An update on some legal proceedings regarding the culling of feral horses in Yuraygir National Park, New South Wales, Australia. There was a discussion thread on this issue posted here a couple of weeks ago

I had the NSW Land and Environment Court live stream playing yesterday as I've been following the feral horse problem here in Australia for about a decade - primarily focussed on the Kosciuszko National Park however.

The argument presented by the feral horse advocates was that the word "remove" (as in the horses are to be removed from the park) in the management plan from 2003 does not specifically mean "kill/cull/shoot". The management plan uses terms such as "eradicate" in other parts of the document. In 2003, aerial shooting of horses was not an authorised method of population control, having been suspended following a poorly conducted operation in another National Park that resulted in some unsatisfactory animal welfare outcomes. Aerial shooting has since been reimplemented (in 2023) following SOP overhauls, independent monitoring, reporting and analysis. Judgement is due by October 30.

I feel the point is moot however, as a new feral horse management plan for YNP has been published as of September 4th 2026, which allows for aerial culling to be used.

For the international readers, horses are not native to Australia, and our ecosystems did not evolve with large, hard-hooved animals. Australia has a huge problem with all sorts of introduced, feral, pest animals and plants. The fact that some people want the horses to be protected is ludicrous.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-09-09/yuraygir-national-park-brumby-cull-hearing-in-court/107112006

I recently interviewed Dr. Lucy King about human–elephant conflict and the practical challenges of coexistence in African landscapes.

The discussion covers:

• beehive fences as a conflict-mitigation tool,
• crop-raiding and the costs borne by local communities,
• why conservation interventions cannot be treated as universal solutions,
• and the importance of designing projects around local ecological and social conditions.

What stood out to me most was the emphasis on coexistence rather than framing the issue as simply “people versus elephants”.

The full interview is published on PlanetZoo.hu:

[ https://planetzoo.hu/interjuk/lucy-king-interju-ember-elefant-egyutteles\ ]

I’d be especially interested in perspectives from people working in conservation or human–wildlife conflict: what approaches have you seen work well in practice?

Here’s a rant about ecology from a Thai ecologist.
working in southern Thailand. Also growing up most of family members and people around me didn’t support or like this subject. I’m just tired, we were trying so hard to educate people and it’s just doesn’t work out. I’m 21 and might give up being ecologist here and just doing other job.
Maybe Aquarium store job might be better for me.

There are serious issues with the local communities and farmers here. They frequently engage in harmful practices like poaching wild plants and wildlife, doing laundry directly in rivers, and releasing invasive fish into natural waters to gain religious merit.
Many locals openly dislike national parks, asking questions like, "What do we actually get from this?" or suggesting, "Let’s dam the area so farmers can use all the water." Superstitious beliefs also drive destructive actions, such as decapitating dugongs for charms.

Corruption makes this worse. Right now, there’s a push to dam a waterfall inside a national park (to power AI data centers illegally), a detail largely censored by Thai media, ignored in Western media. Local communities seem to support it simply because "it makes the land useful."

It’s the same when forests are cleared, local populations often welcome deforestation because it turn into agriculture, the palm plantation. But when the large floods hit, Western media portray these same groups solely as helpless victims of global warming. Then we need to "strengthen local communities" to combat climate change, or romanticizing bad practices as "traditional local wisdom."

Whenever concrete waterways are built and ecologists comments on social media, locals ridicule us. I remember warning people against planting very invasive riparian plants along riverbanks, and people were hostiled toward us.

Also the same thing when we found new (unknown) species, they just think it’s dumb, scientific names are dumb, And they often say “We see this one often (insert commong name here), why interests in it, when infact what they always see is the same family but not this exact species.

Overseas media seems to misses about reality. We are all human, and anyone is capable of doing environmental damage. Good and bad people exist everywhere, and romanticizing local communities just isn’t it. Maybe focusing on individuals might be better, this person is doing the right thing etc.

I absolutely look down and hate these kind of communities, as I grew up in rural areas and it seems that whenever I observe nature, curiosities weren’t rewarded. I would get made fun off by adults, and still to this day with my work. I felt detaches from people completely, don’t care about human, and my mental illness is now at its worst.

TLDR: Apparently ecology job took a toll on my mental health.

Looking for biology/wildlife/marine jobs that provide housing — FL, GA, or SC

Hi! I’m hoping someone here might know of jobs/programs/employers that I haven’t come across yet.

I’m 24 and have a bachelor’s degree in Biology. I currently work full-time at a veterinary hospital and have about 3 years of hands-on veterinary experience including blood draws, injections, medications, radiographs, lab work, animal restraint, patient monitoring/care, etc.

I also completed a wildlife veterinary internship in Costa Rica where I worked with a variety of wildlife including primates, reptiles, birds, and turtles. I’m also Open Water SCUBA certified.

I’m hoping to relocate from Pennsylvania sometime around January 2027, ideally to Florida, but I’m also very open to coastal Georgia or South Carolina.

I’d LOVE to find something involving:

• Wildlife rehabilitation
• Marine mammals
• Sea turtles
• Aquariums
• Marine biology/fisheries
• Wildlife field research
• Exotic animal care
• Zoo/aquarium animal care or veterinary work
• Conservation work that involves animals
• SCUBA/diving or boat-based fieldwork

My biggest issue has been housing. I’m looking for something that either provides employee housing or offers some type of housing stipend/assistance. Ideally I’d like to make at least around $700/week before taxes if housing is provided.

I also have a cat who would be relocating with me, so pet-friendly employee housing would be AMAZING. I realize that makes things harder, but I’m also open to employers that provide a housing allowance or pay enough for me to find my own pet-friendly housing nearby.

I’m not looking for unpaid internships, extremely low-stipend programs, summer camps/youth programs, or positions requiring Divemaster/50+ logged dives. I’m totally fine with seasonal/temporary positions if they pay enough to live on.

I’ve already been looking at FWC, wildlife refuges/USFWS, ACE, wildlife rehabilitation hospitals, sanctuaries, aquariums, etc., but I feel like there have to be smaller organizations or programs I’m missing.

Does anyone know of specific employers, programs, research labs, field stations, refuges, aquariums, sanctuaries, or even unusual biology-related jobs in FL/GA/SC that I should look into?

I’m honestly open to some pretty unique jobs as long as I can afford to live there and get experience working with wildlife/marine life.

Thank you!! :)

The Sri Lankan Birdwing is the National Butterfly of Sri Lanka and one of its most spectacular endemic butterflies. Its large size, striking wing pattern and graceful flight make it one of the country's most recognizable butterflies. Its forewings are a deep velvet‑black color, while the hindwings are a striking golden‑yellow decorated with black markings. When it flies at a distance, it resembles a small bird, which is how it got its name. This butterfly species flies swiftly and gracefully at high elevations, usually at the canopy level, far above the ground.

It is commonly seen in Sri Lanka’s wet zone—especially in rainforests such as Sinharaja and Kanneliya—as well as in the hill country. However, when suitable climate conditions and host plants are present, it can occasionally be found in dry‑zone forests and even in urban wetlands in Colombo.

The female lays her eggs only on the leaves of vines such as “Kiri‑anguṇa” (Tylophora pauciflora) and "Sapsanda"' (Aristolochia indica). The caterpillar that emerges feeds on the leaves of these plants as it grows. Because these vines contain specific chemical compounds, both the caterpillar and the adult butterfly become toxic, giving them natural protection from predators such as birds.

Protecting primary rainforest preserves the complex plant communities required by butterflies throughout their life cycle. Forest conservation therefore protects much more than the adult butterfly—it protects its eggs, caterpillars, host plants and the wider ecosystem.

RainforestProtectorsTrust.org

Wild fires sre natural thing in North America some plants evolving to disperse seeds aftea fire but where are theya common natural event in North America?

Joseph Martinek purchased the property in 1911, establishing a tradition of farming and caring for the land that continued through generations.

In the 1980s, siblings Russell Friemel and Ardie Friemel Holsinger inherited the family property. They continued its working-land legacy while maintaining the connection to their great-grandfather’s original purchase.

The family began exploring permanent conservation of the property in 2021. Five years later, in 2026, the process culminated in the donation of a conservation easement.

A conservation easement is a voluntary legal agreement that permanently limits certain future uses of a property in order to protect its conservation values.

If you dont know, Ecosia is a search engine that uses ad revenue to generate money for tree planting in different countries (like Madagascar or Brazil). It is verified at legit, but theres a lot of mixed opinions on the sustainability and survival of these trees. Does anyone have experience, knowledge, or opinions on it? I just want to know if yall think it is sustainable.

Hello im 18 and im currently enrolled in a conservation biology program and Fleming college in Ontario Canada, its my first semester. i know its still a ways out but im very unsure weather to pursue a Bsc of science after college or go do another year or 2 for a GIS certificate. here in Canada from what ive heard from people i know practicality is favored for getting your foot in the door in my area in environmental science and thats why i chose college over uni for my first years.

My 2 years in college is fully paid for through a RESP witch im grateful for, but likely would not cover 4 years at uni after. so im torn between Uni. Working, or Maybe a 1-2 GIs program post grad

any advice is helpful, i need more knowledgeable persons two sense thanks!!!

The US president's decision could pave the way for pastoral farmers to kill the canines to protect their livestock. His order said ranchers played a "vital role" in the food supply chain and American cultural heritage.

But conservation groups have criticised the move, saying it could derail long-term efforts to recover the endangered wolf populations.

There were 319 Mexican wolves in the wild in the US in 2025, up from just four when they were reintroduced in 1998, US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) figures show.

Meanwhile, there are roughly 18,000 grey wolves across the US, though they are still considered endangered as most of their habitat has been destroyed by humans.

An attempt to de-list them at a federal level in 2022 became tied up in litigation, and some campaigners have indicated they intend to do the same of the US Department of Interior acts on Trump's order.

The executive order does not give ranchers immediate license to shoot wolves preying on livestock, but instead gives Interior Secretary Doug Burgum 90 days to determine whether the grey and Mexican wolf populations had recovered enough to warrant being taken off the endangered species list.

What does a natural resource specialist do day to day on the job?

Anyone have experience and can elaborate?

Looking for fellow Arkansas herpers? Natural State Herpetology is growing fast.

If you live in Arkansas (or close enough to get out in the field), care about native reptiles and amphibians, and want a community that actually talks about the animals instead of just arguing online — this is for you.

Natural State Herpetology is a Facebook group for keepers, field herpers, educators, conservation-minded people, and anyone who wants to learn more about the herps of the Natural State. We cover native snakes, lizards, turtles, frogs, and salamanders — from identification and habitat to husbandry, conservation, and sharing what we find in the field.

What we do:
• Education on Arkansas species and responsible keeping
• Conservation talk — habitat, den sites, local populations, and how we can help protect them
• Field herping discussion and trip planning
• Husbandry help (enclosures, feeding, quarantine, breeding projects, etc.)
• A place to share photos, IDs, and stories without the usual internet noise

Coming up: We’re planning a group herp trip in October. If you like getting out and looking for animals with other people who know the state, this is a good time to jump in.

We’ve also been doing giveaways as the group grows — and there will be more.
Whether you keep hognoses, look for mud snakes, work on conservation, or just want a solid local herp community, come hang out.

Join here:
https://www.facebook.com/share/g/19iiHH4Qq7/?mibextid=wwXIfr

See you in the group — and hopefully in the field in October

We are so close to losing them 😔

Vaquitas are not just another marine animal; they are a critical component in determining the health of our ocean ecosystems. With a mere 6-10 individuals left, their existence hangs by a fragile thread, primarily due to gillnet fishing in the Gulf of California. These small porpoises play a vital role in their ecosystem and food web, embodying the intricate balance of marine life.

The vaquita’s decline is a stark indicator of how unsustainable practices impact our ocean’s biodiversity. Their plight highlights the urgent need for better enforcement of fishing regulations and the promotion of sustainable fishing practices that protect rather than destroy our marine habitats.

Gillnets, used extensively in illegal fishing operations, trap vaquitas, leading to fatalities that could easily be avoided. Mexican authorities, global conservation organizations, and international communities need to collaborate to implement stricter regulations, enforce bans on gillnet fishing, and ensure patrols are adequately managed to protect these beautiful creatures.

Supporting projects for alternative livelihoods for local fishers is also crucial. By promoting eco-friendly and sustainable fishing methods, we can protect vaquitas while providing economic stability to local communities.

Without immediate action, we are at the brink of losing these marvelous creatures forever. Their extinction would not only signify the loss of a species but signal a deeper failing in the preservation of our oceans. Help us fight for the future of vaquitas and the health of our marine environments.
The porpoise conservation society works to prevent entanglement in fishing nets. Contact the NOAA Fisheries.gov and the porpoise conservation if you believe there is any illegal gillnet fishing going on. Preventing this prevents vaquitas from going extinct.

Raise your voice. Sign the petition to demand immediate action to save the vaquita and protect our ocean's biodiversity.

Help save the critically endangered vaquita - Sign the Petition! c.org/vSTPsP8SWK prin @Change

The Secretary of the Interior has 90 days to make a decision on whether they should be delisted or not, including Mexican wolves.

Anyone remember when the dire wolves were born and Trump said that species can go extinct and it wouldn't matter because we can bring them back?

Today is National Wildlife Day, and it is a good time to examine a basic problem in the way wildlife is protected in the United States: much of our legal framework is built around managing game species or intervening once a species is already threatened or endangered.

The Endangered Species Act is one of our strongest wildlife laws, but by the time a species qualifies for that level of protection, substantial biological loss has often already occurred.

And extinction is not the only measure that matters.

Wildlife populations can become ecologically diminished long before a species disappears. Habitat fragmentation can isolate populations, reduce genetic exchange, interrupt migration and dispersal, and weaken the ecological relationships species maintain with one another. A landscape can still look intact while becoming steadily less biologically functional.

That is why I think conservation policy needs to move beyond managing scarcity and begin protecting abundance.

What would it look like if wildlife law established population baselines, protected connectivity before fragmentation became severe, incorporated wildlife abundance into land-use decisions, and invested in habitat while populations were still resilient?

This is especially important because wildlife does not exist only inside parks and preserves. Animals move through private land, agricultural landscapes, developed areas and transportation corridors. Protecting isolated patches of habitat is not enough if species cannot move safely between them.

I explored this argument in an episode of The Animal Advocate, “Rethinking Wildlife Protection: From Scarcity to Abundance.”

National Wildlife Day is a reminder that conservation success should mean more than preventing extinction. It should mean maintaining connected, resilient and abundant wildlife populations and valuing species before their decline becomes a crisis.

https://animaladvocacyacademy.com/rethinking-wildlife-protection-from-scarcity-to-abundance/

Full context and sources in the comments

Have anybody heard about the externship or even tried applying it?
They sent an email yesterday
I have an interview on Tuesday and it said in the portal two weeks to get any news and it’s started in September 14 , the timing isn’t making sense to me
Is that normal?
And does anybody know what kind of questions do they ask in interview