An eye-opening examination of those who survive 'off-grid'
Going off grid is a concept that means vastly different things to different people. For Charles Foster—Oxford don, barrister and author—it involved shunning work suits and spending extended periods of time living like various English animals, sleeping in bushes and holes in the ground, and feasting on live earthworms and raw plants. Despite his high-flying … Continued
The elephant trade in Southeast Asia: a slippery slope with sanctuaries
Asian Elephants These gentle giants are smaller than their African counterparts, with smaller ears and only one finger on their trunk instead of two. Raised in matriarchal herds, elephants are highly social and extremely intelligent. At the beginning of the 20th century, the population of Asian Elephants stood at approximately 100,000. Today that number is … Continued
The North Pole was once home to crocodiles
In December 1908, explorer Ernest Shackleton was shocked to discover evidence of palm trees frozen in the glacial ice of Antarctica. Baffled scientists explained this unlikely finding through the theory of continental drift, but something didn’t add up. The fossilized wood that Shackleton discovered dated only 250 years ago. By that time the continents were … Continued
Death on the steppes: The saga of the saiga antelope
This wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the Saiga Conservation Alliance. They are a network of researchers and conservationists that are working in several countries in the Saiga’s range to save this beautiful animal. With its distinctive, almost Muppet-like nose, the saiga has a face you can’t forget. But, as a mysterious mass … Continued
Doggie detectives: How canines are becoming the new conservation superstars
Some of those irksome traits you tell your pooch off for—like sniffing out table scraps for a late night snack—are actually the basis of amazing conservation projects all over the world. Over the last few decades researchers have been trying to come up with less invasive sampling techniques, but it’s no easy feat to … Continued
12 tiny and adorable bugs who will change the way you look at insects
Not a fan of insects? We can’t really blame you—creepy crawlies are repeatedly portrayed as ugly, scary, dangerous or downright boring. But take some time to get to know a few species from the mindbogglingly massive world of invertebrates, and you’ll be amazed at how adorable these minibeasts can be. To aid you on your insect … Continued
7 surprising facts about hippos that you probably didn’t know
Most people know that hippos are large, live in water, wallow in mud and eat a whole lot. But apart from those things, is there anything particularly interesting about these whopping African mammals? As it turns out, yes. We’ve gathered some of the most intriguing nuggets of information about the humble hippopotamus, so you can … Continued
From MGM stars to man-eaters: 10 of the most famous lions throughout history
Lions (Panthera leo) are some of the most iconic creatures on Earth. Unusual among big cats for both their social behaviour and striking sexual dimorphism, these ‘kings of beasts’ have been important to humans since the dawn of mankind. Some lions have even managed to transcend the general notoriety of their species to stake out … Continued
The definitive directory of dominant females
Males are typically thought of as the stronger sex, the provider and the protector, yet this is a view that is changing. For humans, the lack of female world leaders and inequality in certain aspects of life leads many to believe it very much remains a man’s world, at least for now. But for a … Continued
10 scary scenarios caused by climate change that will affect us all soon
To those who doesn’t believe in global warming, consider this a wake up call: climate change is happening, and it’s destroying our world. Of course, it’s far easier to ignore the scientific claims about rising sea levels, fluctuating weather patterns and altering landscapes while we go about our privileged lives the way we always have. … Continued
The ingenious technology being used to prevent wildlife roadkill
Wildlife and cars just don’t mix. As human populations continue to encroach on important animal habitats, the construction of roads means that more species are getting hit by vehicles than ever before. And animals aren’t the only ones who need to be worried—high speed collisions with large creatures can also prove fatal to drivers … Continued
10 surprisingly easy New Year’s resolutions that'll help save the planet
When the new year rolls around and you start planning your resolutions, don’t settle for half-baked fitness goals and unrealistic work targets. By committing to just a few small life changes, you could make a real difference to the future of our planet. Have a green 2017 by taking on these simple but environmentally-friendly New … Continued
This man combined paragliding and falconry to help educate people about vultures
When you tell someone to picture a vulture in their mind’s eye, many folks think of a creepy, bald-headed bird preying on the carcasses of dead animals. While they do have a penchant for feasting on carrion, these remarkable birds are not deserving of their bad reputation. In fact, they are quite a beautiful sight … Continued
7 human parasites lurking in your lunch
Who doesn’t love eating? Mealtimes provide us with the chance to relax, catch up with friends and savour some of our favourite flavours. Unfortunately, mealtimes are also a horrifying opportunity to pick up an array of common human parasites—looking to turn your body into their host and home. Munch with caution; these seven human parasites … Continued
10 deadly plants that'll kill you if you’re not careful
Think plants are boring? These ones certainly aren’t. From trees that cause grotesque, burning blisters to poisonous plants capable of killing famous philosophers and Abraham Lincoln’s mum, here’s the fear-inducing flora that you’ll want to keep out of your garden.
Help for Santa’s helpers? The plight of reindeer in Britain
Not so long ago, the only contact children in Britain had with reindeer was finding a nibbled carrot on the fireplace beside Santa’s half eaten mince pie on Christmas morning. Nowadays, they can see Rudolf in the flesh at one of numerous festive events taking place in town centres around the country and even feed … Continued
The 12 creatures of Christmas
Why is Santa’s sleigh powered by reindeer? Are partridges actually found in pear trees? And what on Earth do kangaroos have to do with the holidays? We associate a lot of animals with the festive period, but have you ever stopped to wonder why? If so, wonder no more—we’ve dug around and found out the … Continued
These amazing Ghibli gifs show off the eye-popping beauty of nature like you've never seen it before
Every Friday we feature the work of an artist, photographer or illustrator who we feel really encapsulates the love for nature we champion. So who better to feature this week than two of the most renowned illustrators of all time—Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki, of the world famous Japanese animation house Studio Ghibli. If you’ve ever watched a … Continued
The truly wonderful life and flight of the Japanese crane
The Japanese crane must surely be one of the most beautiful birds in the world. Its tall stature, striking colouration and tender courtship dance have made it an iconic species in the Far East where it lives. This species is widely regarded as a symbol of luck, longevity and fidelity, so is truly worth celebrating … Continued
From pharaohs to hairballs: How Cairo’s cats have evolved since ancient Egyptian times
Sure, there’s that segment of the population that have never warmed up to cats, but a lot of us out there have a weak spot for all things feline. Be it footage of lions roaming the plains or a YouTube video of a housecat riding a Roomba, face it, we’re more or less all suckers for … Continued
Our top pick of pretty cool penguin (try to quote that quick!)
Penguins are some of the most popular animals around, but did you know that there are 17 recognized species of these lovable birds? They don’t just hang out in Antarctica either: penguins live across the globe, from South America to Australia. Ranging from the unstoppable emperor penguin to the adorable gentoo penguin and the unlikely … Continued
10 of the most extreme locations on Earth
It’s easy to have a moan about the rain and wind when it’s all wintery outside, but the truth is that most of us have it pretty easy when compared to the world’s most extreme climates. From sweltering heat to frostbite-inducing cold onto land-shuddering earthquakes and air twisting tornadoes, here are the Earth’s wildest weather conditions. More … Continued
10 totally bonza Australian animals
Australia is home to some of the most unique animals in the world: geographic isolation means it contains the majority of our planet’s marsupials, some of the only egg-laying mammals and a frightening variety of venomous species including snakes, spiders and jellyfish. Those who are willing to brave the perils found down under will be … Continued
We asked some Neuroparasitologists about the tiny critters that turn animals into zombies
Mindless, wandering creatures whose only remaining purpose in life is to serve their parasitic hosts. No, not the terrifying subject of a new George A. Romero flick, but a genuine natural occurrence caused by fiendish little organisms that have evolved brain-controlling abilities in order to survive. Neuroparasitology is the scientific study of parasites that control … Continued
18 powerful GIFs of wild animals in their natural habitats
It’s one thing seeing an animal in a zoo, but an entirely different spectacle seeing the creature in its own wild environment. Indeed, the reason we find nature documentaries so alluring is the opportunity to witness an animal thriving on its own terms; living in a world that it has become perfectly attuned to thanks … Continued
Can you see them? 15 animals with ridiculously good camouflage
Chameleons aren’t the only animals capable of blending in with their surroundings. Mother Nature has filled her world with multiple masters of disguise, whose stealthy camouflage makes them difficult to spot. Try to spy these crafty creatures, whose heroic hiding skills help them to survive.