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Farmworkers’ health matters: South Africa looks to alternatives for chemical pesticides (October 19, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/farmworkers-health-matters-south-africa-looks-to-alternatives-for-chemical-pesticides/ - Each year, 385 million cases of pesticide poisoning are reported worldwide, according to the Pesticide Action Network. - As researchers develop alternatives, farmworkers and environmentalists are raising questions about what should replace hazardous agricultural chemicals. - One leading alternative is genetically-engineered pesticides, such as RNAi sprays — but there are still important gaps in assessing the safety and effectiveness of these new technologies. - As further research and studies gather evidence of how GE pesticides might affect farmers and the landscapes they work in, campaigners are making the case for biopesticides. | |
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Funding uncertainty threatens Tasmania’s gains against kelp-grazing sea urchins (October 19, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/funding-uncertainty-threatens-tasmanias-gains-against-kelp-grazing-sea-urchins/ - The long-spined sea urchin (Centrostephanus rodgersii), also known as Centro, is an invasive species in the waters around Tasmania, Australia, and it’s been munching away the state’s kelp forests. - A state program offers financial incentives to support a commercial fishery for the urchins and their highly valuable roe, with the aim of reducing urchin numbers in targeted areas so that kelp can rebound. - Researchers say the program has been effective in helping to recover some of the state’s kelp forests. - Now, however, they warn that progress is threatened by a shift to short-term funding cycles that undermine stability for harvesters and put kelp recovery on wobbly ground. | |
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Nearly 90% of countries adopt biodiversity targets, but most remain off track (October 17, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/nearly-90-of-countries-adopt-biodiversity-targets-but-most-remain-off-track/ - Nearly 90% of countries have established national biodiversity targets under the agreement reached at COP15 in Montreal in 2022, but fewer than half of the targets assessed by governments are on track for 2030. - Protected and conserved areas continue to expand, but existing commitments fall short of the goal to conserve 30% of the world’s land and seas by 2030. - Ecosystem restoration is advancing, with 193 million hectares reported under restoration, while progress on harmful subsidies, biodiversity finance, and other economic reforms remains slow. - The findings come ahead of the COP17 biodiversity summit in Yerevan, Armenia, where governments will conduct their first global review of progress toward the agreement’s 2030 goals. | |
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Nigeria drove thousands of gold miners from a national park. But can it keep them out? (October 17, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/nigeria-drove-thousands-of-gold-miners-from-a-national-park-but-can-it-keep-them-out/ - A military-backed operation has shut down a major illegal gold mining operation in Nigeria’s Gashaka-Gumti National Park. More than 4,000 miners left the site, according to the Africa Nature Investors (ANI) Foundation, which supports the park’s management - Former miners interviewed by Mongabay described losing their livelihoods, with some turning to other work and others moving to mining sites elsewhere in Nigeria and neighboring Cameroon. - Nigeria’s top parks official has called the closure a success but warned that miners could return. The operation followed years of tensions around illegal mining. | |
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Indonesian women cash in on mangrove restoration: Interview with community leader Wisye Sahambangung (October 17, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/indonesian-women-cash-in-on-mangrove-restoration-interview-with-community-leader-wisye-sahambangung/ - Wisye Sahambangung, a fisher and mangrove conservationist from Sarawet, a village in Indonesia’s North Sulawesi province, has gone from receiving government assistance for low-income families to leading a women’s group restoring mangroves and creating livelihood opportunities. - In 2022, she helped establish Rhizopora, which now collects mangrove propagules, supplies seedlings, monitors coastal areas, and supports restoration projects. - Through mangroves-related businesses and a savings-and-loans scheme, Rhizopora members have found new sources of income. | |
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This orca destroyed a sunfish and no one is sure why (October 17, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/10/this-orca-destroyed-a-sunfish-and-no-one-is-sure-why/ Scientists, on two separate occasions, have observed orcas ramming into heavy sunfish with such force that the boney fish literally explodes. But why? Scientists, at least currently, have no idea. They could be doing it to portion of food to feed the pod. Or they might just be doing it because they’re bored. Scientists plan […] | |
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Amazon deforestation falls 42% to a record low (October 16, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/10/amazon-deforestation-falls-42-to-a-record-low/ Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon has fallen to the lowest level on record. Data released today by Brazil’s national space research institute, INPE, shows that forest clearing in Earth’s largest rainforest over the 12 months ended July 31, 2026, amounted to 3,335 square kilometers (1,288 square miles), an area smaller than the Spanish island of […] | |
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The uplifting story of one of Zimbabwe’s pioneering women rangers (October 16, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/the-uplifting-story-of-one-of-zimbabwes-pioneering-women-rangers/ - Growing up in a ‘poor’ family in Zimbabwe’s Zambezi Valley, Nyaradzo Auxilia Hoto struggled to pursue her education. After leaving a marriage she describes as violent, she returned to her parents’ home with her daughter, uncertain about what would come next. - In 2017, she became one of the first 16 women recruited by Akashinga, an all-female anti-poaching initiative. She went on to command rangers, earn a university degree and become a biodiversity officer responsible for analyzing wildlife data. - As governments prepare to assess progress toward global biodiversity goals at COP17 in Armenia, Hoto’s journey offers a glimpse into the opportunities conservation can create for rural African women — and the challenges they still face in a profession long dominated by men. | |
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Fundraising to protect oceans, forests and other key nature sites falling short ahead of UN summit (October 16, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/10/fundraising-to-protect-oceans-forests-and-other-key-nature-sites-falling-short-ahead-of-un-summit/ Promises by nations to spend hundreds of billions of dollars to finance nature and increase protections for oceans around the globe are falling short ahead of a key U.N. biodiversity conference. The warnings from the head of the conference and environmental groups comes as the countries gather Monday in Yerevan, Armenia for the United Nations […] | |
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Legal gaps allow rampant pet trade, poaching reptiles and amphibians towards extinction (October 16, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/legal-gaps-allow-rampant-pet-trade-poaching-reptiles-and-amphibians-towards-extinction/ - Recent seizures of trafficked reptiles and amphibians provide insight into a booming trade in these animals, which are now coveted as pets worldwide. - Patchy legislation and loopholes in wildlife trade enable traffickers to pull reptiles and amphibians from their natural habitats and sell them abroad with impunity, conservationists warn. - They call for stronger national laws, making it illegal to sell wildlife protected in their native habitats, as well as creating a ‘positive list’ that identifies species that may be sold and kept as pets. - Conservationists also note the need for international measures to stop exploitation of reptiles and amphibians that are already harmed by habitat loss, invasive species, diseases and changing climate. | |
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Plastic industry bookkeeping plans hide chemical recycling harms, critics say (October 16, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/plastic-industry-bookkeeping-plans-hide-chemical-recycling-harms-critics-say/ - As scientists and dozens of nations call for major reductions in plastic production, the plastics industry continues to push pyrolysis — dubbed chemical or advanced recycling — as a primary solution to the global plastic waste crisis. - Critics say pyrolysis is not a viable solution, but rather an attempt by the industry to rebrand incineration as an environmentally sound recycling process. Pyrolysis uses high temperatures and pressure to convert waste into molecular building blocks which can then be used to make small amounts of recycled plastic. - Pyrolysis facilities, analysts say, emit a toxic cocktail of harmful pollutants, while also using large amounts of energy and storing considerable amounts of hazardous chemicals onsite, putting local communities at risk. The facilities also create very little, if any, recycled plastic. - But the industry hopes to use what little new plastic pyrolysis facilities do make to count toward recycling credits that can then be applied to new plastic products containing minimal recycled content. NGOs want transparency and strong industry regulation to protect health and the environment. | |
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As US states reduce recently restored wolf populations, here’s what we risk losing (commentary) (October 16, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/as-us-states-cull-recently-restored-wolf-populations-heres-what-we-stand-to-lose-commentary/ - After decades of effort to restore gray wolves to portions of their former range, some U.S. states are once again pursuing aggressive policies to radically reduce their numbers. - Two Emmy Award-winning filmmakers who’ve lived among wolves argue in a new commentary that these actions are misguided. - “Coexistence begins with the understanding that wolves have a rightful place in the wild. It asks us to prevent conflict where we can, adapt where we must, and resist the idea that killing should be the first response when wolves and people share the same space,” they write. - This article is a commentary. The views expressed are those of the authors, not necessarily of Mongabay. | |
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‘Enclosed river:’ Women shellfish gatherers fight for access to mangroves in Brazil (October 16, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/enclosed-river-women-shellfish-gatherers-fight-for-access-to-mangroves-in-brazil/ - Women shellfish gatherers along the coast of Brazil’s Sergipe state are losing access to mangroves and watching mollusk and crustacean populations dwindle as urban projects and real estate development advance over the areas where they live and work. - The Movement of Women Shellfish Gatherers of Sergipe grew out of an environmental education program funded by state-run oil company Petrobras to fulfill an environmental licensing requirement. Today, its leaders are demanding their rights, professional recognition and greater autonomy from the program. - The decline of shellfish gathering also hits these women’s bodies and their culture. They say they spend long hours in the mud only to harvest less, while traditional practices such as singing to capture mangrove crabs known as aratu are no longer being passed down in some families. | |
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Saving big cats: Storytelling duo Steve Winter & Sharon Guynup publish new book (October 16, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/saving-big-cats-storytelling-duo-steve-winter-sharon-guynup-publish-new-book/ - Wildlife photographer Steve Winter and environmental journalist Sharon Guynup have worked together for decades, and they offer a vital message in Big Cats their new book: Wildlife storytelling can deliver real, measurable environmental change, helping people and big cats find ways to coexist and benefit from each other. - In this Q&A with the creative duo they discuss how technology, from camera traps to GPS collars, helped make intimate big cat photography in the wild possible, and how it revolutionized the ways big cats are studied, documented and conserved. - Even with all their groundbreaking work covering big cats, “Conservation has no end point,” they say. Successes born of stunning images and moving prose can help power conservation, but there are always new challenges, making protecting wildlife a constantly evolving process. - Despite global conservation efforts, all big cat species are still considered vulnerable to extinction. That is why Winter and Guynup have teamed up to create a book documenting their work together and its impacts. Big Cats, published by National Geographic, was released Oct. 6 and is available at book stores and online. | |
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Celebrity shark trapped in South Korean canal stirs concerns over warming seas (October 16, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/celebrity-shark-trapped-in-south-korean-canal-stirs-concerns-over-warming-seas/ - A female dusky shark trapped in a waterfront park in the South Korean city of Busan has become an instant celebrity, attracting nearly 1.4 million spectators since she was first sighted in mid-September. - Some say that the shark’s appearance may be a troubling sign of climate change effects on marine life and ecosystems in South Korea. - In its latest report, South Korea’s meteorological service said that over the past decade, sea surface temperatures around the Korean Peninsula have risen 0.7°C (33.2°F), more than twice the global average. - The country’s authorities have recorded a spike in shark sightings and shark bycatch in recent years. | |
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Vulture conservation project to target illegal killing and poisoning in Chad (October 16, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/10/vulture-conservation-project-to-target-illegal-killing-and-poisoning-in-chad/ Conservationists are launching a project to protect dwindling vulture populations in Chad amid a Central Africa-wide decline. Run by the nonprofit Sahara Conservation, the project is part of a larger EU-funded LIFE EV Safe Return program that focuses on protecting the endangered Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus). Egyptian vultures migrate from their breeding sites in the […] | |
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Climate change could send more toxic mining waste into coastal waters, study warns (October 16, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/climate-change-could-send-more-toxic-mining-waste-into-coastal-waters-study-warns/ - Worst-case climate change modeling shows that rising temperatures and changing weather patterns could heighten mining contamination risks for marine environments, with some regions exposed to compounding hazards. - Metal mines and their waste storage facilities pose a pollution risk to nearly 293,000 kilometers (182,000 miles) of coastline, according to a new analysis. - The analysis finds long-term release of toxic waste from inactive mines is a larger global challenge than the failure of dams holding mining waste, or tailings, with remediation posing key financial and political challenges. | |
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Seagrass meadows may offer coastal communities a more nutritious catch than reefs (October 16, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/seagrass-meadows-may-offer-coastal-communities-a-more-nutritious-catch-than-reefs/ - When considering fish as a nutrition source for humans, fish communities living in seagrass meadows may provide a richer mix of nutrients that those found in coral reefs, a study suggests. - Pollution and climate change threaten seagrass meadows, highlighting the need to integrate public health and food security into conservation policies. - More than 3.5 million people living in poverty in Kenya, Tanzania, and Mozambique, where the study was carried out, depend on seagrass fisheries that can benefit from this new lens of marine conservation. - “We’re not saying that coral reefs are less important. But our findings highlight how different habitats contribute to food security in complementary ways,” said lead author Benjamin Jones. | |
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‘Perpetuating stupidity’: Indonesia comes under fire for response to burning and haze (October 16, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/perpetuating-stupidity-indonesia-comes-under-fire-for-response-to-burning-and-haze/ - Indonesia faces criticism for its handling of forest and land fires that have sent hazardous haze into Malaysia and Singapore, with officials refusing to apologize and dismissing the crisis as largely a natural phenomenon. - President Prabowo Subianto cited 639 hectares (1,579 acres) under active firefighting as evidence of progress, but experts warned the figure was misleading because it represented areas being tackled by firefighters, not the total area still burning. - Environmentalists blame inadequate preparedness and decades of forest-clearing permits and peatland drainage, while Malaysia and Singapore have offered firefighting assistance that Indonesia has yet to formally accept. - The haze is causing widespread health and environmental damage, with more than 283,000 acute respiratory illness cases recorded across seven affected Indonesian provinces, and dozens of orangutans rescued from fires in Borneo. | |
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Heavy rain shuts down Istanbul, causing flooding and 3 deaths (October 15, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/10/heavy-rain-shuts-down-istanbul-causing-flooding-and-3-deaths/ ISTANBUL (AP) — A heavy downpour has shut down Istanbul, flooded homes and roads and killed at least three people, officials said Thursday, as rescuers evacuated hundreds of stranded people. The downpour Wednesday night flooded homes and businesses and inundated roads and underpasses, stranding vehicles and causing traffic chaos in Turkey’s largest city. In some […] | |
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How Indian communities earn a living from more than forest timber (October 15, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/how-indian-communities-earn-a-living-from-more-than-forest-timber/ - Erratic rainfall and changing weather patterns are disrupting the availability of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) affecting communities that depend on these products in India. - Women account for 60-80% of India’s NTFP collection and primary processing workforce but receive a disproportionately small share of the market revenues. - A recent review examines the challenges facing communities that depend on NTFPs even as an e-commerce initiative intends to solve the value chain problem by connecting producers directly with buyers, helping reduce middlemen and improving market access. | |
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New tool reveals siege on Indigenous lands in Bolivia’s Amazon (October 15, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/new-tool-reveals-siege-on-indigenous-lands-in-bolivias-amazon/ - Nine out of every 10 hectares (22 of every 25 acres) of forest lost in Amazonian Indigenous territories in Bolivia were cleared illegally, new data analysis suggests. - Between 2003 and 2023, more than 186,500 hectares (460,900 acres) of forest disappeared — an area nearly three times the size of Madrid — with illegal clearing accounting for more than 90% of that total. - Land invasions to expand the agricultural frontier pose a constant threat to Amazonian Indigenous peoples in Bolivia: of 30 territories surveyed, 28 reported occupations by outsiders, as most of these conflicts remain unresolved. - The yearlong investigation led to the launch of VISTA, a platform presented by the Pulitzer Center, Mongabay and Bolivian organizations RAI Bolivia and Asuntos Centrales, that tracks and analyzes key data on deforestation, fires, land clearing, soy expansion and settlements across the 48 Indigenous territories of the Bolivian Amazon. | |
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Nations at southern bluefin tuna meeting stop short of adopting new seabird protections (October 15, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/nations-at-southern-bluefin-tuna-meeting-stop-short-of-adopting-new-seabird-protections/ - The Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT), a multilateral body that manages the stock of southern bluefin tuna, held its annual meeting Oct. 5-8 in Brussels. - Seabird protections drew debate, and a modicum of conservation progress was made: The parties agreed on 13 priority seabird species and designated high-risk areas for them. - However, the designations don’t carry any new mandatory protections: Due to the reluctance of some members, the commission stopped short of adopting proposed conservation measures for the high-risk areas, most notably tighter seabird bycatch mitigation requirements. | |
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Belize looks to the deep sea to complete its 30% ocean protection pledge (October 15, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/belize-looks-to-the-deep-sea-to-complete-its-30-ocean-protection-pledge/ - In 2021, Belize made a series of time-bound marine conservation commitments as part of a landmark debt-for-nature deal known as the Belize Blue Bond. - To complete milestone 6 of the deal, out of eight milestones in total, Belize is finalizing a national marine spatial plan that proposes three new marine protected areas in its deep offshore waters. - Officials say the zones were chosen after a gap analysis showed Belize’s nearshore coral reef and seagrass habitats are already well represented in its protected-area network, while deepwater features are not. - Many local fishers welcome the new protected areas, which sit well beyond the waters where they work. However, experts say they are unlikely to yield the conservation benefits Belize urgently needs to revive its declining commercial fish stocks. | |
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Cambodia was told to clean up its monkey trade. Regulators say it still hasn’t (October 15, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/cambodia-was-told-to-clean-up-its-monkey-trade-regulators-say-it-still-hasnt/ - Cambodian monkey farms have once again come under scrutiny as the global wildlife trade regulator warns the risk of fraud and corruption persists within the industry. - A loosely regulated trade of long-tailed macaques, which spiked to fuel the development of COVID-19 vaccines, has seen wild populations plummet in Cambodia. - The CITES Secretariat, the international wildlife trade authority, set Cambodia a series of targets last year to prevent monkey laundering, but the latest assessment shows progress is minimal a year on. - Animal rights experts say Cambodia’s involvement in the trade continues to pose a threat to human health and wild monkey populations globally. | |
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Thailand seizes ivory shipment from Zambia, to launch DNA investigation (October 15, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/10/thailand-seizes-ivory-shipment-from-zambia-to-launch-dna-investigation/ Authorities in Thailand say they have seized about 400 pieces of African elephant ivory in a shipment of timber from Zambia, and are now testing the contraband to identify the origin of the animals. The tusks were found concealed inside logs in two containers declared as holding processed timber at Laem Chabang Port, Chonburi province, […] | |
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World Mushroom Day: From food to plastic replacement (October 15, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/10/world-mushroom-day-from-food-to-plastic-replacement/ A mushroom is analogous to a flower on a plant — it’s the reproductive organ of a fungus, which protects and distributes fungal spores. Mushrooms are critical part of our ecosystems. For humans and other animals, mushrooms are also food. And they may be part of the solution for food security and solving the plastic […] | |
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From paper parks to lasting protection, here’s what works in marine conservation (October 15, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/from-paper-parks-to-lasting-protection-heres-what-works-in-marine-conservation/ - Marine conservation has attracted ambitious commitments, including vast new protected areas and international agreements. But declaring an area protected does not necessarily mean marine life is recovering. - Fully protected marine reserves can produce substantial biodiversity gains when fishing restrictions are enforced. Adequate staffing, funding, and political support are often what separate effective reserves from “paper parks.” - Conservation can also succeed outside protected areas. Secure fishing rights, community-led management, and practical changes to fishing gear can reduce pressure on marine species while supporting local livelihoods. - Restoration projects face similar challenges. Replanting mangroves or corals achieves little if the conditions that damaged the ecosystems remain. Across marine conservation, lasting gains depend on sustained management and addressing the underlying causes of biodiversity loss. | |
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Artificial mangrove roots offer a stopgap for Thailand’s eroding coastline (October 15, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/artificial-mangrove-roots-offer-a-stopgap-for-thailands-eroding-coastline/ - Coastal communities living along one of Thailand’s fastest-eroding shorelines are trialing a new system of coastal protection based on artificial mangrove roots. - A new study that assessed the results of the new system’s first year of deployment recorded positive signs of sediment buildup behind the structures, giving researchers hope that artificial mangrove roots could be a viable alternative to traditional methods that often have limited success. - By helping establish the physical conditions that support natural mangrove recovery, the researchers say, the system could function as an effective hybrid nature-based solution — a mechanism whereby engineered or “bioinspired” structures work in consort with natural ecological processes. - Experts caution that while useful, the artificial structures should best be viewed as a temporary solution that requires more long-term monitoring, maintenance, and ultimate removal, leaving behind a functioning natural system. | |
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Chinese social media used to promote illegal wildlife trade in Laos (October 14, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/chinese-social-media-used-to-promote-illegal-wildlife-trade-in-laos/ - Using simple keyword searches on Chinese social media, Mongabay found hundreds of videos promoting the sale of endangered wildlife in Laos. Two major Chinese media companies have user agreements specifically barring the posting of content related to the illegal wildlife trade; a third does not have specific terms. - Group tours leading Chinese tourists to wildlife markets in Laos are part of a recent boom in visitors following the opening of the China-Laos Railway and the lifting in pandemic travel restrictions. - Experts say that Chinese media companies, and their counterparts in the West, must do more to keep their platforms free of content promoting the illegal wildlife trade. - Warning: This story contains disturbing images of animals. | |
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“Stunningly short-sighted.” NOAA grant cuts threaten US climate resilience (October 14, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/10/stunningly-short-sighted-noaa-grant-cuts-threaten-us-climate-resilience/ After Donald Trump began his second term as president of the U.S. in 2025, his administration moved to dramatically cut federal funding for agencies including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which administers grants for community-based projects that often focus on climate resilience. The nonprofit Grant Witness has created a database of those awards […] | |
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Act before El Niño: Expert worries about deepening hunger in East and South Africa (October 14, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/act-before-el-nino-expert-worries-about-deepening-hunger-in-east-and-south-africa/ - The United Nations weather agency (WMO) says El Niño is already underway and getting stronger. It is almost certain to continue through February 2027, according to the WMO. - Regional weather forecasters predict a 90% chance of heavier-than-usual rain in southern Ethiopia, central to southern Somalia and northeastern Kenya from October to December 2026. Too much rain could cause floods and destroy crops. - Action Against Hunger, an international aid organization, warns that failed harvests can leave families hungry months after a drought or flood. In southern Madagascar, it says, families are facing food shortages earlier than usual. - Rotimy Djossaya, the aid organization’s chief impact officer, wants governments and donors to help families prepare now. He says repeated crises and cuts in aid leave people less able to cope with another lost harvest. | |
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Supreme Court declines to hear the case of a lobster fisherman who opposes boat tracking (October 14, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/10/supreme-court-declines-to-hear-the-case-of-a-lobster-fisherman-who-opposes-boat-tracking/ PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The Supreme Court has declined to hear the case of a lobster fisherman who alleged the government requiring commercial fishing boats to use electronic tracking devices amounts to unreasonable search and seizure. Maine lobster fisherman Frank Thompson sued after his state began requiring all federally permitted lobstermen to install GPS trackers […] | |
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Researchers uncover hidden routes and patterns of Amazon wildlife trade (October 14, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/researchers-uncover-hidden-routes-and-patterns-of-amazon-wildlife-trade/ - Researchers conducted a comprehensive review of scientific studies to provide an overview of wildlife trafficking in the Brazilian Amazon and help close the information gap about animal abuse in the region. - Amazon birds are the main targets of wildlife traffickers, followed by mammals, reptiles and fish, the researchers found. - Feeding and using animals in religious rituals or for medicinal purposes are main drivers of violations. - Brazil’s neighboring countries act as export hubs for Brazilian wildlife, such as zebra pleco fish sent to Asia through Colombia. | |
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Residents of South Africa’s Limpopo province hold breath amid fears of repeat floods (October 14, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/residents-of-south-africas-limpopo-province-hold-breath-amid-fears-of-repeat-floods/ - Tshakhuma in South Africa’s Limpopo province was ravaged by January floods, killing people and disrupting livelihoods. - Community members say blocked drainages and overgrown river courses exacerbate the problem amid fears of future disasters. - Residents are finding their own ways to respond, including the use of WhatsApp to warn neighbors of potential flooding. - The Limpopo government and Makhado municipality have intensified public awareness campaigns in the area, but community members say communication alone is not enough. | |
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Mangroves gain ground globally, marking turnaround after decades of loss (October 14, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/mangroves-gain-ground-globally-marking-turnaround-after-decades-of-loss/ - Globally, mangrove cover has grown by 477 square kilometers (184 square miles) between 1985 and 2025, marking a turnaround from the losses that have predominated for years, but gains are uneven. - India recorded significant net increases, followed by Pakistan, Australia, the Philippines and Senegal. - Indonesia, Myanmar, Malaysia, Nigeria and Cuba led in net losses as land-use changes — agriculture, aquaculture and development — together with pollution drove mangrove destruction. - Experts say community-led mangrove restoration works, along with greater corporate accountability and better enforcement of existing laws protecting the coastal forests. | |
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Invasive lionfish reach Brazil’s largest coral reefs. Local fishers fight back (October 14, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/10/invasive-lionfish-reach-brazils-largest-coral-reefs-local-fishers-fight-back/ Fishers have caught at least 440 invasive lionfish off the coast of Porto Seguro in northeastern Brazil in recent weeks. The local government paid fishers to harvest the fish in an attempt to curb the rapid spread of a species that can decimate native fish stocks, Mariana Martins writes for Mongabay Brasil. Lionfish (Pterois volitans), […] | |
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The jaguarundi is relatively easy to see. That may have hidden its decline (October 14, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/10/the-jaguarundi-is-relatively-easy-to-see-that-may-have-hidden-its-decline/ Founder’s Briefs: An occasional series where Mongabay founder Rhett Ayers Butler shares analysis, perspectives and story summaries. The jaguarundi was recently recategorized from least concern to near threatened on the IUCN Red List, reports contributor Sean Mowbray for Mongabay. The small cat, which ranges from Mexico to southern Brazil and Argentina and lives in a […] | |
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South African coal mine advances amid legal challenge and mounting water concerns (October 14, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/south-african-coal-mine-advances-amid-legal-challenge-and-mounting-water-concerns/ - Chinese-controlled MC Mining is advancing its Makhado coal mine toward full production within South Africa’s Vhembe Biosphere Reserve, amid concerns over habitat destruction and the pressure its substantial water demand could place on already scarce regional supplies. - A 2021 appeal against an amendment to its environmental authorization remains unresolved, with appellants saying the mine cannot lawfully continue; the company disputes this interpretation, arguing that the underlying environmental authorization is valid. - A disputed water-supply agreement has increased the mine’s reliance on groundwater in an already water-stressed region. - Makhado is part of wider development plans centered around the Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone, raising concerns about cumulative environmental impacts and growing pressure on regional water supplies. | |
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Eavesdropping on Malaysia’s dolphins: Interview with marine bioacoustician Saliza Bono (October 14, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/eavesdropping-on-malaysias-dolphins-interview-with-marine-bioacoustician-saliza-bono/ - Saliza Bono, a Malaysian bioacoustician at nonprofit research group MareCet, studies the sounds of marine mammals to protect their population. - Her research focuses on the impacts of underwater noise, particularly on Indo-Pacific humpback and Irrawaddy dolphins in Malaysia. - In an interview with Mongabay, the marine biologist discusses her journey into bioacoustics, how underwater noise pollution impacts dolphin behavior, and the challenges of her research. | |
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Painted turbines can save millions of birds (October 14, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/10/painted-turbines-can-save-millions-of-birds/ What do snakes, poisonous frogs, and wind turbines have in common? Scientists tested whether warning color patterns inspired by nature could help birds avoid deadly collisions with wind turbines. In video-game-style experiments, great tits, distinctive small birds, were shown different blade designs, including a new pattern based on the bold visual colors used by some […] | |
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Chinese squid tied to labor abuses finds an easy route into Western markets (October 14, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/chinese-squid-tied-to-labor-abuses-finds-an-easy-route-into-western-markets/ - In recent years, a series of high-profile investigations implicated the Chinese fleets targeting squid in international waters in illegal fishing practices, environmental violations, and poor working conditions, including forced labor and deaths at sea. - The revelations received widespread public attention, including from elected officials in the U.S. and Europe. - A Mongabay analysis shows that the largest Western markets have continued to import Chinese squid products in large quantities, raising concerns about regulatory gaps and lack of transparency and consumer awareness. - The most recent evidence of problems in the Chinese squid industry came in a June 2026 report by U.K.-based NGO Environmental Justice Foundation that covers a five-year investigation, including interviews with more than 400 fishers who worked on Chinese squid-fishing vessels in three oceans. | |
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Two rare pregnancies spark hope for Sumatran rhinos — but also concerns about inbreeding (October 14, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/two-rare-pregnancies-spark-hope-for-sumatran-rhinos-but-also-concerns-about-inbreeding/ - Two near-extinct Sumatran rhinos are pregnant at a sanctuary in Indonesia, offering a rare boost for a species that numbers only a few dozen in the wild. - The pregnancies are the latest result of a decades-long captive-breeding effort aimed at helping the solitary animals reproduce as their wild populations become increasingly isolated. - But the expected births also underscore the challenges of managing a small captive population with limited genetic diversity: the pregnant females are related, as are the two sires. | |
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‘Patrick’ sea star went viral, but Argentine deep-sea canyon held 57 new species (October 13, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/patrick-sea-star-went-viral-but-argentine-deep-sea-canyon-held-57-new-species/ - Scientists identified 57 new marine species and five new genera from Argentina’s Mar del Plata Canyon in just two weeks. - Most specimens came from a 2025 expedition whose livestream drew more than 4 million viewers, many of whom tuned in for a sea star that looked like the cartoon character Patrick Star. - The finds include a horned sea cucumber nicknamed Loki and 20 new copepods, with 90% of the copepod samples still unexamined. - Researchers also found plastic and fishing litter in the canyon, a sign that even this remote deep-sea habitat faces human pressures. | |
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Solutions to the risks posed by the global pet trade could be enacted quickly (October 13, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/podcast/2026/10/solutions-to-the-risks-posed-by-the-global-pet-trade-could-be-enacted-quickly/ The global pet trade, particularly in exotic reptiles and amphibians, poses significant biodiversity and potential human health risks, scientists say; yet compared to other pressing crises like climate change, the solutions are relatively simple — if only governments would act on them. Susan Lieberman, vice president for international policy at the Wildlife Conservation Society, based […] | |
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Governors allied with Flávio Bolsonaro set to lead majority of Brazilian Amazon states (October 13, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/10/governors-allied-with-flavio-bolsonaro-set-to-lead-majority-of-brazilian-amazon-states/ Seven of Brazil’s nine Amazonian states are set to be governed by politicians aligned with far-right candidate Flávio Bolsonaro, Karla Mendes and Lucas Berti reported for Mongabay Brasil. On Oct. 25, Brazil will have an electoral face-off between the top two candidates for several races that were not able to secure more than 50% of […] | |
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Inside the ‘unique’ tail of Iran’s spider-tailed horned viper (October 13, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/10/inside-the-unique-tail-of-irans-spider-tailed-horned-viper/ The Iranian spider-tailed horned viper, a rare snake endemic to western Iran, hunts by holding its body completely still while twitching its tail. Its body camouflages among the rocks of its semi-arid Zagros Mountains habitat, but its bulbous tail with accompanying leg-like scales looks remarkably like a large chunky spider. The snake, Pseudocerastes urarachnoides, uses its […] | |
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As sand becomes more valuable, Sierra Leone’s Mahera Coast grows more vulnerable (October 13, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/as-sand-becomes-more-valuable-sierra-leones-mahera-coast-grows-more-vulnerable/ - Sand mining at Sierra Leone’s Mahera Beach is impacting local tourism and coastal ecology while also defacing the landscape. - Nearly 50,000 cubic meters is extracted from Mahera Beach annually, even as communities are torn between eking out a living and conserving coastal ecosystems. - Many involved in the sand value chain are women and they disproportionately bear the economic and social burden of the trade. | |
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New Zealand builds an arsenal of tools to battle a ‘wily’ invasive seaweed (October 13, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/new-zealand-builds-an-arsenal-of-tools-to-battle-a-wily-invasive-seaweed/ - Two invasive forms of a seaweed called caulerpa were discovered in Aotearoa New Zealand in 2021, forming meadows that blanketed the seabed. This raised fears that the caulerpa would smother marine life, compete with native species for space and displace habitats. - A suite of innovative caulerpa-removal methods has been developed in New Zealand, some with government funding. - Nationwide eradication is no longer seen as achievable, but a major natural dieback has tempered some of the worst fears about ecological devastation. | |
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Indonesia returns 20 green sea turtles to the ocean after Bali smuggling raid (October 13, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/10/indonesia-returns-20-green-sea-turtles-to-the-ocean-after-bali-smuggling-raid/ SERANGAN ISLAND, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesian authorities on the tourist island of Bali released 20 protected green sea turtles back into the ocean Tuesday after they were found and seized on an empty boat seemingly abandoned by wildlife smugglers fleeing a police raid. Officers conducted final checks on the turtles at a conservation center on […] | |
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A study unravels the genetic mystery of a cobra divided by sea (October 13, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/a-study-unravels-the-genetic-mystery-of-a-cobra-divided-by-sea/ - A new study estimates that Sri Lankan and the Indian subcontinent cobra lineages diverged around two million years ago, evolving from an African ancestor and potentially linked to past sea-level changes separating the island from India. - In 1939, Sri Lankan zoologist P. E. P. Deraniyagala first recognized an unusual Sri Lankan cobra form and named it Naja naja polyocellata where it was later synonymized and resurrected as a species in 2022 only to be challenged in 2023. - The latest findings confirm the genetic distinctiveness of Sri Lankan cobra but does not formally establish them as a separate species, leaving taxonomists to determine whether the lineage warrants species-level recognition. - Beyond science, the cobra is deeply woven into Sri Lanka’s history, folklore and traditions, making its identity a part of the island’s natural and cultural heritage. | |
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Shedding light on the sea: Interview with Thai photographer Sirachai Arunrugstichai (October 13, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/shedding-light-on-the-sea-interview-with-thai-photographer-sirachai-arunrugstichai/ - Trained as a marine biologist, Thai photojournalist Sirachai “Shin” Arunrugstichai has taken photos that capture issues pertinent to marine conservation, from beached coral reefs to beaches polluted by oil spills. - He co-authored a study on necrophilia in squids after photographing a squid engaging in the behavior while retrieving ghost fishing nets in Myanmar. - While saying he is not a campaigner, Shin believes photography can help draw public attention to environmental issues and help initiate change. - Shin spoke to Mongabay about his career journey, scientific study and photography work. | |
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Protected areas are not for mining: Interview with WWF’s Nadège Nzoyem (October 13, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/protected-areas-are-not-for-mining-interview-with-wwfs-nadege-nzoyem/ - “Protected areas are protected areas,” says Nadège Nzoyem, the regional director of WWF for the Congo Basin, in reference to new studies showing the pressure from mining on protected and conserved areas in Central Africa and globally. - A new analysis published on Oct. 8 finds that oil and gas blocks overlap with nearly 62 million hectares (153 million acres) of protected and conserved areas across the tropical countries examined, while WWF’s own report finds an average 80% decline in the size of monitored wildlife populations in Africa between 1970 and 2022. - In an exclusive interview with Mongabay following the release of WWF’s “Living Planet Report 2026,” Nzoyem points to conservation gains in some landscapes but acknowledges continued wildlife declines, insufficient funding, and gaps in monitoring. - Ahead of a global biodiversity summit in Armenia this month, the interview examines whether conservation commitments translate into effective protection, and seeks Nzoyem’s perspective on WWF’s influence over conservation funding and whether Indigenous peoples and local communities have meaningful decision-making power. | |
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‘A hard reset’: Cape Town to capture and relocate baboon troops (October 13, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/a-hard-reset-cape-town-to-capture-and-relocate-baboon-troops/ - Authorities in Cape Town are planning to capture and relocate two “highly habituated” troops of chacma baboons that range close to a city suburb. - The baboons will be moved to enclosures where they will live out the remainder of their lives. - The impending removal is part of a “hard reset” by authorities after decades of interventions and will be accompanied by a new fence in the northern Cape peninsula and 6,000 baboon-proof bins. - Some experts say that while baboons should be kept out of urban areas, the plans to remove the troops are not convincing. | |
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In a first for the DRC, a homegrown NGO will co-manage a wildlife reserve (October 13, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/10/in-a-first-for-the-drc-a-homegrown-ngo-will-co-manage-a-wildlife-reserve/ Founder’s Briefs: An occasional series where Mongabay founder Rhett Ayers Butler shares analysis, perspectives and story summaries. For the first time in the modern history of the Democratic Republic of Congo, a local nongovernmental organization will co-manage a protected area in the country with its wildlife authority, reports Mongabay’s Elodie Toto. Strong Roots Congo will […] | |
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Photos: Taiwan’s tea revival blends ancient terraces with new climate adaptations (October 13, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/photos-taiwans-tea-revival-blends-ancient-terraces-with-new-climate-adaptations/ - Taiwan’s Shenkeng region was once a major tea-producing center, but industrialization and urbanization hollowed out the industry by the 1970s, allowing abandoned tea terraces to return to forest. - A government-backed effort is now restoring tea production and its cultural heritage, using the region’s historic stone terraces alongside drip irrigation, soil sensors, and more resilient tea varieties. - Climate change is making the revival harder, with earlier-dissipating mist, erratic rainfall, and increasingly intense typhoons threatening tea plants and increasing landslide risks. - Researchers and local growers are combining traditional farming techniques with new technology to make Shenkeng’s tea industry more resilient and preserve its cultural heritage for future generations. | |
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Chinook salmon return to historical habitat following removal of four US dams (October 12, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/10/chinook-salmon-return-to-historical-habitat-following-removal-of-four-us-dams/ The Klamath River in the U.S. was heavily dammed over the 20th century, blocking spawning Chinook salmon. As a result, the population of salmon that spawned in the river, which runs through Southern Oregon and Northern California, declined by roughly 90%. However, a recent study found that removing the dams resulted in a quick return […] | |
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Wildfires threaten Indonesia’s orangutans as rescuers find injured animals (October 12, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/10/wildfires-threaten-indonesias-orangutans-as-rescuers-find-injured-animals/ JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Wildfires sweeping across parts of Indonesia’s Borneo island have left endangered orangutans struggling to survive, prompting rescuers to evacuate animals found injured, stranded and surrounded by thick haze. A female Bornean orangutan nicknamed Novita was among dozens of apes rescued from wildfires in parts of Sumatra and Borneo in recent months. […] | |
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Indigenous women bring leadership, creativity & joy to clean water action (commentary) (October 12, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/indigenous-women-bring-leadership-creativity-joy-to-clean-water-action-commentary/ - “On Indigenous Peoples Day, let’s honor the leadership and contributions of Indigenous women in water,” a new op-ed says. - Women bring people together, build partnerships, solve problems, and move important work forward every day, the author writes, and Indigenous women in particular exhibit the kinds of community knowledge and relationship-building skills that lead to greater health outcomes, like access to clean water. - This article is a commentary. The views expressed are those of the author, not necessarily of Mongabay. | |
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First Nation-led effort replants kelp forests in Clayoquot Sound (October 12, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/10/first-nation-led-effort-replants-kelp-forests-in-clayoquot-sound/ Founder’s Briefs: An occasional series where Mongabay founder Rhett Ayers Butler shares analysis, perspectives and story summaries. In Clayoquot Sound, in the Canadian province of British Columbia, a partnership between the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation, the Redd Fish Restoration Society, and West Coast Kelp is helping rebuild degraded kelp forests, reports contributor Jennifer Cole for Mongabay. […] | |
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