Kangaroos in a tree..?

Yes, there are actually fourteen species of tree kangaroos, most of which are considered vulnerable or endangered. Goodfellow Tree Kangaroos are marsupials, native to Papua New Guinea. They are listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List. Their population continues to decrease do hunting and habitat loss. Tree kangaroos are hunted for their meat. TheirContinue reading "Kangaroos in a tree..?"

Queen of the Beast

African Lions are listed as vulnerable. Their population has decreased by 43% in the last 20 years and is still decreasing. Humans continue to destroy and move into lions’ natural habitat increasing the number of human-animal conflicts, where the lions end up getting shot. Lions are also threatened by tick-borne illnesses like distemper and babesia.Continue reading "Queen of the Beast"

Hippos!!

The hippopotamus is listed as vulnerable by the IUCN. Their population is decreasing. Hippos are poached and killed for the meat and ivory teeth. Habitat destruction and human-conflict are other threats that hippos face.  Fun Fact: Hippos can’t swim. They push off the bottom or rocks underwater to propel themselves. They can also hold theirContinue reading "Hippos!!"

Caracals

Caracals have a wide distribution range, from Africa to the Middleast to Central Asia. Although they are listed as least concern by the IUCN, caracals are still being impacted by habitat loss and human conflict. The population in Central Asia is considered endangered. Caracals are agile hunters that can jump 10 ft straight up intoContinue reading "Caracals"

Seagulls…evil or misunderstood?

Who says seagulls are not elegant?... Seagulls are hated by many. They dive-bomb people and steal their food. They are loud and can spread disease through their feces. Seagulls are not evil, they are simply opportunistic hunters. If humans were not so careless dropping their food, leaving it unattended, or feeding them purposely, these birdsContinue reading "Seagulls…evil or misunderstood?"

Super Snake Jaws

Most people know that snakes can open their mouths extremely wide, but how do they do it?  It is a common misconception that snakes can dislocate or detached their jaws. This is not true. Snakes have a special split lower jaw that is attached by a stretchy ligament. This allows the lower jaws to stretchContinue reading "Super Snake Jaws"

Reticulated Giraffe

The Reticulated Giraffe is now listed as endangered by the IUCN. Habitat loss is their biggest threat, followed by poaching. Giraffe body parts, like their bones, tails, and hides are in high demand in the illegal market. Although giraffes are common at zoos and game parks, the director of the Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF), warnsContinue reading "Reticulated Giraffe"

Grey Crowned Crane

A Grey Crowned Crane foraging in Kenya Grey Crowned Cranes live in central and southern Africa. They are an ENDANGERED species.  Their main threats are habitat loss and the illegal capture of the birds and their eggs. In some places, the cranes are kept in captivity by wealthy families or hotels as a symbol ofContinue reading "Grey Crowned Crane"

Cape Mountain Zebras

The Cape Mountain zebra is listed as vulnerable/threatened by the IUCN. In the early 1900s, they were on the brink of extinction with less than 60 individuals remaining. Luckily conservation efforts brought the population back up. Their main threats are habitat loss and poaching (for their meat). Although conservation has brought the population up significantly,Continue reading "Cape Mountain Zebras"