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Zambia seizes half-ton of ivory in major illegal wildlife crime operation (March 28, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/03/zambia-seizes-half-ton-of-ivory-in-major-illegal-wildlife-crime-operation/ On March 9, wildlife authorities in Zambia arrested 10 people in possession of 550 kilograms (1,212 pounds) of ivory, according to the U.K.-based Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), which provided intelligence that led to the arrests. EIA said the case highlights the impact that international cooperation can have in the fight against the illegal trade of […] | |
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A Kenyan ranger’s lasting imprint on Africa’s anti-poaching efforts (March 27, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/03/a-kenyan-rangers-lasting-imprint-on-africas-anti-poaching-efforts/ As John Tanui was being laid to rest in Kenya’s Rift Valley on March 25, stories and praise poured in for a man people would have loved to have lived longer. Tanui served as a security communications officer at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya from 1995 to 2024. He helped transform the operations of the […] | |
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Open-air markets: hotspots for a lethal virus infecting macaws and parrots (March 27, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/03/open-air-markets-hotspots-for-a-lethal-virus-infecting-macaws-and-parrots/ - Environmental officers detected circovirus in birds seized from a market in Brazil’s northeast, signaling a new and dangerous means of transmission for a deadly avian disease. - The outbreak was discovered at a government wildlife rehabilitation center where the birds were taken, putting animals housed there — and being prepared for return to the wild — at risk. - In October 2025, the virus was detected in Spix’s macaws, which were declared extinct in the wild in 2019 but are being bred and rewilded in Brazil’s Bahia state. - Experts warn of the need for rigorous monitoring and quarantine at rescue and rehabilitation centers, but some facilities don’t have veterinarians on staff. | |
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A world in bloom: Spring flowers unfold from Tokyo to Mexico, in photos (March 27, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/03/a-world-in-bloom-spring-flowers-unfold-from-tokyo-to-mexico-in-photos/ From soft peach to vivid pink and purple blooms, spring arrives in a burst of color across the Northern Hemisphere. In Washington, D.C. and Tokyo, streets and parks are awash in a sea of cherry blossoms. Across the plains of Greece’s largest peach-producing region, orchards unfurl like a pink veil over the landscape, while in […] | |
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A South African reserve shows how carbon can catalyze rewilding conservation (March 27, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/03/a-south-african-reserve-shows-how-carbon-can-catalyze-rewilding-conservation/ - Managers have spent decades expanding Tswalu Kalahari Reserve in South Africa to its present 118,000-hectare (292,000-acre) size and bringing native species to the former livestock rangelands that have been incorporated into the reserve. - In addition to providing a home for wildlife species at the high-end safari reserve, Tswalu is also measuring the impact on soil carbon stores in the dry savanna ecosystem. - Research has shown that careful application of rewilding can potentially bring carbon benefits, effectively addressing biodiversity loss and climate change together, though the results depend on contexts and the complex dynamics of soil ecosystems. - Tswalu has begun selling carbon credits, which it says will help fund continued conservation on the reserve. | |
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Investigation of permit violations in South Africa’s shark fishery pending (March 27, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/03/investigation-of-permit-violations-in-south-africas-shark-fishery-pending/ - In June 2025, South African authorities fined a shark fishing vessel caught violating its permit conditions. - It is not the first time the country’s small shark fishery has made headlines, including for breaches of conditions by fishing in protected areas and illegally cutting heads and fins off of its catch, preventing effective monitoring. - In October, the fisheries department said it would consider further action; no updates have been made public, but satellite data suggest the Zanette has fished inside a marine protected areas on at least four occasions since then. | |
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Climate change tests Nepal’s wild and domesticated yaks (March 27, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/03/climate-change-tests-nepals-wild-and-domesticated-yaks/ - Traditional herders in Nepal’s alpine rangelands face climate change, rising costs, labor shortages, disease and limited markets for yak products. - Warming temperatures are altering water cycles, vegetation and soil carbon, while drying wetlands and glacier changes increase fire risk and reduce grazing areas for both domestic and wild yaks. - Wild yaks face threats from habitat shrinkage, crossbreeding with domestic yaks, overharvesting of food sources like yartsa gunbu and declining rangeland quality, which could undermine their genetic purity and survival. | |
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In Nepal, calls for reform grow louder in buffer zones (March 27, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/03/in-nepal-calls-for-reform-grow-louder-in-buffer-zones/ - Residents in Nepal’s buffer zones — defined spaces surrounding protected areas — face restrictions on resource collection, infrastructure development and daily activities, leading to frustration and political protests, including election abstentions. - Communities suffer from wildlife attacks, crop destruction and livestock losses, with relief programs often failing marginalized residents, particularly those without land ownership certificates. - Local buffer zone councils are perceived as ineffective or serving the park wardens’ interests, as the wardens hold extensive authority, sometimes overriding elected representatives. - Locals and activists demand clearer guidelines, insurance systems, better infrastructure, equitable revenue sharing and legal amendments to balance conservation with community welfare. | |
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New strategy to reverse Kenya’s shark decline tries to bring fishers on board (March 27, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/03/new-strategy-to-reverse-kenyas-shark-decline-tries-to-bring-fishers-on-board/ - A new strategy by government agencies, scientists and coastal community members proposes a working plan of 19 goals to reverse the steep decline of sharks and rays in Kenya. - As small-scale fishers have a lot of influence on the marine species’ populations, most of the goals directly involve fishers or try to get them on board to make the conservation strategy a success. - Goals include alternative fishing gear, different livelihoods to reduce fishing pressure, increasing the number of locally managed marine areas, involvement of fishers in conservation decision-making and more effective enforcement. - Community fishing representatives say they are on board with the plan but highlight that a few points, like concrete and viable alternative livelihoods, need to be offered to reach the conservation goals. | |
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Small ray of hope for Sri Lanka’s sawfish, now feared ‘functionally extinct’ (March 27, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/03/small-ray-of-hope-for-sri-lankas-sawfish-now-feared-functionally-extinct/ - Known for its saw-shaped snout or rostrum, the sawfish is now feared “functionally extinct” in Sri Lankan waters, with the last record dating back to 2017. - Three critically endangered sawfish have historically been reported in Sri Lanka — the narrow sawfish (Anoxypristis cuspidata), largetooth sawfish (Pristis pristis), and green sawfish (P. zijsron) — but they are listed as either endangered or critically endangered due to overfishing, habitat loss and bycatch. - Researchers say small populations may still be surviving and call for more surveys to identify potential habitats toward conservation. - The sawfish’s rostrum serves as both a weapon and a sensory organ, helping it to hunt prey in murky waters, and in Sri Lanka, these are traditionally offered to churches as a sign of goodwill. | |
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US-Indonesia trade deal slammed as ‘extractive colonialism’ over mining, fossil fuels (March 27, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/03/us-indonesia-trade-deal-slammed-as-extractive-colonialism-over-mining-fossil-fuels/ - Activists warn a new U.S.-Indonesia trade deal could accelerate mining, deforestation and fossil fuel use, with weak, nonbinding environmental safeguards. - The agreement prioritizes critical minerals and energy access, opening up Indonesia’s resource sectors to deeper U.S. investment while limiting state control. - Expanded nickel mining and coal-powered processing risk worsening pollution, land conflicts and forest loss, especially in already affected regions like Sulawesi and the Malukus. - Large fossil fuel import commitments could undermine Indonesia’s climate goals, highlighting contradictions in the global energy transition and raising concerns for Indigenous and local communities. | |
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A profession built on hope, strained by loss (March 26, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/03/the-emotional-price-of-conservation-work/ - Reports from across the conservation sector point to rising levels of burnout, depression, and distress, driven by constant exposure to environmental decline alongside insecure funding, long hours, and limited institutional support. Surveys suggest a substantial share of professionals—especially early-career staff and women—are experiencing moderate to severe psychological strain. - The work carries a distinct emotional burden. Many conservationists form deep connections to species and places, only to witness their degradation or loss, producing a form of grief that is persistent and often unrecognized outside the field. - Structural conditions amplify the problem. Low pay, short-term grants, isolation in remote postings, and cultural stigma around mental health create an environment where overwork is normalized and seeking help can carry professional risks. - Recent reporting and commentary, including coverage by Mongabay and analyses by practitioners and researchers, have sharpened attention on what some describe as an “epidemic of suffering” in conservation. This growing body of work frames the issue not as isolated cases but as a systemic problem, while also situating it within a broader effort to acknowledge loss, document lived experience, and argue that those working to protect nature should themselves be supported and sustained. | |
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Family and friends help sperm whale mother and newborn during birth (March 26, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/03/family-and-friends-help-sperm-whale-mother-and-newborn-during-birth/ With the notable exception of humans, most mammals give birth alone. But in July 2023, researchers in the Caribbean witnessed something extraordinary: sperm whales not only attending a birth but actively helping both mother and newborn. Some of the whales present were not even related to the mother, known as Rounder. “Kinship barriers dissolved,” notes […] | |
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The squid rush in the South Pacific is forcing regulators to act (March 26, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/03/the-squid-rush-in-the-south-pacific-is-forcing-regulators-to-act/ A recent annual meeting of the fisheries regulator for the South Pacific tackled a familiar challenge: how to manage one of the world’s largest squid fisheries before mounting pressure turns it into a depleted one. The meeting produced some new safeguards, though much of the hard work still lies ahead, reports Francesco De Augustinis. The […] | |
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A 3-limbed Kemp’s ridley sea turtle is now being tracked at sea by satellite (March 26, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/03/a-3-limbed-kemps-ridley-sea-turtle-is-now-being-tracked-at-sea-by-satellite/ JUNO BEACH, Fla. (AP) — The veterinary staff at a Florida sea turtle hospital is getting help from space to monitor the animals they have rehabilitated. They’re particularly interested in amputees. Using satellite tracking devices in a collaboration between the Loggerhead Marinelife Center and the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, scientists are learning how well sea […] | |
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4 months after DRC mine spill, residents remain impacted (March 26, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/03/4-months-after-drc-mine-spill-residents-remain-impacted/ - On Nov. 4, 2025, an industrial effluents spill from Congo Dongfang International Mining (CDM), a copper and cobalt plant, contaminated several neighborhoods in Lubumbashi, in the southeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, affecting crops, access to drinking water and residents’ health. - Months later, Mongabay visited three neighborhoods affected by the spill to gather on-the-ground accounts of continued impacts to crops, water and health. - The government announced health assistance measures, treatment, the launch of a compensation process for victims and a collective settlement of $6 million. - According to a human rights organization, the amount is insufficient given the health damage, and residents who speak to Mongabay say they fear they will not be included in compensation and health plans. | |
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Study finds deforestation accounts for major Amazon rainfall decline (March 26, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/03/study-finds-deforestation-accounts-for-major-amazon-rainfall-decline/ - A study looking at land and atmosphere interactions in the Amazon Basin across four decades found that 52-72% of the rainfall decline in the southern Amazon is due to large-scale deforestation. - Between 1980 and 2019, annual precipitation in the southern Amazon declined by 8-11%, with most of the region losing on average 7.7% of its forest cover over largely the same period. - The research also indicates that climate models might underestimate the contribution of deforestation to precipitation reduction by as much as 50%, which could mean that rainfall thresholds in the Amazon could be crossed earlier than expected. | |
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Why the Amazon can’t be saved by courts alone (commentary) (March 26, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/03/why-the-amazon-cant-be-saved-by-courts-alone-commentary/ - The Amazon cannot be saved by legal recognition alone. Declaring the forest a subject of rights is historic, but without real authority for Indigenous governments, these rights risk remaining largely symbolic. - Protecting the forest requires shared governance: national ministries, regional agencies, and local governments must coordinate decisions with Indigenous authorities who already govern vast Amazonian territories — and protect the knowledge systems that have sustained it for generations. - The limited implementation of the ruling recognizing the Amazon as a subject of rights reflects the gap between judicial decisions and realities on the ground, as well as the political and social complexity of the Amazon across territorial, national, regional, and international scales. - This article is a commentary. The views expressed are those of the authors, not necessarily of Mongabay. | |
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Poop pills and gut microbes: Wildlife microbiome studies aid conservation (March 26, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/03/poop-pills-and-gut-microbes-wildlife-microbiome-studies-aid-conservation/ - Recent research into the human microbiome is revealing how closely connected it is to our health. Similarly, scientists are exploring how the microbiome in wildlife species can aid conservation efforts. - Studies show that human action (including climate change and close proximity to people) is altering the microbiomes of multiple wildlife species. The implications of how these changes may be impacting wildlife survival and health remain unclear. - Researchers are also exploring how supporting a diverse wildlife microbiome can improve animal health in captivity, aid recovery during rehabilitation, and even boost reintroduction success. Microbiome studies are underway on numerous species, ranging from Australian koalas to African meerkats and cheetahs. - Though still an emerging field, fecal microbiota transplants (FMTs) are just one possible tool that researchers and conservationists are exploring in trials to see how the restoration of a healthy diverse microbiome can support wildlife conservation. | |
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A nature-based solution to save the Mekong Delta’s water future (commentary) (March 26, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/03/a-nature-based-solution-to-save-the-mekong-deltas-water-future-commentary/ - The Mekong Delta — a global rice and aquaculture hub — is increasingly at risk from climate change, with rising seas, salinity intrusion, pollution and groundwater depletion threatening the livelihoods of dependant communities and lives of millions of residents in the delta. - In Vietnam, a proposed nature-based groundwater replenishment system aims to combine water treatment, aquifer recharge and wind energy to boost clean water supply, reduce salinity and stabilize the delta’s fragile ecosystems. - Backers say the plan could deliver hundreds of millions of dollars in annual benefits through higher farm yields, improved public health and stronger climate resilience, though it will require major investment and coordinated governance to succeed. - This article is a commentary. The views expressed are those of the author, not necessarily of Mongabay. | |
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Birutė Galdikas, primatologist who spent a lifetime studying & defending orangutans, has died at 79 (March 26, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/03/birute-galdikas-primatologist-who-spent-a-lifetime-studying-defending-orangutans-has-died-at-79/ - Birutė Galdikas established one of the longest-running field studies of any wild mammal, helping to transform scientific understanding of orangutans and their behavior. - Her work combined research with hands-on rehabilitation, returning hundreds of orangutans to the wild while navigating debates over the role of intervention in field science. - As Borneo’s forests declined, she expanded her efforts into conservation, founding an organization and working with local communities to protect habitat under growing economic pressure. - As part of the “Trimates”, a group of female researchers recruited by Louis Leakey, she helped bring great apes into public view and frame orangutans as emblematic of broader environmental loss. | |
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Palm oil clearing advances in Bornean orangutan habitat despite red flags (March 26, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/03/palm-oil-clearing-advances-in-bornean-orangutan-habitat-despite-red-flags/ - A palm oil firm has cleared more than 3,000 hectares (7,500 acres) of forest inside a UNESCO biosphere reserve in Indonesian Borneo, threatening areas identified as orangutan habitat. - The concession overlaps with a wildlife corridor linking two national parks, raising concerns over habitat fragmentation and increased human-orangutan conflict. - Authorities have acknowledged the presence of the habitat inside the company’s concession, but proposed voluntary conservation measures rather than halting clearing, drawing criticism from environmental groups. - The case highlights broader issues of weak enforcement, disputed land rights with Indigenous communities, and supply-chain loopholes that continue to allow deforestation-linked palm oil into global markets. | |
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Compost, racoons and sea turtle predation in Costa Rica (March 25, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/03/compost-racoons-and-sea-turtle-predation-in-costa-rica/ Composting keeps organic waste out of landfills, where it can produce methane, a very potent greenhouse gas. But a new study from Costa Rica’s Guanacaste province finds that when not disposed of properly, organic waste can also trigger a cascade of events resulting in fewer sea turtles. “Normally in Costa Rica we are very used […] | |
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Behind the scenes of the Amazon’s gold rush: Director Richard Ladkani on the making of ‘Yanuni’ (March 25, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/03/behind-the-scenes-of-the-amazons-gold-rush-director-richard-ladkani-on-the-making-of-yanuni/ - A new documentary film, “Yanuni,” highlights the journey of Juma Xipaia, an Indigenous chief from the Brazilian Amazon, as she moves between two worlds: Brazil’s capital, Brasília, and a remote village in the Xipaia Indigenous Territory. - The film focuses on her ongoing battle to protect the Amazon, alongside her husband, Hugo Loss, the head of Special Operations at Brazil’s environmental protection agency (Ibama), who leads dangerous operations to crack down on illegal mining deep in the Amazon. - In an interview with Mongabay, director Richard Ladkani shares behind-the-scenes insights into the filming process, important conversations and actions that helped shape the narrative and more details about some of the critical moments and events it covers. | |
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‘Staggering’ trade for belief-based use drives hooded vultures to near-extinction in Benin (March 25, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/03/staggering-trade-for-belief-based-use-drives-hooded-vultures-to-near-extinction-in-benin/ - Hundreds of critically endangered hooded vultures and their parts are being illegally sold in markets in Benin, according to recent research. The birds are coveted for their supposed supernatural properties by many practitioners of the traditional Vodùn faith. - During a four-month study, researchers counted 522 birds for sale. Vendors sold them as dried carcasses, heads or live birds in nine markets across southern Benin. and claimed to have sourced them from at least 10 West African countries. - Although hunting and selling hooded vultures in Benin is illegal and cross-border trade is regulated under an international treaty, demand is driving widespread commerce. - Hooded vultures are one of the most threatened raptors, with their numbers declining by 50-96% in recent years. The trade, along with accidental poisoning and habitat loss, could wipe them out, and experts call for greater awareness and better law enforcement in Benin to combat illegal trade. | |
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Five more community-led African groups join global landscape restoration network (March 25, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/03/five-more-community-led-african-groups-join-global-landscape-restoration-network/ - The Global Landscapes Forum recently announced the addition of 12 new “chapter” members to its GLFx network. - The GLFx network connects independent, community-oriented groups worldwide to strengthen their work protecting and restoring healthy forests and other landscapes. - Five of the new members are in Africa, including the School Food Forest Initiative in Uganda, which works with children to plant trees and grow food on school grounds. | |
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325 Long-neglected migratory freshwater fish species need protection now: Report (March 25, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/03/325-long-neglected-migratory-freshwater-fish-species-need-protection-now-report/ - As national representatives gather at the UN COP15 Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) meeting this week in Brazil, a new global report has been released profiling a dangerously neglected category of migratory animal: the world’s freshwater fish. - Migratory freshwater fish populations have fallen by 81% since 1970, says the report, with 325 species worldwide urgently needing coordinated international conservation action. However, only 23 migratory freshwater fish species are currently listed under CMS. - More than half of the 325 at-risk freshwater migratory fish species documented by the report are in Asia, with the Mekong River of major concern. While international conservation cooperation is urgently needed, China and other Mekong basin nations are non-parties to CMS, as are the U.S. and Russia. - What is needed now, conservationists say, are transnational migratory freshwater fish species conservation action plans that cover entire river systems, with those plans managed cooperatively by multiple nations within each river basin. | |
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Plenty of biodiversity data, but too few conservation answers (March 25, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/03/plenty-of-biodiversity-data-but-too-few-conservation-answers/ - New technologies—from environmental DNA to AI-powered sensors—are generating vast amounts of biodiversity data, creating unprecedented opportunities to monitor nature at scale. - Yet more data does not necessarily improve understanding: conservation still struggles to distinguish real impacts from broader environmental trends, especially without credible counterfactuals. - A growing shift toward impact evaluation and “precision” approaches aims to identify what works, where, and under what conditions, drawing on methods from economics and public health. - The next challenge is not collecting more information, but turning diverse sources of evidence—including Indigenous knowledge—into decisions that improve conservation outcomes. | |
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In Laos, ancestral spirits are helping save one of the world’s rarest crocodiles (March 25, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/03/in-laos-ancestral-spirits-are-helping-save-one-of-the-worlds-rarest-crocodiles/ - A decade-long conservation program built around local culture is restoring a globally significant population of a critically endangered crocodile species to the Xe Champhone wetlands of central Laos. - Of the world’s 27 crocodilian species, the Siamese crocodile is among just four classified as critically endangered, with fewer than 1,000 thought to survive on Earth. - This month, 56 crocodiles were released back to the Xe Champhone wetlands and the program has released 294 individuals since it began in 2013. - The locals’ spiritual connection to crocodiles, upheld for generations in a landscape stripped of most large wildlife, may be the single most important reason this species still exists here. | |
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New farming method replaces traditional jhum in crowding Bangladesh hills (March 25, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/03/new-farming-method-replaces-traditional-jhum-in-crowding-bangladesh-hills/ - Jhum, or shifting agriculture, has long been a common practice among the farmers in in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of southeastern Bangladesh. - However, due to growing demand for arable lands and reducing yields, farmers have started to give up the traditional jhum for profitable cash crops in recent years. - Among the changes adopted, cultivating vegetables using the machan method — using bamboo trellises to grow vines — is growing in popularity as the method ensures enough profit as well as a reduction in soil erosion. | |
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Asian wild dog spotted in Vietnam for the first time in 20 years (March 25, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/03/asian-wild-dog-spotted-in-vietnam-for-the-first-time-in-20-years/ Recent research has confirmed the first sighting of a dhole in more than two decades, a reddish-brown wild dog native to Asia. Before the sighting, the predator was believed to be extinct in Vietnam. The dhole (Cuon alpinus), historically one of the most widespread large carnivores in Asia, was seen on camera-trap footage. The single […] | |
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Seabird nests built with plastic waste off the coast of Germany: Photo of the week (March 25, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/03/seabird-nests-built-with-plastic-waste-off-the-coast-of-germany-photo-of-the-week/ The northern gannet, a seabird that lives across the northern Atlantic Ocean, typically builds its nests from seaweed and other aquatic plants. But more recently, its nests have started to include plastic material fished from the ocean. Martin Brogger, a researcher at Argentina’s Institute of Marine Organisms Biology (IBIOMAR), photographed several gannet nests containing plastic […] | |
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Canada invests $1m into mining exploration on Indigenous land (March 25, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/03/canada-invests-1m-into-mining-exploration-on-indigenous-land/ A First Nation in Canada’s subarctic Northwest Territories has received C$1.5 million ($1.1 million) in federal funding to explore for elements on its traditional lands. The Tłı̨chǫ own a 39,000-square-kilometer (15,000-square-mile) stretch of boreal forest and tundra. On March 3, they announced a three-year prospecting project with the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency. Exploration will […] | |
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As Sri Lankans choke on bad air, authorities cite transboundary pollution (March 25, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/03/as-sri-lankans-choke-on-bad-air-authorities-cite-transboundary-pollution/ - With an increase in air pollution levels in several areas, Sri Lankan authorities trace transboundary air pollution as a key reason for the island’s poor air quality. - A systematic rise in low air quality has occurred since the 1990s, experts say. - A seasonal trend has been observed during agricultural burning in India with emissions from the coal power plant in Norochcholai, in the island’s northwest, adding to the poor air quality. - Health authorities warn against cardiovascular diseases of people exposed to high levels of fine particulate matter for prolonged periods of time. | |
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‘We will not know what we lost’: Conservation fallout a year after USAID shutdown (March 24, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/podcast/2026/03/we-will-not-know-what-we-lost-conservation-fallout-a-year-after-usaid-shutdown/ When then-U.S. president John F . Kennedy created the United States Agency for International Development in 1961, it was meant primarily to administer health and food aid around the world. In the decades since, USAID expanded to become one of the world’s largest financial contributors to conservation, providing nearly $400 million annually before the end […] | |
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Another legal challenge for TotalEnergies in South Africa (March 24, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/03/another-legal-challenge-for-totalenergies-in-south-africa/ In August 2025, a South African court canceled an environmental authorization granted to French oil and gas giant TotalEnergies and its joint venture partner Shell to drill offshore exploration wells. Now TotalEnergies is facing fresh legal challenges in South Africa for another proposed project. March 23 and 24, the Western Cape High Court is hearing […] | |
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Kenya marks World Meteorological Day amid dozens of flood fatalities (March 24, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/03/kenya-marks-world-meteorological-day-amid-dozens-of-flood-fatalities/ March 23 was world Meteorological Day, which celebrates the science of helping humanity understand and predict the weather. However, in eastern Kenya, the day came as families were mourning the deaths of lives lost to ongoing heavy rains. Two people died after a rain-soaked wall collapsed on them, a little girl was swept away while […] | |
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Defying drought and invasives, a feisty Australian marsupial makes a comeback (March 24, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/03/defying-drought-and-invasives-a-feisty-australian-marsupial-makes-a-comeback/ - Not long ago, Australia’s ampurta, also known as the crest-tailed mulgara, hung on the precipice of extinction. Now, a new study has mapped its dramatic resurgence. - This small marsupial increased its range by an area the size of Denmark between 2015 and 2021, building on an ongoing re-expansion. - The ampurta resurged thanks to an introduced disease that drastically reduced the population of nonnative rabbits. That led to a drop in the number of foxes and feral cats that prey on small animals, including ampurtas. - Despite the good news, Australian scientists have serious concerns about a lack of investment in the ongoing biological control of both rabbits and feral cats. | |
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Eastern monarch butterfly populations increase in 2025, but challenges remain (March 24, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/03/eastern-monarch-butterfly-populations-increase-in-2025-but-challenges-remain/ Monarch butterfly populations in North America have been in dramatic decline for several decades. But in a glimmer of hope for the iconic orange-and-black species, the 2025 population estimate was roughly 64% higher compared to the previous year. Scientists split migratory monarchs (Danaus plexippus) into two populations — western and eastern — depending on which […] | |
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Vietnam and Russia advance nuclear power deal as energy security concerns grow in Southeast Asia (March 24, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/03/vietnam-and-russia-advance-nuclear-power-deal-as-energy-security-concerns-grow-in-southeast-asia/ HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Vietnam and Russia signed a deal to build a nuclear power plant in Vietnam as the Southeast Asian country revives its nuclear plans with hopes of boosting energy security while curbing greenhouse gas emissions. The deal for the Ninh Thuan 1 plant, reported by Vietnamese state media, comes after two similar projects were […] | |
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Upemba National Park staff recount assault that left seven dead (March 24, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/03/upemba-national-park-staff-recount-assault-that-left-seven-dead/ - On March 3, a group of militants attacked the headquarters of Upemba National Park in the southern Democratic Republic of Congo. - The attack left seven people dead and caused severe damage to facilities at the headquarters. - A group claiming responsibility for the assault said it was part of an effort to achieve independence for the mineral-rich region of Katanga, of which Upemba is a part. - Upemba National Parks staff members spoke to Mongabay from the DRC about the attack and its aftermath. | |
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On Manatee Appreciation Day, remember these gentle giants who protect aquatic ecosystems (commentary) (March 24, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/03/on-manatee-appreciation-day-remember-these-gentle-giants-who-protect-aquatic-ecosystems-commentary/ - Slow-moving, peaceful and curious, manatees quietly maintain the health and balance of aquatic ecosystems, from rivers to bays and coasts worldwide. - Manatee Appreciation Day is observed annually on the last Wednesday of March, and it’s a good time to remember why these animals matter, and the people who have dedicated their lives to protecting them. - “The gentle giants of our oceans have survived for millions of years. Whether they survive the next century depends on all of us,” a new op-ed argues. - This article is a commentary. The views expressed are those of the author, not necessarily of Mongabay. | |
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China’s deep-sea mining fleet may also track US submarines (March 24, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/custom-story/2026/03/chinas-deep-sea-mining-fleet-may-also-track-us-submarines/ A Mongabay and CNN investigation found the eight Chinese state-owned ships that conduct deep-sea mining research in China’s mining areas allocated by the International Seabed Authority (ISA) actually spent little time in these exploration areas, while spending much of their remaining time operating in militarily strategic waters. Many of these vessels are linked to the […] | |
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Argentina updates national IUCN mammal list with new focus on non-native species (March 24, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/03/argentina-updates-national-iucn-mammal-list-with-new-focus-on-non-native-species/ - The Argentine Society for the Study of Mammals reviews the national IUCN Red List of mammal species the goal of better understanding population trends and threats across the country’s many ecosystems. - This time around, scientists evaluated 417 mammal species, 22 more than the 395 species evaluated in 2019. - The increase reflects newly discovered mammals but also taxonomic revisions to mammals that were once grouped together and are now recognized as distinct species. - For the first time, SAREM also used the environmental impact classification for alien taxa, known as EICAT, to determine how much damage non-native species were doing to biodiversity in the country. | |
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Conservation win as first palm cockatoo chick fledges from artificial hollow in Australia (March 24, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/03/conservation-win-as-first-palm-cockatoo-chick-fledges-from-artificial-hollow-in-australia/ Conservationists in Australia are celebrating the fledging of a palm cockatoo chick, a species considered endangered in the country. It fledged from an artificial log hollow installed on a tree for breeding cockatoos. The structure is one of 29 such spaces created as part of People For Wildlife’s (PFW) Breeding Habitat Restoration Project, in partnership […] | |
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The ocean’s enforcement gap (March 23, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/03/the-oceans-enforcement-gap/ - Governments have designated vast marine protected areas and pledged to conserve 30% of the ocean by 2030, enforcement often lags behind these commitments. - Research shows that the ecological benefits of marine protected areas depend less on their size than on whether rules are visible, monitored, and enforced. - New tools—such as satellite imagery, vessel-tracking systems, and data analytics—are making it easier and cheaper to detect illegal fishing and focus enforcement efforts. - As monitoring improves, the future of ocean conservation may depend less on creating new protected areas than on ensuring existing rules are consistently applied. | |
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Indigenous groups demand halt to Belo Sun Amazon gold mine (March 23, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/03/indigenous-groups-demand-halt-to-belo-sun-amazon-gold-mine/ More than 120 Indigenous protesters have occupied a federal building in Altamira in the Brazilian Amazon since Feb. 23. They are demanding that authorities block a Canadian mining company’s license to open one of the country’s largest open-air gold mines on the Xingu River. Led by a movement of Indigenous women, the protest follows a […] | |
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Huge amounts of nanoplastics discovered in tap and bottled water (March 23, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/03/huge-amounts-of-nanoplastics-discovered-in-tap-and-bottled-water/ The amount of nanoplastics in drinking water in the U.S. has been wildly underestimated. That’s according to a new study that found the amount of plastic in both tap and bottled water was 10-100 times higher than previous estimates. For the new study, researchers used more advanced methodology and found more plastic. “It is like […] | |
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Can this giant freezer de-extinct animals? (March 23, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/03/can-this-giant-freezer-de-extinct-animals/ We’re losing species at an alarming rate. Could freezing the genetic material of the world’s most endangered animals help save them? Biotech start-up Colossal Biosciences is developing a “biovault” — a massive facility designed to store the frozen DNA of threatened species. Their founder calls it “a backup plan for life on Earth.” But can […] | |
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French company stops US offshore wind projects in $1B deal with Trump administration (March 23, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/03/french-company-stops-us-offshore-wind-projects-in-1b-deal-with-trump-administration/ The Department of Interior says a French energy company has agreed to give up two U.S. offshore wind leases and invest in fossil fuel projects instead. The department said Monday that TotalEnergies committed to invest approximately $1 billion in oil and natural gas production in the United States. That is the amount the company paid […] | |
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How Namibia’s bird conservation projects build community resilience (commentary) (March 23, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/03/how-namibias-bird-conservation-projects-build-community-resilience-commentary/ - Droughts and land degradation often erode communities’ social bonds, but in the Karas region of Namibia, bird conservation initiatives have become a rallying point. - Women and youth are at the forefront of these initiatives, which has inspired confidence among peers and shown that conservation is not the domain of scientists alone, but also a practice of everyday community resilience. - “It is time for policymakers, NGOs, and donors to support these initiatives not just as biodiversity projects, but as investments in community well-being,” a new op-ed argues. - This article is a commentary. The views expressed are those of the author, not necessarily of Mongabay. | |
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Songbird trade threatens lesser-known ‘master birds’ with secondary extinctions: Study (March 23, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/03/songbird-trade-threatens-lesser-known-master-birds-with-secondary-extinctions-study/ - Master birds are used in songbird competitions in Southeast Asia and other parts of the world to “teach” competitors elements of their songs. This trade, largely unknown and under-researched, is pushing some species to the brink of extinction. - A recent market study investigated the trade in crested jayshrikes, a popular master bird in Indonesia, and discovered rampant trade: This bird was sold openly across the country, despite its protected species status. - The trade in master birds has driven serious declines of numerous species in the wild, including the Javan green magpie. - To save these rapidly disappearing birds, the researchers say that stricter law enforcement is urgently needed to shut down illegal markets and stem the trade. | |
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World Water Day: Earth’s freshwater reveals new species & faces mounting threats (March 22, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/03/world-water-day-earths-freshwater-reveals-new-species-faces-mounting-threats/ Water covers most of our planet, yet less than 3% of it is freshwater and most of it is contained in glaciers, making it not readily usable. Contamination and overuse threaten the valuable supplies of freshwater that humans and other animals, especially aquatic organisms, depend on to live. On World Water Day, a United Nations […] | |
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PNG’s New Ireland coastal waters causing fish deaths, human sickness (March 20, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/03/pngs-new-ireland-coastal-waters-causing-fish-deaths-human-sickness/ - Communities on the east coast of Papua New Guinea’s New Ireland province report that contact with the seawater there has made people sick since December 2025; residents have also reported spikes in the number of dead fish and other marine life along the shoreline. - A group of local and international NGOs has responded, providing help with sampling to determine the cause and raising money for the affected villages. - New Ireland’s coastal communities depend on the sea for food, but government officials have warned against eating fish until the cause of the problems has been identified. - Government ministries have been aware of the situation for at least two months, and while leaders say that tissue, water and soil samples have been collected, no results have been released yet. | |
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Captive-bred Panamanian golden frogs released to the wild (March 20, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/03/captive-bred-panamanian-golden-frogs-released-to-the-wild/ Since 2009, no one has seen a Panamanian golden frog in the wild. These bright yellow frogs disappeared completely when an amphibian fungal disease, chytridiomycosis, swept through Panama reaching El Valle de Anton, the last stronghold of golden frogs. Researchers at the Smithsonian Institution predicted these declines based on the pattern of disease spread, but […] | |
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Vatican launches campaign to encourage divestment from mining industries (March 20, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/03/vatican-launches-campaign-to-encourage-divestment-from-mining-industries/ ROME (AP) — The Vatican on Friday launched a campaign to encourage divestment from mining industries, saying the Catholic Church should invest its money in ways that are consistent with its ecological teachings. The effort, which also involves other Christian organizations, takes as its inspiration Pope Francis’ 2015 environmental encyclical “Praised Be.” The document, and the ecological movement it […] | |
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Proboscis monkey found in Thailand adds to evidence of cross-border illegal trade (March 20, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/03/proboscis-monkey-found-in-thailand-adds-to-evidence-of-cross-border-illegal-trade/ - In January, an injured proboscis monkey was found near a railway track in Thailand’s Samut Sakhon province and brought to a nearby clinic. - Proboscis monkeys are an endangered species endemic to Borneo, and international trade is banned except for research or conservation purposes — no permits that would allow such trade exist for the species in Thailand. - Historically, trafficking for pets or zoos has not been a major threat to proboscis monkeys because it is very difficult to keep them alive in captivity, but recent research has found an uptick in live trade of the species. - The monkey is currently recovering from its injuries at a government-run rehabilitation center, and while he will never be able to live in the wild again, officers there say he may be transferred back to his native range once his health is stable. | |
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Deep-sea mining rules face delays despite urgent push (March 20, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/03/deep-sea-mining-rules-face-delays-despite-urgent-push/ Commercial deep-sea mining hasn’t yet begun, but it soon could — with the potential to reshape vast stretches of the ocean as companies move to extract minerals from the seafloor. However, this nascent industry lacks a set of international rules to govern it, and a recent meeting of the regulatory body charged with drafting one […] | |
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Many Indigenous peoples in Asia feel excluded from nat’l biodiversity planning: Report (March 20, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/03/many-indigenous-peoples-in-asia-feel-excluded-from-natl-biodiversity-planning-report/ - Many Indigenous peoples in Asia say they have little sway on their nation’s biodiversity goals, despite calls in the global U.N. biodiversity agreement for their full and effective participation in decision-making, according to recent reports. - The research found 13% of survey respondents participated in state-led consultations with Indigenous peoples while almost 60% reported that participation was not meaningful. - However, the research also found that Indigenous peoples increasingly participated in the NBSAP revision processes compared with a previous global biodiversity agreement for the 2011-20 period. - Some Indigenous sources said they felt like their participation was tokenistic and recommend the creation of an Indigenous-led version of the national biodiversity targets to help influence policy. | |
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World Rewilding Day: Hope for species and ecosystems (March 20, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/03/world-rewilding-day-hope-for-species-and-ecosystems/ World Rewilding Day on March 20 celebrates human efforts to rewild and restore degraded areas. Rewilding can focus on a single species, a city park, or even an entire island, and Mongabay has reported on such efforts from around the word. Rewilding in France’s Dauphiné Alps France’s largest rewilding project is underway in the Dauphiné […] | |
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