Monthly Archives: February 2023

From a distance it is easy to overlook the harsh realities of real conservation. Many of the animals people most want to save are carnivores. And carnivores eat the animals absolutely critical for the survival of people in poorer countries. In the Western world the loss of livestock to predators can create economic distress. InContinue reading “Real Conservation In Action: Women In Botswana Struggle To Save Their Cattle And The Lions Who Want To Eat Steak”

Tigers (Panthera tigris) are one of the most recognizable symbols of India and are watched very closely. Tiger conservation is the responsibility of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) The recent announcement that 30 have died within a span of two months does not immediately concern officials. The Indian Express delves into this troubling aspectContinue reading “Indian Officials Count 30 Tiger Deaths In Two Months; Say Death Toll Is Within Expected Limits”

Pennsylvania’s Game Commission will consider re-introducing the American marten (also known as the pine marten) into the state. Re-introduction of annihilated animals and “de-extinction” are emerging as key efforts to battle extinctions. Martens were eliminated in Pennsylvania around 1900 by over trapping and deforestation. The Pennsylvania Game Commission’ s Bureau of Wildlife Management has madeContinue reading “Pennsylvania Considering Reintroducing Pine Martens To State Forests – Vanished From State Around 1900”

United States Customs and Border Protection agents are claiming victory over an invasive “pest.” The pest is one of more than two dozen species of “ebony bugs’” The bug was found in a shipment of cut flowers coming north from Mexico. The driver and the shipment were turned around. How significant a pest the creatureContinue reading “Invasive Species Alert: Ebony Bugs Blocked At US Border; Officials Say They Stopped “Pest” On Its First Try To Enter Country”

Joe Rogan is no stranger to controversy. He has now entered into one of the consistent controversies in the Wildlife world. He believes he saw a black panther outside his Texas home. Other people make the same claim. What is it people are actually seeing? People all over the world report sightings of animals thatContinue reading ““Black Panthers” in Texas? Controversalist Joe Rogan Says He Saw One Outside His House; Wildlife Authorities Skeptical”

We have reported extensively on the risks California mountain lions (Puma concolor) face in California. That danger was recently highlighted by the death of P-22. He was suffering from old age but was also very likely hit by a car in his last days. The most famous mountain lion was a long-time subject of studyContinue reading “New Mortality Map Shows Danger Zones For California Cougars; Despite Protections And Public Support Lions Face Great Danger”

Recently we reported on a new conservation alliance, The Partners Conservation Alliance which hopes to end “top down” i.e. mandated conservation goals. The alliance says those goals may not reflect the desires or the reality of the local peoples and may “marginalize” them. The goal is to balance the needs of the local people, theContinue reading “Legal Swedish Wolf Hunt Stirs Anger; Highlights Difficult Nature Of Balancing Competing Interests”

Texas is a vast state of many extremes. From politics and culture to geography the state is unique. More that 260,000 square miles in size the state has different geographical zones and much to be proud of. But Texans have much to be worried about too, including a large list of invasive species. Invasive speciesContinue reading “Invasive Species Alert: From Fire Ants To Feral Hogs The Lone Star State Faces A Texas Sized List Of Wild Invaders”

Recently we shared the good news. An ant-eating aardvark was saved by a timely blood transfusion organized by two Ohio zoos. Today we share more troubling news. Giant South American anteaters are facing possible extinction. One of the reasons is traffic fatalities. That is a subject we have covered repeatedly. The anteaters (Myrmyecophaga trydactyla) reportedlyContinue reading “Road Accidents Among Reasons Giant South American Anteaters Are Facing Potential Extinction”

Conservation of wildlife is always in the news. But the terms and goals of conservation are always changing. Historically, conservation often took the form of controlling hunting of favored game animals. Many groups still work to properly manage game animals. The presence of game animals is critical to predators and the rest of the chain.Continue reading “New Global Conservation Alliance Is Forming To Address Changing Concepts In Conservation And Biodiversity”