Biodiversity

"Montana wildlife commissioners on Friday moved to shut down gray wolf hunting in a portion of the state around Yellowstone National Park, amid mounting criticism over a record number of the animals shot or trapped after roaming across the park boundary this winter."

"The number of western monarch butterflies overwintering in California rebounded to more than 247,000 a year after fewer than 2,000 appeared, but the tally remained far below the millions that were seen in the 1980s, leaders of an annual count said on Tuesday."

"On an unusually cold winter morning in central Florida, Corleone the manatee was awakened before dawn by wetsuited workers who slipped into his pool at SeaWorld and wrapped him in a long vinyl sling."

"French researchers say they have discovered one of the world’s largest healthy coral reefs, possibly paving the way for similar discoveries in locations that have not yet been explored, Paris-based UNESCO announced Thursday."

"A committee debate yesterday on a sweeping wildlife conservation bill exposed deep partisan divisions that could stymie success on an otherwise bipartisan proposal."

"It’s been dubbed the perfect invader, but the marbled crayfish may offer a sustainable food source and even help prevent disease".

"Five-and-a-half years ago, a band of lawmakers united behind an ambitious bill to recover and preserve America’s wildlife. It had the backing of the founder of Bass Pro Shops and the head of the National Wildlife Federation. Republicans and Democrats rushed to co-sponsor it. And yet, it still remains unfinished business."

"The South American government will curb fishing in more than 20,000 square miles of ocean next to the archipelago, which is treasured for its abundance of wildlife".