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Express Tribune
02-04-2025
- Express Tribune
Rare sighting of 4 snow leopards
Footage of four, rarely-seen snow leopards clambering up snowy cliffs in northern Pakistan has created a frenzy of excitement among conservationists, the CNN reported. Snow leopards are among the world's most elusive creatures in the wild and it is hard to catch even one on camera, let alone four, with the sighting being celebrated as a success story for Pakistan's conservation efforts. Sakhawat Ali, a gamekeeper and photography enthusiast from the remote village of Hushe, captured the footage on March 13 after what he described as "two weeks of tracking their pawprints" through the snow-covered Central Karakoram National Park - close to K2, the world's second highest mountain. Ali told CNN the four snow leopards were a mother and her three cubs. "In the village we are used to seeing snow leopards but, nobody, not even the elders that I spoke to, have ever seen four snow leopards in one go," he said. The four snow leopards were spotted in on a snowy cliff in the Central Karakoram National Park, Northern Pakistan. The four snow leopards were spotted in on a snowy cliff in the Central Karakoram National Park, Northern Pakistan. Sakhawat Ali He spotted the mother first, then started noting additional pawprints. He later "got lucky" sighting the animals together while observing a nearby cliff, through binoculars, from the rooftop of his house. He them scampered out with his camera to film them, from a distance of 200 meters. Ali said neighbors from his village are celebrating the sighting - even though they have some concerns that their livestock could be in danger. Snow leopards are currently listed as "vulnerable" on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Known locally as the "ghost of the mountains," they camouflage easily in their natural habitat of the Karakoram Mountain range in Pakistan's Gilgit-Baltistan region. Environmental anthropologist Shafqat Hussain says the rocky terrain in the north of Pakistan is perhaps the "best snow leopard habitat in the world". They only inhabit high alpine areas of the Himalayas and while their habitat spreads over 12 nations, including China, Bhutan, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Russia, and Mongolia, sightings are exceedingly rare. Dr Zakir Hussain, Chief Conservator Parks and Wildlife for Gilgit-Baltistan told CNN that the sighting was a "win" for the work being done to increase awareness amongst local communities about the importance of protecting snow leopards. He said eighty percent of community members are now involved in conservation, tracking and awareness activities. The World Wildlife Fund for Nature, Pakistan, said it was optimistic about the sighting but stressed snow leopards remain an endangered species still facing "numerous threats." In a statement, it said it's crucial that local communities "work together to protect and conserve these incredible big cats, ensuring future generations can witness their splendor in the wild." According to the United Nation's Environment Program "human activities and growing livestock herds in some areas have led to the degradation of pastureland and wildlife habitats," affecting the snow leopards food supplies. Other threats according to the UNEP include poaching and the fragmentation of the animal's habitat due to massive new infrastructure projects in addition to climate change - which is "expected to aggravate these existing threats." In 2023, Pakistan was ranked as the 5th most vulnerable country to climate change according to the World Bank's Global Climate Risk Index.
Miami Herald
25-03-2025
- General
- Miami Herald
Pregnant sea creature trapped under driftwood for hours in Australia. Then came rescue
A bird survey in a northern park of Australia turned into an essential rescue after rangers spotted a critically endangered sea creature trapped under driftwood. Rangers were conducting surveys of crested terns and lesser crested terns on Womer Cay, a tiny plot of land in the northern region of the Great Barrier Reef, when they spotted a sea turtle under a piece of wood, according to a March 21 news release from the country's Department of the Environment, Science, Tourism and Innovation. As they got closer, rangers saw that it was a female hawksbill turtle, a critically endangered species, according to the department. The turtle was likely trying to make her way up the shore to lay eggs, rangers said, but had become stuck under the driftwood. Sea turtles come to shore to lay their eggs at night, so when rangers approached the female turtle at 11 a.m, she had likely been trapped for hours, according to the release. 'Thankfully she was spotted and ranger Joman Tomasello carefully removed her from the log and carried her to the ocean,' ranger Katie Bampton said in the release. 'She would've been stuck for hours and due to the very hot conditions, we believe she wouldn't have survived much longer.' Tomasello carried the pregnant sea turtle close to the edge of the water and let her return to the sea on her own accord, Bampton said. 'When she was placed in front of the ocean, she took a little bit of time to get moving but eventually swam away,' Bampton said in the release. 'The water would've felt so good, and we're hoping she returned that evening to come ashore and lay a clutch of eggs.' Rangers said they identified track marks from other female hawksbill turtles and pits of sand where clutches had been laid. 'The rangers who were on that trip are thrilled that we were able to rescue her and send her on her way. These small cays in the Torres Strait and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park are remote but they are extremely important for bird life and turtles,' Bampton said in the release. Hawksbill turtles have sharp, pointed beaks and are known for being 'small but fast swimmers,' according to the release. Females nest four times per season and can lay as many as 140 eggs, rangers said. They can travel thousands of miles between where they nest, like Womer Cay, and the reefs where they feed. Hawksbill turtles are a critically endangered species that can be found across the warm waters of Atlantic and Pacific oceans, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources' Red List of Threatened Species. As many as 8,000 hawksbills nest on the northwestern coast of Australia and near the Great Barrier Reef, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 'Hawksbill turtles are critically endangered due to the impacts of climate change, accidental capture in fishing equipment and reef habitat destruction,' rangers said in the release. Womer Cay is off the northern coast of Queensland, Australia's northeastern territory.
BBC News
13-03-2025
- General
- BBC News
Hope Northumberland baby monkey can raise awareness of breed
Conservationists hope the birth of a monkey will help raise awareness of a "vulnerable" breed threatened by deforestation of its College Zoo at Kirkley Hall, Ponteland, welcomed a new baby Goeldi's monkey as part of its conservation breeding programme and the zoo said it was "thriving".The species is classed as "vulnerable" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and sits on the organisation's Red List of Threatened zoo said it wanted to contribute to the Goeldi's monkey population through its breeding programme and raise awareness of the "stunning primates". Zoo resource manager Steven Sykes said: "We are really pleased to be able to contribute to the captive population supporting the survival of the vulnerable wild population of Goeldi's monkeys."The zoo received a pair of Goeldi's monkeys from Five Sisters and Blackpool zoos in 2023 and mum Rosa gave birth to the baby monkey on 27 December last year. The species is threatened by the deforestation of their natural rainforest habitat in South America. Lacey Gallagher, an animal management student at the college, said: "It's great to be able to experience conservation breeding here at my college and learn about their husbandry and care." Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
