Latest news with #wildlifePhotography
Daily Mail
05-07-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
The eagle has landed! Hilarious moment white-tailed bird of prey ignores 'no landing' sign to have a quick perch
A rare white-tailed eagle swooped onto a sign stating, 'No Landing - Wildlife'. The bird of prey had no care in the world as it happily ignored the wooden warning sign. Instead, it rested for a few minutes observing the local scenery in Poole Harbour, Dorset. A group of amateur wildlife photographers embarking on a safari cruise were lucky enough to spot the majestic creature. A member of the group said: 'Incredible encounter with the white-tailed eagle pair from our Summer Safari Cruise yesterday. 'Female G466 was sat close on the RSPB Arne shoreline, ironically, on a no-landing sign. 'Her partner was also sat in a nearby tree and they proceeded to fly past the boat low over the water, to attempt hunting over the gull breeding islands. 'This was an amazing sight and something that has been common in recent weeks as the eagles take advantage of the breeding gulls.' The cruise, organised by the Birds of Poole Harbour, watched the spectacle at RSPB Arne. White-tailed eagles are Britain's largest birds of prey, with a giant wingspan of over eight feet. In the UK white-tailed eagles are strictly protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004. It is an offence to intentionally take, injure or kill a white-tailed eagle or to take, damage or destroy its nest, eggs or young. It is also an offence to intentionally or recklessly disturb the birds close to their nest during the breeding season. Violation can result in a fine of up to £5000 and/or a prison sentence of up to six months.
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Near-Extinct Mammal Called One of 'Rarest' in the World Caught on Camera in National Park
A critically endangered fox, called "one of the rarest mammals in the world," was recently caught on camera by a Northern California photographer in a National Park. As SFGate reported, wildlife photographer Randy Robbins caught incredibly rare footage of a Sierra Nevada red fox. While estimates vary, researchers believed there to be less than 100 individuals of its species left in the wild. The footage was taken last winter in Lassen Volcanic National Park in rural northeastern California. "Sierra Nevada red foxes are uniquely adapted to life at high elevations, sporting thick coats and dense fur that transforms their paws into snowshoes," the Yosemite Conservancy reported. "But being well-suited to a cold, snowy climate isn't enough to protect this mammal. The fox, which was officially designated as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act in 2021, is extremely rare in its namesake range." Related: 3 Grizzly Bears Dead in 2 Separate National Park Incidents Robbins told SFGate that the footage was captured by a camera set up in the national park in October 2024. He believes the footage is from between November and December of last year. 'I was like 'Man, this is just a beautiful scene.' It was kind of overlooking the whole background. It was just perfect,' he said 'when I got it home on the computer was really when I realized this is special.' Check out Robbins' footage below, and read more about his discovery over on SFGate. Near-Extinct Mammal Called One of 'Rarest' in the World Caught on Camera in National Park first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 30, 2025
CBC
14-06-2025
- General
- CBC
Rare spirit bear cub living near B.C. highway stirs excitement, concern, as word of its existence spreads
Shelley Lindaas has long dreamed of seeing a Kermode bear cub in person. An amateur wildlife photographer based in Terrace, near B.C.'s north coast, she spends much of her free time hiking the backwoods and camped out with camera equipment in one spot for hours at a time, waiting to catch a glimpse. But her goal of seeing the rare, light-furred variant of a black bear came almost accidentally this year as she was driving along the highway and spotted the cub, with its family, just off the road. "They were sitting right on the highway," Lindaas said. "I get unusually excited when I see any wildlife ... but I was off the charts excited." Kermodes, also known as spirit bears, are a subset of black bears that live in B.C.'s North and Central Coast regions. Their unique colouring occurs due to a recessive gene passed on through black bears. The official animal of British Columbia, a recent survey estimated their population to be fewer than 500, making them one of the rarest bear sightings in the world. For generations, First Nations limited information about the bears out of concern they would be targeted for hunting and trapping, but in more recent years some groups have taken to highlighting their existence as a way of raising wider awareness about the need for ecosystem management on B.C.'s coast. And that debate, about how best to handle it when an animal many dream of seeing is discovered, is playing out in miniature in Terrace where many are celebrating sightings of the cub while others worry posting photos and video of it will put the animal at risk by drawing too many people to the region. Concerns over habituation Lindaas, who grew up in the northwest and whose father was a hunter and trapper, didn't see her first Kermode until 2023, after years of exploration in the region. Since then, she's managed to track a few bears and document them through her Instagram account and a calendar she sells locally. But, she said, she doesn't generally share her photos until after she's confident the bears have moved away from the area she spotted them in. "I always wait until August before I post pictures, and I get bombarded by other wildlife photographers about where I took them," she said. "If I have friends in the area, I'll tell them, but I try to keep it quiet." She made an exception in posting the photo of the cub because there had already been so many other sightings and posts on social media that it seemed "everyone knew." Indeed, a search through local Facebook groups reveals multiple photos and videos of the bear, along with its mother and two black bear siblings. Along with those posts are comments from locals worried about too many people getting too close to the bear, a concern that has been amplified by the conservation officer service, which put out a message urging people to give the bears space and not do anything — such as feeding — that might acclimatize them to human contact. "It's natural for people to be curious if they see a white bear on the side of the road, I understand," said Sgt. Micah Kneller of the Terrace conservation officer service. "We just encourage people that if they see the bear, or bears in general ... they move on fairly quickly." He said some of the most concerning behaviour would be rolling down windows to make noise to try and get the bear's attention, as well as anything that might lure them toward the highway or other people. He said while there'd been no reports of people feeding the bears yet, he worries it will become a greater risk as more tourists less familiar with wildlife behaviour came to the region over the summer. "Inevitably some traveler ends up throwing food toward some of these bears so they can get a better picture of them," he said. Even without the food, he said, frequent vehicle stops would get the bears used to traffic, leading to a greater likelihood to them getting hit or, in a "worst-case scenario," crawling onto vehicles, forcing them to be killed by the conservation officer service. Hundreds of black bears killed annually Provincial statistics show hundreds of black bears are destroyed each year as they are deemed a risk to humans, with more than 8,000 over a 14-year span from 2011 to 2024. Statistics are not kept specifically for Kermodes, but hunting the rare white bears is illegal, with penalties of up to $100,000 and/or one year in prison. Lindaas said it is important for members of the public to understand that although the photos she takes look like she's up close and personal with the bears, she uses specialized equipment that lets her zoom in and enhance images from great distances. "It's a heavy, heavy edit," she said. "It's really frustrating when you're giving them a respectful distance but then people pull up, like, two feet from it with their iPhone and they're leaning out the window, stressing the animal out." She encouraged people to get familiar with animal behaviour and follow the advice of wildlife officials to stay far away when encountering any wild animals.
Jordan Times
18-05-2025
- Jordan Times
Through the lens: Capturing the wild beauty of northern Jordan
A rare black vulture soaring against a clear blue sky in northern Jordan (Photo by Ammar Omari) IRBID — In the quiet hills and valleys of northern Jordan, where morning mist brushes over olive groves and birdsong breaks the silence, Ammar Omari has found his calling. A mechanical engineer by training and a teacher by profession, Omari is also one of Jordan's most passionate wildlife photographers, devoted to revealing the hidden beauty of the Kingdom's natural life. Hailing from Irbid, Omari began his journey into wildlife photography in 2013 with modest equipment and a simple goal: to capture the birds he saw in the countryside near his home. 'I started with basic gear, just trying to photograph the surrounding birds,' Omari told The Jordan Times. 'I was amazed by the variety and beauty of the wildlife in our area, especially the birds.' Over the past three years, Omari has sharpened his skills and invested in advanced equipment, focusing on northern Jordan's rich ecosystems, a haven for migratory and resident date, he has photographed approximately 95 bird species, both resident and migratory, including the Dead Sea sparrow, the common kingfisher, the black-winged kite, and the greenfinch. He also turns his lens towards land animals, capturing images of Arabian red foxes, golden jackals, and chameleons.'One of my favourite sightings was the black vulture,' he said. 'It is a migratory bird and extremely rare to spot in the Middle East. The photo I took isn't my best in terms of quality, but the rarity of the bird makes it one of my most special moments.' Omari's dedication has earned recognition. In 2024, he won first place in a local wildlife photography competition organised by the Jordan Photography Society. His work has also crossed regional borders. National Geographic Arabic published three of his photos, bringing attention to Jordan's lesser-known biodiversity. 'I hope through my work to spread awareness about the beauty of natural life in Jordan and the importance of keeping it safe and alive,' Omari said. His fieldwork often requires long hours of silence, patience, and stealth. 'This craft needs a lot of patience,' he acknowledged. 'Sometimes, I have to disguise myself and hide for hours just to get close enough for the perfect shot.' 'I want my photos to inspire admiration and action,' Omari said. 'Jordan's natural heritage is precious, and we must protect it for future generations.' His images tell a story of resilience and beauty, urging viewers to appreciate the ecosystems that thrive in this small but vibrant country. Balancing teaching with his passion, Omari dreams of the future. 'I hope to host my own exhibition one day,' he said, 'to share Jordan's wild wonders with the world.' For now, he continues his quiet mission, one frame at a time, revealing vast worlds that invite us to explore and safeguard Jordan's natural legacy.
