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A male and female Chiriqui harlequin frog (<em>Atelopus chiriquiensis</em>) photographed in 2010. The species was declared extinct in 2019.
How Do Scientists Decide a Species Has Gone Extinct?
Getting it wrong can harm the very creatures that scientists are trying to protect.
How Do Scientists Decide a Species Has Gone Extinct?
How Do Scientists Decide a Species Has Gone Extinct?

Getting it wrong can harm the very creatures that scientists are trying to protect.

Getting it wrong can harm the very creatures that scientists are trying to protect.

wildlife conservation

Cover of <em>Pests.</em>
Book Excerpt from Pests
Bethany Brookshire | Nov 14, 2022 | 5 min read
In a chapter on cats, author Bethany Brookshire explores the thorny issue of felines that live freely.
Cover of <em>Pests.</em>
Opinion: Are Cats Friends or Fiends?
Bethany Brookshire | Nov 14, 2022 | 4 min read
In Pests: How Humans Create Animal Villains, I explore what it is that makes an animal a pest—and it has nothing to do with their behavior, but rather our own desires and beliefs about the natural world.
News feature
Photo of a long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis) sitting on a rock overlooking a large body of water.
What Happens to Science When Model Organisms Become Endangered?
Dan Robitzski | Oct 13, 2022 | 9 min read
The long-tailed macaque and pig-tailed macaque are now endangered in the wild according to the IUCN Red List, which says exports for monkey research are partially to blame.
A white deer mouse on sand surrounded by plants
Are We In the Midst of a Silent Mass Extinction?
Andy Carstens | Sep 22, 2022 | 7 min read
A new modeling technique aims to help scientists and policymakers detect declines in genetic diversity based on habitat loss.
Cougar leaving the mine entrance
A World of Wildlife in Abandoned Mines
Ian Rose | Jun 1, 2022 | 7 min read
Scientists reveal how mountain lions, elk, and other animals are making use of these underground areas in Colorado.
Photo of a North American caribou (Rangifer tarandus) in Jasper National Park in Canada
Dozens of Genes Tied to Caribou’s Seasonal Migration
Maddie Bender | May 2, 2022 | 2 min read
Researchers tracked the movements of endangered caribou and sequenced a portion of their genomes to determine which genes may influence migratory behavior.
A reticulated giraffe in Samburu National Park, Kenya
Whole-Genome Data Point to Four Species of Giraffe
Ruth Williams | May 6, 2021 | 4 min read
The genome sequences of 51 giraffes from all over Africa contribute to the latest attempt in an ongoing pursuit to pin down a species number.
Picture of Markus Dyck standing outside, wearing a red coat and ball cap.
Polar Bear Researcher Markus Dyck Dies in Helicopter Crash
Lisa Winter | Apr 30, 2021 | 2 min read
Dyck was widely respected for working alongside indigenous groups as he studied polar bears on their ancestral lands.
Slideshow: How Ecologists Study the World’s Apex Predators
Katarina Zimmer | Nov 1, 2020 | 4 min read
A global decline of large carnivores has motivated scientists to understand the animals’ ecological roles, and consider whether reintroducing them can help restore ecosystems.
Can Rewilding Large Predators Regenerate Ecosystems?
Katarina Zimmer | Nov 1, 2020 | 10+ min read
As some conservationists and researchers begin to return large carnivores to areas where they once roamed, scientists intensify efforts to study the ecological roles of predators.
Infographic: How Large Carnivores Sculpt Ecosystems
Katarina Zimmer | Nov 1, 2020 | 4 min read
The release of gray wolves in Yellowstone decades ago still stands as one of the few examples of a predator reintroduction, and the lessons learned continue to be debated. New projects aim to do it again.
a Tasmanian devil peaks out of a hollow log
How to Reintroduce a Long-Lost Species
Shawna Williams | Oct 20, 2020 | 9 min read
Conservation biologist John Ewen discusses the recent reintroduction of Tasmanian devils to mainland Australia after a 3,000-year absence and issues that need to be considered when bringing long-departed animals back into an area.
Poisoning Suspected in Recent Hooded Vulture Deaths
Amy Schleunes | Mar 11, 2020 | 2 min read
Experts warn that an explosion of hooded vulture deaths in Guinea-Bissau could push the critically endangered species to the brink of extinction.
Glowing Amphibians Extremely Common
Lisa Winter | Feb 28, 2020 | 2 min read
A study of the animals using blue light reveals what humans are not able to see with the naked eye.
Wild Birds Remember a Novel Task for Nearly Two Years
Amy Schleunes | Feb 18, 2020 | 5 min read
A population of North Island robins in a New Zealand sanctuary provides a unique system for investigating the memory skills of birds in the wild.
Conflicts of Interest at Conservation Group IUCN: Investigation
Amy Schleunes | Feb 14, 2020 | 2 min read
Buzzfeed uncovers trophy hunters among the ranks of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, which, critics say, may be impeding wildlife protection.
Researchers Fight a Devastating Amphibian Infection Using Heat
Jennifer Parker | Jan 13, 2020 | 5 min read
They’ve survived volcanic eruptions, but one Caribbean island’s mountain chicken frogs might need help from scientists to escape the lethal chytrid fungus.
Saving Mountain Chickens
The Scientist Staff | Jan 13, 2020 | 1 min read
Peek inside the effort to save this critically endangered Caribbean frog species.
How Interconnected Is Life in the Ocean?
Catherine Offord | Nov 1, 2019 | 10+ min read
To help create better conservation and management plans, researchers are measuring how marine organisms move between habitats and populations.
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