Sign in

Roman Goergen

@romangoergen.bsky.social
1.9K followers 4K following 188 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.🇿🇦🇨🇦

PostsRepliesMedia
Roman Goergen @romangoergen.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
In #Dovrefjell, the most important lesson about watching musk oxen was not how to get close — but how to keep distance. Research trip for an upcoming wildlife/travel feature on Norway. Some pics @ExploreTrondelag #wildlife #MuskOx #Norway 🌍🌐🧪🐾🇳🇴 #nature
291
Roman Goergen @romangoergen.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
Good morning from Trondheim. About to leave for #oppdal to track some muskox and moose with @visitoppdal and @Explore Trøndelag #Norway #wildlife
020
Roman Goergen @romangoergen.bsky.social · 18/01/2026
🦬 Wildlife and the carbon cycle🧪 In Resurgence & Ecologist, I report on research showing how herbivores, predators and marine species influence vegetation, soils and fire regimes 🌍 — and how these interactions shape carbon storage in changing ecosystems.🌐 #Ecology #CarbonCycle #Science #climate
1188
Roman Goergen @romangoergen.bsky.social · 11/01/2026
🌍Alpenmurmeltiere 4/4🧪 Der Artikel war einer von drei Texten, die mir 2025 eine Nominierung für die Shortlist des Holtzbrinck-Preises für Wissenschaftsjournalismus eingebracht haben. Auch deshalb lohnt der Blick zurück – und nach vorn.🌐 #Wissenschaftsjournalismus 👇Seiten 13-15
020
Roman Goergen @romangoergen.bsky.social · 11/01/2026
🌍Alpenmurmeltiere 3/4🧪 Murmeltiere reagieren besonders sensibel auf Umweltveränderungen. Ihre Entwicklung zeigt, wie schnell sich stabile Systeme verschieben können, wenn klimatische Schwellen überschritten werden. 🌐 #Biodiversität #Klimafolgen 👇Seiten 9-12. Teil 4 folgt.
120
Roman Goergen @romangoergen.bsky.social · 11/01/2026
🌍Alpenmurmeltiere 2/4🧪 Der Text begleitet ein Langzeit-Forschungsprojekt: Weniger Schnee, kürzere Winter und wärmere Sommer beeinflussen Hibernation, Fortpflanzung und Überlebenschancen der Murmeltiere – mit Folgen für ganze alpine Ökosysteme.🌐 #Ökologie #Wildtierforschung 👇Seiten 5-8. Teil 3 folgt.
100
Roman Goergen @romangoergen.bsky.social · 11/01/2026
🌍Alpenmurmeltiere im Klimawandel 1/4🧪 Mein Text über Alpenmurmeltiere erschien vor einiger Zeit in Spektrum der Wissenschaft. Für die Recherche war ich in den französischen Alpen unterwegs. Steigende Temperaturen verändern das Leben im Hochgebirge. 🌐 #Klimawandel #Alpen 👇Seiten 1-4. Teil 2 folgt.
130
Roman Goergen @romangoergen.bsky.social · 07/01/2026
🦍 Good news from #Virunga National Park 🌍 Twin male mountain gorillas were born on 3 Jan 2026 in the Bageni family — a rare event. The mother, Mafuko, and both infants were observed in good health. Picture Credit, more info @ Virunga National Park #Gorillas #Virunga #Conservation #Wildlife #Africa
0141
Roman Goergen @romangoergen.bsky.social · 03/01/2026
🌍Marmottes alpines sous pression🐾. Dans Sciences et Avenir, je rapporte des données de suivi: hivers plus doux et moins de neige fragilisent l’hibernation, réduisant reproduction et survie. 🧪Les marmottes servent d’espèce sentinelle du changement alpin.🌐 #Écologie #ChangementClimatique #Alpes
063
Roman Goergen @romangoergen.bsky.social · 01/01/2026
🌱 Novel ecosystems are becoming the norm🌎 In Resurgence & Ecologist, I report on landscapes so altered that returning to a historical baseline is no longer possible🌐 Ecologists now debate how conservation should respond when #ecosystems have no precedent.🧪 #Ecology #Conservation #Biodiversity Read👇
1305
Roman Goergen @romangoergen.bsky.social · 30/12/2025
🧪Furets à pieds noirs & clonage.🌎 Dans Québec Science, je rapporte comment le clonage est testé pour restaurer une diversité génétique perdue. Le cas du furet montre le rôle possible de telles approches dans la conservation des espèces.🌐 #BiologieDeLaConservation #Génétique #EspècesMenacées #Science
041
Roman Goergen @romangoergen.bsky.social · 29/12/2025
Teil 2: Erstmals bekam ein geklontes Tier später natürlichen Nachwuchs🧪 Der Text ordnet ein, was Genetik leisten kann – und wo ihre Grenzen liegen🌐. Einer von drei Beiträgen, mit denen ich auf der Shortlist des Holtzbrinck-Preises stand🌍. Seiten 4–6👇 #Wissenschaftsjournalismus #Biodiversität #Tiere
000
Roman Goergen @romangoergen.bsky.social · 29/12/2025
🦡 Schwarzfußiltis & Artenschutz🌍 Für Bild der Wissenschaft (02/2025) habe ich über den Einsatz von Klonen🧪 im Artenschutz geschrieben. Der Iltis war fast ausgestorben – alle heutigen Tiere stammen von nur sieben Gründertieren ab🌐. Seiten 1–3 👇mehr in Teil 2 #Wissenschaft #Artenschutz #Genetik
130
Roman Goergen @romangoergen.bsky.social · 28/12/2025
🧬 Can cloning help prevent extinction?🧪 For Resurgence & Ecologist (Sept/Oct), I reported on the black-footed ferret🌎 — a species revived from just seven founders, now testing whether cryopreserved DNA and cloning can restore lost genetic diversity.🌐 🌿 #Conservation #Science #Genetics #Biodiversity
0156
Roman Goergen @romangoergen.bsky.social · 26/12/2025
🧵Teil 2🌲 Vor Ort: Bärenbeobachtung bei Zabola, Wisente im Hochgebirge, Wege durch UNESCO-Urwald 🌍. Initiativen wie Conservation Carpathia verbinden Naturschutz mit behutsamem Naturtourismus 🌐 – erfahrbar, nicht inszeniert. 🌿 #Bären #Wisente #Ökotourismus #Naturerlebnis #naturmagazin #Rumänien
010
Roman Goergen @romangoergen.bsky.social · 26/12/2025
🐻 Rumäniens Südkarpaten: unterwegs im Făgăraș-Gebirge Für meine Reisereportage in natur (01/26)🌍 habe ich diese abgelegene Region bereist – ein Mosaik aus Urwäldern, Hochalmen und Wildtierlebensräumen 🌐, wo Europas größter #Nationalpark geplant ist. 🌿 #Reise #Rumänien #Naturschutz Seiten 1-4 Teil 2👇
120
Roman Goergen @romangoergen.bsky.social · 28/09/2025
🐴🌐 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
therevelator.org
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.
62919
Roman Goergen @romangoergen.bsky.social · 21/09/2025
Trying can't hurt
000
Roman Goergen @romangoergen.bsky.social · 21/09/2025
🐻 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
183
Roman Goergen @romangoergen.bsky.social · 16/09/2025
🐻 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
515825
Roman Goergen @romangoergen.bsky.social · 21/07/2025
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
1112
Roman Goergen @romangoergen.bsky.social · 21/07/2025
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👇
181
Roman Goergen @romangoergen.bsky.social · 21/07/2025
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👇
121
Roman Goergen @romangoergen.bsky.social · 21/07/2025
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👇
122
Roman Goergen @romangoergen.bsky.social · 21/07/2025
🦇🌍 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 👇
bbc.co.uk
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.
3133
Roman Goergen @romangoergen.bsky.social · 12/07/2025
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
041
Roman Goergen @romangoergen.bsky.social · 12/07/2025
🦭 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
1123
Roman Goergen @romangoergen.bsky.social · 06/07/2025
🦭 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
resurgence.org
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...
04820
Roman Goergen @romangoergen.bsky.social · 01/07/2025
🐺 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
phys.org
'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.
14920
Roman Goergen @romangoergen.bsky.social · 29/06/2025
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
000
Roman Goergen @romangoergen.bsky.social · 29/06/2025
🦉 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
110
Roman Goergen @romangoergen.bsky.social · 19/06/2025
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🌐🌍
1190
Roman Goergen @romangoergen.bsky.social · 07/06/2025
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...
030
Roman Goergen @romangoergen.bsky.social · 07/06/2025
🦏 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
theconversation.com
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.
1449
Roman Goergen @romangoergen.bsky.social · 19/05/2025
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.
040
Roman Goergen @romangoergen.bsky.social · 19/05/2025
🌎 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...
theguardian.com
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
2113
Roman Goergen @romangoergen.bsky.social · 13/05/2025
🏝️ 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
e360.yale.edu
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...
0338
Roman Goergen @romangoergen.bsky.social · 10/05/2025
🦅 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
0276
Roman Goergen @romangoergen.bsky.social · 09/05/2025
🦈 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...
oceanographicmagazine.com
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.
03112
Roman Goergen @romangoergen.bsky.social · 04/05/2025
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
000
Roman Goergen @romangoergen.bsky.social · 04/05/2025
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
120
Roman Goergen @romangoergen.bsky.social · 02/05/2025
🐢 Turtles vs. Tractors on the Med 🏖️ Beach grooming for Instagram tourism flattens nesting sites, harms coastal ecosystems & limits local access.🌍 A sober look at overtourism’s effects via The Guardian: www.theguardian.com/environment/... #Overtourism #SeaTurtles #Mediterranean #Conservation🧪
theguardian.com
Sand groomers v turtles: how wildlife is falling foul of the demand for Insta-perfect beaches
From the turtle-nesting beaches of Italy to Greek island bird havens, across the Mediterranean campaigners are fighting to protect habitats from tourists seeking a picture-perfect holiday
13031
Roman Goergen @romangoergen.bsky.social · 01/05/2025
🌍 Why doesn’t biodiversity increase evenly from garden to continent? 🐸 A new theory explains the 3-phase pattern of species growth with scale — key to predicting loss of biodiversity 700M records, global scope. Study in Nature Communications.🧪 #Ecology #Biodiversity phys.org/news/2025-04...
phys.org
From the front garden to the continent, here's why biodiversity does not increase evenly from small to large
The number of species does not increase evenly when going from local ecosystems to continental scales—a phenomenon ecologists have recognized for decades. Now, an international team of scientists, inc...
12410
Roman Goergen @romangoergen.bsky.social · 18/04/2025
🦍 Gorillas in Congo scratch soil to find truffles, not insects! 🍄 Indigenous researcher Gaston Abea documents gorilla foraging strategies in Nouabalé-Ndoki🌍 A milestone blending traditional knowledge & science.🧪 #Gorilla #Conservation #Primatology #Widlife #Ecology phys.org/news/2025-04...
phys.org
Gorillas in Congo's Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park scratch the ground for truffles, not for insects as long assumed
A recently published paper reveals that soil scratching by gorillas in Congo's Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park is a foraging strategy to access a species of deer truffle, identified as Elaphomyces labyri...
0238
Roman Goergen @romangoergen.bsky.social · 15/04/2025
🦪 Can mussels & saltmarsh plants save Italy’s poisoned Mar Piccolo?🌍 Once famed for seafood, now toxic from oil & military waste. Locals & scientists test phytoremediation 🧪 but funding is scarce. www.bbc.com/future/artic... #MarPiccolo #Phytoremediation #Mussels #NatureBasedSolutions
bbc.com
Scientists have a plan to save Italy's historic mussel farming sea – using plants
Decades of industrialisation have polluted the waters of Italy's Mar Piccolo and brought mussel farming to its knees. Can plants bring back a traditional way of life?
0105
Roman Goergen @romangoergen.bsky.social · 10/04/2025
🧬 🦍🦧Telomere-to-telomere genomes for 6 ape species now published,🧪: chimp, bonobo, gorilla, 2 orangutans & siamang.🌍🌏 New insights into brain, immunity, speciation & evolution. Based on Nature study, via phys-org phys.org/news/2025-04... #Genomics #T2T #Evolution #PrimateGenetics #Wildlife
phys.org
Six ape species' genomes sequenced telomere-to-telomere, providing open-access reference for human evolution studies
Comprehensive reference genomes have now been assembled for six ape species: siamang (a Southeast Asian gibbon), Sumatran orangutan, Bornean orangutan, gorilla, bonobo, and chimpanzee. Areas of their ...
0103
Roman Goergen @romangoergen.bsky.social · 05/04/2025
Teil 2 🇬🇧 Brexit & Umwelt 🐟 Weitere Erkenntnisse 🌍🧪: ▪️ Minister dürfen ohne Parlament Umweltrecht ändern. ▪️ Nur 4 von 40 Umweltzielen auf Kurs. 📢 „Die Natur kennt keine Grenzen – Brexit hin oder her.“ – Kate Jennings #Umweltrecht #Klimapolitik #Naturkrise Hier Seite 5👇
011
Roman Goergen @romangoergen.bsky.social · 05/04/2025
Teil 1 🇬🇧 Brexit & Umwelt 🐟 Ich habe im Juni 2024 für natur über den „grünen Brexit“ geschrieben – und wie die Umwelt darunter leidet. 🌍🧪 ▪️ Wye River: Schutzgebiet durch Hühnerfarmen belastet. ▪️ EU-Standards werden ausgehöhlt. #Brexit #Naturschutz #Biodiversität Hier Seiten 1–4. Seite 5 in Teil 2👇
130
Roman Goergen @romangoergen.bsky.social · 05/04/2025
🐭 Ronin, a HeroRAT trained by APOPO, has found 109 landmines in Cambodia🌏more than any rat before. 🕒 He clears an area the size of a tennis court in 30 mins (humans need 4 days) His record-breaking nose just made it into the Guinness Book. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... #Wildlife #GuinnessWorldRecord
bbc.co.uk
Ronin the rat sets new landmine-sniffing record
Ronin, a giant African pouched rat, is the first rodent to uncover more than 100 mines in Cambodia.
07816
Roman Goergen @romangoergen.bsky.social · 30/03/2025
🪲 Tiny beetles vs invasive ferns!🌍 In South Africa, water lily weevils are being used to fight salvinia, a fast-spreading plant choking rivers & lakes. A brilliant case of bio-control tackling water crises & biodiversity loss🧪 apnews.com/article/sout... #InvasiveSpecies #Biodiversity #EcoSolutions
apnews.com
Scientists hope hungry weevils from Louisiana can tackle South Africa's invasive water plants
South Africa is unleashing weevils imported from the United States in a bid to fight off the sprouting growth of Salvinia minima, an alien species of aquatic plant native to South America that is chok...
094