August's nature news roundup
- Rhiannon Irving
- Sep 1
- 5 min read
Read about the floating DNA being used to survey species, a world-famous rhino conservationist accused of horn smuggling and the zoo asking for unwanted pets to feed their predators.
Every month, I aim to collect and summarise nature news articles found in the nature sections of various online news sites. Take a look at the linked headlines to find out more :)
Here are seven interesting nature news posts from the month of August!
4th August
A proposal aiming to develop a research centre and rewilded wetlands, and accompanying visitor facilities, has been approved by Sandown council in the Isle of Wight. The aim of the project is to rewild a 345 acre site, and manage that using megaherbivores such as elk, a species that went extinct in the UK around 2000-3000 years. The Wildheart Sanctuary, a conservation charity which also runs a wildlife sanctuary on the island, proposes a state-of-the-art research centre named the International School of Rewilding, with lecture theatres, workshop spaces, laboratories and student accommodation. The project joins a growing list of similar schemes throughout the UK aiming to rewild areas using once-present mammals.
Interested in rewilding? Read my post about Knepp Estate
4th August
A zoo in Denmark has put out an appeal for healthy, unwanted pets, including chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs and horses, in order to euthanise and then feed them to the zoo's predators. The zoo aims to replicate a more natural diet in terms of providing meat with fur and bones. The initial post on Instagram has garnered huge interest, with the zoo having to suspend comments due to public outrage. However, it is a quietly accepted practise in many European zoos, says the deputy director of the zoo, Pia Nielson, who also argues that "makes sense to allow animals that need to be euthanised for various reasons to be of use in this way".
8th August
The UK's first national biodiversity survey has been completed using environmental DNA (eDNA) found in samples from existing air pollution monitors across the UK. DEFRA operates around 300 monitoring stations across the UK to record different aspects of air pollution, and researchers used samples from these to detect the species present in different areas. eDNA is formed when organisms naturally lose things like dead skin cells, saliva, excrement or parts of hair or feathers, which becomes airborne and is collected by these filters. The researchers found DNA from 1100 plants and animal species, including species who are of special interest such as hedgehogs and skylarks which are of conservation concern, invasive species which require monitoring, and even the pathogen that causes ash dieback disease.
20th August
John Hume, a conservationist and the world's biggest rhino farmer has been arrested and charged with smuggling £10 million worth of rhino horn. Hume bred approximately 2000 white rhinos at a private site in Johannesburg, and regularly dehorned them to prevent poaching of his herd. In the past Hume had campaigned for the international trade of rhino horn to become legalised, arguing that it could help to stop poaching and is sustainable since rhinos regrow their horns, but he was unsuccessful. He and five others have now been linked to a criminal scheme which involved almost 1000 rhino horns destined for illegal trade to South East Asia where it is primarily used in traditional Chinese medicine.
21st August
The IUCN have officially recognised four distinct species of giraffe after previously being classified as one species with nine subspecies. The four species are the Northern giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis, Reticulated giraffe Giraffe reticulata, Masai giraffe Giraffa tippelskirchi and Southern giraffe Giraffa giraffa. The scientists thoroughly examined biological data such as skull and bone morphology and DNA, and geographical factors such as natural barriers like rivers and valleys that may have isolated populations. It is a vital step in the conservation of the Giraffe, since some (of the previously identified) subspecies show increasing populations whilst others have decreased dramatically. Classifying the animal into four distinct species enables conservationists to assess threats and population trends more efficiently.
27th August
A new study has found that increases in the acidity of the ocean damages sharks' teeth, a worrying finding that could dramatically alter marine ecosystems. The study used 60 naturally discarded teeth from Blacktip Reef Sharks in a German aquarium, placing half in a seawater tank with the current ocean pH of 8.1 and half in a tank with a pH of 7.3 (the projected pH by the year 2300 if carbon dioxide levels continue to increase). After only 8 weeks, the teeth in the more acidic tank (pH 7.3) had double the amount of damage than the teeth in the other tank, reported as corrosion at the tooth root and changes to the serration of the teeth. Whilst sharks naturally lose and replace teeth, the damage could be faster than the speed of replacement, leading to them struggling to feed.
28th August
Two 13-year old girls who have been ambitiously breeding harvest mice for the last 2 years, have managed to release 250 of them into a nature reserve in Devon. Eva Wishart and Emily Smith wanted to take action to help the mice, a species threatened in England due to changes in agriculture and habitat loss. The mice were bred in the two friends' garages, and given honeysuckle and hazel plants harvested from their own gardens. The girls crowdfunded £4000 from the public, endorsed by Chris Packham who also came along for the release into purpose built soft-release enclosures. The mice will be surveyed to estimate population and find out if they have continued to breed, a fantastic contribution into numerous projects across the UK to save the harvest mouse. Eva Wishart with her determined love of nature, now wishes to do the same for common lizards.
Stay tuned until the end of the month when the September roundup will arrive!
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