Shorts

Desert rain frogs threatened with extinction in southern Africa

The survival of a unique frog species that lives in the coastal sand dunes of South Africa and Namibia is under threat from diamond mining, the proposed Boegoebaai Green Hydrogen Project and climate change. The desert rain frog (Breviceps macrops) has been moved to a higher threat category, from near threatened to vulnerable, on the IUCN's Red List. The change in the frog’s conservation status is based on assessments carried out by scientists from various Southern African universities and organizations. “[The species] has already experienced loss of its habitat from strip mining and these projected impacts don't bode well for the species and the other unique biodiversity that occurs only in these coastal dune systems,” Jeanne Tarrant, executive director of Anura Africa, which supports amphibian conservation, and regional co-chair of the IUCN Amphibian Specialist Group for Southern Africa, told Mongabay via email. The desert rain frog grows to just 4 to 6 centimeters (1.6 to 2.4 inches) in length. It’s range is also very small, limited to the white coastal sand dunes of northern South Africa and southern Namibia within 10 to 12 kilometers (6 to 7 miles) of the coast. It survives without a permanent source of freshwater by absorbing moisture from coastal fog and spends most of its life buried beneath moist sand, emerging when conditions are just right. Scientists identified six distinct habitat locations of the frog within the Succulent Karoo biome, a recognized hotspot for biodiversity, all threatened with mining, energy and infrastructure development. “The proposed green hydrogen development and its associated infrastructure are most worrying as these will directly impact the desert rain frog's habitat – it spends most of its life burrowed underground,” Tarrant said. Opencast diamond mining, which extracts minerals from an open pit in the ground, in the South African part of the frog's range has already reduced large areas of suitable habitat by removing sand dunes and vegetation that the frogs depend on. Mining companies replace the sand after extraction, but research suggests the vegetation doesn’t naturally recover well enough for the frogs to recolonize the areas. In the future, climate change and rising temperatures will likely put more pressure on the species by drying out their habitat, Tarrant said. The IUCN assessors project that over the next 20 years, up to one-third of the frog's habitat in South Africa and about two-thirds of its habitat in Namibia could be compromised, resulting in a projected population decline of around 20% over the next decade. Currently, there are no coordinated conservation efforts in place. “There really needs to be a consolidated effort now, based on this change in status to more threatened, to drive conservation and research action for this species,” Tarrant said. Researchers have initiated a Green Status assessment of the frog for the IUCN, which evaluates a species’ recovery potential and identifies priority research and conservation actions, she added. Banner image: The desert rain frog. Image courtesy of Bob Steele via iNaturalist (CC BY-NC 4.0).

The desert rain frog. Image courtesy of Bob Steele via iNaturalist (CC BY-NC 4.0).

Ethiopia’s iconic Walia ibex is critically endangered once again

The Walia ibex, a rare species of wild goat found only in northern Ethiopia, is once again considered critically endangered, after recent population estimates showed a sustained decline below a key threshold. The iconic species, largely confined to the remote, steep cliffs of Simien Mountains National Park, was previous listed as vulnerable on the Red List of the IUCN, the global wildlife conservation authority. The conservation status of the Walia ibex (Capra walie) has oscillated over the years. In 1986, it was listed as endangered, then reclassified as critically endangered in 1996, before being moved back to endangered in 2008. Between 2009 and 2012, surveys found the Walia ibex population had increased from 680 individuals to 850. Based on this trend, researchers estimated that by 2020 there would be more than 975 individuals. Concluding that the species was doing better, they reclassified the ibex as vulnerable. The 2020 assessment noted that in 2019, only 619 ibex had been counted, but concluded that this single record didn’t change the overall increasing trend. “With today’s knowledge this conclusion was not justified,” Paul Scholte, senior adviser to the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority and lead assessor of the IUCN Walia Ibex Assessment, told Mongabay by email. A study published last year by Scholte and his colleagues found that Walia ibex numbers have been steadily declining from a high of 865 individuals in 2015 to just 306 by May 2024. Most importantly, there were fewer than 250 mature individuals (those that can reproduce) in 2023 and 2024, thereby falling under the IUCN criterion for listing the species as critically endangered, Scholte said. An additional count in November 2024, not included in the 2025 study, found just 289 ibex, including 228 mature individuals, Scholte added. Another count in December 2025, found only 271 individuals. “In other words another 18 individuals lost within a year,” he said. For their study, Scholte and his colleagues also interviewed nearly 200 people, including park personnel, local authorities and village residents, to understand why ibex populations have been declining. The interviewees identified poaching as a major threat to the ibex, possibly for food and traditional medicine, followed by human encroachment and habitat degradation. The situation was made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic in combination with the 2021-2022 war between the Ethiopian government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front. According to the interviewees, the instability from the war opened the door for poaching, while COVID-19 “obstructed tourist flows, decreased revenues and halted patrolling activities and awareness,” the authors wrote in the paper. Scholte said poaching continues to be a threat. “In April 2025, four poachers were apprehended, with the remains of two Walia ibexes that were confiscated, showing the continuing pressure on this species during a period of prolonged insecurity reigning in this part of Ethiopia,” he said. [caption id="attachment_322959" align="alignnone" width="768"]

A Wialia ibex, subadult female. Image by Paul Scholte.[/caption] Banner image of a male Walia ibex in Ethiopia, courtesy of Paul Scholte.

A male Walia ibex in Ethiopia. Image courtesy of Paul Scholte.

Ugandan farmers sue TotalEnergies' oil pipeline project in UK court

Four Ugandan farmers have filed a lawsuit before the High Court in London, U.K., against a contentious oil pipeline under construction in Uganda and Tanzania, human rights group Avaaz announced at a press conference on July 7. The 1,443-kilometer (897-mile) East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) will stretch from the Tilenga and Kingfisher oil fields in landlocked Uganda to the Tanzanian port of Tanga for export. The pipeline is being built by French energy giant TotalEnergies. "We are incredibly excited to bring this claim,” said Matthew Renshaw, a partner at law firm Leigh Day, which is representing the claimants. “It is against EACOP Limited, which is a U.K.-registered company that has the potential to cause devastation in Uganda and in the wider world." Joanna Setzer, an associate professor at the London School of Economics’ Grantham Research Institute, said at the press conference that U.K. courts are looking at similar cases of U.K.-registered companies allegedly causing harm in other countries. “But the timing is critical in this case because it's before the damage, before the harm occurs,” she said. The Tilenga and Kingfisher fields lie near Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda's largest protected area and home to endangered Rothschild's giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi) and African bush elephants (Loxodonta africana). The pipeline will also cross 16 protected areas and the Lake Victoria Basin that’s vital for more than 40 million people. Environmental groups have warned that the ecosystem could suffer severe damage in the event of an oil spill. “Tomorrow, after their pipes get old, there will be oil spills that will be poured into our waters and the little we are harvesting today, I don't think we will be able to harvest it tomorrow," Racheal Tugume, one of the claimants, said at the press conference. Beyond its environmental impacts, EACOP has also raised concerns over human rights violations. More than 100,000 people, most of them farmers, have been displaced to make way for the project. Some of those affected, including one of the claimants, said they have still not received adequate financial compensation. "I lost 42% of my land and I was inadequately compensated,” said Samuel Abidimba, one of the claimants. “I was not able to find another piece of land with the money they gave me to cultivate and grow enough food to support my family.” Uganda has adopted climate legislation that offers legal protection against environmental harm, but EACOP has so far not faced legal action inside the country. Setzer said this may be linked to the country’s political climate: Many opponents of the project, including some of the claimants, say they’ve faced intimidation and pressure. Environmental activists have also been repeatedly arrested after protesting against the pipeline. EACOP is expected to begin operations in 2027, with production from the oil fields projected to last around 20 years. Banner image: Rothschild's giraffes at Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda. The Tilenga and Kingfisher fields lie close to the park. Image by Daryona via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Rothschild's giraffes at Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda. The Tilenga and Kingfisher fields lie close to the park. Image by Daryona via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Sightings off Southern Africa suggest blue and fin whales may be rebounding

Sightings of blue whales and fin whales off Southern Africa’s Atlantic coast have increased in recent years, according to a newly published study. This could signal recovery of the marine mammals after being virtually eliminated from the area by commercial whaling in the 20^th century, the study authors say. Scientists estimate around 350,000 Antarctic blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus intermedia) and some 725,000 fin whales (B. physalus quoyi) were killed in the Atlantic during the industrial whaling era from 1913-1978, driving both whales to near extinction. A research team led by Bridget James of the University of Cape Town, South Africa, set out to assess if both subspecies are recovering in the Benguela ecosystem in the southeastern Atlantic. It’s a stretch of water between the west coasts of northern Angola, Namibia and South Africa, where currents bring nutrients from lower ocean depths to the surface, producing rich blooms of krill, a marine crustacean that both whale subspecies eat. The team found that between 1964 and March 2025, there were 17 reports of blue whale sightings and one report of stranding in the region. They also recorded 76 fin whale sightings and six strandings. The blue whales were most often seen between late spring to summer (October-December) and autumn (March-April) in the Benguela ecosystem, while fin whales were seen year-round. While the number of sightings is still relatively low, 95% of them were recorded since 2012. James told Mongabay by email that the Benguela ecosystem is a migratory corridor between breeding and feeding grounds for the whales, and that increased whale sightings are an expected indicator of populations recovery. Current Antarctic blue whale populations are estimated to be around 3% of pre-whaling numbers, while fin whale numbers have recovered to more than 30% of historical levels. James said increases in their populations to at least 50% of pre-whaling abundance would suggest successful recovery for both subspecies. Whales have relatively few offspring and long intervals between births, which makes their recovery times very slow. James added that as whale numbers increase, they’ll face further challenges since the ocean now is a very different place than during whaling times, with many more large ships and industrial and vessel noise. She noted one blue whale had died off Namibia possibly due to a ship strike. Asha de Vos, a blue whale expert from Sri Lanka, not affiliated with the study, told Mongabay by email that “similar trends have been observed in other parts of the world following the end of commercial whaling.” She added these trends “are often consistent with gradual population recovery and the reoccupation of historical habitat.” De Vos said an increase in sightings could also reflect more whales traversing the region rather than an absolute recovery of numbers, and that the findings provide promising evidence that warrants continued long-term monitoring. Banner image: A fin whale captured off the coast of Lüderitz, Namibia, in 2014, with the desert and Shark Island lighthouse in the background. Image courtesy of Sara Golaski for the Namibian Dolphin Project.

A fin whale captured off the coast of Lüderitz, Namibia, in 2014. Image courtesy of Sara Golaski for the Namibian Dolphin Project.

Researchers in Nigeria successfully cultivate wild mushroom in agricultural waste

Researchers in Nigeria have cultivated a wild mushroom species using sawdust, an agricultural waste product. This could help develop farming of local mushrooms in Nigeria and other parts of Africa, they report in a recent study. Lentinus squarrosulus is a wild mushroom that typically grows on decaying logs in wild habitats across tropical forests, including in eastern Nigeria. This mushroom is both edible and has medicinal value, and is at risk of becoming scarce in the wild because of habitat destruction. If domesticated, however, this mushroom could be an inexpensive and reliable source of protein, mushroom researcher Chiemeziem Agbonma Onyeka told Mongabay by email. “Mushroom farming in Africa is still developing,” Onyeka said. “In many regions, there is still limited awareness that mushrooms can be cultivated as a reliable year-round agricultural crop rather than only collected from the wild during specific seasons.” Onyeka set out to learn how to cultivate L. squarrosulus for her doctoral work at the Federal University of Technology in Owerri, Nigeria. Her goal was to find a way to provide a year-round crop that people could grow, reliably and safely, using waste as a growing material or substrate. Onyeka and her colleagues collected wild L. squarrosulus and tried cultivating them on sawdust from three different types of wood: mango (Mangifera indica), African breadfruit (Treculia Africana) and African pear (Dacryodes edulis). Sawdust is a common byproduct of agriculture and forestry waste. The researchers found that L. squarrosulus mushrooms grew fastest and generated the greatest number of fruiting bodies on the sawdust of the African breadfruit tree, followed by sawdust from mango wood. In Nigeria, mushrooms have received less research investment and support than staple crops, Onyeka said. “Nevertheless, there is growing interest in mushroom cultivation across the continent, particularly due to its nutritional value and ability to utilize agricultural waste." Onyeka said she hopes her success with cultivating L. squarrosulus can help spread commercial mushroom farming in Nigeria, but added that it will be a gradual transition. “The immediate focus is on refining and standardizing cultivation protocols to ensure reproducibility at scale,” she said. “Engagement with farmers, extension systems, and private-sector partners will be essential for translation into commercial production.” Onyeka’s advice for prospective mushroom farmers is to seek proper training, and build a strong foundation, including understanding the production process and hygiene required. Omoanghe Isikhuemhen, a mushroom expert from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, U.S., who wasn’t involved in the study, told Mongabay by email that the study leaves out an important metric of economic potential: biological efficiency. It measures the yield of fresh mushroom per unit of substrate used for cultivation. He said that the profitability and economic benefits of L. squarrosulus cultivation might be difficult to realize, depending on the biological efficiency of the cultivation process. Banner image: Lentinus squarrosulus mushrooms. Image by Vengolis via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Lentinus squarrosulus mushrooms. Image by Vengolis via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Gelada monkeys huddle in the cold: Photo of the week

A group of geladas monkeys (Theropithecus gelada), pictured above, huddle to keep warm on a cold day in the Wilhelma Zoo in Stuttgart, Germany. Endemic to Ethiopia’s cold Afroalpine and sub-Afroalpine grasslands, the species is the only primate, apart from humans, that primarily lives on land rather than trees. They spend most of their time grazing grass and have complex social systems focused around vocal communication, hugging, and grooming, especially between females. “On this day … the chill in the air made ideal conditions for a gelada group hug that included some mutual grooming,” Julie Larsen, Mongabay’s photo editor, said of the moment she captured in 2014. “As I looked down on their gathering, the monkey in the middle peered up at me, clearly benefitting from her fortunate position,” she added. “Then, the group closed over her, a single blanket of chocolate-colored shaggy fur against the elements.” According to Dario Fraschetti, a scientific assistant at Wilhelma Zoo, animals with short hair, as in the center of the photograph, are likely females. Males have distinctive long manes and a bright red mark on their chests, and larger faces. The gelada in the top left corner of the photo is likely male, he said. Of the 30-40 gelada monkeys that live at the zoo, the vast majority are females, which is similar to their social structure in the wild. The zoo participates in a Europe-wide effort to keep a healthy captive-bred population of the species in partnership with EAZA Ex situ Programme (EEP). Hugging between females in the wild has been observed to increase between unrelated mothers during the first months of their offspring’s life, which researchers said may be to “improve female cohesiveness against males, thus reducing the risk of infanticide, which is particularly high in geladas.” The monkeys also display social behaviors that are rare among mammals such as consoling and protecting victims of conflict. And like humans, they also exhibit contagious yawning, which is thought to be linked to empathy. The species is listed as least concern by the IUCN, the global conservation authority. Though the organization notes that the conservation status is partially due to an absence of detailed data on their geographic range and demographic trends. Aerial population surveys in the 1970s estimated a population of approximately 440,000 geladas. But a recent synthesis looking at studies published between 2009 and 2024 put the current population estimate at just under 30,000; though, the authors noted that further studies are needed. Research has also found that gelada monkeys have an interesting relationship with Ethiopian wolves (Canis simensis). Reminiscent of the friendship between humans and dogs, a 2015 study found that the two species don’t display aggression toward each other. Wolves were observed spending more than an hour roaming among the monkeys in peace while looking for rodents. Moreover, the study found that the wolves had more rodent-hunting success while in the company of Gelada monkeys. Banner image: Gelada monkeys engage in a group hug in Wilhelma Zoo in Germany. Image © Julie Larsen. Correction: Clarification added about the sex of the monkeys in the photo.

Gelada monkeys engage in a group hug in Wilhelma Zoo in Germany. Image © Julie Larsen.

Kenya's overcrowded safaris: Wildlife for who?

Vans line up waiting for a kill in Maasai Mara, Kenya.

Hope for vultures in Nigeria as some belief-based users adopt plant alternatives

Using plants instead of vulture parts for belief-based practices is helping to tackle poaching of the birds in some regions of Nigeria, say conservationists. Vulture populations have collapsed in Nigeria. The country was once home to seven vulture species; recent surveys recorded only two, the critically endangered hooded vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus) and the palm-nut vulture (Gypohierax angolensis). Habitat loss, poisoning and poaching for belief-based uses, such as the use of vulture parts in traditional medicines or to bring luck or success, are the primary drivers of their rapid decline. In recent years conservation groups, including the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), have engaged with traditional medicine practitioners to reduce demand for vulture parts. Stella Egbe, species conservation manager at NCF, told Mongabay that many practitioners are switching to plant alternatives, likely because of awareness-raising, increased law enforcement and higher prices of vulture parts in some regions. Chief Samson Ola Soyoye, vice president of the National Association of Nigerian Traditional Medicine Practitioners, told Mongabay the use of vulture parts has a long history in medicinal practices in Nigeria. “That's when the vultures were many but now [they are] rapidly going into extinction,” he said. “My view is to look for alternative plants instead of vultures.” More than 20 plants are now used in place of vulture parts in some places, Egbe said, adding that the conservation status of the plant alternatives also needs to be assessed. To date, the African mahogany tree (Khaya ivorensis), also known as oganwo, is the only species used as an alternative by practitioners that is assessed by the IUCN Red List. It’s listed as vulnerable owing to large declines in numbers. Another species, the violet tree (Securidaca longipedunculata), known locally as ipeta, is also thought to be declining owing to overharvesting. Egbe said NCF plans to cultivate medicinal plant species that are at risk of being overharvested in protected areas. Soyoye said his organization has had success engaging with registered practitioners in southwest Nigeria to encourage the uptake of plant alternatives, but awareness needs raising to reach more. Enforcement at a national level to tackle vulture killings and the sale of their parts in markets is also required, he said. Regional differences in the uptake of plant alternatives follows patterns of traditional beliefs, said Michael Manja Williams, a PhD Candidate at the Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University. In south and east Nigeria, cultural norms generally prohibit the killing of vultures, aligning with conservation messages, so practitioners are often more willing to stop using their parts, he told Mongabay. In the north and west, beliefs link the presence or sight of vultures to bad luck or ill omens and demand for vulture parts appears to be growing there. Overall, Egbe said she is “cautiously optimistic” about the progress made, but added “We're still far away from celebrating the successful recovery of vulture populations.”. Banner image: A hooded vulture. Image by Mibby23 via Flickr (CC BY-NC 2.0).

A hooded vulture. Image by Mibby23 via Flickr (CC BY-NC 2.0).