#endangeredspecies

#endangeredspecies

San Diego Zoo Welcomes 41 Indian Narrow-headed Softshell TurtlesFor over two decades, staff at the San Diego Zoo have been hoping that the three Indian narrow-headed softshell turtles in their guardianship to one day reproduce. Recently, that hope came true — the rare turtles finally bred, and San Diego Zoo became "the first accredited organization in North America to hatch and raise the species."Over the summer, the zoo welcomed 41 hatchlings. Most of the eggs were stored in an artificial incubator designed for the survival of the hatchlings, while some eggs hatched successfully in the turtles' habitat.Kim Gray, the zoo's curator of herpetology and ichthyology, states that this event is "an incredible step forward" in the conservation efforts for these turtles.The Indian narrow-headed softshell turtles are native to South Asian countries such as India, Pakistan, and Nepal, and the turtle is listed as an endangered species. There are multiple factors that threaten their survival, such as climate change, damming of rivers, increased flooding, and gravel mining.(Image Credit: Ana Ramirez/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)#Conservation #Animals #EndangeredSpecies #ConservationBreeding #Turtles

Endangered Species Jigsaw Puzzles with Only as Many Pieces As Animals Left in the WildWorld Wildlife Fund Canada announced a collection of jigsaw puzzles they created with design agency AKQA to raise awareness about biodiversity loss.Entitled Endangered Pieces, four puzzles are produced containing only as many pieces as animals left in the wild. The giant panda puzzle is the largest one with 1,864 pieces, thanks to successful conservation actions. The Sumatran tiger puzzle is 400 pieces, the pygmy three-toed sloth is 79 pieces, and the Southern Resident killer whale is the smallest puzzle with just 73 pieces.

Primate Mom Tries to Teach Her Baby to Behave Around Other AnimalsLast August 26, Bioparc Valencia zoo in Valencia, Spain, was blessed with the birth of a baby primate, named Akira, which is a part of the endangered drill species. There has been a limited number of birth for this species due to habitat loss and poaching. In fact, the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Endangered Species considers the species' case as "critical" because of the alarming decline in their birth rate which is why each birth is considered a blessing.Akira's parents, Rafiki and Abuja, look after Akira as she tries to explore her surroundings. As a protective mother, Abuja keeps Akira under control while they are in a manmade riverside forest of Equatorial Africa, which is their natural habitat. Abuja's protective behavior may be a trait of the mothers of the species as they are known to be the "caregivers" while the fathers are the ones who compete for dominance and the right to breed.Video credit: Bioparc Valencia/Zenger#Monkey #Animals #EndangeredSpecies #drill

Watermelon-Patterned Red River Hog Piglet Makes a Debut at Franklin Park ZooThere’s a new face at the Franklin Park Zoo that will delight visitors. On July 14, a red river hog named Artemis gave birth to a small watermelon-patterned piglet. Three piglets were born but sadly the other two did not survive. The remaining female piglet has been doing well and is being taken care of by her mom. She’s already curious about her mom’s food but she’s not yet ready to eat solid food.“We’re really thrilled about this birth, which is a first for this species here at Franklin Park Zoo. Now that the little one has made her exhibit debut, it’s a wonderful opportunity for guests to observe her exploring with mom. Artemis is doing great and being a very attentive mother. This is her first litter, and she has been perfect!” said assistant curator Christine Bartos.Franklin Park Zoo is part of the Red River Hog Species Survival Plan or SSP. This program helps to ensure the survival of endangered animal species in zoos and aquariums. The birth is the result of a pairing between the piglet’s parents Artemis and Tamu.Red river hogs are native to West and Central Africa. Usually found in forests and swamps, they live in groups and are usually composed of three to sixteen hogs ranging from two to fifteen young females and one adult male. Their food can range from grasses to fruits, and to even small mammals and reptiles.#RedRiverHog #EndangeredSpecies #Zoos #WatermelonPiglet