What Can You Do?

We have discussed and learned about many different endangered species over the last few months. But today I look to you and discuss Endangered.org's "10 Easy Things You Can Do to Save Endangered Species." I feel this will really help you guys go out feeling like you can make an impact. 

1. Learn about endangered species in your area- What can I say? This whole blog is about informing you about animals! Now granted most of these animals, probably none are within your area, but they should inspire you to go look for animals in need in your area! I think tip definitely deserves number 1 and is a great thing that YOU can do. 

2. Visit a national wildlife refuge, park or other open space- On this regard, the impact you make is small. Basically by visiting these refuges and parks you support the people working there. This allows them to get paid and continue to protect the animals. Now that is not the BIGGEST impact, but there is more too it. Being able to go out in nature and see these animals its worth it. Visiting refuges and parks is a good start for supporting those who are saving animals.

3. Make your home wildlife friendly- PLEASE DO. By making your home a safe place that wildlife can live, you open up tons of awesome experiences and you help these creatures. You may get to see a beautiful rare bird propped in your tree. Perhaps rhetorically you can have an actual white elephant as Christmas. 

4. and 5. are about keeping your yards with native plants and not using pesticides. By allowing the natural vegetation to grow and avoiding the use of chemicals you will create an environment that is attractive to the creatures of your area. I suggest trying to recreate the plants and ecosystem of where you live so that you can experience wild animals up close. And don't use chemicals, they are bad. 

6. Slow down when driving- watch Bambi.

7. Recycle and buy sustainable project- look at the lightning volcano in Chile. That is what happens when you piss off Mother Earth. Don't be that person. Also save animals.

8. Never purchase products made from threatened or endangered species- yes, 100 times this. Rhino's in Africa are murdered for their horns. That is like 5% of their whole body mass. Don't feed the poachers, don't buy their blood animal products.

9. DON'T HARRAS WILDLIFE- serial killers are almost always animal abusers. 

10. Protect wildlife habitats- because that is the whole point isn't it? 

Thank you! Go out and be awesome!

Galapagos Penguins

This week we discuss the Galapagos Penguin. Not only are these creatures endangered for their lives they are also really cool! Here is a picture of the majestic creatures. In this picture they are performing the verb "chillin."

Now as you look at the penguins you may think to yourself-

                     "Why does the scenery look so nice?!?! Why am I stuck in the middle of nowhere while these penguins chill on some rock in the sun? I thought penguins were from Antarctica?" 

Now regardless as to whether you thought these things or not, I have now said you have. And good questions! To answer your first question, the scenery looks so beautiful because these penguins are found on the Galapagos Islands which are located east of Ecuador, or just South America as a whole. To answer your second question, well.... I guess you made a poor choice in area to live. Sorry. 

But your third question hits the nail on the head! You see, the Galapagos penguins are the only penguin to live north of the equator! And they live pretty darn close to the equator as well. 

The oddest thing, is that these penguins still need to stay cool. They have adapted in a lot of ways to fight the high temperature. The most interesting change from normal penguins is that when on land they adopt a hunched over position to shade their flippers, which is the largest site of heat loss. It looks something like this. 

You can see the angled shape of its body.

These penguins are in danger and only about 1,600 of them remain. The biggest causes of their decline is invading populations. Dogs which were introduced to the Galapagos islands form tourists and inhabitants can bring diseases that kill the penguins. Also stray cats act as predators towards these poor little penguins....

Another large threat is the change in the currents near the islands. When the currents change direction the penguin's food source is usually ruined. Also change in temperature of the water can offset the penguins and have them overheat. So then, with so many threats what can we do? 

The biggest measures being taken include scientists monitoring the penguins and discouraging the use of fishing nets which can offset the fish that act as prey and overall cause current changes.

What are your thoughts? Do you find these animals cute? Do you have a magical idea to protect them? Comment below. 

Explore the world of penguins!

Adopt a penguin or read more!

Weighing 20 tons and 45 to 66 ft long I present the great, the large, the powerful

Sei Whale!

The Sei Whale is found in various places in the world. From the oceans near Southern Chile and Antarctica to the Gulf of California or Coastal East Africa. These whales can swim up to 30 mph and are vital to the ecosystems in which they live. At the top of the food chain they help balance the marine environment food webs. However these whales are in danger. 

The Threats

Since the 1860's Sei Whales have been hunted by humans. This number drastically increased in the 1960's when there were declines in other whale populations. Even worse every year the Japanese kill up to 50 Sei Whales for "scientific" research. 

Finally, these whales can be caught in fish nets and can be killed by pollution.

 

What then can we do to help them?

The answer is the International Whaling Commission or IWC. The IWC is an organization that works to eliminate threats to marine creatures including the Sei Whale. Measures include getting regulations on shipping and dealing with problems of hunting.

Don't let these beautiful creatures die, learn more at WWF and go make a difference.

Amur Leopard

The Amur Leopard is a subspecies of Leopards that are a bit out of place. Out of place literally and figuratively the Amur Leopard lives in the Russian Far East. This is a huge difference from the normal African Savannah of most leopards and its much colder in Russia showing the Amur Leopard's ability to adapt.

The reason the Amur Leopard is endangered is mainly because of poaching for its beautiful fur skin. This is very bad because the leopard is essential to the environment it lives in. The leopards help keep its prey population in check, especially that of the sika deer.

I'm afraid you will surely die by Amur's hand....

Efforts are being taken to protect the Amur Leopards and in 2012 Russia declared a new protected area. The protection area can be read more about on World Wildlife.com but it is basically 650,000 acres of land that includes about 60% of the Amur Leopards habitat and it is called the Land of the Leopard National Park. It also has 10 Amur Tigers as well. This is the first step in bring the cat back to a healthy population. 

So what do you think? Do you think National Parks are a good step for protecting endangered species? I think they are effective and a great start, but I'd like to hear your opinion.