National News

Puffins and Seals Critically Endangered. “Puffins and common seals are in danger of becoming extinct in Iceland, RÚV reports. Both of the species are classified as severely endangered in a recently released watchlist from the Icelandic Institute of Natural History. Puffin numbers have reduced immensely since the turn of the millennium while the number of common seals has never been lower. The Minister of the Environment wants to inspect whether a hunting ban should be enforced, or a reconsideration of special wild animal laws currently in place.” [Iceland Review, 11/12/18 (=)]

Extinct Sloth-Like Monkey Species “Unlike Any Primate on Earth” Travelled to Jamaica from South America aboard Rafts of Floating Vegetation 11 Million Years Ago. “Scientists have unravelled the secrets of an extinct species of monkey that was 'unlike any primate on Earth'. The Jamaican monkey was found exclusively on the Caribbean island and looked more like a sloth than a monkey, moving at a leisurely pace through the trees using 'rodent-like' legs. It lived in Jamaica until a few hundred years ago when it was hunted to extinction by humans, who left almost no historical record of the strange species. Now scientists analysing bones found in a Jamaican cave show the species was closely related to a monkey from South America.” [Daily Mail, 11/12/18 (=)]