Palantir CEO Alex Karp purchased 37,000 acres of forest in Sweden's Härjedalen region through his company Cladonia Skog AB for $22 million, disrupting local hunting rights that were previously leased through the land's former owner, paper manufacturer SCA. The acquisition reflects a broader trend among billionaires investing in natural lands as inflation hedges and for recreational purposes, though it has sparked local controversy over access to the forest.
Beijing Wildlife Park launched a bug bounty contest from September 28 to October 7, inviting visitors to collect invasive fall webworm caterpillars for prizes including park tickets. Participants caught an estimated 120,000 larvae weighing 18.5 kilograms total, with the pest posing a threat to over 300 plant species across the city.