Positive Wildlife News 2024

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Northern Territory's Newest National Park: Casuarina Coastal Reserve

The Territory Labor Government is safekeeping one of the Territory's most cherished recreational attractions, Casuarina Coastal Reserve, by growing the protected area and making it the Territory's newest national park.

The reserve will expand to include a 34-hectare lot (Lot 9458) to ensure protection of the dry monsoonal rainforest that is home to some of the Territory's most iconic endangered species, the Black-footed Tree-rat and Croton habrophyllus, the host plant for the endangered Atlas Moth.

Casuarina Coastal Reserve is one of the Territory's most popular parks, receiving more than one million visitors a year who exercise and enjoy the natural beauty of the coastal habitats between the estuaries of Rapid Creek and Buffalo Creek.

As announced the Chief Ministers Year Ahead speech, the Territory Labor Government has commenced the process for the reserve to become a national park under the Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1976, ensuring its protection and management by Parks and Wildlife.

The new status of national park for Casuarina Coastal Reserve would constrain the type of development that could occur on the land and provide safeguards that any development is consistent with maintaining the values of the park.

Declared national parks provide a range of opportunities for the public to be involved in, including recreation, nature appreciation, scientific research and conservation, with the first step a series of consultation processes, including the outlining the natural, cultural and recreational values of the Reserve.

Territory's Newest National Park: Casuarina Coastal Reserve
 
Cranes, UK’s tallest bird, bred in higher numbers last summer than for centuries

At least 80 pairs recorded in 2023 after species began breeding again in 1979, having disappeared from UK in 16th century

Britain’s tallest bird, the spectacular, wetland-loving crane bred in higher numbers last summer than at any point since they disappeared from the UK in the 16th century.

At least 80 pairs of cranes were recorded in 2023, up from the previous high of 72 two years earlier. The birds, which make distinctive bugling calls but are surprisingly elusive in the breeding season, as they hide in reedbeds, successfully fledged at least 36 chicks.

The species, which performs elaborate mating dances each spring, first returned from Scandinavia to breed in east Norfolk in 1979. The population was kept secret for years and very slowly spread.

More recently it has been boosted by a reintroduction project where hand-reared cranes were released on expanded wetlands in the Somerset Levels.

Britain has drained, developed and destroyed more than 75% of its marshland but the recent restoration of some wetlands has helped the species recolonise Wales, Scotland and nature reserves across England, including in Lincolnshire.

https://amp-theguardian-com.cdn.amp...higher-numbers-last-summer-than-for-centuries
 
At 50, Endangered Species Act responsible for black-footed ferret comeback

The Endangered Species Act turns 50 this year, and the World Wildlife Fund credits the measure for significant gains in the black-footed ferret population, among other species thriving under its protection.

The black-footed ferret was listed as endangered in 1967, even before the Endangered Species Act became law in 1973 and the ferret was grandfathered in.

At 50, Endangered Species Act responsible for black-footed ferret comeback
 
Major Milestone Reached in Seal River Watershed Alliance’s Journey to Establish an Indigenous Protected Area

Today the Seal River Watershed Alliance, the Sayisi Dene First Nation, Northlands Dene Nation, Barren Lands First Nation, and O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation, the Manitoba Government, and the Government of Canada took a major step toward protecting the watershed.

Representatives signed a memorandum of understanding that includes conducting a feasibility study for the Indigenous Protected Area and an interim land withdrawal from mining claims while the study is underway.

Major Milestone Reached in Seal River Watershed Alliance’s Journey to Establish an Indigenous Protected Area — Seal River Watershed
 
Florida’s Wetlands Win Protections in Court

What just happened: Earthjustice had a major win in a federal lawsuit to protect Florida’s wetlands, which give life to a vast array of plants and animals, including the critically endangered Florida panther. The ruling halts the state from issuing permits to disturb wetlands, including for two massive developments that would have destroyed thousands of acres of panther habitat.

Why it matters: Our planet is in the midst of a biodiversity crisis, with scientists warning that nearly 40% of species could face extinction by 2100. Florida’s wetlands host a rich assortment of flora and fauna – but despite their importance, the Trump administration handed off wetlands permitting authority to Florida state officials, who have a terrible track record of protecting endangered species. Earthjustice challenged that decision, and the Feb. 16 court ruling struck down Florida’s permitting program.

https://earthjustice.org/brief/2024...VDf_u7-fQ6ZUXLGfT9pWxgFO8JpGGaO8pHl5IvZB7sYSU
 
Better World: The Samara Karoo Story

Restoring South Africa’s third-largest protected area and reintroducing cheetah, black rhino, elephants and lions to the Great Karoo

Samara Karoo Reserve has pioneered the rewilding of the Great Karoo in South Africa for over a quarter of the century. Inspired by tales of the springbok migrations of yesteryear and motivated to reverse the damage wrought on the landscape through centuries of exploitation, Sarah and Mark Tompkins founded Samara in 1997.

Through habitat restoration and species reintroductions underpinned by research and supported by ecotourism, they have successfully restored 67,000 acres of land, reintroduced the first cheetah, black rhino, elephant and lion in over a century – and created the catalyst for the creation of South Africa’s third largest protected area covering three million acres.

Better World: The Samara Story
 
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17 Elk Added To West Virginia Herd

The translocations bring the state’s herd to 127

West Virginia’s elk population has just grown by 17. The new elk were translocated from the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area in western Kentucky, bringing West Virginia’s herd to 127. They are the first of 40 new elk the state plans to introduce this year.

The 17 elk were released in the Tomblin Wildlife Management Area in Logan County.

West Virginia began restoring elk to the state in 2016 when biologists released 24 elk from Land Between the Lakes. It was the first time elk have roamed the state in over 140 years. Officials say the herd remains too small to allow hunting.

17 elk added to WV herd - The Wildlife Society
 
Nova Scotia designates 15 new provincial parks, expands 2 others

Conservationists applaud plan, but say all parks still need stronger protection

Nova Scotia is designating 15 new provincial parks and expanding two others as a part of the provincial parks and protected areas plan.

In a statement released Wednesday, officials said the new and expanded parks include "natural landscapes and cultural heritage," and are home to a variety of plants and animals.

The newly designated areas cover about 1,150 hectares of land, furthering the province's goal of protecting 20 per cent of Nova Scotia's land and water mass by 2030. According to officials, the province now has 128 provincial parks, putting it more than halfway toward its commitment of having 205 parks.

N.S. designates 15 new provincial parks, expands 2 others
 
Bulgaria Environment Minister Declares Three New Protected Areas

Environment and Water Minister Julian Popov, issued orders declaring three new protected areas, in Mramor Village, Vrabnitsa, Sofia Municipality, in Valcha Polyana Village, Elhovo Municipality, Yambol Region, and in Samovodene Village, Veliko Tarnovo Municipality, and Parvomaitsi Village, Gorna Oryahovitsa Municipality, Veliko Tarnovo Region. The orders introduce a ban on activities that can lead to the destruction of species subject to protection, and their habitats.

Environment Minister Declares Three New Protected Areas
 
Rare, endangered fish spotted in Thames River after 2 decades

Aquatic biologist says she saw the endangered species at 10 different sites

An endangered fish species was spotted in Fish Creek subwatershed in the Thames River for the first time in two decades.

The reappearance of the black redhorse fish is a conservation success story, said Erin Carroll, aquatic biologist with the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority.

"The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority has been putting in all kinds of conservation projects over the last decades," said Carroll. "We were excited to find these fish in Fish Creek because they hadn't been found in some time."

Rare, endangered fish spotted in Thames River after 2 decades
 
Pakistan bucks global trend with 30-year mangrove expansion
  • Around the world, mangrove forests have undergone a decades-long decline that is just now slowing to a halt.
  • In Pakistan, by contrast, mangroves expanded nearly threefold between 1986 and 2020, according to a 2022 analysis of satellite data.
  • Experts attribute this success to massive mangrove planting and conservation, as well as concerted community engagement.
  • Many in Pakistan are looking to mangroves to bolster precious fish stocks and defend against the mounting effects of climate change — even as threats to mangroves, such as wood harvesting and camel grazing, continue with no end in sight.
His sandaled feet drenched in black mud, Rashid Rasheed points to one of the mangrove nurseries he’s been looking after for the past few years. With wooden walls topped by green netting, a dozen nurseries shelter thousands of saplings.

https://news-mongabay-com.cdn.amppr...al-trend-with-30-year-mangrove-expansion/amp/
 
Large areas of land bought on Manitoulin Island for conservation

Nature Conservancy of Canada buys up 750 hectares of land to be used for conservation, environmental research and ecosystem restoration.

Three large parcels of land on Manitoulin Island have been bought by the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) to keep the land in a natural wilderness state for conservation purposes.

The NCC said their project was the purchase of three areas consisting of forest, wetland and alvar sites for conservation on the south shore of Manitoulin.

Large areas of land bought on Manitoulin Island for conservation - Sudbury News.
 
The Nature Conservancy in Arizona Awarded $11.5M for Upper Verde River Conservation and Grassland Protection

The Nature Conservancy in Arizona (TNC) announced today it received an $11.5 million federal grant to lead critical land and water conservation efforts in the Upper Verde River Watershed and Big Chino Grasslands in northcentral Arizona. The grant requires a 50% nonfederal match that TNC Arizona and partners will provide, for a total of $23 million in project funding. Additional implementation funds are included in the total grant award to support partners in several ways to achieve success.

The Verde River is one of Arizona’s last flowing rivers. Imbalanced water use, wildfire impacts, and drought are straining the river, and flows are now at historic lows. The Big Chino Aquifer is a primary water source for the Verde, supporting diverse fish, birds, mammals, and other wildlife and also a critical source of water for drinking, agriculture, and recreation for the Verde Valley and Phoenix Metro Area’s nearly 5 million residents.

The Nature Conservancy in Arizona Awarded $11.5M for Upper Verde River Conservation and Grassland Protection
 
Hundreds of baby sea turtles released off coast of Nicaragua in conservation effort

Nicaraguan authorities and volunteers released hundreds of tiny baby turtles on the country's Pacific coast over the weekend as part of the government's efforts to protect endangered species.

At the Rio Escalante Chacocente wildlife reserve, more than 400 baby Paslama turtles scurried over the sand toward the ocean on Sunday afternoon.

The release was part of the government's campaign to protect endangered turtle populations, "Together We Conserve Our Sea Turtles."

Hundreds of baby sea turtles released off coast of Nicaragua in conservation effort
 
The Greatest Conservation Story Ever Told Isn’t Really Being Told

This week GNN reported that for the first time in over four decades, Peruvian diving petrels have four active natural nests on Chañaral Island, Chile, after a dedicated conservation group cleared the island of a deadly invasive species. But this is just one chapter in a long, often untold story.

Reporting on the climate crisis became one of the most popular beats for journalists around the world, and the term “sixth mass extinction” quickly and repeatedly found its way onto front pages across the West. It’s not even close to an appropriate term, though, since the previous 5 mass extinctions involved the die-off of 70% or more of all species on Earth.

But even if there are parts of the globe where that term accurately describes the degradation of the natural environment, just on its own, the success of protecting and restoring isolated island ecosystems like Chañaral, experienced in the last 2 decades merits the abandonment of the phrase “sixth mass extinction.”

The Greatest Conservation Story Ever Told Isn't Really Being Told
 
Bhutan expands protected area network with new biological corridor

When it comes to conservation and sustainable living, Bhutan has the biggest heart. The small Himalayan nation tucked between towering Himalayas has once again proved her commitment to nature with the declaration of a new biological corridor-9 (BC-9).

The new biological corridor connects Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary and Bumdelling Wildlife Sanctuary in eastern Bhutan - home to unique flora and fauna species such as snow leopard, red panda and ludlow's Bhutan glory.

The new biological corridor provides an ecological connectivity between Bumdelling Wildlife Sanctuary and Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary, which has similar biodiversity and minimal disturbances from anthropogenic activities. Its establishment completes the Bhutan Biological Corridor Complex (B2C2) in the east.

B2C2 forms a major conservation landscape in Bhutan comprising protected areas and its connecting biological corridors. There are five national parks, four wildlife sanctuaries, one strict nature reserve and nine biological corridors.

BC-9 - which was approved by Bhutan’s Parliament in November 2023 - covers six sub-districts in Trashi-yangtse district and one in Trashigang district. It is expected to ensure animal movement, enhance conservation attention, and preserve 124 species of birds, 25 species of mammals, and 227 species of plants.

https://wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/?106...ted-area-network-with-new-biological-corridor
 
Wildlife conservation lands expand in eastern Ontario: 'When nature thrives, we all thrive'

Wildlife, including songbirds, snakes, turtles and waterfowl have more space now to feed, nest, breed, move and thrive in the Frontenac Arch region in Ontario.

The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) announced the addition of two new nature reserves -- Blue Lake and Hawkridge -- Sunday to celebrate World Wildlife Day.

Wildlife conservation lands expand in eastern Ontario: 'When nature thrives, we all thrive'
 
Asian lions reclassified to Vulnerable from Endangered as indicated in the IUCN latest Global Report. The report also highlights a notable distinction in the risk between Asian lions and African Lions.The liklihood of a 33%decline in the African population is 19 times higher than in Asian mainly attributed to rampant poaching of African species. Although good news for. Asian lions, much bleaker the African population.
 
Strathmorezoo said:
Asian lions reclassified to Vulnerable from Endangered as indicated in the IUCN latest Global Report. The report also highlights a notable distinction in the risk between Asian lions and African Lions.The liklihood of a 33%decline in the African population is 19 times higher than in Asian mainly attributed to rampant poaching of African species. Although good news for. Asian lions, much bleaker the African population.
Click to expand...

If you don't mind my asking, do you have a link regarding this information?
 
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