showed coasts and marine environments were deteriorating, the Australian Marine Conservation Society said. "We need to do more now, or we put at risk everything we rely on our oceans for -- our health, wellbeing, livelihoods and our culture," said the society's chief executive, Darren Kindleysides. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

'Shocking' report lists devastation to Australia wildlife

Steppe Bison, a majestic creature roamed the face of Earth about 10,000 years ago before it went extinct. It roamed at a place that would later be named 'England'. Now, thousands of years later, three bisons have been released in the woods of Kent&nbsp;to bring the olden days.&nbsp;

An older female from Highland Wildlife Park, Scotland and two young females from Fota Wildlife Park, Ireland form the triumvirate group. All three females have been fitted with tracking collars so that their movements can be recorded. Officials associated with the project have stated that a young male bison will soon be flown from Germany, around mid-August to join the herd.&nbsp;

Read More:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/britain-issues-national-emergency-as-europe-swelters-due-to-wildfires-497782">Britain issues national emergency as Europe swelters due to wildfires</a>

These gentle giants, also dubbed 'ecosystem engineers' were released into the wildlife under the $1.4 million 'Wilder Blean project', funded by the People’s Postcode Lottery. It is an experiment that attempts to use the bisons and their natural behaviour to transform the commercial pine forest into a natural woodland, in a way that no other animal can.&nbsp;

According to wildlife experts, the bison can transform the entire area and allow new flora and fauna to thrive. These giants eat the bark of the tree to create dust baths, which has numerous benefits for other plant and animal species.

Similarly, the trees that will fall will allow light to reach the forest ground, making the plants grow. Moreover, the woodlands are expected to absorb more carbon as Britain continues to battle its worst ever heatwave.&nbsp;

Read More:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/britain-prepares-for-temperatures-hotter-than-the-sahara-desert-498176">Britain prepares for temperatures `hotter` than the Sahara desert</a>

Initially, the females will have a five-hectare area to explore which will soon be expanded to 50 hectares, once the bull arrives. Eventually, 200 hectares of area in Wilder bean will be opened for the bisons, with other animals also expected to join them.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1  width=&quot;100%&quot;"></iframe>

Steppe Bison, a majestic creature roamed the face of Earth about 10,000 years ago before it went extinct. It roamed at a place that would later be named 'England'.

Steppe Bison, a majestic creature roamed the face of Earth about 10,000 years ago before it went extinct. It roamed at a place that would later be named 'England'. Now, thousands of years later, three bisons have been released in the woods of Kent to bring the olden days. An older female from Highland Wildlife Park, Scotland and two young females from Fota Wildlife Park, Ireland form the triumvirate group. All three females have been fitted with tracking collars so that their movements can be recorded. Officials associated with the project have stated that a young male bison will soon be flown from Germany, around mid-August to join the herd. Read More: Britain issues national emergency as Europe swelters due to wildfires These gentle giants, also dubbed 'ecosystem engineers' were released into the wildlife under the $1.4 million 'Wilder Blean project', funded by the People’s Postcode Lottery. It is an experiment that attempts to use the bisons and their natural behaviour to transform the commercial pine forest into a natural woodland, in a way that no other animal can. According to wildlife experts, the bison can transform the entire area and allow new flora and fauna to thrive. These giants eat the bark of the tree to create dust baths, which has numerous benefits for other plant and animal species. Similarly, the trees that will fall will allow light to reach the forest ground, making the plants grow. Moreover, the woodlands are expected to absorb more carbon as Britain continues to battle its worst ever heatwave. Read More: Britain prepares for temperatures `hotter` than the Sahara desert Initially, the females will have a five-hectare area to explore which will soon be expanded to 50 hectares, once the bull arrives. Eventually, 200 hectares of area in Wilder bean will be opened for the bisons, with other animals also expected to join them. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Bison make a comeback in Britain, 10,000 years after they went extinct

There is a rise in Human-Wildlife conflict in Congo. At least 7 people have been killed by Hippos since 2019. Meanwhile, Hippos are facing mass extermination.

Congo: Rise in Human-Wildlife conflict? At least 7 killed by Hippos since 2019

The construction of the world’s largest wildlife overpass, which will be&nbsp;built across the 101 highway&nbsp;near Los Angeles, has been initiated,&nbsp;with experts hoping&nbsp;that the crossing creates a safe passage for wild animals.

Robert Rock, a landscape architect with Living Futures in Chicago&nbsp;who led the design, has described&nbsp;this project as one of the most remarkable designs worldwide.

He said that unlike other bridges and under crosses which are mostly made of cement and steel, this crossing will have environmental-themed surroundings featuring&nbsp;native plants and vegetated walls on both sides, The Guardian reported.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/there-may-be-50000-species-of-spider-crawling-the-earth-469916">There may be 50,000 species of spider crawling the Earth</a>

Rock has put together a team of experts who are expected to help him execute this project. They are: a&nbsp;soil scientist who will collect&nbsp;samples nearby that are specific to the local trees,&nbsp;and a mycologist, who will study&nbsp;the fungi of the area and how they can help the seamless flow of plants and animals across the bridge.

He said that this&nbsp;project, nearly a decade in the making, will be able to protect mountain lions from crossing the roads.

Almost 25 mountains lions have been killed since 2002 while crossing the freeways in Los Angeles, with the latest death being reported just a week ago when a young lion&nbsp;was struck and killed&nbsp;on the pacific coast highway.

<img alt="animals" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3dd5984f-6a24-4d38-b876-22061e9d9f49" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/wildlife%202_0.jpg" />

Some of the animals expected to use this wildlife bridge. Image Courtesy: Living Habitats and National Wildlife Federation 
&nbsp;

On Earth Day, April 22, a launching ceremony will kick-off&nbsp;to mark the start of construction for the $90m crossing, which will be named Wallis Annenberg wildlife crossing.

About 60 per cent of the cost of construction will come from private donations while the rest from public funds. A majority of the work will be done at night and is not expected to be completed until 2025, The Guardian reported.

Watch |&nbsp;Terramation: The environment friendly 'green' burial trends in US

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/terramation-the-environment-friendly-green-burial-trends-in-us-464399/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Beth Pratt, an urban ecologist with the National Wildlife Federation,&nbsp;took at least a decade in planning the project, from convincing transportation officials of its importance, to bringing all stakeholders and fund donors together.

She told The Guardian, “I’m a little dizzy still, but I feel relieved.&nbsp;We have the chance to give these mountain lions a shot at a future.”

Pratt said approximately 300,00 cars pass through this area. She hoped&nbsp;that this bridge will serve as an example of how humans can live harmoniously.

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/believe-it-or-not-fungi-talk-to-each-other-like-humans-claims-study-468908">&nbsp;Believe it or not: Fungi talk to each other like humans, claims study</a>

Detailing the hardships she faced in the initial days, Pratt said that it was difficult to raise money but "luckily the team was able to find people who understood the importance of this project".

(With inputs from agencies)

The construction of the world’s largest wildlife overpass, which will be built across the 101 highway near Los Angeles, has been initiated, with experts hoping that the crossing creates a safe passage for wild animals.

The construction of the world’s largest wildlife overpass, which will be built across the 101 highway near Los Angeles, has been initiated, with experts hoping that the crossing creates a safe passage for wild animals. Robert Rock, a landscape architect with Living Futures in Chicago who led the design, has described this project as one of the most remarkable designs worldwide. He said that unlike other bridges and under crosses which are mostly made of cement and steel, this crossing will have environmental-themed surroundings featuring native plants and vegetated walls on both sides, The Guardian reported. Also read | There may be 50,000 species of spider crawling the Earth Rock has put together a team of experts who are expected to help him execute this project. They are: a soil scientist who will collect samples nearby that are specific to the local trees, and a mycologist, who will study the fungi of the area and how they can help the seamless flow of plants and animals across the bridge. He said that this project, nearly a decade in the making, will be able to protect mountain lions from crossing the roads. Almost 25 mountains lions have been killed since 2002 while crossing the freeways in Los Angeles, with the latest death being reported just a week ago when a young lion was struck and killed on the pacific coast highway. Some of the animals expected to use this wildlife bridge. Image Courtesy: Living Habitats and National Wildlife Federation On Earth Day, April 22, a launching ceremony will kick-off to mark the start of construction for the $90m crossing, which will be named Wallis Annenberg wildlife crossing. About 60 per cent of the cost of construction will come from private donations while the rest from public funds. A majority of the work will be done at night and is not expected to be completed until 2025, The Guardian reported. Watch | Terramation: The environment friendly 'green' burial trends in US Beth Pratt, an urban ecologist with the National Wildlife Federation, took at least a decade in planning the project, from convincing transportation officials of its importance, to bringing all stakeholders and fund donors together. She told The Guardian, “I’m a little dizzy still, but I feel relieved. We have the chance to give these mountain lions a shot at a future.” Pratt said approximately 300,00 cars pass through this area. She hoped that this bridge will serve as an example of how humans can live harmoniously. Also read | Believe it or not: Fungi talk to each other like humans, claims study Detailing the hardships she faced in the initial days, Pratt said that it was difficult to raise money but "luckily the team was able to find people who understood the importance of this project". (With inputs from agencies)

Construction of world’s largest wildlife overpass to begin this month in US

A wing under the US Department of Agriculture has stoked the fury of conservation groups after a report revealed that they were responsible for killing 1.75 million animals across the country in 2021— at a rate of around 200 creatures every hour, reported The Guardian.

The killings were part of a federal wildlife program that targets wolves, coyotes, cougars, birds and other wild animals, primarily to benefit the agriculture industry in states like Texas, Colorado and Idaho.

According to new data released by the program, the Wildlife Services has killed 324 gray wolves, 64,131 coyotes, 433 black bears, 200 mountain lions, 605 bobcats, 3,014 foxes, 24,687 beavers, and 714 river otters last year.

The Wildlife Services has been slaughtering the animals “to protect agricultural output, threatened species and human health”.

Wildlife Services says that it targets certain invasive species which it considers a threat to ecosystems, such as feral hogs and a type of giant swamp rodent called nutria.

However, it has also controversially killed vast numbers of America’s native species.

“It’s stomach-turning to see this barbaric federal program wiping out hundreds of thousands of native animals,” said Collette Adkins, carnivore conservation director at the Center for Biological Diversity.

“Killing carnivores like wolves and coyotes to supposedly benefit the livestock industry just leads to more conflicts and more killing. This is a truly vicious cycle, and we’ll continue to demand change from Wildlife Services.”

The reported number of native animals killed in 2021 was similar to the 433,192 killed in 2020.

The only it reported a sharp decline was in 2019 when approximately 1.3 million native animals were killed.

(With inputs from agencies)

A wing under the US Department of Agriculture has stoked the fury of conservation groups after a report revealed that they were responsible for killing 1.75 million animals across the country in 2021— at a rate of around 200 creatures every hour, reported The Guardian.

A wing under the US Department of Agriculture has stoked the fury of conservation groups after a report revealed that they were responsible for killing 1.75 million animals across the country in 2021— at a rate of around 200 creatures every hour, reported The Guardian. The killings were part of a federal wildlife program that targets wolves, coyotes, cougars, birds and other wild animals, primarily to benefit the agriculture industry in states like Texas, Colorado and Idaho. According to new data released by the program, the Wildlife Services has killed 324 gray wolves, 64,131 coyotes, 433 black bears, 200 mountain lions, 605 bobcats, 3,014 foxes, 24,687 beavers, and 714 river otters last year. The Wildlife Services has been slaughtering the animals “to protect agricultural output, threatened species and human health”. Wildlife Services says that it targets certain invasive species which it considers a threat to ecosystems, such as feral hogs and a type of giant swamp rodent called nutria. However, it has also controversially killed vast numbers of America’s native species. “It’s stomach-turning to see this barbaric federal program wiping out hundreds of thousands of native animals,” said Collette Adkins, carnivore conservation director at the Center for Biological Diversity. “Killing carnivores like wolves and coyotes to supposedly benefit the livestock industry just leads to more conflicts and more killing. This is a truly vicious cycle, and we’ll continue to demand change from Wildlife Services.” The reported number of native animals killed in 2021 was similar to the 433,192 killed in 2020. The only it reported a sharp decline was in 2019 when approximately 1.3 million native animals were killed. (With inputs from agencies)

A ‘barbaric’ federal programme killed 1.75 million animals in US in 2021: Report

Refuge for flamingos and turtles, the Libyan island of Farwa is threatened by pollution, illegal and intensive fishing. Environmental activists, who are trying to save it, have warned that Libya's wildfire treasure island is at risk of ruin.

Libya's wildlife treasure island at risk of ruin

After there were reports of animals contracting the deadly coronavirus, many zoos and wildlife parks have started vaccinating their animals as a precautionary measure. Potter Park Zoo in Michigan became one of the first zoos to take such an initiative after numerous zoo animals across the country tested positive.

The vaccines were donated by a New Jersey-based animal health company named Zoetis Inc. This company makes one of the few approved Covid vaccines for animals.

The company started working on its vaccine in February 2020, after a &nbsp;dog tested positive for Covid in Hong Kong. It was concluded that the 20 animals that received the experimental vaccine developed a robust antibody response against SARS-CoV-2. However, the 10 that received a placebo did not. Also, there were no safety concerns reported by the company.

Potter Park Zoo Animal Care Supervisor Pat Fountain, in a report, said, "They were finding that it was happening in a lot of big cats and things like that. As a different number of animals grew, it became clear that it was a much bigger deal for the animals.”

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/in-a-first-three-white-tailed-deer-test-positive-for-covid-in-canada-433696">Also read |&nbsp;In a first, three white-tailed deer test positive for Covid in Canada</a>

The fountain further added that vaccinating animals is more challenging than vaccinating humans. He highlighted how limiting animal stress is the biggest priority. "I do train the animals daily to get used to the idea of being poked or getting shots or getting their blood drawn, or anything like that. It’s more about the stress of the animal than anything. So we don’t want to overstress any of them because they can get sick or hurt," he said.&nbsp;

In another such incident, nearly 260 animals, including many different species, received an experiment Covid vaccine at San Diego Zoo and Safari Park.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, various animals have tested positive for the deadly coronavirus. This includes three white-tailed deers in Canada. Also, the Alpha variant of Covid was detected in pets when two cats and dogs tested positive in a PCR test. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

After there were reports of animals contracting the deadly coronavirus, many zoos and wildlife parks have started vaccinating their animals as a precautionary measure.

After there were reports of animals contracting the deadly coronavirus, many zoos and wildlife parks have started vaccinating their animals as a precautionary measure. Potter Park Zoo in Michigan became one of the first zoos to take such an initiative after numerous zoo animals across the country tested positive. The vaccines were donated by a New Jersey-based animal health company named Zoetis Inc. This company makes one of the few approved Covid vaccines for animals. The company started working on its vaccine in February 2020, after a dog tested positive for Covid in Hong Kong. It was concluded that the 20 animals that received the experimental vaccine developed a robust antibody response against SARS-CoV-2. However, the 10 that received a placebo did not. Also, there were no safety concerns reported by the company. Potter Park Zoo Animal Care Supervisor Pat Fountain, in a report, said, "They were finding that it was happening in a lot of big cats and things like that. As a different number of animals grew, it became clear that it was a much bigger deal for the animals.” Also read | In a first, three white-tailed deer test positive for Covid in Canada The fountain further added that vaccinating animals is more challenging than vaccinating humans. He highlighted how limiting animal stress is the biggest priority. "I do train the animals daily to get used to the idea of being poked or getting shots or getting their blood drawn, or anything like that. It’s more about the stress of the animal than anything. So we don’t want to overstress any of them because they can get sick or hurt," he said. In another such incident, nearly 260 animals, including many different species, received an experiment Covid vaccine at San Diego Zoo and Safari Park. Meanwhile, various animals have tested positive for the deadly coronavirus. This includes three white-tailed deers in Canada. Also, the Alpha variant of Covid was detected in pets when two cats and dogs tested positive in a PCR test. (With inputs from agencies)

Wildlife parks are starting to vaccinate animals amid a surge in Covid cases

A refuge for flamingos and turtles, the Libyan island of Farwa is threatened by pollution, illegal and intensive fishing. Environmental activists struggling to save it warn.

Environmental activists concerned over future of Libya's wildlife treasure island

In an effort by the Wildlife Trust in Pakistan to conserve green turtles, conservationists relocate eggs to a hatchery.

Pakistan green turtle conservation: Wildlife trust ramps up efforts to protect hatchlings

Rescue staff with Pakistan's Sindh Wildlife are racing against time, literally, to save an Indus river dolphin that has strayed into a waterway where it doesn't belong.

Wildlife staff in Pakistan race against time to save blind Indus dolphin

An Indian Coast Guard (ICG) team in southern Tamil Nadu state seized 600 kilograms of sea cucumber from a small boat that was involved in smuggling.

The market value of seized sea cucumbers is said to be around Rs 30 million ($400,000 approximately).

Based on a tip-off, the ICG team tracked the suspect vessel at Mandapam, Ramanathapuram district, and cordoned off the road to block their escape.

Subsequently, the boat was found to be anchored off Uchhipalli coast in Ramanathapuram on Tuesday afternoon.

The Coast Guard teams&nbsp;then rummaged the vessel and recovered 31 gunny bags of sea cucumber weighing 600 kgs. The boat, along with seized sea cucumbers, were then brought to Mandapam and handed over to the forest department officials.

Sea cucumbers are an important constituent of the marine ecosystem as they play a key role in maintaining the health of the ecosystem.

By excreting the inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus, sea cucumbers enhance the productivity of benthic animals —those living on the ocean floor.

One of the by-products of the sea cucumber's digestion of sand is calcium carbonate, a key component of coral reef. To survive, coral reefs must accumulate calcium carbonate, and thus sea cucumbers play a vital role in their preservation.

Sea cucumbers also maintain the transparency of seawater by eating sewage. Feeding and excretion by sea cucumbers also increase alkalinity, which counteracts ocean acidification.

Illegal harvesting and overexploitation of these animals leads to poorer sediment health, reduced nutrient recycling and impacting biodiversity.

In India, sea cucumber is treated as an endangered species and is listed under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.

An Indian Coast Guard (ICG) team in southern Tamil Nadu state seized 600 kilograms of sea cucumber from a small boat that was involved in smuggling. The market value of seized sea cucumbers is said to be around Rs 30 million ($400,000 approximately).

An Indian Coast Guard (ICG) team in southern Tamil Nadu state seized 600 kilograms of sea cucumber from a small boat that was involved in smuggling. The market value of seized sea cucumbers is said to be around Rs 30 million ($400,000 approximately). Based on a tip-off, the ICG team tracked the suspect vessel at Mandapam, Ramanathapuram district, and cordoned off the road to block their escape. Subsequently, the boat was found to be anchored off Uchhipalli coast in Ramanathapuram on Tuesday afternoon. The Coast Guard teams then rummaged the vessel and recovered 31 gunny bags of sea cucumber weighing 600 kgs. The boat, along with seized sea cucumbers, were then brought to Mandapam and handed over to the forest department officials. Sea cucumbers are an important constituent of the marine ecosystem as they play a key role in maintaining the health of the ecosystem. By excreting the inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus, sea cucumbers enhance the productivity of benthic animals —those living on the ocean floor. One of the by-products of the sea cucumber's digestion of sand is calcium carbonate, a key component of coral reef. To survive, coral reefs must accumulate calcium carbonate, and thus sea cucumbers play a vital role in their preservation. Sea cucumbers also maintain the transparency of seawater by eating sewage. Feeding and excretion by sea cucumbers also increase alkalinity, which counteracts ocean acidification. Illegal harvesting and overexploitation of these animals leads to poorer sediment health, reduced nutrient recycling and impacting biodiversity. In India, sea cucumber is treated as an endangered species and is listed under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.

600 kgs of smuggled sea cucumber worth $4 million seized in India’s southern Tamil Nadu coast 

Nearly 30 percent of the 138,374 species assessed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List are at risk of extinction, the global conservation body reported Saturday.

Habitat loss, overexploitation and illegal trade have hammered global wildlife populations for decades, and climate change is now kicking in as a direct threat, the head of the IUCN's Red List Unit told AFP in an interview.

Q. Are we in or on the cusp of the sixth mass extinction? 
If we look at extinctions every 100 years since 1500, there is a marked inflection starting in the 1900s. The trend is showing that we are 100 to 1,000 times higher than the 'background', or normal, extinction rates. I would certainly say that the red list status shows that we're on the cusp of the sixth extinction event [in the last 500 million years]. &nbsp;

If the trends carry on going upward at that rate, we'll be facing a major crisis soon.

Q: The Red List began in 1964. Has it changed much? 
A: The initial list wasn't really based on scientific criteria. It was more of a gut feel: 'We think the species is under some degree of threat'. &nbsp;But as the list started to grow, we realised that we needed to make the list scientifically defensible. So we took a big step back and asked: 'What is it we are trying to measure?'&nbsp;

The answer was quite simple: risk of extinction.

Q: Are there species that would have gone extinct without the Red List? 
A: There are lots of species around the world that we would almost certainly have lost. The Red List process drew attention, for example, to the plight of the Arabian oryx and led to conservation efforts -- taking the animals out of the wild, captive breeding, reintroductions. We've seen species very nearly extinct that are thriving now.

Q: Does the Red List make recommendations? 
A: The Red List is not policy prescriptive, it's really just a statement of fact –- this is what the status of the species is. Then it's up to the decision makers to interpret that and decide what policies should be enacted.

Q: Do you ever come under pressure over the listings? 
A: There is lots of lobbying. Surprisingly, it's not so much about the up-listing to a higher threat level. For some high-profile charismatic species, if you want to down-list them because there has been successful conservation actions, we often get lobbied very, very hard to not do that.&nbsp;

There's real concern that if a species goes down a category, that conservation investment will stop. This is where the 'green status' will really help.

Q. What is the green status? 
A: &nbsp;After you've done the Red List assessment, what are you going to do about it? This is where we started talking about the green status. How do you measure whether your conservation actions are being successful? If we hadn't done anything, where would it be now? If we stopped all conservation efforts now, what will happen to that species going forward? Those are the metrics in the green status process.

Q: Couldn't that lead to species conservation triage? 
A: &nbsp;There's a limited amount of funding available and vast number of species. It does come down to some really harsh realities. You're obligated to just let some species go extinct because we really can't save them.&nbsp;

But it's not something we tackle head on in the Red List process. We effectively pass the buck on to others to make those very hard decisions.

Q: Climate change is rarely cited as a driver of extinction. Why is that? 
A: It is obvious for the polar bears because of the direct link between sea ice cover and global warming, but with other megafauna it's a lot harder to detect the impacts of climate change.&nbsp;

There is evidence pointing to climate change for the increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires. But when experts record threats to a species they may put 'increased fire frequency', not climate change. &nbsp;

The chytrid fungus is wiping out amphibians all around the world, and we are pretty sure that its emergence is very much linked to climate change. But with the evidence we have now, the category of threat is invasive species, not climate change. &nbsp;

Nearly 30 percent of the 138,374 species assessed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List are at risk of extinction, the global conservation body reported Saturday.

Nearly 30 percent of the 138,374 species assessed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List are at risk of extinction, the global conservation body reported Saturday. Habitat loss, overexploitation and illegal trade have hammered global wildlife populations for decades, and climate change is now kicking in as a direct threat, the head of the IUCN's Red List Unit told AFP in an interview. Q. Are we in or on the cusp of the sixth mass extinction? If we look at extinctions every 100 years since 1500, there is a marked inflection starting in the 1900s. The trend is showing that we are 100 to 1,000 times higher than the 'background', or normal, extinction rates. I would certainly say that the red list status shows that we're on the cusp of the sixth extinction event [in the last 500 million years]. If the trends carry on going upward at that rate, we'll be facing a major crisis soon. Q: The Red List began in 1964. Has it changed much? A: The initial list wasn't really based on scientific criteria. It was more of a gut feel: 'We think the species is under some degree of threat'. But as the list started to grow, we realised that we needed to make the list scientifically defensible. So we took a big step back and asked: 'What is it we are trying to measure?' The answer was quite simple: risk of extinction. Q: Are there species that would have gone extinct without the Red List? A: There are lots of species around the world that we would almost certainly have lost. The Red List process drew attention, for example, to the plight of the Arabian oryx and led to conservation efforts -- taking the animals out of the wild, captive breeding, reintroductions. We've seen species very nearly extinct that are thriving now. Q: Does the Red List make recommendations? A: The Red List is not policy prescriptive, it's really just a statement of fact –- this is what the status of the species is. Then it's up to the decision makers to interpret that and decide what policies should be enacted. Q: Do you ever come under pressure over the listings? A: There is lots of lobbying. Surprisingly, it's not so much about the up-listing to a higher threat level. For some high-profile charismatic species, if you want to down-list them because there has been successful conservation actions, we often get lobbied very, very hard to not do that. There's real concern that if a species goes down a category, that conservation investment will stop. This is where the 'green status' will really help. Q. What is the green status? A: After you've done the Red List assessment, what are you going to do about it? This is where we started talking about the green status. How do you measure whether your conservation actions are being successful? If we hadn't done anything, where would it be now? If we stopped all conservation efforts now, what will happen to that species going forward? Those are the metrics in the green status process. Q: Couldn't that lead to species conservation triage? A: There's a limited amount of funding available and vast number of species. It does come down to some really harsh realities. You're obligated to just let some species go extinct because we really can't save them. But it's not something we tackle head on in the Red List process. We effectively pass the buck on to others to make those very hard decisions. Q: Climate change is rarely cited as a driver of extinction. Why is that? A: It is obvious for the polar bears because of the direct link between sea ice cover and global warming, but with other megafauna it's a lot harder to detect the impacts of climate change. There is evidence pointing to climate change for the increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires. But when experts record threats to a species they may put 'increased fire frequency', not climate change. The chytrid fungus is wiping out amphibians all around the world, and we are pretty sure that its emergence is very much linked to climate change. But with the evidence we have now, the category of threat is invasive species, not climate change.

Wildlife on a glidepath to 'mass extinction': Red List chief

An 11-month-old 80-pound cougar was removed from an apartment in New York where the big cat was being kept as a pet illegally.

The owner surrendered the female cougar to animal welfare officials, Kelly Donithan, director of animal disaster response for the Humane Society of the United States, said in a news release on Monday.

According to the Associated Press, the cougar, nicknamed Sasha, spent the weekend at the Bronx Zoo receiving veterinary care and is headed to the Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge in Arkansas.

The Humane Society coordinated with zoo officials, the state Department of Environmental Conservation and the New York Police Department on the big cat’s removal.

“I’ve never seen a cougar in the wild, but I’ve seen them on leashes, smashed into cages, and crying for their mothers when breeders rip them away. I’ve also seen the heartbreak of owners, like in this case, after being sold not just a wild animal, but a false dream that they could make a good ‘pet’,” Donithan said.

He said the cougar was “relatively lucky” because her owners, who live in the Bronx, recognised that their flat was not a hospitable environment for a wildcat, and surrendered her.

“The owner’s tears and nervous chirps from the cougar as we drove her away painfully drives home the many victims of this horrendous trade and myth that wild animals belong anywhere but the wild,” he said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/un-report-identifies-migratory-species-as-most-vulnerable-to-plastic-pollution-409772">UN report identifies migratory species as most vulnerable to plastic pollution</a>

Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos asserted that while cougars “may look cute and cuddly when young, these animals can grow up to be unpredictable and dangerous”.

Bronx Zoo director Jim Breheny said the exotic pet trade makes no contribution to the conservation of endangered species.

“These animals often end up in very bad situations, kept by private individuals who don’t have the resources, facilities, knowledge, or expertise to provide for the animals’ most basic needs,” Breheny was quoted as saying.

(With inputs from agencies)

An 11-month-old 80-pound cougar was removed from an apartment in New York where the big cat was being kept as a pet illegally. The owner surrendered the female cougar to animal welfare officials, Kelly Donithan, director of animal disaster response for the Humane Society of the United States, said in a news release on Monday.

An 11-month-old 80-pound cougar was removed from an apartment in New York where the big cat was being kept as a pet illegally. The owner surrendered the female cougar to animal welfare officials, Kelly Donithan, director of animal disaster response for the Humane Society of the United States, said in a news release on Monday. According to the Associated Press, the cougar, nicknamed Sasha, spent the weekend at the Bronx Zoo receiving veterinary care and is headed to the Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge in Arkansas. The Humane Society coordinated with zoo officials, the state Department of Environmental Conservation and the New York Police Department on the big cat’s removal. “I’ve never seen a cougar in the wild, but I’ve seen them on leashes, smashed into cages, and crying for their mothers when breeders rip them away. I’ve also seen the heartbreak of owners, like in this case, after being sold not just a wild animal, but a false dream that they could make a good ‘pet’,” Donithan said. He said the cougar was “relatively lucky” because her owners, who live in the Bronx, recognised that their flat was not a hospitable environment for a wildcat, and surrendered her. “The owner’s tears and nervous chirps from the cougar as we drove her away painfully drives home the many victims of this horrendous trade and myth that wild animals belong anywhere but the wild,” he said. Also read | UN report identifies migratory species as most vulnerable to plastic pollution Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos asserted that while cougars “may look cute and cuddly when young, these animals can grow up to be unpredictable and dangerous”. Bronx Zoo director Jim Breheny said the exotic pet trade makes no contribution to the conservation of endangered species. “These animals often end up in very bad situations, kept by private individuals who don’t have the resources, facilities, knowledge, or expertise to provide for the animals’ most basic needs,” Breheny was quoted as saying. (With inputs from agencies)

11-month-old female cougar kept as pet removed from New York apartment

Chisel and hammer in hand, this artist carves out a design. From tribal figures to African wildlife, the finished results are popular keepsakes for tourists visiting Kenya. But amid a pandemic, the demand for these objects has plummeted.

Tourist industry sees trickle of post-pandemic recover

Three&nbsp;young&nbsp;children&nbsp;were killed by&nbsp;lions&nbsp;near&nbsp;Tanzania's world-renowned Ngorongoro&nbsp;wildlife&nbsp;reserve&nbsp;as they went to look for lost cattle, police said on Thursday.

The youngsters aged between nine and 11 had arrived home from school on Monday and gone into a forest&nbsp;near&nbsp;the Ngorongoro Conservation Area to search for the missing animals, Arusha police chief Justine Masejo said.

"That is when the&nbsp;lions&nbsp;attacked and killed&nbsp;three&nbsp;children&nbsp;while injuring one," he added.

Ngorongoro in northern&nbsp;Tanzania&nbsp;is a World Heritage Site that is home to&nbsp;wildlife&nbsp;including big cats such as&nbsp;lions, cheetahs and leopards.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/space-tourism-richard-bransons-virgin-galactic-is-restarting-ticket-sales-beginning-at-450000-403306">Also read |&nbsp;Space tourism: Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic is restarting ticket sales beginning at $450,000</a>

"I would like to urge the nomadic communities around the reserved areas to take precautions against fierce animals especially when they task their&nbsp;children&nbsp;to take care of the livestock. That will help to protect the&nbsp;children&nbsp;and their families," Masejo said.

Tanzania&nbsp;allows some communities such as the Maasai, who graze their livestock alongside wild animals, to live within national parks.

However, they are often in conflict with animals such as&nbsp;lions&nbsp;and elephants which can attack people, livestock and destroy crops.

Last year,&nbsp;Tanzania&nbsp;relocated 36&nbsp;lions&nbsp;from the Serengeti National Park after attacks on humans and cattle from the surrounding communities.

Three young children were killed by lions near Tanzania's world-renowned Ngorongoro wildlife reserve as they went to look for lost cattle, police said on Thursday.

Three young children were killed by lions near Tanzania's world-renowned Ngorongoro wildlife reserve as they went to look for lost cattle, police said on Thursday. The youngsters aged between nine and 11 had arrived home from school on Monday and gone into a forest near the Ngorongoro Conservation Area to search for the missing animals, Arusha police chief Justine Masejo said. "That is when the lions attacked and killed three children while injuring one," he added. Ngorongoro in northern Tanzania is a World Heritage Site that is home to wildlife including big cats such as lions, cheetahs and leopards. Also read | Space tourism: Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic is restarting ticket sales beginning at $450,000 "I would like to urge the nomadic communities around the reserved areas to take precautions against fierce animals especially when they task their children to take care of the livestock. That will help to protect the children and their families," Masejo said. Tanzania allows some communities such as the Maasai, who graze their livestock alongside wild animals, to live within national parks. However, they are often in conflict with animals such as lions and elephants which can attack people, livestock and destroy crops. Last year, Tanzania relocated 36 lions from the Serengeti National Park after attacks on humans and cattle from the surrounding communities.

Lions kill three children near Tanzania wildlife reserve

More than 250 horses found a safe haven at the facilities of the Hellenic Equestrian Federation after being rescued from a wildfire in Varibobi, north of the Greek capital.

Horses rescued from Greek wildfire find safe haven

A huge forest blaze in Cyprus has killed four people, destroyed homes and forced evacuations of villages as Greece, Israel and other countries deployed fire-fighting aircraft to the Mediterranean island.

The fire began Saturday afternoon and has swept through districts in the southern foothills of the Troodos mountains as the country grapples with a blistering heatwave.

"It is a tragedy," President Nicos Anastasiades said on Twitter, describing it as "the largest fire since 1974" when the island was divided after Turkey occupied its northern third.&nbsp;

The blaze had caused "loss of life" and destroyed property and forest lands, Anastasiades said, adding that&nbsp;"the government will provide immediate assistance to the victims and the families of the victims.

"We will not leave anyone abandoned in the destruction of the fire."

Interior Minister Nicos Nouris said that four charred bodies were found outside the village of Odos in the Larnaca district. &nbsp;

"Forensic examiners are going to the scene for identification," he told reporters on Sunday.&nbsp;

"All the indications support the fact that these are the four missing persons we have been searching for since yesterday," he said, adding that all four of the dead are thought to be of Egyptian nationality.

The daily Phileleftheros newspaper said the four bodies were found about 400 metres (yards) from their burnt-out vehicle.

Janez Lenarcic, European Commissioner for Crisis Management, said on Saturday its "aerial firefighting capacity" had been mobilised, with Italy and Greece sending planes to help.

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said "two firefighting planes" would be sent. They were expected to arrive on Sunday.

Local media reported that a 67-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion he started the blaze.

A huge forest blaze in Cyprus has killed four people, destroyed homes and forced evacuations of villages as Greece, Israel and other countries deployed fire-fighting aircraft to the Mediterranean island.

A huge forest blaze in Cyprus has killed four people, destroyed homes and forced evacuations of villages as Greece, Israel and other countries deployed fire-fighting aircraft to the Mediterranean island. The fire began Saturday afternoon and has swept through districts in the southern foothills of the Troodos mountains as the country grapples with a blistering heatwave. "It is a tragedy," President Nicos Anastasiades said on Twitter, describing it as "the largest fire since 1974" when the island was divided after Turkey occupied its northern third. The blaze had caused "loss of life" and destroyed property and forest lands, Anastasiades said, adding that "the government will provide immediate assistance to the victims and the families of the victims. "We will not leave anyone abandoned in the destruction of the fire." Interior Minister Nicos Nouris said that four charred bodies were found outside the village of Odos in the Larnaca district. "Forensic examiners are going to the scene for identification," he told reporters on Sunday. "All the indications support the fact that these are the four missing persons we have been searching for since yesterday," he said, adding that all four of the dead are thought to be of Egyptian nationality. The daily Phileleftheros newspaper said the four bodies were found about 400 metres (yards) from their burnt-out vehicle. Janez Lenarcic, European Commissioner for Crisis Management, said on Saturday its "aerial firefighting capacity" had been mobilised, with Italy and Greece sending planes to help. The office of Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said "two firefighting planes" would be sent. They were expected to arrive on Sunday. Local media reported that a 67-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion he started the blaze.

Four dead in Cyprus' worst forest fire in decades

Authorities in Kenya are deploying planes, helicopters, boats, 4x4 trucks, camera traps, satellite collars and much more to kickstart its first-ever national census of wildlife.

This new census will cover Kenya’s 58 national parks, reserves, private and community conservancies. It will cost the country £1.6m (250m shillings) and will be completed by the end of July 2021.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/species-of-extinct-mouse-rediscovered-after-150-years-in-australia-394715" hreflang="en">Species of 'extinct' mouse rediscovered after 150 years in Australia</a>

It will involve a count of all marine and terrestrial mammals, endangered primates and important birds such as ostriches and kori bustards, among a few others.

This census aims at establishing a count of the wildlife in the country which will then help set a wildlife status and distribution to inform policy direction. It will also help recommend modern strategies on efficient and effective wildlife conservation and management in the country.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-solve-mystery-behind-elusive-supernova-which-birthed-crab-nebula-394698" hreflang="en">Scientists solve mystery behind elusive supernova which birthed Crab Nebula</a>

The census will help monitor the distribution and the number of threatened and nearly extinct species of wildlife, and will further help in shaping policies to protect these species from poaching.

Key wildlife landscaped in Kenya has, in recent years, experienced challenges related to land tenure and use and other climate-related factors.

"It is therefore important to undertake this national survey to establish baseline data on wildlife population status and distribution for future use, to understand wildlife population trends and shifts in their distribution. We also need to know if any given area has the carrying capacity for particular animals, and the effects climate change and increase in human population have on wildlife conservation," Kenya’s tourism and wildlife cabinet secretary, Najib Balala, said.

Authorities in Kenya are deploying planes, helicopters, boats, 4x4 trucks, camera traps, satellite collars and much more to kickstart its first-ever national census of wildlife.

Authorities in Kenya are deploying planes, helicopters, boats, 4x4 trucks, camera traps, satellite collars and much more to kickstart its first-ever national census of wildlife. This new census will cover Kenya’s 58 national parks, reserves, private and community conservancies. It will cost the country £1.6m (250m shillings) and will be completed by the end of July 2021. Also read | Species of 'extinct' mouse rediscovered after 150 years in Australia It will involve a count of all marine and terrestrial mammals, endangered primates and important birds such as ostriches and kori bustards, among a few others. This census aims at establishing a count of the wildlife in the country which will then help set a wildlife status and distribution to inform policy direction. It will also help recommend modern strategies on efficient and effective wildlife conservation and management in the country. Also read | Scientists solve mystery behind elusive supernova which birthed Crab Nebula The census will help monitor the distribution and the number of threatened and nearly extinct species of wildlife, and will further help in shaping policies to protect these species from poaching. Key wildlife landscaped in Kenya has, in recent years, experienced challenges related to land tenure and use and other climate-related factors. "It is therefore important to undertake this national survey to establish baseline data on wildlife population status and distribution for future use, to understand wildlife population trends and shifts in their distribution. We also need to know if any given area has the carrying capacity for particular animals, and the effects climate change and increase in human population have on wildlife conservation," Kenya’s tourism and wildlife cabinet secretary, Najib Balala, said.

In a first, Kenya set to launch wildlife census

A new study revealed the overwhelming extent of biological diversity in Colombia, finding that the South American country is home to approximately 20 per cent of all known butterfly species in the world.

The research, undertaken by the Natural History Museum in London and published on Tuesday, was done by&nbsp;an international team of scientists. Together, they catalogued 3,642 species and 2,085 sub-species of butterflies, all of which were were registered in a document titled “Checklist of Colombian Butterflies”.&nbsp;

Blanca Huertas, the senior butterfly collection curator at the&nbsp;Natural History Museum and a member of the research team told AFP that more than 200 species of butterflies are found only in Colombia.&nbsp;

To ascertain this, researchers travelled across Colombia to analyse over 350,000 photographs and took&nbsp;into account information collated since the later part of 18th century.

"Colombia is a country with a great diversity of natural habitats, a complex and heterogeneous geography and a privileged location in the extreme northeast of South America," AFP cited the report as saying.

"These factors, added to the delicate public order in the last century in certain regions, has limited until now, the advancement of field exploration”, it added.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/how-nasas-plans-to-send-detergent-to-iss-could-change-space-exploration-393320" hreflang="en">How NASA's plans to send detergent to ISS could change space exploration</a>

Over the last century, Colombia has seen intense armed conflict. Some areas in the country remain under the control of leftist guerrillas, right-wing paramilitary groups and in many cases, drug lords. Many parts of the country still have little to no government presence.

Just between 2000 and 2019, Colombia has lost nearly 2.8 million hectares of forest land, according to data from the National Department of Planning.

Forest loss combined with inept governance isn’t helping the cause of Colombia’s diversity&nbsp;and environmentalists in the country are calling for the country to take measures to protect its forests. To this end, Huertas believes starting by protecting butterflies could be&nbsp;the first step.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/heres-how-you-can-watch-the-luminous-strawberry-supermoon-this-thursday-393290" hreflang="en">Here's how you can watch the luminous 'Strawberry Supermoon' this Thursday</a>

A new study revealed the overwhelming extent of biological diversity in Colombia, finding that the South American country is home to approximately 20 per cent of all known butterfly species in the world.

A new study revealed the overwhelming extent of biological diversity in Colombia, finding that the South American country is home to approximately 20 per cent of all known butterfly species in the world. The research, undertaken by the Natural History Museum in London and published on Tuesday, was done by an international team of scientists. Together, they catalogued 3,642 species and 2,085 sub-species of butterflies, all of which were were registered in a document titled “Checklist of Colombian Butterflies”. Blanca Huertas, the senior butterfly collection curator at the Natural History Museum and a member of the research team told AFP that more than 200 species of butterflies are found only in Colombia. To ascertain this, researchers travelled across Colombia to analyse over 350,000 photographs and took into account information collated since the later part of 18th century. "Colombia is a country with a great diversity of natural habitats, a complex and heterogeneous geography and a privileged location in the extreme northeast of South America," AFP cited the report as saying. "These factors, added to the delicate public order in the last century in certain regions, has limited until now, the advancement of field exploration”, it added. Also read: How NASA's plans to send detergent to ISS could change space exploration Over the last century, Colombia has seen intense armed conflict. Some areas in the country remain under the control of leftist guerrillas, right-wing paramilitary groups and in many cases, drug lords. Many parts of the country still have little to no government presence. Just between 2000 and 2019, Colombia has lost nearly 2.8 million hectares of forest land, according to data from the National Department of Planning. Forest loss combined with inept governance isn’t helping the cause of Colombia’s diversity and environmentalists in the country are calling for the country to take measures to protect its forests. To this end, Huertas believes starting by protecting butterflies could be the first step. Also read: Here's how you can watch the luminous 'Strawberry Supermoon' this Thursday

Colombia is home to 20% of all butterfly species in the world, study finds

For Khanyisa, life was difficult from the start. Born as an albino, at four-months-old she got caught in a poaching snare in South Africa's Kruger National Park that cut through her mouth. Trapped for four days, dehydrated and unable to eat because of her wounds, she was rescued and taken to a sanctuary in Mpumalanga, north east of Johannesburg.

Rescued S.African albino calf thrives with new herd

Thousands of endangered animals are killed every single day. What are the devastating effects of poaching? What is the link between wildlife trading and COVID-19? What will it take to stop wildlife crime?

WION WIDEANGLE: STOP WILDLIFE CRIME

In a bid to provide a more 'authentic' experience for visitors, South Africa has decided to ban the breeding of lions in captivity.

The decision has been taken after a government study recommended a complete ban on "domestication of lions through captive breeding and keeping," Environment Minister Barbara Creecy told local reporters. "We don't want captive breeding, captive hunting, captive (cubs) petting, captive use of lions."

The government panel had carefully studied rules regarding hunting, trading, and keeping lions, elephants, rhinos, and leopards in captivity.

This decision, however, has not yet been formulated into a policy yet. Experts worry this decision might be disregarded by the multi-million industry of captive lion breeding which is very powerful in South Africa.

However, the minister has claimed that the recommendations are not aimed at the hunting industry. "Legal regulated hunting of the iconic species under the regulatory environment will continue to be permitted," she said. "But the report urged a stop to "tourists'&nbsp;interaction with captive lions, including cub petting."

The practice of hunting lions raised in captivity has long been controversial in South Africa, where a large number of animals are confined to pens ringed with electric fences.

"The intention here is to ensure that those who are interested in... authentic wildlife hunting" can have an authentic experience and “will not be hunting animals that have been taken out of the cage," she explained.

In a bid to provide a more 'authentic' experience for visitors, South Africa has decided to ban the breeding of lions in captivity. The decision has been taken after a government study recommended a complete ban on "domestication of lions through captive breeding and keeping," Environment Minister Barbara Creecy told local reporters.

In a bid to provide a more 'authentic' experience for visitors, South Africa has decided to ban the breeding of lions in captivity. The decision has been taken after a government study recommended a complete ban on "domestication of lions through captive breeding and keeping," Environment Minister Barbara Creecy told local reporters. "We don't want captive breeding, captive hunting, captive (cubs) petting, captive use of lions." The government panel had carefully studied rules regarding hunting, trading, and keeping lions, elephants, rhinos, and leopards in captivity. This decision, however, has not yet been formulated into a policy yet. Experts worry this decision might be disregarded by the multi-million industry of captive lion breeding which is very powerful in South Africa. However, the minister has claimed that the recommendations are not aimed at the hunting industry. "Legal regulated hunting of the iconic species under the regulatory environment will continue to be permitted," she said. "But the report urged a stop to "tourists' interaction with captive lions, including cub petting." The practice of hunting lions raised in captivity has long been controversial in South Africa, where a large number of animals are confined to pens ringed with electric fences. "The intention here is to ensure that those who are interested in... authentic wildlife hunting" can have an authentic experience and “will not be hunting animals that have been taken out of the cage," she explained.

'Authentic experience': South Africa to ban breeding lions in captivity for hunting

Dinder national park is Sudan's biggest biodiversity park, a safe haven for for wildlife, but is now under threat due to the encroachment of humans. The population in the nearby villages has increased that results in the encroachment of humans in search of pasture.

Rangers battle human encroachment in Dinder national park

A wet market in Wuhan may have launched the pandemic. Now, the WHO is urging countries to suspend the sale of live animals in food markets. Will China now ban its wet markets? WION's Palki Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas: WHO's appeal: Suspend sale of live animals in markets

The World Health Organization (WHO) called for a halt to the sale of live wild mammals in food markets to prevent the emergence of new diseases. WHO said that these animals are the source of more than 70% of all emerging infectious diseases in humans.

WHO calls for a halt on sale of live wild animals in food market

In this episode, we will travel throughout Odisha to explore some of its finest national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.

Discovering Odisha: A haven for wildlife and ecotourism

Face masks and gloves have become a part of our daily life since the COVID-19 pandemic struck. But carelessly discarded items of PPE have become an increasing risk for the wildlife & environment. WION tells you how.

Discarded PPE is clogging beaches in California

Thailand's anti-money laundering authorities said on Wednesday, they have seized or frozen more than 330 million baht (USD 11 million) worth of assets in a sting operation against a suspected wildlife trafficking ring.&nbsp;

The March 12 operation targeted Boonchai Bach, a Vietnamese and Thai citizen, who was arrested in 2018 but later got his conviction for trafficking in rhino horns and other contraband reversed.&nbsp;

Thai law gives police wide latitude to seize property that authorities suspect comes from illegal activities. They said they confiscated a hotel, vehicles, land and other assets and have frozen Boonchai's bank accounts.&nbsp;

It was not possible to immediately reach Boonchai for comment.&nbsp;

A senior Thai police official, Lt Col Teerapong Dulayawjian, said the Anti-Money Laundering Office was working with prosecutors in investigating the suspected laundering of profits from trading in endangered species.&nbsp;

Thailand and neighbouring Laos are known to be major hubs for such trafficking, orchestrated by organised criminal syndicates.&nbsp;

Boonchai's acquittal two years ago was viewed as a setback for efforts to crack down on the illicit trade in wildlife, which is viewed as a big risk factor in the development of illnesses that jump from animals to humans, such as Covid-19.&nbsp;

After the earlier case against him was reversed, authorities followed up with the investigation into his wealth.&nbsp;

Authorities worked with the Freeland Foundation, an international group that monitors wildlife trafficking, in conducting the sting operation.&nbsp;

In raids beginning early on March 12, police said they searched several locations in northern Thailand's Nakhon Phanom and Chaiyaphum provinces seizing cash, Buddhist amulets, firearms and wild animals.&nbsp;

Steve Galster, chair of the Freeland Foundation, said the action marked a breakthrough in efforts to hinder the illegal wildlife trade.&nbsp;

It's like they cut off an arm and broke a leg, of the suspected trafficking ring, he said. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Thailand's anti-money laundering authorities said on Wednesday, they have seized or frozen more than 330 million baht (USD 11 million) worth of assets in a sting operation against a suspected wildlife trafficking ring.

Thailand's anti-money laundering authorities said on Wednesday, they have seized or frozen more than 330 million baht (USD 11 million) worth of assets in a sting operation against a suspected wildlife trafficking ring. The March 12 operation targeted Boonchai Bach, a Vietnamese and Thai citizen, who was arrested in 2018 but later got his conviction for trafficking in rhino horns and other contraband reversed. Thai law gives police wide latitude to seize property that authorities suspect comes from illegal activities. They said they confiscated a hotel, vehicles, land and other assets and have frozen Boonchai's bank accounts. It was not possible to immediately reach Boonchai for comment. A senior Thai police official, Lt Col Teerapong Dulayawjian, said the Anti-Money Laundering Office was working with prosecutors in investigating the suspected laundering of profits from trading in endangered species. Thailand and neighbouring Laos are known to be major hubs for such trafficking, orchestrated by organised criminal syndicates. Boonchai's acquittal two years ago was viewed as a setback for efforts to crack down on the illicit trade in wildlife, which is viewed as a big risk factor in the development of illnesses that jump from animals to humans, such as Covid-19. After the earlier case against him was reversed, authorities followed up with the investigation into his wealth. Authorities worked with the Freeland Foundation, an international group that monitors wildlife trafficking, in conducting the sting operation. In raids beginning early on March 12, police said they searched several locations in northern Thailand's Nakhon Phanom and Chaiyaphum provinces seizing cash, Buddhist amulets, firearms and wild animals. Steve Galster, chair of the Freeland Foundation, said the action marked a breakthrough in efforts to hinder the illegal wildlife trade. It's like they cut off an arm and broke a leg, of the suspected trafficking ring, he said. (With inputs from agencies)

USD 11 million seized in wildlife trafficking sting: Thailand

wildlife

Wildlife, News on Wildlife, stories on Wildlife, articles on Wildlife, Wildlife stories at Wion, Wildlife news, Wildlife latest news