Department of Zoology Jahanzeb College Swat

Archaeopteryx fossil discovered with preserved soft tissue proves Darwin was right all along.

Archaeopteryx fossil discovered with preserved soft tissue proves Darwin was right all along A new Archaeopteryx fossil with soft tissue reveals flight features and offers fresh support for Darwin’s theory of evolution.

The Crowned Eagle is the only bird confirmed to view humans as prey.

The Crowned Hawk-eagle (Stephanoaetus coronatus) is one of the most formidable raptors on Earth. It’s strong enough to take down monkeys, small antelope, and, according to some researchers and chilling historical accounts—human children.

Yes, you read that right. The Crowned Hawk-eagle is one of the very few birds of prey known or suspected to have occasionally preyed on humans.

With a wingspan stretching over 6 feet (1.8 meters) and crushing talons capable of exerting over 400 pounds per square inch, this eagle doesn't just soar—it dominates. It’s the largest and most powerful eagle in Africa, often hunting from a perch, then swooping down with incredible speed and precision. Its prey includes monkeys, small deer, hyraxes, and even monitor lizards.

But it’s the primate predation that has fascinated scientists the most.

In the 1920s, anthropologist Raymond Dart discovered a fossilized skull of a child in Taung, South Africa. The "Taung Child," as it became known, belonged to an early human ancestor, Australopithecus africanus. But what stunned scientists wasn’t just the skull—it was the marks on it, which bore a striking resemblance to the talon punctures seen in monkey skulls taken by modern Crowned Hawk-eagles.

Dart hypothesized that the child may have been killed by a bird of prey. Decades later, forensic analyses supported this eerie idea. The holes matched the spacing of eagle talons. The breakage patterns mirrored those on monkey remains found beneath known eagle nests. The killer? Most likely an ancestor of the Crowned Hawk-eagle.

While these incidents date back millions of years, modern-day reports have occasionally surfaced of Crowned Hawk-eagles swooping on children in forest villages. In rare cases, injuries have occurred. Though documented fatalities are nearly nonexistent in the modern record, the eagle’s capability—based on size, strength, and observed behavior—makes it a plausible, if extremely rare, threat.

learn more https://peregrinefund.org/explore-raptors-species/eagles/crowned-hawk-eagle

Aposematic colouration

The crowned eagle (Stephanoaetus coronatus), native to sub-Saharan Africa, is one of the most powerful raptors on the continent. Known for its strength and agility, it primarily hunts monkeys and small antelope. However, rare forensic evidence, including human remains found in nests, suggests that the crowned eagle may occasionally consider humans—especially small children—as potential prey. This makes it the only bird known to have documented instances of preying on humans.

In 2025, a significant milestone was achieved in the conservation efforts for the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard (GIB). The third captive-bred chick of the year was successfully hatched at the Sam Conservation Breeding Centre in Jaisalmer. This achievement marks another step forward in saving one of India’s rarest bird species.

On March 6th, a female named Toni laid an egg, and after weeks of careful monitoring and protection, the chick hatched safely. With this new arrival, the total number of captive-bred bustards has now reached 17.
Once commonly seen across India’s grasslands, the population of the Great Indian Bustard has now dwindled to fewer than 150 birds. Their survival is threatened by power lines, habitat loss, and egg poaching. Despite these challenges, Project GIB is making tireless efforts to safeguard these majestic birds and eventually reintroduce them into the wild.

This newly hatched chick is a living symbol of the success of ongoing conservation work. It brings hope not just for the survival of a species, but also for the future of India’s rich biodiversity.

Scientists are celebrating an adorable and remarkably well-preserved discovery—a 32,000-year-old sabertooth cub.

Mummified in the Siberian permafrost, this baby apex predator is almost perfectly intact, right down to its reddish fur. It's the first time scientists have gotten a true look at what these ancient animals looked like, as past findings only included bones and footprints.