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Biodiversity refers to the variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem. It is necessary for life to thrive on Earth.

Aldo Leopold, one of the great thinkers of conservation, observed more than half a century ago the importance of protecting species. "To keep every cog and wheel is the first precaution of intelligent tinkering," he wrote. Losing species is like throwing away one by one the engine parts of an airplane while flying.

Biodiversity is a major initiative of Conservation International.

Biodiversity conservation provides substantial benefits to meet immediate human needs, such as those for clean, consistent water flows; protection from floods and storms; and a stable climate. 

Curated by mokiethecat

Bobcat Gobbles Burmese Python Eggs
March 31, 2022

Burmese pythons are a highly destructive invasive species in Florida, severely impacting the Everglades and its native wildlife. These giant constrictors outcompete local animals, potentially contributing to the extinction of several mammal and bird species.

However, new remote camera footage offers a glimmer of hope. It shows a bobcat consuming as many as 42 python eggs, with evidence of more being saved for later. The camera even captured a direct confrontation between the bobcat and the nesting python.

This discovery prompts a crucial question: Could Florida's native predators, like bobcats, become a vital force in controlling the invasive python population in the Everglades?