All posts tagged: wildlife

Police issue major update after man mauled to death by tiger at UK wildlife park | UK | News

Police issue major update after man mauled to death by tiger at UK wildlife park | UK | News

Published by Sam Flores

Police have issued an update after a man was killed by a tiger at Yorkshire Wildlife Park. South Yorkshire Police said the unnamed victim was not believed to have been accompanied by anybody when he jumped into the big cat’s enclosure on Saturday. A spokesman said on Monday: “It is not believed that the man who died at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park was being accompanied by anybody.” This comes as the City of Doncaster Council has also said it has launched a health and safety investigation into the man’s death. Dan Swaine, Executive Director of Place at City of Doncaster Council, said: “We are deeply saddened by the incident that occurred this weekend and our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with everyone involved, including the family and loved ones of the person who tragically lost their life, those that witnessed the incident and the staff involved at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, as well as the emergency services who provided a swift response. “As the relevant licensing authority for the Yorkshire Wildlife Park, I can confirm that, …

Wildlife camera in Guatemala captures a once-in-a-decade snapshot

Wildlife camera in Guatemala captures a once-in-a-decade snapshot

Published by Jenni Sidey

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. But these new camera trap photographs of a jaguar (Panthera onca) in Guatemala are worth even more, according to conservationists.  The camera trap photographs of a male jaguar indicate that jaguars are making use of a wildlife corridor connecting Guatemala and Honduras, proving that the important pathway continues to link jaguar populations in the face of human encroachment into their habitat. In other words, jaguars are still on the move, according to a statement sent to Popular Science.  “The camera trap images of the jaguars in both Honduras and Guatemala give us hope — showing that jaguars are still present, even in the midst of all the challenges and threats they face,” Allison Devlin and Franklin Castañeda, directors at the wild cat conservation organization Panthera, tell Popular Science.  Camera traps shots of jaguars are a “luxury treat” that only occurs once every decade, they explain.  “When it does occur, it brings so much motivation and hope to the teams on the ground (rangers) and in the …

18 hilarious photos from the 2026 Comedy Wildlife Awards

18 hilarious photos from the 2026 Comedy Wildlife Awards

Published by Jenni Sidey

Nature can be serious—bear infanticide, zombie spiders, rodent-hunting squirrels. But the animal kingdom still has a silly side. The 2026 Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards celebrate the amusing antics of animals. Since 2015, the contest has shared light-hearted wildlife images captured by photographers from around the world. This year, more than 10,000 images from 112 countries were submitted for consideration. After careful consideration (and likely quite a few laughs), the Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards has unveiled its list of finalists. “Hair Check Before the Family Photo”One meerkat insists on giving a last-minute grooming inspection while the others are trying their best to look respectable. Location: NamibiaCredit: Subi Sridharan / Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2026 Subi The contest isn’t just for internet chuckles either; the organization behind the program is also focused on raising awareness around conservation issues. “The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards started very gently, somewhere out on the vast plains of the Serengeti,” Tom Sullam, Competition Co-Founder said in a statement. “What began as a small effort to raise awareness of wildlife conservation has grown …

California revives Wildlife Coexistence Program amid record wolf pup boom

California revives Wildlife Coexistence Program amid record wolf pup boom

Published by Sam Flores

California is set to bring back a program aimed at reducing conflict between wild animals and people, as the state’s rebounding wolf population continues to cause concern among ranchers. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill restoring the program Tuesday ahead of a “fireside chat” focused on biodiversity and natural resources, during which he described growing up with a father who was dedicated to protecting mountain lions, condors and other wildlife. Protecting nature is “a moral issue,” Newsom said, describing a “relationship we have to what’s above us, and … how that connects us to our Creator.” The California Department of Fish and Wildlife once employed 13 specialists dedicated to resolving human-wildlife conflicts, but it let all but one of them go after funding ran dry in 2024. The loss came as such clashes are increasing, with climate change and urban sprawl bringing people closer to bears, mountain lions and other animals. State Sen. Catherine Blakespear, author of Senate Bill 1135, said she’s seen it play out with sea lions around La Jolla Cove. This year, …

Thousands of wildlife crimes going unpunished, campaigners warn | UK News

Thousands of wildlife crimes going unpunished, campaigners warn | UK News

Published by Sam Flores

Thousands of “horrifying” acts of cruelty against animals including hedgehogs, badgers and birds are going unpunished, campaigners have warned. Last year saw 2,149 reports of suspected wildlife crime but just 41 convictions – less than 2% – across categories reviewed by a coalition of nearly 100 environmental groups. But the annual Wildlife and Countryside Link (WCL) report says the figures give only a partial picture as many wildlife crimes go undetected, unreported or unrecorded. Cases highlighted include badgers being stabbed and attacked by dogs, a hedgehog being killed with a catapult and endangered species being trafficked in terrible conditions. Image: Pic: Badger Trust Richard Benwell, WCL chief executive, said: “This report exposes a horrifying catalogue of cruelty. “When people can persecute wildlife with so little prospect of punishment, the law is failing the animals it is supposed to protect, which sends a dangerous signal that wildlife crime can be committed with impunity.” The report highlights that there were 625 suspected incidents involving badgers last year, but just 15 convictions. These included badgers filmed being kicked, …

How to help wildlife after a nor’easter

How to help wildlife after a nor’easter

Published by Jenni Sidey

After killing one person and injuring four, the storm that pummeled the northeastern United States for days is finally winding down. But this early “nor’easter” hasn’t just impacted humans. Its wind, waves, and rain have created problems for local wildlife, too. Here’s what experts at the Cape Wildlife Center in Cape Cod, Massachusetts say you should be keeping an eye out for.  Inspect fallen trees When removing any trees that were knocked down, it’s important to check knotholes, nests, and dense foliage for wildlife before chopping them up for removal. “We have seen many an occasion where wildlife remain in the tree even after it comes down,” reads a social media post by the wildlife center.  Monitor birds In the Northern Hemisphere, migratory birds are currently moving south in the fall to winter somewhere warm. Since we are right around the peak of fall migration, birds are a particular concern. Hundreds of thousands of them are flying over Cape Cod in this period, and most will either find shelter early—such as in a tree—or get …

Wildlife will be affected by current drought for years to come, UK government says | Drought

Wildlife will be affected by current drought for years to come, UK government says | Drought

Published by Jenni Sidey

Wildlife in England and Wales will be affected by the current drought for years to come, the government has said. This summer saw large parts of England and all of Wales plunged into a serious drought, with both recording their driest Julys since records began in 1836. The lack of rainfall combined with successive heatwaves and new temperature records have placed a significant strain on water supplies, with demand for water increasing by as much as 30% on the hottest days. Scientists said this extreme weather was only possible due to the climate crisis caused by the burning of fossil fuels. Despite recent rainfall, the National Drought Group said groundwater storage and reservoir levels were continuing to decline, with England’s reservoir storage now 19.7% below average for the time of year and most reservoirs classed as notably or exceptionally low. Tony Grayling, the chair of the drought group and the strategic lead for drought at the Environment Agency, said the environmental impacts of the drought would continue to increase. “The short-term impacts of drought have …

How a Secret Orangutan Breeding Program Is Creating a Baby Boom

How a Secret Orangutan Breeding Program Is Creating a Baby Boom

Published by skeptic

“It’s a girl!” Melissa Peterson exclaims. Just outside the operating room, the hallway erupts in cheers. Joseph Dewane, an ob-gyn, has just delivered a healthy baby via C-section; Autumn Joi Goodwin-Samson, a neonatalist, tends to the newborn still slick with a waxy film. It’s a successful delivery just like any other except for one, minor, difference: The patient is an orangutan. Ruhana—or just “Ru” for short—is one of eight orangutan babies born in a collection of US zoos since the beginning of 2025. For these critically endangered primates, that’s a staggering figure. It’s also not random: The baby boom is the result of a meticulous breeding plan and decades of research to weave a conservation safety net, one birth at a time. “It might seem like it was all a coincidence that everyone was born at the same time, but it was very carefully planned,” says Angie Selzer, a senior animal care specialist with the Fort Wayne Zoo in Indiana and the Orangutan Species Survival Plan (SSP) program coordinator. The SSP has been coordinating breeding …