Marine Wildlife: A large humpback whale carcass washed up near 9 Mile Beach in iSimangaliso Wetland Park (Zululand) on 16 June. Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife says the body will be left to decompose naturally so nutrients return to the ecosystem, while the timing fits the whales’ June–August migration north to calve off Mozambique and Madagascar. Biodiversity & Science: A new Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew report warns the global plant and fungal crisis is still poorly mapped, with tens of thousands of species threatened and far too few formally assessed. It also highlights how AI and digitising herbarium collections are speeding up species identification and conservation planning, including work unlocking Madagascar specimens. Wildlife Crime (Madagascar-linked): The Philippines’ DENR took custody of 50 critically endangered radiated tortoises intercepted at Manila’s Naia, reportedly smuggled from Madagascar for the illegal exotic pet trade. Climate Impacts on Children: UNICEF says almost all children worldwide face climate hazards, with 1.8 billion at risk from drought and 1.2 billion from extreme heat, and 1.1 billion exposed to overlapping risks—raising pressure on water, health, and schooling systems. Restoration Funding (Madagascar in focus): FAO’s AFR100 grants (up to $50,000) are open for ecosystem restoration projects in Madagascar and other countries, supporting tree planting, agroforestry, nurseries, and soil-and-water conservation.