World's smallest snake thought to be extinct
Previously feared extinct and listed as 'lost to science', the tiny reptile was found by Connor Blades of the Barbados Ministry of Environment in March this year.
The snake, which is blind, burrows, eats termites and ants, and measures up to four inches, was confirmed by Blades after careful identification.
Its rediscovery was announced by the Reconservation group, which is collaborating with the local environment ministry.
Scientists hope the rediscovery of the Barbados threadsnake will champion efforts for wildlife habitat protection.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
6 hours ago
- BBC News
Harper Adams University birdsong project expands in county
Technology that monitors birdsong as part of conservation efforts is to be rolled out across Green Box Project involves recordings via wireless boxes operated by solar panel. Recordings are uploaded to the cloud, where birds are then identified by is hoped the collected data could support conservation planning and contribute to national biodiversity databases."This idea of bioacoustics is something that people have been trying to implement in a box like this for a really long time," said Dr Joseph Mhango from the county's Harper Adams University which created the tech. "The artificial intelligence classifies what it's heard, and picks out specific birdsong... it's able to recognise what species of bird that is."Data scientists at Harper Adams will take over and analyse trends - what sort of migratory birds are coming to Shropshire over time, what sort of local species persist."The AI system was trained by real scientists, using millions of bird Shropshire Ornithological Society will host one of the sensors at its Venus Pool reserve near Shrewsbury."Ornithological surveys are vital for tracking changes in bird populations, which are often early indicators of broader environmental shifts," said Claire Mulvey, from the society. "The Green Box Project not only enhances our ability to monitor these changes but also fosters community engagement in conservation efforts."The boxes will record over the next couple of months, with the university releasing initial data at the end of September."We have set up pretty much a fleet of them… they will be continuously recording birdsong every single day," said Dr Mhango. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
10 hours ago
- BBC News
South African rhino horns turned radioactive to fight poachers
South African scientists have launched an anti-poaching campaign in which rhino's horns will be injected with a radioactive group, from the University of the Witwatersrand, said the process is harmless to rhinos but will allow customs officers to detect smuggled horns as they're transported across the Africa has the largest rhino population in the world, and hundreds of the animals are poached there every university's venture, called the Rhisotope Project, was launched on Friday after six years of research and testing. "Our goal is to deploy the Rhisotope technology at scale to help protect one of Africa's most iconic and threatened species," said Jessica Babich, head of the Rhisotope Project."By doing so, we safeguard not just rhinos but a vital part of our natural heritage."Tests conducted in the pilot study, which involved 20 rhinos, confirmed that the radioactive material was not harmful to the animals."We have demonstrated, beyond scientific doubt, that the process is completely safe for the animal and effective in making the horn detectable through international customs nuclear security systems," said James Larkin a professor at Wits University who is also part of the horns of African rhinos are often exported to Asian markets were they are used in traditional medicine and also seen as a status rhinos are considered threatened, while black rhinos are critically endangered. You may also be interested in: World's first IVF rhino pregnancy 'could save species'Illegal trade booms in South Africa's 'super-strange looking' plantsPODCAST: Women in South Africa and Zambia protect wildlife from poachers Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
The Independent
12 hours ago
- The Independent
The new tool to stop poaching rhinos in South Africa
South Africa has launched an innovative anti- poaching campaign, injecting rhino horns with harmless radioactive isotopes to deter illegal trafficking. The project, led by the University of the Witwatersrand, nuclear energy officials, and conservationists, aims to make trafficked horns detectable by customs agents using radiation detectors at airports and borders. Initial trials confirmed the process is completely safe for the animals and effective, with even low levels of radioactivity successfully triggering alarms in detection systems. The global rhino population has significantly declined to around 27,000, with South Africa, home to an estimated 16,000 rhinos, losing approximately 500 annually to poaching. Authorities are urging private and public rhino owners to participate in what is hoped to become a mass injection programme to protect the nation's rhinos.
