National GeographicBirds Rising temperatures could make 12 U.S. state birds ‘stateless’National Geographic - Haley Cohen GillilandA report released by the National Audubon Society predicts a dire future for North America’s birds if climate change isn't slowed. As they soar through the sky, birds seem blissfully impervious to the
National GeographicAnimals The deeper this purple octopus lives, the bumpier its skinNational Geographic - Liz LangleySmooth and bumpy octopuses deep in the Pacific have long confused scientists: Are they the same species? Now we finally have an answer. Deep in the Pacific Ocean, pale purple octopuses with giant cartoon
National GeographicAnimals Alabama almost lost its sandhill cranes. Now, hunters again will target the 'sirloin of the sky.'National Geographic - Shanna LewisPopulations are stable enough that the state is allowing its first crane hunting season since 1916. For the first time in 103 years, hunters will have a chance to bag a sandhill crane in Alabama. More
National GeographicAnimals Pigs recorded using tools for the first timeNational Geographic - Christine Dell'AmoreThe observations could signal a new cognitive skill previously unknown amid swine, which are well known for their intelligence. On an October day in 2015, ecologist Meredith Root-Bernstein was watching
National Geographic More species than you think are part of wildlife trade. These may be next.National Geographic - Dina Fine MaronNew estimates shed light on the surprising makeup of the global wildlife trade. Roughly one of every five animals that walks the land or plies the skies is traded internationally, according to new research
National GeographicWildlife U.S. demand for pets and skins threatens some African animalsNational Geographic - Rachel FobarA new report highlights some of the animals most commonly exported from Africa, including ball pythons, emperor scorpions, and elephants. Many of Africa’s most exported animals end up in the United States,
National GeographicAnimals This bat tunes into raucous frog serenades to locate dinnerNational Geographic - Jake BuehlerA new analysis of the many ways bats hunt their food has revealed just how gifted—and little known—these night fliers really are. As creatures of the night, bats face a unique challenge—locating and hunting
National GeographicWildlife Fascinating ways animals prepare for fallNational Geographic - Liz LangleyMale deer fight for mates, ladybugs stuff themselves silly, the only known "hibernating" bird prepares for its slumber, and more. It’s officially fall, which for humans often means snuggling up inside
National GeographicAnteater There’s no way these cute, spiny creatures are all sold legallyNational Geographic - Danielle BeurteauxBecause echidnas are so difficult to breed in captivity, poached wild animals are being passed off as captive bred. A puggle is a baby echidna, an animal with quills that looks a bit like a small, round
National GeographicAmazon Rainforest Inside the efforts to help animals hurt by the Amazon firesNational Geographic - Natasha DalyAcross Bolivia and Brazil, wild animals are dying in the blazes. One rescue center is working to help every survivor. Nearly every day for the past 35 days, biologist Raúl Ernesto Rojas and a group of
National GeographicAnimals Hippo and hyena touch noses in rare encounterNational Geographic - Katie StaceyThe strange event has offered new insights into relationships between two formidable African species. It was a typical game drive for Patrick Njobvu in Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park—until he witnessed
National GeographicAnimals Tiny number of elephant seal 'supermoms' produce most pupsNational Geographic - Carrie ArnoldNearly wiped out due to hunting in the early 1900s, the species is bouncing back—and these formidable parents may help explain why. Each December, more than 3,000 northern elephant seals haul themselves
National GeographicAnimals Trade in sea turtle products is banned, but they’re still sold in JapanNational Geographic - Justin GrubbJapanese demand for tortoiseshell is driving critically endangered—and protected—hawksbill sea turtles toward extinction. It all began long ago with a pair of eyeglasses. Tokugawa Ieyasu, who ruled Japan
National GeographicBirds Three billion birds have been lost in North America since 1970National GeographicDue to habitat loss, pesticides, and more, North America’s springs are more silent than ever. You might not notice it while hiking through the woods or strolling through a city park, but according to new
National GeographicZebra Rare polka-dotted zebra foal photographed in KenyaNational Geographic - Katie StaceyThe eye-catching animal, seen in Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve, likely has a genetic mutation called pseudomelanism. Talk about a horse of another color—a zebra foal with a dark coat and white polka
National GeographicAnimals 86 tigers rescued from Tiger Temple died in government custodyNational Geographic - Dina Fine MaronSince 2016, more than half of the big cats seized from the controversial Thai tourist attraction have died. Three years after 147 tigers were seized from the notorious Tiger Temple in Thailand, government
National GeographicU.S. National Parks Many people want to set aside half of Earth as natureNational Geographic - Erin WaiteA new survey of 12,000 adults in 12 countries revealed overwhelming support for conservation, as well as knowledge gaps in subjects like extinction rates. Famed biologist E.O. Wilson has argued in recent
National GeographicWhales Whale populations in New York Harbor are booming—here's whyNational Geographic - Simon WorrallA few cetaceans appeared in 2011, but now they're in the hundreds, surprising scientists and tourists alike. “There’s a spout!” naturalist Celia Ackerman calls excitedly to the captain. “Behind the green
National GeographicAnimals What we lose when animals go extinctNational Geographic - Elizabeth KolbertAnimals are disappearing at hundreds of times the normal rate, primarily because of shrinking habitats. Their biggest threat: humans. Most of the animals shown here are among the more than 28,000 species
National GeographicAnimals The ‘little cow’ of the sea nears extinctionNational Geographic - Annie RothIn the Gulf of California, fewer than 19 vaquitas are left. What can conservationists learn before the species dies out completely? One of the world’s most endangered marine animals is a pint-size porpoise
National GeographicAnimals Learn how species that faced extinction are bouncing backNational Geographic - Mónica SerranoFrom the fin whale and albatross to the gecko, populations are drawing back from the brink of extinction—thanks to intensive conservation efforts. More than a quarter of all species assessed by the International
National GeographicTurtles Sea turtles are surviving—despite usNational Geographic - Craig WelchThese reptiles have roamed the oceans for 100 million years. We've put them at risk, but with a little help, they're rebounding. To see all that’s hopeful and appalling about the way we treat sea turtles,
National GeographicWhales This common fishing practice endangers an entire whale speciesNational Geographic - Jason TreatSo many North Atlantic right whales have collided with boats or become ensnared in vertical trap lines that only 400 of the animals remain. When North Atlantic right whales migrate along North America’s
National GeographicAnimals Unique anatomy sets giraffe apart in the animal kingdomNational GeographicA circulatory system that beats gravity. Spots that dissipate heat. This giant is purpose-built for its size and surroundings. At 14 to 19 feet tall, giraffes tower over the entire animal kingdom. But
National GeographicAnimals These surreal jarred fish tell an urgent story of extinctionNational Geographic - Richard ConniffA biologist's unusual “fish bunker” of preserved aquatic life shows how humanity has pushed some species to their doom. It is a horror movie director’s dream of a natural history collection. You find by
National GeographicAnimals What I learned documenting the last male northern white rhino’s deathNational Geographic - Ami VitaleThe rhino and the people who tried to save his species taught one photographer indelible lessons. I began my career covering conflicts. Starting at 26, I found myself in places such as Kosovo, Angola,
National GeographicCats To save birds, should we kill off cats?National Geographic - Noah StryckerOur feline friends are killing billions of birds every year. A fan of both animals believes there are humane solutions. My cat, Bernstein, likes bird-watching almost as much as I do. Bernstein is an easygoing
National GeographicAnimals To ward off extinctions, scientists get creativeNational Geographic - Annie RothFrom coaching captive animals and breeding new variants to deploying dogs and drones, conservationists aim to nurture species. Some scientists contend that we’re heading toward what would be the sixth
National GeographicAnimals His portraits capture animals that are going extinct in the wildNational Geographic - Susan GoldbergJoel Sartore has photographed nearly 10,000 species. His goal: ‘to get the public to care about the extinction crisis while there’s still time.’ A naked mole rat. That was photographer Joel Sartore’s model
