Sumatran rhino conservation, rewilding Britain with reptiles, New York’s plastic pollution superheroes

Photo: Wikimedia (CCO)

In today’s edition of Squirrel News, we’re looking at the success of a Sumatran rhino conservation programme which has boosted the local creative economy, two teenage boys on a mission to reintroduce Britain’s lost toads, frogs, and lizards, and a self-styled plastic waste superhero in Brooklyn.

Sumatran rhino conservation has resulted in a thriving creative economy

Local communities in a Sumatran rhino stronghold are enjoying a boost to their creative economy, centred around the conservation of the critically endangered species.

Source: Mongabay

Two teenage boys are on a mission to rewild Britain with reptiles

At 17, they were meant to be taking their A-levels this year. But Harvey Tweats and Tom Whitehurst have a big ambition: to replace the toads, frogs and lizards we have lost.

Source: The Guardian

The European bison population has tripled since 2003 thanks to conservation work

The huge population increase has resulted in the removal of the animal from the IUCN’s list of vulnerable species.

Source: Inhabitat

Seagrass “Neptune balls” sieve millions of plastic particles from water, study finds

Researchers counted particles in seaballs that washed up on beaches in Spain.

Source: The Guardian

Fresno’s veteran housing initiative tackles the root causes of homelessness

The Fresno Madera Continuum of Care addresses potential causes for housing instability at the source, collaborating with substance abuse programmes before participants end up on the streets.

Source: Next City

One-minute cities are hyperlocalising neighbourhoods through urban planning

The Swedish scheme to redesign every street in the nation aims to reduce reliance on private vehicles, making essential services accessible to everyone.

Source: Bloomberg

A new bike wheel filters outdoor air pollution while you cycle

The science behind Rolloe is scalable to a number of other applications, and acts as an added incentive to improve air quality.

Source: Inhabitat

How everyday objects can improve quality of life for people with dementia

A new training programme in care homes shows how mundane tasks like making a drink or polishing is good for residents’ wellbeing.

Source: The Guardian

A travelling library is celebrating literature written by Black women

Ola Ronke Akinmowo’s pop-up features over 3,000 books of every genre, and is bringing new ideas and perspectives to those who might otherwise not engage with them.

Source: Next City

Plastic Bagman and the Snatchelator are Brooklyn’s latest superheroes

Armed with a $50 telescopic pole, Taylor Mali retrieves plastic waste from hard-to-reach places, with his free-of-charge service cleaning up the streets of New York.

Source: The New York Times

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