Painted wind turbines can dramatically reduce bird deaths, study finds (October 9, 2026)
https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/10/painted-wind-turbines-can-dramatically-reduce-bird-deaths-study-finds/
Wind energy is a valuable tool for addressing the climate crisis, but wind turbines can be deadly for birds. A recent study found that a low-tech, relatively inexpensive fix can dramatically reduce bird collisions with turbines: A can of paint. When wind turbines rotate their massive white blades can become a transparent blur, making them […]
Sri Lanka elephant found with a gunshot wound. How can tuskers be protected? (October 9, 2026)
https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/sri-lanka-elephant-found-with-a-gunshot-wound-how-can-tuskers-be-protected/
- Sri Lanka’s tallest living tusker Kavantissa was recently found with a gunshot wound on the right foreleg, prompting urgent veterinary treatment.
- The recent incident has renewed calls for armed protection of iconic tuskers such as Kavantissa, Agbo and Mahasen, echoing Kenya’s measures to protect famous elephants such as Ahmed and Craig.
- Conservationists caution that Africa’s individual-elephant protection models may not be easily translated to Sri Lanka’s densely settled, human-dominated landscapes.
- A recent assessment valued an individual wild elephant in Sri Lanka to be around 3.8 billion rupees ($11.5 million), highlighting the ecological, cultural and economic significance of elephants.
In Ecuador, Indigenous youth turn to rap music to defend the Amazon (October 9, 2026)
https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/in-ecuador-indigenous-youth-turn-to-rap-music-to-defend-the-amazon/
- In the Ecuadorian Amazon, young people from several Indigenous nationalities are turning to rap to speak out against the toll extractive industries take on their home territories.
- Each track is performed in the artist’s native language (some of which are on the verge of disappearing), with some incorporating Spanish verses to connect with listeners from other cultures.
- Indigenous rappers include Willan Gualinga (Taki Supay) of the Kichwa nationality of Sarayaku; Misael Elías Criollo Grefa (Misa17), from the A’i Cofán community; Raúl Vargas (Robenban), Kichwa from Pastaza; and Tzitzanu, from Sapara.
- Their music is reaching national and international audiences, with Misa17’s track “Ingi Tsampi” drawing more than 400,000 views on TikTok just a month after its release.
Vietnam mobilizes troops after heavy rains trigger flash floods and raise risks of landslides (October 9, 2026)
https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/10/vietnam-mobilizes-troops-after-heavy-rains-trigger-flash-floods-and-raise-risks-of-landslides/
HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Heavy rains lashed much of central Vietnam on Friday and caused flooding in parts of the historic city of Hue, a day after floods and landslides hit the coastal port city of Danang. Troops were mobilized and amphibious armored vehicles readied for rescue operations, state media reported. More rainfall was forecast […]
Lawmakers in Suriname call for investigation, stricter oversight amid new mining activity (October 9, 2026)
https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/lawmakers-in-suriname-call-for-investigation-stricter-oversight-amid-new-mining-activity/
- Mining activity in Pelin Bergi, near Kwakoegron, in northern Suriname, has allegedly undergone substantial excavation, and could be using polluting chemicals like cyanide.
- Two members of the National Assembly, Rabindre Parmessar and Michael Marengo, sent a letter to President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons calling for an immediate investigation and temporary halt to all mining activity in the area.
- The lawmakers questioned the government’s ability to regulate mining impacts on the environment and public health, and said they wanted to see all permits, concessions and other documents granting the right to operate in the area.
A chemical kept fishmeal from catching fire. Then scientists raised cancer concerns (October 9, 2026)
https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/a-chemical-kept-fishmeal-from-catching-fire-then-scientists-raised-cancer-concerns/
- Fishmeal was once a major shipping hazard because it could spontaneously combust, with at least 90 fires reported on ships and in plants worldwide from the 1950s through the 1970s.
- The industry largely solved the problem by adding ethoxyquin, an antioxidant that sharply reduced fishmeal fires but was later found to pose potential health and environmental risks and banned in the EU and several other countries.
- Ethoxyquin is still permitted in some countries and continues to turn up in imported seafood, including shrimp, salmon and tilapia sold in the U.S., though detected levels have been below the FDA’s safety limit.
- As producers shift away from ethoxyquin, they are increasingly turning to alternatives such as BHA, which has also raised carcinogenicity concerns and is now being reassessed by U.S. regulators.
For Indian communities, fishmeal factories bring pollution, danger and protests (October 9, 2026)
https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/for-indian-communities-fishmeal-factories-bring-pollution-danger-and-protests/
- A proposed fishmeal plant in Cuncolim on India’s southwestern coast has reignited opposition to an industry accused of pollution, unsafe working conditions, and unsustainable fishing practices.
- An Outlaw Ocean Project investigation found at least 30 Indian fishmeal plants linked to environmental violations or other legal infractions between 2018 and 2024, as well as 18 episodes of civil unrest.
- The industry provides jobs and tax revenue, but also diverts fish from local food supplies, exposes workers and nearby residents to health and safety risks, and contributes to pressure on overfished species.
- Despite documented concerns, India is backing further growth in fishmeal production, with the government lifting a moratorium on new plants and officials approving the Cuncolim facility in February 2026.
Fishmeal factories take Senegal’s fish from the dinner table (October 9, 2026)
https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/fishmeal-factories-take-senegals-fish-from-the-dinner-table/
- Senegal’s rapidly growing fishmeal industry is diverting fish from local markets into factories producing feed for farmed seafood and livestock, raising concerns about food security and fishing livelihoods.
- The country’s fishmeal plants have faced repeated accusations of pollution and harming health, with at least eight plants linked to environmental violations, unsustainable fishing practices, and civil unrest between 2018 and 2024.
- Local fish supplies are declining. Fish are increasingly diverted to make fishmeal for export. Coastal communities are struggling. Some fishers are attempting the dangerous sea journey to Europe in search of better prospects.
- The Outlaw Ocean Project investigated Senegal’s fishmeal industry, visiting three factories and speaking with residents, workers and managers about its environmental, economic and human costs.
A lifetime studying and advocating for cetaceans: Interview with Paul Spong (October 9, 2026)
https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/a-lifetime-studying-and-advocating-for-cetaceans-interview-with-paul-spong/
- Scientist Paul Spong, whose career has been entwined with cetaceans for nearly six decades, advocates for a hands-off approach to studying orcas, using land-based hydrophones and cameras, rather than tracking the orcas by boat and physically tagging them.
- Spong is the founder and co-director of OrcaLab, a whale-research facility on Hanson Island in British Columbia, Canada.
- In addition to his cetacean research, Spong has long campaigned against whaling and the captivity of orcas.
- Mongabay interviewed Spong shortly after the 70th meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) finished in Hobart, Australia. We discussed his work with orcas, his experiences at the IWC, and what needs to change for cetaceans to thrive in the future.
An Instafamous giant water lily is confirmed as a new species — and critically endangered (October 9, 2026)
https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/10/an-instafamous-giant-water-lily-is-confirmed-as-a-new-species-and-critically-endangered/
A chance sighting of photos on Instagram, then a five-day expedition, including a last-minute, late-night detour in a Colombian rainforest — that’s what it took for researchers to confirm a new-to-science species of giant water lily. The plant has such large leaves the researchers could also spot it from space, according to a new study. […]
How much nature is left? Interview with Nature Data Lab’s Karl Burkart (October 9, 2026)
https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/how-much-nature-is-left-interview-with-nature-data-labs-karl-burkart/
- A new data platform is helping scientists understand the extent of protected land worldwide; it also aims to serve as a watchdog for conservation initiatives.
- Global Safety Net v3 (GSN3) uses satellite data, artificial intelligence technology, and mapping techniques to see how landscapes are faring, and if conservation is working.
- Data on how ecosystems around the world are faring are crucial, especially in the face of a global agreement that aims to protect 30% of the world’s lands and oceans by 2030.
Ethiopian highlands yield a new species of egg-eating snake (October 9, 2026)
https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/10/ethiopian-highlands-yield-a-new-species-of-egg-eating-snake/
A new-to-science species of egg-eating snake has been documented in the forested mountains of southern Ethiopia, according to a recent study. The snake, which has an ink-black body, bluish skin between its scales, and stark-white throat and belly, has been named the white-throated egg-eater (Dasypeltis albigularis). It’s nonvenomous, feeding entirely on bird eggs, which it […]
Dhaka’s waste-to-energy plant face backlash over air pollution (October 9, 2026)
https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/10/dhakas-waste-to-energy-plant-face-backlash-over-air-pollution/
Construction of a power plant that will burn waste to generate electricity at a landfill near Bangladesh’s capital faces strong opposition from nearby communities, who say they fear severe health risks posed by toxic air pollution, reports contributor Eyamin Sajid for Mongabay. The $467 million project is being overseen by the municipal authority Dhaka North […]
Deadly wildfires leave Borneo wildlife scrambling for fresh water (October 9, 2026)
https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/deadly-wildfires-leave-borneo-wildlife-scrambling-for-fresh-water/
- Wildfires in West Kalimantan are leaving wildlife struggling to find fresh water as forest pools dry up and ponds turn brackish, pushing animals toward villages and coastal areas.
- Residents and conservation groups have begun providing water and rescuing animals affected by the fires, as prolonged dry conditions put further pressure on wildlife and freshwater supplies.
- Conservationists warn the crisis is also affecting coastal communities, with rising salinity threatening access to fresh water and potentially putting food production at risk.
- Warning: This story contains disturbing images of animals.
World Octopus Day: new discoveries about the world’s smartest invertebrates (October 8, 2026)
https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/10/world-octopus-day-new-discoveries-about-the-worlds-smartest-invertebrates/
Happy World Octopus Day! Every Oct 8, the world celebrates one of the more unusual creatures of the sea. Octopuses are well-known for their eight legs and ability to squirt ink when frightened. They’ve also been known to use tools, a sign of intelligence, and can shape-shift to mimic the colors and texture of their […]
Counterfeit seeds threaten African farmers’ crops and climate resilience: Study (October 8, 2026)
https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/10/counterfeit-seeds-threaten-african-farmers-crops-and-climate-resilience-study/
In Africa, high-quality seeds can produce improved crops with enhanced nutrition, pest-resistance, and drought tolerance. However, such seeds for maize, vegetables, and cereal crops can be indistinguishable from counterfeit, or “fake” seeds. That’s creating a massive potential for fraud in seed quality that can potentially deprive farmers of access to climate-resilient seeds while putting their […]
Endangered angelshark is still traded in Brazil despite import ban (October 8, 2026)
https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/endangered-angelshark-is-still-traded-in-brazil-despite-import-ban/
- In April 2026, the Brazilian government prohibited the import of meat from endangered shark species, making it illegal to sell any species of the genus Squatina, the angelsharks.
- Despite the new regulation, angelsharks continue to be sold freely in the South of Brazil and local governments have placed new orders for the product.
- Three public agencies said they would suspend the purchase plans after being contacted by Mongabay.
- In addition to a lack of enforcement, experts point out that compliance with the new rules is hampered by the sale of meat from various shark species under the generic name “cação.”
Activists cite ecological, social connections in blocking US border wall construction (commentary) (October 8, 2026)
https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/activists-cite-ecological-social-connections-in-blocking-us-border-wall-construction-commentary/
- The San Rafael Valley in the U.S. state of Arizona is an important wildlife corridor, but these migrations will soon be blocked by a wall being constructed by the U.S. government to prevent passage of human migrants.
- Activists had been staging tree sits in a group of old cottonwoods adjacent to the construction until they were cut down this week, including a very large one dubbed “Grandmother Tree,” whose felling has caused furor on social media.
- “The movement that formed around it demonstrates why protecting biodiversity in the borderlands requires recognizing both ecological and social connectivity across the region,” the author of a new commentary argues.
- This article is a commentary. The views expressed are those of the author, not necessarily of Mongabay.
Crackdown reveals ‘industrial-scale’ wildlife and timber trafficking across Latin America (October 8, 2026)
https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/10/crackdown-reveals-industrial-scale-wildlife-and-timber-trafficking-across-latin-america/
Authorities across nine Latin American and Caribbean countries have arrested hundreds of people and recovered more than 1,000 animals as part of a two-month coordinated operation against environmental crimes. Operation Madre Tierra was the eighth edition of a recurring Interpol-led initiative, and was conducted in June and July in Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, […]
Nepal ends search for thousands of flood victims, leaving some families angry and others relieved (October 8, 2026)
https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/10/nepal-ends-search-for-thousands-of-flood-victims-leaving-some-families-angry-and-others-relieved/
KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — The families of thousands of people who remain missing in Nepal weeks after catastrophic floods devastated the country have expressed mixed feelings after the government said this week that it is stopping the search for victims. The office of Prime Minister Balendra Shah decided on Monday that search and rescue operations […]