Hello everyone! Welcome to the last passion blog! Thank you so much for sticking with me on this educational journey (especially when these blogs are usually more than double what they are supposed to be). My passion for animals and saving the environment has only gotten stronger since researching about so many precious species that are being pushed to endangerment. This last blog was a request from my friend because it is her favorite species. Hope you enjoy it! 

Endangered Species of the Week:  Northern Rockhopper Penguin 

Eudyptes moseleyi 

The Northern Rockhoppers are striking in physical appearance. These penguins have a slate-colored back and head, and a white front and underside. The most unique morphological feature on these birds is certainly the long, frayed yellow feathers extending like long eyebrows across their forehead.  

Rockhopper penguins earned their common name from their behavior on land: They can slide on their bellies as many penguins do, but to navigate the steep, rocky shores of their breeding islands, rockhoppers use their strong, thick-skinned feet and legs. See the connection?

Out of the 5 endangered penguin species, the Northern Rockhoppers have the largest number of mature individuals (413,700) in comparison to the Galapagos Penguin with the smallest number (1,200). However, the Northern Rockhoppers are considered endangered because of their significant decline in numbers in the last 50 years.  A 2010 estimate estimated the species’ overall decline to be 57 percent over 27 years. Thus, according to the IUCN Red List, this species is labeled as endangered. 

Where Do They Live? 

Approximately 85 percent of the Northern Rockhopper Penguin’s global population is found in the South Atlantic Ocean and breeds at the Tristan da Cunha archipelago (in the British territory of Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha). The remaining 15 percent is found in the Indian Ocean on Amsterdam and St. Paul islands (French Southern and Antarctic Lands). 

Fun Facts: 

• Penguins have strong eye muscles and flattened corneas, which enable them to focus clearly both above and below the water. Streamlined, torpedo-shaped bodies and powerful flippers make them effective swimmers and divers. 
• Northern Rockhopper Penguins are pretty aggressive. They slap each other with their flippers, jab with open bills, and bray loudly as they tussle for nesting sites, mating rights, and food. Bowing, head-shaking, and preening movements demonstrate their “softer” side. 
• With noisy calls, these penguins communicate their location to mates and chicks or deliver a warning to pushy neighbors or predators. Listen to a variety of Northern Rockhopper calls here 
• Mated rockhopper pairs remain together for life😚. They return to the same breeding site each year, with males arriving first and females following a few weeks later. 
• Northern Rockhopper Penguins are also known as Moseley’s Penguin in honor of Henry Nottidge Moseley, a British naturalist who participated in the famed 19th century HMS Challenger expedition that laid the groundwork for the study of oceanography. 

Why Are They Endangered? 

Predation

Several introduced species pose threats to Northern Rockhopper Penguins. Chief among these species were feral pigs, until their eventual eradication in the 20th century. Dogs and introduced mice also pose certain threats, though there is a lack of data quantifying the magnitude of their impact on the birds. 

Climate change

Although scientific data quantifying the effect of climate change on penguins is still in the process of being conducted, researchers have reason to believe that abnormalities in the Earth’s natural climate can negatively affect birds like penguins. The main reason being studied is that rising ocean temperatures in the areas in which Northern Rockhoppers live are leading to the decline of fish for the penguins to eat. 

Human activity

Human activity is by far the harshest threat to the Northern Rockhopper Penguin. For years, the birds were killed for feathers, hunting bait, and bushmeat. Their eggs were also harvested to feed the people of the island until as recently as 2011. The rapidly increasing development of human housing, roads and cities have led to a severe decrease in habitat availability for the penguins as well. 

Commercial Fisheries

Nets entangle and drown penguins as they forage underwater, while overharvesting of fish can cause food shortages for the birds. 

Oil Spills

Oil spills are a major threat to penguins, puffins, and other diving birds, since oiled feathers lose the waterproofing necessary to keep the birds warm and dry while feeding at great depths. In 2011, an oil spill on remote Tristan da Cunha greatly affected the Northern Rockhopper: Although an estimated 3,700 oiled penguins were collected for rehabilitation, only 10 percent survived due to challenges in establishing care facilities in a timely manner. 

What Is Being Done? 

American Bird Conservation’s (ABC) Seabird Program is working to address many of the threats faced by the Northern Rockhopper Penguin and other ocean-going birds such as the Laysan Albatross and Tufted Puffin. 

ABC has also created a 50-50-5 Action Plan to stem bird population declines. The Northern Rockhopper Penguin is one of 50 flagship bird species identified in this plan, along with 50 priority ecosystems and five major threats. 

A series of laws recently passed in the Tristan Island community has sectioned off an entire island to the penguins for habitat without the threat of human intervention. This provides a large area for the penguins to hunt, breed and raise their young. Citizens have also taken action by putting up a fence to keep penguin predators away from the island. 

What Can You Do? 

A common theme with all endangered species is the threat of human activities- especially climate change. The biggest action you can take to help endangered species such as The Rockhopper Penguin is to educate yourself (which you do by reading these blogs!) and be more proactive in leading an environmentally friendly life.

1) World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has been a huge help for me in these blogs. Take a moment to check out their website if you haven’t yet. They have so many resources for you to read through and learn about. Additionally, you can donate to them or support them by buying merchandise. I have “adopted” animals from them before and gifted them to friends because you not only cann help give back to a great organization, but you also get a physical reminder (if you choose) of what you are supporting. 

2) The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has also been a great resource for me and every scientist out there. I highly recommend checking out their website to see what they have to offer. I have been referring back to the IUCN Red List , so I also recommend searching for that specifically and taking a look at all world’s classified species. You can filter out endangered species if you want. The large number is eye-opening. 

3) Lastly, I will leave you off with one of my favorite email newsletters. They are called Nowhere and Everywhere and if you subscribe to their newsletter, they send out weekly mail summarizing what is going on in the world- the good and the bad. They are truly amazing and informative and I highly highly highlyyy recommend checking them out!! 

Sources: 

https://abcbirds.org/bird/northern-rockhopper-penguin/  

https://www.penguinsinternational.org/2018/11/03/northern_rockhopper_penguins/ 

Endangered Species of The Week:     Black Rhinoceros 

Diceros bicornis 

Populations of black rhino declined dramatically in the 20th century at the hands of European hunters and settlers. Between 1960 and 1995, black rhino numbers dropped by a sobering 98%, to less than 2,500. Since then, the species has made a tremendous comeback from the brink of extinction. Thanks to persistent conservation efforts across Africa, black rhino numbers have doubled from their historic low 20 years ago to around 5,600 today. However, the black rhino is still considered critically endangered, and a lot of work remains to bring the numbers up to even a fraction of what it once was—and to ensure that it stays there. 

Where Do They Live? 

While this species can naturally occur in a wide range of habitats, they only occur today in areas that are heavily guarded nature preserves. They can inhabit deserts, acacia savannahs, wooded grasslands, and woodlands. Because they are browsers of plants rather than grazer, which eat grass, this species must live in areas with dense vegetation. 

Why Are They Important? 

Rhinos are one of the oldest groups of mammals, virtually living fossils. They play an important role in their habitats and in countries like Namibia, rhinos are an important source of income from ecotourism. The protection of black rhinos creates large blocks of land for conservation purposes. This benefits many other species, including elephants. 

Fun Facts: 

• Ironically enough, black rhinos are actually not black. Also ironically, white rhinos aren’t white! All five rhino species are a dull shade of grey. 
• Black rhinos are also known as hook-lipped rhinos. This is due to their pointed, prehensile upper lip. This lip differs from their other African neighbors, white rhinos. The black species uses their lip to browse for leaves and plants, and the white species uses their flat lip to graze for grass. 
• Rhinos are surprisingly tidy, and have a special location in their territories called a midden. Basically, it’s a poop pile. Instead of spreading their feces all around the territory, which can potentially spread disease, they choose a singular location to defecate in 💩. 
• Rhinos have sharp hearing and a keen sense of smell. They may find one another by following the trail of scent each enormous animal leaves behind it on the landscape. 
• These large mammals have no natural predators as adults. While lions occasionally kill young rhinos, adult rhinos cause each other the most harm! Part of the reason lions don’t mess with these creatures is their long, defensive horn. The longest recorded horn length was an astounding 4.9 ft.! 
• Rhinos are wallowers. They often find a suitable water hole and roll in its mud, coating their skin with a natural bug repellent and sun block. 

Why Are They Endangered? 

ILLEGAL WILDLIFE TRADE 

Of all the threats facing black rhinos, poaching is the deadliest. Black rhinos have two horns which make them lucrative targets for the illegal trade in rhino horn A wave of poaching for rhino horn rippled through Kenya and Tanzania, continued south through Zambia’s Luangwa Valley as far as the Zambezi River, and spread into Zimbabwe. Political instability and wars have greatly hampered rhino conservation work in Africa, notably in Angola, Rwanda, Somalia, and Sudan. This situation has exacerbated threats such as trade in rhino horn and increased poaching due to poverty. 

Today, black rhinos remain critically endangered because of rising demand for rhino horn, from some Asian consumers, particularly in Vietnam and China, who use them in folk remedies. A recent increase in poaching in South Africa threatens to erase their conservation success, reaching an apex in 2014 when 1,215 rhinos were poached. Poaching numbers are slowly decreasing—594 were poached in 2019—but poaching continues unabated with numbers remaining unsustainably high. 

POPULATION DENSITY, DISEASE, AND INBREEDING 

High population density in some sites leads to lower breeding rates and increases the probability of disease transmission. Smaller, isolated populations can also be prone to genetic impacts from inbreeding. 

HABITAT LOSS AND FRAGMENTATION 

Next to poaching, loss of habitat contributes to declines in rhino population. Human activities such as agriculture, settlements, and infrastructure development result in the loss and fragmentation of rhino habitat, which increases the risk of poaching and inbreeding. 

What Is Being Done (WWF Edition)?  

WWF launched an international effort to save wildlife in 1961, rescuing black rhinos—among many other species—from the brink of extinction. Thanks to persistent conservation efforts across Africa, the total number of black rhinos grew from 2,410 in 1995 to more than 5,000 today. 

To protect black rhinos from poaching and habitat loss, WWF is taking action in three African rhino range countries: Namibia, Kenya, and South Africa. Together, these nations hold about 87% of the total black rhino population. 

TACKLING WILDLIFE CRIME 

Poaching is the deadliest and most urgent threat to black rhinos. WWF is working with government agencies and partners in Namibia, Kenya, and South Africa to support law enforcement agencies, develop and build on innovative tech solutions, and equip and train rangers to stop poachers. 

PROTECTING AND MANAGING KEY POPULATIONS 

WWF supports annual aerial population surveys at key sites such as Etosha National Park in Namibia. The surveys are critical for evaluating breeding success, deterring poachers, and monitoring rhino mortality.

WWF is also working with partners to develop and implement cutting-edge technologies in Namibia, South Africa, and Kenya to closely monitor key populations. Innovative solutions like electronic identification and tracking tags, radio collars, drones, and camera traps provide conservationists with the data they need to make important decisions for black rhino populations going forward. They install new thermal and infrared camera and software systems that can identify poachers from afar and alert park rangers of their presence. 

ENGAGING COMMUNITIES 

Community support and engagement is a cornerstone of WWF’s work, particularly in Namibia. WWF assists communities to set up conservancies and help to foster the knowledge, skills, and capacity required to successfully govern their conservancies and manage their wildlife resources. These communal lands are now home to Africa’s largest remaining free-roaming black rhino population. 

Community engagement will also play a role in South Africa, where conservationists are looking to conserve black rhino through community governance, training, and identification of alternative livelihood opportunities. 

Sources: 

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/black-rhinoceros/ 

https://www.britannica.com/animal/black-rhinoceros 

https://animals.net/black-rhino/  

https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/black-rhino

 Thanks! See you next blog!

Endangered Species of the Week: Sea Lions  

Zalophus wollebaeki 

Sea lions are sea mammals characterized by external ear flaps, long fore flippers, the ability to walk on all fours, and short, thick hair, big chest, and belly. They are marine mammals and members of the suborder Pinnipedia (which in Latin means ‘fin-footed’ or ‘winged foot’). Together with the fur seals, they constitute the Otariidae family, collectively known as eared seals. There are seven species of Sea Lion worldwide but are all put together in the same family.

They are classified as endangered by the IUCN.

 Make sure not to confuse them with seals (which shocker, they are also low in number and considered vulnerable)!

Where Are They Found? 

Sea Lions are found in all sorts of waters except the Northern Atlantic Ocean. Some species live in sub-arctic regions while others prefer warmer climates such as the Californian Sea Lion. 

Fun Facts!

• The sea lion is the most common mammal in the Galápagos. 
• Males are considerably larger than females. Males are very large and can weigh from 1,500 pounds up to 1 ton. They can measure up to 12 feet in length. Female sea lions are much smaller with a weight of 700 pounds and average about 9 feet in length. 
• Sea lions do not have very good eyesight and it is believed that they are nearsighted. There is evidence to indicate that Sea Lions can see better in the water than they can on land. 
• The males are called bulls and the females are called cows. Their offspring are called pups. 
• Sea Lions are capable of diving up to 600 feet when searching for food in the water. They can remain under the water for up to 40 minutes before they must surface for air. 
• Sea Lions are considered to be highly intelligent animals. As well as being able to learn tricks, they have also been trained to help the United States Navy with their in water needs. 

What is Threatening Them?  

The hunting of Sea Lions is a huge threat to their survival. In some areas they are hunted as a source of food. The Sea Lion has only two other predators apart from man. They are sharks, in particular the Great White Shark and also Killer Whales. The Sea Lions are much more likely to encounter these predators when they have to further out into the waters to find food. 

Sea Lions often suffer from an array of health problems associated with humans. They include pneumonia, epilepsy, and various types of cancers. Research shows that the pups are immune to such problems as long as they are fed milk from their mothers. Those that are in captivity from an early age may develop these problems in the first year and the only difference is the milk they are given. 

The future is unsure for many species of Sea Lions. Years of them being destroyed by humans has taken a toll on them. Environmental concerns continue to cause problems for them in their natural habitats. They are vulnerable to the effects of climate change on ocean currents, which impacts their fish prey abundance. They are also victims of bycatch in fisheries. 

What is Being Done? 

Here I listed conservation efforts for some of the 7 sea lion species. 

Conservation of Australian Sea Lions 

Due to the National Parks and Wildlife Act of 1972, it is illegal to harm or kill an Australian Sea Lion. Although there has been such protection in the habitat, there aren’t more than 10,000 of the species remaining in the world. There has been funding put into place to protect of the Australian Sea Lions and to learn the threats that have hunted them to death. 

Conservation of Galapagos Sea Lions 

There are approximately 50,000 Galapagos Sea Lions remaining. Although so, there has been a very heavy protection to conserve them. The islands where they live has been a very interesting tourist destiny. People offer a great place to watch these animals in their natural habitat. The safety of the Sea Lions stays a priority though. Any visitors that violate the rules can come in contact with the authorities or have to pay fines. 

Conservation of New Zealand Sea Lions 

The numbers left of the New Zealand sea lion are around 10,000 and they are probably the world’s rarest sea lion species. The New Zealand government has provided protection to New Zealand Sea Lions. There are three main management strategies currently in place to mitigate New Zealand Sea Lion, including input control, output control, and Sea Lion Exclusion Devices (SLED). For the input control, a Marine Mammal Sanctuary and Marine Reserve limits the Auckland Islands extending 22.2 km offshore where no trawling or any other form of fishing is allowed. 

Conservation of Guadalupe fur Seals 

The Guadalupe fur seal population is slowly recovering from the extinction threats. The conservation group has published the viewing guidelines to protect the fur seals. The government of Mexico has declared the Guadalupe Island as a pinniped sanctuary. National Marine Fisheries Service has classified the U.S. Guadalupe fur seal stock as a strategic stock. 

What Can You Do? 

• NOAA: Learn more about the Sea Lion’s habitat, threats, and efforts being made for conservation. 
• World Wildlife Fund: Learn more about the Indus River Dolphin, conservation efforts, and what you can do to help ensure the species’ survival. 
• The Marine Mammal Center: Get detailed information about this species and what you can do to help. 

Sources 

https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/sea-lions  

https://animalcorner.org/animals/sea-lion/  

http://www.animalplanet.com/wild-animals/endangered-species/sea-lions/  

https://deepoceanfacts.com/endangered-sea-lions  

Hello everyone! We have a little of  shorter blog this week (I think) due to the limited information about this species on the internet! How surprising, I know.

Also a PSA: As you read this blog, pretend you do not see 👀🙈if I write “grey” in one sentence and then “gray” in another (like sometimes the literal next sentence). I use the “e” and “a” interchangeably based on the vibes~~ (Yes, I know I can easily edit them, but it makes this blog qUiRky)

Another PSA: if you are ever curious about the species and search up “gray —” in the IUCN, you will not find anything because they use “grey —”.… I am understanding why scientific names are so important right now. 

Ok I digress. Enjoy! 

Species of The Week: Gray Bat 

Myotis grisescens 

The gray bat – feared, hated, and casually killed — was tumbling toward extinction in 1959. These cave-dwelling bats, which once filled the evening skies over much of eastern North America, were so vulnerable to human destruction that hundreds of thousands were being slaughtered in single acts. 

The creature once flourished in caves all over the southeastern United States, but due to human disturbance, gray bat populations declined severely during the early and mid-portion of the 20th century. 95% of gray bats now only roost in 11 caves. 

Are They Endangered? 

While researching this species, I was seeing a lot of conflicting answers of whether the Grey Bat is endangered or vulnerable. I am coming to the conclusion that they are no longer endangered (They are still going to be a part of this blog though because they deserve some love). According to the IUCN, in 2008 these bats were “Near Threatened” and then as of 2018 they are considered “Vulnerable” 

This is the IUCN’s explanation for their rating 

“This species is listed as Vulnerable; it has been considered Endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, but there are several recuperation programs for this species reaching at the moment few million individuals. Despite large population size and good recovery, the species is regarded as being vulnerable to potential massive mortality from white-nose syndrome. Considering a time period of three generations (30 years), including both past (12 years) and future (18 years), this species is likely to decline by more than 30% across its geographic range. The expansion of WNS in eastern North America is threatening several species, like Myotis grisescens, causing that the species may reach the criteria for Vulnerable, considering that previous to 1990’s the declining in the population was larger than 50%, and the current scenarios are not favourable for many of these populations.” 

Habitat 

With rare exceptions, gray bats live in caves year-round. During the winter gray bats hibernate in deep, vertical caves. In the summer, they roost in caves which are scattered along rivers. These caves are in limited areas of the southeastern United States.  

Fun Facts 

• The Gray Myotis is the largest of the Myotis species occurring in the eastern U.S.
• It is distinguished from all other bats within its range by its unicolored grayish brown dorsal fur. All other eastern bats have bi- or tri-colored fur on their backs. 
• Territories tend to be controlled by reproductive females. These females seem to claim the same territory year after year #girlpower 
• The bat’s wing membrane connects to its ankle instead of at the toe 
• Gray bats use caves differently at different times of the year. For example, populations of gray bats tend to cluster in caves known as hibernacula to prepare for winter hibernation. In contrast, their populations disperse during the spring to establish sexually segregated colonies. 
• After 37 years without a single documented gray bat within the state boundaries of Mississippi, on September 20, 2004, a male gray bat was discovered in Tishomingo County in northeastern Mississippi, 42 km south of the last known location of M. grisescens before their decline and disappearance within the state of Mississippi. 

Why are they in danger? 

Human Disturbance 

Gray bats are endangered largely because of their habit of living in very large numbers in only a few caves. As a result, they are extremely vulnerable to disturbance. Arousing bats while they are hibernating can cause them to use up a lot of energy, which lowers their energy reserves. If a bat runs out of reserves, it may leave the cave too soon and die. In June and July, when flightless young are present, human disturbance can lead to mortality as frightened females drop their young in the panic to flee from the intruder. 

Cave Commercialization and Improper Gating 

The commercialization of caves drives bats away. Any gating on the cave that prevents access or alters the air flow, temperature, humidity, and amount of light is harmful. 

This decline actually began with cave disturbance associated with saltpeter production during the Civil War. Some of the largest colonies were lost as a result of the cave commercialization. 

Habitat Loss or Degradation 

Habitat loss and degradation and contamination from pesticides also are considered a cause of decline. Natural flooding and impoundment of waterways has resulted in temporary impacts to some caves and the complete submersion and loss of other important cave sites. Even if the bats escape the flood, they have difficulty finding a new cave that is suitable. 

The use of forestry insecticides and crop pesticides in areas adjacent to riparian corridors where gray bats forage may reduce the prey base or kill bats that ingest contaminated insects. Some maternity and hibernating colonies are susceptible to human disturbance.

White-nose Syndrome

WNS killed roughly six million bats in 2014. It spread over two thousand kilometres within North America, and most of its impact is on eastern populations of bats, like Myotis grisescens. This disease is considered as one of the major threats to populations of this species.

What is being done? 

Listing 

The gray bat was added to the U.S. List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants on April 28, 1976. 

Recovery Plan 

The Tennessee Valley Authority sponsored a recovery project that resulted in the protection of two critical maternity sites: the Hambrick and Nickajack caves in Tennessee. Blowing Wind Cave in northern Alabama, the most important summer cave known for gray bats, has been acquired by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and a gate has been placed across the entrance. Fern Cave, the largest known gray bat hibernaculum, has also been purchased by the Fish and Wildlife Service and is being managed for protection of the bats. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also has acquired and protects additional caves in Alabama.

To protect habitat, The Nature Conservancy has established six voluntary protection agreements with private landowners for gray bat maternity sites. The National Park Service restricts human access to six Gray Bat maternity caves on its lands and monitors them for possible disturbance. The Indiana Bat and Gray Bat Comprehensive Plan contains a detailed list of caves that have been protected or are currently being managed.

Habitat Protection 

A variety of government and private conservation agencies are all working to preserve grey bats and their caves. 

Cave protection efforts have led to recent population increases. By 1991, the range-wide population was stable and perhaps growing, apparently due to successful cave protection efforts.

Sources 

https://www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered/mammals/grbat_fc.html  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gray_bat  

https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/14132/22051652  

And that’s it for this week!

Hey everyone! Here is this week’s blog! It was actually a request from [insert person’s name]. Enjoy! 🐸

Species of The Week: Panamanian Golden Frog 

Atelopus zeteki 

The Panamanian golden frog is a small, brightly colored, frog-like toad. 

The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species classifies the Panamanian golden frog as critically endangered. These toads were once fairly common and had been seen in the wild as recently as 2005 but have since all but disappeared throughout their northern range. They are assumed to be rare or extinct on Cerro Campana and have been extinct at El Valle de Antón for more than 40 years. 

While they may be gone from their native forests, Panamanian Golden Frogs are still found in managed-care facilities throughout North America. 

Habitat 

Panamanian golden frogs live in two types of habitats: wet forest streams and dry forest streams. They inhabit streams along the slopes of the Central Cordilleran rainforests and cloud forests of western-central Panama. 

Fun Facts

• The Panamanian golden frog is Panama’s national animal. 
• Studies have shown that Panamanian golden frogs have enough toxins in their skin to kill more than 1,000 mice. 
• The highly toxic skin of the frog has been used for centuries by the native people of the Panamanian forests for arrow poison 
• Males attract females with visual displays, instead of calling as most male frogs and toads do. These attractive displays include leg and head twitching, stamping the ground, and hopping in place. Male frogs often wave their arms to communicate with females who will wave back if interested. 
• The females are much larger than the males: up to 25 percent longer and heavier. 
• In conservation efforts, over 300 toads were kept in a temporary “golden frog hotel”. The frogs were treated to daily cleansing rinses, 24-hour room service, and exotic lunches of specialty crickets  

Why are they in danger? 

Threats to this species include habitat loss and fragmentation, over-collection for the pet trade, and most notably, chytridiomycosis (amphibian chytrid fungus).  

Chytridiomycosis is an emerging disease caused by an aquatic fungal pathogen, called amphibian chytrid fungus. Populations in El Copé disappeared over the course of just a few months in late 2004 due to this disease. Emerging disease is the greatest threat facing these toads today. 

What is being done? 

Managed Care Facilities 

The San Diego Zoo started a conservation effort and received the first Panamianian Golden Frogs in 2003. Since then, they have been able to successfully breed 500 individuals in captivity but will not release them into the wild until the fungal disease is less of a threat. The San Diego zoo also sends money to Panama to keep up the conservation effort in the frogs’ native country. 

Project Golden Frog 

Project Golden Frog is a conservation project involving scientific, educational, and zoological institutions in the Republic of Panama and the United States.

The intended outcomes of this project include:

• A greater understanding of the Panamanian golden frog
• A coordinated conservation effort by governmental agencies and nongovernmental organizations
• Heightened awareness of current global amphibian declines,
• Greater respect for wildlife among Panamanians and global citizens
• Greater land preservation for threatened and endangered species throughout the world.

This organization will use education and field studies, producing offspring through the already captive toads, and offering financial support to help preserve these toads. 

The Amphibian Recovery Conservation Coalition (2004) 

This was the coalition that exported the endangered amphibians to the US, believing it was a better environment for the endangered species.

In 2005, the Houston Zoo established the El Valle Amphibian Conservation Center (EVACC) in Panama, so the endangered frogs could have protected facilities in their native country. EVACC has become a tourist attraction and the populations of the housed species are watched closely by researchers. 

Golden Frog Species Survival Program and Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project  

Golden Frog Species Survival Program (SSP) is a collaboration between zoos and NGOs. The program works to protect the golden frog, as well as 12 other at-risk species of amphibians in Panama through the Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project (PARC). Through research and maintaining an assurance population of frogs in human care, including Panamanian golden frogs, the SSP hopes to avoid their extinction. 

 Aaaand that’s it! This week’s blog was froggin good, eh? I hope I didn’t froget anything because that would be unfrogivable. Ok I’ll stop bugging you.

Sources 

https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/panamanian-golden-frog  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panamanian_golden_frog  

https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/panamanian-golden-frog  

Endangered Species of the Week:  Hawksbill Sea Turtles

Eretmochelys imbricata

 

Not particularly large compared to other sea turtles, hawksbills grow up to about 45 inches in shell length and 150 pounds in weight. While young, their carapace, or upper shell, is heart-shaped, and as they mature it elongates. Their strikingly colored carapace is serrated and has overlapping scutes, or thick bony plates.

The hawksbill turtle’s tapered head ends in a sharp point resembling a bird’s beak, hence its name. A further distinctive feature is a pair of claws adorning each flipper. Male hawksbills have longer claws, thicker tails, and somewhat brighter coloring than females.

Hawskbill Sea Turtles are Critically Endangered.

Habitat:

Hawksbill turtles are found throughout the tropical waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. They avoid deep waters, preferring coastlines where the sponges they like to feed on are abundant, and sandy nesting sites are within reach. These highly migratory reptiles help maintain a healthy coral reef ecosystem.

Fun Facts:

• Sea turtles are the living representatives of a group of reptiles that have existed on Earth and traveled our seas for the last 100 million years.
• Hawksbills are omnivorous and will also eat mollusks, marine algae, crustaceans, sea urchins, fish, and jellyfish.
• Every two to five years, female hawksbills return to the beaches where they were born to nest, which normally takes place in shallow waters close to the shore.
• Adult Hawksbills can hold their breath for up to 3 hours, but typically surface every 10-15 minutes

Why they matter:

They are a fundamental link in marine ecosystems and help maintain the health of coral reefs and seagrass beds. As they remove prey such as sponges from the reef’s surface, they provide better access for reef fish to feed.  They also have cultural significance and tourism value.  For example, for local residents in the Coral Triangle, the flow of visitors who come to admire turtles is a vital source of income.

What is Threatening Them?

Like other sea turtles, hawksbills are threatened by the loss of nesting and feeding habitats, excessive egg collection, fishery-related mortality, pollution, and coastal development. However, they are most threatened by wildlife trade.

ILLEGAL WILDLIFE TRADE

The shell trade for tourists is a serious threat to Madagascar’s marine resources.

Despite their current protection under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and many national laws, there is still a disturbingly large amount of illegal trade in hawksbill shells and products. They are much sought after throughout the tropics for their beautiful brown and yellow carapace plates that are manufactured into tortoiseshell items for jewelry and ornaments. In recent decades, eastern Asia has provided an eager market for tortoiseshell.

FISHERIES BYCATCH

Hawksbills are particularly susceptible to entanglement in gillnets and accidental capture on fishing hooks. Sea turtles need to reach the surface to breathe, and therefore many drown once caught. Known as bycatch, this is a serious threat to hawksbill turtles. As fishing activity expands, this threat is more of a problem.

What is Being Done?

Hawksbill turtles are protected by international agreements like the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and the Convention on Migratory Species. This level of international cooperation is essential to the conservation of hawksbills given their wide geographic range.

Advocates are also working to protect the hawksbill turtle’s habitats by designating them marine sanctuaries or aquatic preserves, while researchers like Photo Ark EDGE Fellow Daniel Arauz are gathering data on hawksbill populations to help raise awareness among local communities and improve conservation strategies.

What does WWF do?

ELIMINATING BYCATCH:

WWF aims to reduce turtle bycatch by working with fisheries to switch to more turtle-friendly fishing hooks (“circle” hooks) and advocates for the use of special turtle excluder devices in nets. They run an international competition, known as Smart Gear, to attract creative new ways to solve bycatch problems and advance the best of those ideas. Winning devices have been designed to minimize the bycatch of turtles on tuna longlines and help turtles avoid gillnets.

PROTECTING SEA TURTLE HABITAT

WWF  works around the world to establish marine protected areas (MPA)  to ensure sea turtles have a safe place to nest, feed, and migrate freely.  They encourage governments to strengthen legislation and provide funding for sea turtle protection. WWF  also supports the monitoring and patrolling of turtle nests in many parts of the world to equip local turtle conservationists. This often leads to ecotourism opportunities and offers alternative livelihoods.

SATELLITE TRACKING

Satellite telemetry allows researchers to track sea turtles as they swim from place to place. These satellite tags do not harm the turtles in any way and are designed to eventually fall off. The data will tell researchers where important feeding areas are, help them understand migration patterns, and anticipate where turtles may come in contact with fisheries and their gear.

ADDRESSING WILDLIFE TRADE

WWF works with communities to reduce turtle harvesting and local trade in the Coral Triangle. In Malaysia, they help raise awareness about the threats hawksbills face and communicate the importance of protecting them. Exploitation of  turtles is often driven by a lack of economic choices so WWF works to develop alternative livelihoods so that local people are no longer dependent on turtle products for income. WWF also works to stop the illegal trade of hawksbill products around the world through TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network. They also train and equip local rangers to protect turtles from poaching and patrol nesting beaches.

Sources:

https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/hawksbill-turtle

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/h/hawksbill-sea-turtle/#close

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/hawksbill-turtle

And that’s it for this week! byee

 

 

Hey everyone! Last passion blog is here 😭 I want to thank everyone who stuck with me and read my blogs! I hope you were as inspired, educated, and passionate as I was when reading about these endangered species. There are now 41,415 endangered species on the IUCN Red List , and 16,306 of them are endangered species threatened with extinction (not only animal species!). I have only covered a few endangered species, so I hope this little blog helped you understand how human actions and carelessness are costing us the lives of many living species in which we still have much to learn about.

This week’s species is inspired by me missing my own dog Oreo hehe. I am sure that gives you a hint so I will hop right in…

Endangered Species of the Week:         The African Wild Dog

Lycaon pictus

The wild dog is one of the world’s most endangered mammals. The largest populations remain in southern Africa and the southern part of East Africa (especially Tanzania and northern Mozambique). The African Wild Dog is also one of the most social and distinctive of the species classified as ‘canids’. Other canids include dogs, wolves, coyotes, foxes, jackals and dingoes. Their short, stiff coat consists of yellow, grey, black and white splotches of hair. African Wild Dogs have a life span of between 10 – 12 years.

Habitat:

African Wild Dogs are found in a wide range of habitats, including arid areas, semi-deserts and grassy plains. They can also be found in tropical and subtropical regions, as well as woodlands, forest and mountainous habitats. African Wild Dogs can be found in regions of Southern Africa. Regions include, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, the Serengeti, South Africa, South Sudan, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Their home ranges can be as large as 3,000 square miles.

Fun Facts:

• Wild dogs are social and gather in packs of around ten individuals, but some packs number more than 40.
• They are opportunistic predators that hunt medium-sized ruminants, such as gazelles.
• In a sprint, African wild dogs can reach speeds of more than 44 miles per hour.
• Each African Wild Dog has a unique coloration pattern. Similar to a human fingerprint, their pattern is used by researchers to identify individuals.
• African Wild Dogs have an average of 10 pups per litter, following a 70-day gestation period. This litter size is the highest of all canids.

What is Threatening Them?

The principal threats to African Wild Dogs are habitat fragmentation and population extinction due to epidemic disease. Larger populations have a higher chance of recovery from these threats. But, as human population expands, the regions, in which African Wild Dogs were once able to roam freely, are disappearing.

As mentioned, African wild dogs require large home ranges to support viable populations. Recent habitat fragmentation, caused by human population growth, agriculture, settlement, and the building of roads, has caused a population decline. Throughout Africa, the African Wild Dog has a reputation for attacking livestock. As a result, they are shot and poisoned by farmers who blame them when other predators have killed livestock. They are also susceptible to diseases carried by domestic dogs, such as canine distemper and rabies.

What is Being Done?

There are many organizations that help endangered species such as the African Wild Dog. They raise money and awareness and also work to reduce conflicts with humans. The creation of protected areas and protection of major wildlife corridors benefit species such as the African wild dog.

How Can You Help?

Here are some great organizations!

CONTRIBUTE to WildNet.org

SEE IT at ConservationAfrica.net

LEARN MORE at PaintedDog.org

Sources:

https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/african-wild-dog

https://endangeredwonders.org/African-Wild-Dog/

and that’s it!! bye everyone!! 🥰🐕‍🦺

Endangered Species of The Week:        The Asian Elephant

Scientific Name: Elephas maximus

 

The elephant is Earth’s largest land animal, although the Asian elephant is slightly smaller than its African cousin. Asian elephants can be identified by their smaller, rounded ears. They live in forested regions of India and throughout Southeast Asia, including Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos. About a third of Asian elephants live in captivity.

The Asian elephantis classified as Endangered by the IUCN. Its population has declined by an estimated 50 percent over the past 75 years, and there are an estimated 20,000 to 40,000 Asian elephants left in the wild.

Fun Facts:

• An elephant’s trunk contains about 100,000 different muscles.  It’s used for smelling, breathing, trumpeting, drinking, and grabbing things.
• An adult elephant can consume up to 300 pounds of food in a single day.
• Elephants are widely viewed as one of Earth’s most intelligent animals. They demonstrate a wide variety of behaviors associated with high intelligence, including compassion, mimicry, grief, altruism, use of tools, and self-awareness.
• According to Hindu mythology, the gods (deva) and the demons (asura) churned the oceans in a search for the elixir of life so that they would become immortal. As they did so, nine jewels surfaced, one of which was the elephant. In Hinduism, the powerful deity honored before all sacred rituals is the elephant-headed Lord Ganesha, who is also called the Remover of Obstacles.

What is Threatening Them?

HABITAT LOSS AND FRAGMENTATION

The biggest threat to Asian elephants is habitat loss and fragmentation. Asia is the most populous continent on Earth, where development and economic growth have led to encroachment into places where elephants live. This has led to an average of 70% of elephants being found outside protected areas today. Expanding human settlements, plantations, industry, farming, mining, and linear infrastructure (roads, railway lines, irrigation canals, etc.) have squeezed elephant populations into smaller pockets of forest surrounded by human settlements that often block traditional migratory routes.

GENETIC THREAT FROM EXTIRPATION OF SMALL POPULATIONS

Elephants confined to smaller populations as a result of habitat loss are at a higher risk of becoming wiped out due to natural disasters, disease, inbreeding, and more.

HUMAN-ELEPHANT CONFLICT

Another significant threat to elephants is human-elephant conflict. With a significant portion of the elephant population living outside protected areas, most of which contain agricultural lands and human settlements, interactions between elephants and humans have been on the rise. These encounters, often negative, lead to crop and property loss, injury, and death. These impacts may cause humans to retaliate against elephants, often with lethal outcomes.

POACHING AND ILLEGAL WILDLIFE TRADE

Even where suitable habitat exists, poaching remains a threat to elephants in many areas. In 1989, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), a global agreement among governments to regulate or ban international trade in species under threat, banned the international trade in elephant ivory. However, there are still places where the trade is thriving, and unregulated domestic ivory markets in a number of countries fuel the illegal international trade. Although most of this ivory comes from poaching of African elephants, Asian elephants (tusked males) are also illegally hunted for their ivory. There is also a steady market for other elephant products, such as skin, tail hair, and meat, which continues to fuel poaching, a significant threat to already small elephant populations found in many of these countries.

CAPTURE OF WILD ELEPHANTS

The illegal capture of wild elephants and elephant calves for various purposes, such as tourism, has become a threat to some wild populations, significantly affecting population numbers. India, Vietnam, and Myanmar have banned capture in order to conserve their wild herds, but illegal captures still occur in a number of countries where elephants live.

Why Are They Important?

A future for Asian elephants ensures a future for other species and wild spaces. By protecting elephants, we also protect other animals that live in their habitat.

Asian elephants help to maintain the integrity of forest and grassland habitats. Their large size enables the creation of pathways through dense forests along which they travel, which then creates access for other wildlife.

Asian elephants may spend up to 19 hours a day feeding, and they can produce about 220 pounds of dung per day while wandering around an area that can cover up to 125 square miles. This helps to disperse germinating seeds.

What Is Being Done?

Wildlife Without Borders, a program of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is working to mitigate human-elephant conflict and stop poaching by supporting conservation projects that seek to identify ways to alleviate human-elephant conflict, increase law enforcement capacity to monitor illegal logging and poaching, and conduct community outreach and awareness to inspire pride and optimistic views about Asian elephants in range countries.

The United States Congress passed the Asian Elephant Conservation Act in 1997, which established a fund to protect the Asian elephant and conserve its habitat. The 2011 Congressional appropriation of $1.5 million to the Asian Elephant Conservation Fund allowed the Service to support 29 vital elephant conservation projects in Asia, including in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and Cambodia.

Since 1989, Wildlife Without Borders has provided over 2,700 grants for international conservation totaling more than $100 million. The United States has worked with nearly 700 partners in developing countries, who have contributed more than $200 million in matching support for grant projects, tripling the impact of American funding. The United States remains committed to working with international partners to protect Asian elephants and other endangered species.

Sources

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/a/asian-elephant/

https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/asian-elephant

https://editorials.voa.gov/a/protecting-asian-elephants-09-02-12/1500954.html

Byeeee 🐘

Ok, so this week’s species is totally adorable and has some interesting history/ facts about their living status. I also had a domesticated version of the species (lol trying not to give it away) and they were one of my first pets. I loved her (and him because we got a second one later on) to pieces 🥰 But ok… onto what we have been waiting for…

Endangered Species of the Week:         The Black-Footed Ferret

                  Mustela nigripes

Black-footed ferrets are one of the most endangered mammals in North America and are the only ferret species native to the continent. Their recovery in the wild signifies the health of the grassland ecosystem which they depend on to survive. However, once thought to be globally extinct, today, recovery efforts have helped restore the black-footed ferret population to nearly 300 animals across North America.

They are slender, wiry animals with a black facemask, black feet and a black-tipped tail. The rest of their body is short and sleek, with fur that is a yellow-buff color, lighter on the belly and nearly white on the forehead, muzzle, and throat.

Black-footed ferrets once ranged throughout the North American Great Plains wherever prairie dog colonies thrived, from southern Canada to northern Mexico. Today, they have been reintroduced into parts of their former range in Wyoming, South Dakota, Montana and Arizona.

Fun Facts:

• Black-footed ferrets are very playful, especially as juveniles. Young at play will wrestle, arch their backs and hop backward with their mouths wide open, in a display known as the “ferret dance.”
• Today, all wild black-footed ferrets are descended from 18 BFF’s Eighteen (Black-Footed Ferrets) that were caught to establish a breeding colony.
• Ferrets have a high metabolic rate and require large quantities of food in proportion to their body size. One ferret may eat over 100 prairie dogs in a year, and scientists calculate that one ferret family needs more than 250 prairie dogs each year.
• Black-footed ferrets are primarily nocturnal.

What is Threatening Them?

Black-footed ferrets once numbered in the tens of thousands, but due to a combination of human-induced threats, they were believed to be extinct twice in the 20th century.

Despite significant recovery successes, the BFF remains one of the most endangered mammals in North America. The primary reasons the species remains at risk are the same that nearly caused the animal’s extinction: disease, loss of habitat, and related declines in prey.

Conversion of native grasslands to agricultural land, widespread prairie dog eradication programs, and fatal, non-native diseases, such as plague, have reduced BFF populations to less than 2% of their original range. Much of the remaining habitat is now fragmented, with prairie dog towns separated by expanses of agricultural land and other human developments.

What is Being Done?

by 1986, due to disease, only eighteen individuals were known to exist in this isolated wild population. Scientists captured these remaining BFFs and they became the foundation for a successful captive breeding and reintroduction program that continues today. This Service-led BFF program has annually released BFFs into the wild at a number of different reintroduction sites across the West. Currently, there are approximately 280 BFFs living at captive breeding facilities. These recovery efforts are managed by the Service’s National Black-Footed Ferret Conservation Center in northern Colorado and partners in multiple states.

Despite the many threats facing BFFs, wildlife managers believe the recovery of the species is attainable. There are more than 50 federal, state, tribal and non-governmental agencies working together in a recovery team effort to conserve this native species. Due to these partnerships, BFF recovery goals are within reach.

And that’s it for this week! Sorry some of the pics were blurry, but I hope you appreciated them anyways haha.

See y’all later! 🐾

P.S. The title pun is supposed to be don’t fret haha. I am not a punny person at all so plz don’t judge

Sources

https://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/factsheets/Black-Footed-Ferret.pdf

https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/black-footed-ferret

https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/black-footed-ferret