animal news blog

植物大搬遷

October 16, 2026

英國邱園（Kew Gardens）正準備對其擁有近 180 年歷史的「棕櫚室」（Palm House）進行重大翻修。包含稀有物種及野外滅絕物種在內的 1,000 多種熱帶植物，正陸續遷移至臨時溫室。由於部分物種無法直接搬遷，科學家正透過採集種子和插枝，在苗圃中培育幼苗。

Kew Gardens is preparing for a major renovation of its nearly 180-year-old Palm House. More than 1,000 tropical plant species, including rare and extinct-in-the-wild plants, are being relocated to temporary glasshouses. Because some species cannot be physically moved, scientists are collecting seeds and cuttings to propagate new plants in the nursery.

https://www.kew.org/kew-gardens/palm-house-renovation

獵人轉拍攝換取報酬

October 13, 2026

印尼的一項保育計畫，讓獵人轉而參與保育工作，透過拍攝野生動物照片或錄製聲音來換取報酬。當村民記錄到瀕危的紅毛猩猩等較稀有的物種時，可以獲得較高的報酬；而記錄常見物種的報酬則相對較低。這項計畫展現了野生動物「活著比死去更有價值」的理念，不僅能幫助當地居民增加收入，也讓研究人員得以蒐集重要的生態數據。部分村莊甚至已開始在社區內推行禁獵規定。

A conservation project in Indonesia is transforming hunters into wildlife stewards by paying villagers for photographs or sound recordings of wild animals. Villagers earn higher rewards for documenting rarer species, such as the endangered orangutan, and lower rewards for recording more common species. The project demonstrates that wildlife is worth more alive than dead, helping local communities increase their income while enabling researchers to collect valuable ecological data. Some villages have even begun implementing community-wide hunting bans.

https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/indonesia-cash-for-photos-scheme-turns-animal-hunters-into-protectors

飢餓影響工作表現

September 24, 2026

一項研究發現搜索犬在飢餓時容易出錯。研究人員對六隻搜索犬進行了測試，分別在牠們有吃早餐和沒吃早餐的情況下進行。結果顯示，牠們在接近90%的情況下都能找到目標氣味，但在飢餓狀態下，牠們對錯誤氣味的誤報率更高。研究人員認為，飢餓的搜索犬過於渴望獲得食物獎勵，導致牠們更容易接受近似匹配的氣味，而不是只識別正確的氣味。

A study found that detection dogs make more mistakes when they are hungry. Six trained dogs were tested both with and without breakfast. They were able to find targeted scents close to 90% of the time, but they made more false alarms on wrong scents when hungry. Researchers believe the dogs were too eager to earn food rewards, which led them to accept close matches instead of only the correct scents.

https://www.earth.com/animals/hungry-dogs-are-more-likely-to-sniff-out-the-wrong-scent/

切斷部分電源減威脅

September 20, 2026

在肯亞尼耶奎里森林（Nyekweri Forest）附近生活的大穿山甲數量已不足 30 隻。自 2022 年以來，當地電網已造成 14 隻穿山甲死亡。這些電網是當地居民為了保護農作物和家畜，免受大象及獅子等野生動物侵害而設置的。保育團隊正與當地居民合作，切斷總長達 134 公里電網最底層電線的電力，讓穿山甲能夠安全地從下方穿越，降低其遭受電擊的風險。

In Kenya, fewer than 30 giant ground pangolins remain near Nyekweri Forest, and electrified fences have killed 14 of them since 2022. These fences were built by local communities to protect crops and livestock from wildlife such as elephants and lions. Conservation groups are working with local landowners to switch off the electricity running through the lowest wires along 134 km of fencing, allowing pangolins to pass safely underneath and reducing the risk of electrocution.

https://news.mongabay.com/2026/09/electric-fences-that-kill-and-the-maasai-trying-to-save-kenyas-last-giant-pangolins/

除外來鹿保護生態系統

September 10, 2026

為了保護當地生態系統，美國加州聖卡塔利娜島上的 2,000 隻外來騾鹿將被清除。這些鹿約於一個世紀前被獵人引入島上，以供狩獵活動之用。環保組織之所以推動這項撲殺行動，是因為這些鹿過度啃食原生植物，導致植物難以再生；同時，牠們也助長了易燃入侵性草種的蔓延，增加了山火發生的風險。

In California, 2,000 non-native mule deer on Santa Catalina Island will be removed to protect the local ecosystem. These deer were introduced to the island by hunters about a century ago for sport hunting. Conservation organizations are carrying out the cull because the deer have overgrazed native plants, making it difficult for them to regenerate. Their grazing has also facilitated the spread of highly flammable invasive grasses, increasing the risk of wildfires.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/03/catalina-island-deer-california