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In environmental conservation, a profound gap exists between the wealth of data detailing our world’s changing ecosystems and the actionable insights needed to protect them. Enter Mongabay Data Studio, which bridges the divide between environmental science and action by developing impactful tools, creating insightful data journalism, and connecting a network of credible partners. A collab between Mongabay and @Vizzuality . Tap the link in bio to explore the tools. #datajournalism #environmentaljournalism #environment #conservation #journalism #environmentalnews #wildlife #mapmaking #datatools #reforestation

What happens when a global "superfood" trend fades? In Bolivia’s southern Altiplano, the 2010-2014 quinoa boom brought temporary economic gains to rural Indigenous communities. But today, the region is paying the ecological price. Intensified monocultures have left behind a legacy of soil degradation, erosion, and biodiversity loss. Compounding these hurdles are shifting regional weather patterns. A 15% drop in precipitation over the last 25 years has brought a wave of unseasonal rains, frequent frosts, and at least 18 new agricultural pests. For the 70,000 families depending on the crop, farming is becoming increasingly volatile. While farmers cultivate a premium, nutrient-dense variant known as Royal Quinoa, a lack of direct market pathways means much of their harvest is smuggled into Peru and sold without its premium distinction. Experts argue that without robust public export policies and sustainable practices, the future of this ancient Andean staple remains at risk. Read the full story by @benj_swift in the link in our bio.

A new AI-powered camera system could make road crossings less of a nightmare for koalas. Koalas face multiple threats to their survival including deforestation, urbanization, diseases and bushfires. As humans encroach into their habitats, they are forced to cross roads to move across fragmented forests. Because of this, vehicle strikes have also become a major cause of koala deaths. Scientists at Griffith University in Australia are now working to detect koalas crossing the roads in real-time. Watch this video to learn more. Credits: Script: @abhishyantk Edit: Sergi Villalba Azuara Editorial: @osopolita_ / Special thanks: Griffith University

How far can China’s oceanographic research fleet go? A joint investigation by Mongabay and CNN revealed that, in the context of deep-sea mining operations, vessels from China’s research fleet visited Chinese naval bases, turned off their Automatic Identification Systems, and entered other countries’ Exclusive Economic Zones. Journalists Elizabeth Alberts (@elizabeth_the_journo ) and Kara Fox (@karafox10 ) speak to iMEdD about the idea behind the investigation, their data-centric approach, the methodology, and the steps they followed. Read Pavlos Methodios (@methd.paulos )’ article via the link in bio. @pulitzercenter __ Μέχρι πού μπορεί να φτάσει ο κινεζικός ωκεανογραφικός ερευνητικός στόλος; Μια κοινή έρευνα των Mongabay και CNN αποκάλυψε ότι τα πλοία του κινεζικού ερευνητικού στόλου, κατά τη διάρκεια εξορύξεων βαθέων υδάτων, επισκέπτονταν κινεζικές ναυτικές βάσεις, απενεργοποιούσαν τα συστήματα Αυτόματης Αναγνώρισης και εισέρχονταν σε AOΖ άλλων χωρών. Οι δημοσιογράφοι Ελίζαμπεθ Άλμπερτς και Κάρα Φοξ μιλούν στο iMEdD για την ιδέα, τη «data-centric» προσέγγιση, τη μεθοδολογία και τα βήματα που ακολούθησαν. Διαβάστε το άρθρο του Παύλου Μεθόδιου μέσω του link στο bio.

Camera traps in China captured something scientists had never filmed before: a Siberian tigress walking with five cubs in the wild. Tigers usually give birth to just one to four cubs, making this an exceptionally rare sight. The footage was recorded in Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park, one of the most important refuges for the endangered Siberian tiger. Just a few decades ago, fewer than a dozen tigers remained in China. Today there are about 70 — and moments like this suggest conservation efforts may finally be working. --- Script, reporter & edit: @romicastagnino.wild Editorial: @samanthaleewq Special thanks: Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park (NCTLNP), @wwf_tigers

[Photo of the Week] With their bright reddish-golden manes, golden-headed lion tamarins are a striking symbol of Brazil’s primate heritage. But these primates face a crisis: populations have declined nearly 60% in just three decades due to habitat fragmentation. While they thrive in traditional cacao agroforestry, rising coffee monocultures and pastures threaten their future. Community efforts in Bahia are now working to protect this endangered primate. Learn more in the link in our bio. *A golden-headed lion tamarin (Leontopithecus chrysomelas). Images courtesy of @flaviazagury .

In Benin, mangroves are traditionally protected by the Zangbéto, a Vodun deity believed to forbid the cutting of wood under penalty of a curse. Thanks to this spiritual practice, more than 500 hectares (1,200 acres) of mangroves have been preserved over the past decade. Today, major climate bodies increasingly recognize the importance of Indigenous knowledge and traditional governance in protecting biodiversity. Practiced by more than 60 million people worldwide, Vodun is rooted in the connection between humans, nature, and spirits. From Cotonou to Dado, journalist Jahëna Louisin journeys into the heart of Vodun practices that safeguard the environment. Watch the full story on our YouTube channel. Link in bio. Reporter & Script: @jah.ena

Jaguars are known for their powerful roars but scientists just recorded something unexpected: wild jaguars meowing. Audio from camera traps in Brazil’s Iguaçu National Park captured high-pitched calls from two female jaguars, likely part of mother–cub communication. The sounds closely resemble domestic cat meows and may help them find each other in dense forest. Researchers say this discovery reveals a more complex vocal system than previously known and shows that even one of the world’s most studied big cats still holds hidden behaviors waiting to be uncovered. --- Script, reporter & edit: @romicastagnino.wild Editorial: @samanthaleewq Special thanks: @oncasdoiguacu

As David Attenborough turns 100 today, his legacy stands as a testament to how our relationship with the natural world has shifted over the last century. When Attenborough began at the BBC in the 1950s, his mission was one of discovery. In an era when the natural world was assumed to be enduring and resilient, programs like "Zoo Quest" focused on the novelty of unfamiliar species. His measured narration and patient observation allowed the public to encounter the living world with a sense of wonder, rarely placing the human element at the center. However, as the 21st century brought evidence of bleached coral reefs and fragmented habitats, that balance shifted. His later work, including "Planet Earth II" and "A Life on Our Planet," retained its visual discipline but adopted a more direct purpose. The beauty remained, but it was now framed by the strain of biodiversity loss. The arc of Attenborough’s career traces a broader global shift: what began as an effort to reveal the richness of life on Earth has become a sober assessment of its trajectory. At 100, his message is clear: understanding the natural world is no longer a matter of curiosity alone; it is the foundation of our responsibility to the future. Read Rhett Ayers Butler’s "Founder’s Briefs" on David Attenborough's legacy in the link in our bio.

Brazilian Federal Police seize equipment from renowned bird expert in wildlife trafficking probe. Authorities at São Paulo’s Guarulhos Airport have seized cellphones and a computer from Tony Silva, a prominent bird specialist suspected of coordinating the illegal purchase of endangered species for Vantara, a private mega-zoo in India run by the Ambani family. The investigation focuses on the international trafficking of golden lion tamarins and other rare Brazilian fauna. Silva, who served a prison sentence in the 1990s for smuggling exotic birds into the U.S., is allegedly linked to the acquisition of species that only exist in the Brazilian Amazon. While Vantara spokespeople have denied the allegations, stating that Silva is an "independent contractor" and not an employee, researchers and investigators point to a deeper connection. The zoo, which houses over 150,000 animals, has previously faced international scrutiny regarding the origins of its massive collection. Read this investigation by @nandawenzel in the link in our bio. --- Banner image: courtesy of Andreia Martins/AMLD.

More than 50 sloths were recently reported dead due to unsuitable conditions at Sloth World, a proposed so-called “slotharium” in Orlando, Florida. The facility—due to open this month—has permanently closed. Many of the animals had been sourced from the wild in Peru and Guyana, and died either during transport or in holding conditions, according to findings of an investigation by @InsideClimateNews . While the closure is a win for sloths, the capturing of wild animals for captive facilities isn’t new. It actually has a long history—particularly in the U.S. Learn more about the Sloth World scandal in this episode of Conservation Entangled, with Izzy Sasada. Reporter + script: @Izzysasada Edit: @mylespstorey Editorial: @samanthaleewq Art: @Loverkoi_ Music: @tom._fox Special thanks: @Becky.sloth , @slothconservation , @bryan.yong.bo.ou Additional archive: @weanimalsmedia @openplanet .

Community-led efforts are helping revive and save Siamese crocodiles from the brink of extinction. Siamese crocodiles are native to Southeast Asia and considered guardians of the wetlands by many communities. However, their population declined drastically due to hunting and habitat loss as a result of which they have been declared a critically endangered species. In Laos, a conservation program led by local groups is helping revive the population. They collect eggs from wild nests and raise baby crocodiles till they are ready to go back into the wild. Watch this video to learn more. --- Credits: Script: @abhishyantk Edit: Sergi Villalba Azuara Editorial: @osopolita_ Special thanks: @thewcs