Latest news with #rangers
BBC News
a day ago
- General
- BBC News
House martins in Clumber Park get helping hand after dry spring
Nesting birds in Nottinghamshire have been helped by National Trust rangers as the dry spring weather hampered their ability to make homes for the fledgling martins in Clumber Park near Worksop were among those affected, as the lack of muddy ground meant they had less material to use to build their comes after a spring which the Met Office said was ranking as the UK's driest in over a century earlier this trust said rangers "came to the rescue" by creating areas of saturated soil to allow the birds to "have a successful nesting season". Gareth Jones, countryside manager for Nottinghamshire for the National Trust, said the lack of rain presented an obstacle to house martins, which typically are around Clumber Park between March and October and make their nests on the ground under the eaves of homes and buildings. "During the recent hot spell, water has been in short supply, so the rangers in the estate yard that we work from have been creating artificial pools of mud by filling potholes with water and bringing soil in, to create mud pies for birds to help them build their nests," he said."They need mud, and with climate change and everything like that we need to help them."There's mud still about, but they have to travel longer distances using stored energy, so in the time of using nests it's very energetic for them trying to find mud, so providing little bits of mud here and there just helps shorten the distances to travel."Mr Jones said other animals had also benefited from the rangers' interventions, with stoats, weasels and other mammals as well as birds profiting from extra sources of mud and said members of the public can also assist any animals if they find them in and around their gardens."It's literally just as simple as creating some mud and keeping it there," he said."They may not come straight away, but as they build and maintain a nest through the summer you'll see them coming down to [sources of] mud, just to help repair the nest if it gets damaged."Every little helps."
CBS News
3 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Hikers' report of companion's death turns out to be greatly exaggerated
North Elba, N.Y. — Mark Twain is widely thought to have said that reports of his death had been greatly exaggerated, though the quote itself may have been greatly exaggerated. The same can certainly be said about the fate of a hiker in upstate New York. Two hikers in New York's Adirondack Mountains called 911 to report a third member of their party had died, but it turned out they had taken hallucinogenic mushrooms and were mistaken, officials said Wednesday. A state forest ranger responded to a call Saturday about a hiker who had reportedly died on Cascade Mountain, a popular summit in the Adirondack High Peaks, the Department of Environmental Conservation said in a news release. The two hikers who called 911 also told a steward on the mountain's summit that they were lost. The steward "determined the hikers were in an altered mental state," according to the agency. The supposedly dead person called and was not injured. The ranger escorted the two hikers down to an ambulance, which took them to a hospital, and brought the third to the group's campsite, where they all later met up, officials said.
CBS News
3 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Hikers' report of companion's death turn out to be greatly exaggerated
North Elba, N.Y. — Mark Twain is widely thought to have said that reports of his death had been greatly exaggerated, though the quote itself may have been greatly exaggerated. The same can certainly be said about the fate of a hiker in upstate New York. Two hikers in New York's Adirondack Mountains called 911 to report a third member of their party had died, but it turned out they had taken hallucinogenic mushrooms and were mistaken, officials said Wednesday. A state forest ranger responded to a call Saturday about a hiker who had reportedly died on Cascade Mountain, a popular summit in the Adirondack High Peaks, the Department of Environmental Conservation said in a news release. The two hikers who called 911 also told a steward on the mountain's summit that they were lost. The steward "determined the hikers were in an altered mental state," according to the agency. The supposedly dead person called and was not injured. The ranger escorted the two hikers down to an ambulance, which took them to a hospital, and brought the third to the group's campsite, where they all later met up, officials said.
The Guardian
25-05-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Quoll and possum species brought back from local extinction in the Ikara-Flinders ranges
Ten years after the reintroduction of western quolls and brushtail possums into the Ikara-Flinders Ranges national park, rangers say populations of the once-locally extinct mammals are flourishing. In a joint effort between Foundation for Australia's Most Endangered Species and the South Australian government, the animals live in 'safer havens' in the park where predator numbers have been reduced
News24
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News24
SA's Kruger National Park features in Prince William's Guardians, spotlighting the work of wildlife rangers
Prince William spotlights the world's most dangerous job, wildlife rangers, in a new six-part BBC Earth YouTube series. The series Guardians showcases rangers' bravery in fighting poachers, protecting biodiversity, and fostering human-animal coexistence globally. One episode focuses on South Africa's Kruger National Park, where teams work tirelessly to protect critically endangered rhinos from daily poaching threats. Prince William is spotlighting the most dangerous job in the world in a new BBC Earth YouTube series. The Prince of Wales presents the six-part series Guardians, 'which highlights the perilous and crucial work of rangers working to keep wildlife safe across the world. It is the culmination of 18 months of work for the prince and his team,' according to People. CNN reports that William shared that he had been dying to do something around this sort of space for a while. 'This one is particularly special to me because I've got lots of friends and people I've met over the years on my trips and going abroad who are living this life daily.' According to People, the 42-year-old wants programs to educate, showcase, and spotlight the brilliant people who are on the frontlines of conservation around the world. This is one of the most dangerous jobs on the planet. 'Many people think being a soldier, being a jobs are dangerous and people put their lives on the line. I don't think people realise it's the same for these guys and girls around the world,' William said. 'Rangers are particularly unknown and unseen,' he added. The first episode, which is available to watch on YouTube, focuses on the Congo rainforest and the protected area of Dzangha-Sangha. It features a reformed poacher who now fights for the wildlife he once hunted. According to a synopsis per The Hollywood Reporter, the films run between six and 10 minutes, with new episodes every Friday. They give first-hand accounts of the lives of rangers and nature protectors. The series takes viewers on a journey through inspiring and demanding locations such as the Central African Republic, the Himalayas, Mexico's Sea of Cortez, Sri Lanka, and Caru Indigenous Land in Brazil. One of the episodes features South Africa's Kruger National Park, where 'teams work round the clock to protect, rescue, and rehabilitate critically endangered rhinos, which face daily poaching threats.' In the trailer William emphasised that the rangers in the series are an inspiration to us all. 'Every day, they take huge risks as nature's front line of defence, standing between poachers and endangered species, supporting sustainable human-animal coexistence and fighting habitat loss. As they work to protect our oceans, our forests, our plains, our mountains and biodiversity, they are also educating, community building and furthering science. These are the unsung heroes — the true guardians of the natural world, defending nature and the future of the planet for all of us.' Prince William and The Royal Foundation launched United for Wildlife in 2013 to protect endangered species from the illegal wildlife trade. During his visit to South Africa for Earthshot Week in December last year, the prince announced a new life insurance product designed for rangers across Africa. 'This initiative aims to ensure that rangers receive much-needed life insurance cover, giving them and their families reassurance that they are protected for the dangerous job they do.'
