Poachers could soon face the death penalty in Kenya
It’s no secret the illegal pet trade and poaching is a huge problem in Asia and Africa, but perhaps some countries are a little more serious about solving the issue than others. Or at least that’s one takeaway from the news that Kenya is hoping to soon implement the death penalty for those who poach … Continued
Bereaved behaviour: Animals that mourn their loved ones
Historically, science has radically underestimated animal intelligence and emotions. Just a few decades ago we considered animals to have vastly different brains to our own, lacking moment-to-moment consciousness, emotions and foresight, but modern science has shown this is simply not the case. In 2012 leading scientists published the ‘Cambridge Declaration on Consciousness in Non-Human Animals’, … Continued
7 near-psychic animals that might just be able to predict disasters before they happen
Whilst precognition, the ability to see future events through extrasensory means, has not been proven in the animal kingdom (or anywhere in the known universe for that matter), anecdotal evidence still suggests that some creatures might react to disasters before they actually take place. Here are 7 powerful predictor species, who seem to be skilled … Continued
10 animals that are being eaten to extinction in the 21st century
Around 2 million years ago our ancestors first began the act of purposefully hunting and killing animals in the grasslands of Africa for food. Coincidentally, the fossil record shows that it was around this time that our brains and bodies grew in size—quite possibly fuelled by our new diet—and it wasn’t long (evolutionarily speaking) before … Continued
Arnold Schwarzenegger charged by African elephant
‘I couldn’t have written this safari encounter better if it was a movie.’ These are the words of actor, bodybuilder and former Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger, who came across a massive African elephant while on safari in South Africa. Schwarzenegger posted the encounter on his YouTube page, and expressed admiration for these mighty beasts. … Continued
Everything you ever wanted to know about the illegal ivory trade, as explained by a leading elephant expert
Mary Rice has held a deep affinity with elephants for as long as she can remember. Today Executive Director of the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA)—an independent campaigning organisation committed to protecting the natural world from environmental crime—and team leader of their Elephant Campaign, the author of Heat, Dust and Dreams has been fighting for the welfare of … Continued
Ever wonder what an elephant giving birth looks like?
Elephant mothers endure one of the longest gestation periods of any other mammal on Earth, which is nearly 22 months. They also give birth to some of the heaviest babies ever. The average weight of a newborn elephant is roughly 250 lbs. [geoip-content not_country=”CA”] Check out Elefamilia, now available on the Love Nature app: Meet … Continued
Eat your greens! The secrets to how herbivores grow so large
The largest land animal that ever lived was a vegetarian. When a local farmer stumbled upon a thighbone in Patagonia, he initially assumed it was a gigantic segment of petrified wood. But as paleontologists from around the world began to excavate, they found the fossilised remains of perhaps the largest animal species ever to walk … Continued
Leopard vs. hyena vs. elephant vs. impala
After a successful hunt, leopards will usually drag their kill up into the trees. There they can eat without fear of losing their meal to other hungry carnivores. However, if a tree isn’t readily available or if hunger takes over, a leopard may just have to settle for a feast on ground level. Doing so … Continued
School For Elephants
At 48 years-old, this female elephant suffered a life of hardship in the tourist industry. She was in very poor health when she arrived at this conservation center in Khao Yai. However, thanks to the kind people who work at the center, she’s been given a second chance and is learning to become a rescue … Continued
These endangered Indonesian animals are dying in the worst forest fire on record
People and animals in Indonesia currently face an apocalyptic scenario. Wildfires are ploughing destructive paths through the nation’s islands, producing more carbon dioxide than the entire US economy while polluting the country in a thick and inescapable smog. Similar fires take place every year, with dried-out peat forests intentionally burned to make room for industrial … Continued
Watch an elephant's first moments of life as mother shows off her calf to her rescuers
It’s a tale we’ve heard one too many times in recent years, an elephant is struck down by poachers, leaving behind young that must struggle to survive. But what starts as a sad tale about an elephant losing her mother takes a bright turn, as Wendi the elephant begins her own journey of motherhood. When … Continued
Young elephant practices his bravery
This baby elephant does not take kindly to tourists! While visiting the Kruger National Park in South Africa, a group of safari-goers came across the path of a herd of elephants. The youngest member of the pachyderm troop decides that he’s had enough of tourists, and tries to pick a fight with their vehicle. Fortunately … Continued