Animal species
🐅 Thailand's tiger population has increased fivefold in 15 years
The tiger population in Thailand's Western Forest Complex has increased from approximately 40 individuals in 2007 to between 179 and 223 last year. WWF calls the increase extraordinary. Major tiger population recoveries have also been noted in India and Nepal.
🔙 Beaver returns to Portugal after 500 years
Beaver has returned to Portugal after being extinct since the end of the 1400s, confirmed through camera traps and gnaw marks. The species functions as a natural ecosystem engineer that creates wetlands and improves water quality without human cost.
🐦 Solar farms benefit bird life more than agricultural land
Well-managed solar parks have been shown to host more bird species and individuals per hectare than surrounding farmland. Solar parks that maintain a mix of habitats, uncut grass, and preserved hedges had almost three times more birds compared to nearby farmland.
🐻 Wild predators make successful comeback in Europe
The Iberian lynx, which 25 years ago had fewer than 100 individuals left, has now recovered and its status has changed from "critically endangered" to "vulnerable." Brown bears have increased by 17% to 20,500, Eurasian lynx by 12% to 9,400, and wolverines by 16% to 1,300 since 2016.
🐢 Sea turtles increasing in numbers
New research shows that sea turtle populations are increasing at 28 sites globally, while only five show declines. Conservation measures since the 1970s have transformed humans from hunters to protectors of these marine reptiles.
🐁 Scientists have created woolly mice on the path to mammoth's return
Scientists at the biotech company Colossal Biosciences have created genetically modified mice with thick, woolly fur as a step toward recreating woolly mammoths. The company plans to "de-extinct" the mammoth with the goal of birthing the first calf before the end of 2028.
🐅 India's tiger population is roaring back – doubled in twelve years
India has increased its tiger population from 1,706 to 3,682 tigers between 2010 and 2022. The country is now home to 75 percent of the world's wild tigers. Local communities benefit from ecotourism linked to the tigers.
🐳 Return of marine life in the North Sea
Thousands of grey seals are now born every year along Norfolk's beaches, with almost 4,000 pups during last year's record season. Humpback whales and minke whales are seen more frequently in the North Sea.
🐢 Sea turtles increase significantly in numbers
New studies show sea turtles are increasing in numbers at 28 locations worldwide. Only five sites show a decrease. On Sal Island off Africa, the number of loggerhead nests increased from 500 to 35,000 between 2008 and 2020.