News
We bring you the latest from around the World in wildlife and conservation news.
Cecil The Lion Suffered For Many Hours Before Dying New Book Reveals
Many people will remember when an American dentist travelled to Zimbabwe on a hunting expedition and shot and killed a beloved lion called Cecil back in 2015. The killing caused global outrage and the Minnesota based dentist named Walter Palmer who fancied himself as a big game hunter fled into hiding as a result. Andrew Loveridge A researcher who was studying Cecil now claims in a new book titled “Lion Hearted: The Life and Death of Cecil and the Future of Africa’s Iconic Cats,” that Cecil suffered for many hours after initially being shot with a crossbow.
Animal Tourism In Asia Results In Elephants Being Kept In Cruel Conditions
Animal welfare group World Animal Protection says that Asia’s tourism industry makes use of hundreds of elephants that are kept in extremely cruel conditions. Scrutiny of animal tourism in Asia has been stepped up over the last few years particularly in light of the scandal in Thailand at a tiger attraction where wildlife authorities discovered dozens of dead tiger cubs.
New Zealand’s Iconic Yellow-Eyed Penguin Is On The Brink Of Extinction
The yellow-eyed penguin is one of the most endangered penguin species on the planet, so it is deeply concerning that nearly half of its breeding population has disappeared in one part of New Zealand. Many conservationists believe the reason for the disappearance is commercial fishing. This species of penguin lives on the South Island of New Zealand and some sub Antarctic islands. Presently there are between 3,200 to 3,600 wild yellow-eyed penguins, down from 7,000 in 2000.
Lion Pride Attacks And Kills South African Poacher
We guess you could call this a case of someone getting what they deserve. A suspected poacher in South Africa was attacked, killed and eaten by a pride of lions. The lions left very little for police to go on, and all that was remained of the body was just its head. According to reports, the man could be heard screaming for help at the Ingwelala Private Nature Reserve in Hoedspruit, outside Phalaborwa. Despite his screams, the lions rapidly killed their prey and ate most of his body before being chased away. The only remaining body part was the victim’s head, which the police are using to try to identify him.
Black Bear With 3 Kilogram Tongue Has It Surgically Removed
Recently a bear was forced to have emergency surgery to remove its tongue after it had grown so large and become so heavy that it lolled from its mouth and was being dragged along the floor. Veterinarians familiar with case say that the bizarre swelling which resulted in a tongue that weighed 3 kilograms is entirely without precedent. One vet who has been working with bears for more than a decade said she had never seen anything like it and was completely astonished.
Polar Bears Likely To Become Extinct Sooner Than Expected
A new study has confirmed that polar bears are indeed starving and suggests the species could face extinction much faster than previously anticipated. Researchers participating in the study attached collars to nine bears and recorded their activity levels for almost two weeks. The results confirmed what is already known, the species is suffering from extreme food shortages that are the product of climate change which has caused the Arctic sea ice to melt. This means polar bears are forced to travel further and expend more energy to hunt.
Mammals And Bird Have An Edge Over Reptiles When It Comes To Adapting To Climate Change
As climate change continues to affect the planet it would seem that warm-blooded animals may have an edge when it comes to adaptation to the new reality. According to the latest research, over the last few million years of Earth’s history, birds and mammals have been able to better adapt to changing temperatures than amphibians and reptiles by shifting their habitats to more suitable locations. The study examined data on over 11,000 species of vertebrate as well as fossil records dating back 270 million years.
Plastic Pollution Endangering Marine Life
Scientists are warning that much more research must be conducted on the impact of plastic pollution on sea life such as sharks, rays and whales. Studies suggest that these creatures may be swallowing hundreds of bits of micro-plastic every day. Scientists say that micro-plastic pollution could result in the reduction of the population of large filter feeders, however very little research is being conducted into the risk it poses. European and American researchers have examined data on the threats to large filter feeders from these plastic pieces measuring less than five millimetres long and found they can be extremely harmful to aquatic life.