Reintroducing the big cats could control deer numbers and enrich ecosystems but farmers and the public need reassurance, say expertsThe maverick rewilder Derek Gow is wearing an extremely small pair of coral pink shorts as he introduces his three new E…
How to take the lead in dog walking – and earn unconditional love in return
Enhance your pooch’s wellbeing and your own by making daily walks an interactive, quality experiencePepper meets Mr Binks for the first time and bottom-sniffs the diminutive pooch by way of greeting. As ever, I look away. But Mr Binks’s owner, dog beha…
Guess who’s coming to dinner? Roadkill placed on ‘sky tables’ to lure rare birds of prey
Farmers are laying out carcasses to tempt vultures and eagles back to the UK countrysideWhen a griffon vulture last year graced the UK with its presence, awed birdwatchers from across the country gathered in the Derbyshire moors in the hope of catching…
UK dog owners warned about thieves staking out parks and luring puppies
Blue Cross cautions about black market for popular breeds as government reportedly considers new offence of pet abduction‘World turned upside down’ as boy’s therapy dog stolenStalking parks in affluent areas and luring puppies out of gardens with treat…
Woolly mammoth walked far enough to circle Earth twice, study finds
Research into life of Kik adds weight to theory that climate change could have contributed to species’ demise He was huge, hairy and boasted two enormous tusks: researchers say they have discovered a woolly mammoth called Kik who traipsed almost far en…
Wild beaver numbers surge to 1,000 across Scotland’s southern Highlands
NatureScot hails conservation success but draws criticism after revealing 115 animals were killed under licenceWild beavers have colonised lochs and rivers across the southern Highlands of Scotland after a sharp surge in their numbers.A survey by Natur…
When a family meal means something else
Baby sea stars may look innocent and adorable, but they’re teensy little cannibals and eat their own siblings for their own survival, according to a new study. Two researchers discovered this behavior among baby Forbes’ sea stars (Asterias forbesi) by …
China’s herd of wandering elephants finally heads for home
Fourteen wild Asian elephants have been guided across the Yuanjiang river in Yunnan, and a path leading back to their nature reserve is being madeAfter an epic 17-month journey that made international headlines, China’s famous herd of wandering elephan…
Dog theft law gets more bite with new ‘pet abduction’ offence
Ministers say new crime will carry tougher sentences following rise in dognapping as pet ownership soared in lockdown A new offence of “pet abduction” is being drawn up to tackle a rise in dognapping since the start of the first lockdown last year. Thi…
DNA from thin air: a new way to detect rare wildlife in hostile environments
Discovery that traces of genetic material are all around us opens a non-invasive way to boost biodiversityDNA is in the air – literally. It is wafted around by all the Earth’s creatures, and now scientists have found a way to detect these invisible tra…