nature

The economic case for global action to stop the destruction of the natural world is even more powerful than the argument for tackling climate change, a major report for the United Nations will declare this summer.

One third of plant and animal species are now at risk of extinction, a UN report is expected to conclude this week. The world's biodiversity is threatened by the economic growth of countries like China, India and Brazil, the study will say.

The leopard growled, flashed its teeth and lunged at the fence of its new enclosure at a national park in Russia’s near the southern city of Sochi. Standing on the other side of the fence was Russian prime minister, and animal lover, Vladimir Putin, who smiled broadly.

The world's first male elephant twins were born in the northeastern Thai province of Surin on Saturday.

Scientists propose that large elephants may not be running, regardless of how fast they appear to be moving. A series of investigations has made experts consider the possibility that the mammals may actually be walking very fast, rather than running in the strictest sense of the word.