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CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
In 1836, a pangolin from Nepal entered a London museum collection. 190 years later, scientists sequenced its preserved DNA and confirmed Manis aurita as a distinct species, giving conservationists a new tool against poachingA nearly 190-year-old specimen has unveiled a new pangolin species in Nepal and India, marking a significant stride in the understanding of...- In the 1990s, a predatory flatworm was released in Samoa to control giant African snails; it later drove native island snails toward extinctionBiological control efforts introduced the New Guinea flatworm to Pacific islands. This predator began hunting native land snails, pushing t...
- Researchers studied 20 French solar farms; beneath the panels, pollinators fell 76%, and plant-pollinator interactions plunged 86%Recent studies indicate that shading from solar panels significantly impacts pollinator numbers and interactions with plants. Notably, bee ...
- In 1998, over 1,000 truckloads of orange peels were dumped in a barren Costa Rica pasture, 15 years later it turned into a dense forestIn a groundbreaking initiative in Costa Rica, researchers turned orange waste into a remarkable tool for land restoration. This organic byp...
- In 1986, a biologist with a severe stutter persuaded Belize to create the world's first jaguar preserve, then he envisioned a 5,000-mile wildlife corridorAlan Rabinowitz transformed his struggle with a severe stutter into a powerful voice for conservation. Inspired by his childhood bond with ...
- A Massachusetts turtle vanished for 10 years after its 2011 release, then returned as an adult to the same wild habitat; 15 years later, two of its captive-raised offspring were released there to continue the storyA Blanding’s turtle vanished into the wild for more than a decade. Ivy was released in Massachusetts in 2011 after being raised at Stone Zo...
- Jeju's Haenyeo women have spent generations diving without oxygen tanks; a 2025 study found their hearts slow dramatically underwater, likely shaped by years of trainingThe Haenyeo women of South Korea are renowned for their remarkable ability to dive deep without any oxygen tanks, gathering valuable resour...
- For generations, Yao hunters in Mozambique have followed a wild bird called the greater honeyguide through the forest to find hidden bee nests; experiments now confirm the bird knows exactly what it is doingIn the heart of Mozambique, Yao hunters have cultivated a remarkable alliance with honeyguide birds, tapping into their natural instincts f...
- In 1965, a mountaineer climbed 6,000 feet and found a seabird's last two colonies; he spent the next 50 years keeping it from extinctionA New Zealand salesman made a notable discovery in 1965 by locating nesting sites for the Hutton's shearwater, a unique alpine seabird. Sad...
- How a mosquitofish brought in to kill mosquito larvae became major freshwater ecosystem problemA fish introduced to Hawaii over a century ago now threatens native freshwater wildlife. The mosquitofish, brought to control mosquitoes, n...
- In 2024, managers deliberately cooled the Colorado River to protect the Grand Canyon from invasive smallmouth bass. 2 years later, no bass recruitment had been detected, but the effort cost $19.1 million in replacement powerManagers at Glen Canyon Dam used an unusual strategy to protect native Colorado River fish from invasive smallmouth bass: they deliberately...
- In 1976, a Pulitzer-winning poet moved from New York to Maui; he helped turn 19 degraded acres into a rare palm forestPoet W.S. Merwin dedicated over forty years to transforming degraded land in Maui into a thriving palm forest alongside his wife Paula. Tog...
- In 1955, Hawaiʻi released a predatory snail to control giant African snails; it climbed into native forests and helped wipe out rare tree snailsIn Hawaii, the introduction of the rosy wolfsnail was intended to combat a pest, but it drastically backfired. Instead of targeting its int...
- Since 2016, Alabama has recovered more than 22.6 million discarded oyster shells; the restaurant waste is being returned to coastal waters to help build reefsIn Alabama, restaurants are making waves by recycling oyster shells to bolster crucial reef restoration efforts. These once-discarded shell...
- The hidden owl war: An invasive owl is conquering ancient forests, putting the threatened northern spotted owl at even greater riskInvasive barred owls are occupying ancient forests vital for northern spotted owls. These aggressive competitors concentrate in the exact h...
- In 1924, a couple travelled miles by boat to study Alaska's wildlife on their honeymoon. 18 years later, they reshaped 8.9 million Arctic acres for ecological conservationOlaus and Mardy Murie dedicated their lives to protecting America's wild landscapes. Their research and advocacy significantly influenced c...
- In 1884, Louisiana displayed South American water hyacinth for its lavender flowers; within decades, floating mats covered 126,000 Florida acres and blocked waterwaysOriginating in 1884, water hyacinth transformed into a significant nuisance for Florida by the 1950s. This aggressive floating plant overto...
- In the early 1970s, Maui planted miconia for its spectacular purple leaves; its descendants spread across East Maui and threatened native forest watershedsIntroduced to Maui in the 1970s, Miconia calvescens, known as the velvet tree, has emerged as a significant invasive species. Its swift spr...
- In 2001, a scientist began rebuilding a rainforest on about 5,000 acres of burned Borneo grassland; the restored habitat became a refuge for orangutansA Dutch researcher regrew a rainforest on 5,000 acres of scorched land in Borneo. Willie Smits began restoring degraded land near Samboja i...
- The tamarin on Brazil’s R$20 note once had only around 200 left in the wild; Smithsonian zoologist Devra Kleiman helped build the breeding program behind its recoveryOnce on the brink of extinction, the golden lion tamarin saw its population dwindle to a mere 200 individuals. Thanks to Devra Kleiman's pi...
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