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This is incredible on so many levels. The video you're watching is of a black bear named Jewel giving birth to two cubs. The delivery was captured live via webcam just two days ago by scientists at the Wildlife Research Institute (WRI) in Ely, Minnesota. More »
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The Marine Mammal Center is an organization in California that looks after injured and sick marine mammals and returns them to the ocean. Sometimes the marine life is not so eager to go. Check out Leopico, a rescued sea lion, try to charge between volunteers before being driven out to the sea. More »
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In the last several hundred years, human activity has shifted large quantities of the world's carbon from long-term storage (i.e. carbon bound up in rocks, fossil fuels, and forests) into forms of short-term storage such as croplands and pastures, which tend to store less carbon for shorter periods of time. More »
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It's been just five years since the deadly fungus was first identified in a small population of New York bats. In that time, "white nose syndrome" has spread to 16 states and four Canadian provinces. Once infected, afflicted bats have been known to behave erratically, flying far from their nests, never to be seen again, making it difficult to identify the true impact of the disease. More »
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There's no two ways about it: humans love meat. By 2030, it's estimated that the world's annual meat production will reach 376 million tons, up from 218 million tons in 1999. More »
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Every autumn, around 1,000 of the world's estimated 20,000 polar bears make their way to Churchill, Manitoba, a small town situated on the shore of northeastern Canada's Hudson Bay. There, the polar bears wait for the bay to freeze over so that they can hunt for seals and other marine mammals, and accumulate fat stores that they will use to survive the following summer. More »
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The number of species (and entire genera) that are recognized as endangered is growing at an ever-increasing rate. Conservation scientists report in a new survey that they expect the Earth will suffer major hits to biodiversity levels in the years ahead. More »
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Science writer Emma Marris recently wrote an excellent post over at Last Word On Nothing that explores some of the ethical and technical implications of cloning extinct (and near-extinct) species. More »
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If you were asked to classify every species of vertebrate living in a given environmental niche, how would you go about doing it? For years, ecologists have risen to this task by resorting to brute force — tracking, trapping, and tagging individual animals to extrapolate species population data. More »
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These days, the dusky grouper is a major predator in the Mediterranean Sea, generally growing to about two feet long. But that wasn't always the case...and ancient mosaics provide a rare chance to see what this beast used to be. More »
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To help save a critically endangered Central American species of river turtle, conservationists examined the gene pools of three highly isolated populations. What they discovered is a surprising legacy of the ancient Mayan civilization. More »
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Pandas are possibly the most iconic endangered species on the planet, but sometimes it seems like these creatures don't even want to stick around anymore. Here's the latest challenge for continued panda survival: males and females have completely different habitats. More »
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The Arabian Oryx, which might have been the initial inspiration for the unicorn legend, has pulled off a comeback every bit as magical as its legendary counterparts, becoming the first species to go from almost extinct to not even endangered. More »
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There's fewer than 800 Mountain Gorillas left in the entire world, and their survival depends in part on people willing to pay money to go see them. But all this human interaction is bringing gorillas into contact with dangerous diseases. More »
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The Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute announced the birth of not one but two cheetah cubs. The two cubs were born to two separate mothers. Find out about the surprising challenges they face, and see some kitty pictures. More »
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At one point, forest elephants in Africa were thought to be the same species as savanna elephants. Genetic testing now shows that these two kinds of elephants are more different than scientists could've ever imagined. More »
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With amphibians among the creatures hardest-hit by disease and extinction over the past several years, conservation groups are working to find and protect as many species as possible. Today Conservation International announced the discovery of three new ultratiny toads. More »
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Entire species of plants are dying off in droves, just like mammals. And there's no way to save them all, say scientists. How do you decide which plant species to preserve at all costs, and which ones to consign to oblivion forever? Answering that question may mean the difference between selective extinction for some — and worldwide extinction for all. More »
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A new method for evaluating which species are at risk of becoming endangered has put a target on the heads of one group you may be somewhat familiar with: mammals. Rapid-fire estimates have created volatility in the mammal futures market. What groups should you start withdrawing your natural selection dollars from? More »
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