DEADLY ANTHRAX KILLS DOZENS OF HIPPOS IN VIRUNGA, OFFICIALS WARN AGAINST WILD MEAT

Mon 14 April 2025: Around 50 hippos have died due to an anthrax outbreak in Virunga National Park, Africa’s oldest national park. The dead animals were found floating in a river south of Lake Edward, near the border of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda. Park director Emmanuel De Merode. Anthrax, caused by […]

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SCIENTISTS REVIVE DIRE WOLF IN FIRST ‘DE-EXTINCTION’

Wed 09 April 2025: A wolf species that disappeared 12,500 years ago, the “dire wolf,” has been revived by a US-based biotech company, marking the world’s first “de-extinction” in a ground-breaking achievement. Colossal Biosciences, the Texas-based genetic engineering company behind the creation of the colossal woolly mouse, announced Monday that scientists used ancient DNA, cloning […]

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MICROCHIPS & MISSING PETS: WHY PET OWNERS SHOULD TAKE NOTE

Tue 08 April 2025: In a country where animal welfare is often challenged by resource constraints, microchipping emerges as a small act with a big impact. Whether you live in the suburbs of Johannesburg or the rural outskirts of Limpopo, the benefits of microchipping your pet are significant — and increasingly essential. “It’s a cost-effective […]

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RECORD GLOBAL TEMPERATURES IN MARCH ILLUSTRATE THREAT TO CLIMATE GOALS

Tue 08 April 2025: Average global temperature in March was 1.6C higher than in pre-industrial times, threatening that international climate goals are moving out of reach. Global temperatures hovered at historic highs last month, and Europe experienced its warmest March, suggesting international climate goals could be moving out of reach. The average temperature in March […]

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SOUTH AFRICANS FLUSH TOILETS WITH DRINKABLE WATER: STUDY IN CAPE TOWN LOOKED AT USING SEAWATER INSTEAD

At Camps Bay, Cape Town, wastewater is pumped out to sea. Steve Kretzmann/GroundUp Sun 06 April 2025: As the planet gets hotter and freshwater sources dry up, cities and towns will not be able to continue the global norm of using millions of litres of clean, drinkable water to flush toilets. South Africa’s Water Research Commission […]

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INDIA’S RESERVOIRS TURN INTO POWERHOUSES WITH FLOATING SOLAR PANELS

Mon 31 March 2025: Floating solar panels installed on reservoir lakes in India have grown to a size visible from space. These systems save land, reduce evaporation, and help prevent algal blooms. India is expanding these projects across the country, turning reservoir lakes into energy hubs. While installation costs are high and environmental impacts remain debated, these […]

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AIR POLLUTION KILLS AROUND 5.7M PEOPLE EVERY YEAR: WORLD BANK

Sat 29 March 2025: The World Bank reported Thursday that air pollution claims the lives of around 5.7 million people each year, with 95% of deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries. In a report titled Accelerating Access to Clean Air on a Livable Planet, the bank estimated that air pollution causes an economic loss equivalent to about 5% […]

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GOVERNMENT IMPLEMENTS MEASURES TO PROTECT PENGUIN POPULATIONS

Tue 25 March 2025: Government has implemented island closures with immediate effect to enhance the conservation of South Africa’s penguin populations.  This follows the recent finalisation of a historic settlement agreement — in the form of a court order — securing critical protections for South Africa’s penguin populations. The landmark agreement — reached between the […]

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