Pet Life
32 dolphins have died since an oil spill near southern Russia, experts say
By The Associated Press Thirty-two dolphins have died since fuel oil spilled out of two storm-stricken tankers three weeks ago in the Kerch Strait, which separates the Russia-occupied Crimean Peninsula from Russia’s southern Krasnodar region, an animal rescue group said Sunday. Russia’s Delfa Dolphin Rescue and Research Center said the deaths are “most likely related…
Under the shadow of the Jan 6. 2021 riot, Congress certifies the 2024 election
By Deirdre Walsh , Barbara Sprunt Congress convened Monday in the midst of a snowstorm to certify President-elect Donald Trump’s election victory in a smooth and orderly process, in stark contrast to four years ago when throngs of Trump’s supporters breached security barriers at the U.S. Capitol and stormed the building to try to overturn…
Tulip Siddiq refers herself to watchdog after Bangladesh-linked property claims
Minister asks standards adviser to investigate after allegations she lived in homes tied to Hasina government A senior Treasury minister has referred herself to the ministerial standards watchdog after days of allegations that she has lived in multiple properties tied to the ousted Bangladeshi government. Tulip Siddiq, the City and anti-corruption minister, has asked Laurie…
Pope Names Robert McElroy, an Ally on Immigration, as Cardinal in Washington
The appointment of Robert W. McElroy is a signal of the pope’s priorities, two weeks before Donald J. Trump’s term begins. By Elizabeth Dias Pope Francis on Monday named Cardinal Robert W. McElroy, bishop of San Diego, to be the next Roman Catholic archbishop of Washington, moving one of his most vocal allies on immigration…
Jan. 6 is set to be different this year — in a big way and more subtle ways too
Miles Parks The biggest difference between Jan. 6, 2025, and Jan. 6, 2021, will be obvious. Instead of falsely claiming he won the election in a speech 2 miles from the U.S. Capitol, stoking a mob of his supporters to violently disrupt the counting of electoral votes, Donald Trump will be certified the winner by…
UK charity steps up campaign against child hygiene poverty
The Multibank, founded by Gordon Brown, receives boost with Amazon-led drive for 250,000 items this month A charity founded by the former prime minister Gordon Brown is to increase its campaign efforts against child hygiene poverty this year. The Multibank, which was founded by the former Labour leader, is working with a number of sports…
2025 Golden Globes Red Carpet Fashion: See Every Look From the Stars
At the 2025 Golden Globes Jan. 5, stars like Ariana Grande, Selena Gomez and more are set to take over the red carpet at the Beverly Hills Hilton. Are you ready to kick off 2025 with a truly golden night? After all, award season officially kicks off January 5 with the 2025 Golden Globes, held at…
‘Humans are all they know’ – Fate of whales uncertain as marine zoo shuts
The fate of two killer whales is uncertain following the closure of a marine zoo on Sunday. Campaigners and the zoo’s managers have been locked in disagreement about what should happen to the orca whales with the French government already blocking one proposal to rehome them. Last month Marineland Antibes, located near Cannes in the…
Rough sleepers offered emergency shelter as UK temperatures plummet
Councils have received extra support to get homeless people off the streets amid cold weather warnings across the country Rough sleepers across the UK have been offered emergency shelter amid freezing temperatures. Councils have used the severe weather emergency protocol (Swep) to provide a bed for the night for rough sleepers as much of the…
Bats catch a lift from storm winds on long-distance migrations
By Jonathan Lambert Historically, bat migration has been a bit of a black box. While scientists have learned lots about how birds migrate, the handful of bat species that make long-distance journeys have been tougher to study. “They’re fast and they move at night,” says Edward Hurme, a biologist at the Max Planck Institute for…
How to look after pets during the cold spell
Cockapoo Luna (left) and Daisy play in the snow during a walk at Sixmilewater Park in Ballyclare, Northern Ireland Cold weather has marked the arrival of 2025, with snow and ice warnings in place for much of the country. Many of us will be opting for our thickest coats and gloves when we venture outside.…
FBI concerned about copycat potential after deadly New Orleans attack
Bulletin says vehicle-ramming attacks ‘likely to remain attractive’ and urges law-enforcement agencies to be alert US law enforcement and intelligence agencies are reportedly concerned about copycat vehicle-ramming attacks following the attack in New Orleans by a US military veteran, Shamsud-Din Jabbar. According to a bulletin seen by Reuters, the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security…
Farmers are abandoning their land. Is that good for nature?
By Dan Charles A century ago, a thousand people lived in this village. Today, there are only about 200. People left for jobs in Bulgaria’s cities, or abroad. Their heirs may still own land around the village where crops once grew, or sheep grazed, but much of that land now sits unused. Shrubs and small…
¿Conservar o eliminar? La vida en la capital australiana de los cocodrilos
It’s dawn on Darwin Harbour and government ranger Kelly Ewin – whose job is to catch and remove crocodiles – is balancing precariously on a floating trap. Heavy rain clouds from the storm that has recently passed are overhead. The engine of the boat has been cut so now it’s mostly silent – that is,…
DNA reveals secrets of Australia’s elusive marsupial mole
Nell Greenfieldboyce The marsupial mole, an elusive creature that swims through the sands of remote Australian deserts, seems to have suffered an abrupt population crash about 70,000 years ago, possibly due to climate change. That’s according to a new analysis, described in the journal Science Advances, that looked at DNA from one of these secretive…
UK’s biggest ever dinosaur footprint site unearthed
The UK’s biggest ever dinosaur trackway site has been discovered in a quarry in Oxfordshire. About 200 huge footprints, which were made 166 million years ago, criss-cross the limestone floor. They reveal the comings and goings of two different types of dinosaurs that are thought to be a long-necked sauropod called Cetiosaurus and the smaller…
Some of These Whales May Live Twice as Long as Scientists Thought
Some of These Whales May Live to 150—Double the Age Previously Thought Bowhead whales were known to live up to 200 years, and a new study finds that southern right whales may live up to age 150 if they aren’t being hunted By Greg Breed, Peter Corkeron & The Conversation US Southern right whale (Eubalaena…
Phew! Turtle doves shoot ban triggers bird species recovery
Western European population has risen 25% with ban and some UK sites have seen promising increases There are signs of hope for the turtle dove, one of the most endangered birds that has been plummeting towards extinction in Britain. After a temporary ban on the annual shoot of the migratory birds as they pass through…
Sweden begins wolf hunt as it aims to halve endangered animal’s population
Five entire families can be killed, totalling 30 wolves, in move campaigners say is illegal under EU law Sweden’s wolf hunt starts on Thursday, with the country aiming to halve the population of the endangered predator. The Swedish government has given the green light for five entire wolf families, a total of 30 wolves, to…
Should you be worried about bird strikes during your next flight?
Jaclyn Diaz While the exact cause of the tragic plane crash in South Korea that resulted in the deaths of 179 people remains unclear, there are emerging questions about whether a bird strike — an increasingly common occurrence for planes around the world — could be responsible. According to South Korean officials, the control tower…
Tiger-cats, sea squirts and beetles, oh my! Meet some species identified in 2024
By Jonathan Lambert Officially, Earth boasts roughly two million species. Unofficially, scientists suspect there could be millions — perhaps over 100 million — more. Each year, scientists add thousands of new species to the scientific record in an attempt to get a better count. Some discoveries stem from intrepid adventures deep into the jungle, while…
Live Aid campaigner Bob Geldof was ‘scathing about African leaders’, files reveal
Singer urged Tony Blair not to appoint African co-chair to commission on aid, UK government papers show The Live Aid campaigner Bob Geldof urged Tony Blair not to appoint an African co-chair to the UK-led organisation working to overhaul international aid to the continent because he thought African leadership was “very weak” on the issue,…
China Hacked Treasury Dept. in ‘Major’ Breach, U.S. Says
By Ana Swanson Reporting from Washington The announcement comes after revelations in recent months that China had penetrated deep into U.S. telecommunications systems, gaining access to the phone conversations and text messages of U.S. officials and others. In a letter informing lawmakers of the episode, the Treasury Department said that it had been notified on…
Tuesday Briefing: Remembering Jimmy Carter
Plus, the best of 2024. By Gaya Gupta Jimmy Carter, who rose from a peanut farm to become the 39th U.S. president, died on Sunday at his home in Georgia. He was 100. While his presidency is remembered more for its failures than for its successes, his tenure nevertheless included notable achievements, particularly in foreign…
Bird flu Q&A: What to know to help protect yourself and your pets
By Will Stone Avian influenza has a grip on dairy herds in California, a few people have fallen seriously ill in North America and researchers have found that a single mutation could give the virus a better foothold in a person’s upper airways. At the same time, those who’re tracking avian influenza’s footsteps say most…
10 essential books about Jimmy Carter
By Teresa Xie Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter holds up a copy of his book Faith: A Journey For All at a book signing event at Barnes & Noble bookstore on March 26, 2018. Throughout his lifetime, Jimmy Carter held many titles: 39th president of the United States, Nobel Peace Prize winner, philanthropist, humanitarian, artist…
Bird strike unlikely to be sole cause of fatal South Korean plane crash, experts say
Even as experts remain puzzled by Jeju Air crash, they are sceptical a bird strike was sole cause of fatal disaster One day after the fatal airline disaster in South Korea, the answer as to what went wrong with Jeju Air 2216 remains elusive. Even as experts remain puzzled by what caused the crash that…
‘Protecting nature, building peace’: Indigenous activist wins prestigious award
From the deserts of Chad to the halls of the United Nations, Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim has been a tireless advocate for indigenous peoples in the fight to solve the climate crisis. In recognition of her unrelenting efforts, Ibrahim, Conservation International’s Senior Indigenous Fellow, was recently awarded the 2019 Pritzker Emerging Environmental Genius Award presented by…
New science: protecting high seas hotspots, wildlife and more
Protecting nature starts with science. Here’s a roundup of recent scientific research published by Conservation International experts. More than 60 percent of the world’s oceans lie beyond the jurisdiction of any nation — an area commonly known as the “high seas.” However, only about 1 percent of this vast and largely unexplored expanse is protected. …
Cause of South Korea plane crash unclear as officials focus on bird strikes
Experts say bird strikes are relatively common and should not have been enough to cause landing gear failure No one knows for certain what caused Jeju Air flight 2216 to crash, killing all but two of its 181 passengers and crew. As darkness fell at Muan international airport in South Korea and officials fielded questions…
Long silenced, an African park roars back to life
EDITOR’S NOTE: Few places on Earth are as evocative — or as imperiled — as the vast grasslands of sub-Saharan Africa. In a new Conservation News series, “Saving the Savanna,” we look at how communities are working to protect these places — and the wildlife within. BEIRA, Mozambique — Werner Myburgh couldn’t shake the feeling…
Caught on camera: New study reveals a refuge for rare wildlife
“Before, we were working blind”: A new Conservation International study gives scientists an unprecedented view into a remote tropical forest. The Central Cardamom Mountains are some of Southeast Asia’s most pristine expanses of wilderness — long considered a refuge for rare species. Now, a new study from Conservation International and the Cambodian government provides an…
Amid a vanishing savanna, new corridor a ‘big win’ for wildlife
Conservation International is helping recover a savanna habitat nearly twice the size of Manhattan. Brazil is home to a vast, but overlooked, tropical savanna called the Cerrado. This sprawling patchwork of open grassland and scattered woodlands covers almost a quarter of the country — an area about the size of Greenland — providing habitat for…
How cool are forests? A hot new study has answers
A new study from a Conservation International scientist measures the cooling effects of forests against extreme heat — with eye-opening results. The shade of a tree can offer instant relief from the heat. But how much can forests buffer scorching temperatures during an extreme heat wave? A lot, according to a new study. During the…
Climate change charts a dangerous course for the world’s largest fish
A Conservation International scientist shares what can be done to prevent an ‘outright alarming’ future for whale sharks. Warmer oceans are putting two giants of the sea on a collision course. Even at the size of a school bus, whale sharks — the world’s largest fish — are no match for cargo ships in busy shipping…
Upon reflection: Study gauges grasslands’ climate-fighting powers
Plant more trees, cool the climate: It’s a message that readers of this website know well. But new research confirms that this “rule” doesn’t apply everywhere. Take southern Africa: In some places, grasses are far more effective climate allies than trees. Why? Grasses better reflect the sun’s radiation than darker, woody vegetation. This effect, called…
Did bird strike contribute to South Korea plane crash? What we know so far
More than 170 people have died after a plane crashed as it was landing in South Korea on Sunday morning. The Jeju Air plane came off the runway before colliding with a wall at Muan International Airport in the south west of the country. The plane, which was returning from Bangkok, in Thailand, was carrying…
Jimmy Carter, former U.S. president and peace activist, dies at 100
By Kathy Lohr Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter takes questions from the media during a news conference at the Carter Center in Atlanta on Aug. 20, 2015. Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States, died Sunday at age 100. The Carter Center announced he died in his hometown of Plains, Ga. Carter was…
Por qué los gatos se obsesionan con el árbol de Navidad
Compartir ¡Especial Navidad! Suscríbete a National Geographic por solo 1€/mes Nuevos packs de libros y ediciones especiales de National Geographic a un precio especial. No es ningún secreto que los gatos sienten una fascinación malsana por los árboles de Navidad. Evitar que muerdan el árbol o sus adornos o, aún peor, que lo tiren, puede…
Kim Kardashian’s 4 Kids Are All Grown Up in Stunning Christmas Photos
Kim Kardashian shared rare pics of herself and all four of her and ex Kanye West’s children—North West, 11, Saint West, 9, Chicago West, 6, and Psalm West, 5—standing in front of a Christmas tree. Kim Kardashian and her family are sleighing the holiday season. The SKIMS founder shared rare photos of herself with all…
Los esfuerzos de conservación salvan a pandas, lobos y panteras de la extinción
Conservation Efforts Are Bringing Pandas, Wolves and Panthers Back from the Brink There are so many species facing extinction—but today we’re telling stories about the animals making a comeback and the conservationists working hard to help. By Ashleigh Papp, Rachel Feltman, Jeffery DelViscio & Madison Goldberg Rachel Feltman: If I asked you to guess how…
Are Octopuses Too Smart to Be Farmed?
Are Octopuses Too Smart to Be Farmed? A planned octopus farm is facing opposition. Here’s why By Rachel Blaser & The Conversation US Day octopus (Octopus cyanea) in mid-water, Hawaii. The following essay is reprinted with permission from The Conversation, an online publication covering the latest research. We named him Squirt – not because he…
¿Por qué algunas serpientes se comen las unas a las otras?
Periodista especializado en ciencia, sociedad y medio ambiente “Esta serpiente de cascabel debía de estar demasiado ‘poco hecha’ para la culebra, pues sobrevivía cuando volvió a salir a la superficie”, aseguran los responsables del Departamento de Vida Salvaje del Estado de Georgia, en Estados Unidos, en una publicación de la red social Facebook. Se referían…
Myths, Legends, and Superstitions About Black Cats: History, Connection with Witches, and Their Symbolism in Popular Culture
Black cats have been the subject of myths, legends, and superstitions throughout history. Their figure has been surrounded by mystery, fear, fascination, and, in many cases, persecution. From adoration in Ancient Egypt to their connection with witches in the Middle Ages, black cats have been seen as symbols of good luck, embodiments of the devil,…
Nutrition for Senior Pets: Key Tips for the Well-being of Older Dogs and Cats
As dogs and cats age, their nutritional needs change significantly. Just like humans, the passage of time brings alterations in metabolism, digestion, and overall health. For this reason, it is essential to adjust their diet to ensure their well-being and quality of life during this stage.
Ranking of the most intelligent dog breeds
Canine intelligence varies significantly among different breeds, influenced by factors such as genetics, the breed’s original purpose, and their capacity for learning and adaptation. Below is a ranking of the most intelligent dog breeds, based on studies and evaluations by animal behavior experts.
Tortoiseshell cats has captivated cat enthusiasts worldwide
Tortoiseshell cats, known for their distinctive tricolor coats combining black, orange, and white, are celebrated not only for their unique appearance but also for a personality that has captivated cat enthusiasts worldwide.
The Personality of Orange Cats: Myths and Realities
Orange cats, often referred to as tabby cats, have captured the attention of many feline enthusiasts due to their distinctive coat and purported personality traits. Over time, various characteristics have been attributed to these cats, but what is the truth behind these claims?
Cyber Scam Alert: Searching “Are Bengal Cats Legal in Australia?” Exposes Users to Attacks
Recently, a cyber scam has been identified targeting users who search for “Are Bengal cats legal in Australia?” on Google. This attack, uncovered by cybersecurity firm SOPHOS, employs “SEO poisoning” techniques to position malicious links at the top of search results. When users click on these links, they are redirected to fraudulent sites that can…
How to help those affected by the DANA in Valencia
The recent passage of the Isolated Depression at High Levels (DANA) through the Valencian Community has not only caused significant material damage but also triggered a crisis in animal protection. Numerous shelters have suffered severe damage to their facilities, compromising the well-being of hundreds of animals under their care.
Evasive Strategies of Wild Boars: Insights from ‘Phiphi’ in France
A recent study in France has unveiled surprising evasive behaviors in wild boars, challenging traditional expectations about their sheltering habits. The focal point of this research is ‘Phiphi,’ a young wild boar equipped with a GPS device that allowed scientists to track his movements over two years.
New Species of Newt Discovered in China: The Gaowangjie Crocodile Newt
Researchers in Hunan Province, China, have identified a new species of newt, named Tylototriton gaowangjienensis, commonly known as the Gaowangjie crocodile newt. This discovery was made in the Gaowangjie National Nature Reserve, where scientists observed these amphibians during their breeding season.
The ‘Deadly Mud’ After Floods: A Silent Threat to Our Pets
The recent floods in Valencia have not only caused material damage but also pose a latent threat to pets: the so-called “deadly mud.” This sludge, resulting from the floods, becomes a breeding ground for dangerous bacteria, such as leptospira, which can cause severe infections in companion animals.
The Rise of Specialized Pet Services: A Growing Trend
In recent years, the relationship between humans and pets has undergone a significant transformation. Pets have evolved from being mere companions to becoming integral members of the family. This shift has led to a notable increase in the demand for specialized services aimed at enhancing their well-being and quality of life.
The Third Wave of Canine Domestication: Are We Transforming Our Dogs?
In recent decades, the relationship between humans and dogs has undergone significant changes. Recent research suggests that we are immersed in a “third wave” of canine domestication, driven by the desire for more friendly and calm pets, adapted to urban and sedentary lifestyles.