The U.S. is dismantling major sensor arrays that provided real-time deep-sea climate data for a decade. Driven by budget cuts, removing the $386 million network creates an irreparable blind spot for storm forecasting, fishery health, and tracking an upcoming El Niño. @npbrao.bsky.social reports.

Scientists warn of climate blind spot as U.S. dismantles ocean sensors

Over the next 15 months, major sensor arrays that have provided crucial, decade-long observations of the ocean, marine ecosystems and climate change will be dismantled. These sensors are part of the…

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Sea cucumber tissue survives for years in open water, study finds - @npbrao.bsky.social @mongabay.com news.mongabay.com/short-articl...

Sea cucumber tissue survives for years in open water, study finds

Severed tissue from a cold-water sea cucumber can survive and move independently for years in natural seawater, researchers recently found.

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After a two-decade search, scientists in Australia have described a seventh species of ghost pipefish. Visually mimicking red algae to drift like debris, the "hairy" fish split into its own lineage 18 million years ago and went undetected for decades. @npbrao.bsky.social reports for #Mongabay.

New species of ghost pipefish named after Sesame Street character found in Australia

It’s “hairy,” bright orange or red and “exceptional” at camouflaging. Meet the hairy ghost pipefish, whose recent formal description demonstrates that even well-studied marine environments like the…

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Luxury yacht maker Sunseeker pleads guilty to violating a US environmental law - @npbrao.bsky.social @mongabay.com news.mongabay.com/short-articl...

Luxury yacht maker Sunseeker pleads guilty to violating a US environmental law

A luxury yacht manufacturer has pleaded guilty to violating a U.S. environmental law by using illegally sourced teak from Myanmar.

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To counter rising seas, the new Yap Resilience Hub aims to strengthen reef protection through 2028. By uniting traditional leaders and scientists, the project ensures local Micronesia communities remain at the forefront of managing their marine ecosystems. @npbrao.bsky.social reports for #Mongabay.

New conservation effort launched to protect coral reefs in Yap

Conservation groups have launched a new initiative to safeguard coral reefs in Yap, a state in the Federated States of Micronesia, through both scientific innovation and traditional stewardship. The…

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Scientists have identified four new-to-science species of chameleons living on isolated mountain peaks in northern Mozambique. These granite "sky islands" act as ecological oases, allowing unique species to evolve in isolation for millions of years. @npbrao.bsky.social reports! mongabay.cc/LANQcz

I *always* learn something new about my home from Nithin’s coverage of Indonesia. This time, it’s about how much mass transit has developed and why there are still gaps in accessibility in my neighborhood in North Jakarta. Check it out!

Nithin Coca@nithincoca.com · 3mo ago

Rare that I get a chance to dig into a passion of mine - urban transit development! Read about my one-time home, #Jakarta & how its transformed from the world's most congested city to a model for the global south - but there's still a long way to go. indevelopmentmag.com/jakarta-tran...

Indonesian police dismantled a major syndicate trafficking endangered Komodo dragons to Thailand. Smugglers hid juveniles in plastic pipes, moving 17 lizards since 2025. This crackdown is a vital win for conservation and the protection of biological resources. @npbrao.bsky.social reports.

Indonesia busts wildlife trafficking ring targeting Komodo dragons

Police in Indonesia have announced the dismantling of what they say is a major wildlife trafficking network largely targeting the world’s largest lizard species. Authorities have arrested 11 people…

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Researchers in Vietnam have identified a new "cryptic" gecko species, highlighting the overlooked biodiversity of karst forests. Though genetically distinct, its habitat in the Copia Nature Reserve is already threatened by quarrying and logging. @npbrao.bsky.social reports for #Mongabay.

New ‘cryptic’ gecko species discovered in Vietnam’s imperiled karst forests

In the rugged karst forests of northern Vietnam, researchers have identified a new gecko species, Vietnam’s 12th known species of gecko. The discovery highlights how much diversity the…

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The Wetland Atlas is live! Fantastic to see this important new tool - which deploys data to accelerate wetland conservation for people, nature & climate - covered by @mongabay.com Read @npbrao.bsky.social's article and then explore the Wetland Atlas yourself www.wetlandatlas.org/en

Mongabay@mongabay.com · 3mo ago

Since 1970, wetlands have disappeared three times faster than forests. A new atlas from @wetlandsint.bsky.social aims to end "wetland blindness" by providing the data needed to protect these vital ecosystems in the Sahel and Horn of Africa. Learn more in this story by @npbrao.bsky.social.

Since 1970, wetlands have disappeared three times faster than forests. A new atlas from @wetlandsint.bsky.social aims to end "wetland blindness" by providing the data needed to protect these vital ecosystems in the Sahel and Horn of Africa. Learn more in this story by @npbrao.bsky.social.

New atlas aims to help save Africa’s disappearing wetlands

Since 1970, more than a third of the world’s wetlands have been lost, at a rate three times faster than forest loss. To help governments and funders prioritize wetlands in need of protection or…

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Social media is accelerating the illegal wildlife trade, creating a direct digital pipeline from remote forests to urban buyers. A recent sting in Laos, sparked by a Facebook post, resulted in the rescue of two 2-month-old Asiatic black bear cubs. @npbrao.bsky.social reports for #Mongabay.

Two-month-old bear cubs rescued from Facebook sale in Laos

Two Asiatic black bear cubs posted for sale on Facebook have been rescued in Laos as part of an illegal wildlife trade sting. Free the Bears, an international conservation nonprofit, coordinated the…

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From a flightless moth to species named for the goddess Lilinoe, new findings highlight Hawaiʻi’s fragile endemic life. But with some moths dependent on just 30 rare sandalwood trees, scientists warn we are naming species just as they disappear. Bobby Bascomb reports for #Mongabay.

Researchers uncover 10 new moth species and 7 new genera in Hawaiʻi

Researchers in Hawai’i have described 10 new species and seven new genera of moths, highlighting how much remains unknown about the Pacific archipelago’s biodiversity. Hawai’i is home to a large…

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For decades, the dhole - a social wild dog once widespread across Asia - was a ghost in the forests of Vietnam. The species had declined, and categorized as possibly locally extinct. That changed in ‘23 when a camera trap captured a photograph of a mature adult dhole. My latest for @mongabay.com:

Asian wild dog spotted in Vietnam for the first time in 20 years

Recent research has confirmed the first sighting of a dhole in more than two decades, a wild dog native to Asia. Before the sighting, the predator was believed to be extinct in Vietnam.

news.mongabay.com

On The World 🌎 today: 🌐 @joyhackel.bsky.social: China's economy buffeted by Iran war 🌐 @joshuacoe.bsky.social: Fighting between political factions edges South Sudan to war 🌐 @npbrao.bsky.social: Jakarta is at risk of flooding and sinking Tune in 📻 bit.ly/3xyRRfD

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz are significantly impacting Asia. For Thailand, it may mean continuing to rely on fossil fuels despite a pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions over the next decade. More, in my latest for @mongabay.com 👇🏾 #Hormuz #Energy #oil #asia #thailand

Can ancient traditions stop overfishing? In eastern Indonesia, Sasi Laut allows marine species to replenish through community-led closures. New research indicates that integrating these customary laws into formal zoning is crucial to protect local fishing ecosystems. Story by @npbrao.bsky.social.

An ancient fishing tradition in Indonesia could help build a more sustainable fishery

In the remote coastal areas of eastern Indonesia, a centuries-old tradition is providing a contemporary blueprint for sustainable development. The practice, known as Sasi Laut, imposes temporary…

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Off to Kuala Lumpur for the 47th ASEAN Summit 🇲🇾 Covering regional security, economy & Timor-Leste’s debut 🇹🇱 I’m open for radio assignments like newscast spots, features & interviews. 📩 npbrao@gmail.com | bit.ly/nainarao #ASEANSummit #SoutheastAsia @aseantoday.bsky.social

A tsunami advisory is issued for the U.S. Pacific territories of Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). This follows the magnitude 8.7 earthquake that struck Russia's Far East. I'll be following this news as it develops.

A few weeks ago, B-2 bombers were reportedly heading to Guam. The Pentagon later confirmed it was a decoy. However, indigenous residents on Guam have a great deal more to say about this matter. I reported more on how they felt for NPR's Here & Now. Take a listen: www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2...

Guam residents react to U.S. mission to attack Iran

Guam has long been a strategic military asset for the U.S. military. Its latest role came on June 22, as bombers were sent to the Pacific as decoys to protect the mission’s secrecy.

wbur.org