The Columbian

Pets & Wildlife

A rescued Green sea turtle swims in a pond at the Khor Kalba Conservation Reserve in the city of Kalba, on the east coast of the United Arab Emirates, Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2022. A staggering 75% of all dead green turtles and 57% of all loggerhead turtles in Sharjah had eaten marine debris, including plastic bags, bottle caps, rope and fishing nets, a new study published in the Marine Pollution Bulletin. The study seeks to document the damage and danger of the throwaway plastic that has surged in use around the world and in the UAE, along with other marine debris.

Turtles dying from eating trash show plastics scourge in UAE

February 8, 2022, 8:24am Life

KALBA, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The hawksbill sea turtle lay belly-up on the metal autopsy table, its shell ashen and stomach taut. Read story

A bull shark swims around with fish. The International Shark Attack File released its annual report last month and found 73 documented shark attacks in 2021, a stark contrast from 2020's total of 52.

Volusia County, Fla., remains shark-bite capital of the world

February 4, 2022, 6:03am Life

Florida is once again the shark bite capital of the world as numbers jumped globally after three years of declines, according to the annual update from the International Shark Attack File. Read story

FILE - In this April 27, 2017 photo, a pack of peacocks mill about at an intersection in the Coconut Grove neighborhood of Miami. Peacocks could soon be on the outs in some Miami-Dade neighborhoods after the county commission agreed to loosen a law protecting the birds. The 20-year-old law still protects peacocks from harm, but commissioners agreed Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2022, to allow cities to opt out of the rules if they present appropriate plans to humanely remove the divisive birds from areas where they're not wanted.

Miami agrees to do something about its peacock problem

February 2, 2022, 9:07am Life

Peacocks could be on the outs in some South Florida neighborhoods after the Miami-Dade commission agreed to loosen a law protecting the birds. Read story

Cool temperatures brought dozens of manatees to the Florida Power and Light Manatee Lagoon in Riviera Beach, Fla. Wednesday, Jan 19, 2022. Environmental groups say Florida's manatees are dying at a record rate and need federal protection for their seaside habitat. The groups filed a lawsuit Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2022 in federal court in Washington.

Manatees in Florida need greater protection, lawsuit says

February 1, 2022, 10:06am Life

Florida's manatees are dying at a record rate and need federal protection for their seaside habitat, environmental groups said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday. Read story

A burrowing owl in a habitat at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, Calif., in 2014.

Welcoming owls to new neighborhood

February 1, 2022, 6:05am Life

Settling into a new home can be tough for anyone. So scientists have come up with some tricks to make transplanted burrowing owls feel like they are not alone in their new digs, playing owl sounds and scattering fake poop. Read story

Willow, the president and first lady's new cat, explores her new digs in the West Wing.

Here, kitty: Bidens welcome cat named Willow to White House

January 28, 2022, 11:02am Latest News

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden have finally added the long-promised cat to their pet family. Read story

This male Sumatran orangutan named Kaja was born Jan. 4 to Indah, a 35-year-old female at the San Diego Zoo.

San Diego Zoo welcomes baby orangutan birth

January 28, 2022, 6:07am Life

Births are spreading New Year’s cheer at the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park. Read story

Dallas Zoo says bittersweet farewell to Mshindi the chimpanzee

January 28, 2022, 6:00am Nation & World

On Jan. 12, staff at the Dallas Zoo loaded 7-year-old Mshindi into the back of a truck and wished him well as he began a nearly 1,500-mile journey to the Los Angeles Zoo, where he’ll spend a month in quarantine before being introduced to his new troop. Read story

This June 2018 photo provided by Zoo Atlanta shows Ozzie, the world's oldest male gorilla. Ozzie was found dead by his care team at the Atlanta zoo Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022 zoo officials announced. He was 61.

World’s oldest male gorilla dies at Atlanta zoo at age of 61

January 27, 2022, 12:21pm Life

The world's oldest male gorilla, named Ozzie, was found dead by his care team at the Atlanta zoo Tuesday, zoo officials announced. Ozzie was 61. Read story