animal news blog

為雪豹拍大頭照做統計

May 13, 2025

為了統計印度拉達克地區雪豹的數量，研究人員需要拍攝雪豹額頭的照片，因為每隻雪豹的額頭都有獨特的花紋。為了拍攝這些照片，研究團隊在相機陷阱下方噴了少量香水，讓好奇的雪豹彎下腰聞，然後拍照。他們的956台相機拍攝了超過26130張照片，成功辨識出126個個體，並估計拉達克地區約有477隻雪豹，使其成為世界上最大的雪豹族群。

To count the snow leopard’s population in Ladakh, India, researchers need to capture photo of leopard’s foreheads because each of them have a unique pattern. in order to capture these photo, the research team sprayed small amount of perfume below their camera traps for curious leopards to bend down and smells. Their 956 cameras captures over 26130 images and were able to identify 126 individuals leopards, and estimated there are 477 leopards in Ladakh, making it the world’s largest snow leopard population.

https://www.sci.news/biology/snow-leopards-india-13890.html

竊聽蛙類叫聲捕食

May 11, 2025

繸脣蝠以蛙類為食，並能分辨不同蛙類的叫聲來捕獵。由於有些蛙類體型過大且有毒，為了找到安全的食物，這些蝙蝠學會了竊聽蛙類的求偶叫聲，並過濾掉不合適的食物。

Fringe-lipped bat preys on frogs, and remembers different frogs’ calls in oder to hunt. Some frogs are too big and contains toxic, in order to find safe food, these bats learn to eavesdrops frog’s mating calls and filter out those not suitable food options.

https://www.earth.com/news/bats-learn-which-frogs-are-safe-to-eat-by-eavesdropping/

城市野花蜜含有害金屬

April 30, 2025

美國俄亥俄州的一項研究發現，菊苣、紅菽草等城市的野花可能會對蜜蜂等傳粉昆蟲帶來負面影響。許多城市野花生長在曾開發的土地上，這些土地上的土壤大多含鉛、砷和鎘等有害金屬。研究人員對這些野花的花蜜進行了檢測，發現所有收集的花蜜中都至少含有一種有毒金屬，其中最常見的是鉛。花蜜中的金屬可能會損害蜜蜂等昆蟲的學習及記憶力，並影響牠們的健康。這項研究希望提高對土壤健康重要性的意識，並鼓勵在種植野花之前進行土壤測試及清理。

A study in Ohio discovered urban wildflowers like chicory and wild carrot might bring harms to pollinators like bees. Many urban wildflowers growing on previously developed land, and soil on these land have been exposed to many harmful metals such as lead, arsenic and cadmium. Researchers tested nectar from these wildflowers and discovered at least one toxic metal in all collected nectar, with lead being the most common one. Metal in nectar could affect health of insect like bees by damaging their learning ability and memory. This study wants to raise awareness of the importance of soil health, and encourage soil testing and cleanup before planting wildflowers.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ece3.71238

為免樹熊捱餓進行撲殺

April 24, 2025

澳洲維多利亞州政府用直升機狙擊手射殺一個國家公園內的700多隻樹熊。今年3月初，該國家公園約20%的土地被森林大火摧毀，那裏的樹熊遭受飢餓及傷患影響，因此政府決定射殺牠們以避免牠們遭受痛苦。野生動物組織擔心，直升機上的狙擊距離樹熊至少 30 米，於射殺前無法判斷該樹熊是否健康。而且除了射殺亦有其他解決方案，例如在森林回復期間為樹熊提供補充食物等。這次行動是首次使用空中射擊來撲殺樹熊。在新南威爾斯州、昆士蘭和澳洲首都領地，樹熊屬瀕危物種。

Over 700 koalas in a national park were shot from helicopter by the Victorian government in Australia. Earlier in March, 20% of this national park were destroyed by bushfires, and koalas there have been starving and injured, so the government decided culling is the solution to prevent their suffering. Wildlife groups were concerned that shooters on the helicopter were at least 30meters away and were not able to tell whether the koalas were healthy or not before they shoot. also, there are other solutions like delivering supplementary food for the koalas while the forest regenerates. This was the first time aerial shooting is used to cull koala. Koalas are considered endangered in New South Wales, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory.

https://theconversation.com/sniping-koalas-from-helicopters-heres-whats-wrong-with-victorias-unprecedented-cull-254996

重要保護區開放商業捕魚

April 24, 2025

太平洋偏遠島嶼國家海洋保護區自 2009 年以來一直是中太平洋的保護區，但美國總統剛重新開放該地區作商業捕魚。該保護區仍有未曾受破壞的原始珊瑚礁，亦是許多野生動物的棲息地，包括瀕危海龜、海鳥、海洋哺乳動物等，其中許多也是特有物種。

the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument was a protected area in the central Pacific Ocean since 2009, but the US president has just reopened the area to commercial fishing. The Monument is home to many wildlife including endangered sea turtles, pristine coral reef, seabirds, marine mammals, etc. and many are endemic species as well.

https://people.com/trump-administration-orders-home-endangered-sea-turtles-open-commercial-fishing-11718264