Tiger breeding, exports flourish in S.Africa: charity
South Africa's legal lion breeding has spawned a tiger farming industry for commercial exports, potentially posing a threat to the species already in decline, an animal welfare group warned Tuesday......»»
RNA has been recovered from an extinct species for the first time
A new study shows the isolation and sequencing of more than a century-old RNA molecules from a Tasmanian tiger specimen preserved at room temperature in a museum collection. This resulted in the reconstruction of skin and skeletal muscle transcriptom.....»»
Wild animals leave DNA on plants, making them easier to track: What scientists found in a Ugandan rainforest
The world is losing animals at an alarming rate due to habitat degradation, climate change and illegal human activities in the wildlife protected areas. In fact, it is estimated that, by 2100, more than half of Africa's bird and mammal species could.....»»
Fifty-year study reveals climate change and avian flu impact on UK seabirds
A scientist who has dedicated his life to studying seabirds has revealed how climate change has led to mass mortality events, altered breeding times and how the population is now being devastated by bird flu, in one of the world's longest running stu.....»»
NightDragon and CyberKnight strengthen cybersecurity in the Middle East, Turkey and Africa
NightDragon announced a new strategic partnership with CyberKnight to continue the international expansion capabilities of its portfolio companies and bring the latest CSSP innovations to customers in the Middle East, Turkey, Africa (META) and other.....»»
The cloning of the first genic dominant male sterility gene in rice may revolutionize breeding processes
Male sterility in plants provides valuable breeding tools in germplasm innovation and hybrid crop production. However, genetic resources for dominant genic male sterility, which holds great promise to facilitate breeding processes, are extremely rare.....»»
Grassland expansion was not a main driver of mammal evolution in Plio-Pleistocene Africa, research suggests
Mammal evolution in Africa, including that of modern human ancestors, through the late Cenozoic (Plio-Pleistocene, ~5.3 million years ago) may not have been driven by the expansion of grasslands as previously thought, new research has suggested......»»
A Global Surge in Cholera Outbreaks May Be Fueled by Climate Change
One of the world's deadliest diseases is rising again as extreme weather creates a perfect breeding ground for the bacteria......»»
Africa Climate Week advances tree restoration pledges but a big seed shortage remains
If you are going to restore 24 million hectares of degraded land, a lot of things need to go right. Sub-Saharan countries Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ghana and Kenya plan to have that much land on track to being restored by 2030. While several components.....»»
Eating insects: The UK seems much more reluctant than the EU to let this industry flourish
Like it or not, there are lots of good arguments for eating insects—both in animal feeds and on human plates. You can farm them with much less land, water and feed than the likes of cows and sheep. Their greenhouse gas emissions are significantly l.....»»
Four takeaways from Walter Isaacson"s biography of Elon Musk
"You'll never be successful," Errol Musk in 1989 told his 17-year-old son Elon, who was then preparing to fly from South Africa to Canada to find relatives and a college education......»»
Musk ignored pleas to stop alienating advertisers, new book says
Elon Musk’s $44 billion takeover of the social media institution once known as Twitter has drawn criticism for allegedly degrading the experience to advertisers and interest groups for allowing hate speech to flourish......»»
Q&A: What caused Morocco"s earthquake? A geologist studying the Atlas mountains explains
The epicenter of Morocco's devastating earthquake on 8 September was in the High Atlas Mountains, about 71km south-west of Marrakesh. Moina Spooner, from The Conversation Africa, asked Jesús Galindo-Zaldivar, who has been carrying out research on th.....»»
New analysis reveals the differing threats to African lion populations
New research published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment, reveals alarming data about dwindling lion populations in Africa but gives new insight into conservation strategies......»»
South Africa"s great white sharks are changing locations—they need to be monitored for beach safety and conservation
South Africa is renowned for having one of the world's biggest populations of great white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias). Substantial declines have been observed, however, in places where the sharks normally gather on the coast of the Western Cape p.....»»
Satellite texts help when farm advisors unavailable
Digital tools such as satellite text alerts are helping Africa's smallholder farmers to increase productivity, even when there is a lack of on-the-ground farm advice, according to Daniel Elger, CEO of the Centre for Agricultural Biosciences Internati.....»»
Migration in West Africa: New study on Nigeria shows the ambivalence of biometric ID systems
Most states in West Africa lack reliable data on the number and origin of migrants living within their borders. Rulers often exploit this lack of clarity in a way that consolidates their own position of power. Biometric ID technologies play a key rol.....»»
Carbon markets are "bogus solutions" as rich world keeps polluting, African Climate Summit is told
A Nigerian environmental activist declared Wednesday at the first African Climate Summit that carbon markets are "bogus solutions," providing a sharp reminder that not all of Africa's 1.3 billion people support richer countries using the continent's.....»»
S.African rhino farm, world"s largest, bought by NGO
The largest rhino farm in the world, which is home to 2,000 animals and located in South Africa, has been bought by the NGO African Parks, the organization said Monday......»»
Can Africa grasp its green-powered potential?
No continent has been hit harder by climate change than Africa, and yet none has more potential for a future centered on green energy, a top expert has told AFP in an interview......»»
New analysis suggests human ancestors nearly died out
Study claims 99% of human ancestors died off 930,000 years ago. Enlarge (credit: Getty Images) Multiple lines of evidence indicate that modern humans evolved within the last 200,000 years and spread out of Africa startin.....»»