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Wildlife disease surveillance at global scale needs stronger local networks: Study (October 12, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/10/wildlife-disease-surveillance-at-global-scale-needs-stronger-local-networks-study/ A recent study has proposed a road map for countries to better monitor wildlife health and disease outbreaks. Previous research found that nearly 60% of the 107 countries it surveyed showed no evidence of a functional wildlife health surveillance system. This leaves ecosystems, agriculture, and human populations vulnerable to catastrophic outbreaks, the researchers say. The […] | |
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Damming the Xingu (October 12, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/specials/2026/10/damming-the-xingu/ As the Belo Monte hydroelectric plant in the Brazilian Amazon marks 10 years of operation, it faces a contentious environmental license renewal. At the heart of the debate are urgent calls to revise the dam’s discharge into the Xingu River. But by holding back up to 70% of the river flow, water scarcity is pushing […] | |
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This is a South African cheetah, and it’s in trouble (October 11, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/10/this-is-a-south-african-cheetah-and-its-in-trouble/ When researchers mapped almost 100,000 square kilometers of South Africa, or nearly 40,000 square miles, they only found 83 mature adults. They called their project the Free-Roaming Cheetah Census, and it’s the most comprehensive survey of cheetahs ever conducted in the region. The cheetahs that inhabit the unprotected areas here move naturally across borders, going […] | |
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Rheas are back to Chilean Patagonia (October 10, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/video/2026/10/these-women-are-bringing-darwins-rheas-back-to-chilean-patagonia/ PATAGONIA NATIONAL PARK — Chile. Mongabay traveled to Chile’s Patagonia National Park to follow a women-led team on a mission to bring 13 Darwin’s rheas back to the wild in April 2026. Working with Rewilding Chile Foundation, these dedicated rangers care for the birds around the clock, facing harsh weather, predators like pumas, illegal livestock grazing, […] | |
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Paraguay meets UN deadline for improving governance in Chaco Biosphere Reserve (October 9, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/10/paraguay-meets-un-deadline-for-improving-governance-in-chaco-biosphere-reserve/ Paraguay has provided updated information to the United Nations about the Chaco Biosphere Reserve, a protected area where deforestation from farming and cattle ranching threatens the survival of Indigenous communities. The country had until the end of September to respond to a UNESCO request to provide updated management plans and zoning, which critics say are […] | |
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Brazilian ranchers block government officials from demarcating Indigenous land (October 9, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/10/brazilian-ranchers-block-government-officials-from-demarcating-indigenous-land/ Since Sept. 23, a group of rural producers has maintained a blockade on the road to the Paquiçamba Indigenous Land in the Volta Grande do Xingu region of Brazil’s Pará state. The blockade is supported by local politicians and aims to prevent government officials from physically demarcating the land traditionally occupied by the Juruna (Yudjá) […] | |
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Painted wind turbines can dramatically reduce bird deaths, study finds (October 9, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/10/painted-wind-turbines-can-dramatically-reduce-bird-deaths-study-finds/ Wind energy is a valuable tool for addressing the climate crisis, but wind turbines can be deadly for birds. A recent study found that a low-tech, relatively inexpensive fix can dramatically reduce bird collisions with turbines: A can of paint. When wind turbines rotate their massive white blades can become a transparent blur, making them […] | |
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Sri Lanka elephant found with a gunshot wound. How can tuskers be protected? (October 9, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/sri-lanka-elephant-found-with-a-gunshot-wound-how-can-tuskers-be-protected/ - Sri Lanka’s tallest living tusker Kavantissa was recently found with a gunshot wound on the right foreleg, prompting urgent veterinary treatment. - The recent incident has renewed calls for armed protection of iconic tuskers such as Kavantissa, Agbo and Mahasen, echoing Kenya’s measures to protect famous elephants such as Ahmed and Craig. - Conservationists caution that Africa’s individual-elephant protection models may not be easily translated to Sri Lanka’s densely settled, human-dominated landscapes. - A recent assessment valued an individual wild elephant in Sri Lanka to be around 3.8 billion rupees ($11.5 million), highlighting the ecological, cultural and economic significance of elephants. | |
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In Ecuador, Indigenous youth turn to rap music to defend the Amazon (October 9, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/in-ecuador-indigenous-youth-turn-to-rap-music-to-defend-the-amazon/ - In the Ecuadorian Amazon, young people from several Indigenous nationalities are turning to rap to speak out against the toll extractive industries take on their home territories. - Each track is performed in the artist’s native language (some of which are on the verge of disappearing), with some incorporating Spanish verses to connect with listeners from other cultures. - Indigenous rappers include Willan Gualinga (Taki Supay) of the Kichwa nationality of Sarayaku; Misael Elías Criollo Grefa (Misa17), from the A’i Cofán community; Raúl Vargas (Robenban), Kichwa from Pastaza; and Tzitzanu, from Sapara. - Their music is reaching national and international audiences, with Misa17’s track “Ingi Tsampi” drawing more than 400,000 views on TikTok just a month after its release. | |
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Vietnam mobilizes troops after heavy rains trigger flash floods and raise risks of landslides (October 9, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/10/vietnam-mobilizes-troops-after-heavy-rains-trigger-flash-floods-and-raise-risks-of-landslides/ HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Heavy rains lashed much of central Vietnam on Friday and caused flooding in parts of the historic city of Hue, a day after floods and landslides hit the coastal port city of Danang. Troops were mobilized and amphibious armored vehicles readied for rescue operations, state media reported. More rainfall was forecast […] | |
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Lawmakers in Suriname call for investigation, stricter oversight amid new mining activity (October 9, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/lawmakers-in-suriname-call-for-investigation-stricter-oversight-amid-new-mining-activity/ - Mining activity in Pelin Bergi, near Kwakoegron, in northern Suriname, has allegedly undergone substantial excavation, and could be using polluting chemicals like cyanide. - Two members of the National Assembly, Rabindre Parmessar and Michael Marengo, sent a letter to President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons calling for an immediate investigation and temporary halt to all mining activity in the area. - The lawmakers questioned the government’s ability to regulate mining impacts on the environment and public health, and said they wanted to see all permits, concessions and other documents granting the right to operate in the area. | |
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A chemical kept fishmeal from catching fire. Then scientists raised cancer concerns (October 9, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/a-chemical-kept-fishmeal-from-catching-fire-then-scientists-raised-cancer-concerns/ - Fishmeal was once a major shipping hazard because it could spontaneously combust, with at least 90 fires reported on ships and in plants worldwide from the 1950s through the 1970s. - The industry largely solved the problem by adding ethoxyquin, an antioxidant that sharply reduced fishmeal fires but was later found to pose potential health and environmental risks and banned in the EU and several other countries. - Ethoxyquin is still permitted in some countries and continues to turn up in imported seafood, including shrimp, salmon and tilapia sold in the U.S., though detected levels have been below the FDA’s safety limit. - As producers shift away from ethoxyquin, they are increasingly turning to alternatives such as BHA, which has also raised carcinogenicity concerns and is now being reassessed by U.S. regulators. | |
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For Indian communities, fishmeal factories bring pollution, danger and protests (October 9, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/for-indian-communities-fishmeal-factories-bring-pollution-danger-and-protests/ - A proposed fishmeal plant in Cuncolim on India’s southwestern coast has reignited opposition to an industry accused of pollution, unsafe working conditions, and unsustainable fishing practices. - An Outlaw Ocean Project investigation found at least 30 Indian fishmeal plants linked to environmental violations or other legal infractions between 2018 and 2024, as well as 18 episodes of civil unrest. - The industry provides jobs and tax revenue, but also diverts fish from local food supplies, exposes workers and nearby residents to health and safety risks, and contributes to pressure on overfished species. - Despite documented concerns, India is backing further growth in fishmeal production, with the government lifting a moratorium on new plants and officials approving the Cuncolim facility in February 2026. | |
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Fishmeal factories take Senegal’s fish from the dinner table (October 9, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/fishmeal-factories-take-senegals-fish-from-the-dinner-table/ - Senegal’s rapidly growing fishmeal industry is diverting fish from local markets into factories producing feed for farmed seafood and livestock, raising concerns about food security and fishing livelihoods. - The country’s fishmeal plants have faced repeated accusations of pollution and harming health, with at least eight plants linked to environmental violations, unsustainable fishing practices, and civil unrest between 2018 and 2024. - Local fish supplies are declining. Fish are increasingly diverted to make fishmeal for export. Coastal communities are struggling. Some fishers are attempting the dangerous sea journey to Europe in search of better prospects. - The Outlaw Ocean Project investigated Senegal’s fishmeal industry, visiting three factories and speaking with residents, workers and managers about its environmental, economic and human costs. | |
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A lifetime studying and advocating for cetaceans: Interview with Paul Spong (October 9, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/a-lifetime-studying-and-advocating-for-cetaceans-interview-with-paul-spong/ - Scientist Paul Spong, whose career has been entwined with cetaceans for nearly six decades, advocates for a hands-off approach to studying orcas, using land-based hydrophones and cameras, rather than tracking the orcas by boat and physically tagging them. - Spong is the founder and co-director of OrcaLab, a whale-research facility on Hanson Island in British Columbia, Canada. - In addition to his cetacean research, Spong has long campaigned against whaling and the captivity of orcas. - Mongabay interviewed Spong shortly after the 70th meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) finished in Hobart, Australia. We discussed his work with orcas, his experiences at the IWC, and what needs to change for cetaceans to thrive in the future. | |
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An Instafamous giant water lily is confirmed as a new species — and critically endangered (October 9, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/10/an-instafamous-giant-water-lily-is-confirmed-as-a-new-species-and-critically-endangered/ A chance sighting of photos on Instagram, then a five-day expedition, including a last-minute, late-night detour in a Colombian rainforest — that’s what it took for researchers to confirm a new-to-science species of giant water lily. The plant has such large leaves the researchers could also spot it from space, according to a new study. […] | |
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How much nature is left? Interview with Nature Data Lab’s Karl Burkart (October 9, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/how-much-nature-is-left-interview-with-nature-data-labs-karl-burkart/ - A new data platform is helping scientists understand the extent of protected land worldwide; it also aims to serve as a watchdog for conservation initiatives. - Global Safety Net v3 (GSN3) uses satellite data, artificial intelligence technology, and mapping techniques to see how landscapes are faring, and if conservation is working. - Data on how ecosystems around the world are faring are crucial, especially in the face of a global agreement that aims to protect 30% of the world’s lands and oceans by 2030. | |
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Ethiopian highlands yield a new species of egg-eating snake (October 9, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/10/ethiopian-highlands-yield-a-new-species-of-egg-eating-snake/ A new-to-science species of egg-eating snake has been documented in the forested mountains of southern Ethiopia, according to a recent study. The snake, which has an ink-black body, bluish skin between its scales, and stark-white throat and belly, has been named the white-throated egg-eater (Dasypeltis albigularis). It’s nonvenomous, feeding entirely on bird eggs, which it […] | |
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Dhaka’s waste-to-energy plant face backlash over air pollution (October 9, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/10/dhakas-waste-to-energy-plant-face-backlash-over-air-pollution/ Construction of a power plant that will burn waste to generate electricity at a landfill near Bangladesh’s capital faces strong opposition from nearby communities, who say they fear severe health risks posed by toxic air pollution, reports contributor Eyamin Sajid for Mongabay. The $467 million project is being overseen by the municipal authority Dhaka North […] | |
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Deadly wildfires leave Borneo wildlife scrambling for fresh water (October 9, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/deadly-wildfires-leave-borneo-wildlife-scrambling-for-fresh-water/ - Wildfires in West Kalimantan are leaving wildlife struggling to find fresh water as forest pools dry up and ponds turn brackish, pushing animals toward villages and coastal areas. - Residents and conservation groups have begun providing water and rescuing animals affected by the fires, as prolonged dry conditions put further pressure on wildlife and freshwater supplies. - Conservationists warn the crisis is also affecting coastal communities, with rising salinity threatening access to fresh water and potentially putting food production at risk. - Warning: This story contains disturbing images of animals. | |
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World Octopus Day: new discoveries about the world’s smartest invertebrates (October 8, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/10/world-octopus-day-new-discoveries-about-the-worlds-smartest-invertebrates/ Happy World Octopus Day! Every Oct 8, the world celebrates one of the more unusual creatures of the sea. Octopuses are well-known for their eight legs and ability to squirt ink when frightened. They’ve also been known to use tools, a sign of intelligence, and can shape-shift to mimic the colors and texture of their […] | |
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Counterfeit seeds threaten African farmers’ crops and climate resilience: Study (October 8, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/10/counterfeit-seeds-threaten-african-farmers-crops-and-climate-resilience-study/ In Africa, high-quality seeds can produce improved crops with enhanced nutrition, pest-resistance, and drought tolerance. However, such seeds for maize, vegetables, and cereal crops can be indistinguishable from counterfeit, or “fake” seeds. That’s creating a massive potential for fraud in seed quality that can potentially deprive farmers of access to climate-resilient seeds while putting their […] | |
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Endangered angelshark is still traded in Brazil despite import ban (October 8, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/endangered-angelshark-is-still-traded-in-brazil-despite-import-ban/ - In April 2026, the Brazilian government prohibited the import of meat from endangered shark species, making it illegal to sell any species of the genus Squatina, the angelsharks. - Despite the new regulation, angelsharks continue to be sold freely in the South of Brazil and local governments have placed new orders for the product. - Three public agencies said they would suspend the purchase plans after being contacted by Mongabay. - In addition to a lack of enforcement, experts point out that compliance with the new rules is hampered by the sale of meat from various shark species under the generic name “cação.” | |
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Activists cite ecological, social connections in blocking US border wall construction (commentary) (October 8, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/activists-cite-ecological-social-connections-in-blocking-us-border-wall-construction-commentary/ - The San Rafael Valley in the U.S. state of Arizona is an important wildlife corridor, but these migrations will soon be blocked by a wall being constructed by the U.S. government to prevent passage of human migrants. - Activists had been staging tree sits in a group of old cottonwoods adjacent to the construction until they were cut down this week, including a very large one dubbed “Grandmother Tree,” whose felling has caused furor on social media. - “The movement that formed around it demonstrates why protecting biodiversity in the borderlands requires recognizing both ecological and social connectivity across the region,” the author of a new commentary argues. - This article is a commentary. The views expressed are those of the author, not necessarily of Mongabay. | |
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Crackdown reveals ‘industrial-scale’ wildlife and timber trafficking across Latin America (October 8, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/10/crackdown-reveals-industrial-scale-wildlife-and-timber-trafficking-across-latin-america/ Authorities across nine Latin American and Caribbean countries have arrested hundreds of people and recovered more than 1,000 animals as part of a two-month coordinated operation against environmental crimes. Operation Madre Tierra was the eighth edition of a recurring Interpol-led initiative, and was conducted in June and July in Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, […] | |
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Nepal ends search for thousands of flood victims, leaving some families angry and others relieved (October 8, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/10/nepal-ends-search-for-thousands-of-flood-victims-leaving-some-families-angry-and-others-relieved/ KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — The families of thousands of people who remain missing in Nepal weeks after catastrophic floods devastated the country have expressed mixed feelings after the government said this week that it is stopping the search for victims. The office of Prime Minister Balendra Shah decided on Monday that search and rescue operations […] | |
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South Korea strengthens migrant fisher protections. Advocates are not impressed. (October 8, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/south-korea-strengthens-migrant-fisher-protections-advocates-are-not-impressed/ - South Korea has recently revamped national guidelines on human trafficking to make it easier for law enforcement officials to spot and stop forced labor and other abuses in the fishing industry. - The South Korean government cited the U.S. State Department’s recommendation in last year’s Trafficking in Persons Report as a reason for amending the guidelines. - The amendments have not drawn an enthusiastic response from rights activists who say the problem lies more with enforcement of labor laws and anti-human-trafficking laws. - While authorities have arrested people accused of committing crimes against migrant fishers like abduction or physical assault, they remain the exception. | |
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Australia’s new eco police flexes muscles with major wildlife trafficking bust (October 8, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/10/australias-new-eco-police-flexes-muscles-with-major-wildlife-trafficking-bust/ Australian authorities have disrupted an alleged wildlife trafficking syndicate, uncovering a clandestine operation where smuggled native animals were hoarded alongside caches of cash and gold, reports contributor Johan Augustin for Mongabay. The operation reportedly seized 28 native and a few exotic species alongside approximately A$300,000 (nearly $210,000) in cash, gold, and silver bullion on July […] | |
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Invasive species have more severe environmental impacts in Global South, study finds (October 8, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/invasive-species-have-more-severe-environmental-impacts-in-global-south-study-finds/ - There has been a long-standing assumption that invasive alien species have greater biodiversity impacts in wealthier Global North countries than in the Global South. - But a new study finds that the average severity of impacts of invasive alien species is greater in the Global South. - In Myanmar, for example, where 70% of the population practices agriculture, farmers struggle to adopt self-devised methods of dealing with invasive alien species such as the golden apple snail. | |
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Did two of the lemurs stolen in Bangladesh end up in India? Officials are investigating (October 8, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/did-two-of-the-lemurs-stolen-in-bangladesh-end-up-in-india-officials-are-investigating/ - The case of missing lemurs from a Bangladeshi safari park exposes major gaps in wildlife conservation enforcement, locally and regionally. - In the absence of protocols, tracing and repatriating trafficked wildlife becomes a big challenge for law enforcers. - SAWEN, a high-level South Asian platform for wildlife enforcement, suggests continued dialogue among regional parties to close these gaps. | |
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Logging threatens Bornean forest earmarked for Indigenous Peace Park (October 8, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/10/logging-threatens-bornean-forest-earmarked-for-indigenous-peace-park/ Part of a forest in Malaysian Borneo that Indigenous communities had envisioned co-managing and self-governing has been turned into an active commercial logging concession, according to a recent civil society report. The 283,500-hectare (700,500-acre) Upper Baram Forest Area, in the northeastern part of the state of Sarawak, was proposed as a community-led conservation area more […] | |
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Fishing in polluted waters (October 8, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/10/fishing-in-polluted-waters/ In a remote community in Malaysian Borneo, fishermen are facing an existential threat: their water source is being polluted. The fish they depend on is dying. Long Jawe village sits on the banks of the vast Bakun Reservoir. It is so remote that most residents only make the five-hour journey to the nearest town once […] | |
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Despite legacy court case, Zambian Vedanta mine pollution continues (October 8, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/10/despite-legacy-court-case-zambian-vedanta-mine-pollution-continues/ The Zambian government is investigating a chemical spill in its Copperbelt Province allegedly linked to Konkola Copper Mines (KCM), owned by U.K.-based multinational Vedanta Resources. Residents in Chingola district told Mongabay they observed discoloration of the Kafue River and fish die-off on Sept. 28, raising fresh concerns about the environmental and social impacts of mining […] | |
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Africa’s monitored wildlife populations declined 80% since 1970, new report says (October 7, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/10/africas-monitored-wildlife-populations-declined-80-since-1970-new-report-says/ Africa’s monitored wildlife populations have declined an average of 80% since 1970, according to a new global assessment. The report also points to pockets of recovery where conservation efforts have been maintained over decades. The report on the decline in the average size of monitored populations was released Oct. 8 in the Living Planet Report […] | |
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Can WarWilding defend Poland’s borders and save Europe’s last ancient forest? (October 7, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/can-warwilding-defend-polands-borders-and-save-europes-last-ancient-forest/ - Poland’s border with Belarus runs through the Białowieża Forest, Europe’s last ancient woodland, home to lynx, wolves and European bison. - To strengthen national security and deter Russian and Belarusian attacks, Poland launched the East Shield in 2024 — a 700-km (435-mi) border fortification project running along its northeastern and eastern flanks. - But Polish scientists and conservationists say the East Shield would result in widespread damage to Białowieża Forest; they convinced the military to instead implement “WarWilding” techniques that forgo concrete in favor of using nature to create a defensive barrier called the Green East Shield. - However, WarWilding proponents say road construction projects threaten to undermine progress on the Green East Shield and are harming the forest and its wildlife. | |
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Arabian Sea humpbacks may be a unique subspecies at risk of extinction (October 7, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/10/arabian-sea-humpbacks-may-be-a-unique-subspecies-at-risk-of-extinction/ Humpback whales found in the Arabian Sea are likely a distinct subspecies, having evolved in isolation for tens of thousands of years, according to a newly published genetic analysis. “Arabian Sea humpback whales have long been an enigma to the scientific community,” lead author Rita Amaral, from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), said in a […] | |
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Tropical Storm Isaias forms, is forecast to become a hurricane and hit US Gulf Coast this week (October 7, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/10/tropical-storm-isaias-forms-is-forecast-to-become-a-hurricane-and-hit-us-gulf-coast-this-week/ MIAMI (AP) — Tropical Storm Isaias formed Wednesday in the warm waters off eastern Mexico and forecasters said it was expected to strengthen into the first hurricane of the Atlantic season before hitting the U.S. Gulf Coast later in the week. The rapidly strengthening storm was on track to tie or break a 121-year-old record […] | |
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‘A few are afraid of the chicks’: Preparing Thailand’s rescued leopard cats for life in the wild (October 7, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/a-few-are-afraid-of-the-chicks-preparing-thailands-rescued-leopard-cats-for-life-in-the-wild/ - A government-run wildlife rescue center in northeastern Thailand rehabilitates and releases dozens of leopard cat cubs every year. - Rescue numbers have risen sharply since 2023, a trend staff at the center attribute to a combination of worsening habitat fragmentation, fire activity and increased use of a government hotline. - Although the center can monitor camera traps for footage of released cats, they currently have no way to be certain how many of the cats survive after release. | |
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International pledge to fund forest rights exceeds target, but direct funding remains low (October 7, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/international-pledge-to-fund-forest-rights-exceeds-target-but-direct-funding-remains-low/ - A report from funders of a pledge to support Indigenous peoples and local communities’ land rights found that donors delivered $2.35 billion between 2021 and 2025, exceeding the $1.7 billion target made at the 2021 U.N. Climate Change Conference by 38%. - The findings also show that 7.2% of funding in 2025 went directly to Indigenous peoples and local communities, up from 2.9% in 2021. - Authors of the report warn that underfunded regions remain particularly vulnerable to aid cuts, deforestation and extractive pressures. - A new $1.8 billion five-year pledge announced at COP30 aims to expand its reach to support Afro-descendant communities and other ecosystems, promising more direct, flexible and long-term financing. | |
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Invading the globe: Bird flu now threatens Australia and Oceania (October 7, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/invading-the-globe-bird-flu-now-threatens-australia-and-oceania/ - A deadly strain of avian flu, H5N1, has spread across the globe since it emerged in Europe in 2020, infecting hundreds of species and decimating domestic poultry, seabird and marine mammal populations. - In June, bird flu breached the last uninfected continent, Australia, and has since infected numerous bird species — and spilled over into mammals, including critically endangered Australian sea lions. - Wildlife disease tracking and data collection are guiding current mitigations, such as carcass removal. The New South Wales government launched an immunization trial for vulnerable captive birds in August and began vaccinating little penguins in the wild on Sept. 18. But little can be done to stop the spread. - A comprehensive One Health perspective that incorporates human, wildlife and livestock health could aid efforts to prevent outbreaks of zoonotic disease that pass between them all. | |
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International Whaling Commission rejects push to revive commercial whaling (October 7, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/international-whaling-commission-rejects-push-to-revive-commercial-whaling/ - At the recent biennial meeting of the International Whaling Commission, Antigua and Barbuda introduced a controversial resolution on the “sustainable use” of whales, which introduced a path toward the reintroduction of commercial whaling. The resolution was ultimately withdrawn. - A separate bid to establish a South Atlantic Whale Sanctuary failed to pass, as it has at several previous meetings. - Delegates did approve resolutions aimed at addressing cetacean strandings, the fish maw trade and vessel strikes, as well as the “Hobart Declaration” commemorating the 80th anniversary of the IWC. - Observers criticized the IWC for failing to adequately address climate change, but also praised the body as a whole for remaining steadfast in supporting the ban on commercial whaling and for its contributions to science and conservation efforts. | |
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Wild tulips in Central Asia have become rare, expert says (October 7, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/10/wild-tulips-in-central-asia-have-become-rare-expert-says/ More than half of the world’s wild tulip species assessed so far are threatened with extinction, reports Mongabay’s Shreya Dasgupta. “For a flower this famous, it may surprise people how rare its wild relatives have become,” Brett Wilson, co-founder of the Wild Tulip Specialist Group at the IUCN, the global nature conservation authority, told Mongabay […] | |
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Colombia’s new government backs fracking as debate over energy future heats up (October 7, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/colombias-new-government-backs-fracking-as-debate-over-energy-future-heats-up/ - Colombia’s new president has pledged to reopen the door to fracking, reviving plans for two pilot projects in Puerto Wilches municipality that were halted under his predecessor, Gustavo Petro. - Supporters say fracking could help shore up dwindling gas supplies, while critics warn it could expose communities and ecosystems to environmental risks and prolong the country’s reliance on fossil fuels. - Puerto Wilches’s wetlands and waterways support communities and threatened wildlife, including West Indian manatees, Magdalena River turtles and Magdalena catfish, raising concerns over water use, wastewater, and other impacts from fracking. - The debate reflects a broader tension in Colombia’s energy transition, with renewable energy expanding rapidly even as delays and declining gas reserves fuel calls for continued investments in fossil fuels. | |
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Death of anti-plague lab worker in Russia prompts quarantines and international concern (October 7, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/10/death-of-anti-plague-lab-worker-in-russia-prompts-quarantines-and-international-concern/ The reported death of a 28-year-old laboratory technician in eastern Siberia has triggered regional quarantines and international attention over fears of the cause of death and a lack of transparency. According to local media reports, Darya Shipilova, a technician employed at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute of Siberia and the Far East, died on Oct. […] | |
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New crocodile species found fossilized in stone used to build Egypt’s Great Sphinx (October 6, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/new-crocodile-species-found-fossilized-in-stone-used-to-build-egypts-great-sphinx/ - Researchers have identified a new species of extinct long-snouted crocodile from 45-million-year-old fossils found in the same limestone formation used to build Egypt’s Great Sphinx. - The fossils were dug up in the 1920s and lumped in with the living false gharial, but CT scans revealed features that set the ancient crocodile apart as its own species. - Its closest living relatives, the gharial and false gharial, are critically endangered and endangered respectively. - Today, many species of crocodilians face conservation threats, though some have seen tremendous recovery due to conservation efforts | |
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Indigenous activist Kynan Tegar on Indonesia’s fires, and defending the Earth (October 6, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/podcast/2026/10/indigenous-activist-kynan-tegar-on-indonesias-fires-and-defending-the-earth/ Indigenous activist and filmmaker Kynan Tegar joins the Mongabay Newscast this week to discuss the impacts of the fires devastating Kalimantan, the Indonesian portion of the island of Borneo. Some 48,000 hectares (about 119,000 acres) of land have burned so far this year; Kynan says these fires are intentional on the part of agricultural corporations. […] | |
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100 conservation projects are looking for funding after USAID’s closure (October 6, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/10/100-conservation-projects-are-looking-for-funding-after-usaids-closure/ Founder’s Briefs: An occasional series where Mongabay founder Rhett Ayers Butler shares analysis, perspectives and story summaries. Twenty months after the dismantling of USAID, a new analysis documents what the international development agency’s disappearance has meant for conservation projects around the world. Projects have stalled or collapsed in countries from Kenya to Bangladesh, reports Mongabay’s […] | |
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Solar power helps Amazon communities ditch diesel and prepare for El Niño drought (October 6, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/10/solar-power-helps-amazon-communities-ditch-diesel-and-prepare-for-el-nino-drought/ SANTAREM, Brazil (AP) — Off-grid solar power is spreading across Brazil’s Amazon, helping remote communities prepare for severe drought while replacing costly, polluting diesel generators. In Nova Sociedade, where residents walked up to 20 kilometers for water during the historic 2024 drought, solar panels now power pumps supplying clean water to 36 families. Household systems […] | |
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In Australia’s Wet Tropics, restoration misses the forest for the tree cover (October 6, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/in-australias-wet-tropics-restoration-misses-the-forest-for-the-tree-cover/ - A survey of 25 organizations working on rainforest restoration in Australia’s Wet Tropics found that nearly all monitor their sites, but about half keep no records and simply check sites visually. - The groups ranked habitat connectivity, biodiversity, and threatened species habitat as their top goals, yet measured success mainly by canopy closure, tree survival, and the end of weeding. - About 42% stop monitoring once the canopy closes, usually within three to five years, long before the slower recovery of rainforest plants and animals can be tracked. - Most groups said monitoring would be a high priority if they had more funding, and the survey authors warn that short-term checks won’t provide the proof of recovery that carbon and biodiversity markets require. | |
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Science, Indigenous knowledge team up to restore Canada’s kelp. (Sea otters help, too.) (October 6, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/science-indigenous-knowledge-team-up-to-restore-canadas-kelp-sea-otters-help-too/ - In Clayoquot Sound, British Columbia, a partnership between the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation, Redd Fish Restoration Society and West Coast Kelp grows kelp at scale to support an ecosystem in decline. - The fur trade eradicated sea otters; their return enables kelp to thrive. - Underwater cameras are monitoring the newly formed kelp forest. - The success of the project will be measured by science and the return of ecological abundance. | |
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The Indonesians facing El Nino’s fires have lessons to teach us (commentary) (October 6, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/the-indonesians-facing-el-ninos-fires-have-lessons-to-teach-us-commentary/ - The world is facing an El Niño event of unprecedented proportions. - Millions of Indonesians have already been breathing toxic wildfire smoke and bravely fighting the blazes for months, although this event’s likely record-breaking fire season has barely kicked into gear. - “These communities are inspiring, and they can teach us some lessons about resilience and fortitude in the face of a Super El Niño that’s coming for many 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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Artificial nests give Hong Kong’s cockatoos a home – and a chance to study their behavior (October 6, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/artificial-nests-give-hong-kongs-cockatoos-a-home-and-a-chance-to-study-their-behavior/ - Hong Kong-based biologist Astrid Andersson and arborist Harry Wong run a conservation project that seeks to protect the city’s feral yellow-crested cockatoos (Cacatua sulphurea). - The critically endangered species enjoys a stable population in Hong Kong, numbering around 200 or about 10% of the global population. - With few natural nesting spaces available, Andersson and Wong make artificial nest boxes and install them in public parks and on school campuses. - Each box is equipped with an internal camera connected to a mobile signal, allowing researchers to remotely monitor breeding behavior. | |
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16 new fungal species found hiding in Thailand’s flowers (October 6, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/10/16-new-fungal-species-found-hiding-in-thailands-flowers/ Researchers surveying garden and wild flowers across northern Thailand have uncovered 16 previously unknown species of black, yeast-like fungi living inside the flowers, according to a recent study. The newly described fungi belong to the Aureobasidium genus, a commonly occurring group of yeast that can be found almost everywhere, from air and human skin, to […] | |
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Far-right election results in Brazil ‘bleak’ for Indigenous peoples, says Indigenous leader (October 6, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/10/far-right-election-results-in-brazil-bleak-for-indigenous-peoples-says-indigenous-leader/ Right-wing candidates made big gains in both houses of Congress in Brazil’s Oct. 4 general election. Brazil’s main Indigenous organization, the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil APIB, told Mongabay that the result will drive new attempts to strip constitutional protections from Indigenous peoples. “Unfortunately, what we saw today is, let’s say, a bleak moment,” […] | |
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Helping 100,000 amphibians safely cross the road (October 6, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/10/helping-100000-amphibians-safely-cross-the-road/ Every year, thousands of salamanders and frogs try to cross from their wooded winter homes in the U.S. state of New Hampshire to the swamps they breed in. But the road is a dangerous place — unless you have the help of New Hampshire’s Salamander Brigades. | |
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Indonesia threatens prison time for unauthorized downloads of forest data (October 6, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/indonesia-threatens-prison-time-for-unauthorized-downloads-of-forest-data/ - Indonesia’s forestry ministry has posted a notice saying it will use a controversial internet law to prosecute anyone who downloads geospatial data without its written permission, threatening prison terms of up to nine years. - A ministry official clarified it was restricting access only to data in the widely used shapefile format. - Legal scholars say the data are protected under Indonesian law and should be freely accessible. | |
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Sabine Schoppe who built a refuge for Palawan’s forest turtles has died (October 5, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/10/sabine-schoppe-who-built-a-refuge-for-palawans-forest-turtles-has-died/ On June 17, 2015, Philippine officials confiscated thousands of turtles in cement tanks from a warehouse in Palawan, an island province in the Philippines. More than 3,800 of them were endangered Palawan forest turtles (Siebenrockiella leytensis), piled as many as a dozen deep, awaiting export. Some had ulcers on the undersides of their shells or […] | |
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Brazil far-right presidential candidate wins most votes in deforestation hotspots (October 5, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/10/brazil-far-right-presidential-candidate-wins-most-votes-in-deforestation-hotspots/ In Brazil’s general election on Oct. 4, incumbent leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva finished second to far-right Flávio Bolsonaro, a senator and son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who was barred from public office after being convicted of planning a coup d’état. The two candidates will face each other in a second-round vote […] | |
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Uncertainty mounts as Suriname struggles to evict illegal settlers in the Amazon (October 5, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/uncertainty-mounts-as-suriname-struggles-to-evict-illegal-settlers-in-the-amazon/ - Suriname President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons announced a task force in August to investigate illegal settlements destroying the rainforest, many of them Mennonites moving from other countries. - Attempts at eviction have proven much more complicated than it first appeared, observers say. Settlers are allegedly ignoring court orders, and officials are confused about which people are breaking what laws. - Rabindre Parmessar, leader of the National Democratic Party in the National Assembly, said he plans to meet with the president’s task force to better understand the legal procedures of eviction and why the Mennonites haven’t been removed yet. - He will also take steps to create a parliamentary group to investigate the situation independently of the president’s task force, he said. | |
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Thailand braces for more rain as death toll from recent flooding hits 31 (October 5, 2026) https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/10/thailand-braces-for-more-rain-as-death-toll-from-recent-flooding-hits-31/ BANGKOK (AP) — Thai authorities on Monday warned of more rain and flash flooding as the death toll from floods across the country since mid-September rose to 31. Thunderstorms, strong winds and heavy rain are expected across much of upper Thailand from Monday through Wednesday, increasing the risk of flash flooding, particularly in low-lying areas, […] | |
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