animal news blog

澳洲賽馬死亡率創新高

November 7, 2025

澳洲於過去12個月至少有174匹賽馬因比賽或訓練受傷而死亡，這是近十年來最高的死亡數量。其中至少98匹死於腿部受傷，12匹死於心臟病發作，28匹死於不明傷情，另有10匹的死因並沒公開。

In Australia, at least 174 racehorse died from racing or training injuries in the past 12 months, which is the highest in the past ten years. At least 98 died due to leg injuries, 12 from heart attacks, 28 from unspecified injuries, and 10 were listed as having died for undisclosed reasons

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/oct/28/racehorse-deaths-australia-racing-training-injuries
https://www.insidehook.com/sports/report-reveals-grim-picture-australian-horse-racing

湄公河沿岸大量非法採礦

November 4, 2025

自2022年起，至少有27個新的礦場在湄公河支流沿岸地區開採，其中大部分位於保護區及重要流域。這些非法採礦活動通常由中國投資者資助，他們繞過中央政府，僅透過地方官員的許可進行開採。這些開採活動造成了各種環境破壞，包括森林砍伐、有毒水污染及化學物質外洩等。許多野生動物，例如極度瀕危的白頰長臂猿、瀕危的亞洲象以及多種魚類，都面臨威脅。

At least 27 new mines have opened since 2022 across rivers that flow into the Mekong Rivers, majority of them located in protected areas and critical river basins. These illegal minings are often funded by Chinese investors that secure permissions from local officials but bypassing central government authority. These explorations is causing environmental impacts including deforestation, toxic water pollution and chemical spills. Numerous wildlife species — such as the critically endangered northern white-cheeked gibbon, the endangered Asian elephant, and various fish species — are now under threat.

https://news.mongabay.com/2025/10/rare-earth-mining-expands-into-laos-threatening-entire-mekong-river/

絕種鸚鵡爆發傳染病

November 3, 2025

斯皮克斯金剛鸚鵡於2000年被宣佈在野外滅絕，並於2022年開始野放計畫。近月繁殖中心的七隻金剛鸚鵡（其中包括一隻在野外出生的幼鳥）被檢測出感染圓環病毒。圓環病毒會引發鸚鵡喙與羽毛疾病，是一種高度傳染且可能致命的病毒，目前尚無有效療法。研究人員正在採集其他野生鳥類的樣本，以確定病毒是否已於野外傳播。

The reintroduction program for the Spix’s macaw, a species declared extinct in the wild in 2000, began in 2022. However, seven macaws at the breeding center including one chick born in the wild were tested positive for circovirus. Circovirus causes beak and feather disease; it is highly contagious and potentially lethal, with no known cure. Researchers are currently collecting samples from other wild birds to determine whether the virus has spread.

https://news.mongabay.com/2025/10/virus-outbreak-deepens-rift-over-return-of-spixs-macaw-to-brazil/

樹熊披衣菌疫苗首次獲批

September 18, 2025

一種用於治療樹熊披衣菌感染的疫苗首次獲批准！幾十年來，部分樹熊種群一直受到披衣菌感染的威脅；披衣菌相信是由牲畜帶到樹熊的，而樹熊會透過交配或密切接觸互相傳染，例如幼樹熊於母親育兒袋內餵食。在一些樹熊群落，感染率可高達 70%。然而，提供這種新疫苗的成本高，研究團隊希望獲得資金，製作疫苗分發給野生動物醫院及野外的樹熊。

A vaccine to treat chlamydia in koalas has been approved! Koala populations have been threatened by chlamydia for decades. It is believed that the disease was introduced by livestock and can be transmitted through mating or close contact—such as joeys feeding in their mother’s pouch. In some colonies, the infection rate can be as high as 70%. However, providing this new vaccine is costly, and the research team hopes to secure funding to distribute it to wildlife hospitals and to koalas in the wild.

https://apnews.com/article/australia-koala-chlamydia-vaccine-endangered-8fd0b6bf87ebe1e65c27b5f910a20ff1

砍林導致雨林乾旱缺雨

September 14, 2025

研究指出，亞馬遜地區的森林砍伐是降雨量減少的主要原因，並進一步導致乾旱風險上升及氣溫升高。亞馬遜的樹木會將土壤中的水分輸送至空氣中，並透過蒸騰作用為雨林帶來雨水，貢獻了該地區逾 40% 的降雨量。

Deforestation in the Amazon is the main cause of declining rainfall, leading to increased drought risk and rising temperatures. Trees in the Amazon generate more than 40% of the region’s rainfall by transporting water from the soil to the atmosphere, which later returns as rain through transpiration.

https://news.mongabay.com/2025/07/report-reveals-severe-impact-of-last-years-drought-on-amazonian-communities/