Articles for category: Conservation

streetlights

Streetlights Are Making Leaves Inedible for Insects Disrupting Whole Food Chain

Streetlights are brightening our nights, but they’re dimming the prospects for insects. The increasing levels of artificial light are toughening tree leaves, making them less edible for insects. This seemingly small change disrupts the entire food chain, leading to broader ecological impacts. Understanding this issue is crucial for addressing the unseen consequences of our urban ...

The Future of Beavers in Ecosystem Management

The Animal That Literally Redesigns Landscapes—One Stick at a Time

Trizzy Orozco

Imagine a single creature, no larger than a housecat, with the power to change rivers, sculpt forests, and create entire ecosystems from scratch. This animal isn’t a mythical beast or a character from a fable—it’s the humble, yet extraordinary, beaver. Armed with nothing more than its teeth and an instinct for engineering, the beaver transforms ...

How Modern Zoos Are Saving Species From Extinction

How Modern Zoos Are Saving Species From Extinction

Annette Uy

The world is facing a shocking biodiversity crisis—countless animal species are teetering on the edge of extinction, and the clock is ticking faster than ever before. But amidst this race against time, a surprising hero has emerged: the modern zoo. Far from the old image of cages and concrete, today’s zoos are vibrant centers of ...

How Zoos Are Helping Save Amphibians From a Deadly Fungus

How Zoos Are Helping Save Amphibians From a Deadly Fungus

Annette Uy

It’s a chilling sight: once-bustling wetlands falling eerily silent, their frog and salamander choruses replaced by a haunting stillness. Across the globe, a microscopic killer is sweeping through forests, streams, and ponds, threatening to erase entire species in what some scientists call the “amphibian apocalypse.” This menace, known as chytrid fungus, has devastated amphibian populations ...

Artificial Nesting

How Scientists Use Artificial Nests to Help Endangered Birds Recover

Maria Faith Saligumba

Imagine a world where the songs of rare birds vanish forever—where once vibrant skies fall silent. It’s a chilling thought, especially when you realize how many bird species hover on the brink of extinction. Yet, in the face of this crisis, scientists have hatched a surprisingly simple yet ingenious solution: artificial nests. These man-made sanctuaries ...

When Scientists Teach Animals Survival Skills Before Releasing Them

When Scientists Teach Animals Survival Skills Before Releasing Them

Trizzy Orozco

Picture this: a tiny orphaned orangutan, barely old enough to climb, gazes up at a towering tree in the middle of a dense rainforest. Instead of his mother, who would have shown him how to find food and avoid danger, a patient human scientist waits nearby, mimicking the gestures and calls of a wild orangutan. ...

Singapore Zoo: Smart Guides and Augmented Reality Trails

How Modern Zoos Are Helping People Care About Wildlife Again

Trizzy Orozco

Imagine a world where children have never seen a tiger’s golden eyes, heard the trumpeting of an elephant, or watched a monkey’s playful antics up close. For many, zoos are the first magical place where the wild feels real and wonder comes alive. But in recent years, zoos have faced tough questions about their role ...