Author: Andrew Rogers

Renowned wildlife photographer Margot Raggett has warned that the planet’s natural landscapes could soon be left “devoid of wild animals” if global inaction on conservation and climate change continues. Raggett, who has raised more than £1.2m for wildlife protection through her Remembering Wildlife photography series, said the world has “taken a backward step” since the optimism of the 2015 Paris climate agreement. “Compared to a few years ago, there was a desire for renewables instead of drilling for oil,” she said. “I think the importance of nature is something for us all to cling on to.” Her latest book, Ten…

Scientists have discovered three new animal species — two frogs and a gecko — on Dauan Island, a small, boulder-covered island in the far northern Torres Strait. The expedition, led by Dr. Conrad Hoskin of James Cook University, uncovered the species during fieldwork on the 3 sq km island, the northernmost point of the Great Dividing Range. “When you approach it, it looks like a big triangle sticking out of the sea,” Hoskin said. “It’s covered in car- and house-sized granite boulders piled up.” The new gecko, Nactus simakal, has long legs and a distinct banded pattern. It was the…

For the first time anywhere in the world, tropical rainforest trees in Australia have shifted from absorbing carbon to releasing it, according to a new study published in Nature. Researchers found that trees in Queensland’s tropical rainforests began emitting more carbon from their trunks and branches than they absorbed about 25 years ago, largely due to rising temperatures and drier conditions. The forests’ root systems, however, remain carbon sinks. “Tropical forests are usually major carbon sinks, but these ones have flipped,” said lead author Dr. Hannah Carle of Western Sydney University. “Because Australia’s moist tropics are warmer and drier than…

Deep beneath the surface of the Australian outback lies one of nature’s most remarkable plants — Rhizanthella, an orchid that spends its entire life underground. Unlike most orchids, it never sees sunlight, has no leaves, and survives by drawing nutrients from a special fungus that connects to the roots of the broom bush (Melaleuca uncinata). Discovered by chance in 1928 when a farmer ploughed his field in Western Australia, Rhizanthella quickly became an international botanical curiosity. Even today, it remains incredibly difficult to locate, often found only by carefully scraping away the soil in areas with suitable conditions. Hidden beneath…

The health of the world’s forests has fallen to “dismal” levels, endangering human wellbeing and the global climate, according to a stark new report. The study warns that financial systems are continuing to fuel deforestation by investing heavily in industries that clear land, undermining international pledges to halt forest destruction. Since 2021—when global leaders and corporate executives vowed to stop deforestation—forest loss has actually increased. Subsidies for livestock farming, large-scale monocrops, logging, and other extractive activities have driven the trend, the report by Climate Focus found. In 2024 alone, 8.1 million hectares (20 million acres) of forest—an area roughly half…

New Zealand’s government is facing fierce backlash after cutting its methane reduction targets, a move environmental groups called “full-blown climate denial.” The new plan aims to reduce methane emissions by 14–24% by 2050, compared with 2017 levels — far below the previous target of 24–47%. The decision was celebrated by farmers but condemned by scientists and opposition parties as “weak” and “unambitious.” Greenpeace New Zealand said the government was prioritising “corporate profits over our kids’ future,” while climate experts warned the move undermines the country’s global reputation for environmental leadership. Prime minister Christopher Luxon’s coalition will also scrap plans to…

A major project to restore a 4.3-mile stretch of the River Ash to its natural winding path has been completed. The Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust called it one of the largest chalk river restorations in Hertfordshire. It took nearly eight years to plan and carry out, creating new wetlands, ponds and habitats for species such as trout, water voles and kingfishers. Chalk rivers are among the rarest ecosystems on Earth, with only about 260 worldwide. “Chalk rivers have faced pollution, overuse and climate pressures,” the trust said. More than 3,000 tonnes of gravel and 300 woody structures were added…

The number of wild bee species at risk of extinction in Europe has more than doubled in the past decade, with butterflies showing a similar decline, according to new IUCN research. At least 172 of Europe’s 1,928 wild bee species are now threatened, while endangered butterfly species have risen from 37 to 65. The Madeiran large white has been declared extinct. “Pollinators like bees and butterflies are lifelines for our food systems and our economies,” said Grethel Aguilar, IUCN director general. Scientists blame habitat destruction, intensive agriculture, pesticide use, and climate change. More than half of endangered butterflies are now…

Thirteen Aldabra giant tortoises have hatched in Seychelles following the first successful artificial incubation of the species. The hatchlings, each starting life on a diet of banana slices and leafy greens, could one day weigh 250kg and live for over a century. Conservationists collected 18 eggs from a nest on Cousin Island after testing revealed which were fertilised and viable. Thirteen survived. “This is a huge leap,” said Alessia Lavigne of the University of Sheffield. “It shows what conservation can do.” The study found that 75% of undeveloped eggs were fertilised but died early, suggesting environmental issues — not genetics…

Chaos breaks out in the kitchen: “Hummingbird hawk moth on the salvia!” And there it is, hovering like a tiny drone, sipping delicately from the pink-and-white blooms of Salvia Amethyst Lips. It’s only the second time I’ve seen this dazzling day-flying moth (Macroglossum stellatarum) in our suburban garden. With its long, coiled proboscis, it drinks deep from flowers other pollinators can’t reach. Once the moth departs, a buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) swoops in — but it’s too short-tongued to feed the proper way. Instead, it pierces the flower’s side, stealing nectar through a tiny hole. By late summer, nearly every…