Biodiversity

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Devastating heatwave leaves France's wildlife in crisis

Following the recent heatwave, the facility run by the French League for the Protection of Birds (LPO) in Audenge, Gironde (southwestern France), reported a record number of animals suffering from extreme heat, mirroring a trend seen at many other wildlife rescue sites.

Published yesterday at 3:30 am (Paris) Perrine Mouterde

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French environment minister's absence from public debate underscores government's climate inaction

Appiointed in October 2025, Monique Barbut is struggling to make her mark. This situation goes beyond her as an individual and highlights how the government has abandoned the issue.

Published on June 17, 2026, at 5:00 am (Paris) Raphaëlle Besse Desmoulières

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Nearly six billion fish, crustaceans and jellyfish fall victim to French nuclear power plants every year

Based on internal documents from France's electric utility company, NGOs warn of the impact reactor cooling systems have on aquatic life. EDF maintains that this has no effect on the survival of species.

Published on June 15, 2026, at 12:59 pm (Paris), updated on June 15, 2026, at 3:28 pm Perrine Mouterde

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When Darwin comes to town: How the urban jungle disrupts animals' natural selection

Whether it's more aggressive chickadees, snails with lighter coloring or pigeons with anti-pollution plumage, urban wildlife is trying to adapt to city life. Is it behavioral flexibility or true genetic evolution? For the past 10 years, researchers have been investigating.

Published on June 14, 2026, at 8:00 pm (Paris) Nathaniel Herzberg

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The Fontainebleau Forest's ever-growing popularity threatens this jewel of biodiversity near Paris

Managers of the forest complex are wondering how to deal with the increasing influx of visitors: Will development contain overtourism or encourage it?

Published on June 2, 2026, at 5:00 am (Paris) Perrine Mouterde

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How France's early heatwave is affecting plants and wildlife

Birds that nest under rooftops, such as swifts and swallows, are particularly at risk during heatwaves. This unprecedented spell is taking place right in the middle of the nesting season, but it is not accompanied by drought conditions.

Published on May 28, 2026, at 12:53 am (Paris) Perrine Mouterde

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In wartime Iran, the Asiatic cheetah – a critically endangered species – faces an uncertain fate

The cheetah, a national symbol with fewer than 25 left in the wild, is the focus of a conservation program now threatened by the conflict with the US and Israel.

Published on May 18, 2026, at 5:31 pm (Paris) Chloé Dasquet

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Orphaned lynx released into the wild: The fight to save France's wildcats

The lynx, which disappeared from France at the beginning of the 20th century, is threatened by low genetic diversity, habitat fragmentation, road collisions and illegal killings.

Published on May 15, 2026, at 5:30 am (Paris) Perrine Mouterde

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How much space should cities give to wild vegetation?

Bordeaux's new city council has launched a major program to weed sidewalks across the city, while in Montpellier, officials are considering expanding what it calls France's first 'wild district.'

Published on May 10, 2026, at 5:07 pm (Paris) Chloé Dasquet

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The battle over France's streetlights

During the municipal elections, numerous right-wing and far-right candidates campaigned against the reduction in street lighting implemented by outgoing left-wing and environmentalist mayors.

Published on May 4, 2026, at 5:00 am (Paris) Sylvia Zappi

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As bird numbers plummet, Brittany's seagull egg sterilization is facing mounting criticism

The sterilization measure was implemented to manage the population of this emblematic seabird, but is now being applied less and less due to questions over its effectiveness. Meanwhile, the number of seagulls has dropped significantly.

Published on April 28, 2026, at 2:30 am (Paris), updated on April 29, 2026, at 11:05 am Manon Boquen

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Nine months after a cyberattack, France's National Museum of Natural History still has 7,000 late bills

The president of the National Museum of Natural History, Gilles Bloch, said the malicious act originated from 'a major, undemocratic country.'

Published on April 22, 2026, at 5:30 am (Paris) Perrine Mouterde

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France's dilapidated National Museum of Natural History calls for help: 'The mineralized bones literally are exploding'

The institution boasts strong visitor numbers and an international scientific reputation. But its head warns of catastrophic conditions, including mold in the collections, a flooded library, and cracks in the walls.

Published on April 22, 2026, at 5:00 am (Paris), updated on April 22, 2026, at 6:57 pm Perrine Mouterde

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UNESCO sites are havens for rare biodiversity under growing threat

The first global assessment of these 2,260 listed sites, which cover more than 13 million square kilometers, reveals that they serve as sanctuaries for wildlife species.

Published on April 21, 2026, at 12:28 pm (Paris), updated on April 21, 2026, at 12:43 pm Perrine Mouterde

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Why it's important to teach children to recognize birdsong

Knowing which bird is chirping or warbling is actually child's play, as long as you approach it methodically. We asked experts to guide us in this learning process.

Published on April 18, 2026, at 11:11 pm (Paris), updated on April 19, 2026, at 10:23 am Cécile Cazenave

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Measuring insect decline by photographing your license plate is a 'simple and brilliant' idea

On April 13, France's National Museum of Natural History announced the launch of a citizen science project modeled after a similar initiative that was established in 2021 in the United Kingdom.

Published on April 15, 2026, at 4:09 am (Paris), updated on April 15, 2026, at 7:38 am Stéphane Foucart

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The deadly cheetah trafficking between Somaliland and the Gulf

The feline is highly sought after by wealthy collectors of wild animals, who are numerous on the Arabian Peninsula. Across the way, in the Horn of Africa, Somaliland has become the main hub of a thriving trafficking network, even as the species itself is under threat.

Published on April 1, 2026, at 4:00 am (Paris), updated on April 1, 2026, at 2:51 pm Francesca Fattori Noé Hochet-Bodin

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War is transforming Ukraine's dogs who live on the front line

Canines found near combat zones are small, light and dark-colored, according to a study. These characteristics have helped them survive in a hostile environment.

Published on March 31, 2026, at 3:03 am (Paris), updated on March 31, 2026, at 10:39 am Thomas d’Istria

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Culling of foxes, crows and ravens is 'inefficient, economically unjustifiable and ethically questionable'

Researchers from the National Museum of Natural History examined the effects of systematically hunting 'species likely to cause damage.' They found that the cost of destroying these animals exceeded the agricultural damage they cause, without reducing that damage.

Published on March 11, 2026, at 7:00 pm (Paris) Perrine Mouterde

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Storms decimate thousands of puffins on France's Atlantic coast

Hit especially hard by recent storms, the birds have been washing ashore by the thousands along France's Atlantic coast. A rescue center in the southwest is taking in those who managed to survive conditions not seen in over a decade.

Published on February 17, 2026, at 2:10 pm (Paris) Jean Berthelot de La Glétais

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French NGOs mobilize to remove foxes from national list of pests

Every three years, the French government draws up a list of 'species likely to cause damage,' which allows these animals to be hunted year-round. NGOs and researchers have criticized the lack of scientific basis for the list, which includes the red fox.

Published on February 3, 2026, at 3:32 am (Paris), updated on February 3, 2026, at 8:39 am Perrine Mouterde

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'Nobel Prize for Environment' awarded to specialist in invisible, fascinating and vital mycorrhizal fungi

Toby Kiers, an American mycologist and evolutionary biologist, won the Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement for her work on all fronts to raise awareness about the importance of plant-fungi interactions and the urgent need to protect them.

Published on January 14, 2026, at 6:01 am (Paris), updated on January 15, 2026, at 9:15 am Perrine Mouterde

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What the US withdrawal from international bodies means for climate change and biodiversity

The US's exit from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and its equivalent for biodiversity threatens to further slow and hinder the fight against environmental crises.

Published on January 10, 2026, at 4:00 am (Paris) Audrey Garric Perrine Mouterde

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Chestnut trees in bloom, blackbirds singing: Nature faces the disruption of seasonal cycles

Climate change has caused episodes of mild autumn and winter weather to become increasingly frequent. According to a recent study, the 'anomalies' observed in species' seasonal activity since 2015 are 'unprecedented.'

Published on December 18, 2025, at 2:15 am (Paris), updated on December 18, 2025, at 10:30 am Perrine Mouterde

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Vantara, an Indian billionaire's enormous private zoo

An international report highlights numerous irregularities in the mass transfers of specimens to the private facility in Gujarat, India.

Published on November 14, 2025, at 8:50 pm (Paris) Mathilde Gérard Sophie Landrin Perrine Mouterde

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In the Danube Delta, war weakens already threatened ecosystems

Biologists and local residents observe direct and indirect effects of the war on the wildlife and flora of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve.

Published on November 4, 2025, at 1:46 am (Paris), updated on November 4, 2025, at 9:38 am Marine Leduc

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Belgium's highly lucrative trade in European eel elvers, prized by Asian markets

This endangered wild species, which can fetch up to €9,000 per kilogram on the black market, has become the target of criminal networks that are recently established in Europe.

Published on October 28, 2025, at 9:17 pm (Paris), updated on October 29, 2025, at 10:22 am Jean-Pierre Stroobants

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Japan is still in love with bears, despite increasingly frequent and deadly attacks

The rise in bear attacks has caused concern in a country deeply attached to the animal. Climate change and the declining rural population have driven bears to venture more often into residential areas.

Published on October 26, 2025, at 1:44 am (Paris), updated on October 26, 2025, at 10:54 am Philippe Mesmer

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Oil group Perenco abandons facilities and pollution in heart of Guatemalan nature park

The French-British company left the Central American country over the summer. Since 2001, it had been operating an oil field inside the Laguna del Tigre National Park. The group stands accused of failing to fulfill any of its environmental restoration commitments.

Published on October 22, 2025, at 4:00 am (Paris) Anne Vigna

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Wild butterflies and bees face growing threats across Europe

Dozens of new species are at risk of extinction, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, which has just updated its Red List.

Published on October 12, 2025, at 10:04 am (Paris) Perrine Mouterde

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France plans to allow all livestock farmers to kill wolves

After pushing for a change in the species' status from 'strictly protected' to simply 'protected,' the government now aims to move from a permit-based system to a declaration-based system for shooting wolves.

Published on September 26, 2025, at 12:30 pm (Paris) Perrine Mouterde

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UN High Seas Treaty, ratified by 60 countries, to take effect in early 2026

The High Seas Treaty, which aims to 'preserve the marine environment,' has been the subject of two decades of negotiations. Its implementation presents numerous challenges.

Published on September 20, 2025, at 4:46 pm (Paris) Léa Sanchez

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Argentina falls in love with a poetic livestream from the ocean: 'Patrick Star is Argentinian!'

By filming the depths of the South Atlantic this summer, a scientific mission sparked unprecedented enthusiasm. The project brought much-needed attention to public research, which has been left struggling after budget cuts by President Milei.

Published on August 29, 2025, at 3:10 am (Paris), updated on August 29, 2025, at 10:13 am Flora Genoux

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The giraffe is no longer one single species, but four distinct ones, including one that is critically endangered

Based on genetic, morphological and biogeographical data, the International Union for Conservation of Nature announces a major change in classification.

Published on August 22, 2025, at 4:43 am (Paris) Perrine Mouterde

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Why scientists are divided over whether there is a 'sixth mass extinction'

American researchers have reignited the debate over the concept by publishing an article that questions the idea of a new mass extinction event that is comparable in scale to the one that wiped out the dinosaurs.

Published on August 21, 2025, at 4:00 am (Paris) Perrine Mouterde

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Why heat and drought are making trees look like autumn is coming early

In some regions, drought combined with extreme heat has led to defoliation, a phenomenon that, if recurring, can cause forest dieback.

Published on August 20, 2025, at 2:49 am (Paris), updated on August 20, 2025, at 9:29 am Perrine Mouterde

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The lobo-guará, Brazil's maned wolf, a national icon under threat

Emblematic of the Cerrado, these animals have seen their habitat fragmented by deforestation and the spread of industrial agriculture. In the state of Minas Gerais, a sanctuary now shelters some of them, aiming to raise public awareness.

Published on August 18, 2025, at 5:30 am (Paris) Bruno Meyerfeld

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Plastic waste in bird nests leads to deadly entanglements for chicks

The presence of plastic waste − particularly agricultural twine − in bird nests exposes chicks to the risk of serious injuries, which can sometimes be fatal.

Published on August 13, 2025, at 3:37 am (Paris), updated on August 13, 2025, at 9:43 am Juliette Fekkar

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The love story between an old man and his 'great oak,' the tallest of its kind in the world

At the heart of Vallespir, in the Pyrénées-Orientales, Serge Arnaudiès discovered a 300- or 400-year-old cork oak. Recognized as the tallest in the world and labeled an 'Arbre remarquable' ('Remarkable Tree'), the specimen now draws many visitors.

Published on August 12, 2025, at 11:35 pm (Paris) Maryline Baumard

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In western Madagascar, 1,000 farmers have been abandoned by USAID withdrawal

The dismantling of USAID has led to the shutdown of health, education, agricultural development and biodiversity protection programs in the Menabe region.

Published on July 22, 2025, at 3:37 am (Paris), updated on July 22, 2025, at 12:46 pm Laurence Caramel

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Two rare fishing cats born in France

Two members of this little-known species were born at La Flèche Zoo as part of an offsite conservation program. Fewer than 8,000 of them remain in south and southeast Asia, as their habitat is shrinking rapidly.

Published on June 30, 2025, at 2:30 pm (Paris), updated on July 4, 2025, at 10:57 am Perrine Mouterde

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Blanketing an entire continent with forests: Why planting trees cannot make up for fossil fuel emissions

A new study assesses the cost of carbon offsetting, a practice increasingly used by oil and gas companies, and calculates the amount of land that would need to be covered with forests if all coal, oil, and gas reserves worldwide were burned.

Published on June 20, 2025, at 5:39 pm (Paris), updated on July 4, 2025, at 10:58 am Perrine Mouterde

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The golden jackal, a newcomer to France that could become a permanent resident

This species, sporadically spotted in France since 2017, has recently been seen in the southwest and Normandy. Since the 1960s, the population established notably in the Balkans has been spreading across Western Europe.

Published on May 12, 2025, at 2:55 pm (Paris), updated on July 4, 2025, at 10:58 am Perrine Mouterde

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EU Parliament approves reduced protection level of wolves

The predator remains a protected species within the European Union, but member states may relax the conditions for authorized shooting where livestock is deemed at threat.

Published on May 9, 2025, at 3:10 pm (Paris), updated on July 4, 2025, at 10:59 am Perrine Mouterde

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