The birth of tortoises native to Santa Cruz Island in the Galápagos increases their U.S. population from 44 to 48. A few thousand remain globally, according to estimates by experts.
With 23 short essays on creatures ranging from the wombat to the spider, Katherine Rundell's new book is essential reading for anyone whose wonder could use a jumpstart.
Volunteers gathered at Jekyll Island’s South Beach to release dozens of endangered sea turtles back to water — the largest such release in Jekyll Island's recorded history.
Historic numbers of animals across the globe have become endangered or pushed to extinction. But some of these species sit in limbo — not definitively extinct yet missing from the scientific record. Rediscovering a "lost" species is not easy. It can require trips to remote areas and canvassing a large area in search of only a handful of animals. But new technology and stronger partnerships with local communities have helped these hidden, "uncharismatic" creatures come to light.
Have other scientific gray areas you want us to cover in a future episode? Email us at shortwave@npr.org!
In a landmark U.N. study, researchers found nearly half of the world's threatened migratory species have declining populations. More than a fifth of the assessed animals face extinction.
The Devils Hole pupfish's natural habitat is a single water-filled hole in a cave in the Nevada desert. Its numbers at one point dwindled to just 35 animals. How does it manage to survive?
Republican U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter of Pooler joined Senate counterparts in taking a preemptive legislative strike this month to a rule that the marine associations claim will be financially detrimental and further hinder a vessel’s ability to navigate heavily trafficked shipping ports in Savannah and Brunswick.
On Wednesday, John Hume, owner of the Platinum Rhino Project, launched an auction to sell off the 2,000-strong herd in an online sale that's starting at $10 million.
Orca moms spent precious resources feeding their fully grown adult male offspring. A new study finds that this may limit how many more young they produce.
A species of bat that can be found throughout the state of Georgia are tricolored bats. They are considered one of the smallest bats located along the east coast of the U.S., weighing an average of less than half an ounce.
