A huge marine reserve in the Pacific Ocean has led to the recovery of tuna and other migratory fish around its borders, according to a study. The Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument in Hawaii is almost four times the size of California. Fishing is banned inside the zone, but a spillover effect has boosted tuna stocks in nearby waters, scientists have found. Marine protected areas, or MPAs, act as sanctuaries for marine life. Scientists on board fishing boats found that the marine protections put in place had also boosted tuna species just outside the marine reserve. Catch rates for yellowfin tuna … Continue reading A large marine protected area increases tuna stocks

Confiscated ivory from elephants killed more than 30 years ago has turned up in recent raids, say scientists. The tusks were once part of a stockpile seized from poachers and held in sealed containers by the government of Burundi. In this study, researchers used DNA and carbon dating techniques to show that some of that stored material is now in the hands of smugglers. The authors say seizures should be destroyed and not stored. Between 2007 and 2016 some 100,000 elephants were killed for their tusks in different parts of Africa. The study examined samples from four major seizures made by law enforcement … Continue reading Ivory seized decades ago still turning up in raids

An Australian zoo is investigating the sudden deaths of seven female quokkas and two yellow-footed rock-wallabies. Why the marsupials died remains a mystery but “plant toxicity” is believed to be the most likely cause, an Adelaide Zoo spokeswoman said. The vet team is confident it is an isolated incident but further investigation is under way, she said. No animals from other exhibits have shown signs of being unwell since the deaths, which happened last month. “The loss of one animal, let alone a large group in a sudden incident such as this, is extremely upsetting, particularly for those who care … Continue reading Australian zoo to investigate mysterious deaths of Quokkas and wallabies

Police in India have shot dead a tiger after it killed at least nine people in Champaran, Bihar state. Dubbed the “man-eater of Champaran”, the beast was killed after a hunt by around 200 police officers and district officials. Some officers patrolled on elephants to find it. The male tiger had been terrorising communities around the Valmiki Tiger Reserve. India is home to more than 70% of the world’s wild tigers. India’s tiger reserves – protected areas where the animals can live – have not expanded at the same rate as its tiger population. That has forced some big cats … Continue reading Tiger that killed nine people in India shot dead

More than 200 whales have been found stranded on a remote beach on the west coast of Tasmania, Australia. Half of the pod, thought to be pilot whales, are believed to be still alive. Rescuers are being sent to the area. It’s unclear what caused the whales to beach on a sandflat at the entrance to Macquarie Harbour, the same remote location where Australia’s worst stranding occurred two years ago. It comes a day after a separate mass stranding in northern Tasmania. The incident on Tuesday saw 14 young sperm whales found dead on King island, in the Bass Strait. Experts … Continue reading Update: 230 whales stranded on Tasmanian beach

Fourteen young sperm whales have died in a mass stranding on a beach in Tasmania, Australia. The whale carcasses were discovered by locals on King Island and reported to authorities on Monday afternoon. The reason for the stranding is unknown, but wildlife biologists and a vet have been sent to investigate. Whale strandings are not uncommon in Tasmania – experts say the island state is a “hotspot” for such events. An aerial survey will determine whether more animals are stranded in the area, a state government spokesperson said. Sperm whales, which are considered vulnerable globally, can grow up to 18m … Continue reading Sperm whales die in mass stranding on Australian beach

Ecuador has launched an investigation into the killing of four Galapagos giant tortoises, which prosecutors fear were hunted and eaten. Remains of the reptiles were found in a national park on Isabela, the largest island of the Galapagos archipelago. Killing the endangered animals has been banned since 1933 but more than a dozen have been hunted in the last two years. Tortoise meat was once considered a delicacy, but those who hunt them now face up to three years in jail. In September 2021, park rangers found the remains of 15 Sierra Negra giant tortoises on Isabela. Photos of their … Continue reading Ecuador fears Galapagos tortoises were hunted and eaten

Cat owners in one German town will be allowed to let their pets out for the first time in three months when the authorities lift a special lockdown. People in Walldorf, in the south-west, were ordered in May to keep their cats indoors to protect an endangered bird. Cats were only allowed to venture outside if they were kept on a leash no more than two metres (6ft) in length. But the animals will again be allowed to roam free from 00:01 local time on Monday. If a cat escaped while the lockdown was in force, owners were told to … Continue reading Cats to be freed from special lockdown in German town

A walrus that had become a popular attraction in the Oslo Fjord has been put down out of concern for the safety of the public, Norwegian officials say. The walrus, nicknamed Freya, rose to fame after clambering on to boats to sunbathe – sometimes sinking them. People refused warnings not to get too close to the 1,300lb (600kg) animal, putting her and themselves at risk. On one occasion, police blocked off a bathing area after the walrus chased a woman into the water, local media say. Last week, Norway’s fisheries ministry issued a photograph of a large group of people, … Continue reading Walrus Freya who became attraction in Norway’s Oslo Fjord put down

A dolphin has bitten two more swimmers on the arm, in what is believed to be the latest in a string of attacks on a Japanese beach. According to local media, at least one man was taken to hospital on Thursday after encountering the sea mammal. Japanese officials believe the same dolphin is responsible for at least six related attacks so far this summer. While dolphins are not usually aggressive to humans, hostility towards swimmers is not unheard of. Local media reported that one man was bitten on both his arms on Thursday morning, which was followed by another attack the … Continue reading Two more swimmers bitten by a dolphin in Japan

A beluga whale has been spotted in France’s River Seine, and officials are now deciding how to save a mammal more suited to cold Arctic waters. They say the animal is currently near a lock at Vernon, about 70km (43 miles) north-west of Paris. Members of the public are being urged to keep away from the whale that appears to be underweight. Experts are puzzled as to why the whale has strayed so far south from its natural habitat. “The challenge now will be to help feed it, and try to accompany it towards the ocean,” Lamya Essemlali, the head … Continue reading France to rescue beluga whale stranded in River Seine

Indonesian tourism workers have gone on strike over a dramatic hike in the price of tickets to see Komodo dragons. Visitors will now be charged 3,750,000 rupiah (£206.40) to visit the main islands in Komodo National Park – up from 200,000 rupiah (£11) before. The government hopes to limit visitor numbers and protect the endangered lizards from overexposure to humans. But local workers say it will scare off tourists completely, causing their income to dry up. Indonesia is home to around 3,300 rare Komodo dragons, according to Reuters news agency. The world’s largest lizard have razor-sharp teeth, a venomous bite, … Continue reading Indonesians strike over increase in entry price to see Komodo dragon