Nature

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Q&A | WHY …. do bats hang upside down?

The drop and fly theory When you watch a bird take off from the ground, you will notice they need a run-up. In order to get off the ground, flying animals needs to achieve what scientists call “lift” to overcome gravity. Many big birds, and bats, do not have strong enough wing muscles to generate the lift required to take off from a standing position (like a helicopter can). Bats cannot run so it would be almost impossible for them...

Birds of Australia … What bird can YOU spot?

Since it’s Aussie Bird Count this week – “The Aussie Bird Count is for all ages and involves observing and counting the birds that live near you, be it in your garden, the local park, the beach or even outside your office window! You don’t need to be an expert birder to take part — all you need is a little enthusiasm! ”   Here is a guide to the birds of Australia  source: pinterest...

A creature of two worlds – the brush tailed possum – cheeky, yet deadly!

My latest feature in Wildlife Australia magazine, about the possum seen as delightful and cheeky in Australia, grilled as a deadly havoc-spreading menace in Aotearoa / New Zealand     There’s a well-known Aussie species, with a benign influence here, but lethal consequences once brought into Aotearoa New Zealand, even if for all the ‘right reasons’ . Henricus Peters shares the story of the brush-tailed possum…     The Australian context  The brush-tailed possum, Trichosurus vulpecula, is the most widely distributed possum in...

Threatened species day 2024 – saving wildlife

Today is Threatened Species Day in Australia Here are some key facts: What is The IUCN Red List? Established in 1964, The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species has evolved to become the world’s most comprehensive information source on the global conservation status of animal, fungi and plant species. The IUCN Red List is a critical indicator of the health of the world’s biodiversity. Far more than a list of species and their status, it...

Celebrating the vulture

International Vulture Awareness Day shines a spotlight on the highly important yet vastly misunderstood birds – vultures. Join the hundreds of organisers and thousands of participants that celebrated IVAD over the years to give these underappreciated guardians of nature a voice and drive meaningful conservation action....

‘Humanity is failing’: latest report on the Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef will continue to deteriorate, largely due to climate change, and the window to secure its future is rapidly closing. That is the sobering conclusion of a major new report into the state of the reef. Here is the Executive Summary of that Report: Executive summary The window of opportunity to secure a positive future for the Great Barrier Reef (the Reef) is closing rapidly. The Reef remains a vast and spectacular ecosystem and one of the...

Dogs – man’s friend, Mother Nature’s helper

Today – August 26th – is International Dog Dag….. Dogs are known as ‘man’s best friend’ including having more love for their human than themselves Conservation Dogs in New Zealand “ The Conservation Dogs Programme mentors, certifies and supports a nationwide network of dog-handler teams. These teams detect New Zealand’s protected species or unwanted pests.”  ( https://www.doc.govt.nz/our-work/conservation-dog-programme/ ) Hunting dogs in Africa or wolves in America….....

Education about plants & gardens

  BGCI is thrilled to announce the 11th International Congress on Education in Botanic Gardens! Since its inauguration in 1991 to the 10th Congress in 2018, each International Congress has brought together educators, practitioners, curators, researchers, and academics, to explore cutting-edge developments in botanic garden education. Held every 3-4 years, these congresses have served as global forums, bringing representatives together to exchange ideas, discuss future priorities, and foster collaborative efforts. Previous congresses have tackled themes spanning sustainability, global awareness, biodiversity...

Biggest threats to the ‘man of the forest’

    August 19th is WORLD ORANG UTAN DAY. Here are the biggest threats to the species…. Never before has their very existence been threatened so severely. Economic crisis combined with natural disasters and human abuse of the forest are pushing one of humankind’s closest cousins to extinction. The main threats in today to the survival of orangutans: Loss of habitat through deforestation Palm oil plantations Illegal hunting Illegal pet trade   Orangutans have lost well over 80% of their...

A to Z of wildlife : New Zealand & Australia | Albatross

The Albatross Task Force: reducing albatross deaths by 99% The Albatross Task Force, led by BirdLife International and its UK partner, the RSPB, is an international team of experts on a mission to reduce seabird bycatch by 80% in some of the world’s deadliest fisheries.   Taiaroa Head is the only mainland breeding ground of any species of albatross, and there is nothing that compares with the sheer exhilaration of having a huge Northern Royal Albatross with an over three-metre wingspan...

Why elephants are important….World elephant day 2024

The theme for World Elephant Day 2024 – August 12 – focuses on “Personifying prehistoric beauty, theological relevance, and environmental importance.” This theme highlights the importance of preserving natural habitats to ensure the survival of elephants. RECENT NEWS A groundbreaking study on African elephant communication has revealed that elephants, like humans, use ‘names’ to address each other. Researchers at Save the Elephants, Colorado State University, and ElephantVoices have recorded vocalisations from wild African elephants in Kenya that suggest they address...

Australian ‘Dinosaur trees’ get help from UK

Botanist James Wong joins Forestry England at Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest in Kent today to help plant six critically endangered Wollemi Pine trees – the first global ‘metacollection’ to save the iconic species from extinction. Botanist and broadcaster, James Wong, joins Forestry England at Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest in Kent on 31.10.2023 to help plant six critically endangered Wollemi pine trees. The planting event is the first stage of an international conservation effort to establish a flourishing, genetically...

World Heritage – the highlights ‘reel’ of recent meeting

The curtain has just come down on the 46th Session of the World Heritage Committee in New Delhi.  Here is the end-of-meeting blog by Tim Badman, Director, World Heritage, IUCN IUCN brought a delegation that was not only diverse, but represented the whole of the Union, including global, regional, and country-office staff and Commission specialists. IUCN Regional Councillor Vivek Menon and the World Commission on Protected Areas Regional Vice-chair Sonali Ghosh attended the event as well. There were also IUCN...

Resolving wildlife conflict between elephants and humans …. without killing

Death of Umi sparks concern over electric threat to Sumatran elephants This headline from Mongabay highlights a very real wildlife problem – one where the ‘solution’ is itself creating even more problems – dead elephants. ” Electrified fences set up around farms are an emerging threat to the critically endangered Sumatran elephant, conservationists told Mongabay Indonesia following a series of deaths this year in Aceh and Jambi provinces.” Here are the facts: Electric fences are common deterrents in Africa and...

World Heritage | Globally unique ‘Scotland flow country’ added

  Planet’s largest blanket bog is first peatland to be designated by Unesco after 40-year campaign As reported in the Guardian : The Flow Country, a vast and unspoiled blanket bog that carpets the far north of Scotland, has been made a world heritage site by Unesco. The planet’s largest blanket bog, the Flow Country covers about 1,500 sq miles of Caithness and Sutherland, and is the first peatland in the world to be designated by Unesco, after a 40-year...