Latest news with #InternationalUnionfortheConservationofNature
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Officials stunned after trail camera captures unexpected behavior of near-extinct bird: 'Surely ranks among the most remarkable'
A trail camera at a wildlife sanctuary in Thailand captured the stunning sight of a male bird performing a mating ritual in front of a female, and officials are still buzzing. On May 14, officials from the Katun Wildlife Sanctuary in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province uploaded a video to Facebook that showed what many consider a rare display. In the short 30-second clip, a male great argus can be seen engaging in an extravagant dance in an attempt to woo a female bird. "Though the great argus is not as colorful as other pheasants, its display surely ranks among the most remarkable," Thai National Parks officials said. The great argus is a large pheasant that is native to Southeast Asia. As seen in the video, males are often known for their elaborate courtship displays, which includes the fanning of their elongated wing feathers. Due to a number of factors, including hunting, trapping, logging, and droughts, the great argus has seen a significant drop in its population in recent years. According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, the great argus pheasant is currently listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. This means that the species is likely to become endangered if the ongoing threat to its survival is not properly addressed. Katun Wildlife Sanctuary officials estimate that fewer than two dozen great argus currently roam the region. Sthawit Suwannarat, chief of Katun Wildlife Sanctuary, emphasized the importance of video and what it means for the sanctuary's conservation efforts. "The sighting of courtship behavior of the wading birds in nature is a good sign, showing that this area is still a suitable food and habitat source for wildlife," Suwannarat explained. In a recent study, researchers indicated that Southeast Asia has some of the "highest biodiversity loss due to the high deforestation rate and hunting pressure." As a species, pheasants are often seen as indicators of the health of a forest ecosystem and are used in environmental monitoring. Pheasant species such as the great argus can contribute to an ecosystem's health by serving as both prey for predators and as a natural pest control. Pheasants primarily forage on the ground to find seeds, insects, and other food sources. Should the U.S. invest in building more wildlife overpasses? Absolutely Depends on how we do it Depends on where we do it Nope Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
South Africa's wattled cranes are no longer critically endangered: why the birds' numbers are rising
Cranes are some of the world's most majestic birds, with 15 species found globally. Four of these are found in Africa. The wattled crane in South Africa was in decline, but seems to have turned a corner. Its numbers have increased from just 188 birds in 2000 to 304 today. Crane researcher Lara Fuller explains how the population's recovery recently led to it being moved from Critically Endangered to Endangered on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature's list of threatened species. Wattled cranes are the largest crane species in Africa. They are only found on the continent and there are only about 9,600 left in Zambia, Botswana, Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. The tall birds (up to 180cm or six feet tall) have a wingspan of up to 2.6 metres wide and can weigh up to 8 kilograms. They're the tallest flying African bird. In the wild, the wattled cranes are estimated to live for about 30 years although older birds have been observed. These birds carry striking colours and conduct spectacular mating rituals involving bowing, dancing and jumping. They symbolise grace, devotion, beauty and longevity. Firstly, the number of breeding areas has increased. In 1999, there were only 70 breeding territories. Today, this has increased to 84 breeding areas in the wattled crane's core population in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. To count cranes, we use annual aerial surveys. We average the number of birds viewed over several years so that we are sure we get an accurate number. In 2000, there were just 188 individual birds in KwaZulu-Natal. By 2005, the South Africa population had increased to 242 individual birds. By 2024, 304 individual birds were found. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature keeps lists of how endangered all animals are globally. This helps scientists and society know when an animal is edging closer to extinction. When an animal becomes less endangered through a conservation success, this is known as downlisting. In the case of the wattled cranes, their downlisting from Critically Endangered to Endangered was achieved by the Endangered Wildlife Trust and the International Crane Foundation working with landowners where the birds live to restore their habitats. The biggest number of these birds living together in Africa is found on the southern-central floodplains (areas of flooded grasslands found in different countries across southern and central Africa). There are two smaller populations in Ethiopia and South Africa. Most wattled cranes in South Africa inhabit the foothills of the Drakensberg mountain range. This area provides a large amount of drinking water to numerous towns and settlements. Wattled cranes live in wetlands and grasslands in the area. The wetlands form between 10% and 40% of their breeding territory, and the surrounding natural grasslands make up about 20% to 80% of their nesting territory. Grasslands are crucial to the health of wetlands. They keep soil stable and prevent erosion and siltation of the wetland. These areas also provide water to people through naturally occurring springs. These are often used by rural villages, and without them, many communities would not have access to drinking water. Read more: Grasslands are also foraging areas for the family of wattled cranes as the chick becomes larger. Wattled cranes eat water lilies and other water plants, water insects, snails, and frogs found in wetlands. The birds breed in wetlands, where there is enough food available for chicks to grow one inch (2.54 cm) per week after they hatch. The chicks only start flying when they are several weeks old. Until then, wetlands act as natural moats, protecting chicks from being eaten by predators. Read more: Wetlands are often seen as muddy, damp, insect ridden and smelly places. In South Africa in the 1970s, 50% of the country's wetlands were drained and turned into commercial agricultural lands or degraded. As South Africa is also considered a water scarce country, this action had a devastating result and is partly the reason why the wattled cranes became critically endangered. When rain falls in abundance, wetlands soak up the water, slowing the flow down and reducing flooding. This saves a lot of damage to infrastructure and prevents soil erosion in natural areas. Wetlands are also a natural water purification system – they clean pollutants from the water, and deliver water that is much cleaner than it was when it soaked into the wetland. Where wattled cranes are found breeding in wetlands, it is a clear sign that the wetland is healthy and thriving. The wellbeing of people, cranes and wetlands is intricately linked. The size of the wattled crane population in KwaZulu-Natal – fewer than 400 birds – makes it incredibly vulnerable to catastrophic events, such as disease. This would put the species at risk of extinction in South Africa. Wattled cranes need more breeding sites to increase their populations. Wetlands need to be rehabilitated and restored, because the birds won't mate and breed in degraded or polluted wetlands. Environmentalists and the birds will be relying on the goodwill of landowners and everyone who uses wetlands to support this and help keep wetlands clean. We plan to deepen our work in restoring wetlands. We aim to restore wetlands in other parts of South Africa too so that wattled cranes can go back into these habitats and continue to breed. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Lara Fuller, University of KwaZulu-Natal Read more: For endangered species, the road to recovery can be winding and bumpy Bird species are disappearing at an alarming rate in Kenya – new study South Africa's Agulhas long-billed lark: adapting and surviving despite farming taking over their nesting grounds Lara Fuller works for two NPO's the Endangered Wildlife Trust and the International Crane Foundation. These orgainsations receives funds from multiple bodies.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Endangered Indian rhino calf born at safari park
Keepers at a safari park have welcomed the birth of a rare Indian rhinoceros calf. The baby rhino arrived at West Midlands Safari Park (WMSP) in Bewdley, Worcestershire, on 6 May. The female calf is the second successful Indian rhino birth at the Park in its 52-year history - the first was the calf's half-brother in 2020. The safari park said both mum and baby were doing well, after keepers had to step in to assist with the birth. Veterinary nurse Sarah Smith said: "After a long, restless night monitoring the CCTV, the team continued their normal morning checks and found her behavioural changes that confirmed her labour was progressing. "When we hadn't seen the usual progression we expected, closer inspection showed us there were back feet visible, telling us we had an abnormal delivery." The Indian rhino, also known as greater one-horned rhino, is classed as vulnerable to extinction by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. They are found in India and Nepal, but face threats such as poaching, habitat destruction and conflict with humans. In the 19th Century they were hunted almost to extinction. "A breech birth brings many difficulties, and research shows a large number require intervention and usually end in calf mortality. "This can also lead to the mother's life being in danger, so we knew we had a short window of time to act. We were able to apply calving ropes to the calf's hind legs and assist Sunny with her contractions and help birth the calf. "We're so proud of her and the team," Ms Smith added. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Endangered tiger cub triplets born at safari park Safari park welcomes baby giraffe West Midlands Safari Park
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Deer species listed as extinct in the wild born at Southern California zoo
The Père David's Deer is making a comeback, as a fawn was just born in Southern California. The male fawn was born at the San Diego Zoo on April 8 and is the first of its kind to be born at the zoo's Safari Park in 22 years, according to officials. 'In the first one to two weeks of life, the fawn's mother kept him hidden, just as she would in native habitats. She visited the fawn several times throughout the day to groom and nurse until he was strong enough to keep up with the rest of the herd,' the San Diego Zoo explained in a media release. 'He is now exploring the expansive Asian Plains habitat alongside the other species that live there, including other deer, antelope, wild cattle, and rhinoceros.' Père David's Deer, which are native to China, were facing extinction by the 19th century due to floods, war and hunting, although a few were kept on the personal grounds of the Chinese Emperor. They were introduced to the Western world by Père (Father) Armand David, for whom the species is named in the West; it is known as milu in China. Newark airport delays affecting LAX passengers: 'They know they're having issues' David was able to expatriate some of the deer to European zoos where they bred successfully, but according to the San Diego Zoo, the European herds dwindled during World War II due to disease and lack of food. One herd, however, survived; it was owned by Herbrand Russell, 11th Duke of Bedford, and offspring from the herd were sent to zoos across the world, essentially saving the species from extinction. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies Père David's Deer (Elaphurus davidianus) as Extinct in the Wild and the species has been on their Red List of Threatened Species since 2016. Although the deer have been reintroduced into the wild and are slowly growing in population – there are now 53 herds in China, per IUCN – the species remains on the Red List due to concerns about the population's long term viability. World-renowned zoologist Jane Goodall spoke about her experience with Père David's Deer in her book 'Hope for Animals and Their World: How Endangered Species Are Being Rescued from the Brink,' calling the species 'magnificent' and reminiscing on a time where she visited the duke's estate to view them. 'The first time I was able to see this rare and beautiful deer in its native homeland was in 1994…How magnificent they looked grazing near the shore of the lake…one handsome male stood, seeming to look directly at me, proud and dignified,' Goodall wrote in the 2009 book. 'I vividly remember visiting a herd of these deer on the Duke of Bedford's estate in England, and hearing that they were highly endangered and came from China. That was in 1956…now, forty years later, I was looking at some of the progeny of those very deer.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Miami Herald
09-05-2025
- Science
- Miami Herald
Rare predator travels 5,000 miles from CA to UK — for a date. See the bachelor
When the survival of your species is on the line, there is nowhere on Earth that is too far to travel for love. That's why one rare Malagasy fossa made a more than 5,000-mile journey from the San Diego Zoo to Chester Zoo in England for a date. Zaza, a 7-year-old male fossa, has been transferred from California to England to breed with Shala, Chester Zoo's resident female, according to a May 9 news release. 'Zaza is part of a global conservation breeding program. With the fossa listed as vulnerable to extinction by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and its wild habitats in Madagascar under threat from rapid development, Zaza's move to Chester Zoo is an important part of the international effort to ensure this wonderful and unique species is safeguarded long into the future,' Mark Brayshaw, head of mammals at Chester Zoo, said in the release. Zaza and Shala will be slowly introduced to each other to imitate how they would actually meet in the wild, the zoo said. 'Initially we plan to rotate the two of them separately around different parts of their habitat so they can smell each other,' Jack Cunningham, carnivore keeper at Chester Zoo, said in the release. 'They can see each other through a glass window and there's also a screen we can slide open between their dens which allows them to see each other, without being able to get to one another straight away. It's all part of our slow and gradual introduction process.' The zoo said the arrangement may seem 'like an episode of Blind Date,' but it ensures the animals aren't forced together too quickly. Shala has been a mother before, welcoming a litter of pups with a previous mate that have now gone on to other facilities around the world, the zoo said. Being able to study Shala has 'helped researchers in Madagascar track and understand the fossa's mating calls and habitat needs,' according to the release. Fossas are a group of carnivores that appear like a mix between a cat and a weasel but are actually more closely related to mongoose and civets, according to the San Diego Zoo. They have long tails and golden fur, and are native to the island nation of Madagascar, off the eastern coast of Africa. The animals have 'puzzled scientists since the 1830s,' the San Diego Zoo said, and little is known about their lives. Like many other Madagascar natives, the species has faced serious habitat destruction and loss, and fossa numbers are dwindling. Fewer than 2,500 are estimated to live in the wild, so the survival of the species has fallen into the hands of zoos and wildlife parks, according to Chester Zoo. Shala's mating call particularly has been scientifically significant, the zoo said. 'Her mating call has been recorded and analyzed to create a spectrogram, which is a visual representation of sound,' the zoo said, allowing researchers to know when females are looking for mates in the wild by matching the sounds. Zaza is likely to match Shala's energy, the San Diego Zoo said. 'Zaza is a very energetic and well-tempered fossa and can be very vocal when excited,' Lucy Pearson, Zaza's keeper in San Diego, said in the release. 'He was the bravest of the four pups in his litter due to his curious personality.' Chester Zoo is in Chester, England, just east of the northern border of Wales.
