Poaching is a serious and growing concern all across the African continent that affects the survival of not only individual animals but entire populations. Lewa Wildlife Conservancy serves as a refuge for elephants, endangered black rhinos, Grevy’s zebra and multitudes of other species.
In Kenya, innovative technology is being used to help track elephants by cell phone, which due to the intersecting living spaces of humans and animals, helps to minimize conflict between locals and these amazing, yet potentially dangerous animals.
SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Animal Ambassador Julie Scardina and a couple of Magellanic penguins kicked off “SeaWorld’s Pole to Pole Inaugural Fun Run,” on Saturday, April 28. Nearly 350 participants were able to stroll by sea lions, waddle past penguins and dash by dolphins as they supported conservation efforts from the North to the South Pole.
It’s no secret that many of the world’s animals are in danger of extinction – but most people would be surprised at just how small the numbers of certain species have become. One such example is the Mexican Gray Wolf. Current estimates count these wild wanderers at just 52 free-ranging wolves in the southwestern United States. With such a small population, each individual wolf and wolf pack is critical to the population's long-term survival.
Today was a day filled with unforgettable moments! Upon returning to the Wild Life Refuge of Chacocente after another successful school visit, we were greeted by the site of hundreds of sea turtle hatchlings! The park rangers had collected them in bins with warm sand in order to protect them from predators. They planned to bring them back to the refuge that evening and release them. I was invited to come along - but in the meantime, I was so excited – I just wanted to play with every single one of them!
With just 3,000 Grevy’s zebra left in the world, The Grevy’s Zebra Trust was established to address the urgent need to conserve this zebra species, found only in northern Kenya and southern Ethiopia where drought has been severe, habitat has shrunk and they are illegally killed and persecuted due to competition for resources with domestic cattle.
Around SeaWorld Orlando, this loggerhead sea turtles is known as "Mr. 1,000."
Ishasha is home to the largest elephant population in Uganda, creating a fierce competition for land and resources between humans and elephants. Crop raiding is extremely high and has led to substantial economic losses for local communities and ill will towards elephants.
Outside the Mgahinga National Park in Uganda, water becomes a scarce commodity during the dry season. This causes neighboring communities to enter the park to collect water, along with wood and other resources for their domestic use; creating habitat degradation and threat to the survival of the endangered gorillas that call the park home.
By Anthony Armenia
