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Miami Herald
15 hours ago
- Science
- Miami Herald
‘Rare' animal visitors — and words of warning. See latest creature encounters
The summaries below were drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All linked stories were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists. Unique creatures, odd animals and new species are being discovered across the planet. Some are found lurking in remote corners of the world, while others have been hiding right under our noses. Learn more about some recent rare animal encounters from around the world: Park employee looks up at tree — and finds 'rare' visitor staring back. See it During a routine wildlife survey at Al Wathba Wetland Reserve in the United Arab Emirates, a staff member discovered a rare long-eared owl, Asio otus, marking the first sighting of this species in the area in 22 years. The owl, with its pointy feathers and bright yellow eyes, was spotted roosting on a branch after a day of high winds and heavy rains. | Published June 20 | Read More | Family's 'close encounter' with 'world's most dangerous bird' prompts warnings In South Mission Beach, Australia, a family experienced a close encounter with a cassowary, often called the 'world's most dangerous bird,' due to its powerful legs and sharp claws. The incident, captured on a security camera, led to warnings from wildlife officials about the dangers of feeding these birds, which can become aggressive when expecting food. This encounter is one of several linked to unlawful feeding in the area. | Published June 24 | Read More | Hidden cliffside nest of the world's largest flying bird discovered in Peru Andes Researchers in the Andes Mountains of Peru discovered a hidden nest of the Andean condor, the world's largest flying bird, on a cliff in the Junin region. This marks only the fourth recorded nesting site in the country and highlights the need for conservation efforts to protect this vulnerable species. The discovery was made using a drone, which revealed two adult condors and a chick in the nest. | Published June 24 | Read More | Wild elephant keeps returning 'just to say hello' to the vets who saved his life In Kenya, a wild bull elephant has been returning to visit the veterinarians who saved his life after being shot with an arrow. This touching behavior showcases the elephant's intelligence and gratitude, as he calmly approaches the Ithumba Unit stockades to greet his rescuers. The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust describes this as a remarkable example of the bond between humans and wildlife. | Published June 25 | Read More | Migrating sea creature gets 'lost' in Australia bay. Watch dolphin pod step in In Koombana Bay, Australia, a pod of dolphins helped guide a lost humpback whale back to deeper waters during its migration. The whale, initially spotted by volunteers, appeared healthy and was soon joined by the dolphins, who playfully interacted with it and led it back on course. This heartwarming encounter highlights the cooperative nature of marine life. | Published June 25 | Read More |
Miami Herald
20-06-2025
- Science
- Miami Herald
Park employee looks up at tree — and finds ‘rare' visitor staring back. See it
A 'routine' wildlife survey at a nature reserve in the United Arab Emirates took a turn when a staff member looked up at a tree — and found a 'rare' visitor staring back. The brief encounter was the park's first sighting of the 'long-eared' species in 22 years. An employee at the Al Wathba Wetland Reserve was conducting a 'routine bird census' in January 2022 when they noticed an owl in a tree, ecologist Shakeel Ahmed said in a June 19 email to McClatchy News. The employee snapped a few photos before the bird 'immediately flew away.' Intrigued, the employee showed the photos to Ahmed and coworker Sálim Javed who identified the bird as a long-eared owl, Asio otus, a species rarely seen in the UAE, they wrote in a study published May 26 in the peer-reviewed Journal of Threatened Taxa. Photos show the 'rare' long-eared owl, which has pointy feathers on its head and bright yellow eyes. Its feathers are a mixture of brown hues, cream and black. The owl was seen 'roosting on a branch' after a day of 'very high winds' and 'heavy rains,' the study said. The January 2022 owl sighting was the nature reserve's first sighting of the species in 22 years and the country's first sighting in nine years, researchers said. Long-eared owls are a 'highly migratory species with an extremely wide distribution range in Eurasia,' the study said. The species is not at-risk but does have a declining population. Al Wathba Wetland Reserve is on the outskirts of Ahu Dhabi, the capital city of the UAE, a country on the Arabian Peninsula that borders Oman and Saudi Arabia. The reserve is regularly monitored and 'the most important site for migratory waterfowls, waders, diurnal birds of prey and owls' in the UAE, the study said.
