Category Archives: Uncategorized

Here at Wild Animal News we keep finding more examples of the way advances in DNA and other genetic testing are overturning long-held beliefs about relationships between members of anima families. Felines have undergone numerous family realignments. Now it is the king cobra’s turn. King cobra genetics studies have now split the species into four.Continue reading “King Cobra Genetics Study Shows World’s Longest Highly Venomous Snake Is Actually Four Separate Species”

This blog has been glad to report on major new underwater discoveries that reveal hidden secrets of the world’s oceans. Now comes the report that tagged tiger sharks have taken explorers to what is now thought to be the world’s largest seagrass forest. Of course the tagged tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier) were not looking forContinue reading “Tagged Tiger Sharks Lead Researchers To Amazing Underwater Seagrass Discovery”

Ethiopian wolves (Canis simensis) are one of the world’s rarest canids and they are also Africa’s most endangered predator. Ethiopian wolves also have another distinction: they are the first canids found to relish nectar and consume it in quantity. Found only in Ethiopia, the wolves, also known as red jackals or simien foxes, inhabit sevenContinue reading “Ethiopian Wolves Have A Sweet Tooth; First Canid Predators Found To Relish Nectar”

Readers of this blog will know that inbreeding in constricted wild animal populations is a threat to many species. Inbreeding has many negative results and can easily lead to local extinction. Now, University of California researchers are considering genetic rescue as a tool in the battle. The focus of the genetic rescue effort is aContinue reading “Genetic Rescue May Be a Breakthrough Tool To Rescue An Endangered California Red Fox, Battle Inbreeding Elsewhere, UC Researchers Say”

.Very soon the adage “extinction is forever” may have to be abandoned. Scientists around the word are perfecting methods that may bring back animals as diverse as wooly mammoths and dodo birds. A thylacine genome breakthrough may soon speed the return of the Thylacine to the land of the living. The thylacine (Thylacinus cynocephalus) wasContinue reading “Thylacine Genome Breakthrough May Hasten De-Extinction Of The “Tasmanian Tiger,” Enthusiastic Researchers Say”

Despite the recent death of the only free-ranging male, authorities in India plan to continue with the Indian cheetah project. According to the India Express there has been enough success for the ambitious project to continue. The plan behind Project Cheetah is to return African cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) to central India. The fleet cats wereContinue reading “Indian Cheetah Project To Continue; Two-Year Anniversary Suggests Marginal Success Is Enough To Go Forward”

Perhaps taking a leaf from the Liberty Canyon wildlife corridor, India is considering wildlife corridors for four national parks. According to The Tribune, the suggestion for Indian wildlife corridors comes from a consortium of Indian conservation agencies. Indian wildlife corridors in national parks would follow a relatively new conservation precedent. Conservationists recognize that isolated pocketsContinue reading “Indian Wildlife Corridors Under Consideration As Nation Wrestles With Question Of How To Protect Wildlife And Genetic Diversity”

Ocelots (leopardus pardalis) were once a common feature of the Texan landscape. But a number of threats including car strikes, urbanization and habitat loss have sharply reduced their numbers. Texas ocelots may now number fewer than 100. Texas A&M University is seeking to change that. According to the Corpus Christi Caller-Times the school’s Kingsville campusContinue reading “Texas Ocelots Struggle To Survive; Texas A&M To Open Research Center To Preserve The Vanishing Texan Cat”

India is wrestling with conservation issues for numerous wildlife species. Recently, the country has had a setback with an ambitious attempt to reintroduce cheetahs to India. Gujarat, India has now stepped into the limelight with a regional conservation plan aimed at India’s threatened caracals (Caracal caracal). According to the Hindustan Times , Gujarat intends aContinue reading “Gujarat, India Steps In To Save Endangered Caracal, Plans To Open Captive Breeding Center For Critically Endangered Cat”

Bobcats (Lynx rufus) are one of America’s two species of lynx. They are found all over the United States except for Alaska, Delaware and Hawaii. They are of least concern for extinction. Some live in Southern Canada and there is a population in Mexico. Now, Indiana bobcats are expected to be the subject of proposedContinue reading “Indiana Bobcats Subject Of Proposed New Hunting, Trapping Rules As State Wildlife Agency Deems Population Strong Enough To Support Culling”