June's nature news roundup
- Rhiannon Irving
- Jun 30
- 5 min read
Updated: Jul 1
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 June!
5th June
A new study based in South Africa, has shown that dehorning rhinos is the best protection against poaching, reducing it by 78%. They found that the current anti-poaching methods, such as tracking, helicopters, rangers and cameras, had no significant impact on reducing poaching, despite these methods costing millions of pounds. The study was a collaboration between the government, scientists and conservationists from a number of universities across the world and they were able to reduce poaching by 78% using only 1.2% of the existing budget of anti-poaching methods. However, scientists cautioned that some horn remains after dehorning, so it may not stop poaching entirely over time, and the removal of the horn could affect the rhinos behaviour and ability to survive and mate. The scientists raised that the underlying causes of poaching must be addressed urgently, but that this method can help to increase the rhinos population.
5th June
Space4nature is a new initiative from Surrey Wildlife Trust, using satellites and AI systems to identify areas in detail to provide a comprehensive map of different habitats across Surrey. The satellites are high resolution, and combined with AI, can assess whether areas are, for example, farmland, wild meadows or urban areas. Using AI, the system can then locate similar areas nearby, with the hope that the county can connect these to make wildlife corridors. Local volunteers are being asked to survey the local environments to help provide more detail than ever before. This continues on from the work of Buglife and their B-lines in creating their pollinator corridors across the UK.
17th June
The populations of several species of endangered marine life may start to increase following the warming of the oceans around the UK. A new study modelled the response to climate change of 19 species, including corals, sharks, rays and shellfish, that are vulnerable to extinction in the UK. The study projected sea temperatures, levels of salt and sediment up until 2060, and then compared this to the preferred habitats of the species. Basking sharks, spurdog sharks, thornback rays and native oysters were the four species expected to see the biggest increase in their populations. However, some species such as the sea pen and sea fan were predicted to struggle to cope with increased ocean warming, exposing the importance of urgent, further study. The results aren't a foregone conclusion however, and the species that are predicted to thrive must still be protected from threats such as overfishing and pollution. The study will inform future conservation efforts and help to ensure the future of the UK's marine ecosystems.
20th June
A symbol of conservation in India, Bengal tiger 'Arrowhead' of Ranthambore has died aged 11. Across her life she inherited prime territory from her mother in the Ranthambore National Park in India, raising 10 cubs across 4 litters, a treasured contribution to her species which are Endangered and decreasing. Only a few days before she died of bone cancer, she was seen hunting and killing a crocodile, an unusual prey choice that she, and her grandmother, were renowned for. Her final moments were documented by award winning photographer Sachin Rai, who had followed and photographed her journey from a cub. Rai joined National Tiger Conservation Authority officials, conservationists, wardens and other photographers to cremate her body, with the national park Instagram account saying "she was a symbol of grace, strength and motherly spirit".
23rd June
Using drones, researchers have filmed orcas biting off pieces of kelp and then placing it onto the backs of other whales, in what they describe as a 'kelp massage'. The new study is significant in providing evidence of tool use in marine mammals where the purpose is not primarily for foraging. They found evidence that whales with peeling skin engaged in this behaviour more often, leading the scientists to believe the kelp is used for hygiene reasons, in the same way primates groom each other. The phenomenon is known as allogrooming in primates, and as well as removing parasites, it is an important way of fostering social relationships. Researchers believe that this 'allokelping' may also be used for maintaining social relationships in the killer whales which are also a highly social species. The study of the population of these killer whales in Vancouver was started over 50 years ago, and adds to a growing body of knowledge about the unique culture of the species.
25th June
Nairobi national park is surrounded on three sides by the capital city, with only one boundary unfenced. Within this gap is a Maasai community, trying to coexist with lions in the only corridor available for animals to connect to other areas and populations. The lack of migration, and the subsequent shrinking of the gene pool, means the park no longer has enough prey animals to sustain the lions, which then target the cattle. According to a study in 2021, wildebeests migrating from the park to the surrounding plains has reduced from 30,000 animals in 1978 to less than 1000 today. The Maasai community therefore face a painstaking choice in ensuring they can protect their cattle with suitable lion-proof fencing, but also leave wildlife corridors open so that lions can access suitable prey. Many farmers in the area fence only small parts of their land to ensure they are making space for the lions to pass, but this puts their own cattle at risk. The state department have begun providing payments to local farmers as an incentive to continue to keep the corridors of land open.
26th June
Researchers at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew and Queen Mary University of London, have discovered a wild population of young ash trees that are more resistant than older trees to the fungus that causes ash dieback disease. The invasive fungus, which originated in Asia, was feared to wipe out up to 85% of Britain's ash trees, in the same way that elm tree populations have been decimated by Dutch elm disease. However, the study suggests that natural selection is driving changes in the tree's genes to increase resistance. Scientists compared the genomes (the total genetic material in an organism) of ash trees established before the fungus arrived, and those growing after, and found changes in thousands of genes associated with tree health. These trees can be used as part of breeding programmes to bolster resistant populations and provide hope in the ability of this iconic British species to recover from disease.
Stay tuned until the end of the month where the July roundup will arrive! (How has the year gone this quickly?!)
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