Alligators wearing hats, extinct species & Fukushima reclaimed by wildlife

[View this email in your browser]( [wild boar in Fukushima]( It's been almost a decade since the world was rocked by news of the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan, and much of the area around the Daiichi plant is still deemed unsafe for human habitation. However, new research shows that, despite the radiological contamination, wildlife has reclaimed the evacuated zone and appears to be thriving in the absence of people. [Read more]( HIGHLIGHTS [spider with babies on back]( Don't like spiders? Here are 10 reasons to change your mind Spiders get a bad rap. The last confirmed fatal arachnid bite in Australia occurred in 1979. Turns out there is little to fear and lots to love about our eight-legged friends. [Read more]( [Poo-uli bird]( Faces of extinction: The species we lost in 2019 Three bird species, two frogs, a shark, a famous snail and one of the world’s largest freshwater fish were among those declared extinct in 2019. [Read more]( FEATURED VIDEO [Green mambas wrestle on the beach]( Green mambas wrestle for dominance A pair of male green mambas twisting in territorial battle on a beach in South Africa. WATCH THIS Diving With Crocodiles In ‘Diving with Crocodiles’ cameraman and crocodile expert Brad Bestelink undertakes the unthinkable and dives into the waters of the Okavango Delta. [Watch now]( Capture Wild School Once a year in Malilangwe, Zimbabwe, students gather to learn the art of darting and tranquilising wild animals from some of the most legendary wildlife vets on earth. [Watch now]( IMAGE OF THE WEEK [bullfrog eating mouse]( The African bullfrog is one impressive amphibian. This one was photographed by Russell MacLaughlin gobbling down a mouse. [(More here.)]( AROUND THE GLOBE [Spider vs goldfish]( South Africa: Spider vs goldfish That awkward moment when you pop outside to show your date your pet goldfish only to discover that "Cleo" is being devoured by a spider ... [Watch now]( [alligator with tracking device]( USA: Gators wearing hats ... for science! A team of scientists from South Carolina have fitted alligators with GPS tracking devices that, if viewed from the right angle, resemble top hats. [Read more]( [heron eating gopher]( California: Heron loses lunch to hawk If you’ve ever wondered who would win in a battle between a great blue heron and a red-tailed hawk, this clip should answer the question. [Watch now]( [Quote of the week]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Website]( Copyright © 2020 Earth Touch News Network, All rights reserved. Want to change how you receive these emails? You can [update your preferences]( or [unsubscribe from this list](