Think you are good at hide and seek? You’ve got nothing on these animals! These creatures are masters of disguise. Their camouflaging abilities not only make them difficult for YOU to see, but keeps them hidden from their predators.
Think you know the answer? Click on the pictures to see if you’ve gotten it right.
In September 2012, the IUCN released a list of the 100 most threatened species. Many of these species live outside North America but a lot of what’s threatening them hits close to home.
72 of the 100 most threatened species are threatened by habitat loss, a threat pretty familiar to us here at Earth Rangers. Many of the animals we help protect through our Bring Back the Wild program are threatened by habitat loss. When species lose their homes, they have nowhere left to go and if they can’t adapt, they die out.
While habitat loss is probably the biggest threat, it isn’t the only one. In this article, we take a look at some of the other big issues facing the 100 most threatened species.
Sure, you might think a tiger or monkey would make an awesome pet, but did you know that by owning one, you are doing them more harm than good? That’s because in order to get to you, they are uprooted from their homes and sent to a habitat they haven’t adapted to. Plus, most people aren’t equipped to take care of exotic pets properly and the animal suffers as a result. The illegal trade of exotic animals has caused the destruction of many ecosystems and severely damaged local species populations.
http://www.conservation.org/learn/biodiversity/species/wildlife_trade/Pages/wildlife_trade.aspx
If you have an animal you can’t take care of, what do you do? Do you release it into the wild because you think it will be better off? If so, you may have just added an invasive species into the ecosystem. An invasive species is any organism that isn’t native to the area and will cause it harm, whether that is from across the ocean or across town. Invasive species have no natural predators so their population expands quickly, using up resources and leaving the native organisms without food or homes. Invasive species are a serious threat to about 42% of threatened or endangered species in the USA.
http://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Threats-to-Wildlife/Invasive-Species.aspx
Disease is quite common in ecosystems and usually doesn’t cause too much of a problem. That’s because species in a healthy ecosystem are more likely to develop a resistance to natural viruses. Unfortunately, as invasive species populations grow, the diseases they bring along with them start affecting native species. These new diseases, to which many species haven’t developed immunity, can quickly decimate ecosystems.
http://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Threats-to-Wildlife/Disease.aspx
Hunting is a tricky issue. There are some people who need to hunt in order to survive and sometimes hunting can help keep a species’ population to a healthy size. Problems arise when hunting is done not out of necessity, but for profit or enjoyment. Animals are hunted for their fur, sport, meat and many other body parts. The demand for ivory has caused elephant populations to plummet, and the harvesting of fins for shark fin soup is a serious threat to sharks. Unregulated hunting is now a leading cause in the decline of species populations in biodiversity-rich countries.
http://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Threats-to-Wildlife/Overexploitation.aspx
Traditional medicine has been used for generations and offers an alternative to modern medicine. This mainly plant-based approach is used by about 80% of the population in some Asian and African countries. As demand for traditional medicine continues to grow, it is putting more pressure on the plant and animal populations needed for ingredients. When the collection of these ingredients is not managed properly, it can lead to overharvesting and to species becoming endangered. Thankfully, there are programs in place to help reduce the impact that promote sustainable ingredients for use in traditional medicines.
http://www.animalsasia.org/index.php?UID=8KIOGCB54FQ
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs134/en/index.html
Did you know that about 1 in 5 people depend on fish as their main source of protein? That’s a lot of fish being taken out of our waters. If this was done in a sustainable way, the impact wouldn’t be so dramatic. Unfortunately, overfishing is a real problem. This is when fish are caught at a rate faster than they can reproduce and it affects about ¾ of the world’s fish stocks. Bycatch is also a big problem. Bycatch is when unwanted marine life get caught in the nets and can include endangered fish, whales, dolphins, sea turtles, and even birds.
http://saveourseas.com/threats/overfishing
Much of the food we eat comes from farms, making them a really important part of our society. While some farming is done in a responsible and environmentally conscious way, the world’s demand for food is so high that concerns for the environment often fall to the wayside. In order to make fields ready to grow crops, the landscape has to go through significant changes, including the cutting down of trees and removing of plants. There is also the risk of chemicals from fertilizer entering rivers and ground water, and methane gas entering the atmosphere. Currently, about 26% of the world’s land has been converted for agriculture purposes.
http://www.conservation.org/learn/biodiversity/species/profiles/more_primates/threats/Pages/agriculture.aspx
Fires happen both in nature and by the hands of humans, but they aren’t necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes a fire is perfect for getting rid of dead or unhealthy trees and understory, and to promote new plant growth. They can even help with removing invasive species. However, when fires happen too often or are used in an irresponsible way, they can damage the ecosystem. In some cases, the use of fire in clearing land for agriculture can speed up the erosion process and significantly shrink forests.
http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/habitats/forests/howwework/maintaining-fires-natural-role.xml
http://www.conservation.org/learn/biodiversity/species/profiles/more_primates/threats/Pages/agriculture.aspx
We have burned fossil fuels, cut down forests and done some serious damage to our atmosphere. Now we are seeing the consequences of our actions. In recent years there have been some big changes to the climate and it is only expected to get more extreme in years to come. Temperatures have been warming in some areas and cooling in others. Water levels are rising in some parts of the world while others are suffering from drought. All of these changes are wreaking havoc on species. About 25% of mammals and 12% of birds may become extinct in the next few decades because the conditions of their habitats have changed and human development is blocking them from moving elsewhere.
http://www.conservation.org/learn/climate/Pages/climate_overview.aspx
Forests are great! They provide homes for many plants and animals, absorb carbon and give off oxygen, help to clean water and even preserve soils. Forests also provide the wood we use in our everyday life, like furniture and paper. When logging is done in a sustainable way, the environmental damage is minimal. However, up to 30% of the hardwood lumber and plywood traded around the world comes from suspicious sources. Illegal logging is destroying wildlife habitats vital to at risk species, even in protected areas.
http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/habitats/forests/howwework/threats-to-forests.xml
While these threats are serious, there is still hope for endangered species. If we take action to reduce our impact on the environment and properly manage our demand for resources, we can give these species a real chance at a comeback.
To see full list: http://www.zsl.org/conservation/news/the-100-most-threatened-species,997,NS.html
When you are off exploring the great outdoors you may be lucky enough to hear a beautiful tune coming from a songbird. Earth Rangers has been working to protect one of these songbirds, the Wood thrush, but there are other musical birds that also need protection, like the Eastern loggerhead shrike (aka the ‘butcher bird’).
These migratory grassland songbirds have such a scary nickname, thanks to their aggressive hunting technique. Eastern loggerhead shrikes impale their dead prey on branches, thorns, or barbed wire before eating them!
By 1997 Eastern loggerhead shrike populations had dropped to just 18 known breeding pairs in Canada. The decline could be caused by fragmentation and loss of their grassland habitat, pesticide use, severe weather, West Nile Virus, and being hit by cars. We were at risk of losing the Eastern loggerhead shrike forever so scientists at Wildlife Preservation Canada, working with the Shrike Recovery Team, stepped in and started a captive breeding and reintroduction program to save this incredible songbird.
In 1997 and 1998 scientists collected 43 nestlings from the nests of wild breeding pairs in Ontario to start a captive breeding population as a safety net against their extinction in the wild. Since these captive-bred birds were so important for saving their species they received the best care possible. They were provided with daily food, regular checkups and a home similar to their habitat in the wild. By 2001 the captive population had grown to 100 breeding adults, and scientists decided it was time to release captive-raised juveniles back into the wild. This first generation of captive-bred nestlings received care from their parents and specially trained biologists in large outdoor field aviaries.
To prepare these birds to be released into the wild they are given live food, such as mice, and perches and branches inside their enclosures to practice impaling their prey. For the next 11 years, each summer as many as 100 or more juvenile shrikes have been released into their native habitats at 54-77 days old. All this care and attention has paid off; by 2012, 663 juvenile Eastern loggerhead shrikes had been released into the wild!
Once released, scientists wanted to make sure these Eastern loggerhead shrikes went on to live happy songbird lives so they decided to follow them. It’s tough trying to keep up with a flying songbird, so, in 2007 and 2008, scientists used radio telemetry to follow them. They discovered that after being released these songbirds traveled an average of 4.2 km from their outdoor enclosures to local grasslands and fields. Around 75% of the released birds survived through the summer and went on to migrate south for the winter. And, many of released shrikes come home! Scientists found that 34 of the released shrikes have returned to Ontario, paired with wild shrikes, and laid their own eggs! These birds and the amazing scientists that work with them have helped make this conservation success story possible as the wild population of Eastern loggerhead shrikes has been saved from extinction, so far.
About 10,000 species of birds have been described, with 12% facing the threat of extinction. Of the 699 re-introduction programs for birds, migratory songbird re-introductions are the most rare, which is something we may have to change as increasingly these amazing birds are in need of our help. Conservationists who work in this field know how important these projects are; just ask Earth Rangers Science Advisor, Dr. Scott: “I have been doing research on birds for nearly 20 years and have seen how critically important hands-on conservation action programs like species re-introductions are for us to bring back the wild.”
References:
In nature, the very small can have a very big ecological role to play. In this article, we look at the effect that climate change has on lichen and plankton. Lichen and plankton may seem insignificant but they are vital components of the food web, and serve as examples of how climate change can be devastating to species in the Arctic ecosystem.
Lichens are a unique and fascinating combination of fungus and another organism that goes through photosynthesis (called photobionts), usually algae or cyanobacteria. These organisms work together to form what is known as a symbiotic relationship, which is where both parties benefit from working together. In this case, the photobiont produces sugars through photosynthesis (just like leaves on trees!), which provides the fungus with a food source, and the fungus produces nutrients that benefit the photobiont. Thanks to this relationship, lichen can be found in a wide variety of habitats, including on the trunks of trees or leaves in moist forests, on fallen logs, bare rocks, or on soil. Lichen also thrives in some of the most extreme conditions, including hot, dry deserts and the frigid cold Arctic tundra.
During the winter, food is often scarce on the Arctic tundra. The presence of hardy organisms like lichen can mean the difference between surviving and starving for large mammals like caribou. Being the primary food source for large migratory caribou herds in North America, lichen can become depleted quickly. As long as the conditions are correct, the lichen can grow back and provide caribou with food for another winter. Unfortunately, when climate change is added to the mix, it’s a different story.
Climate change is causing the Arctic to warm up and dry out, making it more difficult for Tundra lichen to grow back for the winter. This critical winter food source for large migratory caribou is disappearing, which could lead to population declines in the future. Who would have thought that climate change could impact large animals like caribou by hurting the tiny lichen that caribou eat?
In 1989, sea level pressure in the Arctic dropped sharply. When sea level pressure changes like this, it can cause a change in the flow of air and water. Warmer, more salty water from the North Atlantic Ocean started flowing into the Arctic Ocean. This wouldn’t have been too bad, except that at the same time there were also significant changes to the climate. Permafrost, snow and ice were all melting at a faster rate than before and there was an increase in precipitation. Eventually all this water made its way to the Arctic Ocean, causing an even more dramatic change in the water flow. The warm salty water was coming up from the south, and the cold, less salty water was pushed down from the north.
These major changes to the environment meant that species living in the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans have had to adapt or move if they want to survive. Take plankton for example. Studies have shown that plankton found in the Boreal regions have travelled south, while subtropical and temperate plankton have moved north. Not wanting to miss a meal, Boreal fish species have followed the northern plankton species south, and subtropical and temperate fish species caught up with their plankton in northern waters.
This movement of plankton and fish might not seem important, but it can really impact the ecological marine food web. For species living in the Arctic that can’t easily move south, and/or need specific animal prey to satisfy their diets, the southern migration of these fish can leave them without food.
Understanding how climate change is impacting environments has taken many years of scientific study, and many more are still needed. The Arctic, like most ecological environments, is a highly resilient yet sensitive ecosystem. What seems like small changes to the food web can have major impacts for many Arctic species. As key species disappear, predators need to switch to other prey or starve.
As we continue making positive changes in our lives that reduce how we impact habitats around us and the habitats far away from us (like the Arctic), we can help offset the effects of climate change. Living in the Arctic is hard enough already, let’s give these species something less to worry about. Earth Rangers, kids just like you, and our various conservation partners keep working to help save animals. Together we ARE bringing back the wild!
Sources:
http://www.unis.no/sios/app%203%20sea%20observatories.pdf
http://www.thebls.org.uk/about-lichens/what-is-a-lichen
http://septentrio.uit.no/index.php/rangifer/article/viewFile/345/336
http://www.esajournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1890/07-0550.1
At Earth Rangers, we always talk about how important it is to spread the word about protecting animals and their homes. The more people know about the challenges faced by animals, the more they can do to help make a difference. Super Ranger Elijah agrees. In fact, the goal for the website he runs is to inspire people to take action. Here is his story!
My name is Elijah and I am nine years old. I like many things, especially swimming, but more than anything, I like nature. I’ve liked it since I was seven and I even went vegetarian for a while. I try super hard to be nature friendly. I thought maybe I could convince other people to be nature friendly too.
I created a website called Nature’s Pandemonium. It’s a place for kids to find campaigns and petitions, hilarious cartoons and eco tips from the experts. It’s been providing guidance for kids to help the environment or community for almost two years! I couldn’t have built the website without my dad, who showed me how the software works.
I decided to include a link to Earth Rangers on my website because I find they share their ecological knowledge in fun ways for kids. For example, their games are very fun yet still teaching kids about the environment. That will make kids want to learn more about the environment and maybe they will try and make their own website.
I believe everybody should respect animals. Just because they’re smaller than you doesn’t mean you can take advantage of them! That’s actually part of the reason I became a vegetarian.
My motto is, “Karma will pay you back for helping animals.”
We love hearing stories like Elijah’s. We think it’s important for people everywhere to take a page from Elijah’s book – get out there, take action and make a difference!
The Arctic Ocean is filled with amazing creatures that have the ability to survive in the coldest conditions. However, as the climate warms up and the sea ice melts, the Arctic Ocean can be a dangerous place for many arctic species, including narwhals.
Narwhals are medium sized whales that live in packs of two to ten individuals. They are best known for the massive ivory tusk, which can grow to 150 cm to 267 cm long! They also happen to be one of the most sensitive Arctic marine mammals to climate change.
The dramatic temperature swings caused by climate change not only lead to sea ice loss but also flash freezing. In some cases, a herd of narwhals will come up for air through tunnels in the ice, only to have the tunnels freeze shut behind them. The narwhals become stranded and are at a higher risk of being hunted by humans for their prized tusk.
Getting trapped in the ice isn’t the only issue narwhals face due to climate change. As the ice continues to melt, human presence increases. This means more hunting and development in the narwhal’s habitat, along with more boat activity as shipping and oil exploration increase.
Sources:
http://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/virtual_sara/files/cosewic/sr_narwhal_e.pdf
http://www.arkive.org/narwhal/monodon-monoceros/
http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/13704/0
Frogs are amazing. They are excellent indicators of the quality of their environment. They go from living completely underwater to an animal that breathes air. There are so many fascinating qualities! In this top ten, we’ve collected some of our favourite frog facts that you might not have known. Check out the list below to learn a little more about our froggy friends.
They are found on every continent except Antarctica.
You can count these rings to find out the frog’s age.
Some can jump even higher!
The colourful skin of many tropical frogs acts as a warning to predators that these frogs are poisonous.
The name comes from the Greek word Herpeton which means “something that crawls”.
A frog’s ear is called tympanum and it is located just behind the eye. If the tympanum is larger than the frog’s eye, it is male; if it is smaller, it is female.
Most frogs moult once a week but some will do it every day! Once the old skin has been pulled off, the frog usually eats it!
Each frog species has a distinct croak. They have vocal sacs, which fill with air, and can amplify the sound up to a mile away!
Frogs swallow using their eyes; its eyes retract into its head and help push the food down its throat.
Frogs have permeable skin, which means liquids and gases can pass through it. There is a bad side to having permeable skin, though. Frogs are at risk of absorbing whatever pollutions are in the water and air, and they can easily get dehydrated if they are away from water for too long.
Sources:
Michael E. Dorcas, Whit Gibbons (2011) Frogs: The Animal Answer Guide. JHU Press. Page 80
http://www.defenders.org/frogs/basic-facts
http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/upcoming-exhibitions/frogs-a-chorus-of-colors/frog-fun-facts
http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/science/2011/06/14-fun-facts-about-frogs/
Join Earth Ranger Emma as she travels the world on a quest to solve some of nature’s greatest mysteries! With top ten countdowns, animal guessing games and epic animal showdowns, this is a journey you won’t want to miss!
Frogs and toads have a lot in common. They are both members of the order Anura, they both reproduce in water, and they even look alike. It can be pretty easy to get them mixed up. Here are some hints to help you tell frogs (family Ranidae) and toads (family Bufonidae) apart.
Sources:
http://news.psu.edu/story/141230/2010/03/23/research/probing-question-whats-difference-between-frogs-and-toads
http://www.arc-trust.org/advice/FAQs/frogs_and_toads/difference.php
Michael E. Dorcas and J. Whitfield Gibbons. Frogs and Toads of the Southeast. University of Georgia Press, 2008: Page 7
Not everyone has been won over by the frogs of the world; some people still vote for soft and fluffy species, like Koala bears, as their favourite animal. As much as we adore Koalas, frogs need a lot more appreciation, after all, they are really important animals and here’s why.
Frogs have skin that is permeable, which means things can pass through it. This allows them to both breath and drink through their skin. It also means that anything in the environment is really easy for them to absorb. If an environment is contaminated with things like pollutants their health will really be affected. They also live on both land and in the water, which exposes them to two different environments. Thanks to their permeable skin and duel life on and off land frogs are the go to species to figure out how an ecosystem is doing. Scientists often look at frog populations in order to figure out how healthy, or unhealthy an environment is.
Throughout the lifecycle of a frog they play an important role in the food chain as both predators and prey. This means that taking them out of the mix has a really big impact on lots of other animals. As tadpoles they feed on algae, which helps to keep the water clean. Once full-grown frogs feed on lots of insects, which helps to control bug populations. When frogs aren’t busy eating things they are being eaten, serving as a tasty meal for tons of animals like fish, snakes and birds.
Frogs are really important and it’s up to us to help protect them, you can take action by:
We love hearing inspirational stories about kids who are going above and beyond to protect animals. Not only have these two brothers done an amazing job fundraising for the American Badger and the Polar bear, but Caelen and Grayson have also done some animal saving in their own community. It’s clear that these boys are passionate about animals and we are proud to have them as Super Rangers!
When Caelen and Grayson spotted a star nosed mole that had fallen into a pool, they rescued it, nursed it back to health and successfully released it back into the wild.
They also saved an injured painted turtle from the side of the road, after the turtle’s home had been destroyed by the development of a new subdivision.
When they found a stray cat in a garbage bin, Caelen and Grayson called the local animal rescue shelter. It turns out the cat was the mom to a litter of kittens, and all were rescued thanks to Caelen and Grayson’s belief in helping animals in need. Thanks to tips provided by these animal loving brothers, the animal rescue shelter has found five additional stray cats, all of whom have now been adopted.
After reading about all the work they’ve done for animals around their neighbourhood, it probably isn’t a surprise that Caelen and Grayson took fundraising for the Polar bear and American badger to heart.
These dedicated boys decided donation boxes were the best way to reach the most people and spread news about the animals they wanted to protect. They set up boxes at school, and even their mom and dad’s workplaces.
Caelen and Grayson also reached out to the animal rescue agencies that had caught the stray cats. The agencies were more than generous in helping these two boys who have an amazing love for animals.
© 2025 | Earth Rangers is a registered charity: 8922 00528 RR0001 | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Contact Us
