Hippos are one of the most recognizable creatures on the planet, with their barrel form, massive teeth, and jaws that can expand to nearly 180 degrees. Hippos are also a keystone species because their behavior, as “ecosystem engineers,” helps form and preserve landscapes and ecosystems while also promoting biodiversity. Their presence is vital to the […]
Tag: endangered species act
Support our petition to stop Florida manatees starving
The iconic and attractive Florida manatees are being wiped out by starvation. These magnificent marine creatures are on the verge of extinction. More than 1,100 Florida manatees died last year, more than ever before, according to officials. More than 300 manatees have been recorded deceased in just the first two months of this year. The […]
Texas biology professor charged for illegally trafficking 14 protected wildlife species
AMARILLO, Texas (ABC4) – A Texas biologist has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly importing protected wildlife items into the country without declaring it or obtaining the required permits. Dr. Richard Kazmaier, 54, an associate professor of biology at West Texas A&M University, was charged Thursday with smuggling goods into the United […]
Waccatee Zoo Looking at Messy Lawsuit
PETA recently sent an official notice to Waccatee Zoo, the “Worst Roadside Zoo in America,” that they are planning to sue the zoo for mistreating animals that are protected under the Endangered Species Act. PETA alleges the Waccatee Zoo is violating the federal Endangered Species Act by mistreating its lions, ring-tailed lemurs, as well as […]
American imports of giraffe trophies and body parts are driving the animals to extinction
Giraffes, with their iconic long necks and unmistakable, beautifully patterned coats, are facing extinction. There are currently fewer than 69,000 mature individuals remaining in the wild today. And the threats of habitat loss and illegal hunting for bushmeat are only exacerbated by demand for giraffe trophies and other products traded internationally. The U.S. is partly […]
Motherless grizzly cubs in danger on North Fork Highway
At least two bears were killed in vehicle collisions on the North Fork Highway over the weekend as visitors continue to flood into Yellowstone National Park. And the lives of two young cubs, now alone in the Shoshone National Forest, hang in the balance. A grizzly bear sow was struck and killed Friday and a […]
Pepé Le New: Meet the acrobatic spotted skunks of North America
The familiar striped skunk of North America (think of the cartoon Pepé Le Pew) has a lesser-known cousin: the spotted skunk. These polka-dotted relatives are smaller, about the size of a fat squirrel, and do impressive handstands to warn predators before they launch their stinky spray. And now, this skunk group has a few more […]
Wolf Populations Drop as More States Allow Hunting
Gray wolves once roamed the entire North American continent, from the scrubby deserts of Mexico to the boreal forests of Alaska. But by the 1950s decades of overhunting and habitat loss had nearly extirpated the species in the contiguous United States. In a remarkable conservation success story, the 1973 Endangered Species Act (ESA) helped push […]