未能移除的聖誕樹

已經到了六月，但英國約克郡市中心的一棵聖誕樹仍然高高聳立，因為有一隻斑尾林鴿決定在樹上築巢。斑尾林鴿一般會在冬季遷徙到法國或西班牙，但因為氣候暖化，有些斑尾林鴿決定留在英國。破壞野生鳥巢在英國是違法的，所以這棵聖誕樹必須等到雛鳥孵化並長大離開才可移除。

It’s already June but a Christmas tree is still up in a town centre of Yorkshire, UK, because a wood pigeon is nesting there. Wood pigeon usually migrate to France or Span during winter, but some decide to stay in the UK because the weather is becoming warmer. It’s illegal to damage a wild bird’s nests, so the tree has to wait until the eggs are hatched and the chicks grow old enough to leave.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-humber-65782055

植物的濕度吸引傳粉昆蟲

研究發現，植物的濕度與氣味，在吸引傳粉昆蟲時同樣重要。該研究觀察了象鼻蟲（Rhopalotria furfuracea）與植物（Zamia furfuracea）的關係，發現象鼻蟲會選擇到花粉錐上濕度最高的區域。 象鼻蟲有非常敏銳的感應器，可以感應到濕度中的微小變化。過去的研究都集中在植物如何從視覺及氣味吸引傳粉昆蟲，而這項研究發現了其他重要的因素。

A recently study discovered humidity is as important as scent when attracting pollinators to plants. the study observed the relationship of a weevil (Rhopalotria furfuracea) and a plant (Zamia furfurace), and found that the weevils prefer to land on the area with  highest humidity on the pollen cone. The weevils have receptors that can sense very small changes in humidity. Many past studies focused on how the visual and scents of a plant attract pollinators, and this study discover other important factors.

https://phys.org/news/2023-05-pollinators-humidity-scent.html

獵豹於重新引入計劃死亡

為重新引入獵豹，自去年 10 月已有20 隻獵豹先後從非洲被帶到印度。因為所選的國家公園被認為不適合那麼多獵豹棲息，所以現時只有 8 隻被野放。其中3隻在過去數月內因不同原因死亡； 一隻雌性到達印度後生了4隻幼崽，當中3隻亦於最近死亡。獵豹自 1952 年已於印度滅絕，重新引入計劃原訂在未來 5-10 年內放生 50 隻獵豹。

20 cheetahs were brought to India from Africa for reintroduction since last October. Only 8 of them were released in a national park because the selected location is an unsuitable habitat for that many cheetahs. 3 of them died in the past few months for different reasons; a female gave birth of 4 cubs and 3 cubs died recently as well. Cheetah became extinct in India since 1952, and the plan was to release 50 cheetahs over the next 5-10 years.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/may/22/cheetah-deaths-questions-india-reintroduction-scheme

https://edition.cnn.com/2023/05/25/india/cheetah-cubs-deaths-india-intl-hnk/index.html

呼籲取消為狩獵野放

在英國，保育團體呼籲取消今年夏天為狩獵運動的雀鳥野放，以減少向野生雀鳥傳播禽流感的風險。 每年約有 5700 萬隻雉雞、紅腳石雞及綠頭鴨被圈養，並野放作狩獵用途。 自2021年，這些雀鳥養殖場已爆發了10次禽流感。這些雀鳥一旦被野放，就會與野生雀鳥混雜及互動，造成威脅。

In UK, conservation group is calling to cancel the release of game birds this summer to reduce the spread of avian flu to wild birds. About 57 millions of pheasants, red-legged partridges and mallards are captive-bred for release into the wild for sport hunting every year. There were 10 outbreaks of avian flu in these game birds farm since 2021. once these birds are released, they will mix and interact with the wild bird and put them at risk.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/may/18/rspb-calls-for-suspension-of-game-bird-releases-over-avian-flu-fears

為收藏殺極危鋸鰩

在澳洲西部發現四條極度瀕危的鋸鰩屍體，牠們都失去了鋸，相信是因戰利品狩獵而被殺。 鋸鰩是魔鬼魚的一種；牠們主要因捕獵取其鋸、鰭和肉而受到威脅，另外亦面臨失去棲息地及漁業誤捕等問題。

Four critically endangered sawfish were found dead without their teeth saws in Western Australia. It’s believed they were killed for saw trophies. Sawfish is a kind of ray; they are in danger mainly because of fishing for their saws, fins and meat, as well as habitat loss and bycatch problem.

https://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/56525/20230515/critically-endangered-sawfish-dead-australia-toothed-saws-chopped.htm