Category: Wildlife Trade

Infant pangolin destined to be turned into alcoholic beverage

Pepsi should have been safe in his mother’s care. Instead, he was about to be submerged in a jar of rice wine to become a novelty alcohol product in Asia. It is horrific, that somewhere in the forests of Laos, this tiny pangolin’s life was torn apart by wildlife traffickers. Stolen from the wild and without the protection of his mother, Pepsi became another victim of the cruel, illegal wildlife trade. At an age when infant pangolin Pepsi should have been with his mother, in the wild, he was about to be made into an alcoholic drink. No baby should have to endure that. In Laos, infant pangolins are ripped from their mothers and drowned in rice wine, with the vile potion falsely believed to have medicinal value. Source: JITTRAPON KAICOME/The Telegraph In Laos, a brutal and illegal practice sees infant pangolins stolen from the wild, killed, and their tiny bodies submerged in jars of rice wine. This is sold either as a novelty product or purchased by people who falsely believe the cruel concoction holds medicinal value, despite there being absolutely no scientific evidence to support this belief. It is nearly impossible to believe that anyone could be so cruel as to rip a helpless, infant creature from its mother, let alone to drown the baby in alcohol. But that’s exactly what happened to little Pepsi, a critically endangered Sunda pangolin native to Southeast Asia. For the pangolins of Asia, this heartbreaking story is all too common. Fortunately for Pepsi, a good Samaritan stepped in as the killing was about to happen. The infant was rescued and then turned over to our partner, Laos Conservation Trust for Wildlife (LCTW), which cares for thousands of endangered animals every year. Pepsi was saved at the very last moment by a good Samaritan who refused to look away. Now in safe hands, this tiny infant is finally getting the care he deserves. Source: LCTW Terrified, dehydrated and desperately weak, infant pangolin Pepsi was another victim of humanity’s demand for wildlife products. Pangolins stay with their mothers for three to four months. Pepsi was just a few weeks old when he was rescued. It was a miracle he was still alive, and touch-and-go whether he would survive. These gentle, secretive animals are extremely fragile, and raising a baby without its mother is one of conservation’s greatest challenges. Please donate today and give Pepsi a second chance at life. Every $500 raised covers the cost of vital milk formula for a month. Pepsi needs round-the-clock care and feeding to grow strong enough to forage for the ants that pangolins live on. For several months, he will be given specialized milk formula and until he can begin the process of soft-release into a safe, protected wild area. Pepsi’s recovery will take months of dedicated care. Source: LCTW Pangolins are the most trafficked mammals on Earth, and are rapidly being driven towards extinction. Every individual saved, like Pepsi, presents hope for the entire species. Millions of pangolins have been stolen from the wild for their scales, despite there being no scientific evidence that their scales have medicinal value. Entire populations have been devastated by poaching and trafficking. That is why today, we must do everything in our power to help Pepsi survive and thrive, so he may one day be released into a monitored forest where he can live free and safe from poachers. Please donate today.

They thought they were rescuing a penguin, what they found astounded them

When Pingu the pangolin was confiscated from criminal traffickers in Cape Town, the authorities were baffled because they did not know what kind of animal they had. When they called for help, based on the description they provided, rescuers believed it was a penguin in distress and rushed to the scene with equipment designed to rescue a seabird. When they arrived, they found something very different — a tiny, frightened pangolin curled into a ball. A rescue nobody expected. Meet Pingu, who was thought to be a penguin, but turned out to be a pangolin. Source: ASI/David Barritt Pangolins are the most trafficked mammals on Earth. Millions are killed for their scales, which are falsely believed to have medicinal value in parts of Asia. Africa is now the center of the trade and unscrupulous criminals are ripping pangolins from the wild at a horrifying speed. Our partner, Umoya Khulula Wildlife Centre in South Africa, takes pangolins rescued from the wickedly cruel illegal trade and rehabilitates them before returning them safely to the wild. Pangolins are shy, gentle and pitifully defenceless. Pangolins don’t have vocal cords, so they can’t even cry for help. They are easy victims for poachers, with a terrible fate in store when caught, often descaled while they are alive and then dropped into boiling water and cooked for food in restaurants. Pangolins are gentle, quiet and completely defenceless, with no voice to call for help. They are also the most trafficked mammals on Earth, taken from the wild at an alarming rate. The little survivor, now called Pingu — named after a cartoon penguin — had been moments away from being trafficked for her scales. She was quickly flown to our partner sanctuary, where she is slowly recovering. But caring for a pangolin is incredibly costly and demanding. Why does Pingu needs a bodyguard day and night? Pangolins are nocturnal, sensitive and easy to catch. Pingu must be protected 24 hours a day. When she wakes, she goes on long walks to feed on ants — always accompanied by her dedicated bodyguard, Thomas Mosiamadi. Wherever Pingu goes, Thomas follows to make sure she is safe. Rehabilitating a pangolin like Pingu can take many months. She requires constant monitoring, special nutritional formula and round-the-clock care. At night, Thomas sleeps in the same room to supervise her care. Without intense care, Pingu would not survive. Meet Thomas, Pingu’s dedicated bodyguard. Wherever she goes, he follows, on her walks to feed on ants and through every month of her rehabilitation. Source: ASI/David Barritt Pangolins are so endangered that every life saved is a major victory. Please help us protect and care for Pingu and the other rescued pangolins. Your donation today will help provide the specialized care, food and protection Pingu and others like her desperately need until they can return safely to the wild. Please donate today.

Massive Seizure Of 500 Elephant Tusks In Tanzania Raises Alarming Questions About Global Ivory Trade

Article written by WAN Editorial Team Originally published by World Animal News, 16 June 2026 A massive seizure of 500 elephant tusks in Tanzania is shining a spotlight on the devastating toll the illegal ivory trade continues to take on elephants across Africa. The case has sparked renewed calls for Tanzanian authorities to look beyond a single arrest and investigate the larger trafficking networks that may be responsible. Wildlife advocates say seizures of this magnitude often point to organized criminal operations that extend far beyond one individual. Police in Dar es Salaam have arrested a North Korean national accused of the illegal possession of hundreds of elephant tusks with the intent to sell them, in a case that has raised concerns about the criminal syndicates driving the global ivory trade. Despite decades of international efforts to combat ivory trafficking, elephants continue to be slaughtered for their tusks. African elephant populations have plummeted from an estimated 12 million a century ago to roughly 415,000 today, with poaching for the ivory trade remaining one of the species’ greatest threats. Large-scale ivory busts like this one serve as a stark reminder that criminal organizations are still profiting from the slaughter of one of the world’s most iconic species. Much of the ivory trafficked from Africa has historically been destined for markets in Asia, where demand has fueled decades of poaching and contributed to devastating declines in elephant populations across the continent. Maliki Wardjomto, Head of TRAFFIC East Africa, said: “Every major bust should trigger deeper, intelligence-led investigations to identify the networks, financiers, and routes behind the trade. “Without this, we risk addressing only the symptoms rather than the system sustaining wildlife trafficking.” Wardjomto added: “TRAFFIC works closely with the Tanzanian Police, prosecutors, and judiciary to strengthen responses to wildlife crime, and we are confident that these institutions will treat this case with the seriousness it deserves and pursue strong, coordinated follow-up action.” This is not the first time authorities have intercepted large quantities of ivory. Over the years, major seizures in Africa and Asia have exposed international trafficking routes linking elephant poaching hotspots to illegal wildlife markets. While some shipments have been intercepted, conservationists warn that many more may have slipped through undetected. In recent decades, conservation efforts, anti-poaching initiatives, and international ivory bans have helped reduce elephant losses in some regions. Yet poaching, habitat loss, and human-wildlife conflict continue to threaten elephant populations, while traffickers exploit international smuggling routes to move illegal ivory across borders. As TRAFFIC noted: “This is a major seizure. But seizures should never be the end of the story.” For every tusk seized, there is an elephant that lost its life. Conservationists hope this case will lead investigators beyond a single suspect and toward those responsible for financing, coordinating, and profiting from the illegal ivory trade. Ultimately, protecting elephants requires more than confiscating ivory; it requires dismantling the syndicates that continue to fuel demand, finance poaching, and profit from one of the world’s cruelest wildlife crimes.

Cape Town International Airport sting nets man with 150 venomous scorpions

Article written by Agence France-Presse (AFP) Originally published by CBS News, 15 June 2026 Authorities arrested a 28-year-old man with 150 venomous scorpions at Cape Town International Airport.  The man had concealed the live arachnids between his clothing inside his luggage, South African police said. His arrest on Friday (12 June) followed an intelligence operation conducted by the SAPS Kuilsriver Stock Theft and Endangered Species Unit in collaboration with CapeNature.  “He was arrested under the Nature and Environmental Ordinance Act, being in possession of a wild animal,” police said in a statement, without naming the man. He appeared in court on Monday (15 June). Police released an image of the scorpions, which appear to be individually wrapped in plastic. The scorpions have been handed over to a wildlife facility for safekeeping, while officials assess their market value. Wildlife trafficking remains a major threat in South Africa, one of the world’s most biodiverse countries. Last August, six people, including a well-known rhino breeder, were charged in South Africa in connection with an international rhino horn trafficking network. Crime syndicates target iconic species such as rhinos and elephants, but also lesser-known creatures including pangolins and reptiles, feeding a lucrative global black market. South African authorities arrested a 28-year-old man whom they caught trafficking 150 venomous scorpions through Cape Town airport, police said. Supplied: South Africa Police

Critically endangered, taped and BOUND

A horrifying discovery has just been made in Madagascar. Critically endangered radiated tortoises were found alive inside suitcases after being confiscated from wildlife traffickers. Each terrified animal had its legs forced into its shell and its body tightly wrapped in packaging tape so it could not move. Then they were crammed into luggage and prepared for transport across borders — treated like cargo instead of living, feeling creatures. This is the brutal reality of the illegal wildlife trade. From the moment a critically endangered radiated tortoise is stolen from the wild, its suffering begins – and may continue for up to a CENTURY. Confiscated from wildlife traffickers in Madagascar, these critically endangered radiated tortoises were found bound with tape and crammed into suitcases, still alive. Source: TSA Radiated tortoises are among the world’s most beautiful tortoises, known for the dazzling yellow star patterns on their shells. But their beauty has become a curse. Stolen from Madagascar’s forests to be sold as exotic “pets,” these gentle animals are condemned to unimaginable suffering. They can live for more than 100 years. That means a tortoise stolen from the wild today could endure a century of captivity, neglect and misery. Barely alive when rescued. When rescued by our long-time partner, Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA), many tortoises are barely alive — emaciated, dehydrated, starving and traumatized. Some do not survive the ordeal. Others are only alive because help reached them in time. Since January alone, TSA has confiscated 1,038 radiated tortoises from traffickers across Madagascar — every one of them stolen from the wild — including the ones found in the suitcases. Found with broken shells, open wounds and bodies ravaged by starvation, these radiated tortoises were stolen from Madagascar’s forests for the illegal pet trade. Source: TSA Our partner urgently needs to relocate 1,000 tortoises to their larger rehabilitation center – a challenging journey of roughly 620 miles (1,000km) to the south of the island. With nearly 19,000 rescued tortoises already in its care, TSA urgently needs help relocating 1,000 vulnerable tortoises from its headquarters in Antananarivo to a larger rehabilitation center in the Androy region. This area is perfect for these shelled creatures to thrive, thanks to the unique formation of its arid forest ecosystem. Without enough space, overcrowding creates extreme stress, disease outbreaks, injuries and even death. You can help save 1,000 lives. After rescue, each tortoise is carefully cleaned, rehydrated, fed and treated for injuries and illness. Slowly, they regain their strength and get a second chance at life. If we can raise $3,700 (£2,760), we can help transport 1,000 rescued tortoises safely to the rehabilitation center in the Androy region and provide a YEAR of food, treatment and care for them. Will you help save these critically endangered animals? Every survivor matters. Each rescued tortoise is cleaned, rehydrated and treated — given a second chance at life. But space is running out and these tortoises need your help today. Source: TSA Radiated tortoise populations have crashed by 80% in the last 30 years because of poaching and habitat destruction. Every tortoise that survives is a victory against wildlife traffickers — and a chance for this species to survive. Please donate as generously as you can today. Without urgent support, more tortoises could be lost forever.

Calling One Acre of Forest “Secure Habitat” for Grizzly Bears Is Scientific Nonsense

Adapted from original article written by David Stalling Originally published by The Wildlife News, 5 June 2026 The U.S. Forest Service and Fish and Wildlife Service have done something remarkable – and not in a good way. They have effectively declared that a single acre of forest can qualify as “secure habitat” for a grizzly bear. One acre. For decades, federal land managers and wildlife scientists used a common-sense definition of secure habitat. To qualify as a secure habitat, a patch of land generally had to be part of at least 2,500 contiguous acres located away from open motorized routes and developed sites. The standard reflected a basic biological reality: grizzly bears need large blocks of relatively undisturbed habitat where they can forage, travel, rest, and avoid potentially dangerous encounters with people. In 2024 and 2025, however, the agencies quietly abandoned that long-standing definition. Under the new approach, a habitat patch can be as small as one acre and still be counted as “secure habitat” on agency maps and analyses. The agencies did not make this change because new science suddenly showed that grizzly bears can thrive in tiny habitat fragments. No such science exists. Instead, the definition changed as federal agencies sought to justify a major logging and road-building project that would not have met the previous standard. That is not science-based management. It is bureaucratic convenience. A one-acre patch of forest surrounded by roads, logging activity, and human disturbance does not provide the kind of security the term was originally intended to describe. Grizzly bears now occupy only a small fraction of their historic range in the Lower 48 states. They remain vulnerable to human-caused mortality and face growing pressures from expanding development, increasing recreation, road construction, livestock conflicts, and climate change. This is precisely the moment when habitat security should be strengthened, not diluted. The Larabee Hat project lies within one of the most important wildlife corridors in the Northern Rockies. Scientists have long emphasized that maintaining connectivity between these populations is essential for long-term grizzly recovery. Yet instead of protecting this corridor, federal agencies are approving extensive logging and road construction while simultaneously redefining habitat security into meaninglessness. The scientific community understands that grizzly bears require large landscapes. They require connected landscapes. They do not require semantic games. Perhaps most telling is that this is not the first time federal agencies have attempted to reduce secure habitat standards. A federal court previously rejected an effort to reduce the minimum secure habitat patch size from 2,500 acres to 10 acres, concluding that the agencies had failed to adequately justify the change and had not demonstrated that it would protect grizzly bears. Now the agencies have gone even further – from 2,500 acres to one acre. The issue is not whether a grizzly bear can physically stand on one acre of land. The issue is whether a one-acre fragment surrounded by disturbance can honestly be counted as “secure habitat” for purposes of conservation planning and recovery. Common sense says no. Science says no. Yet federal agencies now say yes. Conservation standards should follow science. Definitions should reflect biological reality. And federal agencies should not be permitted to discard decades of habitat-security principles simply because they complicate a logging project. A grizzly bear does not care about bureaucratic definitions. It cares whether the landscape provides enough secure habitat to survive. One acre is not habitat security. It is a redefinition designed to make habitat loss disappear on paper.

Incredible maiden flight for Eastern Cape captive-bred lappet-faced vulture

Article written by Kyran Blaauw Originally published by Daily Maverick, 7 June 2026 A young lappet-faced vulture makes history with a remarkable 1,500km flight after its release from captivity, offering hope for the future of this endangered species in Africa. A young lappet-faced vulture that hatched in captivity in Eastern Cape is soaring far beyond what conservationists had dared hope. Less than a month after being released into the wild, the bird had flown more than 1,500km across southern Africa, travelling through Botswana before reaching Namibia’s Etosha region, one of the species’ remaining strongholds on the continent. The bird is believed to be the first captive-bred lappet-faced vulture released in Africa. “It is a significant milestone. As far as we understand, he is the first captive-bred lappet-faced vulture ever to be released in Africa,” said Vulpro founder and CEO Kerri Wolter. The male chick hatched on 26 September 2025 at Vulpro’s breeding facility at Shamwari Private Game Reserve in Eastern Cape. With only about 160 breeding pairs remaining in South Africa, the species is considered critically endangered locally. “There was a lot of debate whether we release him or whether we incorporate him into our captive-breeding programme,” Wolter said. After genetic testing confirmed he was male, conservationists decided he could contribute more to the species in the wild. “There is no baseline data. We don’t know the survival rates of a captive-bred lappet-faced vulture once released. We don’t know how they move. We don’t know how well they integrate into wild populations.” Possibly the first captive-bred lappet-faced vulture ever released in Africa, this bird was bred and raised at the Shamwari Private Game Reserve in Eastern Cape before being released into the wild in Limpopo. (Photo: Supplied / Vulpro) First flight After leaving the nest in Eastern Cape, the young bird spent several months developing independence before being moved to Hartbeespoort in North West. Because lappet-faced vultures do not naturally occur in Eastern Cape, releasing him there was not an option, Wolter said. Instead, Vulpro sought to mimic nature as closely as possible. The young bird was housed with other tree-nesting vulture species and released at Dabchick Wildlife Reserve in Limpopo at roughly the age wild juvenile lappet-faced vultures would naturally leave their parent’s wings. “Remember, that was his maiden flight. He had never flown. He just took off. I like the saying that he flew where his wings took him.” Wolter said reserve staff monitored him closely in the days after release and supplementary food was provided at a safe feeding site away from power infrastructure and other threats. For four or five days, he remained close to the release site. Then he took to the skies. “Remember, that was his maiden flight. He had never flown. He just took off. I like the saying that he flew where his wings took him,” Wolter said. With a wingspan of nearly 2.8m, the young vulture headed north. Tracking data later showed him crossing Botswana and entering Namibia, where he remains. Whether instinct, genetics or something scientists do not yet understand guided him there remains a mystery. “Did his DNA tell him where to go? It’s impossible to know. But the fact that he almost knew where other lappet-faced vultures would be, and that’s where he flew, is incredible,” Wolter said. Namibia is widely regarded as one of the species’ major strongholds and conservationists suspect the young bird may have joined wild vultures there. “He’s surviving. He’s doing incredibly well. His maiden flight was successful. He appears to be doing pretty well from the tracking. We’re incredibly proud of this bird,” Wolter said. The achievement is also a significant moment for a conservation partnership that began two years ago when Vulpro relocated dozens of vultures from Hartbeespoort to Shamwari in what was then South Africa’s largest vulture translocation project. With an impressive wingspan of 2.8 metres, the young lappet-faced vulture has already travelled more than 1,500 km since its release and is currently believed to be in Namibia. (Photo: Supplied / Vulpro) Conservation beyond the Big Five For Shamwari CEO Joe Cloete, the success highlights the need to focus conservation efforts beyond Africa’s iconic big game species. “A lot of the attention over the last 20, 30 or 40 years has always been on the big animals – rhinos, elephants and wild dogs,” Cloete said. “People have largely forgotten about species like vultures.” Vultures play a critical ecological role by rapidly disposing of carcasses that could otherwise spread disease through ecosystems. Across Africa, populations continue to decline due to poisoning, collisions with energy infrastructure, habitat loss and other human-driven threats. “The vulture numbers are declining rapidly around Africa and indeed around the world for many reasons,” Cloete said. “It is such a massive effort that Vulpro are trying to make to get these vultures back into the wild.” Despite heavy rainfall and flooding disrupting operations in Eastern Cape this breeding season, Vulpro has already confirmed fertility in 24 eggs and expects more. To improve hatching success, the fertile eggs are removed from the nest and replaced with dummy eggs, while the real eggs are incubated under carefully controlled conditions, Wolter said. Once the eggs hatch, the chicks are reunited with their parents, who continue to raise them. Last year, the programme produced 30 chicks and Wolter hopes to match that success this year. Meanwhile, a pair of bonded female Cape vultures reunited earlier this year just in time for Valentine’s Day are thriving, Wolter said. As Daily Maverick reported, the birds were originally separated in the hope that they would pair with males and contribute to Vulpro’s breeding programme, but neither accepted a new mate. “They are totally in love. They don’t have eyes for anyone else. The one chased me the other day because I got too close to their nest,” Wolter said. Although any eggs they produce will be infertile, conservationists hope the pair could one day serve as surrogate parents.     Banner credit: A male captive-bred lappet-faced vulture, bred at

5 reasons for hope in global wildlife conservation

Article written by Miriam Kimvangu Originally published by Getaway, 5 June 2026 While headlines about biodiversity loss and environmental pressures often dominate the news cycle, conservationists, researchers and local communities continue to achieve remarkable successes for wildlife around the world. From the discovery of species new to science to the recovery of endangered animals and ecosystems, the past week has offered several encouraging reminders that conservation efforts can make a difference. Here are six wildlife stories worth celebrating. New species discovered on Angola’s remote plateau One of the most exciting conservation stories of the week comes from Angola, where scientists exploring the remote Lisima Plateau have identified several species believed to be new to science. The expedition uncovered previously undocumented dragonflies, grasshoppers, butterflies, moths and even a fluorescent spider that glows under ultraviolet light. The discoveries highlight just how much of Africa’s biodiversity remains unexplored and poorly understood. The plateau forms part of a region that feeds major river systems including the Congo, Okavango and Zambezi. Protecting these landscapes is important not only for wildlife but also for the millions of people who depend on the water resources they support. New species discoveries help researchers better understand ecosystems and provide stronger arguments for protecting habitats before they are altered or lost. (Source: Reuters) Tiny marsupial continues its comeback in Australia Conservationists working to save the critically endangered Kangaroo Island dunnart have reported encouraging progress in the species’ recovery. The small insect-eating marsupial was pushed to the brink after devastating bushfires swept across Kangaroo Island during the summer of 2019 and 2020. Much of its habitat was destroyed, leaving scientists concerned about the species’ long-term survival. To assist recovery efforts, conservation teams installed artificial shelters throughout affected areas. Recent monitoring suggests the shelters are helping dunnarts survive and reproduce while natural vegetation continues to regenerate. The project highlights the importance of practical, hands-on conservation measures that support wildlife during the critical years following environmental disasters. (Source: ABC News) Birds of prey celebrate conservation milestones Decades of conservation work in the United States are paying off for several iconic bird species. Connecticut recently proposed changes to its endangered species list that would see species such as the bald eagle and peregrine falcon downgraded from their previous conservation status due to population recovery. Both birds experienced severe declines during the twentieth century, largely because of habitat loss and pesticide use. Conservation actions including habitat protection, nest monitoring and restrictions on harmful chemicals have helped populations rebound. Their recovery demonstrates how long-term conservation planning can reverse declines that once appeared irreversible. (Source: CT Insider) Costa Rica strengthens protection for monkeys A landmark court ruling in Costa Rica has been welcomed by conservationists seeking greater protection for the country’s monkey populations. The decision requires authorities and the national electricity provider to address dangerous power infrastructure that has caused thousands of monkey deaths through electrocution over the years. Howler monkeys, spider monkeys and white-faced capuchins are among the species affected by unsafe power lines. By requiring mitigation measures, the ruling could significantly reduce wildlife mortality and improve habitat connectivity. The case also highlights an important aspect of modern conservation. Protecting wildlife often involves adapting human infrastructure to reduce unintended impacts on animals. (Source: The Guardian) A hopeful season for one of the world’s rarest whales Conservationists are celebrating an encouraging breeding season for the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale. Researchers recorded 23 calves during the latest calving season, the highest number observed since 2009. The species remains one of the most endangered large whales on Earth, with only a few hundred individuals believed to remain. North Atlantic right whales face threats from ship strikes, fishing gear entanglements and changing ocean conditions. Every successful calf represents an important contribution to the future of the population. While scientists caution that long-term recovery will require continued conservation action, this year’s breeding success offers a welcome sign of hope for a species that has faced decades of challenges. (Source: NOAA Fisheries)

They’re back! Rhino orphans return to the shores of Lake Kariba

Article written by Tony Carnie Originally published by Daily Maverick, 4 June 2026 Three decades after their parents were evacuated to save them from the bullets of poachers, a group of black rhinos has returned home to Zimbabwe’s Matusadona National Park. The once abundant population of black rhinos in northern Zimbabwe was almost wiped out by gangs of Zambian-based poachers during the late 1980s and early 1990s, prompting a desperate effort to save the survivors. Under the leadership of former Zimbabwe parks chief warden Glen Tatham, scores of these endangered animals were moved from Matusadona and other parks in the Zambezi Valley to more secure sanctuaries in central or southern Zimbabwe during Operation Stronghold. Now, an undisclosed number of their descendants have been flown home to the 147,000ha Matusadona National Park on the southern shores of Lake Kariba. In a statement, the African Parks group said the foresight of moving survivors to other areas had proved critical. This had ensured that the animals were safeguarded through one of its most difficult periods, also preserving the genetic lineage of the animals from the region. “Some of the translocated animals are direct descendants of those moved out of Matusadona more than three decades ago.” The park, now managed by African Parks in terms of an agreement with the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority , was once the core area of the country’s largest contiguous population of black rhino. Matusadona Park Manager Michael Pelham recalled: “I was here in the 1990s when we lost them. I helped capture the last survivors, we crated them and flew them out to safety, not knowing if the species would ever come back. “Having witnessed the rhino’s catastrophic decline in Matusadona, it is incredibly emotional to see their return. This reserve is synonymous with black rhino, and walking through this landscape recently, there has been an overbearing sense that we are missing an icon. “No words can describe the feeling of seeing these animals arrive back here.” The returned animals were sourced from Imire Rhino and Wildlife Conservancy; Matobo National Park, and one other undisclosed location, loaded into crates and airlifted to the park. Following a period of monitoring in containment bomas, they will be released in phases into a secure Intensive Protection Zone in the national park. Each animal is fitted with a tracking device, enabling real-time monitoring and rapid response to any signs of stress or conflict after release. The translocation was made possible through philanthropic support from the European Union, Global Wildlife Fund and Thomas and Sara de Swardt, with funding for preliminary preparation provided by the Rhino Recovery Fund. ZimParks Director-General Professor Edson Gandiwa described the return as a historic event for the park. “It is a testament to what is possible when government, conservation organisations and local partners work together with shared purpose.

Infant orphan with fractured back leg needs life-saving care

When a treefeller in South Africa cut down a palm tree without thinking twice, it set off a heartbreaking chain of events that left an infant wild animal severely injured, another crushed to death and their mother dead. The surviving animals – two newborn genets no larger than an avocado — were rushed to our partner’s vet clinic. Although the little male seemed fine, it quickly became apparent that the female – weighing just 6.7oz (190g) and now orphaned – had a terrible leg fracture and a further injury to her tail. Weighing just 6.7oz (190g), this tiny survivor faced enormous challenges from the very start. She relies on compassionate people like you to help support her recovery. Source: Kalahari Wildlife Project Infant genet needed a pin inserted into her leg after being severely injured falling from a tree. Help this orphan now. The injured infant needed emergency surgery to insert a pin into her tiny, fractured leg to give it any hope of healing. This pin will remain for around four weeks to give the leg the stability it needs. Only time will tell if she regains the ability to be released into a protected nature reserve. Either way, she will need intensive rehabilitation for a year. If she cannot be released, she will remain in the care of a sanctuary for life – all because humans continue to encroach on the natural habitats of our planet’s precious wildlife. These orphaned genets are small enough to fit in the palm of a hand. Round-the-clock care from our partner gives them the specialist treatment they need to survive and have a second chance. Source: Kalahari Wildlife Project This helpless little creature is not the only animal requiring critical care right now. Every year, our partner, the Kalahari Wildlife Project (KWP), rescues hundreds of injured and displaced wild animals, including endangered and critically endangered pangolins, which are frequently confiscated from poachers. These creatures usually arrive traumatized, sick, severely injured or pregnant, and KWP expertly rehabilitates them. Once healthy, pangolins are released into undisclosed, intensely monitored locations that are never revealed to the public. If we can raise $5,720 (£4,270), we can cover the cost of critical care for injured, orphaned pangolins, genets and other animals for an entire month. Our partner works to support wildlife in one of the most spectacular regions of Southern Africa. The Kalahari – a semi-arid wilderness spanning South Africa, Namibia and Botswana – is home to hundreds of iconic species including the endangered desert black rhino, ground pangolin and African wild dog. From rescue and rehabilitation to carefully managed releases back into protected habitats, the team at KWP works to give these wild animals a second chance at life. Source: Kalahari Wildlife Project Many of the animals KWP treats, have been injured in car collisions or rescued from the illegal trade in wildlife. On the blackmarket, animals are sold – dead or alive – for use in ‘traditional medicine’ or for their body parts to be used as talismans, status symbols or exotic ingredients. Humans are killing our planet’s wild animals at a truly alarming rate. We wipe out millions of land animals every year and, if you include marine animals, that figure jumps to billions. Each animal our partner rescues is critical to the health of the entire Kalahari ecosystem, which sustains everything from the smallest rodents to the largest desert-adapted elephants. With your help today, we can help provide a lifeline to creatures severely impacted by habitat loss, illegal trafficking and other human-related impact. Please donate now.

Wild animal consumption on the rise in Central Africa, study finds

Article written by David Akana Originally published by Mongabay, 21 May 2026 A new study has shed light on the scale of wild meat consumption across Central Africa. According to research led by CIFOR-ICRAF, a roughly 50% increase in the amount of wild meat being consumed is driven largely by growing demand from rapidly expanding urban populations. Published in the journal Nature, the study analyzed data from more than 12,000 households across 252 locations in Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and the Republic of the Congo between 2000 and 2022. Meat from wild animals continues to serve as a primary source of food for millions of people in the region, particularly traditional hunter-gatherers. According to the study, population growth in Central Africa — from 25 million to 140 million people — has sharply increased demand for both food and income, placing additional pressure on wildlife populations. The study determined 31% of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians in the region are currently at risk of extinction. Researchers found annual wild meat consumption rose from about 730,000 tons in 2000 to 1.1 million tons in 2022. “Wild meat is a fundamental component of diets of rural populations, accounting for 20% of the recommended daily protein intake,” the study noted. The report concluded that ensuring the availability of wild meat in rural areas will require reducing its consumption in large urban centers. The study was co-authored by several researchers affiliated with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). In a press statement obtained by Mongabay, Germain Mavah of WCS said the findings reflect a growing threat to wildlife in both rural and urban areas. With the ongoing Ebola outbreak in eastern DRC, the study is also likely to raise renewed questions about the relationship between humans and wild animals, which can cause the spread of zoonotic diseases including COVID and Ebola. The 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa was linked to interactions with wild animals. “Wild meat consumption is a major part of Central Africa’s socio-economic fabric,” said the study’s lead author, Mattia Bessone, an ecologist at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior at the University of Konstanz in Germany. “Measures should be enacted to ensure rural populations can sustainably use this food source.” The report acknowledged that wild meat consumption is deeply rooted in the region’s culture. However, it recommended strengthening alternative protein sectors like poultry and fisheries, while also creating alternative livelihoods and employment opportunities for people currently involved in the wild meat trade. The study further argued that reducing dependence on wild meat within the food system will require greater regional production, importation and distribution of healthy, safe and culturally acceptable alternatives. Banner image: According to WCS, dwarf crocodiles, among the most intensely hunted species in the Congo Basin, are often transported alive from remote rainforest areas to urban wild meat markets to keep the meat fresh during transit. Image courtesy of Thomas Nicolon/WCS

Help critically endangered super tusker elephants and we’ll MATCH your gift

Right now is the most dangerous time of year for East Africa’s remaining, critically endangered super tuskers – elephants with tusks so long, they sweep the ground and which weigh up to 100 pounds (45 kilograms). During the dry season, June to October, these enormous animals migrate between Kenya and Tanzania in search of food and water, crossing vast, unprotected corridors where they are highly vulnerable to being killed. Only 90 remain in all of Africa. The most effective way to protect them from poachers, trophy hunters and communities is with advanced drones. We’ve funded two, but two more are needed. Today, the value of your donation will be DOUBLED – which means if we raise enough funds for a drone, we’ll be able to DOUBLE THAT to fund TWO drones. The super-tuskers of East Africa are the last of an ancient bloodline — magnificent, irreplaceable, and vanishing. Fewer than 30 remain in East Africa, and every single one matters. Source: Harry Collins Photography This week, a generous supporter is MATCHING all donations up to $13,000 (£9,700). If you donate $50 (£37), it becomes $100 (£74). If you donate $100 (£74), it becomes $200 (£150). An ASI donor with a deep love of these animals is offering to match all donations made toward protecting these animals, up to $13,000 (£9,700). That means your gift today will DOUBLE its impact to help super tusker elephants. East Africa’s last super tuskers are not just rare elephants. They are the final guardians of an extraordinary genetic inheritance — the ancient big-tusk bloodline that once defined Africa’s greatest elephants. They are living proof of a genetic legacy that is disappearing before our eyes. Fewer than 30 super tuskers remain in East Africa. Only around 90 are left in all of Africa. Hunted, killed and stripped of the very tusks that define them — only to be turned into trophies, edging one of nature’s most extraordinary bloodlines closer to extinction. Source: Africa geographic Our partner, Conservation Through Tourism (CTT), works across Kenya and Tanzania’s critical wildlife corridors, which super tuskers cross in search of water, food and safety. These corridors are vast, remote and often unprotected — exactly where these elephants are most vulnerable. Using drones, the team can monitor elephants, guide them toward safe water and food sources and help steer them away from human settlements, hunting zones and areas where poachers may be waiting in ambush. This “guarding from the sky” helps prevent deadly encounters before they happen. It dramatically reduces the risk of elephants being poached, shot by trophy hunters or killed after entering human areas in search of food and water. The team protects elephants in three key wildlife corridors, but we are now tackling an area that remains largely unprotected. Super-tuskers must cross largely unprotected corridors to survive. For these elephants, more drones could mean the difference between life and death. Source: CTT To cover this vulnerable corridor, two more drones are urgently needed. These elephants cannot be replaced. If the super tusker gene is lost, it may never return, or it could take centuries to do so. Please donate today. Your gift will be matched, your impact will be doubled and you will help protect the last elephants capable of passing on this rare inheritance.

UAE warns of up to 15 years jail, Dh2-million fine for illegal wildlife trade

Article written by Amal Alduwaila AlHashmi Originally published by Khaleej Times, 26 May 2026 The UAE imposes prison sentences of up to 15 years and fines of as much as Dh2 million on those involved in the illegal trade of endangered species, the Minister of Climate Change and Environment has said. Dr Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak said the country operates a zero-tolerance policy on wildlife trafficking under its commitments to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The minister framed the UAE’s record as an extension of the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, citing the country’s role in breeding and reintroducing the Arabian oryx, sheltering the world’s second-largest dugong population in Emirati waters, and leading international action on falcons and other birds of prey. 100 million mangroves by 2030 The Mangrove Alliance for Climate (MAC), launched by the UAE in partnership with Indonesia, has grown to 47 member nations. The platform promotes nature-based solutions to climate change and supports the expansion of mangrove forests worldwide. The UAE has committed to planting 100 million mangroves nationally by 2030, part of a wider marine agenda that includes major projects to restore and rehabilitate coral reefs and protect fish stocks. “The Emirates is leading major proactive projects to restore and rehabilitate coral reefs, with the aim of enhancing marine biodiversity and protecting fish stocks,” Dr Al Dahak said. Dr Al Dahak said the UAE’s environmental work is rooted in dedicated national efforts that have produced measurable results well beyond the country’s borders. “The UAE’s national programmes have made significant progress in our commitment to achieve the goals of the Convention on Biological Diversity, reaching milestones that extend beyond our geographical borders,” she said. She pointed to pioneering initiatives to regulate the trade of falcons and other birds of prey, ensuring the sustainability of the heritage and safeguarding it against illegal trafficking, as part of a broader effort to embed biodiversity in the UAE’s environmental diplomacy. The minister said the UAE would continue to strengthen its national legislative, regulatory, and technological frameworks and expand its international partnerships, “guided by the firm belief that protecting nature and safeguarding species today are essential to building a sustainable planet and a prosperous economy for future generations.”

War on Iran may threaten conservation of the world’s rarest big cat

Article written by Naina Rao Originally published by Mongabay, 18 May 2026  The Asiatic cheetah, the world’s most endangered big cat, faces an increasingly precarious future as ongoing conflict in Iran disrupts critical conservation efforts, reports Mongabay contributor Kayleigh Long. Once ranging from the Arabian Peninsula to India, the cheetah subspecies (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus) is now confined to just 16% of its former territory, with fewer than 30 individuals estimated to remain in the wild in Iran. Before the war began in February 2026, conservationists observed a rare sign of hope: a female cheetah named Helia was filmed in North Khorasan province with five cubs, the largest litter ever recorded for the subspecies. Bagher Nezami, national director of the Conservation of the Asiatic Cheetah Project, told Iranian media that these were “ID-carded” individuals being monitored by researchers. However,  access to protected areas for nongovernmental groups has now “slowed down considerably,” interrupting long-term monitoring and camera trapping, a local conservationist told Mongabay, speaking on condition of anonymity. There are also fears that conservation vehicles could be misidentified as military targets in the remote desert landscapes where the cheetahs live. Sarah Durant, a research scientist at the Zoological Society of London, emphasized the protection of field scientists, park rangers, and Indigenous peoples during armed conflict is “a matter of urgent international concern.” Beyond the direct impact of combat, Western sanctions on Iran have also taken a toll. “Critical activities such as monitoring, law enforcement and the development of wildlife-friendly infrastructure have declined,” the authors of a 2025 study wrote. “These limitations have contributed to a decrease in prey availability and an increase in direct cheetah mortality, particularly from road accidents.” Road accidents account for more than half of recorded cheetah deaths in Iran, including the devastating 2023 death of a pregnant female that was hit and killed on a road in Semnan province. Reduced patrolling due to the war may further increase risks from poaching and habitat disturbance. Import restrictions have also limited or prevented access to high-quality conservation tech and satellite or SIM-enabled devices that can help track and identify individual cats. The use of camera traps brought controversy in 2018, when nine conservationists from the Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation were arrested and accused of espionage. The current U.S.-Israeli war on Iran will likely mean a reduction in resources dedicated to conservation, said Jamshid Parchizadeh from Michigan State University, U.S., who has worked as a wildlife biologist in Iran. He said he’s doubtful the Iranian government would have funds for wildlife once post-war reconstruction on infrastructure becomes the primary focus. “Before the war, cheetah conservation received limited funding from the government,” Parchizadeh said. “But after the war, I doubt that the government has any money left for the conservation of the cheetah.” Read the full story by Kayleigh Long here.

Three pangolins have been rescued from ruthless poachers. One is fighting to survive

A tiny pangolin named Kuru is clinging to life in South Africa, and he desperately needs your help. When rescuers intercepted poachers during an undercover sting operation, they found Kuru and two other shy, gentle pangolins trussed up and ready for sale. They were shocked by the suffering inflicted on these extremely endangered animals. What they had endured was almost unbearable to witness. Their legs had been bound so tightly with rope that they could not move. The restraints had cut deep into their flesh, leaving horrific wounds and painful abscesses hidden beneath their scales. Kuru was bound so tightly by poachers that the rope cut deep into his flesh, leaving horrific wounds hidden beneath the scales. Source: Umoya Khulula Wildlife Centre Their terrified little bodies were filthy and covered in human waste, because poached pangolins are often hidden in sewers to avoid detection. One female had suffered so horrifically that the veterinary team had no choice but to end her pain. Another, a pregnant mother, was already under such extreme stress that keeping her in rehabilitation could have killed both her and her unborn baby. In a heartbreaking decision, rescuers released her early, hoping to give them their only chance at survival. Now only Kuru remains. Kuru is weak, traumatized and fighting for breath. He needs your urgent help. Kuru is now in the care of our trusted partner sanctuary, Umoya Khulula Wildlife Centre, at a secure, undisclosed location. But he is in a dire condition. He is battling a dangerously low red-blood-cell count, hypoglycemia (dangerously low blood sugar), severe trauma and devastating injuries to his front leg. He is in an extremely fragile state, frightened and exhausted. Yet despite everything humans have done to him, this tiny creature is still fighting to stay alive. Kuru is in critical condition — battling severe trauma and exhaustion. This tiny survivor needs around-the-clock care in his fight to stay alive. Source: Umoya Khulula Wildlife Centre Rescued pangolins cannot survive without specialized, long-term rehabilitation. Kuru needs around-the-clock intensive care. He requires: constant monitoring specialized milk formula wound treatment and medication heating support through the bitter South African winter, now present in full force Please donate now and help save Kuru’s life. Your donation today will help provide the life-saving treatment Kuru urgently needs over the coming months. Every $1,800 (£1,350) raised covers a month of his rehabilitation costs. Kuru will need at least six months of intensive treatment, including tube feeding, medication, wound care, rehabilitation therapy and expert support to help him heal from the unimaginable cruelty he has suffered. If Kuru recovers, he will one day be released into a vast, protected habitat where he can finally live safely and freely. All eight known species on the verge of extinction. Pangolins are the most trafficked mammals on Earth. These gentle, defenceless animals are being driven to extinction by the illegal wildlife trade. That is why every single rescued life matters. The poachers who tortured Kuru have been arrested. Now, we must give this tiny survivor the chance to live. Please donate right away and help save Kuru the pangolin.

This rare monkey is disappearing from one forest — but bouncing back in another

Article written by Rebecca Cairns Originally published by CNN Science, 19 May 2026 Between the branches of broad-leaf evergreens, a pair of blue-ringed eyes stare across the treetops of Khau Ca’s limestone forest. It’s a rare glimpse of one of the world’s most endangered monkeys — and one that field conservationist Canh Xuan Chu relishes. Tonkin snub-nosed monkeys are endemic to Vietnam, and only found in fragmented patches of forest in two of the country’s northernmost provinces, bordering China. A population of just 50 was discovered in Khau Ca in 2002, adding to the handful of locations where the species was rediscovered in the late 1980s and 1990s, after being presumed extinct. The Cat Ba langur, also called the golden-headed langur, is critically endangered with less than 100 remaining on Vietnam’s Cat Ba Island in the greater Ha Long Bay region. Throughout the 20th century, habitat loss and poaching for traditional medicine decimated its population, but conservation efforts on the island have seen the population grow over the past decade. Source: Tim Plowden/Shutterstock Today, the monkeys have all but disappeared from these other habitats. But a new census from conservation non-profit Fauna & Flora International found that Khau Ca’s population has more than tripled since 2002, with 160 of the critically endangered monkeys — an estimated 80% of the entire species — now living in the reserve. “It’s one of our most successful surveys,” says Chu, the project manager for Fauna & Flora’s Tonkin snub-nosed monkey program. The survey’s findings are giving the fragile species a hope for survival — and could be a model for other forests in Vietnam to restore their populations of Tonkin snub-nosed monkeys. Cao vit gibbons have the longest arms of any primate, proportional to their body size, allowing them to swing through the treetops at speeds of up to 34 miles per hour. They were presumed extinct through much of the 20th century, until they were rediscovered in the limestone forests on the border between Vietnam and China in the early 2000s. It’s one of the rarest primates in the world, with just 74 individuals counted during its last population count in 2021. Source: Editorial/Shutterstock ‘Significant increase’ Despite their outlandish facial markings, these monkeys are shy and reserved, avoiding humans and often disappearing at any unusual sounds, says Chu. It’s part of what makes them so difficult to count, a problem that goes back decades. Hunted extensively for use in traditional medicine, and sometimes bushmeat, Tonkin’s snub-nosed monkeys were so rarely seen that by the 1980s, many thought they were extinct. Shortly after discovering the population at Khau Ca, Fauna & Flora set up a conservation field station, and established community conservation teams to protect and patrol the forest, helping to remove snares and report signs of illegal deforestation or hunting. The critically endangered Raffles’ banded langur is found in Singapore and southern peninsular Malaysia, and its fragmented population is threatened by forest clearances for urban development, agriculture and mining. In Singapore, where only around 60 individuals remain, conservationists are trying to reconnect sections of forest with rope bridges over roads, and citizen scientists are helping to collect data to save their habitat. Source: Then Chih Wey/Xinhua News Agency/Getty Images To support communities that would typically make their income from farming or foraging in the forest, the project also creates new income streams, like the patrol groups. Other conservation partners, like the New Nature Foundation and Denver Zoo, are also working to reduce demands on the forest, distributing fuel-efficient stoves that cut firewood needs by 50%. Tran Van On, a member of Fauna & Flora’s community conservation team, has observed a “significant increase” in community awareness around the conservation of the Tonkin snub-nosed monkey. “People are now not only more conscious about protecting this endemic species of Vietnam, but also more aware of the importance of safeguarding forest habitats and other wildlife species,” said On, in a written statement. Banner source: Nguyen Quyet

DNA from Seized Pangolins Is Mapping Global Crime Routes

Article written by Tad Malone Originally published by a-z animals.com, 16 May 2026 Like any other clandestine industry, the illegal wildlife trade generates billions of dollars a year without much of a paper trail. Criminals operate under the cover of night, and money changes hands behind closed doors. The advent of DNA profiling, however, might give authorities a fighting chance in tracking the global span of this illegal and often cruel industry. According to researchers from the University of Toulouse, even minuscule samples of DNA can reveal the trade’s hotspots, trade routes, and destinations. New research published in the open-access journal PLOS Biology shows that even trace samples of DNA can provide clues regarding the flow of exotic animals. To reach these conclusions, researchers used samples from pangolins. Due to the value of their meat and scales as food and traditional medicine, pangolins account for nearly a third of the illegal wildlife trade. Though pangolins have DNA like any other creature, the lack of viable samples previously made it hard for researchers to trace trafficked specimens. However, thanks to a new technique from the researchers behind the study, even trace samples can be used to build a fuller picture of the illegal flow of these creatures. Pricey Pangolins There aren’t many creatures that look like pangolins. Though they are sometimes referred to as scaly anteaters, pangolins sit in a category all their own. For a long time, scientists believed pangolins belonged to a sister group closely related to the order Carnivora, which includes animals like cats, dogs, and bears. More recent genetic evidence has confirmed that pangolins are actually the closest living relatives of carnivorans, despite looking nothing like typical predators. Quite literally, the only mammal covered in keratinous scales, pangolins curl into tight balls that look like bowling balls of armor when threatened. Solitary and nocturnal, these thick-skinned creatures lack teeth but have strong front claws. They use their claws to dig into ant and termite nests, which make up their entire diet. They are important fixtures of their ecosystems, acting as natural pest controllers by eating tens of millions of insects each year. Sticking out in nature can be beneficial, but pangolins have the tragic distinction of being among the most trafficked mammals in the world. The scales that make them so unique fetch a high price due to their use in traditional medicine. Even their meat makes them a target, as some cultures consider it a delicacy. This made pangolins a perfect subject for researchers conducting DNA analysis of the illegal animal trade. Biological Breadcrumbs While the reputation of pangolins as one of the most trafficked animals is well established, scientists previously lacked effective methods for tracing their flow across the global wildlife trade. Simply put, genetic samples of pangolins are hard to come by. Sensing an opportunity for better insight, researchers from the University of Toulouse and the Institute de Recherche pour le Développement in France set out to find better methods. Sean Heighton, Philippe Gaubert, and their colleagues found a solution to the pangolin genetic sample problem by looking into the past. Indeed, they collected over “700 samples of Sunda, Chinese, and white-bellied pangolins from museum collections, field-sites, bushmeat markets, and international trade seizures.” By combining these resources, the researchers managed to build a pangolin genomic map. This revealed certain hotspots for illegal pangolin hunting, including Myanmar, Cameroon, and several other African locations. Furthermore, the researchers found notable trade routes between China and the Indonesian islands. As Sean Heighton explained to Phys.org, the team developed a single gene-capture kit for all eight pangolin species. This makes the genomic tracing process “more accessible, scalable, and practical for real-world pangolin conservation and forensic use.” Further Fact-finding Missions Without this diverse collection of DNA samples, researchers would still be in the dark regarding solutions to the pangolin trade. As Philippe Gaubert explained to Phys.org, their research revealed some surprising facts. He said, “One of the most striking findings was that domestic pangolin trade is largely local, but it overlaps with the same sourcing regions that supply international trafficking—revealing a connected supply chain rather than separate markets.” The team’s findings now make it possible to track trafficked pangolins within just a few kilometers of their geographic origin. While the process is now in place, the researchers acknowledge that data availability remains the true bottleneck. As such, the team behind the study suggests developing a more meticulous DNA database of trafficked animals. This, combined with more standardized sampling agreements and integrations, could make a real dent in the illegal pangolin trade. Considering that several species of pangolins are now endangered due to illegal trade, any new way to track their movements could offer a better long-term outlook.

Big cats displaced after deadly fire destroys their home

Earlier this year, you helped us rush critical support to our partner in South Africa, Panthera Africa Big Cat Sanctuary, after a fire all but destroyed their sanctuary. Some animals were left seriously injured and tragically, a tiger lost his life. Now, the surviving animals – slowly healing from their trauma and wounds — are ready to return. More than anything, they need homes to come back to. We promised Panthera Africa that we would help rebuild when the time came, and that time is now. Can these animals count on you today? Panthera co-founder Lizaene Cornwall could only helplessly watch the destruction of the wildfire. Source: Panthera Africa Big Cat Sanctuary Please help rebuild a sanctuary for big cats who survived abuse, exploitation and now wildfire. After the destruction of the bulk of their infrastructure, Panthera is re-building eight night houses for the big cats in their care. These are designed to protect animals in changing weather conditions and, critically, will also be fire-proof. These structures are especially important for older animals who need extra warmth during winter, which is rapidly approaching in South Africa. Many of the sanctuary’s lions and other cats are elderly, and warmth is vital to their well-being and comfort. Every $4,500 (£3,500) raised builds a night-house for a precious rescued animal – an animal who has endured so much.. Earlier this year, animals watched anxiously as the flames and smoke approached Panthera, threatening the only safe home they’ve ever known. Source: Panthera Africa Big Cat Sanctuary With your support now, we will transform this burnt, damaged big cat sanctuary into the haven the animals deserve in their twilight years. They are desperate to come home, but they need a home to come back to. Fire destroyed their safe place, but it doesn’t have to destroy their future. With your help, the animals can return to the place they love. Please donate generously now.

Elephant Trophy Imports Soar in Trump’s Second Term

Article written by Tanya Sanerib Originally published by Center for Biological Diversity, 6 May 2026 New Case Study Shows United States OK’d More Than 300 Trophies in 2025 A new case study prepared by the Center for Biological Diversity shows that the Trump administration permitted the import of more than 300 elephant trophies in 2025, based on federal government records obtained via the U.S. Freedom of Information Act. By comparison, the first Trump administration reported importing 114 elephant trophies in 2018, following Trump’s 2017 tweet calling elephant trophy hunting a “horror show.” “Why is a president who once decried elephant hunting rolling out the red carpet for the elitist practice of killing these imperiled animals for décor? This about-face is terrible for Africa’s beleaguered elephants,” said Tanya Sanerib, international legal director at the Center for Biological Diversity. “Hunting elephants for sport takes the biggest, healthiest males out of the population, skewing elephant genetics and harming their social fabric. With so many trophy hunters coming from the United States, our government should be helping to police the trophy trade, but Trump officials are instead rubberstamping imports of tusks and heads.” More than two-thirds of the 2025 imports came from Botswana, which reopened to elephant trophy hunting in 2019, after a pause of five years. The country is home to about 140,000 elephants. Local scientists have raised concerns that the country’s annual quota of more than 400 elephants is not sustainable. Since trophy hunters generally remove large mature males who are also threatened by poaching and drought, these elephants could soon be depleted from the population, harming breeding, genetics and elephant social functioning. Despite the harm trophy hunting can cause to imperiled species, pro-trophy hunting organization Safari Club International is asking the Trump administration to entirely eliminate Endangered Species Act permitting requirements for imports of trophies from threatened African elephants, African lions and Argali sheep. A rulemaking petition from the group, obtained under FOIA by Humane World for Animals, formerly called the Humane Society of the United States, illustrates how the trophy hunting industry is trying to take advantage of the current deregulatory agenda. “Safari Club International is pushing an exploitative proposal that threatens hard-won protections for African elephants and other iconic species by expanding the U.S. market for trophy hunting — a market that already dominates global trophy imports of species threatened by trade,” said Sarah Veatch, wildlife policy principal for Humane World for Animals. “SCI is actively lobbying to roll back Endangered Species Act protections that the Fish and Wildlife Service finalized for African elephants just two years ago. If the U.S. becomes an increasingly welcoming market for elephant trophies, it would undermine decades of work and public support to save these important, intelligent animals from extinction.” African elephants are complex, social animals. They work together to nurture and protect their babies, they learn from the experience of elders, and they depend on each other to thrive. Trophy hunters pose a substantive threat to the limited population of “super tuskers,” male elephants with tusks weighing 100 pounds or more, who in recent years have been shot down for trophies in the famed Greater Amboseli-West Kilimanjaro ecosystem on the border of Kenya and Tanzania. A no-hunting agreement for the region among Tanzania hunters had previously been in place since 1994. This is the longest-studied elephant population on Earth, and it has one of the largest remaining collections of super tuskers with some 20-25 mature bulls. Scientists think there are only around 50 super tuskers left in all of Africa. The records analyzed for the case study do not include permits for elephants from this population but do include elephants killed in a hunting area adjacent to the Serengeti. For more details on the elephant trophy permits authorized by the second Trump administration and the harm the trade poses to the species, see the full case study.

At 100, David Attenborough’s message is no longer just about wonder

Article written by Rhett Ayers Butler Originally published by Mongabay, 5 May2026 As his 100th birthday approaches, David Attenborough occupies an unusual place in public life: not a practicing scientist, not quite a conventional journalist, and no longer only a broadcaster. His voice, familiar from decades of natural history programming, has become one of the most recognizable ways the public hears about the state of the living world. That was not always the role he played. When Attenborough began his career at the BBC in the 1950s, the task was more modest. Television was still finding its footing, and natural history programming largely meant showing audiences what they could not otherwise see. Early series such as Zoo Quest were shaped by that spirit. They were exploratory, sometimes improvised, and often framed around the thrill of encountering unfamiliar species. The tone was one of discovery. The unspoken assumption was that the natural world, vast and varied, would endure. As his work evolved, so did the technology that made it possible. Color film, lightweight cameras and, later, digital imaging expanded what could be captured. Attenborough used those tools with unusual patience. His programs lingered on behavior as much as spectacle. Courtship rituals, feeding strategies, and migrations were given time to unfold. His programs did more than show animals; they asked viewers to notice how they lived. Attenborough in Borneo, 1982. Photo by Rex Features This attention to detail became one of his signatures. It reflected a view that understanding begins with careful seeing. Attenborough rarely made himself the story. His narration was measured and often understated. The attention stayed on the animal, the habitat or the behavior unfolding on screen. The approach helped establish a standard for natural history filmmaking. It also shaped how audiences related to the material. Animals were not props for adventure. They were creatures with their own pressures, habits and place in a wider order. For much of the late 20th century, that approach carried a sense of confidence. Series such as Life on Earth and The Living Planet presented ecosystems as intricate but resilient. There were acknowledgments of human impact, though they tended to sit at the margins. The prevailing mood was one of admiration. The natural world was portrayed as something to be appreciated, perhaps even cherished, but not yet as something being pushed toward dangerous limits. That balance began to shift in the 2000s and early 2010s. Scientific consensus around climate change became firmer. Evidence of biodiversity loss accumulated. The changes were not abstract. They appeared in the very subjects Attenborough had spent decades documenting. Coral reefs bleached. Species once filmed in abundance became harder to find. Habitats fragmented. His later work did not abandon the aesthetic that had defined his earlier films. The images remained carefully composed. The storytelling retained its discipline. Still, the framing grew more direct. In series such as Planet Earth II and A Life on Our Planet, the concluding segments took on a heavier purpose. The camera still showed the beauty of forests, oceans and grasslands. The narration made clearer that these systems were under strain. Sir David Attenborough accepting The Perfect World Foundation Award in 2018. Photo by Daniel Wilke What changed was not only the tone, but the purpose. Attenborough began to speak more openly about consequences. The loss of species was no longer treated as a distant or specialized worry. It was linked to broader questions about stability, food systems and climate. The argument, when he chose to make it, was straightforward: understanding the natural world is not a matter of curiosity alone. It is tied to how societies will fare in the decades ahead. He did not always speak in the language of advocacy. His instinct remained to show rather than to argue. Yet the cumulative effect of his later work is difficult to separate from a sense of warning. The authority comes less from rhetoric than from continuity. Few individuals have documented the same systems over such a long period. Fewer still have done so for so many people. There is a restraint in how Attenborough presents these shifts. He avoids exaggeration. He also avoids offering simple resolutions. The closing passages of his recent films often point toward changes in energy use, land management and consumption. They are framed as possibilities rather than prescriptions. This has drawn criticism from those who would prefer a more forceful stance. It has also helped his work remain accessible to people who may not share the same politics. David Attenborough on Lizard Island, on the Great Barrier Reef. Photo by Freddie Claire/BBC/Atlantic Productions The result is a body of work that has changed in emphasis without losing its core method. The early films asked viewers to look closely at the natural world. The later ones ask what follows from that attention. The link between the two is the idea that knowledge carries implications. To see clearly is, eventually, to confront the conditions that make such scenes possible. As his 100th birthday approaches, it is tempting to treat Attenborough as a symbol. He has become one, in part because his career spans a period in which the relationship between people and the natural world has changed so sharply. Yet his influence is more practical than symbolic. He helped establish how nature is filmed, how it is narrated, and how it is brought into public conversation. The arc of his work traces a change in how that conversation is conducted. What began as an effort to reveal the richness of life on Earth has come to include a more sober assessment of its trajectory. The continuity lies in the premise that understanding matters. Not as an end in itself, but as the beginning of responsibility.

Pangolin left permanently disabled after being trapped in a poacher’s snare

When Nthambi was saved from cruel poachers in Malawi, bone protruded from her leg. The criminals did not care that she must have been in excruciating pain. All they cared about was making money by selling this traumatized, severely injured pangolin. Shy, harmless pangolins just like Nthambi are the most trafficked mammal in the world, prized for their scales – used in so-called ‘traditional medicine’ – and meat, considered a delicacy in parts of Asia. “It was immediately obvious that she was very seriously injured. She was missing part of one of her back legs, and the bone was sticking out.” – Lilongwe Wildlife Trust (LWT), Malawi Nthambi underwent emergency surgery to have her leg amputated before being transferred to our partner, the Lilongwe Wildlife Centre (LWC), part of LWT. She was immediately assigned an emergency caretaker to stay with her 24 hours a day, even sleeping in the same room together. Every year, our partner cares for pangolins like Nthambi – animals stolen from the wild and the protection of their families, and sold on the brutal black market, largely to Asian buyers. Animals who are terrified, wounded and in horrendous pain. Although pangolins can survive with a missing limb, it was clear that fragile Nthambi was in terrible pain. Nthambi remained largely immobile, and when she was encouraged to forage for food, she would curl up into a tight ball and refuse to move. Losing a limb in a cruel snare and being ripped from the wild was nearly too much for her. She had to be sedated to be tube-fed each day. Nthambi can get a second chance – but only with your help. As Asian pangolin populations declined, trafficking networks shifted to Africa. Today, these ancient animals are the most trafficked mammal in the world. Source: WCRU/ZXZhang After her horrific trauma, Nthambi’s recovery is slow. She and other rescued wild animals are counting on you to help support their recovery. Our partner rescues and supports countless pangolins and other wild animals, like wild cats and primates, in Malawi. Source: Lilongwe Wildlife Trust LWT can support up to 200 rescued wild animals a day, which includes pangolins, primates, wild cats, antelope and others that have been injured, orphaned or poached in Malawi. Animals like a young baboon called Benja, whose mother was killed for bushmeat. Benja was absolutely terrified on arrival – so much so that staff and volunteers had to sit with him for 24 hours a day, every day. He now has a foster mom, Ivy, and together they will eventually join a new troop. Benja lost his mother to the bushmeat trade. He now has a foster mom, Ivy, and in due time they’ll join a new troop. Source: Lilongwe Wildlife Trust Please donate now. Your gift will help heal Nthambi, Benja and their friends. Your support today is the lifeline these little animals need to heal from the abuse inflicted by cruel humans, and recover, so that they may live in safe, protected areas – free, just as they’re supposed to be. Here’s how your donation will be used: $20 / £15 buys ten days’ worth of antibiotics for sick and injured orphans. $34 / £25 covers two weeks of care for an orphaned baboon like Benja. $68 / £50 pays for milk for the orphans in our partner’s care for a whole week. $135 / £100 buys a heat lamp to keep infant animals warm during critical periods of rehabilitation. $680 / £500 covers food costs for all animals for a week. Your donation today will be a lifeline for these fragile and traumatized creatures. They need you. Please donate right away.

Critically endangered wild dog pups senselessly killed in Zimbabwe

Recently, three critically endangered, painted wild dog puppies were killed by speeding vehicles near Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe. The bewildered pups were trying to cross the busy, unlit, unfenced roadway that separates parts of Hwange when tragedy struck. Without any road sense, they became tiny, heartbreaking victims of drivers unaware of the danger because there are no warning signs. Traffic calming measures are PROVEN to work. Help us raise $30,000 (£22,000) to install them as soon as possible. Also known as ‘painted dogs’ because of their patterned coats, African wild dogs are teetering on the edge of extinction. For years, they have battled shrinking habitats, cruel snares and poaching. Those caught in snares die slow, excruciating deaths over days or weeks. Now, as the species battles to survive, it is being wiped out by speeding cars because motorists don’t even know they’re there. With your compassionate support today, we will help our partner, Painted Dog Conservation (PDC), to install traffic calming measures, including reflective signs and speed bumps in wildlife-rich areas. Snares, poaching, shrinking habitats — and now speeding cars. Wild dogs are fighting on every front. Source: Painted Dog Conservation African wild dogs are teetering on extinction . Every death damages the species’ chance of recovery. Wild dogs grieve their dead, and our hearts break at the thought of mothers mourning their infants. A grieving wild dog may return to the site of a deceased companion for days, vocalize with mournful howls and show signs of depression – such as lowering their tails and heads – after a close pack member dies. Wild dogs like these face many threats — but road kill is one of the most preventable. Slowing down in wildlife areas could save their lives. Source: Painted Dog Conservation The thought of these sentient beings mourning breaks our hearts – and the idea of them being wiped out forever is unconscionable. As caring custodians of our planet’s wildlife, we must do everything we can to help. Road signs and speed bumps are a basic safety measure, but the Zimbabwe economy is in tatters and this is a very low priority in the national park. But we know it is not a low priority for our supporters. Please donate today and help us protect the lives of helpless wild dogs and the future of the entire species.

Chinese court cases reveal most trafficked rhino horns come from Southern Africa

Article written by Spoorthy Raman Originally published by Mongabay, 21 April 2026 Rhinoceroses, one of the largest groups of animals on the planet, are fighting a battle for survival because of a prized body part: their horn, which they use to defend territories, assert dominance and protect their young. But people use this keratinous horn as medicine, adornment and decoration. In traditional Chinese medicine, it’s believed to have broad healing properties. The horns are also crafted into jewelry, and carved horns are displayed as luxury items. The unrelenting demand for their horns has decimated these mega-herbivores across their Asian and African ranges, and combating the trade is a tough fight: Rhino horns are extremely valuable. They’re worth an estimated $20,000 per kilogram (about $9,090 per pound) on the black market, often trafficked and sold by transnational organized crime syndicates. Poaching has pushed three of the five living rhino species to the brink. The International Rhino Foundation estimates that some 500,000 roamed the wild at the start of the 20th century; today, just under 27,000 remain, and a rhino is killed every 15 hours. China is the largest consumer, but data on trade within its borders is limited. A team from the U.S.-based Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) tried to bridge the information gap in a new report. It analyzed 258 court cases involving horn trafficking between 2013 and October 2025, posted on the China Judgments Online database. These court records revealed that authorities seized 700 kilograms (1,543 pounds) of rhino horns during that period, which means that perhaps 200 rhinos were killed to supply this market during that period. There were 512 arrests. Those smugglers faced prison sentences averaging 4.5 years and paid fines of about 92,322 yuan ($13,540). Most of these crimes involved less than 10 kg (22 lb) of rhino horn. China’s long-drawn appetite for rhino horns Demand for rhino horn grew alongside rising wealth in China and Southeast Asia in the 1980s and ’90s, and poachers decimated all five species of these mega-herbivores in Asia and Africa. Three are now critically endangered: the black rhino (Diceros bicornis), the Javan rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus) and the Sumatran rhino (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis). Amid poaching and ever-shrinking habitat, Africa’s white rhino (Ceratotherium simum), the most populous and least threatened species, has dwindled to a two-decade low, according to the most recent IUCN-TRAFFIC assessment. The greater one-horned rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis) is threatened. Poaching and trafficking of rhino horns continue despite a ban on international trade in 1977 under CITES, a global wildlife trade treaty. In China, domestic trade was legal until 1993, when it was outlawed. But then, 25 years later, the Chinese ban was partially lifted. In 2018, the government permitted the use of powdered horns from farmed rhinos in “qualified hospitals by qualified doctors recognized by the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine” and also as “cultural relics.” For decades, researchers monitoring the international rhino horn trade have been aware that China is the largest consumer, based on seizures, which are often a sliver of the actual trade. But information on the volume of trade within its borders is limited. “We know that China is one of the primary end-use countries for rhino horn,” said Taylor Tench, senior wildlife policy analyst at EIA and the lead of its rhino campaign. But so far, there’s patchy data on the extent of the domestic trade in China and the country’s response to it through its judicial system. China hasn’t fully reported either its horn stockpiles or its seizure data to CITES, making it challenging to understand the trade within its borders, Tench said. China Judgements Online, an online database with more than 143 million court cases resulting in criminal charges, is not an exhaustive source. It doesn’t include cases that weren’t prosecuted in courts, and importantly, it omits data from both Hong Kong, an extremely active wildlife trade hub, and Macau. Susan Lieberman, vice president of international policy at the nonprofit Wildlife Conservation Society, said this new report provides “useful insight into the trafficking” in China. “Analysis of court cases can assist in understanding trafficking routes and patterns and the outcomes of criminal cases. It is, however, the ‘tip of the iceberg,’ and is dependent on enforcement efforts and the nature of cases that actually go to court,” she said in an email. Trends in the Chinese rhino horn trade EIA’s investigation indicates there are many Southeast Asia-based traders who still offer rhino horns to Chinese consumers for medicinal purposes. While this creates a huge demand, the horn is hard to detect in its powdered form, which may be one confounding factor in their finding that most seizures were either rhino horns worked into carvings or pieces made into jewelry. “The seizures involved either antique and curio stores or physical market stalls,” Tench said, some of which also sold small quantities of rhino horns. “Taken together, cumulatively, it’s a potentially significant force contributing to the illegal trade within China, and it warrants much more research into the sourcing of [the horns] and distribution.” Rhino horn seizures peaked in 2020, surging from just two in 2013 to 72 seven years later, but have dropped steeply to fewer than 10 since 2022. Tench cited a few reasons that could explain why, which raise questions about the true volume of China’s domestic trade. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, international travel essentially stopped, with borders shut down. The movement of people and goods, including contraband, slowed dramatically. Meanwhile, law enforcement and reporting were weak. And in 2020, Chinese authorities began removing “sensitive” judgments from the database of court cases, which likely impacted accounting on wildlife crime. So lower seizure numbers may not necessarily mean that trafficking has declined. About 72% of the 258 cases analyzed by EIA included products from other endangered wildlife: elephant ivory or skin, helmeted hornbill (Rhinoplax vigil) casques, pangolin scales, golden coin turtles (Cuora trifasciata) and Przewalski’s gazelle (Procapra przewalskii) horns. “I was a bit surprised by the wide diversity of other illegal wildlife products trafficking along with rhino horn, but I shouldn’t be surprised. Criminals will do

Salmon on cocaine swim twice as far as normal

Article written by Sarah Knapton Originally published by The Telegraph, 20 April 2026 Traces of drugs in rivers could damage species’ development, scientists warn Cocaine-fuelled salmon swim nearly double the distance of non-drugged fish and venture much farther afield, scientists have said. Wildlife experts worry that fish exposed to drugs through water pollution may end up swimming into unfamiliar waters or wear themselves out with the extra effort, potentially damaging their immune systems and development. The remnants of recreational drugs are frequently found in Britain’s rivers and lakes, with estimates suggesting 80,000 lines of cocaine pollute the Thames each day. Although there had been laboratory studies showing drugs in water changed animal behaviour, it was not known whether animals were being affected in the wild. Researchers from the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and Griffith University in Australia teamed up with Dr Daniel Cerveny of the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. They implanted 105 juvenile Atlantic salmon with slow-release drugs that delivered the same cocaine by-products as polluted rivers. They  released the fish into Lake Vattern in Sweden and monitored their behaviour for eight weeks. The salmon swam up to 1.9 times farther a week than unexposed fish and dispersed up to 7.6 miles farther across the lake. “The idea of cocaine affecting fish might seem surprising, but the reality is that wildlife is already being exposed to a wide range of human-derived drugs every day,” said Dr Marcus Michelangeli, from Griffith University’s Australian Rivers Institute. “Where fish go determines what they eat, what eats them and how populations are structured. “If pollution is changing these patterns, it has the potential to affect ecosystems in ways we are only beginning to understand.” It is estimated that global illicit drug use has increased by about 20 per cent over the past decade, and sewage treatment works are not designed to remove the compounds, which means they turn up in rivers. Last week, figures from the Home Office’s waste-water analysis for narcotics detection programme estimated that some 123,000kg of cocaine with a market value of £9.8bn was flowing through Britain’s sewage systems. Cocaine is a stimulant that acts on the brain and elevates dopamine, the feel-good chemical, which scientists believe increases swimming activity in fish. Once it has been through a human body, it turns into a cocaine metabolite called benzoylecgonine, which is what salmon are exposed to in rivers. Evidence suggests the cocaine by-product has an even bigger influence on animals. Researchers used drug implants to raise drug concentrations to levels they would expect for fish living downstream of large urban waste-water outlets in regions where cocaine use is prominent, such as London. Experts say the long-term consequences are “difficult to predict”, but that it may cause fish populations to spread out and lose contact, as well as making them more vulnerable to predators. Dr Jack Brand, a visiting researcher at the ZSL, said: “Movement is fundamental to almost everything an animal does. It determines which habitats a fish uses, what food it encounters, what predators it’s exposed to and how populations stay connected across a landscape. “Fish that are moving farther and dispersing more widely than they normally would are potentially entering unfamiliar or suboptimal habitats and expending more energy on locomotion, energy that could otherwise go towards growth, immune function, or building the reserves needed for later life stages. “For juvenile salmon, ‘energy budgets’ are particularly tight, so any additional cost during this vulnerable period could have real consequences.” Previous studies have shown that cocaine-exposed eels in laboratories become hyperactive, with evidence of serious injury and muscle breakdown. The team said there was no risk to people consuming fish. The research was published in Current Biology.

The overlooked trade in Africa’s wild birds

Article written by The Conversation Originally published by The Conversation, 15 April 2026 BIRDS have, for centuries, been captured from the wild to be kept in cages – valued for their looks, songs and ability to imitate sounds. Data compiled by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), the global agreement that regulates trade in threatened animals and plants, indicate that in the 1990s and early 2000s Africa was a leading supplier of live birds to global markets. Most were captured from the wild and sold to western European countries. This trade was permitted under rules at the time, despite concerns raised by conservationists about animal welfare and public health. Then in 2005, a global outbreak of avian influenza prompted a suspension on imports of all wild birds into the European Union, saving millions of birds from being captured and sold. Shortly after, in 2007, 114 of the most traded bird species were removed from the CITES lists. These species had accounted for over 70% of the global bird trade. Currently, over 80% of bird species are not listed by CITES and very few countries publish data on trade in non-CITES species. This means that when these birds are sold across borders, trade is not systematically recorded in global wildlife databases. Decision-makers tasked with managing risks to people, wildlife and ecosystems lack information on the scale or scope of trade or its impacts. As a group of scientists with knowledge of the bird trade in both Africa and Asian trade hubs, we set out to explore how customs data compiled by the United Nations Comtrade database could address this blind spot. This database records the trade of many commodities reported by national customs authorities, including live animals not listed on the CITES appendices. We focused on trade between 2006 and 2020 in live birds from African countries to Hong Kong and Singapore – well known hubs in global trade networks, with some of the most complete customs data. Public attention often focuses on illegal trade in charismatic species such as parrots. But our research found that a vast international trade is taking place in species that rarely make headlines. The overlooked trade in wild birds is important. It carries risks for wildlife conservation, animal welfare and human health. Our research found that the scale of bird trade has been significantly underestimated. Since 2006, 1,085,326 birds have been imported into Hong Kong and Singapore from around the world. Of these, we found that more than 700,000 birds – about 65% of all imports – came from African countries. Most were likely captured from the wild, posing particular risks to wild populations, and from the spread of infectious diseases and invasive species. Although striking, these figures only represent a snapshot of the African bird trade. Another recent study revealed export markets for African birds in a range of countries, across the Middle East and Asia. South Asian countries such as Bangladesh, Pakistan and India, which were not a focus of our study, featured prominently. Many West African birds were also exported to the US. The Comtrade data we used does not provide information on the exact species being sold. However, when we examined detailed import records from the Hong Kong government, we found this trade was dominated by small songbirds. In particular, canaries in the genus Crithagra accounted for the vast majority of imports to Hong Kong. Two species – the yellow-fronted canary and the white-rumped seedeater – made up around 84% of birds imported from Africa between 2015 and 2020. These birds are popular in the caged-bird trade and are kept in homes because of their ability to sing. A recent study found that beyond songbirds, at least 83 bird species from 26 avian families are being advertised for export from Africa. Among them are turacos, hornbills and various water birds. The risks that this trade poses were highlighted by the listing of several species of African hornbills on CITES in November 2025 following concerns about impacts on numbers in the wild. There are multiple other risks associated with the trade in wild birds. Bird trade has been linked to the transmission of pathogens including avian influenza, psittacosis and other diseases that affect both wildlife and humans. Countries involved are therefore exposing themselves to zoonotic diseases and other biosecurity risks, particularly when large numbers of species are housed together in stressful conditions. Wildlife trade can also lead to ecological problems if animals are released or escape and set up populations outside their native area. Because of the risks, many countries have taken action to ban or heavily restrict the commercial export of their native wild birds. Tanzania was once one of the largest exporters of birds globally but in 2016 ended exports. The impact of this decision was evident in our study, which showed a dramatic reduction in trade from Tanzania. Our findings highlight a major gap in how wildlife trade is monitored globally. Millions of animals move across borders every year, but if they belong to species that are not formally protected under national or international rules, this passes unnoticed. Better monitoring is needed to understand the scale and impacts of this trade. Improvements could include customs reporting systems that record data at the species level, rather than grouped into broad categories, and listing more species under CITES.

23 rescued Asian bears need one vital gift

When our partner, the Laos Conservation Trust for Wildlife (LCTW), took over a zoo and changed it into a sanctuary for rescued animals, it inherited a large challenge – 23 large challenges, to be exact. That’s because the zoo was home to 23 sun and moon bears, none of whom could ever be released into the wild. When our partner turned the zoo into the sanctuary it is today, it pledged to care for the bears for the rest of their lives. Now, the bears – 21 black bears (also known as moon bears) and two sun bears – live in large, naturalistic forest enclosures. They are no longer being used as living exhibits to make money for zoo owners. But there is one wish these animals still have… Currently using their drinking water basin, these bears dream of having a pool to cool off in. Credit: LCTW 23 rescued Asian bears would LOVE a pool to cool down in. Will you help? The bears love to swim – hardly surprising considering the sweltering temperatures in Vientiane, Laos, where they reside at our partner’s sanctuary. Between March and May, temperatures can soar to 108.5°F (42.5°C), and to cool off, bears love to submerge themselves in refreshing pools. In 2024, our partner was ordered to move. Its new sanctuary, officially opened earlier this year, provides beautiful, spacious enclosures for the bears. But our partner has yet to raise the funds for four pools for the different bear enclosures. We watched the animals frolic in their small drinking basins, and we just knew we had to help with proper pools. Everything has changed for these sun and moon bears. No longer living exhibits, they can now relax and enjoy life. Credit: LCTW With your support today, Friend, we will raise $3,200 (£2,350) for four pools – one for each bear enclosure. We know these special animals will be so grateful for the relief your gift will bring them, especially during these, Laos’ hottest months of the year. Right now, they are splashing around in their small drinking pools, but this is not ideal. The dream is large enough pools to submerge themselves in. Will you give the animals this gift? Any donor who gifts $500 (£370) or more will have a personalised plaque installed at a pool. Donate individually, as a family or as part of a group or team. Should you wish to do this, please email info@animalsurvival.org once you have made your donation. Asian bears are widely hunted, bred, chained and abused for the “traditional medicine” and entertainment markets in Asia. The illegal trade of sun and moon bears is a pervasive and significant threat to the species’ survival, driven by the demand for their body parts, especially bile, in traditional “medicine” and folk remedies. Poached, forced onto bile farms and kept in cramped enclosures — this is the devastating reality for moon and sun bears across Asia. Credit: Shutterstock/Ovchinnikova Irina The illicit trade continues across Asia despite national and international laws against it. It is a primary cause of population decline for species like the Asiatic black bear and the sun bear, both listed as vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). These animals are tortured and abused – and, after everything these 23 have endured, they would love nothing more than pools to cool down in. Please donate today.

‘A dream come true’: Brazil’s blue-and-yellow macaws return to Rio after 200 years

Article written by Luke Taylor Originally published by The Guardian, 9 April 2026 An ambitious ‘refaunation’ project is bringing the much-loved birds and other lost species back to the city’s national park Images of the iconic blue-and-yellow macaw can be spotted all over Rio de Janeiro. Yet the real thing has been seen so rarely in the Brazilian city that some wondered if it ever really existed there at all. The French explorer Jean de Léry first described an abundance of the giant, colourful parrots around Indigenous tribes in the 16th century, and the Austrian naturalist Johann Natterer sighted the Ara ararauna in the city in 1818. After that, the record goes blank. Experts say the species was almost certainly wiped out by deforestation, along with the tapirs, jaguars and peccaries that once roamed the forests surrounding the city. Now, 200 years later, flashes of blue and gold are once again peppering the forest canopy as biologists bring the species – and the forest – back to life. “They are so magnificent. It’s no surprise that all the visitors are constantly asking how they can see them,” says Viviane Lasmar, director of Tijuca national park. “For me, as the head of the park, it’s special. But even more so as a carioca [someone from Rio]. It’s a dream come true.” Tijuca is one of the world’s largest urban parks. Its nearly 4,000 hectares (10,000 acres) of green canopy cover the steep granite mountains of Rio, closely hugging the city’s concrete limits. This lush remnant of Brazil’s Atlantic rainforest feels wild and remarkably untouched. But exploitation for commodities such as coffee and charcoal in the 19th century decimated the forest. In what many see as one of the world’s first tropical reforestation initiatives, Emperor Dom Pedro II ordered the replanting of trees in Tijuca in the 1860s, but many species had already been lost. The blue-and-yellow macaw was one of the victims of this deforestation, with its colourful plumage also making it a prized target for wildlife traffickers. “They probably went extinct [in Rio] due to the wildlife trade and deforestation during the European colonisation here,” says Marcelo Rheingantz, executive director of Refauna, which estimates that two-thirds of large and medium-sized mammals that once lived in Tijuca have also been lost. But, one by one, these animals are returning to the forest. For the first time in centuries, giant rodents scuttle through the undergrowth, yellow-footed tortoises meander languidly and howler monkeys swing through the trees, their bellowing calls echoing for miles. Only four macaws have been brought back so far but it sounds like dozens as their aggressive squawks pierce the rainforest canopy. “It’s really beautiful to be putting the forest’s orchestra back together again,” Rheingantz says with a broad grin. Refauna started restoring the rainforest through its “refaunation” programme, introducing the red-rumped agouti – a long-legged rodent the size of a cat – in 2010, followed by other species that exist elsewhere in Brazil but were extinct in the park. These include the brown howler monkey, which was probably last recorded in Rio in Charles Darwin’s Beagle diaries in 1832, and the yellow-footed tortoise. All the reintroductions have brought excitement and new visitors to the park but none are as beloved as the macaws. The large parrots, almost a metre in length, which can be found in other parts of Brazil and South America, are famously intelligent and mate with their partner for life. The blue-and-yellow macaw adorns artwork, T-shirts and tote bags across the city and beyond, its colours echoing the country’s national flag. The hero of the blockbuster film Rio was a plucky macaw trying to save the last of his kind – though Rheingantz is quick to point out it was the Spix’s macaw that is endemic to northeastern Brazil. “Now we are correcting the story and putting the right species here,” he says, chuckling. Three females and a male have been brought to the park so far and are currently back in their enclosure for monitoring after being released for 15 days earlier this year. Refauna is planning to release them again in September. “The release scheduled for September is a significant milestone in the process, though not necessarily the final one. All individuals will continue to be monitored, and recapture may take place if required,” says Rheingantz. The macaws, Fernanda, Selton, Fatima and Sueli – named after actors in the Oscar-winning film I’m Still Here and characters from the popular Brazilian sitcom Slaps and Kisses – all have distinct personalities, according to the Refauna team, with the mischievous Sueli, who destroys almost everything she touches, a particular favourite. Another six macaws will soon be brought to the park, and eventually Refauna plans to release 50 of them. The sight of a mosaic of gold and blue sweeping through the skies would be spectacular, but the project is about saving the forest rather than creating a spectacle, says Vanessa Kanaan, director of Instituto Fauna Brasil. “Reintroducing species is not simply about returning animals to the forest. It is about rebuilding ecological relationships and ensuring that these species can once again perform their ecological roles,” the biologist says. As with rewilding projects across the world, the Refauna team is constantly surprised by the way bringing back just one species can spark changes that ripple throughout the entire ecosystem. “This is an excellent example,” Rheingantz says as he bends down and picks up a peculiar fruit resembling an avocado. Joannesia princeps, popularly known as agouti fruit, was the main symptom of “empty forest syndrome”, which sparked Refauna’s inception. The agouti tree drops its fruit as an incentive for animals to eat them and disperse the seed, but without the agouti rodents, the forest floor was carpeted with rotting fruit. In some parts of the Atlantic forest, 90% of flora rely on animals to spread their seeds. By reintroducing species, researchers hope to gradually bring the entire forest back to life. The agouti’s razor-sharp teeth can crack open the toughest of nuts, making them a super seed disperser, while the large droppings of howler monkeys provide moisture and shade for seed germination, which are then

Citizen ‘Frog Patrol’ helps amphibians survive a dangerous road journey in Poland

Article written by Claudia Ciobanu Originally published by AP News, 10 April 2026 On rainy spring nights in a forest near the Polish capital, a citizen “Frog Patrol” springs into action — humans helping amphibians survive dangerous road crossings for a chance to enjoy millennia-old mating rituals. As warmer weather comes to Mlochowski Forest, 30 kilometers (19 miles) west of Warsaw, thousands of toads and frogs wake up from their winter slumber and begin their meticulous spawning journey to the marshes, a few kilometers away. The females carry the burden of the journey. Male toads here don’t really give off princely vibes but travel on the backs of their much larger female partners, tightly holding on to ensure they are not dumped in favor of a rival upon reaching the waters. While generations of toads and frogs have traveled to these marshes to mate, a road built in the last decade right across their route made the spring journey much more dangerous. What followed was sheer amphibian slaughter — when the mating season started and the frogs were on the move, thousands would get run over. Enter the ‘Frog Patrol’ Łukasz Franczuk, coordinator of the “Frog Patrol” initiative, recounted the sad scenes from four years ago. “The frogs were being run over in the hundreds or thousands,” he said. “When you were driving on this road, you could see the decomposing corpses of the frogs. People going to collect the surviving ones were crying, they couldn’t stand to watch what was happening.” Franczuk and his friends responded by helping locals organize, starting three years ago. Volunteers would meet every wet, rainy evening as soon as spring starts, fan out along the road by the forest and collect frogs from the roadside, then carry them safely across to the marshes. Frogs breathe through their skin, which must stay humid, so they only move and migrate when it rains. Wearing reflective yellow vests emblazoned with the words “Frog Patrol” and armed with head lamps and buckets, hundreds of volunteers can now be routinely seen out in the evenings during migration season. Locals, including children, have also started carrying gloves with them during the day, so they can pick up the amphibians if they see them in distress at any time.“It’s really impressive to see whole families with kids walking in the rain, with buckets, in these lovely jackets to make them visible because it’s pretty unsafe, this road is narrow, and they carry the frogs from one side of the road to the other,” said Katarzyna Jacniacka, one of the participants. “When the frogs are migrating, there are a lot of people here,” she added. For Aleksandra Tkaczyk, another volunteer, this is “the kind of connection with nature about which some of us care deeply.” Locals say they have saved about 18,000 amphibians since their initiative started. Helping frogs survive Biologist Krzysztof Klimaszewski from the Institute of Animal Sciences at the Warsaw SGGW University, who took part in a few of the frog patrols, said that what the locals are doing here is very important because “it actually allows this local population of amphibians to survive.” Such citizen initiatives to help toads and frogs cross roads built through their natural habitats are not unique to Poland. In New Hampshire, U.S. volunteers from the Harris Center for Conservation Education save all sorts of amphibians, including salamanders, from being run over by cars. In Bavaria, in southeastern Germany, volunteers from BUND Naturschutz say they rescue up to 700,000 frogs, toads, newts and salamanders every year. Even in France, where frog legs are a culinary delicacy, local volunteers help the suffering amphibians. In the southern French region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, people have installed nets on the roadside to collect the frogs before they head into the dangerous traffic. And in the Estonian capital of Tallinn, authorities announced in early April the construction of additional frog fences on Tahetorni Street — right on the frogs’ springtime migrating route — to guide the amphibians and other animals safely into underground tunnels and avoid getting them killed by traffic.

The fence effect: What happens to wildlife when you draw a line around it?

Article written by Gillian McAinsh Originally published by Daily Maverick, 7 April 2026 Are the fences around South Africa’s game reserves saving biodiversity or subtly changing it? Research from Nelson Mandela University suggests the answer is both. A large-scale study of South Africa’s protected areas finds that conservation tools like fencing, roads and artificial waterholes are not neutral – they actively shape biodiversity and predator-prey dynamics. In his PhD, “Evaluating the ecological impacts of fencing on wildlife diversity and dynamics in South African protected areas”, conservation scientist Dr Gert Botha examined how fencing and tourism infrastructure such as roads and artificial waterholes influence mammal diversity and predator-prey dynamics. His supervisors were Professor Jan Venter and Professor Hervé Fritz, both based on the “green” George Campus of Nelson Mandela University. “In an ideal world, you would not have fences at all,” said Botha. “But we don’t live in that. Fences serve a very important purpose in conserving wildlife. They are not just to protect wildlife, but also to protect people from wildlife.” In SA, fences are required by law to manage dangerous game and prevent conflict with neighbours. However, Botha’s research shows that fences also act as ecological filters, influencing which species thrive and which retreat. Most earlier studies focused on a single species or park. Botha instead analysed thousands of camera trap records collected through Snapshot Safari, a large-scale monitoring project developed by Venter. The data span national parks including Pilanesberg National Park, Madikwe Game Reserve, Mountain Zebra National Park and Karoo National Park, as well as private reserves. Overall, herbivores were less likely to use areas close to park boundaries. “They tended to avoid getting too close to the fences,” Dr Botha said. “Human activity near those boundaries, including nearby villages, probably also influences their behaviour.” Carnivores responded differently. “Lions are often seen on roads, and fences don’t seem to discourage them. They use these clear paths to move around more easily, instead of going through dense vegetation.” Predator space use was strongly associated with prey availability, supporting a bottom-up regulatory structure within fenced systems. Artificial water sources, widely used to support tourism and buffer dry periods, also reshaped ecosystems. “The goal of this research was to use science to support managers in maintaining healthy ecosystems. SA is experiencing a decline in biodiversity, and protected areas are one of our most important tools for conserving species and preventing further losses,” Botha said. “What is the ecological impact of adding watering holes, roads, or fences, and how does it affect the species inside fenced protected areas? “Watering holes and roads are essential, but they must be designed and managed in ways that protect wildlife and the ecosystem. We want to halt the ongoing loss of biodiversity, which is largely driven by human interventions. “Tourism is important, and artificial water points can be a useful management tool. They make it easier for visitors to see wildlife. However, they must be implemented responsibly and managed sustainably. Similarly, species can adjust to landscapes that include roads.” At the same time, he cautioned: “Too many water points can disrupt the balance of the ecosystem. Animals may concentrate in these areas, leading to overutilisation.” Artificial water points were used by a wide range of species, while other, less water-dependent species tended to roam more widely across the reserve. Rainfall and reserve size also mattered, with larger protected areas generally supporting more balanced predator-prey systems than smaller fenced landscapes. Professor Jan Venter said the real power of the study lay in the scale and continuity of data behind it. “What makes this work particularly important is that it is built on a large, standardised, long-term dataset collected across multiple protected areas. In conservation science, scale matters.” Botha’s research draws on thousands of camera trap records generated through the Snapshot Safari network, one of the largest coordinated wildlife monitoring initiatives in Africa. “Large datasets allow us to separate signal from noise. Wildlife populations fluctuate naturally from year to year. Without long-term monitoring, it is very easy to misinterpret short-term changes as ecological crises, or to miss gradual but important trends,” said Venter. Broader patterns “When you monitor consistently over time and across space, you can begin to see broader patterns. That is essential if we want conservation decisions to be evidence-based rather than reactive.” He added that SA was in a strong position internationally because of its structured monitoring programmes, as few countries had been able to generate this kind of standardised, multi-reserve dataset. Botha’s work added to this. “A fenced protected area is a closed system that needs to be monitored and managed,” said Botha. “As a conservationist at heart, you want to protect. We want to conserve the environment, but you also want to do it in a sustainable way, where we can grow as a society. This protected area is not just for tomorrow or the day after, but forever.” For Botha, who grew up visiting the Kruger National Park, the question is not whether SA should fence its reserves. It is how carefully those fences, roads and waterholes are used in landscapes that must remain both economically viable and ecologically intact.

Decades after poaching drove them extinct, rhinos are back in the wild in Uganda

Article written by Benjamin Jumbe Originally published by Mongabay, 31 March 2026 Forty-three years after the last free-ranging rhinos were seen in the country, the Uganda Wildlife Authority has welcomed four southern white rhinos to Kidepo Valley National Park, in the country’s north, from a breeding sanctuary designed for the species’ reintroduction. “We are glad and privileged to be taking back rhinos much as it is a different subspecies from that that used to exist, because the northern white rhino is the one which used to exist there but was hunted to extinction,” UWA executive director James Musinguzi said at the Ziwa sanctuary on Mar. 17. According to the wildlife authority, a total of eight rhinos will be released in the park by May this year, marking the beginning of a longer process aimed at establishing a viable free-ranging rhino population in Kidepo Valley National Park. Uganda was once home to around 300 northern white rhinos (Ceratotherium simum cottoni) and 400 eastern black rhinos (Diceros bicornis michaeli). But these populations were devastated by intense poaching that flourished amid the civil war that began in the late 1970s. The last of the country’s wild rhinos was killed in 1983. In 2005, a breeding program for rhinos was established at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Six southern white rhinos (Ceratotherium simum simum) — four from Kenya and two from a sanctuary in the U.S. — were introduced the following year, and by 2023, that herd had grown to 42, according to the sanctuary’s website. Bashir Hangi, UWA’s head of communications, told Mongabay that four rhinos have been translocated from Ziwa to Kidepo so far, with four more to follow. In January, four southern white rhinos from the sanctuary to were translocated to Ajai Wildlife Reserve in the West Nile region. The decision to establish rhinos in these protected areas is anchored in Uganda’s National Rhino Conservation Strategy, and follows a feasibility assessment undertaken by UWA. The authority says it hopes the animals’ reintroduction will help to restore ecological integrity and contribute to national conservation objectives. In addition to creating an additional conservation stronghold for rhinos, Hangi told Mongabay, their presence will also support the local economy through increased tourism and conservation-related opportunities. Robert Aruho, a veterinary specialist who headed UWA’s rhino conservation program from 2013-2020, agreed that having rhinos at this national park will attract visitors and enhance its conservation value. “Ecologically, the white rhinos are grazers, and their large food intakes keep the grasslands in check,” he told Mongabay in an interview. He cautioned that there are also potential difficulties, including managing the rhinos’ health, possible human-wildlife conflict with surrounding communities, and the high costs of protecting the rhinos against poachers. But, he said, rhino conservation raises the stakes and effort of park management, which in turn helps the protection of other species. “The translocation helps us not keep all eggs in one basket and create opportunities to mitigate all the above risks.” Hangi said the wildlife authority has prepared carefully for the translocations. “This was a deliberate program with extensive planning undertaken, which included habitat preparation, enhanced security, and veterinary protocols put in place in addition to community engagement.”

Asia now hub of growing illegal wildlife trade across 100+ countries, study shows

Article written by Spoorthy Raman Originally published by Mongabay, 31 March 2026 Wildlife trade is decimating the planet’s biodiversity, driving declines in more than 31,500 wild species and spreading infectious zoonotic diseases that jump between wildlife, livestock and humans. In addition to massive legal, regulated trade, there’s widespread illicit trafficking in both live animals and high-demand, profitable animal products, a commerce worth at least $20 billion per year. Dubbed “one of the world’s largest criminal activities,” wildlife ranks among the most lucrative smuggled goods, a list that includes guns, drugs and humans — but with way lower risks. Yet, there’s patchy data on how this trade has grown over the years; what species are trafficked; and where the hotspots are. What we do know comes from law enforcement seizures, which are often just the tip of the iceberg. “Much of what we know about [illegal wildlife trade] is based on static estimates, isolated case studies or regional snapshots, rather than long-term, system-level analyses,” said researcher Tow Jia Hao at the National University of Singapore. “[It] is a difficult picture to piece together and tackle, especially with much of the pieces still being hidden.” To fill the knowledge gaps, Hao and his colleagues analyzed data on illegal wildlife trade from the last two decades (2000 – 2019), and compared it with legal trade data. They gathered seizure data from TRAFFIC’s Wildlife Trade Portal and collected information on permitted wildlife trade from the CITES legal trade database, which records all legitimate commerce in species listed under a global wildlife treaty, CITES. They mapped out source and destination countries and tracked trade routes. Their analyses revealed that wildlife trafficking networks are complex and resilient and can easily shift trade routes and source countries as needed. It also uncovered shocking growth in illicit networks that now spiderweb across the globe: The number of countries involved more than doubled from 49 in 2000 to 110 in 2019, and trade connections jumped by more than 400%. Their findings were published in the journal Conservation Biology. “Wildlife trade has grown exponentially … with increasing connectivity among countries, providing more opportunities for wildlife products to move across continents,” Hao said. “While some countries remain as hubs in the network, trade links have been established directly between supplier and consumer countries.” Hao and his colleagues also discovered that illegal trade is no longer confined to a small set of routes or actors: It’s now highly spread out, happening in countries on every continent, with Asia, Africa and Europe being key hubs. Asia, Europe and North America are current hotspots of legal trade. “The study underscores how trafficking groups are highly flexible, able to shift transport routes, target different species and modify their modes of transportation in response to enforcement pressure, trade restrictions and changing market conditions,” Michelle Anagnostou said. She’s a wildlife crime researcher and Banting Fellow at the University of Oxford who was not involved in the study. Asia is now a center of illegal wildlife trade Prior to the 2010s, European countries were the top importers of both legal and illegal wildlife and acted as transit hubs for global trade. But as Asia’s middle class grew wealthier, starting in the 1980s, the demand for wildlife products surged — particularly in China and Vietnam. Endangered tigers poached from India in large numbers were smuggled to China — a trade that still continues. And as  pangolins, turtles and other species dwindled in Asia, Africa became the target. For example, since 2008, when Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) numbers had plummeted by 90%, poached pangolins began pouring out of Africa headed for China, where they’re coveted for meat and scales used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Between 2005 and 2010, Asia emerged as the hotspot for illegal trade, with Africa being the prominent source. “Asia overtook Europe as the main center of illegal imports, particularly for high-profile taxa such as pangolins, rhinoceroses, large cats, reptiles and [other] species used in traditional medicine,” Has said. Today, he said, “Europe remains a major market for both legal and illegal wildlife commodified products such as skins and live specimens, whereas demand for TCM-related wildlife products [is] centered around Asia.” Illegal wildlife trade networks are complex and resilient International criminal networks, the researchers found, are resilient to global disruptions, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Although commerce came to a near-grinding halt with borders closed during the early days of the pandemic, illegal wildlife trafficking continued — slow at first, but then picking up. For instance, the rhino horn trade in Asia decreased in 2020, but shot up a year later as traffickers shifted from planes to ships to move goods and avoid quarantine restrictions. “The COVID-19 pandemic seemed to only slow the flow of wildlife trade, despite global trade disruptions and initial hesitation towards wildlife products surrounding the origin of the virus,” Hao said. “It highlights how overwhelming the demand for wildlife products is, and how suppliers will find a way to meet demand, regardless of restrictions.” Illicit trade is also quick to shift when certain species receive protections. When European eels were regulated under CITES in 2009 and export was banned outside the EU a year later, smugglers targeted new grounds: first, North Africa for European eels and then North America and the Caribbean for American eels. Since this analysis relies on reported seizures, the researchers say this is an underestimate of the true scale of wildlife trade. Not all seizures are tallied: Noncharismatic animals, such as amphibians and insects, often go undetected or unreported, and not all criminals are caught. Tackling this hydra-headed problem of illegal wildlife trade needs consistent monitoring, Anagnostou said, “to keep pace with changing dynamics, and to ensure enforcement efforts remain effective.” By pointing out hubs of illegal commerce, this research helps authorities prioritize high-risk trafficking paths, Hao said. “Strengthening cooperation between linked source, transit and destination countries, through joint investigations, intelligence sharing and targeted border controls can help break established routes and reduce the resilience of illegal wildlife trade networks.”  

Mexico’s monarch butterfly population jumps 64%, offering hope for at-risk species

Article written by Oscar Lopez Originally published by The Guardian, 20 March 2026 The insects covered its largest area since 2018, despite threats from habitat loss, climate crisis and pesticides The population of monarch butterflies in Mexico increased 64% this winter, compared with the same period in 2025, offering a glimmer of hope for an insect considered at risk of extinction. The figures, released this week by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Mexico, showed that the area occupied by monarchs expanded to 2.93 hectares (7.24 acres) of forest from 1.79 hectares (4.42 acres) the previous winter, the largest coverage since 2018. “The monarch butterfly is the symbol of the trilateral relationship between Mexico, the United States and Canada,” Mexican environment minister Alicia Bárcena Ibarra said at a news conference on Tuesday. “Its conservation is a collective commitment we must maintain for the future.” Every fall, tens of millions of the butterflies travel nearly 3,000 miles from Canada, across the US and finally to the forests of western Mexico. There, the orange insects cover entire trees and flutter through the air in spectacular fashion. But a combination of habitat loss from deforestation, climate crisis and the use of herbicides has seen their numbers plummet over the last 30 years. In the US, the increasing use of herbicides like glyphosate and dicamba has seen the amount of milkweed, the only plant that monarch caterpillars can eat, drop considerably, with butterfly numbers also plummeting as a result. Because of this decline, the Biden administration had proposed listing the monarch as threatened under the Endangered Species Act at the end of 2024, but Trump officials have since delayed the decision indefinitely. In February, two environmental groups filed a lawsuit to compel the Trump administration to set a date for protections. “It would be unforgivable for [the monarch’s] epic migrations to collapse because of political cowardice on enacting range-wide protections for them,” said Tierra Curry, endangered species co-director at the Center for Biological Diversity, one of the groups behind the lawsuit in a statement. “Even the Trump administration has to think twice about letting these iconic butterflies collapse toward oblivion.” In Mexico, the spread of avocado farming in the state of Michoacán has seen vast swaths of forest lost to illegal logging, driven partly by organized crime groups who have infiltrated the highly profitable avocado trade. Compared with a peak of nearly 18.21 hectares (45 acres) in the winter of 1995, the area covered by monarchs in Mexico today is just a sliver, and well below the 6.07 hectares (15 acres) that scientists say are necessary for the species’ survival. The involvement of cartels in logging has at times become deadly: in 2020, Homero Gómez González, one of the best-known monarch butterfly conservators in Mexico, was found dead, with his family suspecting he was murdered by organized crime groups intent on clearing the monarch’s habitat. Still, conservation efforts have slowed logging in recent years: from a peak of nearly 500 hectares (1,235 acres) of forest in 2003-2004, just 2.55 hectares (6.3 acres) between February 2024 and February 2025 were affected. “One of the greatest achievements of this work is that illegal logging in the core zone of the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve has been virtually eradicated since 2008,” María José Villanueva, WWF Mexico’s director, told reporters. “This means that the forests that represent the fundamental habitat for the monarch butterfly’s hibernation are being protected and conserved.”

Facebook shuts Indonesia groups after Mongabay and Bellingcat report illegal wildlife trade

Article written by Achmad Rizki Muazam, Foeke Postma Originally published by Mongabay, 19 March 2026 A new report by Mongabay and independent journalism organization Bellingcat has uncovered several Facebook groups selling protected species in Indonesia, one of the most biodiverse countries in the world. In a Facebook group whose Indonesian name translates to “West Bogor Animal Selling and Trading Forum,” reporters last year found a member of that group advertising a rhinoceros hornbill (Buceros rhinoceros) for sale. In Indonesia, all hornbill species are protected by law. In comments below the post advertising the caged bird, one member warns: “Careful not to get caught.” “That’s the risk,” replied the seller. Another advertisement featured two infant Javan silvery gibbons (Hylobates moloch), fewer than 2,500 mature individuals of which are left in the wild. This species is also protected by law. The West Bogor Animal Selling and Trading Forum group on Facebook added more than 200 advertisements in just one week. Eighteen of them were for threatened species. In total, reporters uncovered a total of nine Facebook groups selling animals like these threatened apes and hornbills. Three of the groups have been active for more than five years. Meta, Facebook’s parent company, states that trade of animals on its platforms is prohibited. Among thousands of adverts posted in the nine groups were a handful of animal photos with the same poster in frame, giving away the location as Station Sato, a quiet pet store in Cibinong, a southern suburb of Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta. The inside of Station Sato, seen in mid-November 2025. Image by Achmad Rizki Muazam/Mongabay Indonesia. Wildlife crimes After Bellingcat identified the Facebook groups with photos taken at Station Sato, Mongabay visited the pet store three times, starting with a pair of undercover trips in October and November last year. On one visit, we found three Javan coucal chicks (Centropus nigrorufus) confined without their mother. The chicks were likely around 2 weeks old. The IUCN, the global wildlife conservation authority, first listed the Javan coucal as a vulnerable species on its Red List in 1994. That status was reaffirmed in the most recent assessment, published in 2025 amid a continuously declining population, now estimated at fewer than 10,000 mature individuals. The store manager, Jordan Bastian, removed two of the protected birds from a cage and fed them rice bran. The Javan coucals were priced at 175,000 rupiah each, around $11 a bird. Jordan said the chicks were taken from the wild in Tasikmalaya, a nearby district with a mix of heavy industry and urbanized areas, as well as surviving pockets of forest. He claimed the birds were supplied by an acquaintance with a wider inventory of animals ready for sale. Jordan runs the store, he said, on behalf of his father. Almost all of Station Sato’s sales are made online, Jordan said, with a network of brokers using Facebook and its sister company, WhatsApp, to connect with buyers. During three visits to Station Sato, Mongabay saw no sales, only window shoppers looking at caged animals. A two-week-old Javan coucal is fed by the manager of the Station Sato pet store in Bogor in mid-November 2025. Image by Achmad Rizki Muazam/Mongabay Indonesia. A long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis) in a cage at the Station Sato pet store in Bogor. Image by Achmad Rizki Muazam/Mongabay Indonesia. Station Sato sells owls, these belonging to an unprotected species. Image by Achmad Rizki Muazam/Mongabay Indonesia. The store also advertises its animals on Tokopedia, the largest online marketplace in Indonesia, now owned by ByteDance’s TikTok. Many of Station Sato’s 71 current listings on Tokopedia have been miscategorized by the seller as books, toys and other seemingly inert categories of goods. Tokopedia prohibits the sale of endangered or protected wildlife on its platform, but its guidelines are perhaps unclear regarding the sale of other animals, including pets. Station Sato used Tokopedia to obtain customers for its captive civets and reptiles, as well as long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis), an endangered species whose wild populations have declined by 50-70% over the past three generations due to habitat loss and exploitation for medical research. The business also sold barn owls (Tyto alba) and Oriental scops owls (Otus sunia). Secret squirrels On Nov. 28, Mongabay and Bellingcat presented these findings to Dwi Januanto Nugroho, the head of the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry’s law enforcement arm, and Satyawan Pudyatmoko, the ministry’s head of conservation. Both officials pledged to investigate the report of animals sold by Station Sato. On Dec. 1, officials from the provincial conservation agency of West Java province, where Cibinong subdistrict is located, conducted a spot check at Station Sato. Stephanus Hanny Rekyanto, the head of conservation at the agency, the BKSDA, attended the inspection. “We went inside and checked every animal … We did not find any protected species,” Stephanus said. He added the only wildlife they found on sale at Station Sato were several owls and reptiles, none of which were illegal to trade. “The shop owner previously dealt with protected wildlife several times,” Stephanus told Mongabay at his office in December. “But he learned his lesson — after that, he stopped selling protected species.” Stephanus added that inspectors were satisfied the owner complied with regulations on protected wildlife trade under Ministry of Environment and Forestry Regulation No. 106/2018, which is the government’s updated list of protected species. In response, reporters showed Stephanus a photo of a Javan coucal taken on Nov. 8 as evidence that a protected species was present at Station Sato. Stephanus said inspectors did not find any Javan coucals during their inspection. Stephanus said he lacked the expertise to identify juvenile birds, and called in a bird breeder who happened to be at the conservation agency office to identify the chick in the photo. “This is a Javan coucal, sir,” the breeder said. Three two-week-old Javan coucals are caged without their mother at Station Sato pet store in Bogor, in mid-November 2025. Image by Achmad Rizki Muazam/Mongabay Indonesia. Even if protected wildlife were found during the site visit, Stephanus said, the conservation

Born in captivity or stolen from the wild: How exotic animals become pets in Europe

Article written by Cristina Coellen Originally published by Euro News, 18 March 2026 Every year, birds, reptiles and thousands more exotic animals are brought into the European Union. The vast majority of them end up with animal enthusiasts and collectors, who keep them as pets. But this trade comes with many problems. One major concern is wildlife trafficking of endangered species. There is no doubt that Europeans love their animal companions, with around 90 million dogs and 108 million cats living in people’s homes, according to Worldostats’ 2025 figures. But cats and dogs are not the only animals being kept as pets: numerous exotic species, such as servals from sub-Saharan Africa, snakes and tropical birds from Latin America also live in households across the EU. However, organisations that advocate for animal welfare and rescue exotic animals, like the Netherlands-based Animal Advocacy and Protection (AAP), warn against keeping such exotic creatures at home. “When we talk about exotic pets, usually we talk about animals that are wild by nature. So, whether they have been captured from the wild or bred in captivity, inherently they are wild. So, wild characteristics, often complex nutritional needs, complex social needs, adequate space. All these requirements mean that they are really unsuitable to be kept as pets,” explained Michèle Hamers, AAP’s EU Policy Officer. And the problems related to exotic pets do not stop there. These animals are traded across the globe, but not all of this trade is legal. Endangered species, like the red panda, the Barbary macaque or the Galápagos marine iguana are prohibited from being sold commercially under the international wildlife trade framework CITES. This international convention classifies animals according to three different categories, which accordingly limit trade in the respective species. But endangered species can fall victim to wildlife trafficking, as their rarity often increases their value in the eyes of exotic animal collectors. The NGO TRAFFIC, which monitors wildlife trade around the world, estimated that in 2023, ​28% of all wildlife seizures were destined for the exotic pet trade, making it one of the largest illegal wildlife trade sectors in the EU. Among the species seized, birds represented the biggest variety, with 196 different species taken in by law enforcement operations. The NGO’s 2024 report is set to be released in early summer. Illegal wildlife trade also leads to the animals suffering if they are taken from their habitats and smuggled away. Often, they travel in crammed spaces such as containers or luggage, without adequate food and water. Trafficked tropical fish are frequently put into water-filled plastic bags that are hidden in luggage and smuggled by plane. If they reach their destination alive, the animals can also suffer from inadequate care from their owners. The organisation AAP documented several cases of rescued servals and chimpanzees that had developed health problems due to improper nutrition and care. If handled in the wrong way, exotic animals can also pose a risk to their owners. In rare cases, bites and scratches can transmit zoonotic diseases. But solutions exist. To find out what is being done in the EU and how exotic pets could be better protected from wildlife trafficking and animal cruelty, watch our explainer video.

A 60-year-old abused elephant and her friends need to get to safety

With one eye missing, her throat severely injured and chains around her legs, 60-year-old Kham Phaeng was one of the most dreadfully abused elephants our partner had seen. This elderly animal used to be a riding elephant in Pattaya, Thailand. Chained up day and night, she was unshackled only for people to ride on her back. She was denied physical contact with other elephants, and for at least 10 years, she was chained too tightly to lie down. The rough wooden chair on her back, which pressed painfully into her body, was seldom if ever removed. A harness strapped to her back, a rider on top — this was Kham Phaeng’s reality for years. Exploited as a riding elephant in Pattaya, this 60-year-old elephant endured unimaginable suffering, denied even the simple comfort of another elephant’s touch. Credit: Somboon Legacy Foundation These chains once held Kham Phaeng captive day and night, unshackled only so tourists could ride her injured body. For this 60-year-old elephant, they represent decades of pain and isolation. Credit: Somboon Legacy Foundation To save money, this horribly abused animal was fed a diet of pineapple tree leaves, which severely damaged her throat and left it swollen and excruciatingly painful. Elephants like Kham Phaeng are born into suffering. It is their fate from the moment they take their first breath. In Thailand, wild elephants are protected by law, but “domestic” elephants – such as those used in the tourism trade – are legally classified as working animals. Welfare standards for working animals are almost non-existent and leave significant room for exploitation. Even more horrifying, some forms of severe abuse inflicted on captive elephants are not outlawed. To make them submissive, elephants used for entertainment are subjected to a brutal process known as “phajaan” or “breaking the spirit”. It involves separating young calves from their mothers, confining them in small spaces, and inflicting severe pain using bullhooks, sticks, or sharp metal objects until the elephant’s will is broken and it learns to obey commands out of fear. They call it “phajaan”. Calves are taken from their mothers, confined and beaten into submission using bullhooks and sharp metal objects. Credit: Protect All Wildlife Credit: Protect All Wildlife Help us give elephants in extreme old age the dignified retirement they deserve. This is where our partner, Somboon Legacy Foundation, comes in. At Somboon Legacy Foundation, elephants have minimal human contact to allow them to live as naturally as possible. All its elephants have been rescued from lifetimes of abuse, exhaustion, stress and exploitation. At last, these majestic beings – one is 90 years old – can finally walk freely, socialize and behave naturally in a peaceful, natural environment where their emotional and physical scars can begin to heal. After seven years, our partner has been told to vacate the premises by April. The riverside resort where Somboon keeps its elephants has asked the foundation to relocate. This relocation is set to be incredibly stressful for the elephants. Malee (90 years old) was abused in the logging industry in Thailand, and even endured a broken leg after a log hit and severely injured her. She is now safe at Somboon Legacy Foundation. Credit: ASI/Taryn Slabbert (Left) and Somboon Legacy Foundation (Right) Somboon has found a new home for its animals, but is struggling to raise funds for the relocation. Without these funds, they cannot move the elephants, which leaves their futures dreadfully uncertain. Please help us get these abused elderly elephants to a new home. Please help us get Kham Phaeng and her friends to their new home. Time is ticking and we must help right away.

Chinese national arrested over attempt to smuggle 2,000 queen ants from Kenya

Article written by Wycliffe Muia Originally published by BBC, 12 March 2026 A Chinese national has been arrested in Kenya’s main airport accused of attempting to smuggle more than 2,000 queen garden ants out of the country. Zhang Kequn was intercepted during a security check at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in the capital Nairobi after authorities discovered a large consignment of live ants in his luggage bound for China. He has yet to respond to the accusation but investigators said in court that he was linked to an ant-trafficking network that was broken up in Kenya last year. The ants are protected by international bio-diversity treaties and their trade is highly regulated. Last year, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) warned of a growing demand for garden ants – scientifically known as Messor cephalotes – in Europe and Asia, where collectors keep them as pets. A state prosecutor told the court on Wednesday that Zhang had packed some ants in test tubes, while others were concealed in tissue paper rolls hidden in his luggage. “Within his personal luggage there was found 1,948 garden ants packed in specialised test tubes,” prosecutor Allen Mulama told the court. “A further 300 live ants were recovered concealed in three rolls of tissue paper within the luggage,” he added. The prosecutor asked the court to allow the suspect’s electronic devices – phone and laptop – to be forensically examined. Duncan Juma, a senior KWS official, told the BBC that more arrests were expected as investigators widen their probe into other Kenyan towns where ant harvesting was suspected to be ongoing. Last May, a Kenyan court sentenced four men to one year in prison or a fine of $7,700 (£5,800) for trying to smuggle thousands of live queen ants out of the country, in a first-of-its kind case. The four suspects – two Belgians, a Vietnamese and a Kenyan – had pleaded guilty to the charges after their arrest in what the KWS described as “a co-ordinated, intelligence-led operation”. The Belgians told the court that they were collecting the highly sought-after ants as a hobby and didn’t think it was illegal. Investigators now say Zhang was the mastermind behind this trafficking ring but apparently escaped Kenya last year using a different passport. On Wednesday, the court allowed prosecutors to detain him for five days to enable detectives to conduct further investigations. The KWS, which is more used to protecting larger creatures, such as lions and elephants, described last year’s ruling as a “landmark case”. The ants seized last year were giant African harvester ants, which KWS said were ecologically important, noting that their removal from the ecosystem could disrupt soil health and biodiversity. It is believed that the intended destinations were the exotic pet markets in Europe and Asia.

Botswana shows how smarter cattle herding can save lions, reopen ancient wildlife pathways

Article written by Gloria Dickie Originally published by Mongabay, 24 February 2026 The lions that roamed the plains of northern Botswana were dying. One by one, the big cats were succumbing to poisoned bait planted by exasperated villagers. The lions had been chipping away at their livelihood, feasting on the cattle that they left to graze along the Okavango Delta. By the end of 2013, around 30 lions — more than half of the northern Okavango population — had been killed in just one year. More than a decade later, the situation is radically different. The lion population has rebounded. Cub survival rate is up. And cattle losses are dramatically down. It’s the result of years of hard work: restoring traditional herding practices, collaring and tracking lions, and, most recently, establishing a market for ‘wildlife-friendly beef.’ This serves as a model, wildlife advocates say, for other parts of southern Africa where modern grazing practices have collided with big cats’ appetites. “It can be adapted to just about anywhere,” said Andrew Stein, the founder of Communities Living Sustainably Among Wildlife (CLAWS) Conservancy, which is based in Botswana. In the last 25 years, more than half the lions have vanished from the plains of Africa, largely due to conflicts with communities. As human populations have expanded, the animal’s range has shrunk, leaving remnant isolated groups. Today, there are fewer than 25,000 lions left across the continent. But in southern Africa, one large continuous population still roams the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA), the world’s largest transnational land-based protected area, which runs across Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. “When we started working there in 2014, as we spoke to people, we realized they felt that all lions are the same. They are all out there just killing cattle,” Stein said. “We thought if we could show that each individual has a different approach — a different behavior or personality — we might be able to trigger individualized management with non-lethal approaches.” Desperate to curb the conflict, Stein and his colleagues introduced the first-of-its-kind lion early warning program known as the Lion Alert System. By outfitting lions with GPS collars and tracking their movements, the group sends automated alerts to local community members’ mobile phones when a lion is detected lurking near a human settlement or livestock area. This allows farmers to act before an attack occurs, bringing their animals together in an enclosure or adjusting their herding practices. CLAWS also encouraged locals to name the lions in their Indigenous languages in hopes of fostering a stronger connection. “That’s important because they are the ones that are going to decide whether these animals live or die at the end of the day,” Stein said. Some of the names, he reminisced, were admirable: like Mayenga, meaning the ‘one who is decorated by the Gods.’ “As conflict persisted, some people gave them rough names like Kufakuduze, which means, ‘If you come for my cattle, I will find you.’ But then there were others like Shedipatera, which means ‘the one who belongs to us.’” One of the reasons for heightened conflict, the conservancy realized, was that traditional hands-on herding practices had fallen away. In decades past, young boys were often responsible for carefully moving cattle herds to graze. But as more children began to go to school, an unintended consequence was that there were fewer people left to watch over the herds and keep lions away. “Of course, we want people to get educated, but it left a gap. And the adult men of the village did not want to be perceived to do the low-status job of a child,” Stein said. An aerial view of the Okavango Delta, Botswana. Credit: M. Atkinson, AHEAD. Communal herding protects livestock and lions Jack Ramsden grew up in northern Botswana, in the village of Maun on the edge of the Okavango Delta. “During my dad’s days, it was active herding 24/7 with the cattle,” he said. “When I was growing up in the 1980s, the permanent herding of cattle in Botswana had already somewhat changed … the herders were now more likely to release the cattle in the morning and then in the afternoon go look for them and bring them back. It has just gradually eroded.” At the time, Maun also had a much larger lion population. That has gone. Struggling farmers have steadily shot and poisoned the prides. “Now if a lion comes there, it’s like a comet flying through the skies. It’s something that some generations never see,” Ramsden said. Today, he works as the herding program coordinator for CLAWS, reintroducing traditional and lion-resilient methods. This includes consolidating cattle into communal herds managed under trained herders who stay with the animals throughout day and night. Ramsden also teaches the herders — roughly 24 are currently enrolled in the program full-time across three villages — about rangeland ecology and rotational grazing, as well as basic veterinary care. At night, the group deploys mobile canvas bomas — circular stockades — to keep the cattle safe from predators. “When the cattle are behind the canvas sheet, the lions will approach. They’ll walk along the outside. They can hear the cattle. They can smell the cattle. But if they don’t see them, they don’t actually jump in and attack,” Stein said. After grazing during the day, cattle are returned to their kraal (or boma) in the Zambezi Region, Namibia. Kraaling cattle overnight reduces predation risk. Credit: M. Atkinson, AHEAD. CLAWS is working in five villages in northern Botswana, which host around 5,000 cattle. Of those, about 700 are currently in CLAWS’ herding program. “In the past five years or so, we’ve probably only lost a maximum of 10 cattle,” Ramsden said, which marks a dramatic decline from the dozens and sometimes hundreds that were lost each year prior to CLAWS’ interventions. One of the program’s greatest achievements is not only that fewer cattle and lions are dying, but that cub survivorship is stronger. From 2014 to 2017, only about a third of the cubs

Tracking wildlife trafficking in the age of online marketplaces

Article written by Gaby Clark Originally published by Phys Org, 26 February 2026 Wildlife trafficking is one of the world’s most widespread illegal trades, contributing to biodiversity loss, organized crime, and public health risks. Once concentrated in physical markets, much of this activity has moved online. Today, animals and animal products are advertised on large e-commerce platforms alongside ordinary consumer goods. This shift makes enforcement harder—but it also creates a valuable source of data. Every online advertisement leaves behind digital information: text descriptions, prices, images, seller details, and timestamps. If collected and analyzed at scale, these traces can help researchers understand how wildlife trafficking operates online. The problem is volume. Online marketplaces contain millions of listings, and most searches for animal names return irrelevant results such as toys, artwork, or souvenirs. Distinguishing illegal wildlife ads from harmless products is difficult to do manually and challenging to automate. Institute Professor of Computer Science Juliana Freire is part of a team that is taking on the problem head on, building a scalable system designed to address this challenge. They developed a flexible data collection pipeline that automatically gathers wildlife-related advertisements from the web and filters them using modern machine learning techniques. The goal is not to focus on one species or one website, but to enable broad, systematic monitoring across many platforms, regions, and languages, as well as to develop strategies to disrupt illegal markets. The findings are published in the Proceedings of the ACM on Management of Data. The team is a multidisciplinary effort, including Gohar Petrossian, Professor of Criminal Justice at John Jay College of Criminal Justice; Jennifer Jacquet, Professor of Environmental Science and Policy at the University of Miami; and Sunandan Chakraborty, Professor of Data Science at Indiana University. The pipeline begins with web crawling. The researchers generate tens of thousands of search URLs by combining endangered species names with the search structures of major e-commerce websites. A specialized crawler then follows these links, downloading product pages while limiting requests to avoid overwhelming servers. Over just 34 days, the system retrieved more than 11 million ads. Next comes information extraction. Product pages are messy and inconsistent, varying widely across websites. The pipeline uses a combination of HTML parsing tools and automated scrapers to extract useful details such as titles, descriptions, prices, images, and seller information. These data are stored in structured formats that allow large-scale analysis. The most critical step is filtering. While machine learning classifiers can be used for this filtering, training specialized classifiers for multiple collection tasks is both time-consuming and expensive, requiring experts to create training data for each task. Freire’s group developed a new approach that leverages large-language models (LLMs) to label data and use the labeled data to automatically create specialized classifiers, which can perform data triage at a low cost and at scale. This research has enabled large-scale data collection to answer different scientific questions and shed insights into different aspects of wildlife trafficking. One analysis of 14,000 reptile leather product listings on eBay showed that crocodile, alligator, and python skins dominated the market. Only about 10 animal-product combinations (such as “crocodile bags,” “alligator bags” and “alligator watches”) made up about 72% of all listings, indicating that the trade heavily focuses on a few luxury items. The analysis of all of the listings from these sites showed that while small leather products were shipped from 65 countries, 93% came from 10 countries, with the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia collectively accounting for over 3/4th of this market. Similar data from eBay on shark and ray trophies reveals that, although the platform has introduced policies to restrict threatened or endangered species, their derivatives are still circulated widely on the platform. Tiger shark trophies accounted for one-fifth of such listings, with asking prices up to $3,000. Over 85% of listings were linked to sellers in the United States, suggesting a pipeline from deep sea commercial fishing vessels to the US trophy trade. This research is also being used to determine what would be the most effective way to disrupt this market. For example, the researchers found that targeting key sellers is effective, but targeting key product types—”alligator watch,” for example—breaks the market of reptile leather products equally effectively, and is much easier to enact at a broad scale. The authors emphasize that this system is a starting point, not a finished solution. The pipeline is designed to be extensible, allowing future researchers to incorporate better classifiers, image-based analysis, or new data sources. By making the code openly available, they aim to support broader collaboration. As the wildlife trade continues to move online, understanding its digital footprint will be increasingly important. Scalable data collection tools like this one offer a way to transform scattered online listings into actionable knowledge, an essential step toward disrupting illegal wildlife trade in the digital era.

Cape Town must not punish wild baboons for living near humans. Trapping and confining them is cruel and impractical. Humane solutions exist.

SIGN THE PETITION 16,000 voices ignored as Cape Town mayor snubs ASI baboon petition  The executive mayor of Cape Town has refused to accept a petition from Animal Survival International (ASI), signed by more than 16,000 people, over the City’s plans to capture, confine and sterilize wild, free-ranging baboons in the Cape Peninsula.  According to Geordin Hill-Lewis, he doesn’t have the authority to do so. ASI rejects this notion because the City has allocated R12-million in its 2026 budget for the Cape Peninsula Baboon Strategic Management Plan (CPBSMP). ASI executive director David Barritt said the mayor is trying to distance himself from a wildly unpopular and cruel plan.  “The issue he faces is that the City cannot separate itself from the fact that it is using taxpayers’ money to implement a plan which is fundamentally cruel and essentially a zoo, a place where wild animals are taken and exhibited for money. How can he then tell 16,000 people it’s not his problem?” The CPBSMP has caused widespread public concern, with thousands speaking out against the proposed confinement of the wild baboons. The ASI petition underscores strong community opposition and a clear demand for humane, science-based solutions to human-baboon conflict. “Confinement would rob baboons of the freedom to forage, disperse and maintain complex social bonds, while sterilization would destabilize troop hierarchies and increase aggression. This threatens the long-term survival of these animals,” said Barritt.  ASI emphasizes that human-baboon conflict in Cape Town is preventable. Access to human food, unsecured waste and intentional feeding are the main drivers.  “The solution is not punishment, it’s prevention,” Barritt stressed. “With proactive management, coexistence is possible.” Proven and humane alternatives do exist and include:  Universal deployment of baboon-proof waste bins Securing refuse collection areas and limiting access to waste Strict enforcement of bylaws prohibiting the feeding of wildlife Continued use and strengthening of trained baboon ranger programs Strategic fencing and deterrent measures to prevent access to urban attractants Public education campaigns to encourage responsible human behaviour “Baboons play a critical role in their ecosystems. Removing them disrupts natural processes, such as seed dispersal, that have been in place for generations,” Barritt said. According to the CPBSMP, the Seaforth troop will be relocated to a ‘trail enclosure of 1,5 hectares’ on a purpose-built baboon sanctuary on private land on Plateau Road by February 2026. The plan states that each baboon will be sedated and physically examined before relocation. A veterinarian will assess the animals and provide appropriate sterilization or contraception as breeding in the sanctuary will not be permitted. No baboon will also be released back into the wild from the sanctuary.  Trapping and confining wild, free-ranging baboons in this manner is cruel and impractical.  ASI therefore calls on City leadership to abandon the enclosure and sterilization plan and to prioritise humane, preventative measures that safeguard both communities and wildlife. SIGN THE PETITION Media Contact:  Liryn de Jager liryn@networkforanimals.org

Plans underway to rescue lonely lioness – we’re almost there

In Limpopo, South Africa, a lonely and vulnerable lioness is roaming the bushveld. Her entire pride has been wiped out by hunters and farmers. Day after day, she remains trapped between a safe sanctuary she cannot access and farmlands where she will likely be killed.  Right now, plans are underway to dart and move her to safety. Teams have begun preparation, and she is being closely monitored. As soon as it is safe for her to be darted, she will be captured. This regal queen is the lone survivor of a once-proud pride, and now, we are raising funds to secure her relocation into a 36,000-hectare protected game reserve where she will be safe in a spacious fenced area. With her pride lost to hunting and human-wildlife conflict, this lioness now roams alone. Each day, she moves between a sanctuary she is unable to access and farmlands where she risks being shot. She has no safe place to call ‘home.’ Credit: The LionWatch Project Threats are all around and closing in fast. We must help right away. A solitary lioness has managed to evade the horror that met the rest of her pride – but she is in grave danger. Human-wildlife conflict is escalating across South Africa’s northern farming regions where shrinking habitats force lions beyond protected areas and into danger. When livestock is lost to a hungry lion – even once – retaliation is often swift and fatal: shooting, poisoning or trapping and killing the animal. This conflict is now one of the leading causes of lion deaths outside reserves in South Africa and solitary lions are the most vulnerable. Without a pride or safe territory, every step this lonely lioness takes risks becoming her last. Lions are killed and mutilated for trophies or “traditional medicine,” or murdered by farmers in retaliation for attacking livestock. Credit: Tyrone Winfield-Shutterstock Alone and unprotected, the lioness drifts along the sanctuary’s perimeter, searching for connection. She is desperately lonely and in grave danger.  Lions are highly social creatures who live and thrive in a pride. For hours, this animal lies against the fence of the sanctuary, drawn to the lions inside, aching to belong. A bonded male and female from another pride have shown her rare moments of kindness. But lions are territorial and her presence is beginning to cause deep stress among the others in the pride – putting not only her life, but theirs, in danger. Her safety and survival are under threat every moment she spends roaming in the grey area between farmland and the sanctuary’s border. She’s found brief moments of connection with members from another pride, inside the safety of the reserve fences. But her presence is causing mounting stress, threatening the fragile peace that keeps them all alive. Credit: The LionWatch Project This is a wild lion and cannot ethically or legally be kept in captivity. Our partner, the LionWatch Project, is prepared to relocate her to a secure reserve where she can join a new pride and live freely as a wild animal once again.  The total cost of the relocation, including a satellite collar to monitor her progress in her new home and ensure she adapts well, is $4,500 (roughly £3,300). Right now, the lioness risks her life every time she hunts for food. If she kills livestock, even once, she will be shot. This is not a question of if, but when. We MUST help. Please donate right away and help us relocate this vulnerable animal to a safe, spacious reserve where she can live the wild life she deserves – without the threat of death. She has already survived the unthinkable. Please don’t let her story end with a gunshot.

Lion DNA helps convict poachers for first time

Article written by Angus Crawford Originally published by BBC, 20 February 2026 Lion DNA has been used to successfully prosecute poachers for the first time in the world, it has emerged. Wildlife crime experts have only just revealed how they were able to identify the individual animal from body parts found in a suspect’s village, as they matched a profile on Zimbabwe’s lion database. A blood sample had previously been taken from the male lion, which was being tracked by authorities in Hwange National Park – using a radio collar. Two poachers were convicted for the 2024 incident and sent to prison in what is thought to be the first prosecution of its kind. The details of the convictions and the role the DNA database played have been previously unknown. Non-governmental organisation (NGO) Traffic, which works to combat the illegal trade in wildlife, has shared the detail with us. In May 2024, authorities in Hwange National Park became suspicious after a radio collar worn by a male lion stopped working. Investigators and police traced its last known position and found a snare with lion fur attached to it. After collecting forensic evidence they questioned two men in a nearby village and discovered three sacks of meat, 16 lion claws and four teeth. These body parts would later be tested against the database, with the DNA from all matching the profile of that missing lion. Credit: TRACE/Simon Dures But possessing lion parts is not necessarily a crime in Zimbabwe. Having them can be explained away as old, traditional ornaments or as coming from an animal that died of natural causes. This has been an obstacle to prosecutions in the past. But thanks to a breakthrough in DNA profiling, that’s now changed. The lab generated a DNA profile from the recovered body parts and compared this to the profile previously generated from a blood sample of the lion with the radio collar. The two profiles matched and scientists were able to identify the specific missing animal. Over the last eight years the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust (VFWT) has received about £250,000 from the People’s Postcode Lottery in the UK to build up the DNA database of lions in Zimbabwe. The scientist at the trust, who made the discovery, asked to remain anonymous for his own safety, but said: “Before we had access to this technology, we were only able to do species identification, but sometimes that’s not enough. “We can essentially match those claws or those products to the lion of interest that we are looking for.” Within 10 days of the killing, the DNA evidence was presented in court. Two men pleaded guilty and were given 24 month prison sentences. The hearing was told the value of the lion was about $20,000. Richard Scobey, Traffic’s executive director, said “countries now have the forensic capability to bring, solid science-based evidence to court” and that it will have global impact. Credit: TRAFFIC/Viv Williams This is understood to be the first time that DNA from an individual lion has been identified and used to prosecute poachers. Professor Rob Ogden has been closely involved in setting up the project and is co- founder of the organisation Trace, which promotes the use of forensic science in wildlife law enforcement. He says the prosecution gives “a message of hope” and shows what can be done using a combination of training, research and development and forensic casework. Recent figures suggest an increase in the number of lions being killed for their body parts which are then sold both as cultural objects in Africa and for traditional Chinese medicine. It is thought the rise may be down to organised crime gangs also involved in the illegal trade in Rhino horn and ivory trafficking. In Mozambique between 2010 and 2023, 426 lions were killed as a result of contact with humans with a quarter linked to deliberate poaching. A measure of the scale of the trade is also the number of seizures by the authorities in recent years. That includes 17 lion skulls found in Lusaka in 2021, reportedly en-route from South Africa, and a 2023 seizure in Maputo of more than 300kg of lion body parts. Which is why this breakthrough on DNA identification is seen as sending an important message to would-be poachers.

Rhino Poaching Doubles In South Africa’s Kruger Park

Article written by AFP – Agence France Presse Originally published by Barrons, 10 February 2026 Rhino poaching almost doubled in South Africa’s Kruger National Park in 2025 compared to the previous year, despite interventions including dehorning and lie detector tests for rangers, the government said Tuesday. South Africa is home to the world’s largest population of rhinos, which are poached for their horns that fetch high prices on the black market. Kruger, one of Africa’s biggest national parks, lost 175 rhinos to poachers in 2025, following 88 reported the previous year, the environment ministry said in a statement. Across the country, poachers killed 352 of the animals over last year, a 16 percent drop from 2024, it said, citing good results from dehorning programmes and detection measures such as the use of advanced cameras and sensors. Kruger had noted a link between failed polygraph tests on its rangers and a surge in poaching, with follow-up investigations resulting in the dismissal of seven staff, it said. South Africa has the biggest rhino population in the world, with nearly 14,390 of the animals at the end of 2024, more than 80 percent of them white rhinos, according to the International Rhino Foundation. The global population is about 26,700, it says. The environment ministry did not say if the poached animals were white rhinos or the black species, which is listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Environment minister Willie Aucamp has proposed reintroducing limited hunting trophy export quotas for black rhinos, elephants and leopards after a four-year freeze that has frustrated hunters and wildlife ranchers. The quotas published last week for public consultation are for 150 elephants, 12 black rhino and 11 leopards. South Africa’s elephant population had increased by 41 percent to more than 43,680 animals in the wild, the proposal said. The suggested quota for black rhino was in accordance with a CITES provision that the number of adult male black rhino exported as hunting trophies does not exceed 0.5 percent of the population, it said.

Rescued lions and tigers at risk of freezing to death in Ukraine

Ukraine is being destroyed by war and the situation for animals there keeps getting worse. The Russians are launching relentless attacks in a bid to destroy Ukraine’s electricity supply so now the animals we help care for are freezing cold in the middle of winter with no heating. Because of the bombing, our partner, Wild Animal Rescue Center (WARC) near Kyiv, has no power and no water. 42 wild animals, including lions, tigers, lynxes and many others, and 62 domestic animals, are living in arctic conditions without any way to get warm. At Wild Animal Rescue Center (WARC), this wolf and dozens of other rescued animals are enduring freezing conditions. No electricity means no heat, no water and no escape from the cold. Credit: WARC With temperatures plunging as low as -4°F (-20°C), the situation is utterly desperate and we must help. “We are all freezing. The water in our pipes has frozen. There is no water in the center, no electricity. We cannot keep the animals warm. We really need help urgently.” – Natalia Popova, founder, Wild Animal Rescue Center (WARC) Animal Survival International has fought for these animals since the war broke out and now we are reaching out to every animal lover to help, because their situation is desperate. We must buy a generator to help these animals before it is too late. Many of the animals are exotic species, not native to Ukraine, who were dumped or abandoned when owners and zookeepers fled. This tiger and other exotic animals are living without electricity and have to endure bitterly cold conditions. A generator will provide the warmth they need to make it through winter. Credit: WARC Just two years old, Khan was kept in appalling conditions before being abandoned. When WARC was alerted of Khan’s situation, it moved quickly to save him but the damage was already done. Khan is forever traumatised and gravely ill, suffering from serious kidney and liver disease that requires long-term, costly treatment just to keep him alive. A generator will give him the warmth he needs to fight for his life. Khan is battling liver disease, and in freezing temperatures, his condition worsens. Without warmth and care, every cold night puts his life at risk. Credit: WARC Please help us raise $13,000 (£9,500) to purchase a life-saving generator and fuel to see our partner through winter. It could be the difference between life and death for the animals. These animals have already survived war, abandonment, and unimaginable suffering. Please don’t let freezing temperatures be what takes their lives. Please, donate right away. Every day without a generator brings the animals closer to doom. Your donation today means a step closer to massive relief for animals on the brink of disaster.

Rescued elephant Pun had every one of her babies ripped away

Pun has endured a lifetime of heartbreak. Exploited as a breeding elephant in Thailand, her babies were taken from her again and again, to be sold into the entertainment industry for a lifetime of abuse. It is a trauma no mother or baby should ever have to go through. All of Pun’s babies were ripped from her after birth. She suffered heartbreak after heartbreak – all while being beaten and abused. An emotional moment for all, when Pun and her daughter – who tragically later died – were finally rescued and brought to our partner’s sanctuary. Credit: WFFT Our partner, Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT), was able to rescue Pun and one of her daughters before their cruel captors could separate them. Sadly, her daughter – who was just a year old at the time of rescue – later passed away, and since then, traumatized Pun has struggled to find companionship. Lonely and heartbroken, all we want for Pun is friendship and love. Will you help? As a breeding elephant, Pun was kept tightly chained in a tiny enclosure. Credit: WFFT After years of loss, Pun now finds it difficult to trust others and is frightened of other elephants. But with time, patience, and the right environment, Pun could begin to rediscover what it means to be an elephant and even find a place in a herd. We urgently want to give Pun a new, much larger enclosure. This is because with careful introductions, made possible through neighboring elephant enclosures, it may be possible for Pun to form a friendship with another rescued elephant, and experience the companionship she so deeply deserves. But to make this dream a reality, she needs your help. Every contribution, no matter the size, brings Pun one step closer to a bigger home and the chance of friendship. Will you help her today? Credit: WFFT Pun’s future is in your hands. Every donation, large or small, will help this precious animal heal and rediscover joy. Can she count on your support today?

INVESTIGATION | Wildlife crime syndicates tighten grip on South Africa’s natural heritage

Article written by Nicola Mawson Originally published by IOL, 13 January 2026 South Africa’s natural heritage is under siege from organised crime, weak regulation and murky legal markets. From vaults holding rhino horn stockpiles to pens of captive-bred lions, and from the elusive pangolin to plundered seas, an expanding illicit wildlife economy is eroding biodiversity, undermining sustainable livelihoods and fuelling transnational criminal networks. Legal loopholes, under-resourced enforcement agencies and the high value of wildlife products have created fertile ground for trafficking syndicates, allowing them to move endangered animals and derivatives across borders with alarming efficiency. The consequences reach beyond conservation: local communities are left vulnerable, ecological systems are destabilised, and South Africa’s global reputation as a leader in wildlife protection is increasingly at risk.   Rhino horn stockpiles: legal piles, illegal flows South Africa holds one of the world’s largest rhino horn stockpiles – legally accumulated from horns harvested in dehorning, natural deaths and confiscations. Official disclosures from government Promotion of Access to Information responses from the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DFFE) obtained by the EMS Foundation in mid-2024 show government holdings of about 27,650 kg and private holdings at roughly 47,500 kg. This accounts to around 70,000 kg of horn. The legal regime allows domestic trade under strict permits, while international commercial trade remains prohibited under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and domestic implementing law, the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (NEMBA). Yet, Jason Gilchrist, lecturer in the School of Applied Sciences at the Edinburgh Napier University, has said that “diminishing demand for rhino horn would ultimately remove the incentive for poaching rhino. It would also remove any incentive to private landowners to farm rhino for their horn.” Between 2016 and 2021, at least 974 kg of seized rhino horn were forensically traced back to legal stockpiles, demonstrating leakage into illicit channels, according to EMS Foundation research. A seven-year investigation by the South African Police Service’s Hawks and DFFE culminated in the arrest of suspects linked to 964 horns destined for illegal export, confirmed in a government media release. South Africa’s wildlife tracking economy. Credit: ChatGPT Then DFFE Minister Dion George said that this “complex investigation… is a powerful demonstration of South Africa’s resolve to protect its natural heritage. The Hawks’ work shows that our enforcement agencies will not hesitate to pursue those who plunder our wildlife for criminal profit.” George added that “the illegal trade in rhino horn not only destroys biodiversity but also undermines the rule of law and the foundations of environmental governance”. In 2025, the High Court in the Northern Cape delivered a ruling interpreting a captive breeding exemption in CITES to potentially allow horn exports under narrow conditions. The EMS Foundation has previously noted that “instead of destroying the rhino horn after removal, South Africa has chosen to continue the risk to the diminishing surviving rhino population by driving the perception that the horn has value and stockpiling it… It is inevitable that rhino horns from stockpiles will flow into the international illegal trade.” Canned lions and captive breeding South Africa is at the centre of one of the world’s most contentious wildlife industries: controlled lion breeding for hunting, tourism and bone export. An estimated 7,800 to 8,000 lions are held in captivity across more than 300 facilities, according to research from the Ministerial Task Team and NGO estimates. A Ministerial Task Team was appointed in December 2022 to recommend pathways for a voluntary closure of captive lion facilities. But, recently, the current Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment – Willie Aucamp – said he was still awaiting comprehensive implementation plans before taking further steps, amid allegations of industry ties he denies. Captive breeding of lions has underpinned “canned hunting” – hunts in confined spaces where escape is impossible. Lion bones, like rhino horn, are sought in some Asian markets for purported medicinal value, despite no scientific basis, according to animal welfare organisations. Where Pangolin trafficking is rampant. Credit: Statista Pangolins: silent trafficked mammals on a global highway The Temminck’s ground pangolin, South Africa’s only indigenous pangolin species, is listed as Vulnerable and protected under domestic law and CITES Appendix I. From January to August 2023, around 30 pangolins were seized in the country, primarily live animals, according to EMS Foundation data. A ScienceDirect article from last year found that interceptions of pangolin scales from Africa to China have increased remarkably in recent years totaling 6.4 tonnes, 6.3 tonnes in 2015, 18.9 tonnes in 2016, 46.8 tonnes in 2017, 39.7 tonnes in 2018 and more than 97 tonnes in 2019. “As the four Asian pangolin species have become even more scarce, the demand for pangolin scales has in turn increased in Africa at industrial levels in order to supply the Asian market demands,” it said. Seafood plunder: abalone and beyond Marine wildlife also plays a role in the illegal wildlife economy. South African abalone (perlemoen), prized in East Asia as a luxury seafood delicacy, is among species heavily targeted by illegal harvesters and organised syndicates. Although commercial abalone fishing was banned in 2007, enforcement challenges have allowed illegal sea harvesting and smuggling to flourish, with gangs working with foreign networks to export dried abalone to lucrative destinations, analysis by governance and fisheries organisations shows. Perlemoen, shark fins and other marine products are among the broader suite of illicit wildlife commodities trafficked across borders, reinforcing how marine crime intersects with terrestrial organised trafficking networks. How South Africa’s illicit trade stacks up globally. Credit: Tracit A tangled web with global consequences Wildlife trafficking is not just an environmental issue – it is a criminal economy worth billions. Global enforcement demonstrates this: Interpol’s Operation Thunder 2025 rescued nearly 30,000 trafficked live animals and seized tons of wildlife products. “Nearly 30,000 trafficked live animals were rescued during coordinated operations against wildlife and forestry crime, and tons of wildlife products were seized,” said Interpol. Conservation groups argue that eliminating stockpiles, closing controversial breeding industries and enhancing coordinated enforcement are essential to stop legal markets being co-opted by illegal networks. What’s next for South Africa’s

7 hopeful wildlife sightings that researchers celebrated in 2025

Article written by Shreya Dasgupta Originally published by Mongabay, 6 January 2026 Once in a while, an animal shows up where it’s least expected, including places from where it was thought to have gone extinct. These rare sightings bring hope — but also fresh concerns. These are some of the wildlife sightings Mongabay reported on in 2025. Colossal squid recorded for the first time in its deep-sea home Researchers made the first confirmed recordings of a colossal squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni), the world’s heaviest invertebrate, while exploring the deep sea near Antarctica. Until then, everything scientists knew about the species came from the bits of them that turned up in the bellies of other animals. (Read story) A baby colossal squid. Credit: Schmidt Ocean Institute Eurasian otter reappears in Malaysia after a decade In Malaysia, camera traps in Tangkulap Forest Reserve photographed a Eurasian otter near a waterbody. This is the first confirmed sighting of the species in Malaysia in more than a decade and makes Tangkulap Forest Reserve the only place in the country where all four East Asian otter species coexist. (Read story) First elephant sighting in a Senegal park since 2019 Camera traps in Senegal’s Niokolo-Koba National Park captured video of a large bull elephant named Ousmane, thought to be a hybrid of the critically endangered African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis) and savanna elephant (Loxodonta africana). Researchers say this is the first elephant to be seen in the park in six years. (Read story) Rare Javan leopard sighting Camera traps in Indonesia’s Mount Lawu forest area snapped rare images of a Javan leopard, following reports of the animal by a hiker. The endangered Javan leopard (Panthera pardus melas) is Java’s last surviving top predator, following the extinction last century of the Javan tiger (Panthera tigris sondaica). (Read story) First-ever sighting of critically endangered right whales spotted in the Bahamas In April, divers captured videos of two North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) in the Bahamas, making it the first time the species has been seen in the nation’s waters. During that time of the year, the critically endangered whale is usually found thousands of kilometers north off the northeastern U.S. coast. There are fewer than 400 estimated individuals remaining. (Read story) New population of rare douc langurs in Vietnam Researchers confirmed a new subpopulation of critically endangered gray-shanked douc langurs (Pygathrix cinerea) in Khe Lim Forest in south-central Vietnam. The sighting is hopeful, but the researchers warn the forest lies outside Vietnam’s formally protected areas, leaving the population exposed to numerous threats. (Read story) Flat-headed cats ‘reappear’ in Thailand NGOs and authorities captured footage of numerous flat-headed cats (Prionailurus planiceps) in the peat swamp forests of Princess Sirindhorn Wildlife Sanctuary in south Thailand from 2024-2025. The endangered, understudied species was last spotted in Thailand by researchers in 1995, leading to the assessment that they were “possibly extinct” in the country. (Read story) A flat-headed cat in Sabah, Malaysia Credit: Sebastian Kennerknecht/Panthera  

Orphaned baby wild animals in South Africa are fighting for life right now

A tiny scream pierced the air as our rescue team rushed through a violent summer storm in South Africa. On the ground lay a newborn genet — a small, cat-like wild mammal — with its umbilical cord still attached. Its eyes were closed, and its mother gone. Without immediate help, this little life had no chance of survival. Imagine the terror this newborn must have felt — fresh from the womb, still blind, and utterly alone. Fortunately for the little genet, our team was able to help. This newborn genet was found abandoned in a violent storm with its umbilical cord still attached. Thanks to our partner, it is receiving the critical support it needs. Credit: FFW This year, there are more animals in need than ever before. Sadly, this story is all too common in South Africa where wildlife habitats and human settlements often overlap. Each summer, wildfires, vehicle strikes, habitat destruction and intensified hunting tear mother animals from their babies. In the illegal traditional medicine trade, adult animals are killed for their body parts, leaving infants behind. A lucky few survive long enough to be rushed to our partner, Friends of Free Wildlife, barely clinging to life. Each month, our partner rescues and rehabilitates animals, including orphaned mongooses like this one. Credit: FFW Among the most vulnerable rescues are: Bushbabies, some weighing as little as one ounce (28 grams) Baby bats, torn from their mothers Newborn hedgehogs, no bigger than your palm and completely defenceless A blue duiker – a threatened type of antelope heavily hunted for the traditional medicine trade, even though it is protected under South African law The lives of fragile wild animals hang in the balance, like (L-R) newborn bush babies and hedgehogs, and this threatened blue duiker. Credit: FFW (Left and right) and EyeEm Mobile GmbH (Centre) We urgently need to raise $2,000 (£1,500) to complete a vital upgrade to our partner’s veterinary clinic. As more and more animals need help, our partner is trying as hard as it can to help these fragile infants. Their survival depends entirely on rapid rescue — and on compassionate supporters like you.. To cope, our partner urgently needs to get more equipment for its clinic. Priorities are: Heating pads and incubator boxes for newborns who cannot regulate their body temperature Infrared lamps to stabilise fragile infants Isolation units to prevent deadly infections Basic medical tools needed for emergency neonatal care Your donation can make the difference between life and death for orphaned wild animals. Credit: FFW Your donation will help provide warmth, sterile treatment, feeding support, burn care, and medical intervention for tiny bodies fighting to survive. Quite simply, your kindness could mean the difference between life and death. Will you help today? With your support, these helpless orphans can grow stronger — and one day return to the wild where they belong.

Bali Zoo ends elephant rides in landmark step for animal welfare

Article written by World Animal Protection Originally published by World Animal Protection, 19 January 2026 Bali Zoo has ended elephant riding, marking major progress for elephant welfare and responsible wildlife tourism in Indonesia. Bali Zoo has announced it will no longer offer elephant riding to visitors, a move that reflects growing awareness that these activities cause real harm to elephants. The decision follows similar action by TSI Bogor, TSI Prigen, and A’Famosa, which also stopped elephant riding in 2024. These changes show that the tourism industry is beginning to move away from outdated and harmful practices. This progress comes after years of research, advocacy, and engagement by World Animal Protection, as well as increasing pressure from travelers who want to enjoy wildlife without causing suffering. Why elephant riding harms elephants Elephant riding is widely recognized as one of the most harmful forms of wildlife tourism. To make elephants accept close contact with people, many are subjected to harsh training methods that rely on fear and pain. In captivity, they are often kept in conditions that limit their ability to move freely, socialize, and behave naturally. Our investigations into wildlife tourism in Bali have repeatedly highlighted the suffering faced by elephants used for entertainment. Tourism is starting to change The move by Bali Zoo has been supported by the Southeast Asian Zoos and Aquariums Association, which has publicly opposed elephant riding. In December 2025, the Bali Province Conservation and Natural Resources Agency also called on attractions to show greater respect for elephants and move away from riding activities. As expectations change, venues that continue to offer elephant rides risk falling out of step with both community values and responsible tourism standards. How tourists can help protect elephants Many travelers do not realize that what feels like a special holiday experience can mean a lifetime of suffering for an elephant. Tourists can make a real difference by choosing responsible experiences that put animal welfare first. We encourage visitors to: Avoid venues that offer elephant riding, bathing or performances Observe elephants from a safe distance in their natural environments Book with responsible travel companies that prioritise animal welfare Ask questions about how animals are treated before booking Progress, but elephants still need protection While this is an important step, some venues in Bali are still offering elephant riding. While rides continue to operate, elephants will still suffer as a result. We will continue to work with governments, the tourism industry, and the public to help ensure elephants are no longer exploited for entertainment. Together, we can make wildlife-friendly tourism the norm.

Camera traps hidden in Brazilian rainforest. They just captured something that has never been seen before

Article written by James Fair Originally published by Discover Wildlife, 13 January 2026 The cameras recorded jaguars meowing in the wild for the first time. Jaguars are unusual among the big cats in actively hunting and attacking their prey – frequently reptiles as large as caimans – in water. Now scientists have found something else, perhaps even more surprising, that distinguishes them from their relatives in the Panthera genus (leopards, lions, snow leopards and tigers). They meow, just like your average pussycat. A team of scientists from a number of academic institutions, including the University of Salford in Manchester, set up camera traps in Iguaçu National Park in the Atlantic rainforest of southeastern Brazil. These cameras recorded two separate females meowing to their cubs, and their offspring responding in kind. Marina Duarte, from the University of Salford and one of the authors of a paper that reveals this new behavior, says there have been anecdotal suggestions from field workers in the past that jaguars might produce these types of vocalizations, but it had never been recorded in the wild. Credit: University of Salford Jaguars are normally considered solitary and relatively silent big cats. “Observing repeated, context-specific vocal exchanges between mothers and cubs over extended periods challenges this simplistic view and highlights a more flexible maternal communication system,” Duarte says. “It reinforces the idea that maternal care involves complex acoustic strategies that may be underappreciated due to the difficulty of observing these animals in the wild.” Duarte says the scientific literature suggests big cats cannot meow because of the structure of their larynxes and tracheas, but this consensus has been overturned with this discovery. It is accepted that big cats cannot purr (and all other cats cannot roar – though, nor can snow leopards), but Duarte says leopards do produce a broader vocal repertoire that includes “softer calls sometimes described as meow-like.” That female jaguars use meows to talk with their offspring is not surprising – that’s exactly what house cats do, as do many other felines. Both male and female cheetahs communicate with meows, but it’s not known if male jaguars do. In general, they are more renowned for roaring. Still, this is a major new finding. As Duarte says, “The results of our research remind us that even in one of the world’s most studied big cats, there are still intimate aspects of behavior waiting to be discovered, quietly unfolding in forests just beyond human sight.”

Legal threats raise concern over public opposition to Cape Baboon enclosure proposal

SIGN THE PETITION In a development that has raised serious concerns, a leading campaigner who has publicly objected to the City of Cape Town’s proposal to capture and confine wild baboons, has been threatened with legal action should she continue speaking out. Animal Survival International (ASI), a leading animal welfare organisation, has raised concerns that legal action may be being used to discourage public opposition to the proposal. This is after a member of the Cape Point Baboon Trust was served with a cease-and-desist letter by lawyers acting on behalf of the private landowner where the enclosure is intended to be built. ASI warns that the use of legal pressure against concerned citizens marks a dangerous turning point in conservation decision-making, where public participation and scientific debate are being suppressed rather than encouraged. “This is not just about baboons,” said Luke Barritt, campaign director at ASI. “This is about the right of communities, scientists and civil society to speak openly when wildlife and public resources are at stake. We cannot allow the decision makers    to silence people who have the best interests of animals at heart.” ASI stands firmly with the Cape Point Baboon Trust and all members of the public who are raising legitimate concerns about the proposed enclosure. Conservation outcomes succeed through transparency, evidence and public engagement; not through fear and legal threats. The City of Cape Town and CapeNature now face a defining choice: pursue a short-term, high-risk intervention or set a global gold standard for ethical, science-led management of human-wildlife conflict in an urban environment. Biologist and scientific researcher stressed the need for principled decision-making: “Conservation measures are never easy to implement. However, we must follow the line of action that truly serves the long-term interests of the baboons and the people who live alongside them. That is the only path to sustainability for future generations.” The Cape Peninsula Baboon Strategic Management Plan explicitly recognizes the importance of fencing, waste management and coexistence-based strategies over extreme containment measures. ASI urges authorities to honor both the spirit and substance of this plan. “This moment calls for leadership, not intimidation,” ASI said. “Priorities must be reframed back to the baboons and the broader community and away from private entities and expedient solutions.” The Cape Point Baboon Trust will host “Boogie for Baboons”, a public fundraising and awareness event, on Sunday 25 January at the Brass Bell, Kalk Bay. Tickets are available on Quicket, with further details to be shared via ASI’s social media platforms. SIGN THE PETITION Media Contact:  Liryn de Jager liryn@networkforanimals.org