animal news blog

美國重新定義「傷害」

July 21, 2026

美國聯邦機構已正式重新界定《瀕危物種法》中「傷害」的定義。如今，破壞受保護物種的棲息地不再被視為違法行為，因為這些物種本身並未被直接殺死、誘捕或傷害。此舉被認為能減輕經濟負擔，並縮短伐木、能源開採及其他開發項目的許可審批時間。

U.S. federal agencies have formally redefined the term “harm” under the Endangered Species Act. Under the new interpretation, destroying the habitat of a protected species is no longer considered a legal violation, as long as the animals themselves are not directly killed, trapped, or injured. The change is expected to reduce financial burdens and shorten permitting timelines for logging, energy extraction, and other development projects.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/endangered-species-act-changes-explainer

為孩子安排玩伴

July 19, 2026

一項長達 15 年的研究顯示，雌性婆羅洲猩猩會為了讓年齡相近的幼崽彼此玩耍，而不惜跋涉更遠的距離。這些猩猩大部分時間都過著獨居生活。牠們為了與其他幼崽見面而付出額外的時間與能量成本，顯示同伴間的遊戲對幼年猩猩發展必要的運動技能和社交能力至關重要。

A 15‑year study shows that female Bornean orangutans will travel significantly farther so their offspring can meet and play with other youngsters of similar age. These orangutans are largely solitary, so the additional time and energy invested in seeking out playmates highlights how important peer play is for developing essential motor and social skills in young orangutans.

https://brieflynews.io/articles/orangutan-mothers-plan-playdates-offspring-mrhjsm0r

走私瀕危鸚鵡血液

July 12, 2026

幾十年來，瀕危的非洲灰鸚鵡一直受到寵物貿易的威脅；最近在喀麥隆出現針對牠們的非法血液買賣，令其面臨更嚴重的生存危機。這些鸚鵡遭獵殺以採集血液，用於聲稱的療癒或宗教用途。保育人士擔憂，血液走私使執法部門在巡查時更難識別與查獲違法行為；接觸禽類血液亦可能帶來生物安全風險，例如增加人畜共患疾病傳播給人類的可能性。

For decades, endangered African grey parrots have been threatened by the pet trade, and a recent trend in Cameroon involving the illegal trade in their blood has put them at greater risk. These parrots are being killed so their blood can be harvested for purported healing and religious purposes. Conservationists worry that blood trafficking makes it harder for authorities to detect and seize illegal activity during patrols, and that handling avian blood may pose biosecurity risks, such as increasing the risk of zoonotic disease transmission to humans.

https://news.mongabay.com/2026/06/seizures-reveal-macabre-grey-parrot-blood-trade-in-cameroon/

短途遷徙非氣候因素

July 12, 2026

在山區範圍內，短距離遷徙的鳥類主要受食物來源穩定性的影響，而非氣候因素。一項針對喜馬拉雅地區鳥類族群與昆蟲數量的最新研究發現，以捕食地面或空中昆蟲為食的鳥類會在冬季因食物減少而向低海拔遷移；相比之下，以葉食性昆蟲為食的鳥類往往全年留在相同海拔，因為這類昆蟲仍保持一定數量。

Short-distance migrations within mountain ranges are primarily driven by the stability of food sources rather than by climate. A recent study that tracked bird populations and insect numbers in the Himalayas found that birds that feed on ground-dwelling or airborne insects move to lower elevations in winter when their food becomes scarce. By contrast, birds that feed on leaf-eating insects tend to remain at the same elevation year-round because those insects remain available.

https://www.earth.com/news/some-birds-move-through-mountains-for-a-reason-scientists-are-now-seeing/

農民陷阱危及瀕危動物

July 4, 2026

近月來在印尼西蘇門答臘省，先後發現一隻蘇門答臘虎幼崽、一隻雌性馬來熊和一頭幼象因誤入陷阱而受傷。這些陷阱是當地農民為保護農作物而設置，用以捕捉野豬。為保護這些瀕危野生動物，印尼政府已明令禁止使用此類陷阱，並規定任何因設置陷阱而使受保護動物受傷或被捕獲者，將面臨刑事責任並可能遭到起訴。

In recent months in West Sumatra, Indonesia, a Sumatran tiger cub, a female sun bear and an elephant calf were found injured after being caught in snares. The snares were set by farmers to protect their crops from wild boars. To protect these endangered species, the Indonesian government has banned the use of such snares, and those responsible for trapping protected animals may face criminal liability and prosecution.

https://news.mongabay.com/2026/06/crackdown-on-snares-in-sumatra-as-elephant-sun-bear-and-tiger-rescued/