FOUND: 13 - You Need To See This

Kosovo prepares to remove its first dam and reconnect river habitat

Kosovo is preparing to remove the obsolete Mirusha Dam, opening up 35 kilometres of river habitat and restoring free-flowing conditions along a river that ecological surveys have identified as a biodiversity hotspot. The Mirusha River flows through an area of high ecological and landscape value and is connected downstream to…

The Times of India · Sep 26

Stingless Bees Store Honey in Wax Pots and Are the Best Backyard Pollinators in India

A bee that traded its sting for something elseThe stinger in a female honeybee is a modified egg-laying organ. Stingless bees, belonging to the tribe Meliponini, evolved along a different path. Their stinger is vestigial: present in structure, absent in function. They cannot pierce skin. What they kept instead is…

Times Life · Sep 26

Michigan’s Brooklyn Dam removed after 85 years, transforming River Raisin into faster stream

Michigan’s Brooklyn Dam, built in 1939, has been removed after nearly five years of planning and construction. The $2 million project transformed the former 21-acre waterway, which held 4 to 8 feet of water, into a shallower, faster-flowing stream. Officials say the project will improve fish movement, restore native vegetation…

The Times of India · Sep 25

£700,000 support to support Northern Ireland’s eel industry

A major eel fishery in Lough Neagh is to close for three years to promote the recovery and long-term sustainability of endangered eel stocks.

Evening Standard · Sep 25

Rodent Eradication Spurs Recovery: Lord Howe Island study finds insects up 60%; lost species return

Lord Howe Island implemented a successful rodent eradication program, significantly improving its ecological balance and biodiversity. Following the operation, various native bird populations, including the black-winged petrel, experienced remarkable growth. Researchers found previously thought extinct insect species returning, highlighting the positive impact of the initiative. Additionally, a robust study documented…

The Times of India · Sep 25

How Weaver Ants Use Their Own Larvae as Silk Glue Guns to Stitch Leaves Into a Nest

The ant that turned its own young into a toolOecophylla smaragdina, the Asian weaver ant, called green ant across much of South and Southeast Asia, builds its nest entirely from living tree leaves, bound together with silk it does not produce itself. The silk comes from larvae. Worker ants hold…

Times Life · Sep 25

Beyond Bharatpur: 5 Indian Wetlands and Forests Where Serious Winter Birding Lists Are Made

Tal Chhapar, Rajasthan: The Raptor CorridorBetween November and February, the flat scrub grassland at Tal Chhapar in the Churu district of Rajasthan fills with Montagu's harriers in numbers that stop even experienced birders mid-sentence. Thousands winter here, quartering low over the grass in the early morning. Add pallid harriers, short-eared…

Times Life · Sep 25

Lizard Numbers Disputed: predator-free Buck Island now holds 1,000+; scientists contest 10,000 claim

Buck Island became a refuge for the endangered St. Croix ground lizard after decades of removing rats, mongooses and invasive plants. In 2008, 57 lizards were moved from Green Cay, and later studies recorded rapid population growth, including an estimated 1,473 lizards by 2013. The island has since served as…

The Times of India · Sep 24

Gecko Rediscovered After Eradication: study finds distinct Rábida lineage; DNA vouchers aid conservation

The leaf-toed geckos, once believed to be extinct, have made a surprising comeback on Rábida Island. Following the successful eradication of brown rats in 2011, a solitary gecko made its debut a year later. Further expeditions in 2019 and 2021 yielded additional specimens, highlighting these geckos as a unique evolutionary…

The Times of India · Sep 24

Octopus grabs fisherman’s face in shocking viral video as he fights to break free

A fisherman off the coast of Mexico had a terrifying experience when an octopus attached itself to his face. The incident was recorded by his friend, showcasing the struggle to remove the creature. After several tense moments, the fisherman finally broke free and discarded the octopus back onto the boat.…

The Economic Times · Sep 24