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Agriland
4 days ago
- General
- Agriland
'35% increase' in corncrake numbers in last 5 years
Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne has stated that a "recent survey by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) shows a 35% increase in the corncrake population in the last five years". His statement comes in response to a parliamentary question raised by Sinn Féin's agricultural spokesperson, Deputy Martin Kenny, who asked the minster for "an update on funding for the project to protect the corncrake". The corncrake is listed on Annex I of the Birds Directive (2009/147/EC), and is on the Red List of Birds of Conservation Concern in Ireland due to historical declines. Minister Browne highlighted the work of the Corncrake LIFE project, which was set up to combat this decline in the bird's population. He said: "Corncrake LIFE is a five-year (2021-2026) €5.9 million project improving the conservation status of one of Ireland's most iconic farmland bird species. "Led by the NPWS of my department, in collaboration with project partners, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), and Fota Wildlife Park, the project works with farmers, land owners and local communities across counties Galway, Mayo and Donegal. "There are currently 150 farmers and landowners active in the project covering more than 1,600ha in conservation and management measures under the results-based scheme. The minister explained that these measures have been incorporated into the national agri-environmental programmes, such as Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES). According to Minister Browne, these measures, "together with direct project actions have restored a significant footprint of corncrake habitat. "The most recent survey from the NPWS shows an increase of 35% in the corncrake population in the past five years with a total of 233 calling male corncrakes recorded nationally in 2024." According to BirdWatch Ireland, corncrakes were once found in every parish in Ireland, but, since the early 1900s, numbers have declined and they are now confined to Co. Donegal and west Connacht. A population remained in the Shannon Callows until around 2010, but summer flooding in the early 2000s resulted in their extinction there also. Corncrakes are summer visitors, breeding in Ireland from April to September and migrating to Africa for the winter. They are generally found in tall vegetation (20cm) in hay and silage fields, rough pastures, and stands of herbaceous species such as yellow flag iris and nettles. One of the measures promoted in the Corncrake LIFE Project is conservation-friendly mowing (CFM). Source: Corncrake LIFE According to Corncrake LIFE, up to 60% of chicks are killed when fields are mowed from the outside-in, which is why CFM is key to increasing the survival rate of corncrakes (and other species) during mowing. CFM consists of maintaining a low mowing speed (5-7km/hr) and mowing from the centre-out to push birds to the edges of the fields. Mowing the perimeter of the plot should be avoided, as corncrakes are reluctant to break cover and cross open ground.
STV News
5 days ago
- General
- STV News
Endangered Visayan spotted deer born at Edinburgh Zoo
An endangered Visayan spotted deer has been born at Edinburgh Zoo. The fawn was born on Monday, July 14, and keepers named her Ulan, which means 'rain' in Tagalog, a language spoken in the Philippines. Visitors can now see Ulan exploring her habitat, sticking close to parents Lyra and Pablo. The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland said she is settling in well and is known to favour sleeping in a hollowed-out tree trunk. Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) Ulan likes to sleep in a hollowed-out tree trunk at the Edinburgh Zoo. Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) Edinburgh Zoo is now home to four Visayan spotted deer: parents Lyra and Pablo, Watson and baby Ulan. Native to the Philippines, it is estimated that as few as 700 Visayan spotted deer remain in the wild meaning it is classified as endangered on the IUCN Red List. The species has already disappeared from several islands in the Philippines due to intensive hunting and deforestation and can only be found on the islands of Panay and Negros. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
USA Today
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Critically endangered species, famed in pop culture, find home in US
Wild axolotls are a brown-grey color, but they can also be albinos, which are the type frequently shown in media. Two critically endangered amphibians have found a new home. SeaWorld San Diego recently acquired two, 10-month-old axolotls, which will be available for public display at the theme park's new Bayside Aquarium, starting Aug. 8, Eric Otjen, vice president of zoological operations, told USA TODAY. Their names are Poppy and Debra. The axolotls were a part of an illegal animal trade and confiscated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Wildlife Confiscations Network, a program under the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, contacted SeaWorld San Diego to inquire about potential housing, Otjen added. Axolotls were classified as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List in 2006. Last assessed in 2019, there were only between 50 and 1,000 axolotls in the wild. Major threats to axolotls, which are native to southern Mexico City, include residential and commercial development, invasive species, hunting and trapping, and pollution, according to the IUCN. Despite being endangered, axolotls have been widely represented throughout pop culture in recent years, popping up in animated series, video games like Minecraft and as countless plushies. The Pokémon character Wooper is also thought to be inspired by the amphibian. Hip-hop under the sea: SeaWorld's viral hip-hop and R&B summer concert series makes splash with fans What are axolotls? Axolotls are paedomorphic salamanders that, unlike other amphibians, do not go through metamorphosis. For example, frogs are born as tadpoles before transforming into adult frogs, but axolotls do not go through this change. Instead, axolotls keep their external gills and other juvenile features throughout all of adulthood, according to the London Natural History Museum. The special salamanders can live 10-15 years in the wild and grow up to about 3 inches long. Wild axolotls are a brown-grey color, but they can also be albinos, which are frequently depicted in media. They eat mollusks, worms, insect larvae, crustaceans and small fish, according to the museum. What is the rarest animal in the world? See the list of top 10 most endangered species. Specifically, axolotls are native to lakes in southern Mexico City like Lake Xochimilco and Lake Chalco. But both have been significantly drained to reduce floods, according to the museum. Today, most axolotls are found in the canals of these lakes. Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@
Time of India
04-08-2025
- General
- Time of India
Critically endangered Asian giant tortoises find new home in Nagaland
1 2 Guwahati: In a groundbreaking conservation effort, Naga youths have taken on the role of "tortoise guardians" to protect the critically endangered Asian giant tortoises (AGT) in Nagaland's Zeliang community forest. This initiative, announced on Monday, marks a significant step in preserving the species, with ten captive-raised tortoises being introduced to the Community Reserve in Peren district. This effort is a collaboration between the Nagaland state forest department and the India Turtle Conservation Program (ITCP). The Asian giant tortoise, listed as "critically endangered" on the IUCN Red List, faces a dire threat of extinction. The ten tortoises, bred and nurtured at Nagaland Zoological Park, which boasts India's largest captive population of the species, have been placed in a soft release enclosure in the Zeliang community forest. This marks their first exposure to a natural habitat since their birth in 2019. The project plans to release the tortoises in phases to help recover wild AGT populations in Nagaland. Two local youths have been appointed to monitor the tortoises, with plans to transform the area into a tourist destination. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Best SIP Plans for NRIs in Lithuania – Get ₹2L Monthly Pension | Invest ₹18K PB Learn More Undo "Local youths from the community have been engaged as "Tortoise Guardians" to ensure the protection of the released tortoises and assist in data collection," said Chisayi, DFO, Peren. After a five-month acclimatization period, the tortoises will be released into the wild, with their movements tracked using VHF-based telemetry systems. This initiative aims to establish a sustainable breeding population in their natural habitat. "Once the pilot release is successful, more individuals will be released to recover the decimated wild populations," said Sushmita Kar, project coordinator, ITCP. The project is part of a broader effort to prevent the species' extinction through breeding programs and community awareness initiatives. "Asian Giant Tortoises, also known as the small elephants of the forests, play a crucial role in seed dispersal and forest regeneration," says Shailendra Singh from ITCP. The Peren site was selected after a comprehensive habitat assessment, highlighting the effectiveness of Community and Conservation Reserves in Nagaland in preserving wildlife. "Protected areas such as Community and Conservation Reserves have been performing well under the joint leadership of the communities and the forest department," says Tokaho Kinimi, wildlife warden, Dimapur.
The Star
04-08-2025
- Science
- The Star
Koalas live in the trees and die on the ground, research shows
Koalas spend most of their time in trees – but are in deadly danger when they descend to the ground, new research shows. The marsupials are an endangered species in Australia and their populations are rapidly declining due to habitat loss, fragmentation, and disease – plus further, urgent threats. Koalas only spend around 10 minutes per day on the ground, but this ground-time is associated with two-thirds of recorded koala deaths. 'Koalas are mostly tree-dwelling, but due to extensive land clearing, they're increasingly forced to travel on the ground, which puts them at serious risk of injury and death,' says Gabriella Sparkes, a doctoral student at the university of Queensland, Australia. She fitted the marsupials with GPS collars to look more closely at their movements. The devices recorded their location at short intervals, distinguishing between walking, climbing and resting, allowing for an unprecedentedly detailed analysis. The marsupials typically descend from trees only two to three times per night, spending an average of just 10 minutes on the ground in total - less than 1% of their time, Sparkes says. But an earlier study found that around two-thirds of all known koala deaths occur during this brief period – usally due to attacks by dogs or collisions with cars. The researchers aim to use these findings to identify environmental conditions that are particularly dangerous for koalas and to develop more effective conservation strategies for the animals, which are listed as "vulnerable" on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) Red List. "If we can identify the kinds of trees or habitat conditions that encourage koalas to remain in trees for longer, we may be able to design or manage landscapes in ways that reduce the need for ground travel," says Sparkes, suggesting continuous tree canopy connections or shorter distances between suitable trees. – dpa
