Few hopes to save the most threatened bird in the Middle East

The Northern Bald Ibis Geronticus eremita is listed on the IUCN Red List as a “Critically Endangered” species on a global scale. It was rediscovered on a remote cliff of the Syrian desert in April 2002, following clues from local hunters and Bedouin nomads, in the framework of a UN/DGCS (Italian Development Cooperation) general fauna survey of the area. It suddenly became the rarest and most threatened bird in the Middle East!

Africa’s rhinos face worst poaching crisis in decades

Well-equipped, sophisticated organized crime syndicates have killed more than 800 African rhinos in the past three years - just for their horns. With the most serious poaching upsurge in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya, Africa’s top rhino experts recently met in South Africa to assess the status of rhinos across the continent and to identify strategies to combat the poaching crisis.

What does Endangered mean?

Officially, threatened species are those listed as Critically Endangered (CR), Endangered (EN) or Vulnerable (VU).
Practically this means:

• Critically Endangered (CR): A species facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
• Endangered (EN): A species considered to be facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
• Vulnerable (VU): A species considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.

Asia's Last Lions

Asia's Last Lions

As you might know, there are two main subspecies of lions extant today. One is the African Lion - members of which number in thousands and who you see almost daily in documentaries and programs on nature channels. The other, less well known, subspecies is the Asiatic Lion. Not many are aware of these lions, who number in a few hundreds and are seldom seen on television or in zoos owing to their extremely limited population. These are the lions whose plight I want to highlight today.

Wildlife World Zoo & Aquarium Hosts Mountain Lion Cubs

February 28th, 2011

The Wildlife World Zoo and Aquarium in Litchfield Park, Arizona is hosting a pair of mountain lion cubs. The 5 week old cubs will be on display until mid-April. They are being cared for by a team of zookeepers. The mountain lions are the first of their species to be hosted by the zoo in its 26 year history.

Oldest Known Wild Bird a Mother at 60

March 10th, 2011

A Laysan albatross named Wisdom, is at least 60 years old and was spotted in February 2011 raising a chick at the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge in the Pacific Islands. Photo by John Klavitter, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

Wisdom, a 60-year-old Layson albatross, has recently produced a healthy chick. The oldest bird known to scientists, it is estimated that Wisdom has reared at least 30-35 chicks in her lifetime.

National Geographic Channel’s Expedition Week

March 30th, 2011

A Bengal Tiger caught on a camera trap (India). (Photo Credit: © Steve Winter/Panthera)

From April 3-9, National Geographic Channel is hosting Expedition Week, which features 13 new programs over 7 days taking viewers to never before-seen-places all over the world.

17 th march....

The animal care team at Busch Gardens in Tampa, Fl is busy these days caring for a four week old cheetah cub. The cheetah was born at another zoo and his mother was unable to care for him. The decision was made to hand-raise him and so far it’s been successful. The little guy now weighs over 2 lbs. and is growing stronger each day.

India, home to half the world’s wild tigers, announced today that its tiger population has increased to 1,706 from 1,411* since the last tiger census in 2007.