location: Asia

location: Asia

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Eavesdropping on Malaysia’s dolphins: Interview with marine bioacoustician Saliza Bono
- Saliza Bono, a Malaysian bioacoustician at nonprofit research group MareCet, studies the sounds of marine mammals to protect their population.
- Her research focuses on the impacts of underwater noise, particularly on Indo-Pacific humpback and Irrawaddy dolphins in Malaysia.
- In an interview with Mongabay, the marine biologist discusses her journey into bioacoustics, how underwater noise pollution impacts dolphin behavior, and the challenges of her research.

Chinese squid tied to labor abuses finds an easy route into Western markets
- In recent years, a series of high-profile investigations implicated the Chinese fleets targeting squid in international waters in illegal fishing practices, environmental violations, and poor working conditions, including forced labor and deaths at sea.
- The revelations received widespread public attention, including from elected officials in the U.S. and Europe.
- A Mongabay analysis shows that the largest Western markets have continued to import Chinese squid products in large quantities, raising concerns about regulatory gaps and lack of transparency and consumer awareness.
- The most recent evidence of problems in the Chinese squid industry came in a June 2026 report by U.K.-based NGO Environmental Justice Foundation that covers a five-year investigation, including interviews with more than 400 fishers who worked on Chinese squid-fishing vessels in three oceans.

Two rare pregnancies spark hope for Sumatran rhinos — but also concerns about inbreeding
- Two near-extinct Sumatran rhinos are pregnant at a sanctuary in Indonesia, offering a rare boost for a species that numbers only a few dozen in the wild.
- The pregnancies are the latest result of a decades-long captive-breeding effort aimed at helping the solitary animals reproduce as their wild populations become increasingly isolated.
- But the expected births also underscore the challenges of managing a small captive population with limited genetic diversity: the pregnant females are related, as are the two sires.

Indonesia returns 20 green sea turtles to the ocean after Bali smuggling raid
SERANGAN ISLAND, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesian authorities on the tourist island of Bali released 20 protected green sea turtles back into the ocean Tuesday after they were found and seized on an empty boat seemingly abandoned by wildlife smugglers fleeing a police raid. Officers conducted final checks on the turtles at a conservation center on […]
A study unravels the genetic mystery of a cobra divided by sea
- A new study estimates that Sri Lankan and the Indian subcontinent cobra lineages diverged around two million years ago, evolving from an African ancestor and potentially linked to past sea-level changes separating the island from India.
- In 1939, Sri Lankan zoologist P. E. P. Deraniyagala first recognized an unusual Sri Lankan cobra form and named it Naja naja polyocellata where it was later synonymized and resurrected as a species in 2022 only to be challenged in 2023.
- The latest findings confirm the genetic distinctiveness of Sri Lankan cobra but does not formally establish them as a separate species, leaving taxonomists to determine whether the lineage warrants species-level recognition.
- Beyond science, the cobra is deeply woven into Sri Lanka’s history, folklore and traditions, making its identity a part of the island’s natural and cultural heritage.

Shedding light on the sea: Interview with Thai photographer Sirachai Arunrugstichai
- Trained as a marine biologist, Thai photojournalist Sirachai “Shin” Arunrugstichai has taken photos that capture issues pertinent to marine conservation, from beached coral reefs to beaches polluted by oil spills.
- He co-authored a study on necrophilia in squids after photographing a squid engaging in the behavior while retrieving ghost fishing nets in Myanmar.
- While saying he is not a campaigner, Shin believes photography can help draw public attention to environmental issues and help initiate change.
- Shin spoke to Mongabay about his career journey, scientific study and photography work.

Photos: Taiwan’s tea revival blends ancient terraces with new climate adaptations
- Taiwan’s Shenkeng region was once a major tea-producing center, but industrialization and urbanization hollowed out the industry by the 1970s, allowing abandoned tea terraces to return to forest.
- A government-backed effort is now restoring tea production and its cultural heritage, using the region’s historic stone terraces alongside drip irrigation, soil sensors, and more resilient tea varieties.
- Climate change is making the revival harder, with earlier-dissipating mist, erratic rainfall, and increasingly intense typhoons threatening tea plants and increasing landslide risks.
- Researchers and local growers are combining traditional farming techniques with new technology to make Shenkeng’s tea industry more resilient and preserve its cultural heritage for future generations.

Wildfires threaten Indonesia’s orangutans as rescuers find injured animals
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Wildfires sweeping across parts of Indonesia’s Borneo island have left endangered orangutans struggling to survive, prompting rescuers to evacuate animals found injured, stranded and surrounded by thick haze. A female Bornean orangutan nicknamed Novita was among dozens of apes rescued from wildfires in parts of Sumatra and Borneo in recent months. […]
Indonesia says it no longer needs forests for rice. What happens to projects underway?
- A government official announced that Indonesia had achieved rice self-sufficiency three years ahead of schedule and no longer needed the previously announced 2 million hectares for food production.
- Instead, future food and biofuel production would be directed toward degraded land.
- But the government has yet to clarify how the announcement will affect food and energy projects already underway, raising questions about whether policy and implementation will follow its stated shift.

As Colombo heats up, passive cooling offers a low-energy solution — but at a cost
- As temperatures soar, Sri Lanka’s urban dwellers are becoming more dependent on mechanical or active-cooling methods such as fans and air conditioners.
- The urban residential sector consumes nearly a third of Sri Lanka’s total energy demand to heat and cool buildings, and run lights, devices, and appliances.
- Passive cooling is an approach that uses natural energy flows such as wind to lower indoor temperatures, engineers say.
- Proponents say natural ventilation is one of the most effective passive-cooling strategies and especially suitable for humid climates such as Sri Lanka’s.

Community action to protect Cambodia’s seas: Interview with commune leader Sorn Srenh
- Sorn Srenh is a local commune leader in Cambodia’s Koh Sdach archipelago, where he also serves as a marine advocate, working with fishing communities to protect ocean ecosystems and livelihoods.
- He describes how community patrols, stronger fisheries enforcement, plastic-waste initiatives and women’s participation are helping address illegal fishing and other threats to Koh Sdach’s waters.
- Srenh also discusses the challenges of balancing conservation with community livelihoods, gaps in law enforcement, and the need for stronger collaboration and long-term support from government and conservation groups.
- In a recent interview with Mongabay, Srenh discussed his path into marine conservation, the challenges facing Koh Sdach’s waters, and his vision for community-led protection of Cambodia’s seas.

Sri Lanka elephant found with a gunshot wound. How can tuskers be protected?
- Sri Lanka’s tallest living tusker Kavantissa was recently found with a gunshot wound on the right foreleg, prompting urgent veterinary treatment.
- The recent incident has renewed calls for armed protection of iconic tuskers such as Kavantissa, Agbo and Mahasen, echoing Kenya’s measures to protect famous elephants such as Ahmed and Craig.
- Conservationists caution that Africa’s individual-elephant protection models may not be easily translated to Sri Lanka’s densely settled, human-dominated landscapes.
- A recent assessment valued an individual wild elephant in Sri Lanka to be around 3.8 billion rupees ($11.5 million), highlighting the ecological, cultural and economic significance of elephants.

Vietnam mobilizes troops after heavy rains trigger flash floods and raise risks of landslides
HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Heavy rains lashed much of central Vietnam on Friday and caused flooding in parts of the historic city of Hue, a day after floods and landslides hit the coastal port city of Danang. Troops were mobilized and amphibious armored vehicles readied for rescue operations, state media reported. More rainfall was forecast […]
For Indian communities, fishmeal factories bring pollution, danger and protests
- A proposed fishmeal plant in Cuncolim on India’s southwestern coast has reignited opposition to an industry accused of pollution, unsafe working conditions, and unsustainable fishing practices.
- An Outlaw Ocean Project investigation found at least 30 Indian fishmeal plants linked to environmental violations or other legal infractions between 2018 and 2024, as well as 18 episodes of civil unrest.
- The industry provides jobs and tax revenue, but also diverts fish from local food supplies, exposes workers and nearby residents to health and safety risks, and contributes to pressure on overfished species.
- Despite documented concerns, India is backing further growth in fishmeal production, with the government lifting a moratorium on new plants and officials approving the Cuncolim facility in February 2026.

Dhaka’s waste-to-energy plant face backlash over air pollution
Construction of a power plant that will burn waste to generate electricity at a landfill near Bangladesh’s capital faces strong opposition from nearby communities, who say they fear severe health risks posed by toxic air pollution, reports contributor Eyamin Sajid for Mongabay. The $467 million project is being overseen by the municipal authority Dhaka North […]
Deadly wildfires leave Borneo wildlife scrambling for fresh water
- Wildfires in West Kalimantan are leaving wildlife struggling to find fresh water as forest pools dry up and ponds turn brackish, pushing animals toward villages and coastal areas.
- Residents and conservation groups have begun providing water and rescuing animals affected by the fires, as prolonged dry conditions put further pressure on wildlife and freshwater supplies.
- Conservationists warn the crisis is also affecting coastal communities, with rising salinity threatening access to fresh water and potentially putting food production at risk.
- Warning: This story contains disturbing images of animals.

Nepal ends search for thousands of flood victims, leaving some families angry and others relieved
KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — The families of thousands of people who remain missing in Nepal weeks after catastrophic floods devastated the country have expressed mixed feelings after the government said this week that it is stopping the search for victims. The office of Prime Minister Balendra Shah decided on Monday that search and rescue operations […]
South Korea strengthens migrant fisher protections. Advocates are not impressed
- South Korea has recently revamped national guidelines on human trafficking to make it easier for law enforcement officials to spot and stop forced labor and other abuses in the fishing industry.
- The South Korean government cited the U.S. State Department’s recommendation in last year’s Trafficking in Persons Report as a reason for amending the guidelines.
- The amendments have not drawn an enthusiastic response from rights activists who say the problem lies more with enforcement of labor laws and anti-human-trafficking laws.
- While authorities have arrested people accused of committing crimes against migrant fishers like abduction or physical assault, they remain the exception.

Did two of the lemurs stolen in Bangladesh end up in India? Officials are investigating
- The case of missing lemurs from a Bangladeshi safari park exposes major gaps in wildlife conservation enforcement, locally and regionally.
- In the absence of protocols, tracing and repatriating trafficked wildlife becomes a big challenge for law enforcers.
- SAWEN, a high-level South Asian platform for wildlife enforcement, suggests continued dialogue among regional parties to close these gaps.

Logging threatens Bornean forest earmarked for Indigenous Peace Park
Part of a forest in Malaysian Borneo that Indigenous communities had envisioned co-managing and self-governing has been turned into an active commercial logging concession, according to a recent civil society report. The 283,500-hectare (700,500-acre) Upper Baram Forest Area, in the northeastern part of the state of Sarawak, was proposed as a community-led conservation area more […]
Fishing in polluted waters
In a remote community in Malaysian Borneo, fishermen are facing an existential threat: their water source is being polluted. The fish they depend on is dying. Long Jawe village sits on the banks of the vast Bakun Reservoir. It is so remote that most residents only make the five-hour journey to the nearest town once […]
‘A few are afraid of the chicks’: Preparing Thailand’s rescued leopard cats for life in the wild
- A government-run wildlife rescue center in northeastern Thailand rehabilitates and releases dozens of leopard cat cubs every year.
- Rescue numbers have risen sharply since 2023, a trend staff at the center attribute to a combination of worsening habitat fragmentation, fire activity and increased use of a government hotline.
- Although the center can monitor camera traps for footage of released cats, they currently have no way to be certain how many of the cats survive after release.

Wild tulips in Central Asia have become rare, expert says
More than half of the world’s wild tulip species assessed so far are threatened with extinction, reports Mongabay’s Shreya Dasgupta. “For a flower this famous, it may surprise people how rare its wild relatives have become,” Brett Wilson, co-founder of the Wild Tulip Specialist Group at the IUCN, the global nature conservation authority, told Mongabay […]
Indigenous activist Kynan Tegar on Indonesia’s fires, and defending the Earth
Indigenous activist and filmmaker Kynan Tegar joins the Mongabay Newscast this week to discuss the impacts of the fires devastating Kalimantan, the Indonesian portion of the island of Borneo. Some 48,000 hectares (about 119,000 acres) of land have burned so far this year; Kynan says these fires are intentional on the part of agricultural corporations. […]
The Indonesians facing El Nino’s fires have lessons to teach us (commentary)
- The world is facing an El Niño event of unprecedented proportions.
- Millions of Indonesians have already been breathing toxic wildfire smoke and bravely fighting the blazes for months, although this event’s likely record-breaking fire season has barely kicked into gear.
- “These communities are inspiring, and they can teach us some lessons about resilience and fortitude in the face of a Super El Niño that’s coming for many of us,” a new op-ed argues.
- This article is a commentary. The views expressed are those of the author, not necessarily of Mongabay.

Artificial nests give Hong Kong’s cockatoos a home – and a chance to study their behavior
- Hong Kong-based biologist Astrid Andersson and arborist Harry Wong run a conservation project that seeks to protect the city’s feral yellow-crested cockatoos (Cacatua sulphurea).
- The critically endangered species enjoys a stable population in Hong Kong, numbering around 200 or about 10% of the global population.
- With few natural nesting spaces available, Andersson and Wong make artificial nest boxes and install them in public parks and on school campuses.
- Each box is equipped with an internal camera connected to a mobile signal, allowing researchers to remotely monitor breeding behavior.

16 new fungal species found hiding in Thailand’s flowers
Researchers surveying garden and wild flowers across northern Thailand have uncovered 16 previously unknown species of black, yeast-like fungi living inside the flowers, according to a recent study. The newly described fungi belong to the Aureobasidium genus, a commonly occurring group of yeast that can be found almost everywhere, from air and human skin, to […]
Indonesia threatens prison time for unauthorized downloads of forest data
- Indonesia’s forestry ministry has posted a notice saying it will use a controversial internet law to prosecute anyone who downloads geospatial data without its written permission, threatening prison terms of up to nine years.
- A ministry official clarified it was restricting access only to data in the widely used shapefile format.
- Legal scholars say the data are protected under Indonesian law and should be freely accessible.

Sabine Schoppe who built a refuge for Palawan’s forest turtles has died
On June 17, 2015, Philippine officials confiscated thousands of turtles in cement tanks from a warehouse in Palawan, an island province in the Philippines. More than 3,800 of them were endangered Palawan forest turtles (Siebenrockiella leytensis), piled as many as a dozen deep, awaiting export. Some had ulcers on the undersides of their shells or […]
Thailand braces for more rain as death toll from recent flooding hits 31
BANGKOK (AP) — Thai authorities on Monday warned of more rain and flash flooding as the death toll from floods across the country since mid-September rose to 31. Thunderstorms, strong winds and heavy rain are expected across much of upper Thailand from Monday through Wednesday, increasing the risk of flash flooding, particularly in low-lying areas, […]
‘There could be local extinction’: The fight to protect Indonesia’s orangutans as El Niño fuels fires
- In Indonesia, fires are burning in rainforests that contain 13 of the 20 largest remaining populations of Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus).
- Without urgent action, thousands more orangutans could be killed, injured or displaced, warns the IUCN SSC Primate Specialist Group, a network of primatologists, field researchers and conservation experts.
- Actions must include long-term measures, including community-led efforts, beyond emergency firefighting to tackle the fires, say experts.

More Latin American species are surfacing at a Bangkok wildlife market
More Amazonian species, in larger numbers, are appearing for sale on the other side of the planet in Southeast Asia’s exotic pet trade, reports contributor Gloria Dickie for Mongabay. Over the past two years, Scott Roberton, who leads the countertrafficking program for U.S.-based nonprofit Wildlife Conservation Society, has observed a rise in Latin American species, […]
Weak prosecution leaves Southeast Asia’s tigers vulnerable to trafficking: Report
Fewer than half of tiger poaching and trafficking arrests in Southeast Asia result in convictions or legal penalties, providing little deterrent to an illegal black market that is driving wild tigers towards extinction, reports contributor Sean Mowbray for Mongabay. Researchers analyzed 259 tiger seizure cases recorded between 2019 and 2024 across seven range countries: Indonesia, […]
Myanmar’s mines pollute Thai rivers
Vast tracts of Thai farmland have been poisoned by chemicals linked to mining in Myanmar, With toxins carried into Thailand by at least six transboundary rivers. A Mongabay investigation has found more than 50 companies in Thailand importing minerals from Myanmar’s polluting mines. Antimony, copper, lead, manganese, tin, tungsten and other critical minerals worth millions […]
Vietnam’s fishers face rising costs, declining catches and a contested sea
- As Hanoi leans on fishers to hold the line in contested waters, a distant war and a demanding European compliance regime are squeezing the same boats from opposite directions.
- The fuel crisis caused by the Iran War adds to the pressure.
- Data shows a nearly-19% year-on-year drop in fishing activity during March and April 2026, the height of the fuel crisis.

As Hong Kong heats up, calls grow for tougher rules to protect outdoor workers
- Hong Kong’s heat stress warning system has been widely criticized as ineffective, failing to raise alerts even when temperatures hit a record high.
- Although the system has since been revamped, critics say the government’s heat stress guidelines to protect workers are flawed.
- Unlike mainland China and other countries, Hong Kong doesn’t require employers to stop high-risk work or let workers rest when heat warnings are issued.
- Workers’ rights advocates also urge authorities to codify heatstroke as an occupational disease.

Wildlife traffickers are now targeting Indonesia’s critically endangered maleo birds
- Sulawesi’s critically endangered maleo birds are increasingly targeted by wildlife traffickers, according to a new study that documented seizures of smuggled birds Some were carried by families with children, young couples or single mothers to try to avoid detection.
- Researchers found that 25 live juvenile maleos were seized by enforcement agents in 2024 in India or en route there. Conservationists say they may have been smuggled from hatcheries built to conserve the critically endangered species. None were repatriated alive to Indonesia.
- Maleos are a protected species in Indonesia, and all international commercial trade is banned under CITES, the global wildlife trade treaty.
- Researchers urge authorities in India, Indonesia and Thailand to increase surveillance and enforcement in airports and build a mechanism to return seized birds to Indonesia, where they could potentially be released back into the wild.

As fires spread, Indonesia’s rubber growers draw on traditional ways to fight back
- Data from remote sensing platforms indicates Indonesia is likely experiencing its worst wildfires crisis in years as a strong El Niño deepens the country’s main dry season over Sumatra and Borneo islands.
- In South Sumatra province, rubber tree growers in the Tempirai customary zone say they use fire only after the end of the dry season, after they have planted food crops, and that fires began to afflict this area of South Sumatra province after the oil palm industry began operating in the peatland.
- That may reflect the relative resilience of oil palm trees to wildfires compared with rubber trees, which are much more vulnerable to incineration.
- “If a fire breaks out here, we’re finished — so right now, fire is our enemy,” one latex tree grower told Mongabay Indonesia.

Women shoulder the burden of expanding wildfires in rural India
In the Indian Western Himalayas, women are the primary first responders to escalating forest fires. They risk their physical safety to protect homes and livelihoods despite receiving little formal support or equipment and no pay, reports contributor Swati Thapa for Mongabay. Uttarakhand is the most fire-prone state in India’s Western Himalayas. High-elevation warming exceeds global […]
India’s isolated island tribes need autonomy to survive rising threats, says scholar
Isolated and contacted Indigenous tribes in India’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands face threats from illegal fishing, mega-development projects and misinformed government welfare policies that undermine their self-sufficiency, says Manish Chandi, a former research scholar who has spent decades working with tribal communities in the region. Chandi worked with the communities while he was with the […]
Vantara in talks with Brazil on ‘strategic cooperation’ on threatened species, FOIA documents reveal
- Documents obtained by Mongabay show Vantara, the controversial private zoo in India run by billionaire Anant Ambani, was in talks with Brazilian authorities to form a “strategic conservation partnership” focused on the country’s threatened species.
- The zoo also proposed a conservation partnership on Spix’s macaw, a parrot species endemic to Brazil but extinct in the wild; 26 of the birds were sent from Germany to Vantara in 2023 without Brazil’s consent.
- Representatives from Vantara met with Brazilian officials in 2025 to discuss this partnership. A Brazilian delegation was scheduled to visit the Indian zoo in 2026; that trip was canceled at the last minute.
- Conservationists say that given the ongoing investigations into Vantara’s links to alleged wildlife trafficking, the country must be transparent about any agreement signed with the zoo.

Endangered dolphins survive in a Bangladesh river so polluted it’s ‘not livable’ for fish
At least 20 endangered Ganges river dolphins still survive in Bangladesh’s extremely polluted Buriganga River, a 12-month study found, reports contributor Md Jahidul Islam for Mongabay. Skirting the southern edge of the country’s capital, Dhaka, the 29-kilometer (18-mile) river is recognized as one of the most contaminated urban waterways globally. Researchers surveyed a 27-km (16.7-mi) […]
Indonesia’s new peatland agency faces questions over what it will do differently
- Indonesia plans to create a new agency to restore and manage peatlands prone to burning, in a repeat of a measure it took in response to the severe fire season of 2015.
- The new agency will replace an older one that shuttered at the end of 2024, raising questions about why its predecessor was allowed to die off and what the new body will do differently.
- The previous agency’s restoration efforts helped reduce fire hotspots, but damaged infrastructure and continued land conversion have limited lasting ecological recovery.
- Experts and environmental groups say the new agency must prioritize fire prevention and landscape-scale restoration, with clear authority, funding, and accountability.

Myanmar’s polluting mines selling to China through Thai companies
- Large volumes of critical minerals are being imported from Myanmar into Thailand and then mostly resold to China.
- At least six Thai rivers have been found to be contaminated with heavy metals linked to mining operations in Myanmar.
- Data suggests companies in Myanmar, Thailand and China are profiting from an industry that has created a public health crisis, impacting food and water security for hundreds of thousands across eastern Myanmar and northern Thailand.
- Civil society and Thai political groups are calling for an end to imports of minerals mined in Myanmar in response to the ongoing river pollution crisis.

Philippine eagle habitat study maps mining risks and conservation priorities
- A new study systematically mapped likely Philippine eagle nesting habitat on Mindanao, the Philippines’ second-largest island and the species’ main stronghold.
- Approved mining concessions overlap with 41% of highly suitable nesting habitat and 65% of its core areas, the researchers found, while only 35% of highly suitable habitat identified across the Eastern Mindanao Biodiversity Corridor lies within protected areas.
- Indigenous ancestral domains separately overlap with 65% of core high-quality nesting habitat, highlighting their importance to the species’ conservation.
- The study authors say their findings can help identify priority spots for conservation interventions.

Pratap Singh Chundawat rescued a leopard from a well. He died in the line of duty, aged 40
Founder’s Briefs: An occasional series where Mongabay founder Rhett Ayers Butler shares analysis, perspectives and story summaries. On April 9, a farmer named Rupalal heard noises in a well at his field in Dhawadi village in the state of Rajasthan in India. He looked down and saw a leopard 21 meters (70 feet) below. A […]
Tokyo records historic 35-day rain streak driven by El Niño and stalled fronts
Central Tokyo has experienced 35 consecutive days of rainfall, setting the longest continuous rainy streak since records began in 1886, reported local media citing Japan’s weather agency. Rains began on Aug. 27 and have continued daily as of Sept. 30. This spell breaks the previous record of 33 consecutive days of rainfall set in 2019, […]
Plastic fused to coral rubble raises new concerns for ocean pollution
From the seafloor to turtle stomachs, scientists are finding plastic everywhere they look for it. Now, researchers in Japan have found plastic thermally adhered to coral rubble, an amalgamation they’ve termed “plasticoral,” according to a new study. The finding is raising concerns about potential ocean chemical leaching, habitat degradation and a new way for microplastics […]
Bhutan recognized for eliminating dog-transmitted rabies ahead of World Rabies Day
The World Health Organization has officially recognized Bhutan for eliminating dog-transmitted human rabies as a public health problem — in time for World Rabies Day on Sept. 28. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Bhutan is the first country in the Southeast Asia region, and the second to be named globally after Mexico, to […]
Despite a drop in deforestation in 2025, forest losses pile up in the Mekong
- Over the course of 2025, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam lost a combined 746,168 hectares of tree cover (1.8 million acres), including more than 154,000 hectares (380,000 acres) of primary forest, according to Mongabay’s analysis of data published by the University of Maryland and Global Nature Watch.
- However, the rate of deforestation in each country dropped when compared to 2024, continuing a decline that data show started in 2023.
- Experts say fewer wildfires, stricter enforcement and lower market rates for commodities could explain the drop.
- Mongabay’s analysis also found almost 200,000 hectares (494,000 acres) of forest loss occurred within protected areas, where deforestation risks should be lower.

Sri Lanka’s disappearing snake charmers carry a legacy of fear and fascination
- In Sri Lanka, the traditional snake charming culture is fast fading as changing livelihoods, modern entertainment and attitudes toward wildlife reshape the island’s nomadic community, the Ahikuntika tribe.
- During the act of snake charming, cobras do not respond to the music itself, but to the movement of the charmer and instrument, which they perceive as a potential threat, herpetologists say.
- Breaking a cobra’s venom fangs, which the snake charmers do, does not necessarily prevent it from developing replacement fangs, while deliberate fang removal can cause injury and raise animal-welfare concerns, conservationists say.
- Researchers recommend using the existing traditional knowledge of snakes to be redirected toward conservation action, as harmful practices associated with wildlife performances are disappearing.

Rain eases in Bangkok but persistent flooding forces thousands to leave home
BANGKOK (AP) — Rain eased in Thailand ’s capital on Sunday, but flooding persisted in several low-lying areas, with thousands forced to move into temporary shelters. At least eight people were reported killed in the past 10 days nationwide. Days of continuous downpours have caused widespread flooding and severe disruptions in Bangkok, impacting traffic and […]
Indonesia passes agrarian reform law amid concerns over land protections
- Indonesia’s long-debated Agrarian Reform Regulation Law was approved on Sept. 22.
- The legislation establishes a framework for resolving agrarian land disputes, restoring land rights and redistributing land, but details of how the law will operate remain unclear.
- A coalition of civil society groups have raised concerns about the final draft of the bill, saying it could limit land redistribution and make it difficult to resolve conflicts involving state-controlled land.
- The test of the new legislation will be whether it changes conditions for farmers, Indigenous communities, fisherfolk and other groups affected by land conflicts, says the coalition.

Philippines is the deadliest country in Asia for environmental defenders, report finds
The Philippines remains the deadliest country in Asia for land and environmental defenders, according to a new report by the non-profit Global Witness. In its report, Global Witness says it could verify the killings of 124 land and environmental defenders worldwide in 2025. While the majority, 85% of cases, occurred in Latin America, Asia accounted […]
Singapore’s plan to merge several islands could wipe out coral reefs
- Singapore’s prime minister recently announced plans to merge several islands into a new “western island” to support “a new generation of industries.”
- The mega-project could bury up to 60% of Singapore’s remaining reefs, many of which are “mother” reefs and of regional ecological significance, conservationists say.
- The reefs are traditional fishing grounds for the Indigenous Orang Laut, who say the project would restrict their access to an area of cultural significance.
- The project raises awkward questions about the volume and source of sand needed to construct the island.

Bringing back Bali’s lost fireflies
Fireflies are disappearing from the Indonesian island of Bali… but local Wayan Wardika is trying to bring them back. Fireflies in Southeast Asia are vanishing due to habitat loss, light pollution, pesticide use, and climate change—and the same is happening on this rapidly developing island. In 2020, he launched Bring Back the Light, Indonesia’s only […]
A plan to save Bali’s lost fireflies
BALI — Indonesia. Wayan Wardika used to see “clouds of fireflies” as a child growing up among the rice fields of Bali, Indonesia. But 40 years later, he realized that the fireflies in his village had all but disappeared. Fireflies in Southeast Asia are vanishing due to habitat loss, light pollution, pesticide use, and climate […]
NGOs call on Vantara to end all wild animal imports permanently
- In a letter, 27 leading global wildlife conservation and animal welfare organizations have urged Vantara, a private zoo in India funded by Reliance Industries’ nonprofit, to permanently end all wild animal imports into its facilities.
- The letter comes after Vantara announced a self-imposed one-year moratorium, which runs through June 2027, on all animal imports to its facilities as it improves its “due diligence” by appointing a governing council and stricter oversight.
- The announcement came amid allegations of illegal wildlife trade linked to Vantara — and a CITES Secretariat investigation into its 60,000 live animal imports over the past two years.
- The coalition of NGOs call for Vantara to address compliance concerns of animals already under its care, be transparent about future acquisitions and prioritize conservation of wildlife in their native habitats.

Bangladesh’s Rohingya refugee camps become increasingly vulnerable to landslides
- Amid recurring landslides, a growing number of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh are being forced to adapt to increasingly limited camp space.
- The refugee management authorities warn that expansions of Rohingya camps will accelerate further destruction of forests and biodiversity.
- A study recommends protection of the vulnerable hill slopes, but authorities cite fund shortages as a major obstacle.

Pakistan expands protected habitat for Indus River dolphin as recovery offers hope
- Pakistan has established the Punjnad Indus River Dolphin Sanctuary in Punjab, which connects with an existing reserve in Sindh to form a continuous 400-kilometer protected river corridor.
- A 2025 abundance study reveals the endangered Indus River dolphin metapopulation has rebounded to an estimated 1,987 individuals, marking a 19.4% increase between 2011 and 2017.
- Despite this encouraging recovery, nearly 99% of the population is confined to a 690-kilometer stretch of the river and remains highly vulnerable to fatal gillnet entanglements and habitat fragmentation from irrigation barrages.
- Wildlife officials and conservationists stress that long-term survival for the endemic bhulan, as it is locally known, will require cross-provincial coordination, ecological modifications to barrage operations and community-led sustainable fishing practices.

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