News
We bring you the latest from around the World in wildlife and conservation news.
Rare Sumatran Rhino Discovered In Borneo
For the first time in over 4 decades a rare species of rhino has been spotted in Kalimantan which is located in the Indonesian part of Borneo. The female Sumatran rhino was caught in a pit trap last month according to World Wildlife Fund which recently announced the discovery. There are only two species of rhino that exist in Indonesia and the Sumatran rhino is one of them.
Huge Colony Of Adélie Penguins Under Threat
A whole colony of Adélie penguins is facing the prospect of extinction after an iceberg that is bigger in size than Luxembourg ended up landing at Commonwealth Bay and is blocking the penguins access to the sea and forcing the birds to travel considerably further in order to feed. The population of the colony has dramatically dropped from 160,000 to 10,000 since the iceberg hit the shore in 2010.
Adelie Penguins Populations Expected To Rise
If you are a penguin lover then there is some great news. Glaciers in the East Antarctica region have been shrinking which has resulted in a higher birth rate of the Adelie penguin. According to research over the last 14,000 years the population of Adelie penguins has expanded by as many as 135 times largely as a result of more breeding sites coming online as glaciers retreat. The explosion in the penguin population suggests that the present conditions of the environment are more favourable to the Adelie penguin when compared to the end of the last ice age.
The UK Celebrates Earth Hour By Going Dark
A number of iconic London and UK landmarks went dark for an hour last Saturday to mark the occasion of Earth Hour. The buildings in London that went dark included Buckingham Palace, The Shard, The Palace of Westminster and Ritz Hotel. Across the rest of the country, Old Trafford and Edinburgh Castle were also among a number of other famous British buildings that dimmed their lights. Across the rest of the world many famous landmarks such as the Empire State Building, the Eiffel Tower and Tokyo Tower all faded into the night sky. In fact as many as 350 global landmarks participated in the event which required the lights to be dimmed between 8.30pm to 9:30pm local time last Saturday.
Rhinos Increasingly Threatened By Poachers
According to the latest data from international researchers, the number of rhinos slaughtered has increased for the sixth consecutive year. It is estimated that poachers killed 1,338 rhinos for their horns in Africa during 2015. That number represents the largest loss of rhinos during a single year since a wave of poaching began recently. An estimated 5,940 rhinos have been poached since 2008, with scientists worrying that the actual number could be much higher.
Florida Seeks To Get Rid Of Invasive Burmese Python
The Burmese python has worn out its welcome in Florida and for the second time since 2013 the state’s wildlife officials are asking people far and wide to search for the snake in the Everglades. Depending on where the invasive species are seen, people participating in the hunt can either kill or capture the snakes which usually measure up to 2 metres in length. The snakes are well camouflaged with their brownish markings but so far 1035 volunteers have managed to catch 106 snakes, which is far more than the 68 snakes participants caught in the last drive which took place in 2013.
Lions On The Lose In Nairobi
Recently two lions escaped from Nairobi’s national park and wandered into densely populated areas of the Kenyan capital. The Kenyan Wildlife Service issued an appeal to the public for help getting both lionesses back after they strayed. Armed rangers as well as vets from the wildlife service have been armed with dart guns and have been scouring bush and agricultural land besides on the largest slums in Africa known as the Kibera district.“Lions are dangerous wild animals. Avoid provoking the lions by confronting them,” said KWS spokesman Paul Udoto.
New Population Of Lions Discovered In Ethiopia
A population of 100 lions that was previously unknown was recently discovered by a wildlife charity in North Western Ethiopia. The charity which discovered the lions is called the Born Free Foundation and says it has obtained images from camera traps as well as identified the tracks of lions roaming in the Alatash area which is a very remote part of Ethiopia close to the border with Sudan. Previously it was thought that the area had lost its entire lion population during the 20th century as a result of habitat destruction and hunting. Africa’s lion population has fallen by over half since the 1990’s.