With the summer heat gripping Italy on Thursday (August 13), zoo residents in the country's capital were chilling out as they cool off with tasty frozen treats.

As Rome sizzles, zoo treats animals to ice lollies 

In Amboseli National Park in Kenya, elephants were fitted with tracking collars on Wednesday (August 12) as part of an event to mark World Elephant Day.

Elephants fitted with trackers as new births celebrated on World Elephant Day 

Giant panda Hefeng had his second birthday celebration in Shanghai Zoo on Sunday. Hefeng had a feast of birthday cake together with his brother Xingguang.

Shanghai Zoo holds birthday party for giant panda Hefeng

A Colombian farmer thought he was just doing a good deed when he rescued a kitten on the side of the road. He was shocked to discover he had taken in a female baby cougar instead.

Wild cat shocks good-deed Colombian farmer

Taipei Zoo, in China's Taiwan province, kicked off a month-long event on Monday to solicit a name from the public for a newly-born giant panda cub by live and online activities.

Taipei Zoo solicits name for newly-born giant panda cub from public

Visitors of all ages on Tuesday (June 23) attended Madrid's zoo which re-opened on Monday (June 22) after being shut for over three months due to the coronavirus lockdown.

Madrid's zoo re-opens after three-month lockdown ends

Snout first, Gloria the baby hippo took her first tentative steps into the deep pool in her enclosure at France's Beauval zoo on Monday (June 22).

Gloria the baby hippo takes first dip in the deep end at French zoo

Botswana is investigating the mysterious deaths of at least 154 elephants over two months in the northwest of the country, a wildlife official said on Monday, although poaching or poisoning have been ruled out.

"We are still awaiting results on the exact cause of death,” Regional Wildlife Coordinator Dimakatso Ntshebe told Reuters.

The carcasses were found intact, suggesting they were not poached. Further investigations have also ruled out poisoning by humans and anthrax, which sometimes hits wildlife in this part of Botswana.&nbsp;

Africa's overall elephant population is declining due to poaching, but Botswana, home to almost a third of the continent’s elephants, has seen numbers grow to 130,000 from 80,000 in the late 1990s, owing to well managed reserves.

However, they are seen as a growing nuisance by farmers, whose crops have been destroyed by elephants roaming the southern African country.&nbsp;

President Mokgweetsi Masisi last year lifted a five-year ban on big game hunting, imposed by previous president Ian Khama, but the hunting season failed to take off in April as global travel restrictions meant hunters from many coronavirus-hit countries could not enter Botswana.

Meanwhile, the Wildlife Department has undertaken an operation to relocate and dehorn all rhinos to tackle poaching in Botswana - mirroring efforts elsewhere in the region.&nbsp;

The Okavango Delta rhino population has been the hardest hit, with 25 reported poached between December and the beginning of May, government figures show, as poachers take advantage of the absence of safari tourists during the pandemic.&nbsp;

That compares with a total of 31 rhinos poached from October 2018 to December last year.

"Both white rhino and black rhinos have been severely affected, necessitating the ... relocation of highly endangered black rhinos (and) intensification of surveillance," the Department said.

Botswana is investigating the mysterious deaths of at least 154 elephants over two months in the northwest of the country, a wildlife official said on Monday, although poaching or poisoning have been ruled out.

Botswana is investigating the mysterious deaths of at least 154 elephants over two months in the northwest of the country, a wildlife official said on Monday, although poaching or poisoning have been ruled out. "We are still awaiting results on the exact cause of death,” Regional Wildlife Coordinator Dimakatso Ntshebe told Reuters. The carcasses were found intact, suggesting they were not poached. Further investigations have also ruled out poisoning by humans and anthrax, which sometimes hits wildlife in this part of Botswana. Africa's overall elephant population is declining due to poaching, but Botswana, home to almost a third of the continent’s elephants, has seen numbers grow to 130,000 from 80,000 in the late 1990s, owing to well managed reserves. However, they are seen as a growing nuisance by farmers, whose crops have been destroyed by elephants roaming the southern African country. President Mokgweetsi Masisi last year lifted a five-year ban on big game hunting, imposed by previous president Ian Khama, but the hunting season failed to take off in April as global travel restrictions meant hunters from many coronavirus-hit countries could not enter Botswana. Meanwhile, the Wildlife Department has undertaken an operation to relocate and dehorn all rhinos to tackle poaching in Botswana - mirroring efforts elsewhere in the region. The Okavango Delta rhino population has been the hardest hit, with 25 reported poached between December and the beginning of May, government figures show, as poachers take advantage of the absence of safari tourists during the pandemic. That compares with a total of 31 rhinos poached from October 2018 to December last year. "Both white rhino and black rhinos have been severely affected, necessitating the ... relocation of highly endangered black rhinos (and) intensification of surveillance," the Department said.

Botswana investigates 154 elephant deaths, rules out poaching

Paris's zoo re-opened on Monday (June 8) after a three month closure because of COVID-19 shutdown with 62 new residents.

Paris zoo re-opens with 62 new residents born during coronavirus shutdown

A chubby panda cub weighing 219 grams recently born in Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is believed to be the heaviest panda cub born in the base.

China's panda breeding base welcomes its heaviest newborn cub

Several extremely rare snow leopards have been spotted on the outskirts of Kazakhstan's biggest city during the lockdown imposed due to the novel coronavirus, wildlife activists say, calling for more measures to protect the endangered species.

Rare snow leopards spotted in Kazakh city amid lockdown

The Calgary Zoo will send its two giant pandas back to China over a shortage in bamboo supply amid the coronavirus pandemic, the zoo's president announced on Tuesday (May 12).

Canadian zoo plans to return pandas to China over bamboo shortage

Frank Messing's herd of alpacas and llamas is helping to calm the nerves of Germans stressed by the coronavirus restrictions.

Online alpacas calm Germans suffering coronavirus stress

Award-winning wildlife conservationists and filmmakers Dereck and Beverly Joubert said lockdowns around the world due to COVID-19 have created a chance to reimagine relations with the natural world and expressed their hopes that young people will continue to push for change.

Coronavirus Outbreak: Wildlife tourism collapses due to lockdown

Looking after an orphaned baby rhino is hard work: you feed them bottled milk at all hours, comfort them through constant fear and bereavement and endure long nights of screaming for the absent mother they witnessed being shot dead by poachers.

South Africans volunteer to keep rhino orphanage going during lockdown

A talking parrot in Israel has a playful message for a world gripped by the coronavirus crisis: "Don't go out!" In crystal-clear Hebrew, Luca the parrot squawks "there is corona" and "don't go out", repeatedly echoing official health warnings.

Squawking parrot warns the world: 'Coronavirus! Don't go out!'

A newborn hippo spent a day to be remembered at a Belgian zoo on Wednesday (March 25) with his mother taking it for its first dip in the big pool.

Rolling in the deep! Baby hippo gets first dive in the big pool

A Washington state sanctuary for chimpanzees once used for scientific research has scaled back its staffing and donned personal protective gear to avoid infecting the primates during the worldwide coronavirus pandemic.

Chimpanzee sanctuary staff take steps to protect the animals against coronavirus

While Chicago's Shedd Aquarium is closed to the public due to coronavirus quarantine, animal care staff and veterinarians are onsite 24/7.

Penguins' field trip at Chicago Aquarium

A flutter of wings faster than the eye can see, a quick sip of nectar, and he vanishes from view. Once a common site in Mexico City but in 2020 a rarity in the sprawling metropolis.

Urban gardens in Mexico fight hummingbirds' extinction

The Chengdu Breeding and Research Base of Giant Pandas in southwest China's Sichuan Province have recently taken a video of cute giant panda and transmitted to the temporary hospital in central China's Wuhan City to satisfy their aspirations of seeing pandas and as an encouragement to the patients of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Cute panda videos cheer up coronavirus patients in Wuhan temporary hospital

Biologists in Paraguay on Monday (February 17) welcomed the first scarlet macaw chick hatched in the wild in the city of Luque. The city firefighters pulleyed the 65-day-old chick from its nest and Brazilian biologists microchipped and weighed the parrot surrounded by curious bystanders taking pictures of the baby macaw's debut.

Baby scarlet macaw born in the wild in Paraguay makes public debut

Lumix's People's Choice Awards 2019 - Wildlife Photographer of the Year  People's Favourites

Berlin zoo's newly born twin panda cubs made their public debut on Wednesday, attracting flocks of visitors, who also expressed their concerns and best wishes to China's Wuhan City as it fights the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak.

Berlin zoo's panda cubs make public debut five months after birth

The Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed the <a href="Abrogation of Article 370 irreversible, Centre tells SC">Centre </a>to introduce the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/the-first-ladies-of-conservation-how-the-black-mambas-are-protecting-wildlife-in-south-africa-13178">African cheetah</a> to suitable habitat in India. Stating that the rare <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/wildlife-week-heroes-of-indian-jungles-480">Indian cheetah</a> is almost extinct in the country, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) had filed an application seeking permission for the introduction of the African cheetah from Namibia.

The apex court set up a three-member committee, comprising former director Wildlife of India Ranjit Singh, DG of Wildlife of India Dhananjay Mohan, and DIG, Wildlife, Ministry of Environment and Forests to guide the NTCA in deciding on the issue.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/government-moves-to-supreme-court-seeking-more-victim-centric-death-penalty-guidelines-275954">Government moves to Supreme Court seeking more 'victim-centric' death penalty guidelines</a>

A bench comprising Chief Justice S A Bobde and Justices B R Gavai and Surya Kant said the apex court will monitor the project and the committee will submit its report before it every four months.

The top court also said the decision for the relocation of the African cheetah will be taken after a proper survey and the action of the introduction of the animal will be left to the NTCA's discretion.

It said the NCTA will be guided by the committee of experts who will survey the best location. It was submitted before the apex court that the African cheetah will be introduced on an experimental basis in the best suitable habitat to see whether it can adapt to Indian conditions.&nbsp;

The Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed the Centre to introduce the African cheetah to suitable habitat in India. Stating that the rare Indian cheetah is almost extinct in the country, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) had filed an application seeking permission for the introduction of the African cheetah from Namibia.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed the Centre to introduce the African cheetah to suitable habitat in India. Stating that the rare Indian cheetah is almost extinct in the country, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) had filed an application seeking permission for the introduction of the African cheetah from Namibia. The apex court set up a three-member committee, comprising former director Wildlife of India Ranjit Singh, DG of Wildlife of India Dhananjay Mohan, and DIG, Wildlife, Ministry of Environment and Forests to guide the NTCA in deciding on the issue. Also Read: Government moves to Supreme Court seeking more 'victim-centric' death penalty guidelines A bench comprising Chief Justice S A Bobde and Justices B R Gavai and Surya Kant said the apex court will monitor the project and the committee will submit its report before it every four months. The top court also said the decision for the relocation of the African cheetah will be taken after a proper survey and the action of the introduction of the animal will be left to the NTCA's discretion. It said the NCTA will be guided by the committee of experts who will survey the best location. It was submitted before the apex court that the African cheetah will be introduced on an experimental basis in the best suitable habitat to see whether it can adapt to Indian conditions.

SC allows Centre to bring African cheetah to suitable wildlife habitat in India

Under a cloth tent on South Australia's Kangaroo Island, vet Lauren Eyre scraps burnt skin off a koala's paws on Sunday (January 19) as bushfires on the island continue to see the iconic marsupials arrive into the triage unit.

Australia's koalas treated for burns on Kangaroo island

Elephants marched with volunteers and primary school students in Thailand's central Ayutthaya province on Monday (January 13) to raise public awareness of wildlife suffering from raging bushfires in Australia.

Elephants, students, volunteers march to raise awareness of Australia bushfires

Bushfires in Australia are having a devastating impact on wildlife, with welfare groups racing to rescue as many wild animals as possible. But not all can be saved.

Not all animals injured in bushfires can be saved: Australian volunteers

Green sea baby turtles in hundreds were released into the Arabian Sea by <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-university-professor-sentenced-to-death-for-blasphemy-269461">Pakistani</a> wildlife officials in a conservation bid that has been going on for a decade.

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's son Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, along with his sister Bakhtawar facilitated the release process at Hawksbay beach in Karachi.

Nesting was interrupted by storms in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/pakistan/us-re-designates-pakistan-china-as-countries-curbing-religious-freedom-269447">Arabian Sea</a> recently, but more than 4600 sea turtle babies have been released into the ocean.

Sea turtles can live up to 100 years.

According to the Sindh Wildlife Department, green sea turtles arrive at the beaches of Hawksbay and Sandspit to lay eggs during this time.

The eggs are usually looked after by the department staff for 40-60 days in the Marine Turtle Conservation Nursery before they hatch.

They are then released back into the Arabian Sea.

(With inputs from agencies)

Green sea baby turtles in hundreds were released into the Arabian Sea by Pakistani wildlife officials in a conservation bid that has been going on for a decade. Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's son Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, along with his sister Bakhtawar facilitated the release process at Hawksbay beach in Karachi.

Green sea baby turtles in hundreds were released into the Arabian Sea by Pakistani wildlife officials in a conservation bid that has been going on for a decade. Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's son Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, along with his sister Bakhtawar facilitated the release process at Hawksbay beach in Karachi. Nesting was interrupted by storms in the Arabian Sea recently, but more than 4600 sea turtle babies have been released into the ocean. Sea turtles can live up to 100 years. According to the Sindh Wildlife Department, green sea turtles arrive at the beaches of Hawksbay and Sandspit to lay eggs during this time. The eggs are usually looked after by the department staff for 40-60 days in the Marine Turtle Conservation Nursery before they hatch. They are then released back into the Arabian Sea. (With inputs from agencies)

Pakistan: Hundreds of baby turtles released into Arabian Sea

As fires flared in the Australian state of New South Wales on Friday (November 8), carers at the mid-north coast Port Macquarie Koala Hospital continued to nurse koalas rescued from the fire zone.

Rescuers tend to burnt koalas in Australia

The palm oil industry was responsible for at least 39 per cent&nbsp;of forest loss on the biodiversity-rich island of Borneo between 2000 and 2018, data from a research firm based in Indonesia shows.

The data comes as forest clearance <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indonesia-forest-fires-surge-stoking-global-warming-fears-249212">fires in Borneo and parts of Indonesia</a> spread smog across Southeast Asia, causing air quality to drop to unhealthy levels in neighbouring Singapore and Malaysia.

Some palm oil farmers have been accused of using slash-and-burn methods to clear land for planting.

The palm oil industry has long been blamed for encroaching on rain forests in Borneo, endangering wildlife such as orangutans and pygmy elephants.

Borneo, shared by Brunei and top palm oil producers Indonesia and Malaysia, lost 6.3 million hectares (15 million acres) of forest cover between 2000 and 2018, the data from the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), shows.

"This is a conservative number," David Gaveau, a climate scientist at CIFOR, told Reuters of the data, published this month via the centre's Borneo Atlas tool. "It does not include all forest areas impacted by plantation development."

Palm oil companies accounted for about 2.4 million hectares (6 million acres) of the loss while pulpwood firms accounted for 461,319 hectares (1.1 million acres).

Palm oil was responsible for 35 per cent of forest loss in the Indonesian part of Borneo, and 46 per cent on the Malaysian side.

Indonesia and Malaysia produce about 85 per cent of the world's palm oil, which is used in everything from soaps, lipstick to pizza and biodiesel.

CIFOR determined the amount of deforestation caused by companies by calculating the area of forest cleared and converted to industrial plantations within the same year.

The data does not include plantations farmed by smallholders, who account for 40 per cent of palm oil production globally, industry estimates show.

Gaveau said the conversion from forest area to plantations has slowed since 2012, because of lower prices for palm oil and Indonesia's bans on new plantations.

The forest loss from the expansion of palm oil plantations fell to 22 per cent last year, from 28.5 per cent the previous year, the data showed.

A spokeswoman for Malaysia's ministry in charge of palm oil said the government had adopted policies to cap oil palm cultivation area at 6.5 million hectares (16 million acres).

The country's total area planted with oil palm amounted to about 5.8 million hectares (14 million acres) by 2018.

The government also plans to end conversion of forest reserves to palm oil plantations, the spokeswoman said.

A spokesman of the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI), said palm plantations were developed in areas outside forests but pointed to differences in the areas provinces set aside for development and those reserved for forest.

"Uncertainty of spatial planning at the province level is a source of legal uncertainty in palm plantation business," said Tofan Mahdi, the spokesman.

Officials of Indonesia's agriculture ministry declined to comment, while forestry officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The palm oil industry was responsible for at least 39 per cent of forest loss on the biodiversity-rich island of Borneo between 2000 and 2018, data from a research firm based in Indonesia shows.

The palm oil industry was responsible for at least 39 per cent of forest loss on the biodiversity-rich island of Borneo between 2000 and 2018, data from a research firm based in Indonesia shows. The data comes as forest clearance fires in Borneo and parts of Indonesia spread smog across Southeast Asia, causing air quality to drop to unhealthy levels in neighbouring Singapore and Malaysia. Some palm oil farmers have been accused of using slash-and-burn methods to clear land for planting. The palm oil industry has long been blamed for encroaching on rain forests in Borneo, endangering wildlife such as orangutans and pygmy elephants. Borneo, shared by Brunei and top palm oil producers Indonesia and Malaysia, lost 6.3 million hectares (15 million acres) of forest cover between 2000 and 2018, the data from the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), shows. "This is a conservative number," David Gaveau, a climate scientist at CIFOR, told Reuters of the data, published this month via the centre's Borneo Atlas tool. "It does not include all forest areas impacted by plantation development." Palm oil companies accounted for about 2.4 million hectares (6 million acres) of the loss while pulpwood firms accounted for 461,319 hectares (1.1 million acres). Palm oil was responsible for 35 per cent of forest loss in the Indonesian part of Borneo, and 46 per cent on the Malaysian side. Indonesia and Malaysia produce about 85 per cent of the world's palm oil, which is used in everything from soaps, lipstick to pizza and biodiesel. CIFOR determined the amount of deforestation caused by companies by calculating the area of forest cleared and converted to industrial plantations within the same year. The data does not include plantations farmed by smallholders, who account for 40 per cent of palm oil production globally, industry estimates show. Gaveau said the conversion from forest area to plantations has slowed since 2012, because of lower prices for palm oil and Indonesia's bans on new plantations. The forest loss from the expansion of palm oil plantations fell to 22 per cent last year, from 28.5 per cent the previous year, the data showed. A spokeswoman for Malaysia's ministry in charge of palm oil said the government had adopted policies to cap oil palm cultivation area at 6.5 million hectares (16 million acres). The country's total area planted with oil palm amounted to about 5.8 million hectares (14 million acres) by 2018. The government also plans to end conversion of forest reserves to palm oil plantations, the spokeswoman said. A spokesman of the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI), said palm plantations were developed in areas outside forests but pointed to differences in the areas provinces set aside for development and those reserved for forest. "Uncertainty of spatial planning at the province level is a source of legal uncertainty in palm plantation business," said Tofan Mahdi, the spokesman. Officials of Indonesia's agriculture ministry declined to comment, while forestry officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Palm oil to blame for 39 per cent of forest loss in Borneo since 2000: Study

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