Endangered Species

Red wolf Adeyha stands tall on slanted ground. His mouth is open and ears are sticking out, looking as though he's smiling. Adeyha was born in 2014 at Wisconsin zoo, and he was relocated to Illinois the following year. At nearly 100 pounds, Adeyha is the largest red wolf Durham's Museum of Life and Science has ever had.

Environment

Arrival of male red wolf brings new hope to Durham museum's mating program for endangered species

Sophie Mallinson

Durham’s Museum of Life and Science has a new red wolf to aid recovery efforts for the endangered species.

A red wolf with pointy ears looks at the camera with yellow eyes. Its coat is reddish brown, white, and black.

Environment

Conservationists file suit to demand stronger protections for world's last wild red wolves

Sophie Mallinson

An environmental group has sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over its classification of red wolves. The world's only wild population of the species live in North Carolina.

A red wolf roams across the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge as the sun sets, Thursday, March 23, 2023, near Manns Harbor, N.C. Coupled with recent releases of captive-bred adults and the fostering of pups, one might assume the red wolf population is growing. But as of August, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said the known/collared wild population was 13, with a total estimated wild population of 23 to 25. That's down from June, when the numbers were 16 and 32-34.

Environment

Endangered red wolves need space to stay wild. But there’s another predator in the way — humans

Associated Press

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is poised to release a new recovery plan for the species. Its success will rely heavily on cooperation from private landowners.

A female red wolf emerges from her den sheltering newborn pups at the Museum of Life and Science in Durham, N.C., on May 13, 2019. On Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023, the U.S. government agreed to settle a lawsuit with conservation groups and commit to releasing more endangered red wolves into the wilds of North Carolina.

Environment

US commits to releasing more red wolves in NC, settling lawsuit

Associated Press

Eastern North Carolina is the only place in the world endangered red wolves roam wild. On Wednesday, the U.S. government agreed to settle a lawsuit with conservation groups and commit to releasing more red wolves in the state.

The corpse flower blooming inside the JC Raulston Arboretum at N.C. State University. Wolfgang the corpse flower stretches 6 feet tall and smells like dead flesh.

News

At N.C. State, an endangered 'corpse flower' finally rises after a decade

Sharryse Piggott

The newest corpse flower at N.C. State, named Wolfgang, has bloomed at the JC Raulston Arboretum.

Environment

Boaters And Ship Operators Are Breaking Speed Limits, Putting Right Whales At Even More Risk

Celeste Gracia

Boats and cargo ships in the waters of North Carolina and other Southern states are exceeding speed limits in areas designed to protect critically endangered North Atlantic right whales, a new report from a global non-profit group has found.

The tigers will stay at the Pittsboro sanctuary until the department finds them permanent homes.

Environment

Carolina Tiger Rescue Takes In Big Cats From 'Tiger King' Park

Associated Press

A North Carolina big cat sanctuary will temporarily care for four animals seized from the private zoo in Oklahoma featured in Netflix’s “Tiger King.” Carolina Tiger Rescue says it worked with the U.S. Department of Justice and other accredited animal sanctuaries to rescue 68 big cats.

In this Monday, May 13, 2019 file photo, A female red wolf emerges from her den sheltering newborn pups at the Museum of Life and Science in Durham, N.C.

Environment

Judge Orders Plan For Releasing More Red Wolves Into Wild

Associated Press

A judge has ordered the federal government to come up with a plan to release more endangered red wolves from breeding programs to bolster the dwindling…

Payton, a male polar bear, moved into the North Carolina Zoo on Friday, Jan. 22, 2021.

Environment

NC Zoo Welcomes New Polar Bear, 'Payton'

Mitchell Northam

North Carolina has a new resident that weighs more than 1,000 pounds.His name is Payton. He is a polar bear.Payton was welcomed to the North Carolina Zoo…

"Nature is declining globally at rates unprecedented in human history," a U.N. panel says, reporting that around 1 million species are currently at risk. Here, an endangered hawksbill turtle swims in a Singapore aquarium in 2017.

Environment

1 Million Animal And Plant Species Are At Risk Of Extinction, U.N. Report Says

Bill Chappell

"Protecting biodiversity amounts to protecting humanity," says UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, who warns that species are being lost at an alarming rate.