Savannas News

In a large room that used to house aquatic mammals at the Minnesota Zoo, Erik Runquist holds up a vial and says, "Here are its eggs." I peer inside and…

Landlocked in the navel of South America, the forests, wetlands and savannahs of Paraguay boast rich biodiversity and endemic species, yet the unique landscapes of Paraguay also face increasing threats,…

The flagship species of India's grasslands and savannas, the Critically Endangered Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps). Photo by: Ramki Sreenivasan/Conservation India. The Great Indian Bustard, one of India's iconic birds,…

Cambodia lost more than half of its seasonally flooded grasslands in ten years due to industrial agricultural conversion, abandonment of traditional farming, and illegal drainage, putting several endangered bird species…

Grasslands in Kenya's Masai Mara. Photo by: Rhett A. Butler. Few of the world's ecosystems are more iconic than Africa's sprawling savannahs home to elephants, giraffes, rhinos, and the undisputed…

Lion with a snare around its neck. Photo by: Frederike Otten. Courtesy of Panthera. Bushmeat hunting has become a grave concern for species in West and Central Africa, but a…

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)'s last herd of zebra run free in Upemba. Photo courtesy of the FZS. Zebra racing across the yellow-green savannah is an iconic image for…

Maned wolf at Beardsley Zoo. Photo by: Sage Ross. Known for its abnormally long lanky legs, its reddish-orange coat, and its omnivorous diet, the maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) is one…

Change in vegetation cover by biome across Latin America, 2001-2010. Click image to enlarge. Latin America lost nearly 260,000 square kilometers (100,000 square miles) of forest — an area larger…

Grassland in Kenya As the world warms, scientists are working rapidly to understand how ecosystems will change, including which species will benefit and which will falter. A new study in…

The Congo rainforest today in Gabon. Photo by: Rhett A. Butler. Three thousand years ago (around 1000 BCE) several large sections of the Congo rainforest in central Africa suddenly vanished…

To read more about Tanzania's recent announcement related to the Serengeti road: Unpaved road through Serengeti to progress. The controversial Serengeti road is going ahead, but with conditions. According to…

To read more about Tanzania's recent announcement related to the Serengeti road: Richard Leakey: 'selfish' critics choose wrong fight in Serengeti road. After a week of confusion, the Tanzanian government…

The Eskimo curlew painted by Archibald Thorburn. The Eskimo curlew is (or perhaps, 'was') a small migratory shorebird with a long curved beak, perfect for searching shorelines and prairie grass…

Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, an immense expanse of East African savanna, is a world famous tourist destination because of its plentiful megafauna, particularly the great migrating herds of wildebeest.…

Destruction of Brazil's cerrado, a woody savanna that covers 20 percent of the country, slowed during the 2008-2009, reports Brazil's Ministry of Environment. Data from Brazil's National Space Research Institute…

The African environmental group, GeaSphere, has lodged a complaint with the Forest Stewardship Council's (FSC) for certifying tree plantations as sustainable that are culling baboons in South Africa, as first…

Brazil announced a plan to protect the cerrado, the vast woody savanna that covers 20 percent of the country but has become the nation's biggest single source of carbon emissions…

75 percent of birds and dung beetles remain even after a forest is logged twice. The United States will cut Brazil's debt payments by $21 million under a debt-for-nature that…

Tourists, conservationists, individuals, and tour companies have launched an international outcry against the Tanzanian authorities in response to the announcement of the planned construction of the trans-Serengeti Highway highway. There…

Damage to Brazil's vast cerrado grassland results in greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those produced by destruction of the Amazon rainforest, said Carlos Minc, the country's Environment Minister. Speaking on…

Efforts to protect the world's largest and rarest species of zebra — Grévy's Zebra (Equus grevyi) — hinge on engaging communities to lead conservation in their region, says a Kenyan…

Brazil will try to reduce deforestation of the cerrado, a wooded grassland ecosystem in Brazil that is being destroyed twice as fast as the Amazon rainforest, according to the country's…

Painted Dog population falls 99%, but community efforts could save species Painted Dog population falls 99%, but community efforts could save species An interview with Peter Blinston of Painted Dog…

40% of Australia is undisturbed wilderness 40% of Australia is undisturbed wilderness mongabay.com August 27, 2008 More than 40 percent of Australia—three million square kilometers—is undisturbed wilderness, reports a new…

Biofuels can reduce emissions, but not when grown in place of rainforests Biofuels can reduce emissions, but not when grown in place of rainforests mongabay.com July 22, 2008 Biofuels meant…

Some grasslands resilient against climate change, according to 13 year study Some grasslands resilient against climate change, according to 13 year study Jeremy Hance, mongabay.com July 7, 2008 In Buxton,…

REDD could trigger bias in conservation finance towards carbon-rich ecosystems REDD could trigger bias in conservation funding towards carbon-rich ecosystems Rhett Butler, mongabay.com June 12, 2008 The Reducing Emissions from…

Marauding kangaroos may drive extinction of earless dragons in Australia Marauding kangaroos may drive extinction of earless dragons in Australia mongabay.com May 21, 2008 A plague of kangaroos overgrazing sensitive…

Deforestation a greater threat to the Amazon than global warming Deforestation a greater threat to the Amazon than global warming Rhett A. Butler, mongabay.com February 25, 2008 Some researchers doubt…