declared

In 1983, Britain reintroduced a butterfly declared extinct just four years earlier; the large blue has since surged 1,866% and now survives at 33 sites

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In 1983, Britain reintroduced a butterfly declared extinct just four years earlier; the large blue has since surged 1,866% and now survives at 33 sites

A butterfly once declared extinct in Britain is now at the centre of one of the country’s most striking conservation success stories. The large blue, which disappeared from Britain in 1979, has been successfully reintroduced and now occurs at 33 sites in south-west England. New figures from the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme show its recorded … Read more

Florida couple declared dead in helicopter crash in Kenya; thieves break in their house, steal Porsche, Land Rover in less than 24 hours. Then comes a twist in court

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Florida couple declared dead in helicopter crash in Kenya; thieves break in their house, steal Porsche, Land Rover in less than 24 hours. Then comes a twist in court

A Florida couple killed in Kenya in a helicopter crash during safari. Within 24 hours, thieves broke in and ransacked their house 55-year-old Henry Parra and 42-year-old Adam Hlavaty, a same-sex couple from Florida, were among the seven people who were killed when a helicopter they were in while on a safari in Kenya crashed … Read more

A New Zealand sailor spent years living alone on a remote Cook Islands atoll across three separate stays; a year after his final stay ended, Suwarrow was declared a national park

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A New Zealand sailor spent years living alone on a remote Cook Islands atoll across three separate stays; a year after his final stay ended, Suwarrow was declared a national park

Tom Neale on Suwarrow: Highlights the story’s main protagonist living his solitary life on the remote Cook Islands atoll. A remote Pacific atoll that was once the solitary kingdom of a New Zealand sailor has secured a lasting future, transforming from a hermit’s retreat into the first conservation sanctuary in the Cook Islands. Suwarrow, an … Read more

In 2020, 10-year-old Murphy Widdowson collected a spider on a remote Australian island that experts could not identify; scientists later declared it a new species and named it Artoriopsis murphyi after him

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In 2020, 10-year-old Murphy Widdowson collected a spider on a remote Australian island that experts could not identify; scientists later declared it a new species and named it Artoriopsis murphyi after him

While on the remote island Murphy picked up a small spider that intrigued him, and he decided not to wonder what sort of spider he’d found, but to seek the opinion of an expert. For most kids, finding a spider would be a scream, and then a quick retreat. But for Murphy Widdowson, it was … Read more

In 1979, about 30 mongooses were released on Japan’s Amami Oshima to control habu snakes; their population later grew to roughly 10,000 and threatened rare wildlife, but after decades of trapping Japan declared them eradicated in 2024

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In 1979, about 30 mongooses were released on Japan’s Amami Oshima to control habu snakes; their population later grew to roughly 10,000 and threatened rare wildlife, but after decades of trapping Japan declared them eradicated in 2024

In 1979, about 30 mongooses were released on Japan’s Amami Oshima to control habu snakes Japan has officially declared the successful eradication of the invasive small Indian mongoose on Amami Oshima, ending a decades-long ecological crisis on the UNESCO World Heritage-listed island. According to an official announcement from Japan’s ministry of the environment, expert panels … Read more

London river was declared ‘biologically dead’ in 1957; decades later it is filled with sharks and seals

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London river was declared 'biologically dead' in 1957; decades later it is filled with sharks and seals

In 1957, parts of London’s famous River Thames were in such bad shape that scientists declared them ‘biologically dead’. The water had been starved of oxygen and decades of sewage and industrial pollution had made it extremely difficult for aquatic life to survive. About 70 years later, the waters are now brimming with sharks, seals, … Read more

Colombia earthquake update: Death toll rises to 111 as state of emergency declared; ‘people don’t want to go home’

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People look for survivors amid the rubble of a collapsed building after an earthquake in Pereira, Colombia. (AFP)

Colombia on Monday declared a state of emergency following a powerful earthquake that caused at least 111 deaths and flattened dozens of buildings, trapping more victims underneath. People look for survivors amid the rubble of a collapsed building after an earthquake in Pereira, Colombia. (AFP) The 7.4-magnitude quake struck western Colombia at 7:34 am (1234 … Read more

Australia’s Tiwi rangers spent two decades fighting invasive fire ants; the island is now declared free of them

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Australia's Tiwi rangers spent two decades fighting invasive fire ants; the island is now declared free of them

Over the last two decades, indigenous rangers in Australia’s Tiwi Islands have been working on an eradication and conservation effort that was vital to protect the native lives of the region. Scientists, government actors, NGOs and private enterprise all joined hands to eradicate the invasive tropical fire ant species from Melville Island, as they threatened … Read more