Wildlife

Wildlife Collapse

Human activities since 1970 have caused animal populations to decline on average by almost 70%, according to a World Wildlife Fund (WWF) report. Researchers working to create the WWF Living Planet Index looked at data from 32,000 populations of more than 5,000 species of mammals, amphibians, reptiles, birds and fish.

They found that in areas rich in biodiversity, such as the Caribbean and Latin America, including the Amazon, animal population loss was as high as 94%. The report points to habitat degradation due to development and farming, exploitation, the introduction of invasive species, pollution, climate change and disease as the main drivers of the wildlife loss.

Bluefish Blitz

Beachgoers on North Carolina’s Outer Banks were startled and amazed by the sight of thousands upon thousands of terrified fish throwing themselves onto an Ocracoke Island beach to escape the sharp teeth of ravenous migrating bluefish.

Social media videos showed the baitfish causing the surf to seemingly boil as they frantically tumbled over each other while tourists watched. Some visitors collected the free fish in buckets for later meals. The Tradewinds Tackle Shop said the “bluefish blitz” went on for a few days.