A bluebell wood - one of the many natural habitats in the UK

On 16^th May 1912, the banker, landowner and naturalist Charles Rothschild formed the Society for the Promotion of Nature Reserves (SPNR), precursor to the The Wildlife Trusts.

For the first time in the UK, conservation efforts were focused on protecting the habitats of species, rather than focusing solely on species. Without this innovative movement, many of the natural habitats we now take for granted would no longer exist.

The society carried out the first ever national survey of wildlife sites in the UK, identifying ecologically important areas. From this, local Wildlife Trusts were set up to protect some of these special places of nature. A big breakthrough came in 1949, when the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act was passed, making the protection of nature a matter of law.

This move from conserving individual species to protecting habitats is still relevant today. There are now 47 Wildlife Trusts managing 2,300 reserves all over the UK. However a recent review on these protected areas found that many are too small and isolated. Connecting existing reserves is the next step in conserving our natural habitat.

Dartford warblers can be found in sites managed by the Suffolk Wildlife Trust

Many worldwide conservation projects now focus on conserving habitats and ecosystems. It is amazing this approach was adopted here in the UK 100 years ago!

In the UK? Find a Nature Reserve near you.  

Watch the Wildlife Trusts’ centenary film on the Wildlife Trust website.

Lauren Pascoe, ARKive Media Researcher

Chimp My Ride

This young chimpanzee appears to be a bit of a back-seat driver!

This young chimpanzee has no need for the show that decks out cars with all the latest and greatest gear…he seems quite happy with his ride!

The Only Way is Essex Emerald Moth

Saltmarshes are the preferred habitat of the Essex emerald moth

This Essex emerald moth is looking rather reem, and we would forgive other invertebrates for being well jel of its beautiful green wings. Sadly, this species is now classified as Extinct in the UK.

Seal or No Seal

The scientific name of the Galapagos fur seal comes from Greek words meaning 'bear headed'

Seal or No Seal describes the history of this Endangered species rather well. The Galapagos fur seal was hunted extensively in the 1800s, and was thought to be extinct until a small colony was rediscovered in the 1930s.

The Weakest Skink

The chevron skink can grow up to 30 cm in length

The chevron skink is New Zealand’s largest living endemic lizard, and one of its rarest. We think it does a pretty mean impression of the infamous Anne Robinson glare…is it about to wink?!

Orang M’Lord

The Bornean orangutan is a predominantly solitary creature

This female Bornean orangutan doesn’t seem to have grasped the concept of ladylike behaviour! However, we’re not sure she’d be any better as a maid if that’s how she’s planning on carrying the sandwiches and scones!

Gnu Wants to be a Millionaire

As it forms huge herds, the blue wildebeest should have no trouble finding a 'Phone a Friend' candidate!

These blue wildebeest, commonly referred to as gnus, seem to be gathering to watch an episode of their favourite show: Gnu Wants To Be A Millionaire! Or perhaps they’re eagerly awaiting the call to be a ‘Phone a Friend’?

Neighboars

The Visayan warty pig is a rainforest-dwelling species

Although not from Australia, we’re featuring this Visayan warty pig, as he would be a very rare neighbour to have. Found on just two islands of the Philippines, this species is extinct over at least 98% of its former range.

Troutnumbered

The Kunming snout trout lives in rapids and pools in fast-flowing streams

The Kunming snout trout is Critically Endangered as a result of water pollution, overfishing, and being Outnumbered by introduced fish species.

Miami Mice

The Arabian spiny mouse can shed its tail when attacked

The heroes of Miami Vice would have needed to don a special bulletproof vest to protect themselves during drug raids, but this Arabian spiny mouse has its own inbuilt protection against predators. When brushed against the direction of growth, this mouse’s fur becomes coarse and spine-like.

Would Aye-Aye to You?

The aye-aye has strong upper incisors to tear through wood

This rather odd-looking aye-aye hid a secret from scientists for years! This nocturnal species was originally classified as a rodent, but it is, in fact, a primate. Perhaps the aye-aye could use its unusually long middle digit to point out liars?!

This blog turned out to be harder to write than I’d expected, as I could only pick ten shows to feature, and there were so many fantastic ideas! So, I shall leave you with a quick mention of a few more that tickled us here in the ARKive office: Chicks Feet Under; Louse MD; Bok the Week; Have I Got Shrews For You; Home and A Whale; Starfish and Hutch; Whose Lion Is It Anyway?

Thanks, everyone! Look out for more wildlife-related fun and games soon!

Kathryn Pintus, ARKive Species Text Author

Clowning around

All good parties need some entertainment, and when a birthday comes around it is time to bring out the clowns! While it may be lacking in huge feet (or any feet for that matter) and a big red nose, we think that the colourful common clownfish would be a welcome guest at any gathering.

A good sing-song

When the cake arrives, it is pretty much mandatory to belt out happy birthday as loud as you can. While the animal kingdom has a variety of talented vocalists, we have decided that this western meadowlark could probably out-sing most of the ARKive staff!

Make a wish

It is traditional to make a wish as you blow out the candles on your cake, and while there might not be any real candles in the ARKive collection, we think the firefly squid is just as pretty! Perhaps you could try wishing on a squid instead?

Party games

If you are as competitive as most of the ARKive team, you probably love a good party game, and one of our favourites has got to be musical statues. Mind you, I think the male sharp-tailed grouse could give us a run for our money with its stop-start display, check out this video!

You’re invited too!

Of course, you can’t have a party without your friends, so we want to invite all of our fans and followers to get involved in our birthday celebrations.

*Like* ARKive on Facebook to help us unwrap our 9th birthday presents and Pass the Parcel to your friends! Keep an eye out for some cryptic clues and see if you can guess which animals have been wrapped up!

Plus, as it’s our 9th birthday, on Twitter we’ll be sharing cool facts about the 9th species added to ARKive each year, starting from the launch of ARKive back in 2003! Once each fact gets 9 retweets, we’ll reveal the 9th species added on our next birthday, along with another fun fact to retweet.

The 9th species ever added to ARKive was the giant panda. Here’s the first fact to retweet:

Known for feeding on bamboo, did you know that the giant panda is technically a carnivore & occasionally eats meat too? #HBARKive

Why not send us a birthday message too? Post why you *like* ARKive on our Facebook wall. Our favourite 9 reasons for *liking* ARKive will appear in a 9th Birthday blog on Sunday 20th May. Plus you’ll win a special birthday party hat Twibbon so that you can celebrate on your Facebook and Twitter profiles too.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr  and Google Plus to check out wild number 9 facts – make sure you get involved!

A fleet-footed caregiver

Our first mother is the fastest land animal in the world, achieving speeds of up to 87 kilometers per hour! The female cheetah usually has a litter of up to three or four cubs, and tends to move the young to a new den every few days to avoid predation. The death rate of young cheetahs is high, mainly due to the risk of predation by lions, hyenas and even baboons, so the female must do all she can to protect them.

A set of stripes only a mother would know

At the other end of the food chain we have the Grevy’s zebra, the largest of the equids. Mares give birth to a single foal after a gestation period of 13 months. Foals are able to stand within minutes of birth, and can run when only 45 minutes old! They remain dependent on their mother’s milk until six to eight months of age.

The preening queen

Oh, how mothers love to groom us! The yellow-eyed penguin is one of the most endangered of all the penguin species. Between mid-September and mid-October a clutch of two eggs are laid, and both parents help incubate them up to two months. For the next six weeks the adults will take it in turns to stay with the chick whilst the other forages for food.

A lizard that lays and leaves

For the Galapogos marine iguana, motherhood usually ends once the eggs hatch. Females lay between one and six eggs in sand or volcanic ash burrows. Females often guard the burrows for several days then leave the eggs to finish incubation, which takes approximately 95 days. After the young hatch they look like and act like miniature adults, needing no parental care. If only we had it so easy!

Having a whale of time!

There are also nurturing mothers in the sea, like this false killer whale with her calf. Despite its name, it is not a close relative of the killer whale, but it has been known to attack much larger humpback and sperm whales. After a gestation period of almost 16 months, calves are born measuring up to two metres in length and nurse for up to two years!

Do you have a favorite mother in nature? Share it with ARKive on Facebook or Twitter!

Maggie Graham, Program Assistant, Wildscreen USA

Greater adjutant (Leptoptilos dubius)

Species: Greater adjutant (Leptoptilos dubius)

Status: Endangered (EN)

Interesting fact: The greater adjutant is named after an adjutant (military officer) because of its stately manner and habit of standing motionless for long periods of time.

With its naked pink head, very thick yellow bill and low-hanging neck pouch, the greater adjutant is a rather eye-catching stork. Colonies of greater adjutants can be seen gathering in India and Cambodia at the start of the dry season in October. Large nests are constructed on tall trees, and eggs are laid between November and January. These hatch after about a month of incubation. Nestlings are cared for until April when the start of the wet season prompts migration north. A carnivore and scavenger, the greater adjutant feeds on a variety of prey, including carrion, fish, reptiles and large insects. It is also known to feed in human rubbish dumps.

Once found across south and southeast Asia, the greater adjutant is now restricted to two small breeding populations. Loss of nesting habitat and feeding sites has had a huge impact as suitable wetland habitats are cleared, drained, polluted and disturbed by humans. Hunting of the adult birds and collection of eggs also threaten the greater adjutant. This species is legally protected in many countries, although enforcement of these laws is often lacking.

For more information on the greater adjutant see the Wildlife Conservation Society website

Find more photos and videos of the greater adjutant on the ARKive website.

With thanks to @inaturalist for this weeks suggested Endangered Species of the Week!

Lauren Pascoe, ARKive Media Researcher

The reason for her great excitement was the possibility that the animal her husband had spotted could be the elusive Dinagat bushy-tailed cloud rat, a species only known from a single specimen collected in 1975. Cloud rats are the biggest and most spectacular of the murids, endemic only to a few Philippine islands. The Critically Endangered Dinagat bushy-tailed cloud rat is the least known among them, and having not been seen again since its discovery, despite numerous searches, many feared it may have become extinct.

Fortunately, they both spotted the cloud rat again a week later, and were able to photograph and film this species for the first time ever, allowing this exciting rediscovery to be scientifically confirmed. The ARKive team were of course thrilled when Milada got in touch to tell us about the discovery, and kindly allowed us to include the images and footage in ARKive.

While the rediscovery is great news, the future for the Dinagat bushy-tailed cloud rat still hangs in the balance as mining and logging pose a serious threat to wildlife on Dinagat, and only one small locally protected area exists on the whole island. Milada tells us that “Effective conservation activities must be undertaken to assure future survival of this, once lost and now rediscovered species. Local people should be proud on this unique species that is not found anywhere else in the world and should be part of its conservation”.

You can read more about the rediscovery here.

Claire Lewis, ARKive Media Researcher

Puffin mistaking plastic for food to give to its chick

Scientists from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography recorded the huge rise when trawling the waters off California as part of the Scripps Environmental Accumulation of Plastic Expedition (Seaplex) in 2009.

In a study published in the journal Biology Letters, the researchers were able to compare the amount of plastic found with data stretching back to the 1970s.

‘Great Pacific Garbage Patch’

Plastic waste is an ongoing concern for the world’s oceans. All plastic waste in the ocean that does not sink is eventually broken down into small particles – termed ‘microplastics’ – by the action of sunlight and waves. Plastic pollution has been observed in oceans around the world, and is already known to affect wildlife at an individual level. Fragments of plastic can be ingested by animals, while larger pieces can also cause entanglement.

Plastic waste also entangles wildlife, such as this Laysan albatross fledgling caught in a plastic coat hanger

In the North Pacific Ocean, the natural circulation of the water, known as the North Pacific Gyre, tends to cause debris to accumulate in what has commonly become known as “garbage patches”. In the central North Pacific, a large patch of this plastic debris is often referred to as the “Great Pacific Garbage Patch”.

The current research follows another recent study which showed that 9% of fish collected off the Californian coast had plastic waste in their stomachs. Published in the journal Marine Ecology Progress Series, the study estimated that fish in the North Pacific Ocean could be ingesting as much as 12,000 to 24,000 tonnes of plastic a year.

Dead Laysan albatross showing accumulation of ingested plastics in its stomach

Ecosystem effects

Although the toxicity of plastics and the problem of ingestion by marine animals are obvious concerns, the researchers say that the broader effects of plastics on marine ecosystems also need to be examined.

They studied the association between plastic fragments and the marine insect Halobates sericeus, a relative of the common pond skater. Known as a “sea skater” or “water strider”, this species feeds on plankton and fish eggs, and in turn is prey for seabirds, fish and turtles.

The common pond skater, a relative of the sea skaters used in the study

The sea skater requires hard platforms on which to lay its eggs, usually using floating debris such as seabird feathers, shells, lumps of tar or even pumice rock. However, the scientists found that the numerous pieces of plastic now floating in the Pacific have provided the insect with new surfaces on which to lay its eggs, leading to a rise in its numbers.

“We thought there might be fewer Halobates if there’s more plastic – that there might be some sort of toxic effect. But, actually, we found the opposite. In the areas that had the most plastic, we found the most Halobates,” said Scripps researcher Mirian Goldstein, the lead author of the study.

“So, they’re obviously congregating around this plastic, laying their eggs on it, and hatching out from it. For Halobates, all this plastic has worked out well for them.”

Common hermit crab using plastic cap

Profound changes

The increase in the density of sea skaters could potentially have consequences for other marine species, including those that prey on the insect and its eggs. The increase in its numbers could also impact the zooplankton and fish eggs on which it feeds.

By introducing hard substrates to an area in which they are naturally rare, microplastics could therefore have broad impacts on entire ecosystems.

“The study raises an important issue, which is the addition of hard surfaces to the open ocean,” said Ms Goldstein. “In the North Pacific, for example, there’s no floating seaweed like there is in the Sargasso Sea in the North Atlantic. And we know that the animals, the plants and the microbes that live on hard surfaces are different to the ones that live floating around in the water. So, what plastic has done is add hundreds of millions of hard surfaces to the Pacific Ocean. That’s quite a profound change.”

Read more on this story at BBC News – Big rise in North Pacific plastic waste and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography press release.

Explore ARKive’s threatened marine species using Google Earth.

Watch an ARKive video of a loggerhead turtle hatchling trying to eat floating plastic.

Liz Shaw, ARKive Species Text Author

The cuckoo is a well-known harbinger of spring in Britain

Avian air miles

In the last two decades, Britain has lost almost half of its cuckoo population, and numbers are continuing to decline steadily. However, conservation of the cuckoo has been hampered by a lack of information surrounding the cuckoo’s long migration to and from its breeding grounds.

In an effort to understand more about this extraordinary species, the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) fitted five male cuckoos with small satellite tags in May last year. It was hoped that following these avian adventurers would help scientists to discover why fewer and fewer cuckoos are returning to the UK each year.

Two of the birds, named Lyster and Chris, are helping scientists to unravel the mystery of the cuckoo’s migration. After a remarkably long journey – Lyster clocked an incredible 10,000 miles in total – both birds arrived back in the UK last week. Lyster was spotted in the Norfolk Broads on Tuesday, just 10 miles from where he was tagged last May.

“It’s just fantastic,” said Dr Phil Atkinson, head of international research at the BTO. “We know where he’s been, we know the routes he’s taken and now he’s back in the Broads.”

Reed warbler feeds a cuckoo chick in its nest

Route revealed

By tracking Lyster and Chris, scientists were able to create a migration map, which revealed exactly where the cuckoos spent the winter. The map also highlighted how little time cuckoos, which are often thought of as British birds, spend in Britain.

“They’re African birds, really,” said Phil Atkinson. “They evolved in Africa.”

Missing on migration

Unfortunately, three of the birds didn’t make it back to Britain. As with all migratory species, cuckoos respond to the changing seasons, and rely on the presence of lush vegetation to provide food for the insects that they feed on. This means that a changing climate could create additional barriers along their already arduous journey.

“All the birds got down to Congo and survived, and it’s only on spring migration that we started to lose birds,” said Dr Atkinson. “We lost our first bird, Clement, in Cameroon on the return journey. So we think the crunch time is just before they cross the Sahara.”

The loss of the birds was a blow to the research team. However, the new information gleaned from this event regarding the most challenging parts of a cuckoo’s migration could actually help with the conservation of the species.

“These birds move into West Africa, they fatten up as much as they can – enough to fuel their Saharan crossing. And if they’re not able to do that, I think that’s going to be a real pinch point in terms of mortality,” said Dr Atkinson. “That’s where we need to focus our research effort and conservation action.”

Male cuckoo in flight

Next steps

Following the success of the tagged males, the team now plans to continue its research by fitting female cuckoos with the same devices and tracking their progress. The team is keen to find out if migration patterns, both in terms of route and timing, are different between males and females.

Male cuckoos may need to return to the UK earlier than females in order to ensure they occupy a good territory and find females to mate with, while the females may have to stay in the UK later than the males, to lay the last clutch of the season.

“As we have seen in the five cuckoos, timing is really important and this may be crucial in determining whether a bird undertakes a migration successfully or not,” said Dr Atkinson.

Grahame Madge, of the RSPB, praised the tagging study, and expressed relief that some cuckoos were successfully completing their migrations and returning to Britain to breed.

“The cuckoo is an urgent priority for research,” he said. “This fantastic project is boosting the understanding of this bird so that, hopefully, we can give this bird a future.”

Read more on this story at BBC – Tagged cuckoos complete migration and return to the UK.

Learn more about the cuckoo on ARKive.

Kathryn Pintus, ARKive Species Text Author

• 48 new species
• 529 new images
• 40 new videos
• 35 new media donors
• 25 new texts

We've added a new profile for the Vulnerable Brookesia vadoni

We have also added the Endangered Phisalixella variabilis

What’s new – our favourite new images

Check out new camera trap images of the Visayan spotted deer, believed to be the first images of this species in the wild

We have added 22 great new images of the common toad

What’s new – our favourite new videos

Check out our awesome footage of Hector's dophins surfing in the waves

We have added 6 new videos of the long-tailed jaeger

Get involved!

If you have any photos, footage or species information that you think we should add into ARKive please let us know. There are many ways to get involved with ARKive, from contributing your photos to just spreading the word about us – every little helps!

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Amphibian with a headdress

The axolotl is a remarkable salamander that lives its whole life in the larval stage. It is easily distinguished by the characteristic pink feather-like gills that branch out from its neck. This incredible amphibian is also able to regrow missing tissue, and even whole limbs, when it is wounded.

Portrait showing feather-like gills of axolotl

The “New World” king  of the jungle

The jungles of Mexico are prime jaguar habitat. This striking cat was once widespread throughout the Americas, but with human activities threatening its survival, its range has become highly fragmented. Jaguars are opportunistic hunters, and relative to their size, they have the most powerful bite of all the big cats.

Jaguar resting in tree

Fiesta fish

The coney is a fish in the grouper family with an interesting quirk. Although all individuals begin life as females, they later change gender and become males. This interesting species also exhibits aggressive mimicry, where juveniles join groups of the similar looking brown chromis, allowing them to stealthily approach unsuspecting prey.

Coney

Desert dweller

Endemic to the southwestern United States and Mexico, the desert tortoise grazes on desert grasses, obtaining nearly all the water it requires from its food. The ambient temperature of the nest determines the sex of the hatchlings, with females produced at higher temperatures than males.

Desert tortoise feeding on flowers

Bird of brilliance

The scarlet macaw is an iconic and charismatic bird with bright plumage and loud vocalisations. It flys in flocks of up to 30 and frequently visits ‘clay licks’ on river banks to eat soil. Although it might seem like a strange habit, scientists believe the soil may protect the macaw against toxic compounds that it might have ingested.

Scarlet macaw in flight

A flowering find

Although it looks strikingly similar to its namesake, the artichoke cactus is actually a small cactus found only within the Valley of Jaumave in eastern Mexico. Just the very tip of the cactus emerges from the soil, but with all the spirals and whorls, this is likely the most spectacular part.

Artichoke cactus

These species are just a sample of the myriad of beautiful wildlife that Mexico has to offer. If you’ve got some time, why not explore some of the other species found in Mexico on ARKive and share your favorites in the comments!

Maggie Graham, Program Assistant, Wildscreen USA