In our extensive series of interviews on wildlife issues, Dr. Michael Hutchins, and I have discussed a number of pressing global concerns that compromise the health of ecosystems and conservation efforts aimed at saving and restoring imperiled wildlife populations. The distinguished conservationist and noted authority on wildlife management and policy has graciously agreed to discuss another...
It is amazing that the tallest and arguably most elegant mammal on Earth has been so overlooked and understudied by the scientific and conservation community to date. Considering the precipitous decline of giraffe populations in recent years, it is also amazing that we are just now celebrating giraffe and advocating for their preservation on a...
People often ask me what zoos and aquariums around the world are doing to promote climate issue awareness and to reduce their own carbon footprint. Since zoological facilities are deemed high profile stewards of nature and natural resources, the expectation has been that these living institutions should be at the forefront of the climate control...
As a week old Oregonian, I received an unprecedented and gracious orientation of sorts—a “call of the wild” from the Pacific Northwest, if you will. I was invited to attend the Wilderness Conference hosted by Oregon Wild. Oregon Wild (formerly the Oregon Natural Resources Council or ONRC) hosted an event, celebrating just over 40 years as...
In East Africa, wildebeests are currently on the move, challenged by northern Tanzania’s long dry season, which begins around now (late May or early June). I too, am making my own trek of sorts. I’m in the process of relocating from southern California to the Pacific Northwest. I guess you could say that much like...
In a momentous effort to rewild Europe this week, an iconic ungulate species—which is also the largest land animal on the continent—has been returned to Central Europe’s Romanian landscape. The wisent is back! According to Rewildling Europe, “More than 250 people gathered from far afield to take part in this unprecedented wildlife release event, far...
Just days after seven European ‘wood’ bison or wisent (Bison bonasus) cows born and raised at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s Highland Wildlife Park were soft released into the Vanatori Neamt Nature Park in Romania as part of the largest wisent reintroduction effort in history, the United States moved forward on it own plans...
This past week the Chicago Zoological Society’s Brookfield Zoo brought the plight of the African Painted Dog to the forefront of the conservation community. The Zoological Society hosted the Conference to Aid Highly Endangered African Painted Dogs through its Center for the Science of Animal Welfare (CSAW). The four-day meeting follows the inaugural painted dog...
Earlier this week, the USFWS announced that a pregnant, captive born, female Mexican wolf reared at Chicago’s Brookfield Zoo will be released next week into the Blue Range Wolf Recovery Area of Arizona as a part of the Mexican wolf recovery effort in the United States. F1126, known as “Ernesta” to zoo staff, has been...
The Copenhagen Zoo may not know it yet, but like all other conservation-minded, live collection, natural history institutions (e.g. zoos, aquariums, marine parks, etc.), the zoo’s ultimate goal is to put themselves and other zoos out of business. Zoos often claim, and rightfully so, that they hope to one day restore a great majority of...
The Copenhagen Zoo may not know it yet, but like all other conservation-minded, live collection, natural history institutions (e.g. zoos, aquariums, marine parks, etc.), the zoo’s ultimate goal is to put themselves and other zoos out of business. Zoos often claim, and rightfully so, that they hope to one day restore a great majority of...
Dr. Jordan Schaul interviews distinguished Brigadier General John E. Michel for National Geographic News Watch. Eyewitness War on the National Geographic Channel “follows the men and women of the armed forces through the chaos of battle with real-life, first-person footage. ” The show features “dangerous missions and the perils of war through the eyes of our...
Dr. Jordan Schaul interviews distinguished Brigadier General John E. Michel for National Geographic News Watch. Eyewitness War on the National Geographic Channel “follows the men and women of the armed forces through the chaos of battle with real-life, first-person footage. ” The show features “dangerous missions and the perils of war through the eyes of our...
Dr. Jordan Schaul interviews Seafood Watch’s Celebrity Chef Doug Katz about the famed sustainable seafood program developed by the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The Monterey Bay Aquarium (MBAQ) launched the renowned Seafood Watch program several years ago with the initial intent to help keep marine fisheries robust and healthy. The Aquarium reached out to seafood aficionados...
Domestic cats have not only surpassed dogs as the most popular companion animal in the US, but they have taken the internet by storm. The most recent cat video to go viral hit cyberspace yesterday following an emergency call placed to a 911 dispatcher in Portland, Oregon. What we know is that the Palmer family’s...