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Earth News
The latest stories from the News section of the BBC Nature web site.
Updated: 6 min 36 sec ago
Chimp 'girl talk' is more negative
Female chimpanzees are more "negative" when communicating with other females, research finds.
Lab bids to combat species smuggling
The latest forensic science is being harnessed in a bid to combat the international crime gangs killing and smuggling endangered species.
Walrus basks in Orkney attention
A walrus turns up on a small Scottish island in what has been described as a "once-in-a-lifetime" event.
Thai ivory ban proposal welcomed
Thailand's Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra says she will amend her country's laws to ban the legal trade in ivory.
'Extinction crisis' focus for summit
Delegates from 178 countries face critical decisions as they meet to review the convention on international trade in endangered species (CITES).
Annual shark kills 'hit 100 million'
The most accurate assessment to date of the impact of commercial fishing on sharks suggests around 100 million a year are being killed.
Rare whales' singing put to test
An isolated population of Arabian Sea humpback whales may be less sophisticated "singers" than humpbacks elsewhere.
Seabirds released after oil rescue
Rescued birds washed up on the south coast covered in an oil additive are set to be released in Dorset.
Fidgeting clownfish benefit anemones
Clownfish boost oxygen flow around their anemone hosts at night, scientists find.
Pilot badger culls to go ahead
Badger culls are set to go ahead later this year after final licence conditions were met, Environment Secretary Owen Paterson announces.
Habitat project angers residents
Plans to flood fields near Exeter to create a new habitat for wading birds are criticised by people living in the area.
Rare macaws to be flown to Bolivia
Six rare parrots which have been bred in Cornwall are to be flown to a new life in the wild in Bolivia.
Spiral-toothed fossil mystery solved
An ancient spiral-toothed fish has been reconstructed from fossil evidence by scientists.
Progress in fight against water weed
The Environment Agency reports a 60% reduction in a weed which was threatening to "choke" the River Nene in Northamptonshire.
VIDEO: Protecting Britain's birds of prey
Conservationists say there is only one breeding pair of Hen Harriers left in England and claim numbers have dwindled over the last decade partly because of illegal killing
Chimps 'solve puzzles for fun'
Chimpanzees enjoy trying to solve brainteasers, say researchers at Bedfordshire's Whipsnade Zoo.
Rescued seal pups returned to wild
Three seal pups named after X Factor judges Simon Cowell, Nicole Scherzinger and Cheryl Cole are released back in to the wild.
'Vampires' attack penguin chicks
For the first time, documentary makers film vampire bats preying on Humboldt penguin chicks.
Chemical link to otter penis problem
Chemicals may be linked to a decrease in males otters' penis bone weight, scientists say.
Bees sense flowers' electric signals
Bumblebees can detect and distinguish electrical signals given by flowers to enhance discrimination and memory of floral rewards, a study suggests.
