#endangered_species

[mutant-distraction]

Saiga Antelope

(http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/endangered_species/saiga_antelope/)

Status: Critically endangered

Habitat: Kazakhstan and Russia

Photo by: Tim Flach

[hobbesyerbouti]

Save the tigers. Also @whatevenisthat you may appreciate this!

Sick Tiger Cub Gets Rescued From Circus, Makes Incredible Recovery And Finds Love

[artistcai]

Red Panda by C Steele Via Flickr: watercolor on paper ~11" x 14"

[greggem]

The Hawksbill Turtle

My first Endangered Species blog is going to focus on the Eretmochelys imbricata, also known as the Hawksbill Turtle, which is classified as critically endangered. The Hawksbill Turtle is a type of sea turtle that has a pointed head and distinctive jagged pattern on their shells as seen in the picture below. They weigh between 90 and 150 pounds and are 30 to 35 inches in length. The World Wildlife Fund estimates that there are around 8,000 Hawksbill Turtles left within 5 populations with around 1,000 nesting females. 

Hawksbill Turtles are found all over the world in the ocean, but primarily reside in coral reefs. They are typically found in the Mesoamerican Reef, Coastal Africa, and the Coral Triangle. Here is a map of the areas Hawksbill Turtles are found from nestonline.org. The blue represents the wide area in which they can be found, and the yellow and red dots are areas where they are found more, with the red dots being the most population dense.

The Hawksbill Turtles’ role in the marine ecosystem is to keep the coral reefs healthy. They remove species that are dangerous to the health of the coral reef, such as sponges, sea anemones, and jellyfish. This allows for the fish in the coral reefs to have better access to food, which keeps the ecosystem thriving. 

The Hawksbill Turtle population has declined more than 80% in the past 100 years. This is because humans have destroyed many of their nesting areas and feeding habitats. Additionally, humans have collected their eggs, which is slowing their reproduction, and hurting them with fishing equipment, such as fishing hooks and nets, as seen in the photo below. Pollution is also damaging the coral reefs, which is their main habitat and feeding place. The Hawksbill Turtle is also threatened by illegal wildlife trade. Despite laws that protect the Hawksbill Turtle as an endangered species, there are still large amounts of Hawksbill shells and other products made from these turtles, such as jewelry, that are sold and traded in markets.

If the Hawksbill Turtle goes extinct, the impact on the coral reefs will be damaging. These turtles protect the coral reef by eating dangerous species that take up the food supply of other important species in the ecosystem. Without the help of the Hawksbill Turtles, the fish in the coral reef ecosystems will struggle to find food. This could lead to the extinction of these other species in the coral reefs and cause the coral reef ecosystem to completely die off. Restoring the Hawksbill Turtle population will help restore the coral reef ecosystem as a whole.

Organizations are already contributing to conservation efforts to help the Hawksbill Turtle population. The World Wildlife Fund works with fisheries to use circle hooks, which do not catch turtles like a J-shaped hook, and special nets that use a device to prevent turtles from being caught. They also help create protected areas that include Hawksbill Turtle nesting areas so the species can nest, eat, and move in their natural habitat without human interaction. They set up patrols with people who are located near nests to make sure the eggs are not messed with. Additionally, they work with governments to create legislation that helps with these conservation efforts and teach local law enforcement to watch out for illegal Hawksbill product trading and selling. As for the local wildlife trade, organizations work with locals to teach them about the harm that making these products causes the turtles as well as helping them find different ways to make money instead of running these dangerous and illegal markets.

Geospatial tools are being used to help with the conservation efforts as well.  Researchers have used satellite tracking to track Hawksbill Turtles as they move in the ocean. They place tags on the turtles, which do not harm them in anyway and they fall off naturally, to tell researchers important data that contributes to conservation efforts. They have learned about feeding areas that are important and should be protected, migration patterns, and have even been able to warn fisheries about oncoming turtles so they can watch out for the turtles when using their gear. This also helps them get into contact with fisheries that they know are running into the turtles and go to these fisheries to help save turtles that may have gotten caught in hooks or nets.

Get Involved!

Hawksbill Turtles need our help! If you are interested in helping with the Hawksbill Turtle conservation efforts, here are some ways you can get involved and make a change! You can do little things in your everyday live, volunteer, or even donate to the conservation efforts!

Adopt a Turtle: Here you can adopt a turtle with the World Wildlife Fund! Prices range from $25 to $250, with different benefits, such as an Adoption Certificate and photo of your turtle!

Donate to the WWF: Here you can donate directly to the World Wildlife Fund, who participates in the majority of the Hawksbill Turtle conservation efforts. Donations range from  $5 to $30,000.

Volunteer: You can help Hawksbill Turtles at any beach by participating in local clean-up the beaches events or even find a local organization that needs people to guard the nests at night.

Reduce your plastic waste: By reducing how much plastic you throw away, our oceans will be cleaner and Hawksbill Turtles will have more natural food to eat as well as avoid accidently eating plastic.

Remove beach equipment, fill in holes you made, and destroy sandcastles before nighttime: By removing any chairs, umbrellas, etc., Hawksbill Turtles will not avoid the beach at night. By filling in holes and flattening sandcastles, turtles will not confuse these with their nests.

I hope you learned a lot about Hawksbill Turtles in this blog! Please feel free to ask questions or leave your thoughts below.

Works Cited:

All pictures of Hawksbill Turtles and conservation facts were provided by the World Wildlife Fund website.

“Hawksbill Turtle.” WWF, World Wildlife Fund, www.worldwildlife.org/species/hawksbill-turtle.

“Hawksbill Turtle.” WWF, wwf.panda.org/discover/knowledge_hub/endangered_species/marine_turtles/hawksbill_turtle/.

The map of the Hawksbill Habitat was from N.E.S.T.

“Hawksbill (Eretmochelys Imbricata).” Network for Endangered Sea Turtles, www.nestonline.org/hawksbill-eretmochelys-imbricata/.

Ways to get involved, excluding donations, were provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Fisheries, NOAA. “What Can You Do to Save Sea Turtles?” NOAA, www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/what-can-you-do-save-sea-turtles.

[queenalicorn]

June 13th 2003, the movie Rugrats Go Wild was released and it made 55.4 million dollars at the box office. It’s a cute kids movie that combined two popular shows of it’s time; Rugrats and The Wild Thornberrys. The Rugrats gang gets shipwrecked on an uninhabited island. An island that just happens to have the Thornberry family looking for a clouded leopard (named Siri).

Fast forward to the year 2019 when Netflix creates the series Our Planet. In the Jungles episode, they mention that we still know little about the Clouded Leopard.

I was a little surprised that we know so little of this animal. I suppose I expected many children watching Rugrats Go Wild, would demand to know more about the clouded leopard.

Turns out the clouded leopard is on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species. Which is a list of animals that are at risk of becoming instinct. In fact, in Nepal, the clouded leopard was “officially” extinct in the 1860s, until the 1980s. So for humans they basically disappeared for over 100 years.

They are a medium-sized cat , and in captivity they have an average lifespan of 11 years old. They are the most talented climbers in the feline family. Not only do they climb up and down trees like a squirrel, but they can hang from branches by their hind legs and tail.

Since so little is known about clouded leopards, and they’re being threatened by poaching and their homes are depleting, so there are people who are dedicated to the species surviving. Such as the Clouded Leopard Project, World Wide Fund, International Society for Endangered Cats, and more.

Clouded leopards are just one of many animals that are being threatened and in are need of aid.

Perhaps we need to stop and take a look around. Maybe take a closer look at the creatures we love and how we can stop hurting them. There is always a way to lend a helping hand. I added a few links below to learn more about clouded leopards, and possibly donate to help them out. Knowledge is power. Go be powerful.

Clouded Leopard Project: http://www.cloudedleopard.org/default.aspx

World Wide Fund: https://wwf.panda.org/knowledge_hub/endangered_species/clouded_leopard/

International Society for Endangered Cats: https://wildcatconservation.org/wild-cats/asia/clouded-leopard/

[malavikakalauny-blog]

Scent marking. Because it’s important to mark your territory 💪⠀ ⠀ #getfragrant #nature #cat #animal #outdoors #wildlife #wild #eye #jungle #leopard #endangered_species #aggressive_disposition #perfume #fragrance #perfumes #scent #fragrances #scentsy #fragrancelover #perfumeone #perfumecollection #photooftheday #igdaily #igers #picoftheday #instapic #instamood #instagood #bestoftheday #instadaily https://www.instagram.com/p/BpRA8cggndg/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1rt1r7hhp1g73

[studyfication-blog]

Chemical pollution threatens to wipe out killer whales: Study

PCBs have been used around the world since the 1930s. More than one million tonnes of PCBs were produced and used in, among other things, electrical components and plastics.

[nicolo-vaccari]

Unexpected Africa's encounters.... 😨😎😂 #goodmemories #summer2011 #colorful #outdoors #endangered_species #one #reptile #instagood #primitive #chameleon #followme #scale #nature #wildlife #igers #vertebrate #pet #flying_dragon #animal #bestoftheday #tropical #picoftheday #exotic #follow #tbt #photooftheday #gecko (at Nairobi, Kenya)

[typusdata]

Cetaceans are very different from sharks, but they face some of the same problems that sharks do. One of the biggest examples of this is bycatch. Cetacean bycatch has been in the public eye for a long time, as tuna is now advertised as “dolphin-friendly” due to protests against bycatch. Bycatch has been discussed in recent years due to the plight of the world’s smallest cetacean, the Vaquita porpoise, which has been pushed to the brink of extinction by gillnet fisheries killing them as bycatch. But unfortunately, the devastation of bycatch extends far beyond these two high-publicity issues. According to the World Wildlife Fund, over 300,000 cetaceans are killed as bycatch every year. Death by bycatch is terrifying and painful. Cetaceans either get trapped in nets or entangled in fishing gear. In either situation, they often die by drowning, exhaustion, and stress. Bycatch can have a devastating impact on cetacean populations, as seen by the decline of the vaquita (~30 individuals left), Hector’s dolphin (Endangered), and Atlantic humpback dolphins (Critically Endangered). When humans intentionally kill dolphins, it gets a lot of press - dolphin drive hunts are widely discussed online. Cetaceans also need their advocates to speak up on the issue of bycatch, as it kills far more animals and is driving species to extinction. To help reduce bycatch, make sure to use sustainable seafood guides such as @seafoodwatch for the US, @oceanwise for Canada, and World Wildlife Fund’s regional seafood guides for other countries: http://wwf.panda.org/get_involved/live_green/out_shopping/seafood_guides/ Seafood labeling laws in the US, Canada, and other places are also terribly lax, which makes it harder for consumers to make sustainable choices. Please help us raise awareness of this issue! Here is WWF’s fact page on cetacean bycatch if you would like to know more: https://wwf.panda.org/knowledge_hub/endangered_species/cetaceans/threats/bycatch/ ••• #bycatch #dolphin #whale #cetacean #dolphins #whales #cetaceans #savewhales #savethewhales #taiji #whaling #overfishing https://www.instagram.com/p/Bwe8CWCBRCJ/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=o3fluj8brg13

[lucasciences]

While elephant 🐘 poaching has decreased in the last few years, it is still a major problem in Africa. Up to 15,000 elephants are killed each year for their ivory which until 2017 was sold in the Chinese market before it was outlawed. . While these steps are encouraging, recent rise of poverty in countries such as Botswana 🇧🇼 has accelerated poaching in that area. . Thus, to truly protect these majestic animals, more must be done to alleviate human suffering as well. As the country transitions between relying on diamond ���� mining to tourism and a creative arts 🎭 🏞industry being promoted by its government, the elephants may unfortunately suffer the most. . For more info, this the link to the World Wildlife Fund: . http://wwf.panda.org/knowledge_hub/endangered_species/elephants/african_elephants/afelephants_threats/index.cfm . #elephants #conservation #wildlife #africa #environment #biology #ecology #elephant🐘 #elephantsneverforget #zoology #ecologist #zoologist https://www.instagram.com/p/B1ZOR2BhY6S/?igshid=ippaxgcz7xic

[digitalediaproject262]

Rhinos?

Rhinoceros, or rhinos, are part of the “odd-toed ungulates” family. There are five types of rhinos: White rhinoceros, Black rhinoceros, Indian rhinoceros, Javan rhinoceros, and Sumatran rhinoceros. Two species of rhinos live in Africa (White rhinoceros and Black rhinoceros) and three in Southern Asia (Indian rhinoceros, Javan rhinoceros, and Sumatran rhinoceros).

Endangered?

The Javan and Sumatran rhinos are critically endangered. The African Black and White rhinos are now extinct in the wild. They are both now thriving in protected sanctuaries.

Why?

Rhinos are endangered for two reasons: they are being hunted for their horn(s), and for the destruction of their natural habitat. Rhinoceros horns are used in traditional medicines in parts of Asia, and for dagger handles in Yemen and Oman.

What can we do to help?

Raising awareness is always helpful. Discouraging the production of rhino based objects by not purchasing any.

For more ideas as to how to help save rhinos, visit these links:

http://wwf.panda.org/knowledge_hub/endangered_species/rhinoceros/

https://www.savetherhino.org/

https://www.nikela.org/7-ways-you-can-help-save-the-rhino-even-if-you-don%E2%80%99t-live-in-south-africa/

[habitatlosscitizen305-blog]

De-Dolphinization

Our marine environments are the best place for us to relax and go for a swim before lying out in the warm air, maybe even building ourselves some sand castles with a big old moat surrounding it. It’s also a great place for fishing for fun, or for our fisheries and aquaculture farms.

This is something that benefits humans, but it also scares away marine creatures who have food in those areas, or it could be where they breed or rest. The fact that we are taking over so much of the ocean away from these creatures means that we are harming their way of life.

We see cute videos of people playing or swimming with dolphins and even of a whales, but they are affected by this activity as well. All our noises, scents, sights, it all causes these creatures to leave their homes and what they know to find new places to stay.

We need to be more conscious of our actions around other Earth species, or we may end up not getting to see any more swimming dolphin pods, or hear live whale songs.

Source: http://wwf.panda.org/knowledge_hub/endangered_species/cetaceans/threats/habitat_loss/ 

[greatapeswelfare-blog]

How to Get Involved Continued

Another way to get involved is to learn more about great apes as well as conservation for them. Both WWF, World Wildlife Fund, and US Fish and Wildlife Service offer programs for great ape conservation. WWF has different options for people to help with their program of great ape conservation.

http://wwf.panda.org/knowledge_hub/endangered_species/great_apes/chimpanzees/#help

World Wildlife Fund not only helps great apes like chimpanzees but other endangered animals. They also give people the opportunity to take action to speak up about endangered species. 

https://support.worldwildlife.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=can_home&_ga=2.222979419.1341477947.1544726697-623467820.1544726697

Most of all the best way to get involved is to learn more about these animals. The more we know about them the easier it is to get involved. Knowing about animals makes it easier to know what is truly an issue with animal welfare. The news doesn’t always tell the public everything and the internet isn’t always correct. It can be hard to know what to look for but there are sources that can help. There is a journal that informs people about gorillas. It’s called the Gorilla Journal. Find out more on their site:

https://www.koko.org/gorilla-journal

[mi5019poppyhodgson]

Giant Pandas

https://wwf.panda.org/discover/knowledge_hub/endangered_species/giant_panda/panda/where_panda_lives_habitat/