A jaguar in Brazil has set a new record for the longest swim by the species, paddling over a mile across an artificial lake, which raises important questions about jaguar movement and habitat connectivity amid increasing habitat fragmentation due to human activities like hydropower development. This discovery could influence conservation strategies by highlighting the potential for jaguars to traverse water barriers, emphasizing the importance of habitat corridors and islets for their survival.
A poignant photo of a sloth clinging to a barbed wire fence in Costa Rica highlights the impact of habitat fragmentation on wildlife, as the species struggles to find trees to cross between due to human development. The image is part of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025 competition, which showcases stunning and thought-provoking images of nature and animals worldwide.
Research at Michigan State University reveals that habitat fragmentation is causing inbreeding among Michigan's eastern massasauga rattlesnake populations, leading to decreased reproductive success and survival rates, which threatens the species' future. Reconnecting habitats and other conservation efforts are recommended to mitigate these effects.
Biologists with the National Park Service discovered three 24-day-old mountain lion kittens in the Simi Hills, west of Los Angeles. The kittens, identified as P-113, P-114, and P-115, must now survive in an increasingly urbanized area of Southern California. Mountain lions in Los Angeles County are significantly threatened by the development of roads and cities, with vehicle strikes being a leading cause of mountain lion deaths. The new kittens are an "encouraging" sign for the small population of mountain lions in the area.
Biologists discovered three 24-day-old mountain lion kittens in the Simi Hills, west of Los Angeles. The kittens, identified as P-113, P-114, and P-115, must now survive in an increasingly urbanized area of Southern California. The NPS tracks the cats to determine how urbanization and habitat fragmentation affect these animals' lives. Mountain lions in Los Angeles County are significantly threatened by the development of roads and cities, with vehicle strikes being a leading cause of mountain lion deaths. However, the discovery of the new kittens is an "encouraging" sign for the small population of mountain lions in the area.
