Latest news with #endangered
BBC News
11 hours ago
- General
- BBC News
Endangered moon bears arrive at wildlife park in Tenby
Four critically endangered Asian black bears, also known as moon bears, have arrived in Wales for the first from poor conditions, Martha, Irene, Gigi, and Coco arrived at Manor Wildlife Park in Tenby, Pembrokeshire, on 27 June to enjoy a custom-built habitat complete with pools, climbing frames, and a arrival highlights global conservation efforts, supported by the wildlife park and the charity Free the Bears, which has rescued more than 1,000 vulnerable black bears from across Ryder Richardson, owner of Manor Wildlife Park, said she looks forward to visitors meeting the "magnificent" bears and learning about efforts to protect the species. Critically endangered due to habitat loss, poaching, and the illegal wildlife trade, more than 10,000 moon bears are still believed to be held in bile farms. Native to 18 countries, Asian black bears are known for their V-shaped chest markings and white patch on their females typically weigh between 65kg (143lb) and 90kg (198lb), with a life expectancy of up to 25 there are no current plans to breed the bears, the Manor Wildlife Park said it may do so under guidance from the wider breeding programme. Ms Ryder Richardson said the park is "beyond thrilled" to welcome the moon bears."These charismatic creatures, with their striking crescent-shaped chest markings and playful personalities, have already stolen the hearts of our team," she Ryder Richardson said their arrival marks a new "exciting" chapter in the park's mission, with more animals expected this summer in the tiger and red panda enclosures, she also explained in a "world first", two tunnels will link the new Asian black bears enclosure to the tigers', allowing species to swap spaces for enrichment. Chief executive of Free the Bears Matt Hunt said the charity works across Asia to raise awareness of the wildlife trade and support enforcement efforts to combat it. He added that, despite challenges, they remain committed to "protecting, preserving, and enriching" the lives of bears worldwide, alongside partners such as Manor Wildlife Park.
Arab News
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Eel-eating Japan opposes EU call for more protection
TOKYO: Japan's agriculture minister said Friday the country would oppose any call by the European Union to add eels to an endangered species list that would limit trade in them. Eel is eaten worldwide but is particularly popular in Japan, where is called 'unagi' and traditionally served grilled after being covered in a sticky-sweet sauce. Minister Shinjiro Koizumi told reporters that the country carefully manages stock levels of the Japanese eel in cooperation with neighboring China, Taiwan and South Korea. 'There is a sufficient population, and it faces no extinction risk due to international trade,' he said. Japanese media have reported that the EU could soon propose that all eel species be added to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) which limits trade of protected animals. There are 19 species and subspecies of eel, many of them now threatened due to a range of factors including pollution and overfishing. In 2014, the Japanese eel was listed as endangered, but not critically endangered, by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, which cited factors including habitat loss, overfishing, pollution and migration barriers. Protecting the animal is complicated by their complex life cycle, which unfolds over a vast area, and the many unknowns about how they reproduce.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
India investigates 'unnatural' death of five tigers
India has launched an investigation after an endangered tigress and her four cubs were found dead in a protected forest in the southern state of Karnataka, an official said Friday. State forest minister Eshwar Khandre said the "unnatural" deaths were "extremely tragic and distressing" and that an investigation team had been formed. Local media reports said forest officials suspected poisoning. The tigress had reportedly killed a cow days earlier, and poison may have been laced into the carcass, which her cubs also fed on, according to The Times of India. "If there has been any negligence, or if the tigers died due to any reason, I have ordered criminal action against those responsible," Khandre said. Sustained conservation efforts have led to a steady rebound of the big cats' numbers in India. According to the latest census, there are over 3,600 of them in the wild in India -- 75 percent of the global tiger population. But shrinking habitats and expanding human settlements have also fuelled conflict. More than 600 people were killed in tiger attacks over the past decade, according to official figures. sai/pjm/dhc
CNA
a day ago
- CNA
India investigates 'unnatural' death of five tigers
NEW DELHI: India has launched an investigation after an endangered tigress and her four cubs were found dead in a protected forest in the southern state of Karnataka, an official said on Friday (Jun 27). State forest minister Eshwar Khandre said the "unnatural" deaths were "extremely tragic and distressing" and that an investigation team had been formed. Local media reports said forest officials suspected poisoning. The tigress had reportedly killed a cow days earlier, and poison may have been laced into the carcass, which her cubs also fed on, according to The Times of India. "If there has been any negligence, or if the tigers died due to any reason, I have ordered criminal action against those responsible," Khandre said. Sustained conservation efforts have led to a steady rebound of the big cats' numbers in India. According to the latest census, there are over 3,600 of them in the wild in India – 75 per cent of the global tiger population. But shrinking habitats and expanding human settlements have also fuelled conflict. More than 600 people were killed in tiger attacks over the past decade, according to official figures.
ABC News
2 days ago
- Science
- ABC News
University of Queensland researchers survey population of endangered White's Seahorse
Researchers hope a survey of endangered seahorse populations in Queensland waters will lead to a better understanding of a fish "very little" is known about. White's Seahorse is found in seagrass beds along Australia's east coast, and scientists say their presence can illustrate the health of marine ecosystems. The species grows to between 10 and 15 centimetres, and is considered endangered in New South Wales and Queensland, as well as at a federal level. Lead researcher and PhD candidate at the University of Queensland (UQ), Rowan Carew, said most of research on the the seahorse has been done in NSW. "In Queensland we really don't know how many there are, how they live, what kind of habitats they're on and what kind of threats they're facing," Ms Carew said. Associate Professor Karen Cheney from UQ's school of environment said research would mostly take place in Moreton Bay, where the Brisbane River met the sea, as well as on the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast. "We keep seeing them, we know that they're here, we just don't know anything about their population structure, what type of habitat they like to live on, and we just don't know how many we've got," she said. Recorded sightings by citizen scientists have given researchers an understanding of where solid populations might be, but Ms Carew said it was difficult to establish how many seahorses there were because there was no "baseline". "In terms of future conservation, we are trying to figure out what areas are going to be the most important," she said. Ms Carew said seahorses were "really awesome, charismatic little fish" that were considered an "indicator species" for ecosystem health. White's Seahorse can alter their colour, both long-term for camouflage and in short fast patterns, which are part of their mating rituals. The seahorses are "relatively monogamous" and do a replication of their mating ritual every morning to "learn each other's movements", Ms Carew said. "They colour match and flash different colours when they do their mating dance in the morning," she said. Dr Cheney said the species — sometimes called the Sydney Seahorse — was listed as endangered in NSW in 2020 after research showed some populations declined by 90 per cent over six years. That research led to conservation projects aimed at seahorse habitat, as well as breed and release programs in Port Stephens and Sydney. She said "very little" was known of the fish in Queensland, and researchers needed more data before similar efforts could be replicated in the state. Ms Carew said it was not even known if the Queensland seahorses were "genetically the same as the seahorses in Sydney". She said genetic testing would be a part of the project she hoped would lead to more studies in Queensland.
