LIVING NATURE

Photo: Gerald Herbert/AP
ENVIRONMENT
Brett Kavanaugh’s First Potential SCOTUS Case Could Devastate These Critically Endangered Frogs
By Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Mother Jones
And could threaten more than 100 species protected under the Endangered Species Act.
Fort Morgan Share the Beach
ENVIRONMENT
Tragic Photos Of Sea Turtle Stuck In Beach Chair Are A Reminder To Pick Up Your Stuff
By Hilary Hanson
Abandoned objects can be deadly for the endangered animals.
Great White Shark
Getty/ Barcroft Media
ENVIRONMENT
Criminal Probe Launched Into Death Of Great White Shark In California
By Mary Papenfuss
Officials aren't revealing the cause of death of the 9-foot juvenile male that washed up on Monterey Bay beach.
Reuters
ENVIRONMENT
Whale Found In Thailand Dies From Eating Over 80 Plastic Bags
By Hayley Miller
Rescuers unsuccessfully tried to nurse the male pilot whale back to health.
*** EXCLUSIVE *** BISPGARDEN, SWEDEN - 2016: Pictured wild red squirrel in a split between lupines in Bispgarden, Sweden. SPRING has sprung back into action and so have the 2018 Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards - here are the best entries so far. Two dancing polar bears by Luca Venturi have made the cut, along with an ant that's bitten off a little more than it can chew, shot by Muhammed Faishol Husni. The awards were founded by Tom Sullam and Paul Joynson-Hicks MBE, and aim to raise awareness of wildlife conservation through the power of laughter. The duo are part of a panel of judges, which also includes wildlife TV presenter Kate Humble, actor and comedian Hugh Dennis, wildlife photographer Will Burrard-Lucas, wildlife expert Will Travers OBCE, the Telegraphs online travel editor Oliver Smith and new 2018 judge the Managing Director of Affinity, Ashley Hewson. It?s not too late to enter your own hilarious photograph into the competition, and entries are free. Entrants can submit up to three images into each category and up to two video clips of no more than 60 seconds into the video clip category. The overall winner will be named the 2018 Comedy Wildlife Photographer of the Year and win a one week safari with Alex Walker's Serian - and there plenty of other fantastic prizes up for grabs for runners up. The competition is open to the public, with the deadline on 30th June 2018. ******Editors Note - Condition of Usage: These photos must be used in conjunction with the competition Comedy Wildlife Photography Competition 2018***** PHOTOGRAPH BY Geert Weggen / CWPA / Barcroft Images
Geert Weggen/Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards/Barcroft
COMEDY
The Latest Entries From The Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards Will Cheer You Up
By Chris McGonigal
These goofy animals are just like us.
Cougar
NBC/Getty
U.S. NEWS
Cougar Kills Mountain Biker In Washington State, Injures Companion
By Mary Papenfuss
Wildlife officials quickly tracked and killed the animal believed to have attacked the men.
Basking shark
Wikimedia Commons
ENVIRONMENT
Nearly 1,400 Sharks Spotted In Mysterious Gathering Off East Coast
By Mary Papenfuss
A series of aerial photographs found the largest congregation of basking sharks ever reported.
Atlantic puffin
prasit chansarekorn via Getty Images
ENVIRONMENT
It Turns Out Puffins Have Fluorescent Beaks That Glow Under UV Light
By Hilary Hanson
Special puffin "sunglasses" are in the works to help researchers study the phenomenon on birds in the wild.
CARM.es
ENVIRONMENT
This Sperm Whale Was Found Dead With 64 Pounds Of Trash In Its Digestive System
By Lee Moran
Plastic bags, ropes, fishing nets and a drum were all found lodged inside the juvenile off the coast of southeast Spain.
*** EXCLUSIVE *** GUADALUPE ISLAND, MEXICO - SEPTEMBER 8: A great white shark photographed on September, 8, 2015 near Guadalupe Island, Mexico. Great white sharks emerge from the water with their jaws open in the clear blue waters of the Pacific Ocean. The incredible animals were photographed off the the coast of Guadalupe Island- a small volcanic island roughly 150 miles off the coast of Mexico's Baja California peninsula. There is thought to be roughly 170 great white's near the island- making it one of the best places in the world for divers to spot them. PHOTOGRAPH BY David Fleetham / Barcroft India UK Office, London. T +44 845 370 2233 W www.barcroftmedia.com USA Office, New York City. T +1 212 796 2458 W www.barcroftusa.com Indian Office, Delhi. T +91 11 4053 2429 W www.barcroftindia.com (Photo credit should read David Fleetham / Barcroft India / Barcroft Media via Getty Images)
David Fleetham/Barcroft India/Barcroft Media via Getty Images
ENVIRONMENT
Paddleboarder Critically Injured In Shark Attack Near Hawaii Beach
By Mary Papenfuss
The victim suffered severe injuries to his right hand and leg.
Texas Comptroller Susan Combs cheers at the state Republican watch party at the Texas Disposal Systems Exotic Game Ranch on election night. Combs easily beat challenger, Libertarian Mary Ruwart by 83% to 11% to win reelection. | Location: Creedmor, Buda, Texas, USA. (Photo by Robert Daemmrich Photography Inc/Corbis via Getty Images)
Robert Daemmrich Photography Inc via Getty Images
POLITICS
Foe Of Endangered Species Act Lands Gig Overseeing — You Guessed It — Wildlife
By Chris D'Angelo
It's like “appointing an arsonist as the town fire marshal," said one conservationist.
A Green Sea turtle swims over a reef near the surf break known as 'Pipeline' on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii March 20, 2013. REUTERS/Hugh Gentry (UNITED STATES - Tags: ENVIRONMENT SOCIETY ANIMALS)
Hugh Gentry / Reuters
ENVIRONMENT
Sea Turtles Use Their Flippers Like Clunky, Adorable Arms To Obtain Food, Study Finds
By Hilary Hanson
Scientists observed turtles using flippers for digging, rolling stuff and swiping at prey.
DORTMUND, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 26: Founder of the Plant-for-the-Planet initiative Felix Finkbeiner attends the 'Steiger Award 2015' at colliery Hansemann on September 26, 2015 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Sascha Steinbach/Getty Images)
Sascha Steinbach via Getty Images
IMPACT
This German Teen Is Leading A Global Plan To Plant A Trillion Trees
By John Vidal, On assignment for HuffPost
Felix Finkbeiner, 19, has already planted 15 billion saplings.