Conservationists have developed a conservation plan to protect antelope species worldwide from habitat loss, poaching and climate change. The plan, developed in collaboration with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), focuses on three strategies. Firstly, identifying and prioritising critical habitats, such as grasslands, wetlands and forests, for each antelope species, secondly, combatting illegal hunting through strengthening law enforcement,…
A possible new species of hippopotamus has been discovered in West Africa. Genetic analysis has revealed that the animal is distinct from the two known species of hippo, the common hippopotamus and the pygmy hippopotamus. The newly-discovered animal has been named the “West African hippopotamus,” and is found in rivers and swamps in countries such as Ghana, Ivory Coast and…
A team of researchers from the University of Pretoria have discovered a new subspecies of zebra in southern Africa. The Cape mountain zebra, which has a unique genetic makeup and physical attributes, is smaller and stockier than its relatives and has a new coat pattern. The new subspecies is said to have more cautious and elusive behavior and there are…
The discovery of a new subspecies of giraffe in Tanzania, named the Masai giraffe, has significant implications for giraffe conservation efforts. Researchers from the Giraffe Conservation Foundation and Tanzania National Parks identified the subspecies through its unique genetic makeup and darker coat with closer, irregular patches. The discovery, based on a population estimate of approximately 33,000 giraffes in Tanzania, allows…
Technology is being harnessed to help save the world’s rhino population, according to World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Rhino Africa. Approaches include GPS tracking, drones with cameras and heat sensors to monitor national parks and wildlife reserves where rhinos live, and artificial intelligence (AI) which uses machine learning algorithms to track rhinos’ data from GPS trackers and drone footage. The…
A herd of elephants searching for food has caused significant damage to a farmer’s cabbage crop. This event highlights the ongoing human-elephant conflict in many parts of the world, particularly where elephant populations are expanding and encroaching on human habitats. Elephants can cause substantial damage to crops including maize, sugarcane and rice, which can lead to a significant reduction in…
Africa’s growing cities are encroaching on the habitats of hyenas, leading to declines in food availability that affect the predators’ populations. Urbanisation can also lower numbers of the herbivores that they eat and lead to contact with domestic animals that bring hyenas into conflict with farmers. The predators play a crucial role in balancing ecosystems, controlling the populations of herbivores…
Recent conservation efforts have led to a promising increase in the cheetah population, which has been vulnerable to poaching, habitat loss, and human-wildlife conflict. While there are fewer than 7,500 cheetahs remaining in the wild in Africa, the combined efforts of governments, non-governmental organizations, and communities have led to a 30% increase in population density in some areas, with breeding…
Conservationists are lobbying for stronger measures to protect the habitats of tigers, which are under threat from habitat loss and poaching. Tigers are crucial for the balance of ecosystems, as they are apex predators and play a key role in maintaining the health of the ecosystem as a whole. Habitat loss is their biggest threat, and conservationists are working to…
A new study has found that lions have fluid social groups that are constantly changing depending on factors such as food availability, mating opportunities and social connections. By using GPS tracking collars over a period of several years, researchers from the University of Minnesota and the University of California-Los Angeles were able to monitor the movements and interactions of individual…