Focus on Arts and Ecology

No. 144, Aug. 6, 2020

Hello Revelator readers,

One of the world's rarest, most beautiful and least-seen frogs has been rediscovered — along with a host of other unique species — at a remote reserve in Ecuador. We've got the dramatic story, a look at the threats facing the frogs' habitat and, of course, the amazing photos.

Porcupines don't get much conservation attention — everyone assumes they're still common — but new research reveals troubling levels of porcupine poaching and online trafficking. It's all about what's in their stomachs.

Parasites are more likely to go extinct than their hosts — and that's a problem for entire ecosystems that depend on them. Our latest expert essay offers a new framework to help conserve these oft-maligned species.

Learn more:

The fallout from environmental toxicity is often more than physical. Check out our interview with environmental justice expert Harriet Washington, whose book A Terrible Thing to Waste is out in paperback this week.

Subscriber bonus: The Wild 5

Here are five more stories we're watching this week.  

1. "Rising Temperatures Will Cause More Deaths Than All Infectious Diseases — Study" (The Guardian)

2. "Trump's Pick to Manage Public Lands Has Four-decade History of 'Overt Racism' Toward Native People" (The Intercept)

3. "The Mysterious Life of Birds Who Never Come Down" (The New York Times Magazine)

4. "Navajo Nation Issues Opposition Letter to Little Colorado Confluence Dam Project" (The Arizona Republic)

5. "Say Hello to Madagascar's Newest Mouse Lemur, a Pint-sized Primate" (Mongabay)

What should we cover next?

Our stories rely on insight from experts, frontline activists and readers around the world — especially these days, when so much damage is being done behind the scenes, out of the public eye. We want to hear from you, so please drop us a line anytime.

Coming up:

Can cities ever go zero-waste? We've got a look at one city that tried — and what held them back.

Look for our latest links in next Thursday's newsletter — or follow us on Twitter and Facebook for headlines as they go live.

As always, thank you for reading — and stay safe.