Insect trafficking poses a risk to wildlife and human health: Rhino beetles are just one insect species being traded illegally. Lightboxx/Shutterstock Four men were recently arrested and fined for attempting to smuggle more than 5,000 ants out of Kenya. Aiming to sell them as part of the exotic pet trade, these ants were being stored …
Banning wildlife trade can increase trade of other threatened species: Governments often use bans to protect wildlife that’s most threatened by trade. However, in our recent study we ask the question: could banning wildlife trade in one threatened species increase the trade in other threatened species? The expansion of online markets has made it easier …
Wildlife, climate and plastic: how three summits aim to repair a growing rift with nature: By the end of 2024, nearly 200 nations will have met at three conferences to address three problems: biodiversity loss, climate change and plastic pollution. Colombia will host talks next week to assess global progress in protecting 30% of all …
Does parrot farming protect wild species? Wildlife trade researchers review the evidence: The lives of people and parrots have been entwined for thousands of years. These colourful, charismatic birds are kept as pets all over the world for companionship and entertainment. However, today, nearly one-third of the 400 parrot species globally face the threat of …
El Niño drought leaves Zimbabwe’s Lake Kariba only 13% full: a disaster for people and wildlife: Water levels at Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe have dropped dramatically because of the latest El Niño drought. The country’s president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, has declared a national disaster. Historian and social scientist Joshua Matanzima grew up at Lake Kariba and …
‘Eco-friendly’ straws contain potentially toxic chemicals – posing a threat to people and wildlife: PFAS concentrations were discovered in almost all of the paper and bamboo straws tested. Sia Footage/Shutterstock Drinking straws that are made from materials like paper and bamboo are often promoted as more eco-friendly than their plastic counterparts. However, a new study …
Forests are breaking up in the tropics but coming together elsewhere – here’s what it means for wildlife and the climate: Maksim Safaniuk/Shutterstock In 2015, research on global forest cover revealed a concerning fact: 70% of the world’s remaining forest now lies within 1km of the forest’s edge. This process, called fragmentation, is causing the …
Conflict between humans and wildlife in Tanzania is being poorly managed – and climate change is making things worse: Elephants are being forced into confrontations with humans Wikimedia Commons Human-wildlife conflicts are a challenge for authorities in African countries where people live near protected areas. Programmes for communities to participate in wildlife tourism and share …
Wildlife wonders of Britain and Ireland before the industrial revolution – my research reveals all the biodiversity we’ve lost: The extinction of the wolf in Britain was widely celebrated as an achievement towards the creation of a more civilised world. Biodiversity Heritage Library Travel back with me a few hundred years to before the industrial …
Children and teenagers can carry out valuable wildlife research – here’s how: Galina Kovalenko/Shutterstock The environment is in crisis. Young people are calling for environmental action and requesting more education about the environment and the climate emergency. They are also looking at what they can do to tackle climate change. Together with colleagues, I have …
Animal architecture: why we need to design buildings for wildlife as well as people: How did early humans first learn to build? It’s quite possible that it was by observing animals that had already mastered the art. Indeed, when you look at the animal world many birds, insects and mammals are excellent architects and builders. …
Noble false widows: the tiny spiders taking a big bite out of British and Irish wildlife: The small and unassuming _Steatoda nobilis_. JorgeOrtiz_1976/Shutterstock Over the last two decades, an uninvited guest has made an appearance in and around homes throughout western Europe, including Britain and Ireland, as well as west Asia and the Pacific coast …
Bird flu continues to spread in mammals – what this means for humans and wildlife: As bird flu continues to decimate poultry and wild bird populations around the world, the virus – a deadly strain called H5N1 – appears to be spreading to mammals. The virus has already been confirmed in foxes and otters in …
How wildlife in ponds has evolved to survive frozen water – and how you can help more animals stay alive: "Great!" Mabel Amber/Pixabay, CC BY-SA When filled with ice-skaters or a clumsy Bambi on a Christmas card, a frozen pond is a merry sight. But spare a thought for the living things trapped below. The …
Community wildlife conservation isn’t always a win-win solution: the case of Kenya’s Samburu: A herder grazes cattle alongside wildlife in Samburu, Kenya. Tony Karumba/AFP via Getty Images Community-based wildlife conservation is often promoted as a win-win solution. The idea behind this approach is that the people who live close to wildlife can be involved in …
Climate change and wildlife: 3 studies that reveal the devastating toll on Africa’s animals: The carcass of a Grévy's zebra, an endangered species which exists only in the northern part of Kenya, where drought is ongoing. Photo by FREDRIK LERNERYD/AFP via Getty Images Climate change has produced a number of threats to wildlife. Over time, …
South Africa’s wildlife ranches can offer solutions to Africa’s growing conservation challenges: Zebras stand in a ranch in South Africa. Francois Louw/Shutterstock Designated protected areas for wildlife – such as national parks – are the world’s principal conservation strategy. But this model to conserve wildlife in Africa is increasingly coming under pressure. Changing climates, volatile …
Solar farms a ‘blight on the landscape’? Research shows they can benefit wildlife: Liz Truss, the new UK prime minister, isn’t a fan of solar farms. In 2014, when she was environment secretary, she described rows of panels arranged in a field to capture energy from the sun as a “blight on the landscape”. Eight …