africa

Wow! The elephant shrew was considered a lost species up until recently! It hasn't been seen in 50 years, last scientific recording being back in the 1970s.

A country in the Horn of Africa, Djibouti, the creature was found during a scientific expedition. Found alive and well, we should add. 

The elephant shrew is so tiny, it can fit in the palm of your hand.  They are neither elephants nor shrews but do have a distinctive trunk-like nose. The elephant shrew actually is related to aardvarks, elephants, and manatees, believe it or not. 

Steven Heritage, a research scientist at the Duke University Lemur Center in Durham, and a member of the expedition that re-discovered the elephant shrew said he was thrilled to put the once lost species back on the radar! 

Heritage told BBC, "We were really excited and elated when we opened the first trap that had an elephant shrew in it, a Somali sengi. We did not know which species occurred in Djibouti and when we saw the diagnostic feature of a little tufted tail, we looked at each other and we knew that it was something special."

Story via BBC

Chester Zoo has some adorable new residents. The three hyrax pups were born there in July and they're as cute as newborn fur babies come. 

Lions: the most majestic creatures in the animal kingdom. Fierce, caring and playful, lions are the animals we all admire and fear a little. Continue reading to see beautiful pictures of lots of lions. 

This is an extraordinary triumph! One of the largest wildlife parks in Africa, Niassa Reserve, is marking a complete year without finding a single elephant found killed by poachers. The last time an elephant killed by poachers at the Niassa Reserve was May 17, 2018. This incredible turnaround is largely due to the more assertive police force, patrolling, and response by air, according to New-York-based Wildlife Conservation Society. 

A year ago, James Bampton, county director with the Wildlife Conservation Society, estimated that there were less than 2,000 elephants remaining in Niassa, and now with a preliminary analysis of date from a survey in October, Mr. Bampton indicates there are about 4,000 elephants in the reserve! 

Mr. Bampton told ABC News that the elephants in the reverse "stand a genuine chance for recovery."

See some images of the gentle giants below!

The last of Africa's big tusker elephants roam in the remote wilderness of Kenya. will Burrard-Lucas in partnership with the Tsavo Trust and the Kenya Wildlife Service, spent months photographing these rare stunning elephant pictures. You can see more of his intimate portraits in his book, Land of Giants. Check out some of the images of these majestic giants below: 

Story via The Guardian

Karma. We all know it, and although we can say it's a superstition, sometimes it comes around. In the case of a big game hunter… it definitely came.