Amazon fires drove unprecedented global forest loss in 2024
Massive fires fueled by climate change led global forest loss to smash records in 2024, according to a report issued on Wednesday.Loss of tropical pristine forests alone reached 6.7 million hectares (16.6 million acres), an 80% spike compared to 2023 and an area roughly the size of Panama, mainly because Brazil, the host of the next global climate summit in November, struggled to contain fires in the Amazon amid the worst drought ever recorded in the rainforest.advertisementA myriad of other countries, including Bolivia and Canada, were also ravaged by wildfires.
It was the first time the annual report, issued by the World Resources Institute and the University of Maryland, showed fires as the leading cause of tropical forest loss, a grim milestone for a naturally humid ecosystem that is not supposed to burn. "The signals in these data are particularly frightening," said Matthew Hansen, the co-director of a lab at the University of Maryland that compiled and analyzed the data. "The fear is that the climate signal is going to overtake our ability to respond effectively."Latin America was hit particularly hard, the report said, with the Amazon biome hitting its highest level of primary forest loss since 2016.Brazil, which holds the largest share of the world's tropical forests, lost 2.8 million hectares (6.9 million acres), the most of any country. It was a reversal of the progress made in 2023 when President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva took office promising to protect the world's largest rainforest.advertisement'This was unprecedented, which means we have to adapt all our policy to a new reality,' said Andre Lima, who oversees deforestation control policies for Brazil's Ministry of Environment, adding that fire, which was never among the leading causes of forest loss, is now a top priority for the government.Bolivia overtook the Democratic Republic of Congo as the second country with the most tropical forest loss despite having less than half the amount of forest as the African nation, which also saw a spike in forest loss last year.Bolivia's forest loss surged by 200% in 2024, with a drought, wildfires and a government-incentivized agricultural expansion as the leading causes. Across Latin America, the report noted similar trends in Mexico, Peru, Nicaragua, and Guatemala.Conflicts in Colombia and the Democratic Republic of Congo also boosted deforestation rates, as armed groups used up natural resources.
The Amazon biome hit its highest level of primary forest loss since 2016. (Photo: Reuters)
Outside the tropics, boreal forests, which evolved with seasonal fires, also posted record-high tree loss in 2024, with Canada and Russia each losing 5.2 million hectares (12.8 million acres) in 2024 as wildfires got out of control.advertisementSoutheast Asia bucked the global trend with Malaysia, Laos, and Indonesia all posting double-digit decreases in primary forest loss, as domestic conservation policy, combined with efforts by communities and the private sector, continued to effectively contain fires and agricultural expansion.Another outlier was the Charagua Iyambae Indigenous territory in southern Bolivia, which was able to keep the country's record fires at bay through land-use policies and early warning systems.Rod Taylor, the global director for forests at the WRI, said that as leaders descend on the Amazonian city of Belem for the next climate summit, he would like to see countries make progress in introducing better funding mechanisms for conservation."At the moment," he said, "there's more money to be paid by chopping forests down than keeping them standing."Must Watch
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Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Giant snakes that eat humans— The real life serpent monsters
Giant snakes, including reticulated pythons, green anacondas, Burmese pythons, and African rock pythons, are real predators capable of attacking humans. These powerful constrictors inhabit regions like Southeast Asia, the Amazon, and Florida, posing a threat due to their size and strength. While attacks are rare, they can be fatal, emphasizing the importance of caution and awareness in snake-prone areas. When someone says 'giant snake,' your brain probably jumps straight to a movie scene — you know, a huge slithery beast lurking in the jungle, ready to snatch a person like it's grabbing a snack. Sounds like fiction, right? Well... not always. The truth is, some snakes out there are big enough, strong enough, and occasionally bold enough to go after humans. It's creepy. It's fascinating. And yeah, it's 100% real. Why are we so obsessed with giant snakes? Because they're equal parts terrifying and amazing. These creatures are ancient, powerful, and totally alien in how they move and hunt. They've inspired myths and monsters for centuries, and it's easy to see why. They're real-life predators, living in wild places most of us never see — and that mystery only adds to their legend. Reticulated Python These guys are the world's longest snakes. A reticulated python can stretch out over 20 feet, and a few big ones have even passed the 30-foot mark. That's longer than a school bus! They live in Southeast Asia — places like Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines. And here's the kicker: they're not just long, they're strong. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 오스템 임플란트 받아가세요 임플란터 더 알아보기 Undo These snakes don't use venom. Instead, they wrap themselves around their prey and squeeze the life out of it. Literally. Once the prey stops moving? Gulp — in it goes, whole. And yes, humans have ended up on the menu. There have been actual cases where full-grown adults were found inside these pythons. Inside. Let that sink in. Green Anaconda If the reticulated python is the longest, the green anaconda is the heaviest. Found in the Amazon and swampy parts of South America, this beefy beast can weigh more than 500 pounds. That's like trying to wrestle a grand piano. Anacondas spend a lot of time in water, where they sneak up on prey like caimans (mini-crocodiles), capybaras (giant rodents), and sometimes even jaguars. So yeah, humans? Not impossible. There are stories — still debated — of green anacondas attacking people. With the kind of strength and size they've got, it's definitely within the realm of possibility. You do not want to go swimming where one of these monsters is chilling. Burmese Python Originally from Southeast Asia, Burmese pythons have made themselves way too comfortable in Florida's Everglades. They're an invasive species there now, causing all kinds of problems for local wildlife. These snakes can grow over 20 feet long and weigh more than 200 pounds. They're stealthy, powerful, and crazy good hunters. While attacks on humans are rare, they've happened. Especially with kids or smaller adults. And in Florida, where people live close to the wild, close encounters aren't all that unheard of. African Rock Python Over in Africa, this python reigns supreme. African rock pythons are massive (up to 20 feet long!) and have a rep for being aggressive. They don't mess around. Unlike a lot of snakes that try to avoid humans, these ones are known for being bold. There have been multiple documented attacks — some fatal — in areas where people and snakes live close together. Basically, if it can fit in their mouth and they can squeeze it to death, it's dinner. Why would a snake even try to eat a human? It's not like snakes wake up craving people. But here's why it happens: Size match: Big snakes can only eat prey they can fit in their mouths. So they're looking for things about their width. Unfortunately, that can include children or smaller adults. These snakes are opportunistic. If the right moment presents itself — like someone alone, maybe asleep or distracted — they might go for it. We're in their space! As people build homes or farms near forests, rivers, and swamps, snake encounters go up. And sometimes, nature bites back. How do they even catch a human? Usually, it's a sneak attack. These snakes are masters of camouflage. They'll lie in wait, completely still, until something (or someone) gets close. Then — strike! They bite, grab on, and wrap their bodies around the prey. Within seconds, it's a deadly squeeze fest. Once the prey is still, they slowly start swallowing it whole, head first. It's not quick — but it's effective. Most of the time, they'll go for people who are asleep, too small to fight back, or near water where the snake can ambush them. Can they really kill people? Yep. They absolutely can. And sadly, there are real, confirmed cases of people being killed — and even eaten — by giant snakes. Remember, they're not venomous. It's all muscle. Once they start squeezing, it cuts off blood flow and air. People can pass out in minutes. If no one's around to help, it can turn fatal quickly. How to stay safe around giant snakes If you live or travel in places where big snakes might be hanging around, here's how to avoid becoming a snack: Don't wander alone in the jungle or swampy areas — especially at night. Be careful near rivers and lakes where big snakes love to hide. Keep an eye on kids and pets in snake-prone areas. Watch for signs — like snake tracks, shed skin, or slither marks. If you see a huge snake, don't play hero. Back away. Slowly. In case of an attack — fight to create space. Yell. Get help fast. Giant snakes like the reticulated python, green anaconda, Burmese python, and African rock python aren't just the stuff of nightmares — they're very real. They're rare, but deadly when things go wrong. So whether you're trekking through the Amazon or flipping channels on Animal Planet, just remember: nature's monsters don't always need CGI. Sometimes, they're out there… waiting in the tall grass.
Scroll.in
14 hours ago
- Scroll.in
The enigmatic wild ancestors of domestic tabbies
The Afro-Asiatic wildcat (Felis lybica) is the world's most widely distributed wildcat, but experts and information on the species are scarce. The species' range is immense, stretching across most of Africa, Southwest and Central Asia, India, China and Mongolia. But Arash Ghoddousi, lead author for F lybica 's 2022 IUCN species conservation assessment, says the study team found 'few people [who] knew anything about the cats'. That seeming lack of human curiosity is surprising, considering the domestic tabbies we keep as pets and lavish billions of dollars on annually are descended, and still closely related to, the Afro-Asiatic wildcat. One researcher who has shown intense interest is Marna Herbst, now a regional ecologist for South African National Parks. Previous research on F lybica had been based on opportunistic sightings and scat and stomach analysis. Herbst changed that, spending roughly four years and 10-12 hours nightly observing the cats in the harsh unforgiving landscape of the southern Kalahari Desert for her PhD research, published in 2009. She was the first (and remains the only) scientist to conduct such a long-term study on the species documenting its behaviors and population genetics. Searching for the wildcat Herbst carried out her study in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, a known African wildcat habitat straddling the borders of South Africa and Botswana. The small wildcats there were assumed to be far enough from urban areas to still be genetically pure, not having interbred with domestic cats (deemed one of the wild species' greatest risks). Sighting the little wildcats relatively often, Herbst hoped they would also be relatively easy to catch, collar and track. They weren't. Twenty years later, she recalls the challenges. The small cats are shy and elusive, taking cover in fox or aardvark holes and under tree roots; on farms, they hide amid tall, dense corn stalks. Adding to her difficulties, the cat is nocturnal and practically impossible to study in its habitat without aid of radio telemetry. To accomplish that, they must first be caught. Herbst recalls that in trying, she captured lots of other stuff. Jackals in particular were attracted to the chicken-baited cage traps. But over time, she succeeded in catching and collaring numbers of the elusive cats. Another hazard of low-budget research on a noncharismatic species: Herbst's hand-me-down 4×4 vehicle, in which she spent countless hours alone rumbling in the dark over roadless terrain, took a terrible beating. But those nights rewarded her with sights few ever see, encountering the park's big cats, including the famed black-maned lion (Panthera leo leo), cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) and leopard (P pardus). Once in the dark, while sipping coffee inside her 4×4, she was startled by a full-grown hyena that nonchalantly sniffed the side-view mirror. They're 'much bigger than you think', she says. Over time, Herbst came to know the Afro-Asiatic wildcat as 'a really special little species that plays a vital role in ecosystems'. Small cat, big adaptability You could be forgiven for mistaking an Afro-Asiatic wildcat for a family pet. They're the size of a large domestic cat (F catus), but with longer legs. Their coloration varies by region from reddish, sandy and tawny brown, to greyish. They sport faint tabby stripes or spots, more pronounced in humid areas, and paler and darker in drier climes. Their tails are slim and tapered with a dark tip. A distinguishing feature, Herbst says, is the pinkish-orange tint of their ears. Afro-Asiatic wildcats are highly adaptable to landscape (especially bush and steppe), season and prey availability. They prefer hunting small rodents but dabble in reptiles and invertebrates. Herbst recalls male cats taking down spring hares roughly the same size as they were. Cats with waterholes in their territories became bird-hunting specialists. One female was great at hunting sandgrouse as they came to drink. The stomach of an Afro-Asiatic wildcat from Oman contained beetles, grasshoppers, lizards, mammal fur and a date pit. The species is mostly solitary and roams widely. In the United Arab Emirates, a collared cat had a larger home range (52.7 square kilometers or 20.3 square miles), far larger than that reported in the more optimal habitat (around 3.5 km² or 1.4 mi²) of the Kalahari, where food and water are relatively easy at hand. Ghoddousi says the wildcat's remarkable adaptability to various habitats, tolerance of different elevations and climates, plus its capacity to coexist with larger predators make it very special – allowing it to spread over two continents. Because they're so widely distributed, with incidental sightings reported from many locations, the species is considered relatively stable and 'of least concern'. But Ghoddousi warns this might not reflect the species' true state in the wild. Due to lack of research, and therefore lack of data, the real-world trend for far-flung Afro-Asiatic wildcat populations remains unknown. Ghoddousi says the big risk is that, as global change escalates, the species could slip away before science notices and conservationists can take action. Ranging over such a wide area, the Afro-Asiatic wildcat goes by many regional names. It's the African wildcat to some, the Asiatic wildcat to others, and the Indian desert cat to still others. Scientifically, the Afro-Asiatic wildcat is divided into three evolutionarily similar subspecies. The first, F lybica lybica, occurs in Eastern, Western and Northern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. The second, F lybica cafra (the topic of Herbst's PhD), occurs in Southern Africa. The third, F lybica ornata, is found in Southwestern and Central Asia, Pakistan, India, Mongolia and China. The precise boundaries of subspecies' ranges are unclear. Until 2017, these three subspecies were lumped together with the European wildcat and considered subspecies of F silvestris. But further investigation demanded a split: Now, populations that roam from the steppes and bush of Africa and Asia are classified as F lybica, while the European wildcat is classified as a separate species (with its bushy tail and more distinctive coat markings, F silvestris occurs in fragmented populations across Europe, Turkey and the Caucasus. These geographically separated cat populations mixed things up genetically at various points in time, due to natural changes or, sometimes, thanks to people. Thousands of years ago, this long-term and complex intermingling process birthed the first domestic cat. Domestication Paleogeneticist Claudio Ottoni wouldn't describe himself as a cat person, and his work takes place far from the wild. But under his microscope, the ancient lives and movements of the Afro-Asiatic wildcat come to life, revealing hints to the tantalising mystery as to how it long ago threw in its lot with humanity to evolve into today's domestic cat species. Paleogeneticists, it turns out, find the small wildcat just as elusive as field biologists. Compared with other domesticated animals, hypotheses about early cat domestication remain grounded in scant evidence and open questions. Ancient cat bones are scarce, and distinguishing differences between wild and domestic skeletal features is challenging. But Ottoni has been a dogged researcher, puzzling for years over perplexing data, embracing and developing a hypothesis, then revising the shape of that hypothesis as new technology and data become available to move toward a more robust theory. An early theory, published in 2017, was that farmers in southwest Africa had domesticated cats and brought them to Cyprus in the early Neolithic period (at least 7,000 years ago) to control rats and mice that damaged stored grain. This origin story was based on clues found in the DNA of 352 long-dead felids. Researchers analysed maternally inherited mitochondrial DNA in bits of cat bone and teeth, as well as skin and hair samples found at archaeological sites. The oldest samples included a complete cat skeleton, dated to roughly 7500 BCE, found buried with a man on Cyprus, suggesting the hypothesis that domestication started here. Other samples included six skeletons, dating to around 3700 BCE, found in an elite Predynastic Egyptian cemetery. Still other examples were found in archaeological digs at the Roman-Egyptian port of Berenike on the Red Sea. Ottoni also compared the ancient cat DNA samples with modern wildcat samples from Bulgaria and Eastern Africa. Together, the DNA seemed to indicate that the domestic cat's worldwide conquest began in the Fertile Crescent (perhaps on Cyprus some 7,000 years ago), then gained momentum during Classical Antiquity about 2,500 years ago, when the Egyptian cat successfully spread throughout the Old World along land and sea trade routes. This analysis seemed to confirm that while the Afro-Asiatic wildcat was the ultimate source of the domesticated cat, its evolution and spread wasn't simple: Though the North African/Southwest Asian F lybica was a source, both the Near Eastern and Egyptian F lybica populations also contributed to the domestic cat's gene pool at several points in history. New tech, better theory Since 2017, new technology and more data have modified, added detail and complicated this storyline. While earlier work relied on mitochondrial DNA analysis, researchers were able to analyse nuclear DNA for an updated theory in 2025. This higher-resolution analysis reveals the full genetic code of individual cat specimens, including not only the maternal, but also the paternal inherited DNA. It provides 'the actual ancestry,' Ottoni says. And this new data punched an unexpected hole in the previous theory of cat domestication. For one, domestication happened thousands of years later than thought, and then was probably not due to African farmers who traveled to Cyprus. 'Evolutionarily speaking, it's a very peculiar case,' Ottoni says of the discordance between the 2017 and 2025 DNA findings. The new data showed what scientists call 'mitonuclear discordance,' where analyses using mitochondrial DNA markers yield different conclusions than those using nuclear DNA markers. Surprisingly, samples that the researchers thought were F. lybica turned out to be those of the European wildcat. So, while wildcats were indeed taken to Cyprus, Ottoni explains, this might have been an isolated attempt of Neoolithic people to domesticate European wildcats, rather than wildcats brought from Africa. The evidence now suggests that European wildcat and African wildcat distribution probably overlapped in the past, perhaps due to climatic shifts or other natural causes. Because both species are interfertile, they sporadically bred, leading to a mixed population living in Turkey. According to the updated theory, domestic cats with a lybica genome only appeared in Europe about 2000 years ago, during Classical Antiquity, Ottoni says, but then adds, 'We can't say precisely when the domestication process that led to the cat dispersal started.' Perhaps, and more likely, domesticated cats did come first from Egypt, where cats were buried in the Hierakonpolis (the ancient Egyptian royal residence). But whatever the exact origin story, we do know that 'in evolutionary terms, [the domestic cat is] one of the most successful mammal species in the world,' Ottoni says. Domestic cats today are found on every continent except Antarctica. (They were introduced to sub-Antarctic Marion Island in 1949 to control mice, but were later eradicated due to negative impacts on native birds.) Researchers have also learned that the close genetic kinship shared by domesticated and wild felids species really matters: The widespread prevalence of F catus, and its capacity to interbreed with F lybica, is among the most serious threats to the Afro-Asiatic wildcat's survival. Big challenges Hybridisation with domestic cats is widespread across the Afro-Asiatic wildcat's range, though some studies, including Herbst's work, have shown that wildcat populations in South Africa at least, especially in protected areas, appear to remain genetically pure. However, according to the 2022 IUCN species assessment, there's insufficient information on the level of hybridisation with domestic cats in other parts of the range, and therefore, this threat should not be underestimated or ignored. As such, Herbst points to responsible pet ownership as key to Afro-Asiatic wildcat survival. That includes spaying by pet owners of their domestic cats that aren't being bred, and also community spaying of feral cats (especially in urban areas bordering protected areas where wildcats live). Education is important, too, she notes. Though spaying is an important conservation measure, spayed domestic cats can still seriously impact wildcat food sources. The IUCN assessment points out that feral domestic cats compete with wildcats for prey and space, and there is also a high potential for disease transmission between them. Other threats include the risk of roadkill and poisoning and conflicts with farmers and local people due to attacks on poultry by wildcats leading to retaliatory killings. Another serious threat, Ghoddousi says, is lack of information, causing scientists to underestimate the risk a species faces. Unfortunately, that is always the case when you don't have enough data, he says. You can't make a meaningful judgment about a species status if you simply do not know.
NDTV
3 days ago
- NDTV
Dehorning Of Rhinos Can Help Save Them From Poachers, Suggests Study
Quick Read Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed. A study suggests dehorning rhinos can help reduce poaching amid population declines. Cutting off horns significantly lowers poaching incentives for hunters, according to the study. Between 2017 and 2023, poachers killed 1,985 rhinos despite $74 million spent on anti-poaching efforts. A new study suggested that the dehorning of rhinoceroses can help save them as their populations continue to decline due to huge demand in markets, mostly illegal, for their horns. The study, published in the journal Science, noted that cutting the horns off rhinos leads to a significant reduction in poaching as it removes the incentive for the hunters. Rhino poaching for horns is a serious issue. The horns of rhinos are said to have medicinal properties in some countries, although there's no scientific evidence. Poaching has led to a significant decline in rhino populations, and conservation efforts are underway to protect them. The conservationist said in the study that they documented the poaching of 1985 rhinos between 2017-2023 across 11 southern African reserves despite around $74 million spent on antipoaching techniques, including focusing on law enforcement, tracking dogs, access controls and detection cameras. The study noted that black and white rhino populations in the Greater Kruger (Kruger National Park and surrounding reserves) in South Africa declined from over 10,000 rhinos in 2010 to around 2,600 in 2023. Meanwhile, the dehorning of 2284 rhinos across eight reserves led to around 78% reductions in poaching using 1.2% of the budget. "Dehorning rhinos to reduce incentives for poaching was found to achieve a 78% reduction in poaching using just 1.2% of the overall rhino protection budget," said Dr Tim Kuiper of Nelson Mandela University, a lead author of the study. "We might need to rethink our goals. Do we just want to arrest poachers? It doesn't appear to be making a massive difference to reducing rhino poaching," Dr Kuiper added. Does dehorning affect rhinos? The workers sedate the rhinos to cut off their horns using a power saw. They also apply a blindfold and earplugs to limit sensory overload. Dehorning does not hurt the animals and poses a very low risk. The horn gradually regrows. "The headline result is that dehorning stood out for its effectiveness. We are cautious to say that the other interventions are not working. They worked when measured by whether they were detecting poachers. But detecting and arresting a load of poachers doesn't necessarily bend the curve on rhino poaching," Kuiper said.
