Ebola threat looms over critically endangered gorilla populations

As human cases continue to climb in the latest outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, concern is growing for the continent's gorilla population, which has been devastated by the virus during previous outbreaks. Key Takeaways * Gorillas are vulnerable to communicable diseases

Despite traps, fences, hunters and landmines, Persian leopards persist across borders

One intrepid leopard's improbable journey highlights threats to this endangered subspecies. Key Takeaways * There are fewer than 1,100 Persian leopards left in the wild, with 80% — perhaps 732 individuals — concentrated in Iran. A handful remain in Russia, the Caucasus and countries across Central Asia. * This leopard subspecies

Iran war visits fresh peril on Asiatic cheetah, a big cat on the brink of extinction

Before the war began in February 2026, there was some rare good news for Iran’s imperiled Asiatic cheetahs. Rangers spotted and filmed a female in the North Khorasan province accompanied by five cubs — a first. No more than four had ever been seen before, and every individual counts. Key