The invasive pest from China, the spotted lanternfly, has recently invaded the Northeastern United States. In the interim, one-of-a-kind animal antics have continued to enthrall observers in other urban spots. From a wallaby’s daring escape in France to a humpback whale’s majestic breach in Brazil, these events highlight the ongoing interactions between species and their environments.
The invasive spotted lanternfly has made huge in-roads across the Northeastern U.S. this summer. Agricultural experts have been in a tizzy because this pest endangers billions of dollars worth of crops and shade trees. While this invasive pest isn’t a threat to humans, its destruction to local environments and farms is nothing short of catastrophic. Just the other week, a spotted lanternfly crashed the party. It slithered along a railing during a lengthy semifinal tennis match at the Mubadala Citi DC Open in Washington, D.C. This rare freak-out was disturbing to onlookers but brought national attention to the insect’s invasive spread into urban neighborhoods.
At work in the Red Sea, scientists used a new high-resolution scientific imaging system. Their team got stunning footage of an endangered hawksbill sea turtle swimming through a neon universe of bioluminescence. In this case, the use of a “fisheye” lens allowed for a unique perspective of this turtle’s gliding motions through the colorful underwater terrain. These breakthroughs in imaging technology are helping scientists understand not just marine life but how it interacts with our changing environment.
In Guanabara Bay, near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, observers were treated to the sight of a humpback whale breaching the water’s surface. These magnificent animals can be seen en route on their migratory path to the Abrolhos archipelago. There, they converge to breed during the short breeding season. These mighty marine mammals jump out of the water, leaving both residents and visitors alike in total awe. While this spectacle is amazing to experience, it highlights the growing need to protect their habitats.
One wallaby recently dominated headlines in Europe after it made a successful leap from its enclosure at a zoo in Mouscron, Belgium. Ultimately, it was found jumping about in Wattrelos, northern France. Wallaby’s adventurous jailbreak Wallaby’s audacious escape went viral on social media. As it jumped from chair to couch to table to floor, everyone watching was worried for it and rooting for its fearless exploration of the world. Wildlife authorities are keeping a close eye on the situation, with the goal being to safely catch the wallaby and return it to its home.
Rescue efforts focus on bharals. These incredible wild sheep live in the breathtaking Qilian Mountain National Park. Fortunately, rescuers have been able to rehabilitate many of the affected individuals, allowing them to be returned to the wild. These types of projects are a testimony to the commitment to Our Endangered Species and providing the ecosystems that they are meant to thrive in.
As the rainy season starts in Senegal, vervet monkeys are coming into a birth peak after a 5.5-month gestation. At the Bandia wildlife reserve close to Dakar, mothers gladly showcase their newborns. This idyllic image captures the tenderness of new life among the vibrant, blooming foliage. Each of these sightings is a testament to the beauty and wonder that accompanies nature’s rhythms and the great need for conservation’s work to keep these primates safe.
We were treated to the best sea lion behavior, with the graceful animals swimming peacefully. This occurred despite the warning tsunami on approach close to Antsiferov Island in the northern near the chain of Kurils. Wildlife exhibits fantastic resiliency when it comes to ephemeral disasters. It is their instinctual reactions to the habitat alterations that make them stay untouched and unsullied.
Anhinga in Lake Eola Park, Orlando, FL as it gulped mouthfuls for dinner. Anhingas are famous for being phenomenal fisher hunters. They can dive 15 feet below the surface and deftly use their long sharp beaks to impale several fish at once. This annual spectacle is a wondrous display of their hunting skills, as well as a wonderful reminder of the need to protect clean, connected aquatic ecosystems.
In Río Lagartos, Mexico, flamingos got real for their close-up, creating mirror images as they curled their necks back and around. Birdwatchers are struck by the riotous exhibition of social behavior on the part of these birds. This phenomenon is a remarkable reminder of the complex social systems present among bird species.