biodiversity

Mauritius scrambles to counter oil spill from grounded ship

By Cara Anna, Associated Press

A Japanese ship carrying 4,000 tons of fuel has run aground, spilling oil into the Indian Ocean near Mauritius.

Wildlife experts rush to rescue Australian animals after bushfire crisis

By Miles O'Brien

Australia’s bushfires have devastated the country’s wildlife and habitats. Experts say the very existence of some species whose populations were already at vulnerable levels may now hang in the balance. Science correspondent Miles O’Brien reports from Australia on the country’s…

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In Brazil, fires and deforestation threaten Amazon species' survival

By Amna Nawaz, Mike Fritz

In the Amazon rainforest, record-breaking forest fires and ongoing deforestation threaten the survival of thousands of plant and animal species that call the ecosystem home. Scientists seeking to save them are carefully evaluating which areas of the vibrant Amazon biome…

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9 numbers you need to know to understand the Amazon fires

By Vicky Stein

Here’s a look at some of the numbers that define the fires burning in the Amazon.

Koalas may be 'functionally extinct' — but what does that mean?

By Christine Adams-Hosking, The Conversation

Koalas are facing serious threats in the wild.

Biodiversity loss accelerates with 1 million species at risk of extinction, UN report finds

By Seth Borenstein, Associated Press

Species loss is accelerating to a rate tens or hundreds of times faster than in the past, according to the United Nations' first comprehensive report on biodiversity.

This new 'army' of spiders is named after Star Wars stormtroopers

By Vicky Stein

They wouldn’t survive the deserts of Tatooine or the frigid planet Hoth, but these newly described, tarantula-like spiders are named after the stormtroopers who marched through the “Star Wars” movies.

Worsening environment is deadly but not hopeless, UN report says

By Seth Borenstein, Christina Larson, Associated Press

The sixth Global Environment Outlook indicates environmental problems are making things more dangerous for people.

Animal 'selfies' show how protecting wildlife habitats is paying off

By Andrew Mach

Researchers found that of the 244 species photographed, just 22 percent decreased in number – suggesting protected areas can maintain overall biodiversity.

American dentist reportedly paid $55,000 to hunt and kill Cecil the lion

By Kenzi Abou-Sabe

Cecil was the leading attraction of the national park in Hwange, Zimbabwe, until the 13-year-old lion suffered a grisly death at the hands of hunters earlier this month, according to a report by the Guardian.