Conservation

Blue whales near the Seychelles were wiped out half a century ago by whaling.After sightings, scientists set up audio recording devices on the seafloor near the island nation.They found blue whales had returned to the area, and think the whales may be using it for breeding. Loading Something is loading. Thanks for signing up! Access your…

The Endangered Species Act of 1973 passed and become law 50 years ago.Many protected species have been saved from extinction or even rebounded past needing protection.It's estimated that the ESA has saved 99% of its  protected species from extinction. Loading Something is loading. Thanks for signing up! Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed…

A type of holly tree in Brazil that was believed to be extinct was rediscovered after 186 years. An organization called Re:wild said it was one of their "top 25 most wanted lost species." The rediscovery is the ninth success of the top 25 most sought-after lost species. Loading Something is loading. Thanks for signing…

Enlarge / The Bali myna is an endangered and protected bird species bred by several conservation societies to preserve its population in the wild. Not all animals are the same. Even within a species, some are bolder and better at solving problems than others. We have found this to be true in the case of…

Enlarge / Birds, with their different shapes, colorful plumage and fascinating behaviors, are a delight to people all over the world. They’re also in trouble. Just about anywhere you look, there are birds. Penguins live in Antarctica, ptarmigan in the Arctic Circle. Rüppell’s vultures soar higher than Mt. Everest. Emperor penguins dive deeper than 1,800…

Enlarge / An African Savannah elephant roams through Kimana Sanctuary in Kenya in the new documentary series Secrets of the Elephants.NatGeo for Disney/Nichole Sobecki It's almost Earth Day, and to mark the occasion, National Geographic and Disney+ have released a new documentary series called Secrets of the Elephants. The four-part series is a sequel of sorts…

Think of the worst invasive species you know. Kudzu: smothering trees and houses, growing a foot a day. Burmese pythons: stripping the Everglades of small animals. Asian carp: hoovering streams clean of plankton and swimming toward the Great Lakes. They all came from somewhere else, arrived with no natural predators, outcompeted local flora and fauna,…

A new study found some of the forests in California's Sierra Nevada no longer match their climate. About 20% of conifers in the Sierra Nevada are experiencing "vegetation climate mismatch." The lead author said the trees are "cheating death" but that they won't survive a major disturbance. Loading Something is loading. Thanks for signing up!…

Scientists have warned that the Great Salt Lake in Utah could disappear within five years. The lake supports major industries, provides habitats, and suppresses toxic dust in the lakebed. Lawmakers in Utah are working to pass water conservation bills before the current session ends on Friday. Loading Something is loading. Thanks for signing up! Access…

Great white shark numbers are increasing off the coast of Southern California's beaches. They are frequently spotted near surfers and swimmers, but there hasn't been an increase in attacks. Researchers say the sharks may be returning as a result of successful conservation efforts. Loading Something is loading. Thanks for signing up! Access your favorite topics…