難以研究的瀕危歐卡皮

㺢㹢狓(又稱歐卡皮鹿)是剛果民主共和國森林的特有種，但對這個獨特的物種了解仍然很少，因為派研究人員到森林中研究牠們並不安全。非法採礦、非法捕獵及砍伐森林是㺢㹢狓面臨的主要威脅。牠們會被捕捉取其脂肪、毛皮及肉作販賣及食用。㺢㹢狓野生動物保護區位於㺢㹢狓棲息的森林，即使有護林員巡邏，仍然有100多個非法金礦。

Okapi is endemic to the forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Not much is known about this unique species because it’s not safe to send researchers to study them in the forests. Illegal mining, poaching and deforestation are the main threats for okapi. They are being hunt for their oil, fur as well as meat. Okapi Wildlife Reserve is a protected area where okapi inhabit. Even with rangers’ patrol, there are still over a 100 illegal gold mines.

https://news.mongabay.com/2024/09/we-know-how-many-okapi-live-in-zoos-in-the-wild-its-complicated/

外表極似一直誤會為同種

A new species of fanged frog Limnonectes cassiopeia was published in the Philippine island of Luzon. This new species was mistakenly indentified as the juvenile of the Luzon Giant Fanged Frog Limnonectes macrocephalus. Herpetologist studies many specimens of these two species, their physical appearance are almost identical except their toe discs. The new smaller species has unpigmented white toe discs, while the larger one has dark grey pigmented toe discs. Males of the smaller species also develop their characteristic large head and fangs earlier in their growth compare to the larger species.

https://phys.org/news/2024-09-genetic-analysis-reveals-giant-fanged.html

因遊客照片發現新物種

在馬達加斯加，因遊客拍的照片，爬行學家發現了一種新的小變色龍𝘉𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘢 𝘯𝘰𝘧𝘺！爬行學家在網路上發現了這張在馬達加斯加沿海森林拍攝的照片；然後他們去調查並收集了該物種的第一個正式樣本。由於森林砍伐及人類活動，這些沿海雨林只剩下約 10%。這種新物種得以倖存的原因之一是因為一小片森林位於一間酒店經營的私人保護區內，該酒店的負責人在過去 20 年裡一直沒有對這片地區進行開發而得以保存。

A new tiny chameleon 𝘉𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘢 𝘯𝘰𝘧𝘺 was discovered in Madagascar thanks to photo taken by tourist! herpetologists found this photo taken in Madagascar’s coastal forests online; they then went over to investigate and collected the first official sample of this species. Only around 10% of these coastal rainforest remain there because of deforestation and human activity. one of the reasons this new species survive is because a small area of the forest located in a private reserve operated by a hotel, whose owners leave it untouched for the past 20 years.

https://interestingengineering.com/photo-story/madagascar-33-mm-tiny-chameleon-species-discovered

被拯救的白頭海鵰 

美國密蘇裡州有兩隻被拯救的白頭海鵰。其中一隻發現有飛行困難，經過檢查及照X光，獸醫沒有找到任何翅膀斷裂或其他外傷，但發現這隻白頭鵰吃了一隻浣熊，並因吃得太飽而無法飛翔。另一隻白頭海鵰的上喙幾乎被子彈劈成兩半、中了鉛毒及左翼受傷。經過3次手術後，目前仍在庇護所康復中。

In Missouri, US, two bald eagle were recused. One of them was reported having difficulty to fly. After examination and X-rays, veterinarians did not find any broken wings or other trauma, but found out the eagle had eaten a raccoon and was too full to fly. The other bald eagle’s upper beak was almost split in half by bullet, suffering from lead poisoning and with an injured left wing. It went through 3 surgeries and now still healing in a sanctuary.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/aug/28/bald-eagle-injured-raccoon

https://www.applevalleynewsnow.com/news/shareable-stories/bald-eagle-world-bird-sanctuary-missouri-gun-shot-beak/article_99a2c516-24b2-5bf2-8228-cc65ed566620.html#1

殺野生動物解決資源短缺

納米比亞發生嚴重乾旱，導致糧食及水短缺；當地政府計劃於國家公園殺 700 多隻野生動物，包括大象、河馬、斑馬、水牛等，以提供食糧給當地社區及節省水資源。暫時已有160隻動物被殺。

There is an extreme drought in Namibia and led to food and water shortage; their government is culling over 700 wild animal including elephants, hippos, zebras, buffalos, etc in their national park to feed local communities and save water. 160 animals were culled so far.

https://www.brusselstimes.com/1209540/namibia-culls-hundreds-of-wild-animals-to-feed-drought-hit-population