Animal species
🐁 Scientists have created woolly mice on the path to mammoth's return
Scientists at the biotech company Colossal Biosciences have created genetically modified mice with thick, woolly fur as a step toward recreating woolly mammoths. The company plans to "de-extinct" the mammoth with the goal of birthing the first calf before the end of 2028.
🐅 India's tiger population is roaring back – doubled in twelve years
India has increased its tiger population from 1,706 to 3,682 tigers between 2010 and 2022. The country is now home to 75 percent of the world's wild tigers. Local communities benefit from ecotourism linked to the tigers.
🐳 Return of marine life in the North Sea
Thousands of grey seals are now born every year along Norfolk's beaches, with almost 4,000 pups during last year's record season. Humpback whales and minke whales are seen more frequently in the North Sea.
🐢 Sea turtles increase significantly in numbers
New studies show sea turtles are increasing in numbers at 28 locations worldwide. Only five sites show a decrease. On Sal Island off Africa, the number of loggerhead nests increased from 500 to 35,000 between 2008 and 2020.
🐠 Coral reefs show unexpectedly strong resilience to warming
Coral reefs continue to grow even under warmer conditions according to a new two-year experiment in Hawaii. The experiment shows that coral reefs can survive if global warming is limited to 2 degrees Celsius.
🐝 The number of bee colonies in the world is increasing significantly
Globally, the number of bee colonies has increased by 47 percent since 1990, from 69.2 million to 101.6 million colonies in 2021. There was initially a decrease during the 90s, but in the 2000s it has turned upward
🦌 Saiga antelope goes from endangered to thriving
The saiga antelope population in Kazakhstan has increased from 21,000 in 2003 to 1.3 million today. The species has been reclassified from "critically endangered" to "near threatened" on the international red list.
🐦 Endangered grasshopper sparrow on the road to recovery
The number of grasshopper sparrows in Florida has increased from 80 to 200 individuals in five years. The 1000th captive-bred sparrow was recently released into the wild. Over 15 percent of the released birds survive and reproduce successfully.
🌳 Chainsaw amnesty protects rainforest in Borneo by exchanging chainsaws for healthcare
279 loggers have turned in their chainsaws since 2017. The program has reduced deforestation by 70 percent over 10 years. The initiative combines environmental protection with improved access to healthcare for local communities.