Animals

Dogs: more complicated than you ever imagined.

Ruff News: Man’s Best Friend May Have Been Domesticated Twice

Where did Fido come from? It’s complicated

New restrictions will make it harder to sell ivory from African elephants.

The U.S. Just Announced an Unprecedented Ban on African Ivory

Will tighter rules help reduce global demand?

Collector urchins can protect themselves from the sun by covering themselves with bits of algae, coral and other detritus.

Urchin Sunscreen and Other Ways Animals Beat the Burn

Species have come up with a variety of ways to protect themselves from the sun

A tiger held captive at Thailand's so-called "Tiger Temple" in 2011.

Thailand’s Controversial "Temple Tigers" Are Finally Free

Thai officials found nearly 140 captive tigers as well as 40 dead cubs kept in freezers at the self-proclaimed sanctuary

Enlightened Hawaiian chiefs as far back as the 14th century instituted what is called the moku-ahupua‘a system of management throughout the islands.

Finding Lessons on Culture and Conservation at the End of the Road in Kauai

In the remote, tropical paradise called Ha‘ena, the community is reasserting Native Hawaiian stewardship of the land and sea

Though necessary for collecting pollen, bumblebees' fuzz may also help detect electric fields.

Bumblebees Detect a Flower's Electric Buzz With Their Fuzz

Using the tiny hairs that cover their bodies, bees can tap into the weak electric field in the atmosphere

Dorset Horn sheep are one of eight heritage livestock breeds currently living at SVF. The gene bank currently contains 30 breeds.

For One Day Only, Visit the Farm and Cryogenics Laboratory Trying to Save Endangered Livestock Breeds

Enjoy a farm tour, cryogenics demonstration and a heritage-breed beef burger at Newport, Rhode Island's Swiss Village Farm

Does Snot Help Dolphins Echolocate?

The cetaceans can perform acoustic gymnastics, but how they produce ultrasonic noises has long eluded scientists

In meerkat society, social rank is determined by size. New research shows that meerkats engage in competitive eating to stay on top.

Welcome to the Meerkat's World of Competitive Eating

When vying for dominance, meerkats increase their food intake to bulk up and maintain their place on the social pecking order

Fake Blood and All, the Next-Gen Veggie Burger Is Set to Debut at Whole Foods

With creations of pea proteins and beet pulp, Beyond Meat hopes to mimic beef as closely as possible

Scarlet tanager

Where Red Birds Get Their Vibrant Hues

Two studies identify the same gene that makes red birds crimson—and perhaps helps them shed toxins, too

Duke Riley's pigeons taking off for a performance of "Fly BY Night."

A Giant Flock of Pigeons Is Lighting up New York’s Night Sky

The show is meant to illustrate that pigeons aren't rats with wings

Nile Crocodiles Have Moved to Florida

Three "unusual" crocodilians turned out to be more closely related to South African crocs than American ones

Rocky Mountain National Park, CO

The Best National Parks for Wildlife Spotting

Plan your national park visits around prime viewing hours

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, trainer Franck Canniet, far right, trains rangers for a confrontation with poachers.

The Fight Against Elephant Poachers Is Going Commando

In central Africa, a former Israeli military trainer and his team are deploying battle-tested tactics to stop the runaway slaughter of elephants

A mother and baby bison in the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge.

Baby Bison Euthanized After Tourists Try to "Save" It

Don't touch the wildlife

This brittle star, Sigsbeia oloughlini, was found the coast of Esperance, Western Australia.

Meet the Diverse and Bizarre “Stars” of the Deep Sea

As human activities encroach on remote oceans, scientists work to map the denizens of the deep

Leprosy Threatens U.K. Red Squirrel Populations

Researchers have launched a new study to try to save the furry rodents

A furled chameleon tail obviously takes its shape from the rolling of a tube, but its pattern is distinct from that created by rolling an even tube, such as that of a garden hose. The gentle taper of the tail produces a logarithmic spiral—one that gets smaller, yet the small parts look like the large parts.

The Science Behind Nature's Patterns

A new book explores the physical and chemical reasons behind incredible visual structures in the living and non-living world

Brawny American Lobsters Are Muscling in on Their European Cousins

Sweden wants to ban live American lobsters for fear they will out-claw their own

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