Articles for author: Sameen David

Sameen David

Wyoming's Actual Jackalope Is An Extinct Horny Rodent

Wyoming’s Prehistoric Jackalope: Ceratogaulus and Its Horned Legacy

Wyoming – Paleontologists continue to marvel at Ceratogaulus, a long-extinct rodent that once navigated the state’s ancient plains with two prominent horns protruding from its skull. This creature inhabited the region throughout the Miocene and Pliocene epochs, carving out a niche as a burrowing survivor. Resembling the folklore jackalope in its horned profile, Ceratogaulus stands ...

Sameen David

Community-led ecotourism protects rebounding wild cattle in Thailand

Thailand’s Banteng Revival: Ecotourism Transforms Conflict into Community Prosperity

Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand – Herds of russet-colored banteng now graze openly in grassy clearings near this premier protected area, drawing visitors and marking a conservation triumph. Once teetering on the brink of extinction in the country, these wild cattle have rebounded dramatically, prompting local communities to pivot from potential conflict to sustainable ...

Sameen David

Colombia announces plan to cull Pablo Escobar’s feral hippos

Colombia Authorizes Culling of Dozens of Escobar’s Invasive Hippos

Bogotá, Colombia – Officials have greenlit a controversial plan to cull up to 80 feral hippos, descendants of animals once housed in drug lord Pablo Escobar’s private zoo. The decision addresses a growing ecological crisis in the country’s central rivers and wetlands, where the non-native mammals have multiplied unchecked for decades. Environment Minister Irene Vélez ...

Sameen David

The First North African Ape Emerges from the Sands

Egypt’s Ancient Jaw Fossil Reveals Ape Ancestors’ Northern Roots

Northern Egypt – An international team of paleontologists announced the discovery of a new ape species that promises to alter long-held views on primate evolution. Recovered from 17- to 18-million-year-old rocks in the Wadi Moghra region, the fossils represent the first definitive early ape known from North Africa. This find positions the creature near the ...

Sameen David

A tiny predator from ancient Spain just doubled the weasel family's evolutionary timeline

Miocene Fossil in Spain Doubles Weasel Family’s Evolutionary Timeline

Teruel, Spain – Paleontologists have identified a jaw fragment from decades-old excavations that fundamentally alters the known history of weasels and their kin. The specimen, named Galanthis baskini, dates to the late Miocene epoch approximately 6.5 million years ago. This discovery effectively doubles the previous timeline for the Mustelinae subfamily, which previously relied on fossils ...

Sameen David

Studying the world’s largest gathering of forest elephants with sound and field observation

Central African Republic – Acoustics and Eyes on the Ground Reveal Forest Elephants’ Hidden World at Dzanga Bai

In the southwestern corner of the Central African Republic, a vast clearing known as Dzanga Bai emerges from the dense Congo Basin rainforest. Forest elephants, elusive giants that typically navigate thick canopies in small, nocturnal groups, converge here by the hundreds. Researchers have turned this natural phenomenon into a vital observatory, blending traditional field watching ...

Sameen David

Wildlife Management and Conservation and the Animal Rights Philosophy

TWS Updates Position on Animal Rights Versus Wildlife Conservation Practices

The Wildlife Society recently endorsed a revised position statement addressing tensions between animal rights principles and established wildlife management strategies across North America. Approved by the TWS Council in March 2026, the document explores alignments and conflicts with the animal welfare philosophy that underpins conservation efforts. This update reflects ongoing debates in the field as ...

Sameen David

Softshell turtles in Miocene Poland: a “tropical” surprise in the north

Miocene Poland’s Tropical Surprise: Softshell Turtle Fossils Reveal Far-Northern Reach

Southern Poland – Paleontologists recently identified the first confirmed fossils of softshell turtles from the Middle Miocene, around 12 million years ago. These remains, unearthed near Kielce, point to environments warm enough for tropical species even as global temperatures cooled. The discovery challenges assumptions about ancient distributions and highlights the role of ancient seas in ...