Conservation
What We’ve Lost: The Species Declared Extinct in 2020
Dozens of frogs, fish, orchids and other species—many unseen for decades—may no longer exist because of humanity’s destructive effects on the planet
Stories by John R. Platt
Conservation
Porcupines Face a Poaching Crisis—and It's All Because of What's in Their Stomachs
New research indicates a growing online trade in porcupine bezoars—a ball of inedible material that sometimes gathers in their digestive tracts
Conservation
Hawaii’s Invasive Predator Catastrophe
Feral cats and pigs and black rats are putting many species on the fast track toward extinction
Conservation
Researchers Call for Rare Tree’s Conservation Decades after Its Declared Extinction
Mistakenly presumed extinct for 22 years, the rare tree Wendlandia angustifolia now has an opportunity for priority preservation
Conservation
An ‘Extinction Hotspot’ in Appalachia
The discovery of a lost plant species highlights the need to protect other endangered species in one of the most biodiverse regions in the U.S.
Conservation
Australian Plant Species Face ‘Imminent Extinction’ from Invasive Pathogen
The once common native guava has nearly vanished—killed off by an invasive fungus that arrived just 10 years ago. Other plant species may soon follow
Conservation
How to Protect Both Wolves and Livestock
New research reveals clear guidance for reducing human-wildlife conflict and restoring wolf populations
Conservation
Pesticides Are Killing Off the Andean Condor
Livestock owners needlessly fear these massive South American birds—and lure them to their deaths with illegal poisons. That puts the entire species at risk...
Conservation
32 Orchid Species Feared Extinct in Bangladesh
And they’re not the only ones in trouble—orchid species around the world face increasing threats from illegal trade and habitat destruction
Conservation
What A Special Black-Footed Ferret Can Teach Us about Conservation Success
When a species is critically endangered, every individual matters
Conservation
Tigers Extinct in Laos
The snaring crisis in Southeast Asia appears to have claimed the lives of the country’s last wild tigers
Conservation
How Do You Save an Endangered Tree from Extinction When You Can’t Save Its Seeds?
“Recalcitrant” seeds hold the secret to saving a critically endangered Indian tree—thanks to a bit of human help
Conservation
Enough with the Fake Rhino Horns
Scientists have once again developed a method to fabricate horns in the lab, supposedly to disrupt poachers and wildlife traffickers. Here’s why that won’t work
Conservation
Saving the Vaquita: New Promises and New Threats
In response to pressures from the international community, Mexico has agreed to take more steps to prevent the porpoises’ extinction—but with fewer than 20 remaining, will that be enough?...
Conservation
“A Complete Enigma”—New Zealand Lizard Declared Extinct 130 Years after Only Sighting
But here’s the good news: new research finds it was actually six different species, and five still exist—for now
Climate Change
Another Reason to Protect Elephants: Frogs Love Their Feet
Well, more specifically their footprints. New research finds that elephants create foot-shaped habitats for breeding frogs as they travel through the forest in Myanmar
Conservation
Rise of the Extinction Deniers
Just like climate deniers, they’re out to obfuscate and debase the scientists and conservationists trying to save the world—and maybe get rid of a few pesky species in the process...
Conservation
Why Don’t We Hear about More Species Going Extinct?
The extinction crisis threatens life all over the planet, but scientists are cautious about declaring a species extinct too quickly
Conservation
Dragon Quest: Australia Kicks Off Search for Possibly Extinct Lizard
The Victorian grasslands earless dragon hasn’t been observed for 50 years, but conservationists haven’t given up hope yet
Conservation
What Losing One Million Species Means for the Planet—and Humanity
A new UN report finds that at least 1 million species are at risk of extinction. Will this finally be enough to motivate worldwide action?
