All articles tagged with #wildlife
A dead humpback whale named Timmy, found off Anholt in Denmark, is at risk of exploding as gases build up during decomposition. Danish authorities and the coastal rescue service plan to tow the carcass into deeper waters and away from shore, a dangerous operation that could prevent a rupture near the coast; the whale is slated for a post-mortem in Grenaa after the recovery move.
Camera-trap surveys in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone reveal 11 mammal species—incl. Przewalski’s horses, Eurasian lynx and moose—are thriving in the largely human-free area, suggesting reduced disturbance supports wildlife even as scientists note the need for further study on lingering radioactivity effects.
A camera-trap survey across 60,000 square kilometers in northern Ukraine finds higher wildlife occupancy and diversity in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone and connected reserves, with species like Przewalski’s horse, moose, lynx, and deer most abundant there, suggesting reduced human activity and habitat connectivity boost large mammals; researchers note they did not assess radiation effects and access is limited by conflict; study published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B (2026).
Two humpback whales completed a record-breaking journey of about 9,000 miles between breeding sites in Australia and Brazil, highlighting their remarkable long-range migration and the global scale of whale movements.
A viral image of an unusually fat rattlesnake stunned viewers online, sparking discussion about wildlife and safety; wildlife experts urge people to admire snakes from a distance and avoid approaching them.
A May 2026 AP report notes that an April 10, 2026 fire at Iran’s Lavan Island refinery caused an oil slick in the Persian Gulf around Shidvar Island, captured by satellite imagery. The spill threatens a protected wildlife breeding ground in the gulf and underscores environmental risks linked to regional tensions and conflict.
A red-haired fox in Blairmore, Alberta, was spotted carrying five or six hot dogs by a Royal Canadian Mounted Police constable; police posted a photo on social media jokingly calling it a ‘criminal,’ and the fox was released without charges.
A Washington man, Igor Lytvynchuk, 38, was arrested by NOAA agents near Seattle on charges of harassing an endangered Hawaiian monk seal after a witness filmed him throwing a rock the size of a coconut at Maui’s monk seal named Lani. Hawaiian monk seals are critically endangered with about 1,600 remaining in the wild. If convicted, he faces up to one year in prison and fines up to $50,000 under the Endangered Species Act and $20,000 under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
A Hawaiian local was hailed as a hero after a Seattle tourist threw a large rock at Lani, an endangered monk seal off Lahaina. The attacker was detained and later released; the incident drew wide praise for citizen intervention and prompted a letter of recognition from a Maui official. The Hawaii Dept. of Natural Resources turned the case over to NOAA for possible federal charges under wildlife protection laws. Lani has become a symbol of Maui’s recovery following the Lahaina wildfires.
BBC Scotland runs a week-long gallery (May 1–8) of reader-submitted photographs from across the country, featuring wildlife, landscapes, city scenes and seasonal moments, with guidelines on submitting images and rights.
A hiker was killed in a bear attack at Glacier National Park in Montana; authorities are investigating the incident and reminding visitors to stay alert around wildlife.
Japan confirms its first fatal bear attack of 2026 in Iwate, with two more deaths suspected; authorities report a surge in bear sightings as bears emerge from hibernation, prompting patrols and warnings across prefectures amid growing bear populations and food-driven conflicts.
A YouTube Short captures a bobcat circling a tree in pursuit of a squirrel, but the agile rodent uses quick zig-zags and climbs to safety, illustrating the predator-prey dynamic in the wild and advising viewers not to intervene in such hunts.
Forty years after the disaster, wildlife around the Chernobyl exclusion zone shows a mix of thriving populations and unusual traits. Some species have benefited from reduced human activity and habitat changes, while others exhibit notable features (e.g., darker tree frogs, altered forests, more wolves and bears). Scientists debate whether these changes are direct radiation adaptations or the result of environmental shifts and other factors, including transgenerational mutations and climate stress.
Conservationists in North Sumatra built a canopy bridge over the Lagan-Pagindar road to reconnect orangutan populations split by the road; after two years of camera-trap monitoring, a young Sumatran orangutan was filmed crossing the bridge—the first documented use of such a wildlife bridge for the species—highlighting the bridge’s role in maintaining forest connectivity and preventing genetic bottlenecks for about 350 local orangutans.