Ronda's Page

An expedition to the Dominican Republic by staff from Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust has resulted in some of the only known film footage of one of the world's poorest known and unusual mammals, the Hispaniolan solenodon. This strange looking shrew-like creature with a long snout and specialised teeth capable of delivering venom represents the last of an ancient lineage of early mammals that lived near the end of the age of the dinosaurs. Two… Continue

White-nose syndrome spreading across North East USA

White-nose syndrome map March 2009. Hundreds of thousands of hibernating bats have died since New York Department of Environmental Conservation biologists documented white-nose syndrome west of Albany, N.Y., in early 2007. Biologists with state and federal agencies and organizations across the country are trying to find the answer to this deadly mystery. 90-100% bats are dying We have found… Continue

Is this the largest invasive species in the world?

Thanks to Carlos Andres Lopez for the information and photos. January 2009. Pablo Escobar, the notorious drugs lord, had so much money that he didn't know what to do with it. Amongst other things (A bullring, an airstrip, an ersatz Jurassic Park with half a dozen immense concrete dinosaurs.), he stocked part of his huge estate with hundreds of exotic animals, including elephants, camels,… Continue