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Miami Herald
27-05-2025
- Miami Herald
From wild kittens in Thailand to camera traps in India: See latest from Asia
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. In the forests, on top of mountains and along the beaches of Asia, colorful and rare creatures are discovered in their natural habitat. It's one of the most diverse regions of the world. Take a look at some recent stories from the continent: Predator's adorable kittens found abandoned in Thailand — then came rescue In southwestern Thailand, three leopard cat kittens were found abandoned and weak, prompting a rescue by wildlife officials. The kittens were taken to the Kathu Wildlife Sanctuary for rehabilitation, with the goal of eventually returning them to the wild. Leopard cats, resembling housecats but with longer legs and spotted coats, are protected in Thailand and face threats from habitat loss and poaching. | Published May 2 | Read More | Camera traps spot rare vibrant creature in India forest. 'Promising haven' In the forests of eastern India, camera traps set by the NGO ENFOGAL captured images of the rare Blyth's tragopan, a vulnerable bird species. This discovery highlights Shirui as a promising haven for bird enthusiasts, showcasing the area's rich biodiversity. The Blyth's tragopan, with its vibrant colors, faces threats from hunting and habitat destruction. | Published May 7 | Read More | Rare creature named after 'hundred-eyed giant' spotted showing off at Thai park In Thailand's Kathun Wildlife Sanctuary, a trail camera captured a male great argus pheasant performing a remarkable courtship display. This at-risk species, named after a 'hundred-eyed giant' due to its eye-spotted feathers, is a positive sign for the sanctuary's conservation efforts. The great argus' population is declining, making such sightings significant for wildlife officials. | Published May 14 | Read More | Tick-infested creature bites researcher in Papua New Guinea. It's a new species On Sudest Island, Papua New Guinea, a new species of snake named Aspidomorphus dimorphus was discovered after biting a researcher. This snake, with its unique bimodal color pattern, was identified as distinct from other species in the region. | Published May 2 | Read More | 'Fighting' fish that survives drought by hiding in the mud is new rare species In Sumatra, researchers identified a new species of betta fish called Betta iaspis, found in a forest peat swamp. This fish, with its reddish-brown head and iridescent blue patches, survives droughts by hiding in moist mud. Researchers recommend the species be listed as critically endangered due to its limited habitat threatened by human activities. | Published May 16 | Read More |
Miami Herald
07-05-2025
- General
- Miami Herald
Camera traps spot rare vibrant creature in India forest. ‘Promising haven'
World Camera traps spot rare vibrant creature in India forest. 'Promising haven' An organization in India saw a rare bird on their camera traps. Screengrab from ENFOGAL's Instagram video In forests of the far east of India, camera traps are giving an organization a closer look at their natural environment. ENFOGAL, or Environmental Force At Grass Root Level, is a non-governmental group working out of the Ukhrul District of India. Their goal is to protect the environment through local initiatives with a focus on youth. Part of that mission involved placing camera traps around the town of Shirui to see what they would find. During recent checks of these traps, the organization made a discovery they are calling 'another breakthrough.' 'Once again, we have been fortunate to capture an image of a rare species thanks to the use of camera traps,' the organization said in a May 5 Instagram post. A video shows people trudging through the thick forest, climbing up and over large branches and trees to reach the remote locations where the cameras were placed. When they find the cameras, the organization members pull out a laptop, and a brightly-colored bird appears on the screen, the video shows. The video shows a Blyth's tragopan, a rare bird from the same family as pheasants, partridges, turkeys and grouse, according to Bird Life. 'Shirui is truly emerging as a promising haven for bird enthusiasts, and it's heartening to see such precious wildlife being documented and appreciated,' the organization said. Blyth's tragopans are listed as a vulnerable species, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, and their numbers are decreasing. Males of the species have a gray breast and belly with a spotted back and bright yellow, orange or red faces, according to the IUCN. Females are more gray and don't have the distinctive vibrant head. The birds are found in Bhutan, northeastern India, Myanmar, Tibet and China, according to Bird Life. The species is considered vulnerable, and rare, because there is a small population that is geographically separated from one another, brought on by hunting and habitat destruction, according to the IUCN. Shirui is in the eastern-most Manipur state of India, just west of northern Myanmar. Irene Wright McClatchy DC Email this person Irene Wright is a McClatchy Real-Time reporter. She earned a B.A. in ecology and an M.A. in health and medical journalism from the University of Georgia and is now based in Atlanta. Irene previously worked as a business reporter at The Dallas Morning News.
