Animals

Portland-based environmental journalist Kevin Gepford, currently researching a book on global tortoise conservation spent two months on Seychelles’ Aldabra Atoll between December and January, living at the island’s remote research station with 16 other people.

Sustainability isn’t just a theme—it’s a living, breathing force at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, opening Saturday, May 10. Among the standout exhibits this year is “Song of the Cricket”, a groundbreaking fusion of ecological conservation and interactive sound art brought to life by researchers from the University of Melbourne.

A new wave of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is spreading through Europe and the Near East, and experts at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) are urging countries to take urgent steps to stop it. The recent detection of an unfamiliar strain of the virus in Iraq and Bahrain has raised alarms, especially since this version, known as SAT1, is not normally found in this region.

As controversy brews over a Qatari-backed development on Seychelles’ remote Assomption Island, questions are being raised about environmental transparency, geopolitical influence, and the future of conservation. I reached out to Dr. Nirmal Jivan Shah, CEO of Nature Seychelles, for his unfiltered perspective.

While the resurrection of the dire wolf has captured global headlines, an equally significant achievement has been unfolding alongside it: the birth of four healthy red wolf pups named Hope, Blaze, Cinder, and Ash. Using the same groundbreaking technologies developed for de-extinction, Colossal Biosciences has potentially altered the fate of North America's most endangered canid, demonstrating how ancient DNA science can directly benefit species still clinging to existence.

A remote coral island in the Indian Ocean is quietly being transformed into a luxury resort and international airstrip for Qatari royalty—allegedly sold off in a secretive $50 million deal to Seychelles President Wavel Ramkalawan, without public consent or environmental oversight.

Scientists emphasize that while local conservation efforts are vital, they are insufficient without addressing the root causes of climate change. "Without addressing the root causes of climate change, primarily fossil fuel emissions, restoration efforts may offer only temporary relief," experts warn. ​

A swimmer has gone missing following a rare shark attack off the coast of Hadera, Israel, Israeli police and emergency responders reported on Monday. The incident occurred near the mouth of the Hadera Stream, in a section of beach where swimming was officially prohibited. Israel is on the Mediterranean Sea.

A scientific paper recently published reveals that soil scratching by gorillas in Congo’s Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park is a foraging strategy to access a species of deer truffle, identified as Elaphomyces labyrinthinus, and not insects, as long assumed.

Off the powder-soft sands and turquoise waters of the Seychelles, a quiet storm is brewing—one that involves royalty, rats, and the last truly wild places left on Earth.

“Claiming that it is specific to us humans, that only humans can detect geometric regularity, is now falsified,” said Andreas Nieder, the study’s lead researcher. “Because we have at least the crow.”

Saving the sea turtles can be an Insta moment. Use your platform to better the world.

The unconscious mice that were cared for revived and began walking sooner than those that weren’t attended to. Once the unconscious mouse started moving, the caregiver mouse gradually stopped its actions. Interestingly, the caregiving behavior was stronger when the mice were familiar with each other.

Veterinary care is already a transformed industry, but as with every other, major changes are still to come.   

Researchers found a Eurasian coot nest in an Amsterdam canal made of plastic layers spanning 30 years, revealing the birds' use of human-made materials for nest construction. While reusing plastic may save time, it also poses significant risks, such as entanglement and environmental harm, highlighting the need for better waste management and awareness of urban wildlife impacts.