Ireland’s ancient rainforest vanished after thousands of years of human activity. Now nearly 30,000 trees are being planted to bring it back

Ireland’s ancient rainforest vanished after thousands of years of human activity. Now nearly 30,000 trees are being planted to bring it back

Almost 30,000 young native trees have been planted at Lenamore Wood in Northern Ireland, marking the beginning of a restoration project that could take a century to mature. Oak, alder and rowan now cover parts of the 41-acre site near Gortin, though the future woodland is still difficult to picture. The trees remain small, sheltered … Read more

The golden lion tamarin seen on a R$20 banknote nearly vanished from Brazil: Zoologist Devra Kleiman helped bring it back

The golden lion tamarin seen on a R$20 banknote nearly vanished from Brazil: Zoologist Devra Kleiman helped bring it back

Image: Left/Zoologist Devra Kleiman/Right/National Geographic The small golden lion tamarin is one of Brazil’s most recognisable animals, but its presence on the R$20 banknote represents much more than national wildlife. The species (Leontopithecus rosalia) was once pushed dangerously close to extinction, with only about 200 animals remaining in the wild in the early 1970s. Brazil’s … Read more

Britain is dropping 20 concrete reef cubes and 44 tons of scallop shells into the sea in the hope to bring back its native oysters who have reduced by 95% since 1800s

Britain is dropping 20 concrete reef cubes and 44 tons of scallop shells into the sea in the hope to bring back its native oysters who have reduced by 95% since 1800s

While one might assume that lowering huge white blocks of concrete into the sea was an attempt at dumping construction waste offshore, in Britain’s North Sea it is a conservation effort. The country is dumping 20 carefully designed structures into the deep waters to restore the population of the European native oyster, Ostrea edulis, along … Read more

A giant snake vanished from parts of the US decades ago. Scientists are now releasing 42 eastern indigo snakes to bring it back

A giant snake vanished from parts of the US decades ago. Scientists are now releasing 42 eastern indigo snakes to bring it back

In Spring 2026, conservationists released 42 eastern indigo snakes into their historical habitats in Florida and Alabama. After a year of specialized care, these reptiles have adapted well, with monitoring indicating successful survival and breeding in the wild. This significant reintroduction effort seeks to restore self-sustaining populations of this unique snake species to their native … Read more