A tiger handler at Growler Pines Tiger Preserve in Oklahoma was fatally attacked by a tiger he cared for. The preserve mourned the loss of Ryan Easley, describing him as a passionate advocate for wildlife conservation who was deeply connected to the animals. Following the incident, the preserve has canceled tours and animal encounters. PETA has released a statement, reiterating the dangers of direct interaction with apex predators and calling for the animals to be moved to accredited sanctuaries.
Read More
A young female brown bear wandered into the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius, prompting a national response. The government issued a permit to kill the bear, a decision met with strong opposition from Lithuanian hunters. Hunters, citing the bear’s non-aggressive behavior and the species’ critically low numbers in Lithuania (estimated at 5-10), refused the order. Instead, they proposed sedation and relocation, a more humane alternative. The bear subsequently left the city and was later filmed safely foraging in a forest.
Read More
Zimbabwe’s Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) will cull 50 elephants in Save Valley Conservancy to address overpopulation, exceeding the sustainable limit threefold. Meat will be distributed to local communities, while ivory remains state property. This cull follows previous efforts including relocation and GPS tracking of elephants to mitigate human-wildlife conflict, though these methods proved insufficient. While some conservationists express concern, some communities support the cull for food security and safety reasons amidst human-elephant conflict exacerbated by drought.
Read More
Yellowstone National Park euthanized an 11-year-old, 400-pound grizzly bear after repeated incidents of it accessing human food and trash in developed areas like Old Faithful and Midway Geyser Basin. The bear demonstrated a sophisticated ability to overcome bear-resistant dumpsters and trash cans, posing a significant safety risk to visitors. This action, deemed necessary for public safety, prevents habituation to human food in other bears. The last such euthanasia in Yellowstone occurred in 2017.
Read More
Recent attacks by Islamic State-linked extremists in Mozambique’s Niassa Reserve, one of Africa’s largest protected areas, have resulted in at least ten deaths and the displacement of 2,000 people. These attacks, which include the beheading of civilians, have forced the suspension of all conservation work, jeopardizing decades of efforts to protect lions, elephants, and other key species. Nine conservation and safari camps have been abandoned or destroyed, severely impacting tourism and conservation funding. The resulting insecurity threatens the reserve’s status as a vital wildlife refuge and its potential designation as a World Heritage site.
Read More
Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, inspired by Colossal Biosciences’ successful creation of dire wolf puppies through genetic engineering, is reconsidering the Endangered Species Act’s list. He envisions “de-extinction” technology as a tool to remove species from the list, ultimately aiming to eliminate the need for it entirely. Burgum views this innovative approach as crucial for advancing wildlife conservation and strengthening biodiversity. This technology’s potential to revive extinct animals like the Dodo and Tasmanian tiger offers a new frontier in species preservation.
Read More
Kazakhstan’s ambitious wildlife conservation program is successfully reintroducing extinct or critically endangered species. Hungary’s contribution of 150 Przewalski’s horses bolsters this effort, with the first seven already released. Simultaneously, the reintroduction of the Turanian tiger is underway, supported by habitat restoration and the arrival of tigers from the Netherlands and expected from Russia. Furthermore, snow leopard numbers have doubled since the 1990s, thanks to expanded protected areas and advanced monitoring techniques.
Read More
John Q. Hosedrinker