Koala IVF could help save species from extinction

Good News Notes: “Freezing koala sperm could become a key part of a strategy to save koalas from extinction by 2050. University of Newcastle scientists Lachlan Howell and Ryan Witt say koala “biobanking”, could be harnessed with IVF technology to help the endangered species reproduce. An estimated 64,000 koalas were killed when 5.5m hectares were ravaged by…

Endangered ʻĀwikiwiki Vine Reintroduced During Planting Ceremony on Lāna‘i

Good News Notes: “A planting ceremony was held at Four Seasons Resort Lānaʻi on Thursday with Pūlama Lānaʻi to commence the launch of a botanical preservation project to reintroduce the federally endangered ʻāwikiwiki plant to the area around the resort. ʻĀwikiwiki, also known by its scientific name Canavalia pubescens, is a perennial vine with dark purple to pink…

Census: Once-endangered Kirtland’s warbler population stable

Good News Notes: “The once-endangered Kirtland’s warbler is maintaining healthy numbers. State and federal officials reported Monday on the latest census of the songbird. It nests primarily in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula as well as the Upper Peninsula, Wisconsin and Ontario. The population was estimated at 4,490 following the June survey. That’s down slightly from the…

Ikea Buys 11K Acres of Land in Georgia for Conservation

Good News Notes: “Ikea’s investment group recently acquired nearly 11,000 acres of land in southeast Georgia, taking it under its wing to protect it from development, and to keep its hundreds of plant and wildlife species safe. The Ingka Group, which owns and operates most of the popular Swedish retailer’s stores, recently acquired approximately 10,840 acres…

Once Nearly Extinct, The Florida Panther Is Making A Comeback

Good News Notes: “Brian Kelly, a panther biologist for the state of Florida, opens a creaking gate near Fisheating Creek, a narrow ribbon of preserved land just west of Lake Okeechobee. The path leads from trucks rumbling by on U.S. Highway 27 to a world of towering oaks, cypress heads and a tannic-stained creek that…

Prosthetic fin could save injured rare turtles

Good News Notes: “Researchers from AUT BioDesign Lab have developed a prosthetic fin to rehabilitate injured sea turtles. Healthy oceans need sea turtles, but they are unfortunately frequently injured by human factors such as boats and fishing nets, with all seven species now endangered. A damaged fin limits swimming range and survival and prevents female…

This baby boom in Kenya is helping to save an endangered species

Good News Notes: “Tiny green turtles are scrambling to the safety of the ocean at Tiwi Beach on Kenya’s south coast. Every one that makes it is great news for their species, which is listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). It’s a perilous journey, but luckily for these hatchlings…

Ultra-rare whale washed up off Florida is a new species, scientists say

Good News Notes: “The animal formerly known as the Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s whale could need a new name. The endangered whale may — upon confirmation — be an entirely new species, according to research from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Scientists have long puzzled over the whales, with fewer than 100 estimated in existence, perhaps…

Photos of endangered animals raise funding for relief projects

Good News Notes:”  The cheetah is the world’s most endangered large cat. There are only 7,100 cheetahs left in the wild, mainly in Africa. Outside of Africa, once cheetahs were prevalent throughout many countries in Asia, they are now only found in Iran, where their numbers have dwindled to around 50. In India, the cheetah…

Large blue butterfly returns to Cotswolds site for first time in 150 years

Good News Notes: “The biggest reintroduction to date of the large blue has led to the rare butterfly flying on a Cotswold hillside where it has not been seen for 150 years. About 750 butterflies emerged on to Rodborough Common in Gloucestershire this summer after 1,100 larvae were released last autumn following five years of innovative grassland…