The Kihansi Spray Toad is the first extinct in the wild amphibian to be reintroduced to its natural habitat, the Kihansi Falls in the Udzungwa Mountains in Tanzania, Africa. This toad lives only in the spray zone of the falls, where there is plenty of mist. In 2000 the water flow was diverted to powerContinueContinue reading “A Global Conservation Story”
Category Archives: Wildlife
Cute but resilient
Arctic foxes are tough little creatures that can survive in temperatures as low as -50℃ (-58℉ ). Their thick fur, short legs, and round bodies help to keep them warm. They hunt lemmings, voles, fish, and eat berries, eggs, and seaweed. In winter when food is scarce arctic foxes will follow polar bears at aContinueContinue reading “Cute but resilient”
The Unseen Turtle
The McCord’s box turtle is CRITICALLY ENDANGERED. They are native to China, where they are often harvested for traditional Chinese medicine and the illegal pet trade. They are also threatened by habitat loss and pollution. A herpetologist first described this species in 1998 when he saw it at a Chinese market. It wasn’t until 2007ContinueContinue reading “The Unseen Turtle”
Humans are killing their closest living relative!
We are pushing our closest cousins towards extinction. Chimpanzees share 98.7% of their genes with us. But humans and chimps do not mix. There has been an increase in human-chimp conflicts. This is largely due to deforestation. And the encroaching human population. Other threats to the species include disease, the illegal pet trade, and being poachedContinueContinue reading “Humans are killing their closest living relative!”
Eagle Snacks
A bald eagle ripping apart and devouring a dead fish in Northern Michigan. Bald eagles live across the United States. They have been the national emblem of the USA since 1782. Despite this, the bald eagle was on the verge of extinction in the 1950s. Illegal hunting, habitat loss and the pesticide DDT were theContinueContinue reading “Eagle Snacks”
Frogs that make their own sunscreen
The waxy-monkey tree frog is unlike most frogs. It is able to tolerate higher temperatures and direct sunlight due to their special skin glands that produce a waxy substance. The frogs rub the secretions all over themselves as protection from the sun aka sunscreen. The waxy substance also traps in moisture so the frogs don’tContinueContinue reading “Frogs that make their own sunscreen”
RAWR
ENDANGERED. The Siberian tiger (also known as the Amur tiger) is the largest cat in the world! Males can be up to 11ft long and weigh 660lbs. Deforestation is the biggest reason for the population decline. These tigers are also poached for their fur and body parts (used in traditional medicine). They live mostly inContinueContinue reading “RAWR”
Open Wide!
Although river otters are adorable they are carnivores. Their favorite food – fish. They use those sharp canines to stab and catch fish. Built to swim, river otters can hold their breath for 8 minutes and dive up to 60 ft deep. Pollution and habitat destruction are major threats to their conservation.
The Big Macs of the Savannah
Impalas are known as the big macs of the savannah because everything eats them. They also have a black M pattern on their butts that looks like the golden arches. Impalas are incredible jumpers, they can jump as far as 33 ft (10 m) and as high as 10ft (3 m).
Ringtails
An adorable and curious ring-tailed cat in a barn in Arizona. Despite their name, ring-tailed cats are not related to cats. They are part of the racoon (procyonidae) family. Ringtails are the state mammal of Arizona.
Eye of the Wild Photography 