Roman Goergen
@romangoergen.bsky.social
1.8K followers 3.9K following 170 posts
German SCIENCE and NATURE journalist 🧪🌍🇩🇪🗞️ , based in London 🇬🇧. Let's follow each other if you are interested in science, nature, wildlife, conservation and related topics! Previously based in South Africa and Canada.🇿🇦🇨🇦
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romangoergen.bsky.social
🐴🌐 Millions of Africa’s donkeys are slaughtered for hides to supply the ejiao trade in China.🌍 Research shows the loss devastates rural livelihoods & fuels illegal markets🧪 I wrote about this for The Revelator: therevelator.org/skinned-for-...

#Donkeys #WildlifeTrade #Research #animalwelfare #crime
Skinned for Profit: How Global Trade Is Driving Africa’s Donkeys to the Brink • The Revelator
Millions of animals are slaughtered each year for use in traditional Chinese medicine — a trade that’s devastating many African communities.
therevelator.org
romangoergen.bsky.social
🐻 Back from Romania’s Carpathians: Foundation Conservation Carpathia works toward a 200–300k ha Făgăraș national park🌍 With partners like The European Nature Trust & Zabola Estate, conservation meets ecotourism—protecting forests while creating new local value🌐. #Rewilding #ecotourism #wildlife
romangoergen.bsky.social
🐻 Yesterday we watched bears from the new hide at Zabola Estate in Transylvania🌍 The estate’s trust, Conservation Transylvania, links heritage with wildlife🌐 Together with FCC & TENT, they show how ecotourism can support coexistence in Europe’s last great forests.🧪 #Romania #conservation #wildlife
romangoergen.bsky.social
Part 6 and end: Good journalism would explain why bats are protected🧪, how to live with them🌍, and what support exists.🌐 Instead we get scare tactics.
🌿 Bats aren’t pests. They’re part of our urban nature.
#Biodiversity #BatConservation #BBC #ScienceJournalism #UrbanWildlife
romangoergen.bsky.social
Years ago, I spoke with bat expert Merlin Tuttle🧪. He reminded me:
🗣️ “For much of human history we shared caves, then thatched huts and log cabins, with bats. [...] Modern humans have begun living in buildings that exclude bats.”
Now we call it a crisis.🌐🌍 Part 5👇
romangoergen.bsky.social
No expert voices, no mention of the Bat Conservation Trust @batconservation.bsky.social , no perspective from ecologists🌍 Alternatives are ignored. The woman is “sleeping in her car” – but mitigation tools🧪, and @naturescot.bsky.social help are all buried deep or missing entirely.🌐 Part 4👇
romangoergen.bsky.social
The story describes 500 soprano pipistrelle #bats in a woman’s house. But:
▪️ This species is common but legally protected🌐
▪️ They eat thousands of insects per night🧪
▪️ No word on ecosystem value or why protections exist🌍
Just fear, noise and panic, probably even leading to more prosecution. Part 3👇
romangoergen.bsky.social
🦇🌍 I usually don’t criticise colleagues – but this BBC New story www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... is so badly done it could be a textbook case in how not to report on #biodiversity 🧪🌐. It’s not about interpretation – it’s just bad craftsmanship: imbalanced, uninformed, and biased. Here’s why 👇
Aberdeen woman forced to share her home with hundreds of bats
An Aberdeen woman says she has been forced to sleep in her car after discovering a colony of the protected animals in her house.
www.bbc.co.uk
romangoergen.bsky.social
Teil 2 🦭 Risiko für andere Arten?🧪 Das Virus stammt laut Genanalysen von einem Schakal – und zirkuliert jetzt in den Kolonien🌍 Experten fürchten: Ein Sprung auf andere Robbenarten könnte Tollwut bis in die Antarktis tragen🌐
Seiten 5–6👇
#OneHealth #Wildtiere #Südafrika #Infektionsbiologie
romangoergen.bsky.social
🦭 Tollwut im Meer🌍 Ich habe für natur über den weltweit ersten dokumentierten Tollwutausbruch bei Meeressäugern berichtet 🌐 über 60 infizierte Kap-Pelzrobben in Südafrika, aggressive Tiere an Stränden, und kaum Impfmöglichkeiten🧪
Seiten 1–4 - Teil 2 folgt👇
#Zoonosen #Meeressäuger #Artenschutz
romangoergen.bsky.social
🦭 Rabies has reached the ocean🧪For Resurgence & Ecologist, I reported on the world’s first known outbreak among marine mammals, Cape fur seals off South Africa🌍A rare One Health wake-up call🌐
resurgence.org/magazine/article6499-rabies-at-sea.html
#Wildlife #OneHealth #AnimalHealth #Conservation
Rabies at sea
After detecting a rabies outbreak in marine mammals, scientists are trying to determine whether the virus is now established in South Africa’s Cape fur seals – and, if so, how to stop it from spreadin...
resurgence.org
romangoergen.bsky.social
🐺 Poland’s wolves are back, but so is the backlash🌍Scientists warn of fear-driven politics after the Bern Convention downgraded protection🌐No fatal attack since 1948, yet calls for culls. Researchers push back🧪
phys.org/news/2025-07-demonised-scientists-mongering-wolves.html
#Wolves #Conservation
'Demonised': Polish scientists warn of fear mongering about wolves
Scientist Roman Gula showed images of wolves filmed in a nearby forest with hidden cameras to locals in the Polish town of Konskie, assuring them they pose no threat.
phys.org
romangoergen.bsky.social
Teil 2 🦉 Fleckenkauz 🌎
▪️ Der invasive Streifenkauz breitet sich aus – der heimische Fleckenkauz verliert.🌐
▪️ Die US-Behörden wollten Zehntausende töten – ein ethisches Minenfeld.
📖 Geschrieben vor Trumps Eingriffe in den US-Artenschutz🧪
🌿 #Biodiversität #Wildtiermanagement #Umweltpolitik #natur
romangoergen.bsky.social
🦉 Fleckenkauz: Schutz in der Sackgasse? 🇺🇸🌎
Ich habe für das Magazin natur über ein Dilemma im US-Artenschutz berichtet:
Der heimische Fleckenkauz verliert seinen Lebensraum – und wird von einem invasiven Verwandten verdrängt.🧪🌐
Hier Seiten 1–4 – Teil 2 folgt 👇
#Eulen #Artenschutz #Natur #Biologie
romangoergen.bsky.social
I have just been shortlisted for Germany's prestigious award for science journalism, the 'Georg von Holtzbrinck Preis für Wissenschaftsjournalismus' #WissPreis 🧪This is my second nomination after 2018. #sciencejournalism🌐🌍
romangoergen.bsky.social
A little more background about this issue from the German story I published last year about criminal networks around Kruger Park:
bsky.app/profile/roma...
romangoergen.bsky.social
German post🇩🇪 (more English soon). Ich habe für 'Natur' (03/24) die Lage im #Krugerpark in #Südafrika analysiert: Kriminalexperten schlagen dort Alarm. Das Symbol für Natur- und #Artenvielfalt ist immer stärker von Kriminalität und Korruption betroffen. #tiere #artenschutz #wilderei #kriminalität 🧪🌍
romangoergen.bsky.social
🦏 Dehorning rhinos works🌍A new study🧪 from Greater Kruger shows a 78% drop in poaching across 8 reserves. But it's no silver bullet — poverty, horn demand & corruption still fuel killings🌐
theconversation.com/dehorning-rh...
#Conservation #Poaching #WildlifeCrime #Africa #Wildlife
Dehorning rhinos tips the balance against poaching – new study
A new Kruger National Park study has conclusively found that dehorning rhino can save most from poachers, but some will still be killed for their stumps.
theconversation.com
romangoergen.bsky.social
I wrote about the hopes to bring the jaguar back to the United States here👉 bsky.app/profile/roma...

This is pretty much the end for this idea.
romangoergen.bsky.social
👉 The increase in the number of sightings of young jaguars in the Southwestern United States🌎 is giving conservationists hope that breeding populations could return, but one big obstacle is the US–Mexico border wall.🧪
🐆 Read more in my story

#EndangeredSpecies #Biodiversity #BigCats #wildlife
Jaguar story pages 1 and 2 Jaguar story page 3
romangoergen.bsky.social
🌎 A new Trump-era wall in Arizona's San Rafael Valley threatens key wildlife corridors —home to jaguars, ocelots & pronghorns. Few people cross here, but nature does🌐 Conservationists and scientists warn of lasting damage🧪
#Biodiversity #Wildlife #Conservation
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Trump’s new border wall will threaten wildlife in an area where few people pass
The San Rafael valley in Arizona is home to bears, mountain lions and wolves – now their movement will be restricted
www.theguardian.com
romangoergen.bsky.social
🏝️ Can atolls survive sea level rise?🌏 This piece shows how coral, mangroves & seagrass restoration may protect island nations better than concrete. 🌐 Nature-based solutions are gaining ground — but emissions cuts are still key.🧪
e360.yale.edu/features/ato...
#Climate #Atolls #NatureBasedSolutions
How Natural Solutions Can Help Islands Survive Sea Level Rise
Atoll islands with healthy ecosystems are less likely to disappear as oceans rise, research shows. Now, scientists are using nature-based solutions — like restoring coral reefs and native forests — to...
e360.yale.edu
romangoergen.bsky.social
🦅 I travelled to Mid-Wales to report on the comeback of red kites. 🌍 Once nearly extinct, they now thrive in Elan Valley. At Gigrin Farm, hundreds gather for daily feedings. Efforts are helping turn the region into a richer place for wildlife. 🌐 🧪
#RedKite #Wales #Conservation #Birdwatching
romangoergen.bsky.social
🦈 Offshore wind farms may offer safe zones for sharks & rays.🌍 Dutch researchers found eDNA of 5 species, incl. basking sharks, in turbine areas.🧪 Bans on bottom trawling could help marine life rebound.🌐
#Sharks #eDNA #Marinelife #Conservation #wildlife
oceanographicmagazine.com/news/are-off...
Are offshore wind farms the next safe spaces for sharks and rays? - Oceanographic
New eDNA evidence has confirmed the presence of active shark and rays around Dutch offshore wind farms, posing an exciting new question.
oceanographicmagazine.com
romangoergen.bsky.social
Teil 2 🦅 Forschung, Moore & Perspektiven 🧪
Regenwälder, Moore, Elan Valley: Natur & Tourismus gehen hier zusammen.
TWIG & Peatland Partnership zeigen, wie Klimaschutz vor Ort wirkt.🌍
Der Rotmilan wird zum Symbol des Wandels.
#Artenschutz #Biodiversität #Naturtourismus #Greifvögel
romangoergen.bsky.social
Teil 1 🦅 Wales: Rotmilane & Regenwälder 🌍
Ich war für natur in Mittelwales unterwegs – wo einst die letzten britischen Rotmilane lebten, gibt es heute Tausende.
Gigrin-Farm: Täglich bis zu 500 Milane bei der Fütterung.
Hier Seite 1-4, Seite 5-7 in Teil 2 👇
#Reise #Wales #Naturschutz