10 Happy Earth News Stories From Around the World…

10 Happy Earth News Stories From Around the World… 

Hold onto your green hats, GFZ's! 

Because we've got not just one, not two, but 10 (short) Happy Earth news stories to make your Friday! From innovative dissolvable gloves to the incredible resurgence of endangered animals, these success stories from around the world will have you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. 

So grab a cuppa, sit back, and let's celebrate our beautiful planet together!

1. South Australia: Baby Dolphin Saved… 

A retired wedding photographer named Roger Foster was enjoying a day at the beach with his grandson when he stumbled upon a baby dolphin that had stranded itself in shallow water. One brave man waded out with the dolphin and managed to help it beat the current. The baby dolphin swam away and hasn't been seen since, so let's be hopeful that it made it back to its mother. Go humans! 

2. Laramba: This Aboriginal Community Finally Feels Safe to Drink Tap Water

Residents of Laramba, a remote Aboriginal community in Australia, are celebrating! Finally, a new water treatment plant made the naturally occurring uranium in their drinking water almost undetectable...

For years, the community's bore water contained almost triple the recommended levels of uranium, leading to fears of adverse health effects.

The new $6.8 million water treatment plant uses an ion-exchange resin process to purify the water, and now locals feel safe to drink their tap water for the first time in a long time (about time we say!). 

3. Germany: After 21 Years a Polar Bear Cub Has Been Born…

Cuteness alert! A zoo in Hamburg just got a new polar bear cub after 21 years! While we don't love the idea of animals being locked up in a zoo, they can serve as important conservation centers that help to preserve and protect endangered species from extinction.

Polar bear cubs are born super tiny and can often be helpless, but this cute little thing and its Mama are healthy and doing great.

The zookeepers are really excited because this is a big deal for the endangered species! While they aren't allowing visitors there's a camera set up so you can watch the cuteness from afar.

4. Sweden: Students Develop Dissolvable Gloves!

The Coronavirus pandemic has led to an increase in the amount of waste generated, including the disposal of billions of plastic gloves. Three brilliant students from Blekinge Institute of Technology named Emma, Alex, and Max discovered a cool idea while working on a chemistry project.

They created single-use gloves made of polyvinyl alcohol, which can be dissolved, sterilised, and remoulded into new gloves. Emma, Alex, and Max's invention was a huge success, and people from all over the world were eager to get their hands on a pair of their amazing gloves.

5. Scotland: A Rewilding Success…

Get ready to witness history in the making! Scotland has opened the world's first rewilding centre in the Scottish Highlands, the gateway to the UK's largest nature recovery site!

Thanks to Trees for Life, the 10,000-acre landscape, once exploited by sheep, cattle, and deer, is being nursed back to health. Native trees and fragments of Scotland's 'rainforest' have been reintroduced to the land, and golden eagles are breeding again. The rewilding centre, located on a former deer-stalking estate, includes a café, classrooms, a storytelling bothy, an events space, and a 40-bedroom accommodation unit. Visitors can witness the beauty of nature and the Gaelic language and learn about rewilding. We want one in Australia please!

6. Spain: Cycling To School Chain Reaction…

Get ready for the bike bus revolution! It all started in Catalonia where a citizen-led initiative called bicibús made cycling to school safer for kids. With adult outriders protecting them from traffic, the idea has spread to other towns and cities across the world, including San Francisco, Glasgow, and Portland.

It's a fun, happy way to get to school that guarantees safety in numbers. Even on a rainy day, the bike bus brings an injection of joy to the morning commute. So, get your helmets on and join the rolling caravan of kids on bikes!

7. Australia: Containers For Change…

Hey there, glass bottle enthusiasts! Get ready to mark your calendars because starting November 1st, 2023, you can return your glass wine and spirit bottles for 10 cents each.

We still need some time to get things sorted on our end (7 months until November) so hold onto your bottles for a little longer. In the meantime, keep recycling your bottles in the yellow-top bin or check with your nearest transfer station. Let's get ready to cash in those bottles! More to come soon …

8. North Carolina: Hope For Endangered Red Wolf… 

A litter of six red wolf pups were found snuggled up in an earthen den in coastal North Carolina! It's a rare sight as red wolf rescues have been on hold for years, but this recent discovery may just revive the program. These pups are adorable, with various coat colours and pointy ears. Conservationists are excited for their future, hoping they can help the critically endangered red wolf population bounce back.

9. Hawaii: Giving Hope to Botanicals via Drones! 

Scientists have made a cool robot arm that attaches to drones and plucks samples of rare plants growing on cliffs. They're saving endangered species before it's too late! This arm is called a "Mamba", and it can carefully cut even the tiniest and most delicate plants. 

The robot is a game-changer, allowing scientists to reach places too risky for humans. It collected 29 samples from 12 endangered species, including a violet thought to be extinct! The plants will be returned to the wild, and this robot could be the difference between extinction and survival. So cool!

10. New South Wales: Hopes for the Cutest Mini Turtle!

Endangered Manning River turtles have been spotted in the wild for the first time since 2019! These tiny turtles are absolutely beautiful with a unique pattern on their back and yellow markings on their shell. They're found only on the Mid-North Coast of NSW and live in shallow, clear, fast-flowing rivers with rocky and sandy substrates.

The discovery of the hatchlings will help researchers protect their habitat and ensure their future survival. Plus, a successful captive breeding program is already underway to protect the species well into the future!

Keep your eyes peeled for these special creatures and report any sightings to help protect them.

Ready for some more Happy Earth news stories? Take your pick here!