Author: OMN AI

More than 60,000 African penguins starved to death after sardine numbers off South Africa’s coast plummeted, according to new research. The collapse, driven by climate change and overfishing, wiped out over 95% of penguins in two major breeding colonies on Dassen Island and Robben Island between 2004 and 2012. The paper, published in Ostrich: Journal of African Ornithology, warns that similar declines are happening across the region. Sardines (Sardinops sagax) are a vital food source for African penguins, especially during moulting — a 21-day period when they remain on land and cannot hunt. Penguins must fatten up beforehand, but with…

Machines extracting minerals from the deep ocean cause significant damage to life on the seabed, new research shows. Scientists have conducted the largest study of its kind and documented the effects. They found that the number of animals in the machines’ tracks dropped by 37% compared with untouched areas. Researchers discovered over 4,000 animals, 90% of which were new species, in a remote part of the Pacific Ocean. Huge amounts of critical minerals for green technologies may lie in the deep ocean. Still, deep-sea mining in international waters remains controversial and is not allowed until its environmental impacts are fully…

A magnitude 3.3 earthquake struck near Silverdale in Lancashire late Wednesday night, rattling homes across Lancashire and Cumbria and marking the strongest quake in England for two years. Tremors were felt up to 30 miles away, including in Blackpool, shortly after 11.23pm. Residents described houses shaking and windows rattling, with some saying it felt like an “underground explosion”. Emergency services received numerous calls, though police reported no injuries or significant damage. The British Geological Survey confirmed it was England’s strongest quake since a similar 3.3 event in Staffordshire in 2023. While the UK experiences 200–300 quakes annually, only around 10%…

Staff at Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation in Hamilton Township treat many species and manage several injured turtles. They guide these reptiles through long recoveries. Janine Tancredi explains that Dr. Breaux at Dublin Vet performs their shell repairs. The team now uses ARK Vet in Chalfont during winter. She notes that they need a room devoted entirely to turtles. Crews have begun building a dedicated clinic and ICU space for reptile care. The facility will soon avoid long transports for treatment. Workers prepare the structure to support year-round climate control. Tancredi says the space provides quiet isolation so turtles can rest and…

The Comeback of the “Extinct” Oryx The scimitar-horned oryx has returned from extinction through global breeding efforts. Conservationists now hope the species can slow the Sahara’s advance. A Harsh Landscape Reveals Its Secrets In 2012, Marie Petretto and John Newby travelled to central Chad. They aimed to see the landscape as an antelope might. The Ouadi Rimé-Ouadi Achim Reserve looks empty at first, yet it covers diverse drylands larger than Ireland. Their team documented grasslands, hidden gorges and wadis that bloom after fierce summer rains. Petretto saw almost 100 gazelles sprint past and noted acacia trees packed with vultures. These…

The United States is seeing more visitors as new holiday festivals launch across the country. These events are drawing attention from both domestic and international tourists. Cities and towns are introducing seasonal attractions to make travel more appealing during the festive season. Festivals feature lights, music, food, and cultural performances. Families, friends, and solo travelers are attending in growing numbers. Many events offer interactive experiences, holiday markets, and themed shows to create unique experiences for visitors. Travel experts say these new festivals are helping boost tourism. Alongside traditional holiday destinations, festival offerings give travelers extra reasons to plan trips. Airlines…

A rhesus macaque named Forrest secured a permanent home at a New Jersey wildlife refuge after several days on the run.Forrest traveled with 21 monkeys for biomedical research when their truck overturned on Interstate 59 near Heidelberg on October 28.Law officers searched the area immediately after the crash and found five monkeys dead.Body-camera footage captured monkeys bursting from broken crates and racing across the grassy median.Several animals sprinted toward passing cars and semitrailers on the highway.Forrest and two others avoided officers at the crash site and escaped into nearby woods.Civilians later shot the other two monkeys and said they acted…

Cirrus clouds—thin, high-altitude streaks that paint the sky—may be forming in a surprising way. New research shows that some of these delicate clouds are seeded by storm systems thousands of miles away on the opposite side of the planet. Scientists traditionally recognised two types of cirrus: “anvil” cirrus spreading from storms, and “in-situ” cirrus that appear to form independently. But a new computer analysis of satellite data revealed that supposed in-situ clouds actually respond to massive atmospheric waves generated by distant storms. According to a study in AGU Advances, these waves travel across the equator and subtly alter upper-atmosphere temperatures,…

Rising Pressure on HospitalsMore than 200,000 acute respiratory illness cases hit six state-run hospitals in Delhi between 2022 and 2024. The capital struggled during this period with steadily worsening air pollution. The government told parliament that more than 30,000 people with respiratory problems needed hospital care in these three years. Toxic Winter Air PersistsToxic air remains a recurring threat in Delhi and its suburbs, especially in winter months. The Air Quality Index stayed for weeks at more than 20 times the limit recommended by the World Health Organization. The index measures pollutants like PM2.5, which can lodge deep inside lungs.…

Conservationists urge stronger rules as reptiles, birds, and other animals appear increasingly for sale online and on social media.The CITES conference in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, will consider proposals to restrict or ban trade in several species this week.Officials aim to protect iguanas, African tortoises, Latin American tarantulas, vipers, geckos, and sloths from illegal capture and commerce. Internet and Social Media Drive Demand Traders use online marketplaces to sell live animals directly to buyers worldwide, bypassing traditional pet shops.Social media influencers promote exotic pets, increasing demand and encouraging illegal acquisitions, experts warn.Studies show 60% of traded animals are reptiles, 30% birds, and…