Breaking Waves: Ocean News

Week in wildlife in pictures: roving parrots, rabid seals and a prickly pest

admin — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 07:00:39 +0000

The best of this week’s wildlife photographs from around the world

Conservation groups question Queensland commitment to renewables after hydro scheme scrapped

admin — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 02:53:04 +0000

LNP urged to release details of its alternative energy plans within first 100 days of government

Peanut the Instagram-famous squirrel is seized by New York officials

admin — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 01:31:38 +0000

Wild squirrel that was taken in by Mark Longo seven years ago was confiscated after conservation officials received reports of ‘potentially unsafe housing of wildlife’

A New York man who turned a rescued squirrel into a social media star called Peanut is pleading with state authorities to return his beloved pet after they seized it during a raid that also yielded a raccoon named Fred.

Jacaranda season in Sydney – in pictures

admin — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 00:24:33 +0000

Sydney’s jacaranda trees are in full bloom, blanketing the city in purple and attracting crowds of people trying to capture that perfect frame

Indigenous cultural burning managed Australia’s bushfires long before colonisation. It’s needed now more than ever, a study says

admin — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 18:00:26 +0000

As wildfires become more frequent and intense due to the climate crisis, combining the First Nations practice with western techniques is ‘crucial’

Alaska governor awards $1m in state funds to Indigenous group backing oil drilling

admin — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 18:00:24 +0000

Voice of the Arctic Iñupiat is a backer of the controversial Willow oil drilling project

The administration of Alaska’s Republican governor, Mike Dunleavy, awarded at least $1m in state funds to a group claiming to represent a consensus of Indigenous support for new Arctic oil drilling, new research shows.

Essex car park to be test case for legislation to protect landscapes

admin — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 15:23:27 +0000

Campaigners say car park extension at Manningtree station inhibits access to Dedham Vale and threatens habitats

A commuter car park in Essex is to be one of the first test cases of whether the government will enforce new legislation aimed at protecting national parks and landscapes in England.

Rats trained to sniff out smuggled rhino horn and pangolin scales

admin — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 15:09:36 +0000

African giant pouched rats trained to alert their handlers when they find illegally trafficked wildlife products

Rats could be the latest weapon deployed in the fight against endangered wildlife trafficking, according to a study of rodents trained to sniff out pangolin scales, rhino horns, elephant tusks and hardwood.

‘It won’t wash’: Environment secretary’s bid to cosy up to water pollution protesters backfires

admin — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 13:26:12 +0000

Steve Reed’s letter to campaign groups ahead of demonstration met with anger from those who say he has ignored the key issue of privatisation

The environment secretary has caused a backlash among groups demanding an end to the pollution of rivers by water companies after a direct appeal ahead of a demonstration backfired. The intervention by Steve Reed, who wrote to activists saying they could trust him with forging change within the water industry, was met with anger by campaigners who said he was avoiding the key issue – that water privatisation has failed.

Sweden abolishes tax on plastic bags despite warnings usage could rise

admin — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 12:01:47 +0000

Levy that reduced usage by more than three-quarters in four years fell victim to rightwing culture wars, say critics

A tax that has reduced plastic bag consumption in Sweden by more than three-quarters in four years is being abolished on Friday, despite warnings that the move could lead to usage rising back towards previous levels.