https://www.smithsonianmag.com/rss/tag/conservation/RSS feed for ConservationenFri, 15 May 2026 15:07:38 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/new-rare-dove-hatchlings-are-a-source-of-hope-for-the-extinct-in-the-wild-birds-and-a-step-forward-in-the-ambitious-project-to-save-them-180988730/The Socorro dove has not been recorded in the wild since 1972, but that could change within only a few years, conservationists say, thanks to a long-term reintroduction effortFri, 15 May 2026 15:07:38 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/new-rare-dove-hatchlings-are-a-source-of-hope-for-the-extinct-in-the-wild-birds-and-a-step-forward-in-the-ambitious-project-to-save-them-180988730/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/how-seabird-sue-blends-art-and-science-to-attract-birds-back-to-lost-habitat-180988724/For the past decade, Sue Schubel has been making detailed decoys of terns, puffins and other seabirds to entice real ones to restored or new homesWed, 13 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/how-seabird-sue-blends-art-and-science-to-attract-birds-back-to-lost-habitat-180988724/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/the-bison-is-americas-national-mammal-heres-how-indigenous-tribes-and-conservationists-aided-its-return-to-the-prairie-lands-after-near-extinction-180988683/The past, present and future of the giant bovine are front and center in a new exhibition as the country approaches its 250th birthdayWed, 06 May 2026 15:02:30 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/the-bison-is-americas-national-mammal-heres-how-indigenous-tribes-and-conservationists-aided-its-return-to-the-prairie-lands-after-near-extinction-180988683/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/could-underwater-autonomous-robots-save-coral-reefs-180988626/Reef restoration is a slow process, with divers planting coral fragments one at a time by hand. But roboticists are now developing automated planters that could change the gameThu, 30 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/could-underwater-autonomous-robots-save-coral-reefs-180988626/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/these-buildings-and-bridges-are-the-most-endangered-in-england-and-wales-and-they-tell-us-a-lot-about-life-in-the-victorian-era-180988642/Structures remaining from the height of the British Empire reveal changing economic, medical and education trends from the 1800s and early 1900s. But their legacy is at risk as they fall into disrepairWed, 29 Apr 2026 19:41:34 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/these-buildings-and-bridges-are-the-most-endangered-in-england-and-wales-and-they-tell-us-a-lot-about-life-in-the-victorian-era-180988642/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/watch-the-first-known-video-of-a-sumatran-orangutan-crossing-a-human-made-wildlife-bridge-in-the-treetops-180988637/A public road in Indonesia separates forests housing about 350 wild orangutans, among other animals. So, conservationists built several canopy bridges to prevent habitat fragmentationWed, 29 Apr 2026 14:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/watch-the-first-known-video-of-a-sumatran-orangutan-crossing-a-human-made-wildlife-bridge-in-the-treetops-180988637/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/the-planet-needs-prosperous-forests-these-scientists-are-planting-more-than-33000-trees-to-find-the-perfect-species-blends-180988618/Forests provide myriad benefits, including timber, wildlife attraction, local cooling and climate resilience. At the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, ecologists are testing which tree combinations might create flourishing woodlandsFri, 24 Apr 2026 18:43:50 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/the-planet-needs-prosperous-forests-these-scientists-are-planting-more-than-33000-trees-to-find-the-perfect-species-blends-180988618/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/butterflies-are-in-dramatic-decline-across-north-america-a-close-look-at-the-western-monarch-shows-why-180988582/Pesticides, habitat loss and climate change have taken their toll on the beloved insects. But the experts working with them still find hope for their futureFri, 24 Apr 2026 15:42:27 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/butterflies-are-in-dramatic-decline-across-north-america-a-close-look-at-the-western-monarch-shows-why-180988582/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/gibraltars-famous-monkeys-are-eating-dirt-likely-to-alleviate-stomach-aches-from-munching-on-tourists-junk-food-180988606/The British territory's Barbary macaques are the only wild monkeys in Europe. But many are consuming human snacks high in calories, sugar, salt and dairy, and low in fiberThu, 23 Apr 2026 19:51:11 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/gibraltars-famous-monkeys-are-eating-dirt-likely-to-alleviate-stomach-aches-from-munching-on-tourists-junk-food-180988606/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-rare-cloud-jaguar-was-spotted-in-honduran-mountains-for-the-first-time-in-a-decade-representing-a-win-for-conservationists-180988595/The big cats are rarely seen at high elevations, so the sighting suggests that efforts to protect a wildlife corridor in the region are workingThu, 23 Apr 2026 15:37:16 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-rare-cloud-jaguar-was-spotted-in-honduran-mountains-for-the-first-time-in-a-decade-representing-a-win-for-conservationists-180988595/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/camera-traps-reveal-iberian-lynxes-soaking-their-prey-a-first-ever-discovery-among-carnivores-180988591/Scientists speculate that the wild cats are trying to improve hydration or ease their cubs’ transition to solid food. The finding points to resilience in one of the world’s most endangered felinesThu, 23 Apr 2026 13:00:38 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/camera-traps-reveal-iberian-lynxes-soaking-their-prey-a-first-ever-discovery-among-carnivores-180988591/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-bountiful-berry-harvest-put-these-chunky-endangered-parrots-in-the-mood-now-scientists-are-celebrating-a-breeding-bonanza-180988510/New Zealand's kakapo have laid 256 eggs, and around 100 of them have hatched, providing a bright spot in a decades-long conservation effort. The official chick count won't be confirmed until the youngest birds are about 5 months oldFri, 17 Apr 2026 14:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-bountiful-berry-harvest-put-these-chunky-endangered-parrots-in-the-mood-now-scientists-are-celebrating-a-breeding-bonanza-180988510/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/see-the-most-adorable-photos-of-baby-elephant-linh-mai-the-national-zoos-newest-star-180988532/Since her birth in early February, the calf has been growing and beginning to bond with her care team and herd. She will go on view in-person and online starting April 22Wed, 15 Apr 2026 17:12:31 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/see-the-most-adorable-photos-of-baby-elephant-linh-mai-the-national-zoos-newest-star-180988532/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/rare-1897-film-discovered-in-an-old-trunk-in-michigan-features-the-first-on-screen-appearance-of-robot-180988547/Filmmaker Georges Méliès employed some of his signature special effects techniques to create comedy in "Gugusse and the Automaton"Wed, 15 Apr 2026 13:16:42 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/rare-1897-film-discovered-in-an-old-trunk-in-michigan-features-the-first-on-screen-appearance-of-robot-180988547/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/one-of-the-american-wests-most-iconic-birds-is-attempting-to-mate-near-a-dangerous-airport-could-robo-birds-help-save-them-180988542/Conservationists are deploying dancing animatronic birds to lure male greater sage grouse away from the Jackson Hole Airport, where dozens of the creatures have been struck and killed by planesTue, 14 Apr 2026 16:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/one-of-the-american-wests-most-iconic-birds-is-attempting-to-mate-near-a-dangerous-airport-could-robo-birds-help-save-them-180988542/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/watch-these-rock-climbing-fish-scale-a-50-foot-waterfall-in-the-congo-basin-the-first-known-evidence-of-this-behavior-in-africa-180988502/The tiny fish, called shellears, use microscopic hook-like growths on their fins to ascend—and they take a lot of breaks. The full climb probably takes about ten hours, according to a new studyThu, 09 Apr 2026 15:02:25 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/watch-these-rock-climbing-fish-scale-a-50-foot-waterfall-in-the-congo-basin-the-first-known-evidence-of-this-behavior-in-africa-180988502/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/a-photographers-glimpse-into-the-dwindling-world-of-the-cascade-red-fox-180988516/Gretchen Kay Stuart has chronicled the work of a small team of biologists who are trying to keep a little known and breathtakingly beautiful endangered species from disappearingThu, 09 Apr 2026 10:15:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/a-photographers-glimpse-into-the-dwindling-world-of-the-cascade-red-fox-180988516/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/freshwater-fish-migrations-are-disappearing-across-the-planet-finds-un-report-180988509/The assessment identified over 300 species of fish that urgently need international conservation effortWed, 08 Apr 2026 17:38:30 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/freshwater-fish-migrations-are-disappearing-across-the-planet-finds-un-report-180988509/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/purple-martins-rely-on-human-landlords-to-provide-nest-boxes-each-spring-can-that-dynamic-last-180988478/The large swallows have nested alongside human settlements for centuries. Now, the birds' breeding success depends on caretakers who are beginning to age out of the roleFri, 03 Apr 2026 12:33:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/purple-martins-rely-on-human-landlords-to-provide-nest-boxes-each-spring-can-that-dynamic-last-180988478/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/fish-traps-have-been-banned-on-the-columbia-river-for-nearly-a-century-could-bringing-them-back-help-save-salmon-180988439/A new experiment is testing the commercial success of fish traps in Washington and Oregon. Even as some conservationists embrace the technique, its return has reopened old wounds among local fishersFri, 27 Mar 2026 11:30:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/fish-traps-have-been-banned-on-the-columbia-river-for-nearly-a-century-could-bringing-them-back-help-save-salmon-180988439/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-critically-endangered-birds-song-was-about-to-disappear-then-scientists-recruited-some-wild-vocal-tutors-180988415/Wild-born male regent honeyeaters passed their cultural knowledge to young captive-born birdsTue, 24 Mar 2026 18:51:59 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-critically-endangered-birds-song-was-about-to-disappear-then-scientists-recruited-some-wild-vocal-tutors-180988415/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/european-hedgehogs-hearing-might-be-attuned-to-ultrasonic-sounds-the-discovery-could-help-scientists-save-the-declining-species-180988383/Sound-based deterrents could help keep the animals away from fast-moving cars and dangerous landscaping equipmentFri, 20 Mar 2026 14:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/european-hedgehogs-hearing-might-be-attuned-to-ultrasonic-sounds-the-discovery-could-help-scientists-save-the-declining-species-180988383/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/frank-lloyd-wrights-vision-for-the-martin-house-included-everything-inside-it-see-how-experts-recovered-furniture-artworks-and-decorative-glass-180988358/A new exhibition at the home in Buffalo spotlights curators' decades-long efforts to track down the original furnishings and other items, some of which the architect had designed himselfWed, 18 Mar 2026 17:51:07 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/frank-lloyd-wrights-vision-for-the-martin-house-included-everything-inside-it-see-how-experts-recovered-furniture-artworks-and-decorative-glass-180988358/