Orangutans and the Great Ape Conservation Fund (Written for The Ecotone Exchange)
Earlier this month, I wrote about Sandra, an orangutan at the Buenos Aires Zoo and a landmark ruling on animal rights. I am following up with more information about the … Continue reading
Sentient Sandra and a Landmark Ruling on Animal Rights (Written for The Ecotone Exchange)
Last month, amid the holiday hustle and bustle and with little fanfare, a landmark legal ruling in the world history of animal rights occurred in Argentina. The ruling concerned an … Continue reading
The Only Good Wolf is a Live Wolf
October 12th-18th is Wolf Awareness Week. During wolf week in 2013, I wrote about conservation efforts to preserve red wolves (Canis rufus). It has been a bad year for red … Continue reading
Elephant and Rhino Conservation: Three Encouraging Events in One Year (Written for the Ecotone Exchange)
In September, 2013, conservation groups announced a three-year $80 million Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Commitment to Action to bring together NGOs, governments, and concerned citizens to stop the slaughter of … Continue reading
International Tiger Day 2014
Tuesday, July 29 is International Tiger Day. International Tiger Day is held annually on July 29 to give worldwide attention to the preservation of tigers. It was founded at the Saint … Continue reading
State of the Rhinoceros: Ten Things You Need to Know
There are five species of rhinoceros: Black, White, Greater-one horned, Javan and Sumatran. Three of the five species have an imperiled listing by the International Union for Conservation of Nature … Continue reading
The AAZK, Bowling for Rhinos and National Zoo Keeper Week (Written for The Ecotone Exchange)
By Maymie Higgins If you think zoo keepers and aquarists merely prepare food, feed animals, play with animals and scoop poop (or in the case of aquarists, continuously balance the nitrogen … Continue reading
Brown Pelicans: An Endangered Species Recovery Success Story (Written for the Ecotone Exchange)
Photo courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It was a warm, sunny autumn afternoon and I was out for a stroll at my favorite spot on this Earth. October … Continue reading
Extinct in the Wild: Hawaiian Crow
Scientific Name: Corvus hawaiiensis, also known as ‘Alalā (Cry like a child) Historic Range: The Hawaiian Crow is native to the Big Island and was most populous in upland forests, … Continue reading
The Legacy and Future of the Endangered Species Act
Disclaimer: Like any good legislation, The Endangered Species Act is a dynamic law with the intended beneficiaries constantly changing. The data for this blog was obtained directly from the U. … Continue reading
How Saving Orangutans Can Lower Your Cholesterol (Written for The Ecotone Exchange)
In my work as a nurse coach, I often explain to my patients the finer nuances of blood cholesterol laboratory results and how changes in nutrition can improve their numbers. … Continue reading
Take the International Polar Bear Day Thermostat Challenge (Written for The Ecotone Exchange)
Thursday, February 27 is International Polar Bear Day, celebrated annually by Polar Bears International. On this day, everyone is invited to join in celebrating it as a day of action … Continue reading
Celebrating Forty Years of the Endangered Species Act: Higgins Eye Pearlymussel
Scientific Name: Lampsilis higginsii Year Listed on the Endangered Species List: 1976 Endangered Species Listing Status: Endangered Conservation Efforts and Partners: In the early 1980s, biologists from the U.S. Fish … Continue reading
Celebrating Forty Years of the Endangered Species Act: American Crocodile
Scientific Name: Crocodylus acutus Year Listed on the Endangered Species List: 1975 Endangered Species Listing Status: Endangered (Florida population is threatened, as of 2007) Conservation Efforts and Partners: Preserving and … Continue reading
Celebrating Forty Years of the Endangered Species Act: Desert Pupfish
Scientific Name: Cyprinodon macularius Year Listed on the Endangered Species List: 1986 Endangered Species Listing Status: Endangered Conservation Efforts and Partners: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Arizona Game … Continue reading
Celebrating Forty Years of the Endangered Species Act: Eastern Indigo Snake
Scientific Name: Drymarchon corais couperi Year Listed on the Endangered Species List: 1978 Endangered Species Listing Status: Threatened Conservation Efforts and Partners: In one example, partnerships were formed with Auburn University, Zoo Atlanta, … Continue reading
Celebrating Forty Years of the Endangered Species Act: American Burying Beetle
Scientific Name: Nicrophorus americanus Year Listed on the Endangered Species List: 1989 Endangered Species Listing Status: Endangered Conservation Efforts and Partners: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service began capturing American … Continue reading
Celebrating Forty Years of the Endangered Species Act: Bog Turtle
Scientific Name: Clemmys muhlenbergii Year Listed on the Endangered Species List: 1997 Endangered Species Listing Status: Threatened Conservation Efforts and Partners: In 1986, a program began in Tennessee that ultimately … Continue reading
Celebrating World Pangolin Day: Temnick’s Ground Pangolin (Cape Pangolin)
Scientific Name: Manis temminckii Year Listed on the Endangered Species List: 1976 Endangered Species Listing Status: Endangered Conservation Efforts and Partners: Cape pangolins are protected by legislation in a few … Continue reading
Celebrating Forty Years of the Endangered Species Act: Okaloosa Darter
Scientific Name: Etheostoma okaloosae Year Listed on the Endangered Species List: 1973 Endangered Species Listing Status: Threatened The Okaloosa darter was originally listed as endangered in 1973, with only 1,500 … Continue reading
Celebrating Forty Years of the Endangered Species Act: Karner Blue Butterfly
Scientific Name: Lycaeides melissa samuelis Year Listed on the Endangered Species List: 1992 Endangered Species Listing Status: Endangered Conservation Efforts and Partners: Beginning with twelve members in 2001, The Butterfly … Continue reading
Celebrating Forty Years of the Endangered Species Act: Ozark Hellbender
Scientific Name: Cryptobranchus alleganiensis bishopi Year Listed on the Endangered Species List: 2011 Endangered Species Listing Status: Endangered Conservation Efforts and Partners: In 2011, the Saint Louis Zoo and the … Continue reading
Celebrating Forty Years of the Endangered Species Act: Bornean and Sumatran Orangutan
Scientific Name: (Pongo pygmaeus) and (Pongo abelii) While all orangutans were previously believed to be subspecies of the Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus), recent research supports the taxonomic classification of the … Continue reading
Celebrating Forty Years of the Endangered Species Act: Piping Plover
Scientific Name: (Charadrius melodus) Year Listed on the Endangered Species List: 1985 Endangered Species Listing Status: Endangered in the Great Lakes watershed. Threatened everywhere else. Conservation Efforts and Partners: In … Continue reading
Celebrating Forty Years of the Endangered Species Act: Desert Tortoise
Scientific Name: (Gopherus agassizii) Year Listed on the Endangered Species List: 1980 Endangered Species Listing Status: Threatened Conservation Efforts and Partners: In March 2009, the San Diego Zoo Institute for … Continue reading
What is the Endangered Species Act?
This year is the 40th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act. Congress passed the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 1973. On December 28th of that year, President Richard Nixon signed … Continue reading
Saving Red Wolves: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the AZA Red Wolf SSP (Written for The Ecotone Exchange)
North Carolina Aquariums: Partnering with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission and the Local Community to Save Sea Turtles (Written for The Ecotone Exchange)
The moonlight reflected off the North Carolina shoreline, illuminating the way as she used her strongly developed forelimbs to drag herself several yards towards the dunes, just as her mother … Continue reading
