At a government rescue center in Khon Kaen, Thailand, young leopard cats practice climbing and hunting before release. Mongabay reporter Ana Norman Bermúdez witnessed nine rehabilitated cats return to the forest; her account was published October 7.

The center reported lower mortality among admitted cubs this year, roughly 33% compared with 60% in earlier years. Those are the center's figures, not a controlled study of the program.

Survival after release is still uncertain. Camera traps offer glimpses, but staff cannot reliably track every animal. Nearby release habitat is also limited. The real achievement is giving these cats a chance to live independently, while being candid about what happens beyond the cage door.

Source published October 7, 2026

Chiricahua National Monument became Chiricahua National Park on October 20. The National Park Service says the designation recognizes the southeastern Arizona landscape's natural and cultural importance.

Its volcanic spires rise where desert, grassland and forest meet. The area is also part of the homeland of the Chiricahua Apache, with a human history that deserves as much attention as the balanced rocks.

This is recognition of a place protected as a national monument since 1924. The designation should not be mistaken for 12,000 newly protected acres. The continuing work is caring for the landscape and its heritage, long after the new sign attracts its first photograph.

Source published October 20, 2026