Cambodia plans to cut shipping through Vietnamese ports by 70% due to a .7 billion China-funded upgrade of a canal connecting the Mekong River basin to the Cambodian coast.
Divers at a Netherlands zoo are creating a “Noah’s Ark” of coral to preserve endangered species. The project aims to build reserve populations in aquaria to protect corals threatened by climate change, overfishing, and pollution. The slow growth rates of corals mean it will take years before they can be reintroduced to the wild. The zoo is working with other institutions on this conservation effort, hoping more zoos will join in.
A rare and endangered pygmy hippopotamus was born in Athens’ Attica Zoological Park, marking the first birth of its kind in the zoo in 10 years. The lack of male pygmy hippos in captivity had complicated breeding efforts, making the birth of the male calf particularly significant. Pygmy hippos are native to swamps and rainforests in western Africa and are listed as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, with an estimated 2,000-2,500 remaining in the wild. The male calf, weighing 7 kg and born on February 19, joins his parents Lizzie and Jamal as the only pygmy hippos at the zoo. The calf will stay with its mother for a couple of months before venturing into the outdoor enclosure.