PfA Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Centre

Humanity has made massive strides in the understanding of ourselves and the world around us in the relatively little time we have been around on Earth. Our awareness of our own biological systems, our interaction with the environment, and the ways in which we have adapted to our surroundings by making use of the resources available to us reflect how mankind has been successful in using the intellect we were blessed with. While this curiosity and thirst for experimentation have allowed for civilisation to develop and for scientific advancement, there has been a very large price that animals have had to pay to help make this progress possible. A large part of our understanding of biology and behaviour comes from studies conducted on animals. Also known as in vivo testing, animal testing involves studying the behaviour or systems of animals as a part of research conducted in establishments or institutions, either for the sake of knowledge or to apply the information gained in the producti...

A quick look at the base of your nearest tree may seem to offer nothing more than broken-down soil particles and pebbles, but this deceiving surface hides underneath it a whole world of living creatures operating to keep functioning a system that lets life thrive on Earth. The world of the soil’s microbiota, although mostly unseen by the human eye especially due to its large existing underground, is a fascinating one that has been around since an estimated 4 billion years ago. A microorganism is a living organism that is invisible to the human eye and can thereby only be seen under a microscope. These can be categorised into bacteria, fungi, protozoa, algae, nematodes, and actinomycetes. Just one teaspoon of soil contains billions of microbes, more than the number of people on the planet. Scientists estimate that there are around one trillion species of microorganisms on Earth, of which 99% are yet to be discovered. It’s evident that there’s still much about these organisms that we don...