Britain's rarest breeding bird successfully nests in UK for first time in six years
Two Montagu's Harriers have raised four healthy chicks, all of which have taken their first flights, the charity said.
The medium-sized birds of prey's status is described as "precarious" and they need special protection — they are a Schedule 1 listed species on The Wildlife and Countryside Act, meaning that it is illegal for any person to intentionally or recklessly disturb them while it is building a nest or is in, on or near a nest containing eggs or young; or disturb dependent young of such a bird.
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Reuters
2 hours ago
- Reuters
Malaysia's Indigenous women rangers defy tradition to protect endangered gibbons
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Sunnyda Yok Nun, a 38-year-old woman from Malaysia's Semai tribe, remembers seeing gibbons for the first time while she was training to protect the animals as part of the country's first all-female, all-Indigenous wildlife ranger unit. Drawn to gibbons since she was a child, Sunnyda, also known as Cidot, said of their melodic calls: "Their voices are so powerful, as they overpowered the sound of the river." Malaysia is home to five species of gibbons, all of which are listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, primarily due to habitat loss, hunting, and the illegal pet trade. The ranger unit is an initiative led by the Gibbon Conservation Society in Pahang state on the Malaysian peninsula. Many of the seven women in training never imagined themselves working in conservation. The Semai, who live in Pahang, are an ethnic Indigenous group that is among some of the poorest and most vulnerable communities in Malaysia. They often have limited access to resources including healthcare, education and jobs, with traditional views often confining women to domestic roles. "People have mocked us. My own family said hurtful things, but I chose to ignore them," Cidot said. The Gibbon Conservation Society currently cares for 29 gibbons - 18 at its Pahang rehabilitation centre, and 11 in Sabah state on Borneo island. Founder Mariani Ramli said the women were now working independently to care for the gibbons, showing their deep connection to the animals. "One day, I hope this entire project can be handed over to them," she said. "It's just a matter of giving them encouragement and also opportunity for the ladies to show their strength."
The Independent
4 hours ago
- The Independent
Two rare tiger cubs born at UK safari park
Two rare tiger cubs have been born at a safari park as part of conservation efforts to save the endangered species. Knowsley Safari in Merseyside has welcomed the arrival of two Amur tiger cubs. Yuki, a five-year-old Amur tiger, gave birth to the two cubs on July 29 after arriving at the park in February as part of a global breeding programme. Amur tigers, the largest cat species in the world, are classified as endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, with only around 500 remaining in the wild. These are the first Amur tiger cubs to be born at Knowsley Safari since 1996, and the first to be born in the UK since May 2024, when four female cubs were born at Longleat Safari in Wiltshire, to mother Yana and father Red. The safari park said Yuki was doing well and feeding and bonding with her cubs in their den. The father, seven-year-old Makari, is in the neighbouring paddock. Their sex is unknown until their eight-week health check. The cubs are expected to venture out in the paddock later this autumn. Until then, visitors will be able to watch them on the safari's 'cub cam' on the tiger trail at the park. Amur tigers in the wild face threats to their survival from poaching and loss of habitat because of logging and deforestation. The tigers, which are native to the far east of Russia, can weigh up to 300kg. The species was on the brink of extinction in the 1940s, due to hunting and logging. It is believed the population fell as low as just 20 to 30 animals at one stage. Pete Johnson, the animal team manager for carnivores at Knowsley Safari, said: 'We're over the moon to welcome the new Amur tiger cubs and to see Yuki bonding with them so well. 'We're monitoring remotely and it's lovely to see the cubs finding their feet and getting noticeably bigger each day. 'Importantly, the cubs' arrival also brings hope for the future of these incredible big cats.' Knowsley Safari also works with the Wildcats Conservation Alliance to support the Amur tiger species.
BBC News
5 hours ago
- BBC News
Kingussie High School to trial reusable lunch containers
A Highland secondary school is to trial the serving of lunch items in reusable containers to help it cut down on use packaging from Kingussie High School's canteen accounts for 9% of the rubbish generated at the 400-pupil school every trial is due to start in September and could potentially be the first of its kind in Scotland, according to a report to Highland Council's climate change such as sandwiches, toasties and burgers are available at Highland schools as well as larger sit-down meals. Highland Council has been trying to increase recycling rates across its 300 properties, including offices, leisure centres and to the report to next week's committee meeting, Kingussie pupils bin about five tonnes of waste at school every year, including food trial is to include new recycling facilities in the canteen, common rooms and playground lunch items will be served in containers, which pupils are to be returned to the canteen for report said: "Early research indicates that the catering reusables trial at Kingussie may be one of the first of its kind in schools across Scotland. "This initiative provides an opportunity for the council to contribute to the development of more sustainable school catering practices and to share learning with other local authorities."
