A surge in killing African elephants for ivory has led to the “majestic” animal’s numbers falling by more than 100,000 in a decade, conservationists warned.

A surge in killing African elephants for ivory has led to the "majestic" animal's numbers falling by more than 100,000 in a decade, conservationists have warned.

A man and woman shot dead at a home in north London have been identified as a mother of nine and her nephew by members of the victims' family.

A 10th of the world’s unspoiled wilderness areas have been lost since the 1990s, say experts calling for urgent action to preserve biodiversity on Earth.

My study window looks out over a 10-acre meadow with a small hill on the far side. Under the grass on the hill there’s esker sand and gravel laid down in the last Ice Age. Back in the days when the main forms of transport round here were powered by horses and donkeys people had to be more locally self-sufficient, particularly for heavy items like sand and gravel, and a small quarry was opened up on the west side of the hill.

Kehlan Kirwan looks at the myths attaching to the debate about opening borders to refugees, and reflects on the economic benefits that can accrue to a nation by adopting a generous policy.

France is investigating allegations of child abuse in Central African Republic by soldiers that it sent there to stem an outbreak of sectarian killing, officials said.

It’s the time of year when many people are looking out for the first swallows, an iconic sign of the arrival of spring. But the appearance of the swallows is normally preceded by the first sand martins, their smaller and less common relatives.

African elephant numbers are likely to drop as the high rate of poaching in parts of the continent remained unchanged last year, a study reveals.

Scores of people have been shot and burned to death after Boko Haram Islamic extremists on the run from a three-nation offensive took revenge on civilians in neighbouring Cameroon, authorities said.

THANKS to a verse in a nonsense carol, the turtle dove is a celebrity at this time of year.

Mali has confirmed a new case of Ebola and said two more suspected patients are being tested, raising concern about a further spread of the disease which has already killed at least five people in the country.

OUR summer migrant birds are starting to leave and our winter visitors will soon be flying in from the north.

Poaching is inflicting unsustainable losses on African elephants, with more than 33,600 animals killed each year between 2010 and 2012, a study has shown.

A tragic reality proven: elephant poaching in Africa is out of control and these beautiful beasts are at real threat of extinction.

The globe is on a hot streak, setting a heat record in June for the second month in a row.

An outbreak of Ebola has claimed almost 400 lives in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone this year, but isolating the sick and good hygiene can stop it dead, writes Alistair Short.

West African nations neighbouring those hit by the Ebola epidemic — Mali, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Guinea Bissau — should prepare for the possible arrival of people carrying the deadly virus, said the World Health Organisation.

Twenty-five thousand young men who make up a tribal militia known as the “White Army” are marching towards a contested state capital in South Sudan, an official has said, reducing hopes for a ceasefire.

Up to a fifth of Africa’s elephants could be killed in the next 10 years if illegal poaching continues at the current rate, according to new figures revealed at the opening of a summit on the animals’ future.

Death rates for children under five have halved in some regions since 1990, but about 6.6 million still are thought to have died last year, according to a new report issued by Unicef.

The US Government has posted a $5m reward for the capture of the Ugandan rebel leader Joseph Kony.

The African Union will send 5,000 soldiers to join the hunt for rebel leader Joseph Kony in a new military mission officials say is necessary to remove the Lord’s Resistance Army from Central Africa’s vast jungle.

Large seizures of elephant tusks have made this year the worst on record since ivory sales were banned in 1989, with recent estimates suggesting as many as 3,000 elephants were killed by poachers, experts said today.

CAPTAIN Aileen Leonard is in charge of the Defence Forces’ mortar troops in the Lebanon. Standing in the midday 35C heat at the Irish headquarters in Camp Shamrock, the Cork woman explained that she was in charge of 30 Irish soldiers in her unit.

Entrepreneur John Teeling has increased his holding in Botswana Diamonds - the Southern and Central Africa focused diamond and precious metal exploration company.

SCIENTISTS in University College Dublin are playing a key role in a genetic study which could help save the livelihoods of millions of African farmers.

Captain Cook, Master of the Seas

A MASSAGE therapist who went to Cameroon to add to her healing skills died of cardiac arrest after eating a native plant.

Two boats capsized in separate incidents on Congo’s vast rivers, leaving 70 people dead and 200 others missing.

RWANDA has threatened to withdraw its troops from United Nations peacekeeping operations if the world body publishes a report accusing the Rwandan army of committing possible genocide in Congo in the 1990s, Rwanda’s foreign minister says in a letter sent to the UN.

IRELAND is very well known to Tanzanian farmers, and to farmers throughout Africa, because it gives its name to an increasingly important crop.

A human rights group said today a Ugandan rebel group known for committing atrocities has killed at least 255 adults and children in the past 18 months in Congo and Central African Republic.

The family of an Irishman killed in a plane crash in Central Africa will travel there in the coming days.

PAUL MURPHY’S early season training regime was very different to that normally undertaken by Kilkenny hurlers.

A growing row over the cost of dealing with climate change led to developing nations today demanding that wealthy countries pay more.

THIS decade is on track to become the warmest since records began in 1850, and 2009 could rank among the top-five warmest years, the UN weather agency reported yesterday on the second day of a pivotal 192-nation climate conference.

At least 90 people are believed dead after a logging boat sank on a lake in Congo, according to UN radio.

EFFORTS to free kidnapped aid worker Sharon Commins intensified last night amid growing uncertainty about those responsible for the abduction.

BÓTHAR, the international development agency that specialises in the use of livestock, has launched an unusual appeal to farmers.

Ben Affleck has teamed up with Mick Jagger to launch a short film highlighting the plight of families in