Author: OMN AI

Investigators revealed that North Korea engages in illicit wildlife trade despite laws protecting endangered species. Researchers interviewed defectors, including hunters and traders, who confirmed widespread capture of nearly all large mammals. Even highly protected species entered trade routes, often crossing into China. Investigators also found evidence suggesting state participation in unsustainable wildlife exploitation. Collapse of Economy Drove Wildlife Trade North Korea’s economy collapsed in the 1990s, leading to a famine that killed up to one million people. Citizens turned to informal markets, selling goods stolen from state factories or smuggled from China. Wild animals became a critical food resource, and…

Human-driven warming linked to surge in extreme temperatures Britain has just experienced its warmest summer since national weather records began in 1884, according to new data from the Met Office. Scientists say the unprecedented heat is closely tied to the long-term influence of climate change, which is making severe heat events more frequent and more intense. Globally, 2024 has already been confirmed as the hottest summer ever recorded, with large parts of Europe facing dangerous temperatures that fueled devastating wildfires in Spain, Portugal, and other regions. Average temperatures set new benchmark Between June and August, the UK registered an average…

Kemi Badenoch vows to remove net zero rules for North Sea drilling The Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch, has announced plans to eliminate all net zero obligations for oil and gas companies operating in the North Sea if her party is elected. Speaking ahead of a formal address in Aberdeen on Tuesday, she said the party would focus on “maximising extraction” and getting “all our oil and gas out of the North Sea.” Badenoch argued that current net zero policies are driving up energy costs for households. “These rules end up making families pay the price through higher bills,” she claimed.…

Foraging offers access to unusual foods and the experience of harvesting them directly from nature. But could it also cause harm? A Beachside Lesson in Seaweed On an unseasonably warm April evening, I lift a soggy lump of seaweed on a southern England beach. It smells sharp and tangy. The hard, flat fronds carry tufts of green vegetation, seawater, and sand. Our guide recommends frying this type of seaweed. I join a seaweed foraging course along the Jurassic Coast, and as we climb along the shoreline, the sun turns golden and mist rises above the sand dunes. Dan Scott gives…

Mexico’s jaguar population has increased by 30% over the past 14 years, according to a new census, offering a rare success story in wildlife conservation. In 2010, researchers from the National Alliance for Jaguar Conservation (ANCJ) estimated there were roughly 1,000 jaguars in Mexico. A country-wide census that year revealed a far more optimistic number: 4,100. Now, the latest 2024 survey has recorded 5,326 jaguars, marking a significant rebound. “This is extraordinary,” said Gerardo Ceballos, one of the lead researchers. “Mexico and the world need good news.” The census, the largest ever conducted for any mammal in Mexico, covered 414,000…

The Kerala government announced a 45-day mission to reduce human-wildlife conflicts across the state. Officials designed the campaign to operate in three distinct phases for maximum impact. Phase One: Local Help Desks Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the first phase will set up help desks in affected grama panchayats. Local representatives and officials will gather complaints, listen to suggestions, and attempt to resolve issues immediately. Phase Two: District-Level Deliberations The government will forward unresolved local issues to district-level discussions involving MLAs and senior officials. This stage will aim to resolve problems requiring broader authority beyond the local panchayats. Phase Three:…

Conservationists have issued new guidance urging people to behave responsibly while observing marine wildlife around the Isle of Man. The leaflet, A User’s Guide to Manx Marine Wildlife, consolidates existing codes of conduct for whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, basking sharks, and seabirds. It has been produced by Manx Whale and Dolphin Watch (MWDW), Manx Wildlife Trust (MWT), and the Department for Environment, Food and Agriculture, and is available both online and as printed copies distributed across the island. MWT marine conservation officer Lara Howe emphasized the importance of enjoying wildlife safely: “We are really fortunate that it is right on…

In Brazil’s crowded favelas, green space is a rare luxury, but Vila Nova Esperança in São Paulo proves that sustainable initiatives can enrich residents’ lives. “You have to remove the seeds before they flower,” says Maria de Lourdes Andrade Silva, carefully pinching buds off a basil plant. She tends a vibrant community garden at the edge of the favela, a labour of love spanning over a decade. “If you leave it to flower, it will use all its energy and die,” she adds. When I visited this half-hectare garden in 2022, it was full of herbs, vegetables, and vibrant life.…

Efforts to reintroduce wild white storks to Britain have taken a major step forward after Cotswold Wildlife Park in Oxfordshire reported its most successful breeding season yet. The park reared 48 chicks this year, the highest number since the programme began eight years ago. The initiative is part of the White Stork Project, which aims to restore a wild, breeding population of white storks across southern England. Once a common sight in British skies, white storks disappeared as a breeding species in the 1400s due to habitat loss and hunting. Cotswold Wildlife Park established a breeding group in 2016 after…

Cumbria Wildlife Trust surveys 1,600 Local Wildlife Sites to assess their condition decades after designation. The sites act as corridors for animals and insects, linking nature reserves and better-known habitats across the county. Emily Stewart-Rayner said many sites haven’t been studied since their designation many decades ago. Importance of Local Wildlife Sites Local Wildlife Sites include woodlands, meadows, and roadside verges. Scientists select them based on environmental criteria. Although the law does not protect them, authorities recognize their ecological importance. Stewart-Rayner said monitoring these areas provides a snapshot of how Cumbria’s habitats are currently faring. After surveys, panels of experts…