Author: OMN AI

Researchers have discovered that northern resident orcas in British Columbia are cooperating with Pacific white-sided dolphins to hunt salmon — a partnership never documented before. Using drones, underwater video, and acoustic tags, scientists observed dolphins leading the chase, moving quickly through the water toward large Chinook salmon. The orcas followed behind, catching and breaking apart the fish. The dolphins then scavenged the leftovers, while the whales showed no aggression. Recordings captured alternating echolocation from both species during dives, suggesting they may even be listening to each other’s sonar to expand their ability to track prey. The behavior cannot be explained…

Endangered species, including tiger body parts, shark fins and pangolin scales, are being offered for sale on Facebook, an investigation has revealed. One Chinese user posted videos showing a tiger in a cage for sale alongside pictures of tiger bones and teeth. Another posted images of two live tiger cubs in a box. A separate photo displayed a tiger head and bones piled on scales. A seller claimed he could ship his products to the UK. He offered a 10cm-long tiger tooth for 2,000 Chinese yuan (about £213) and tiger bones for 3,600 yuan per kilo (about £380). Another seller…

Leading educator organizations, including the National Education Association, have called on lawmakers to support the Protect America’s Workforce Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at restoring labor rights for public-sector employees. The announcement reflects broad civic engagement across party lines. The legislation seeks to reinstate collective bargaining rights for federal workers, giving employees the ability to negotiate wages, benefits, and workplace conditions. Supporters argue that protecting these rights strengthens public service and ensures fair treatment for millions of federal employees. Educators and advocacy groups emphasize that restoring workforce rights is essential to maintaining a motivated and effective government workforce. They note…

A new underwater sound system is set to be installed on the River Dee in Aberdeenshire in an effort to protect critically endangered Atlantic salmon from growing seal predation. The University of St Andrews has secured £160,000 to develop a “detect and deter” speaker system that emits noise designed to keep seals from swimming upstream to hunt salmon. Previous deterrents, including water-scooter sound devices, proved ineffective. However, similar technology tested on the North Esk has shown promising early results, raising hopes that it can be adapted for larger rivers like the Dee, where sonar tracking is more challenging. The Dee…

Hidden peaks beneath the waves Under the rolling ocean surface rise vast chains of subsea mountains that teem with sharks. Ocean currents rush over these extinct volcanoes and shape a dramatic underwater world. These seamounts rise sharply from the seafloor and reach heights of more than 1,000m. Some hold deep craters or jagged ridges. Others form broad plateaus. A few even push above the surface and create islands. Borderlands rich with life Seamounts act as borderlands where reef species meet open-ocean life. Every level of the food chain thrives there, from tiny plankton eaters to powerful predators. Each seamount hosts…

CITES CoP20 in Samarkand boosted protections for over 70 sharks and rays, banning international commercial trade in several species.Oceanic whitetip sharks, manta and devil rays, and whale sharks received Appendix I protection.Terrestrial species including okapis, golden-bellied mangabeys, and two African vulture species also received maximum protection under Appendix I.Appendix II listings now regulate trade for striped hyenas, Dorcas gazelles, African hornbills, two-toed sloths, and reptiles like Galapagos iguanas. Threats Resisted by Strong Voting Some governments tried to reduce protection to allow trade in elephants, rhinos, giraffes, and peregrine falcons.Delegates rejected these proposals, ensuring these iconic species retained vital safeguards against…

Caribbean coral reefs have lost 48% of their hard coral cover in the last four decades, according to research from the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network. The primary cause is intense marine heatwaves driven by climate change, which damage the microalgae that corals depend on for food and colour. When stressed, corals expel these microalgae, leading to bleaching and often death. Between 2023 and 2024, the region experienced the most destructive thermal stress ever recorded, resulting in a further 16.9% decline in coral cover in just one year. Once vibrant ecosystems filled with fish, turtles, sharks, and colourful reefs are…

A rewilding project reshapes East LondonWhite storks will return to London after 600 years as part of a major rewilding project. The colony will settle in Eastbrookend Country Park in Dagenham from October next year. The site will become the second public location for white stork reintroduction in Britain. The birds vanished from Britain in the 1400s after habitat loss and hunting drove them to extinction. Beavers follow the comeback of white storksThe project will also release beavers into the park in March 2027. Conservationists reintroduced beavers to the capital in 2023 at a nature reserve in Greenford, Ealing. The…

A new treatment could change life for people with CDKL5 deficiency disorder (CDD), a rare form of epilepsy. Fenfluramine, a drug being tested in a Phase 3 clinical trial, has shown major reductions in seizure frequency for patients. UCB, the company behind the trial, reported that patients taking fenfluramine experienced a median 47.6% drop in motor seizures. This is a significant improvement compared to those who received a placebo. The findings suggest that fenfluramine could be a promising new option for managing this challenging disorder. CDD is a rare genetic condition that often causes severe seizures, developmental delays, and other…

Fota Wildlife Park will reopen to visitors on Saturday, December 20th after an Avian Flu shutdown.The park announced the return date this morning following a 10-week closure triggered by an outbreak in wild bird populations.The reopening follows a recent major funding award that boosted the park’s conservation efforts.Staff worked with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to enforce strict biosecurity rules.Teams carried out two full rounds of testing on every bird in the park, and all results came back negative.The park will maintain enhanced monitoring and biosecurity procedures as operations resume. Leadership Highlights Mission and Ongoing Work Director…