Scientists, on two separate occasions, have observed orcas ramming into heavy sunfish with such force that the boney fish literally explodes. But why? Scientists, at least currently, have no idea. They could be doing it to portion of food to feed the pod. Or they might just be doing it because they’re bored. Scientists plan to observe more such events to study and understand this behavior better. Watch this video to learn more.This article was originally published on Mongabay

Where are ecosystems still left standing? Where should conservation be focused? A new tool is attempting to answer these questions and serve as a watchdog for conservation and land protection initiatives around the world. Global Safety Net v3 (GSN3) is a geospatial data platform that uses satellite imagery, artificial intelligence, and mapping techniques to understand the extent of landscapes around the world, and how they’re faring. “We’re interested in how much nature is left, and how well cared for and conserved it is,” Karl Burkart, director of the GSN3 initiative at the Nature Data Lab, a U.S.-based research organization, told Mongabay in a video interview. At the 2022 summit of the U.N. Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), 196 countries from around the world adopted the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The highlight of the agreement was the “30×30” goal: to protect 30% of the world’s lands and oceans by 2030. Against the backdrop of this agreement, it’s become crucial for conservation scientists and organizations to keep track of how countries are faring and if designated protected areas are indeed based on scientific and conservation priorities. “We want to make sure that the 30% is the land that’s most critical for ecosystems, that’s essential for communities and livelihoods, and also for biodiversity,” Burkart said. In the backdrop of a global agreement to protect 30% of the Earth’s land and water by 2030, Karl Burkart (pictured above) said it’s important to ensure that the 30% protected is the land that’s most critical for…This article was originally published on Mongabay