Four men – three Irish and one English – said to be members of the Rathkeale Rovers gang were given prison termsA French court has convicted eight men including members of an Irish crime gang for trafficking rhino horn and ivory between Europe and east…
Confirmed: A duck named Ripper learned how to say “You bloody fool!”
“At first I thought, ‘It’s a hoax, it can’t be true.’ But it turned out to be true.”
Animals ‘shapeshifting’ in response to climate crisis, research finds
Warm-blooded animals are changing beaks, legs and ears to adapt to hotter climate and better regulate temperatureAnimals are increasingly “shapeshifting” because of the climate crisis, researchers have said.Warm-blooded animals are changing their physi…
Licence to krill: the destructive demand for a ‘better’ fish oil
Industrial fishing of the tiny crustacea in a dietary supplements gold rush is threatening the very base of the food chain• This article was produced with the Environmental Reporting Collective, whose full report is part of the Oceans Inc collaborative…
‘You bloody fool’: Australian talking duck proves birds can imitate speech
The first documented instance of ducks being able to mimic sounds has researchers reviewing the evolution of vocal language learning in birdsAustralian musk ducks can imitate sounds including human speech, with one bird recorded repeatedly saying “you …
How a Tahoe refuge saved owls, coyotes and raccoons from wildfire
Wildfires take a devastating toll on local animals. A Lake Tahoe refuge made sure its creatures didn’t suffer the same fateGreg Erfani watched the flames grow bigger and bigger as they crept toward Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care, the animal refuge he helps r…
National Trust could vote to ban trail-hunting on its land
Charity grants licences for hugely divisive practice which critics say is used as cover for illegal huntsThe National Trust could ban “trail-hunting” on its land when members vote on the hugely divisive issue next month.The charity has granted licences…
A little bird told me: how a magpie taught me I could be a father
Charlie Gilmour never wanted to have children – his father had abandoned him at six months and he feared he’d do the same. But then a magpie came into his life and changed everythingIt wasn’t long after our wedding – on our New Forest honeymoon, in fac…
Young country diary: searching for an adder with my eagle eyes
Colne Pointe nature reserve, Essex: These shy and mysterious animals are one of my favourites, but I had never seen one beforeAs a trainee zoologist, I love all animals, but I really love snakes! I’d never seen a wild adder, so when we went on an adven…
When our intentions really go to the dogs | Letters
Clare Munks and Sharman Finlay say their beloved pets always know what their owners are getting up toYour article (Paws for thought: dogs may be able to figure out human intentions, 1 September) was interesting, although like most dog owners, I smile a…