Category Archives: Uncategorized

Recently we have discussed Sika deer and their antlers. Chinese research on Sika antlers shows promise for improvements in tissue regeneration. Meanwhile, research on sacred Japanese Sika deer presents another very interesting genetic result. It is also fuelling calls for more protection. According to Phys.org the sacred status of some Japanese Sika deer has createdContinue reading “Sacred Japanese Sika Deer Show Genetic Divergence From Less Protected Deer; Conservation Urged”

Many people strongly dislike spiders. The red-hourglass family is particularly feared and distrusted. Now comes word that brown widows annihilate black widows in much of the country. They are cousins, of course, and members of the family Latrodectus. Latrodectus is from the Greek and means biting in secret. There are about 30 species in theContinue reading “Spider Wars: Brown Widows Annihilate Black Widows From Florida To California”

Last week we talked about tissue regeneration. We noted that the process deer use to grow antlers shows promise for advances in regeneration of bone and other tissues. But mouse antlers? Forget any thought of five point buck mice. According to Field and Stream the actual “mouse antlers” are odd antler-like growths on the headsContinue reading “Mouse Antlers? Can Mice Grow Antlers? Yes, Sort Of, New Research Shows”

Organ, tissue and bone regeneration are something of a “Holy Grail” for medical science researchers. The ability to regenerate tissue would be of enormous health benefits to people. Deer antler bone has recently been in the news for its regenerative quality. Humans already have some regenerative capacity. Liver cells and some other cells in theContinue reading “Scientists Study Deer Antler Bone As Possible Key To Human Tissue Regeneration”

India is very conscious of conservation of its wild felines. A new Gir lion report examines the 240 deaths recorded in a two-year period. The death toll does not alarm authorities. India Today says that is because the majority of deaths are from natural causes. Authorities are instead looking at the “unnatural” deaths, which canContinue reading “Gir Lion Report Delves Into 240 Deaths In A Two-Year Period; Officials Believe Deaths Remain At Accetable Levels”

It is a conservationist’s nightmare: Burmese pythons on the move in Florida. The Asian snakes face only moderate risk of predation and are estimated to have annihilated 90 percent of the mammals in some parts of the Everglades. Reports say the deadly snakes are now expanding their range. The ugly story began decades ago. AsContinue reading “Invasive Species Alert: Burmese Pythons On The Move: Expanding Range From Everglades Into Other Parts Of Florida”

,The Orange County Zoo has welcomed a juvenile jaguar to its new Large Mammal Exhibit, according to a zoo news release. Mickey, an 11-month-old from Arizona, joins two orphaned mountain lion sisters rescued in Thousand Oaks and two other large cats. A mountain lion and another jaguar. He came from the World Wildlife Zoo. AccordingContinue reading “Orange County Zoo Welcomes Juvenile Jaguar; “Mickey” Joins Orphaned Mountain Lion Sisters In New Zoo Habitat”

Cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus ) face a precarious future. A few Asiatic cheetahs (Acinonx jubatus venaticus) survive in Iran. Most cheetahs live in Africa. The fleet cats are poached, their cubs are stolen and they face deadly competition from other predators. Which is where Project Cheetah comes in. The cats have been extinct in India, onceContinue reading ““Project Cheetah” Well Under Way; A Dozen More Cats Arrive in India As Part Of Cheetah Reintroduction Drive”

Here at Wild Animal News we are always amazed by how much isn’t known and how much is new to science. It is not that snail-eating snakes were previously unknown. Its the discovery of five new species almost at once. The snakes were found in rainforest and tropical forest in Ecuador and Peru. The discoveryContinue reading “Scientists Discover Five New Snail Eating Snakes; Reptiles Use Curved Teeth And Flexible Jaws To Pry Snail Out Of Its Shell”

How to differentiate human animals from other animals has been a scientific and ethical issue for centuries. Once upon a time the answer seemed obvious. But that has changed over time. When I was much younger humans were thought to be the only animals to use tools. No so. Now we use a “mirror test.”Continue reading “Something To Know: Only Nine Species (Besides Humans) Can recognize Themselves In A Mirror Test”