Sunday, January 29, 2012
Riddle's Elephant and Wildlife Sanctuary
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Riddle's Elephant and Wildlife Sanctuary
was established by Scott and Heidi Riddle in 1990
on 330 acres in the Ozark Mountain foothills in Arkansas as a non-profit
[IRS 501(C)(3) EIN-71-0694957] home for elephants needing one for
any reason. This is the only internationally recognized sanctuary that
accepts any elephant regardless of species, gender, or disposition.
This Arkansas elephant sanctuary currently houses Asian elephants
and African elephants, and both males and females. Elephant care
and elephant management are taught at this elephant haven in the
peaceful Arkansas countryside. Programs include Elephant Experience
Weekends and an annual International School for Elephant Management.
Major goals of the sanctuary include the care of the resident elephant
herd, but also elephant conservation in general, helping to ensure the
long-term survival of these magnificent and highly endangered species.
Visit our site to learn how you can help elephants or to "adopt" an
elephant!
was established by Scott and Heidi Riddle in 1990
on 330 acres in the Ozark Mountain foothills in Arkansas as a non-profit[IRS 501(C)(3) EIN-71-0694957] home for elephants needing one for
any reason. This is the only internationally recognized sanctuary that
accepts any elephant regardless of species, gender, or disposition.
This Arkansas elephant sanctuary currently houses Asian elephants
and African elephants, and both males and females. Elephant care
and elephant management are taught at this elephant haven in the
peaceful Arkansas countryside. Programs include Elephant Experience
Weekends and an annual International School for Elephant Management.
Major goals of the sanctuary include the care of the resident elephant
herd, but also elephant conservation in general, helping to ensure the
long-term survival of these magnificent and highly endangered species.
Visit our site to learn how you can help elephants or to "adopt" an
elephant!
Saturday, January 28, 2012
ENDANGERED SPECIES
Florida manatee.
1. Species distribution.
The Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) is a subspecies of the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus). The Florida manatee's primary range is the Florida peninsula, but individuals can be found as far north as Virginia and as far west as Louisiana during warm summer months.
2. Reasons for endangerment.
The estimated population for the Florida manatee in 1992 indicated there may be as few as 2,000 animals. Tragically, manatee deaths are increasing each year. Since 1976, total deaths have risen an average of 5.3% each year. The majority of human-related deaths are caused by collisions with boats; boat divers can't see the camouflaged, slow-moving manatees to avoid accidents. Prenatal deaths (i.e. stillborn and newborn calves) are also quite high. The exact cause of these deaths isn't known. Other causes of death include disease and parasitism, exposure to cold weather, crushing in flood control structures and navigational locks, shooting by humans, and entanglement in fishing line and ropes.
3. Conservation efforts.
Florida manatees are listed as endangered by the Endangered Species Act, vulnerable by the IUCN/World Conservation Union, and on Appendix I of CITES. They're also protected under the MMPA and the Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act.
In most Florida counties manatees are also protected by boat speed laws and no-boat zones. Several institutions (permitted by the USFWS), including Sea world of Florida, are involved in the rescue and rehabilitation of injured or sick manatees.
California condor. 1. Species distribution.
The California condor (Gymnogyps californianus) once ranged throughout the coastal regions of North America, from British Columbia to Baja California, and from Florida to New York. By the 1800s the condors were restricted to the Pacific coast. Today they live only in the Sespe Condor Sanctuary in Southern California, the Los Angeles Zoo, and the San Diego Wild Animal Park.
2. Reasons for endangerment.
California condors used to number in the thousands. By 1939 their numbers were estimated to be under 100, and by 1982 only 21 to 24 birds remained in the wild. Reasons for their decline include habitat loss, poaching, a low reproductive rate, electrocution by high-voltage wires, and poisoning by eating animal carcasses that contained lead.
3. Conservation efforts.
In 1981, the California Department of Fish and Game permitted the San Diego Zoological Society and the Los Angeles Zoo to breed condors. Chicks and eggs were first collected for the program, but due to continued threats to adults in the wild, all birds were captured by 1987. The breeding program has been successful, with over 50 birds now in captivity. Eight birds have been reintroduced into the Sespe Condor Sanctuary and future releases are being planned.
The California condor is listed as endangered by the Endangered Species Act, the IUCN/World Conservation Union, and Appendix 1 of CITES.
1. Species distribution.
The Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) is a subspecies of the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus). The Florida manatee's primary range is the Florida peninsula, but individuals can be found as far north as Virginia and as far west as Louisiana during warm summer months.
2. Reasons for endangerment.
The estimated population for the Florida manatee in 1992 indicated there may be as few as 2,000 animals. Tragically, manatee deaths are increasing each year. Since 1976, total deaths have risen an average of 5.3% each year. The majority of human-related deaths are caused by collisions with boats; boat divers can't see the camouflaged, slow-moving manatees to avoid accidents. Prenatal deaths (i.e. stillborn and newborn calves) are also quite high. The exact cause of these deaths isn't known. Other causes of death include disease and parasitism, exposure to cold weather, crushing in flood control structures and navigational locks, shooting by humans, and entanglement in fishing line and ropes.
3. Conservation efforts.
Florida manatees are listed as endangered by the Endangered Species Act, vulnerable by the IUCN/World Conservation Union, and on Appendix I of CITES. They're also protected under the MMPA and the Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act.
In most Florida counties manatees are also protected by boat speed laws and no-boat zones. Several institutions (permitted by the USFWS), including Sea world of Florida, are involved in the rescue and rehabilitation of injured or sick manatees.
California condor. 1. Species distribution.
The California condor (Gymnogyps californianus) once ranged throughout the coastal regions of North America, from British Columbia to Baja California, and from Florida to New York. By the 1800s the condors were restricted to the Pacific coast. Today they live only in the Sespe Condor Sanctuary in Southern California, the Los Angeles Zoo, and the San Diego Wild Animal Park.
2. Reasons for endangerment.
California condors used to number in the thousands. By 1939 their numbers were estimated to be under 100, and by 1982 only 21 to 24 birds remained in the wild. Reasons for their decline include habitat loss, poaching, a low reproductive rate, electrocution by high-voltage wires, and poisoning by eating animal carcasses that contained lead.
3. Conservation efforts.
In 1981, the California Department of Fish and Game permitted the San Diego Zoological Society and the Los Angeles Zoo to breed condors. Chicks and eggs were first collected for the program, but due to continued threats to adults in the wild, all birds were captured by 1987. The breeding program has been successful, with over 50 birds now in captivity. Eight birds have been reintroduced into the Sespe Condor Sanctuary and future releases are being planned.
The California condor is listed as endangered by the Endangered Species Act, the IUCN/World Conservation Union, and Appendix 1 of CITES.
Friday, January 27, 2012
The Nature Connection with David Suzuki - Episode #2 Urban Ecology - YouTube
The Nature Connection with David Suzuki - Episode #2 Urban Ecology - YouTube: ""
'via Blog this'
Uploaded by jansonmedia on May 4, 2009
http://www.janson.com/dvd/show_title.php?pid=20269 In this four-DVD set, Dr. David Suzuki leads a group of children on twelve field trips to discover different aspects of the environment and learn how we are all "connected" to nature. Through their adventures, the children learn to appreciate their relationship with the environment and what they can do to protect it. The collection is designed to inform, stimulate and motivate parents and their children to take up an environmental project. It encourages the natural instinct children have for discovery, and increases their awareness of the beautiful and complex web of life and our place in it.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Does The Planet Need Saving?
The Power of the Planet - BBC
Uploaded by BBCEarth on Oct 16, 2009
Is the planet able to cope with all we throw at it? Are we pumping too much carbon dioxide into the atmosphere? Dr Iain Stewart assesses the impact of man on our planet in the ground-breaking BBC series. Visithttp://www.bbcearth.com for all the latest animal news and wildlife videos and watch more high quality videos on the new BBC Earth YouTube channel here:http://www.youtube.com/bbcearth
Quotes
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, It is the only thing that ever has.”
Margaret Mead
“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.”
Helen Keller
“I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by conscious endeavor.”
Henry David Thoreau
Human beings have become the predominant destructive force on Earth. With power of hands and minds amplified by machines, our impact exceeds that of great floods, hurricanes and earthquakes. The time has come when we can envisage the end of nature; the time has come to realize that we are able to destroy the Earth.
-Calvin B. DeWitt
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Friday, January 13, 2012
We are all prodigal people when it comes to our role as stewards the planet Earth.
Henri Rousseau
We have inherited an incredibly beautiful and complex garden, but
the trouble is that we have been appallingly bad gardeners.
We have not bothered to acquaint ourselves with the simplest
principles of gardening.
By neglecting our garden, we are storing up for ourselves,
in the not very distant future, a world catastrophe as bad as any
atomic war, and we are doing it with all the bland complacency of an
idiot child chopping up a Rembrandt with a pair of scissors.
--Gerald Durrell
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Prodigal People
We have inherited an incredibly beautiful and complex garden, but the
trouble is that we have been appallingly bad gardeners. We have not
bothered to acquaint ourselves with the simplest principles of
gardening. By neglecting our garden, we are storing up for ourselves,
in the not very distant future, a world catastrophe as bad as any
atomic war, and we are doing it with all the bland complacency of an
idiot child chopping up a Rembrandt with a pair of scissors.
--Gerald Durrell
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