A. hebardi

USA: Rediscovered Grasshopper Once Thought to Be Extinct

An intriguing discovery was made in Augusta County, Virginia, USA: Appalachia hebardi, a species belonging to the family of short-horned grasshoppers (Acrididae), which was believed to be extinct for decades, has been rediscovered. The last confirmed sighting of this rare species dates back – depending on the source – to

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Rediscovery: Sira Barbet and Peruvian Solitaire

Two lost birds rediscovered in Peru: Sira Barbet and Peruvian Solitaire

The Search for Lost Birds project is dedicated to finding bird species that have not been documented in the wild for over a decade. These species, lacking recent genetic or photographic evidence and without ex-situ populations, are often considered lost to science. According to a recent report by Search for

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Caribou

Arctic: Why the Ice is Melting and CO₂ Emissions Are Rising

The Arctic, once a stable reservoir of organic carbon, is now releasing more carbon dioxide (CO₂) than it absorbs. According to the latest NOAA Arctic Report Card 2024, thawing permafrost, increased microbial activity, and more frequent wildfires are driving this development. The Arctic, which long functioned as a carbon sink,

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Omilteme cottontail
A camera trap photo of an Omilteme cottontail in the Sierra Madre del Sur. (© Photo by Joe Figel, provided by Re:wild)

Mexico: Omilteme Cottontail Rediscovered After Over 120 Years

Re:wild has announced the rediscovery of the Omilteme cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus insonus), a species thought to be lost for over a century, in the Sierra Madre del Sur, Mexico. This finding is a significant milestone for conservation and research efforts. A team led by José Alberto Almazán-Catalán, president of the

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11 Animals We Have Lost in the Last 50 Years
Over the past 50 years, we have lost numerous animal species forever – a testament to the devastating impact of our actions on nature.

11 Animals We Have Lost in the Last 50 Years

The extinction of animal species is one of the most tragic consequences of human interference with nature. It not only means the irreversible loss of unique creatures but also the collapse of ecosystems whose stability depends on these species. Estimates suggest that in recent decades, around 500 to 1,000 documented

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truffles (velvet potato fungus)

What Connects Extinct Moas, Colorful Truffles, and Climate Change?

New Zealand, known for its unique flora and fauna, holds many secrets from the past. One of these was recently uncovered by a study published in Biology Letters: The extinct upland moa (Megalapteryx didinus) was not only a majestic bird but also played a key role in spreading the spores

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Extinction versus Eradication
Left: Natural Extinction – the fossil of a dinosaur in a drought-stricken landscape. Right: Human Eradication – a dodo in a deforested and destroyed habitat. The contrast highlights humanity's responsibility for species extinction.

Extinct or Eradicated? – How Humans Make the Difference

I’m not sure if it was because I received two books about species that went extinct in modern times as Christmas gifts, but someone in my family felt compelled to inform me that extinction is just a natural process. “Species have always gone extinct; it’s completely normal,” they said. And

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Ectopistes migratorius

The Revival of the Passenger Pigeon: A Project by Revive & Restore

The passenger pigeon, once the most common bird in North America, has been extinct for more than a century. Now, biologists from the nonprofit organization Revive & Restore have set a goal to bring the species back using cutting-edge gene-editing technologies. Under the leadership of Ben Novak, efforts are underway

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Thylacine Genome Reconstruction

Putrid Museum Find Reveals 99.9% of Thylacine Genome

Researchers recently found a long-overlooked bucket in the back of a Melbourne Museum cabinet, containing a well-preserved thylacine head stored in ethanol for over 110 years. Andrew Pask, head of the Tigrr Lab at the University of Melbourne, described the sight as “gruesome” in an interview with The Guardian, noting

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Only known photo of a live Cape Lion

Study Questions the Myth of the Extinct Cape Lion as a Distinct Subspecies

A study published yesterday in Scientific Reports questions the taxonomic status of the Cape lion (Panthera leo melanochaita), which was driven to extinction around 1860. For a long time, this large cat was considered a distinct subspecies, characterized by its striking black mane that extended over its shoulders and belly,

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