HOT TOPICS | Wildlife crime must receive a strong signal, for the Planet

Long jail term for Malaysian ex-police officer caught with Critically Endangered Pangolins Almost six years after he was caught for illegal possession of 81 pangolins, a former police officer has been sentenced to one of the longest jail terms Malaysia has meted out for a crime involving the world’s most trafficked mammal, reports TRAFFIC.  Datuk Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim, director General of the Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia (PERHILITAN), the agency responsible for Sharwandy’s arrest and successful...

New UK government posts including environment

The King has been pleased to approve the following appointments: Rt Hon Keir Starmer as Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury Rt Hon Angela Rayner MP as Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. She will also be Deputy Prime Minister Rt Hon Rachel Reeves MP as Chancellor of the Exchequer Rt Hon Pat McFadden MP as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Rt Hon David Lammy MP as Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and...

Tuesday Plant Talk | Rescuing our vital plant species – refocusing on extinctions today

We are witnessing the unprecedented collision of deep time—the time of species evolution and the formation of complex mutualistic and other relationships—with the historical time of human-induced climate change and habitat destruction. Plants are fundamental to our sense of place, and their gradual disappearance not only disrupts the ecosystems on which we rely for survival, but also deeply ingrained forms of spiritual and communal belonging that we mourn. The observation – from among scientists, artists, humanists, and horticulturists – that...

Creature Feature | Emu

  Fast Facts about this incredible creature…. The emu is a species of flightless bird endemic to Australia, where it is the largest native bird. It is the only extant member of the genus Dromaius and the second-tallest living bird after its African ratite relative, the common ostrich. The emu’s native ranges cover most of the Australian mainland. The common ratite species include ostriches, emus, rheas, cassowaries and kiwis. Compare the eggs of different birds, including emu. Emus are the...

Habitat snapshot | All about ponds

Why ponds are good and important…. They add visual interest to your garden.  The pond can become a focal point They draw and help wildlife. They help gardeners They can hide street noise. They can cut down on mosquitoes. … But… They require time and labor to construct They cost money to create. They can pose a safety issue. Pond ecology vocabulary Some common pond myths Profile of a pond   Building your own pond Some charities working with ponds...

Plant Talk | What makes a tree a ‘tree’

We know that some of the world’s tallest trees are amongst the tallest/longest living things Coast redwood of California – Sequoia sempervirens – 116.07 m Himalayan cypress – Cupressus torulosa – 102.3 m In botany, a tree is a perennial plant with an elongated stem, or trunk, usually supporting branches and leaves. In some usages, the definition of a tree may be narrower, including only woody plants with secondary growth, plants that are usable as lumber or plants above a...

From bush to butcher: the game meat value in northern Tanzania

  In just four years Tanzania has rolled out an ambitious suite of regulations to address its poaching crisis and ensure ordinary people can benefit from sustainable, safe, and legal trade in wild meat. If successfully applied, the GMSR hold the potential to holistically address threats to both people and wildlife, connecting issues such as poaching, zoonotic and other food borne diseases transmission, climate change, poverty, sustainable development, and alternative livelihoods.” Qudra Kagembe, TRAFFIC East Africa’s Project Officer and lead...

World albatross Day 2024

  Did You Know – the albatross has one of the widest wing spans of any bird! The albatross, as a seabird, gets caught in many fishing lines…..which result in them drowning! “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. For more info click here  In Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poem “The Rime of the Ancient...

Tuesday Tree Talk | Trees as habitats

    We know that trees are excellent carbon store, slowing or stopping soil erosion. There’s more aspects too….. Trees support the lives of many large organisms. are used for food, shelter, and sites for reproduction. are used for resting, nesting and for places from which to hunt or capture prey. When the trees mature, animals are able to enjoy delicious fruits and foraging opportunities. LearnFromNature  Tweet  ...

Creature Feature | Red kites were once persecuted …..

Red kites were considered vermin across Britain and Ireland during the 16th century and their numbers were rigorously controlled. While public perceptions have changed, gamekeepers and farmers still illegally shoot, poison and trap red kites for the perceived harm they cause to livestock and game. In company with many other species of bird and mammal, they were seen as a direct threat to food supplies at a time when the human population was growing. There are now Red Kite re-introudction...

First ever Vietnam bird race

More than 120 avid nature lovers and photographers gathered in the wetlands of Tràm Chim National Park located in the Mekong Delta to take part in the very first, Việt Nam Bird Race. The race was jointly organised by Tràm Chim National Park, WildTour, Việt Nam Wildlife Photography Club and BirdLife International, with sponsorship from Mapletree Investments and Canon Vietnam. Additionally, the event also drew over 80 school children from Ðồng Tháp province to participate in an art competition focusing...

Creature Feature | How birds fly…..?

Why Do birds fly? Birds are ready to fly at any moment in order to escape from predators or to catch prey. It is essential for them to preen their feathers in order to also remove mites, ticks, and other parasites. Q. How does a bird fly forward by moving its wings up and down? A: Birds have feathers on their wings, called “primary feathers,” which help them fly forward. Primary feathers have a difference in width on the right...

World Oceans Day 2024… Awaken New Depths

  “We face one of the greatest threats ever to our blue planet and all its inhabitants: the climate crisis. It is all too clear that we need a healthy ocean for a healthy climate, and vice versa, and we need significantly stronger local, national, and international action from both government and corporate leaders. Now. We have launched a new multi-year action theme: Catalyzing Action for Our Ocean & Climate. By growing the movement through transformative collaboration, we aim to...