Endangered

Not content with the woolly mammoth and the thylacine, Colossal Biosciences has now announced the third animal on its de-extinction list – the dodo. The company has received new funding, and provided an update on its scientific progress so far.

Despite protective measures, endangered fish species are regularly caught then sold in open markets. And while visually searching them out can be difficult, a new technology could more easily allow authorities to know which species are being sold.

A species of chameleon lost to science for over a century has now been found. Voeltzkow’s chameleon, or Furcifer voeltzkowi, was rediscovered during a research expedition to Madagascar, which identified several surprisingly colorful individuals.

Researchers have resurrected woolly mammoth genes, from one of the last known mammoth populations, in the lab. These mammoths were believed to have suffered genetic defects, and in tests the team found that the genes did not function normally.

In 2012 Lonesome George passed away, and the Pinta Island tortoise was declared extinct. But now, genetic studies have revealed that tortoises on neighboring islands carry on the lineage – and hint that surviving members may be hiding somewhere.

An international team of scientists has identified a new species of orangutan, living in an isolated part of North Sumatra. Dubbed Pongo Tapanuliensis, comprehensive studies of its genomes and skull confirmed it as a distinct species. And unfortunately, it’s already critically endangered.

Solomon Islands locals have long spoken about giant rats that scurry around in trees and crack open coconuts, but it was never clear whether such a species really existed. Now, scientists have found the creatures, and confirmed that they are in fact a brand new species.

​​Scientists have taught us pretty much all that we know about the animal kingdom, but are there times when they are better off keeping their discoveries to themselves?

Researchers have discovered that there are in fact three subspecies of snow leopard, rather than just one type as previously believed, with the droppings left behind on wildlife trails proving to be the tell-tale sign. ​

​What was once a hotspot for the leopards of Africa has experienced an alarming population decline, with new research finding that numbers of the large cats are plummeting due mostly to illegal hunting. If the trend isn't reversed, the animals could be gone in the region within three years.

A new study has revealed what the impacts of human-wildlife conflict mean for the outlook of the cheetah, estimating the animal has conceded 91 percent of its traditional range and that just 7,100 remain as a result, prompting calls for urgent action to save it from the brink of extinction. ​​

What options do endangered animals looking for a prospective mate have? Well, thanks to a DNA matchmaking algorithm developed by scientists at Australia's Flinders University, solitary nights and inbreeding are no longer their only options.