Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens’ Post

🐎 40 Przewalski's horses are on their way to the Kazakhstan Steppe! Did you know that Przewalski's horses are the only truly wild horse species left in the world? They were once declared extinct in the wild due to overhunting and habitat loss, but successful breeding programs in zoos and wildlife parks around the world have allowed for their reintroduction into their natural habitats. Conservation efforts for Przewalski's horses continue to be crucial as they face challenges such as loss of genetic diversity, disease, and competition with livestock for resources. Their survival is an important part of biodiversity and offers valuable insights into the preservation of endangered species worldwide. Check out this article to learn more about the reintroduction efforts! "Prague Zoo said on Tuesday, March 5, it would transport eight endangered wild horses to a Kazakhstan steppe in June in a joint project with the Tierpark Berlin Zoo. The zoos are planning to take at least 40 Przewalski's horses to roam free in the Altyn Dala (Golden Steppe) area in central Kazakhstan in the next five years." Horses are an important species to help disrupt vegetation cycles and drive complexity in the landscape. #przewalskisHorse #rewilding #naturerecovery #endangeredspecies #biodiversity

Captive CON$ervation “4 things we need to stop telling ourselves about animals in zoos. Are zoos really educational? Do zoos focus on conservation? And are the animals in zoos happy?” Animals Australia: February 22, 2024 “Since the eye-opening documentary ‘Blackfish’ hit screens, the world has woken up to the cruelty of keeping marine animals, like Tilikum, confined to tanks. But what about other animals in captivity? We hear a lot of things to justify keeping animals in zoos. But are these justifications based on fact, or are they simply what zoos would have us believe? Whilst some zoos may contribute in small ways to conservation projects, the vast majority of animals in zoos are not on the endangered species list, and the ones who are will likely never be rehabilitated to their natural habitat. Former zoo director David Hancocks estimates that less than 3% of a zoo’s budget goes to conservation, while the majority goes towards “hi-tech exhibits and marketing efforts to lure visitors.” Complete Story: https://lnkd.in/gX7BHyek #TheConservationGameMovie #captiveconservation

Bearded Vulture Nestflix: S01E07 – We have an egg! Exciting news — we have an egg! The first sign that the bearded vultures had laid the first of potentially two eggs came when one of the pair, likely the female, spent her first night in the nest. Shortly afterwards, we observed one of the birds gently rotating the freshly laid egg (watch the video) — a crucial behaviour that prevents the embryo from adhering to the shell. Regularly rotating the egg also ensures healthy development by allowing the embryo access to fresh nutrients and oxygen. Typically, there's a five-day interval between laying the first and second eggs. Although the second egg serves as insurance, it seldom results in an additional chick reaching adulthood, though that's a topic for another day. Incubation for these eggs generally lasts between 54 and 56 days. During this period, one bird remains in the nest while the other ventures out searching for food, regularly trading incubation duties. If all proceeds as planned, we anticipate welcoming a new addition to this critically endangered species between 9-11 August. Tune into the Nestflix live stream on our website or YouTube, broadcasting daily from 08:00 to 17:00 (GMT 2). https://lnkd.in/dEs3JG6w https://lnkd.in/ddbiQFqc Science Based Ingredients Afraceuticals Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife BirdLife International Endangered Wildlife Trust Wildlife ACT Vulture Conservation Foundation 1% for the Planet South African National Parks (SANParks) Dane Poulsen Che'-Lee Parker Anthea Gilfillan Caitlin Gilfillan Quin Clark #Nestflix #BeardedVultureRecoveryProgramme #beardedvultureconservation #BeardedVulture #BeardedVultureBreedingProgramme

“The Captivity Trap – Looking Beyond Zoos, a Question of Morality” Are zoos misleading us about their real role? “Do they play a role in preserving endangered species? In 2013 only 23 percent of the species held by 10,000 zoos globally were judged to be at risk of extinction – so the vast majority in captivity were not there because their existence was threatened in the wild. Do zoos provide valuable educational opportunities? A survey of 2,800 schoolchildren visiting London Zoo found that only 34 percent demonstrated some sort of positive learning experience. A minority actually came away with more misunderstandings about animal species and habitats than they had previously held.    Zoos often exaggerate their contribution to valuable field conservation work – figures cited by Travers compared the 231million dollars annually spent by the American Zoo Association on field conservation work with the 4.9 billion dollars that they committed to operations and construction in 2018.” https://lnkd.in/g-Qqc7XJ #captiveconservation #nomorezoos #TheConservationGameMovie

Bearded Vulture Nestflix: S01E08 – Two Is Better Than One. In our last post, we celebrated the exciting news that the bearded vulture pair had laid the first of what we hoped would be two eggs this breeding season. Typically, the second egg is laid 5-6 days later, and last weekend, we finally got visual confirmation of this. While this is undoubtedly a reason to be optimistic about this year's breeding season, there's also a darker aspect to the second egg that we must consider. Laying two eggs does not guarantee that both chicks will hatch and survive to adulthood; the second egg is merely an insurance policy. In fact, only one chick will inevitably survive. In large raptors, including bearded vultures, a phenomenon known as 'cainism' - a reference to the biblical story of Cain and Abel - often occurs, where the older, stronger chick kills its younger sibling to eliminate competition for resources. This could be considered a micro-level tragedy, particularly for a critically endangered bird species with fewer than 400 individuals remaining. However, on a macroevolutionary scale, this behaviour increases the likelihood of the surviving chick thriving and reaching adulthood, thereby ensuring the continuation of the species. The question now becomes: What responsibilities do we, as conservationists, have? How deeply should we involve ourselves in this bird species' natural life and death cycle, which has repeated countless times over thousands of years? Should we remain mere observers, watching this micro-tragedy unfold as so many others do daily in nature, or should we intervene directly to increase the species' chances of survival? I will leave that question to be answered by those far more knowledgeable and experienced than I am. More on that next week. Tune into the Nestflix live stream on our website or YouTube, broadcasting daily from 08:00 to 17:00 (GMT 2). https://lnkd.in/dEs3JG6w https://lnkd.in/ddbiQFqc Science Based Ingredients Afraceuticals Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife BirdLife South Africa BirdLife International Endangered Wildlife Trust Wildlife ACT Vulture Conservation Foundation 1% for the Planet South African National Parks (SANParks) Dane Poulsen Che'-Lee Parker Anthea Gilfillan Caitlin Gilfillan Quin Clark #Nestflix #BeardedVultureRecoveryProgramme #beardedvultureconservation #BeardedVulture #BeardedVultureBreedingProgramme

“Captive Conservation ” Is it time to break with colonial legacy of zoos? Published in 2016, but remains a relevant and compelling discussion today: “Menageries of the 19th century brought exotic animals (and people) to Western society – as do many zoos today. The shooting of Harambe the gorilla at the Cincinnati Zoo has reignited debate about how to properly care for and conserve zoo animals. Several petitions have been created on Change.org, seeking some form of justice for Harambe. Given the conservation mission of the modern zoo, there is much discussion about how we might make zoos better to prevent an event like the one that led to Harambe’s death.” “Zoo visitors have learned the rules of the game – animals are enclosed, not caged; animals are in the enclosure, people are not. Exotic places, animals and people are neatly represented in essential ways. The desire to conform the world to one of our own narration is an articulation of the colonial project.” “But what if the entire premise of zoos is to blame? Instead of seeking justice for Harambe, or improving zoo policies or exhibit design, we should first ask what, precisely, are we conserving in zoos? In my view, we are perpetuating an outmoded worldview rooted in colonialism.” Complete Article: https://lnkd.in/gUcYaSmw

🦅 The White Tailed Eagle 🦅 ⏳ The White-Tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) was once a common site in the UK until the 20th Century. They were completely wiped out following an intense period of persecution, in the 1970s efforts to #restore this magnificent bird began. 💪 By the early 2000s, Scotland had over 50 breeding pairs and the species was declared officially re-established. ✅ The last known breeding pair in Wales was lost in the 1830s. There is hope from the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust that a viable breeding population can be returned to Wales where they have a great historical significance in Welsh mythology. ❗ Key Facts: 1️⃣ Their name comes from their white tails, they are known as sea eagles or 'Eryr y môr' in Welsh. 2️⃣ They are the UK's largest bird, with a wingspan of up to 2.5m, they are sometimes described as the 'flying barn door' 3️⃣ Some pairs kill many Fulmars, which are thought to be the source of DDT and PCBs recorded in eagle eggs. 4️⃣ Their main habitats are: upland, marine and intertidal, farmland and wetland 5️⃣ Driven to extinction in the UK by 1916, white-tailed eagles are now found in Scotland, Ireland and southern England thanks to #reintroduction projects. 🦅 Wouldn't it be great to see their numbers restored and taking to our skies once more? #Conservation #Biodiveristy #RestoringLostSpecies #Rewilding To find out more: https://lnkd.in/eWpHZgr5  

Does Twycross Zoo have Capybaras https://lnkd.in/g4g7rVMt Find out if Twycross Zoo is home to capybaras! In this article, we uncover the truth and reveal the fascinating history, habitat, feeding habits, breeding program, and conservation efforts of these adorable creatures. Read on to satisfy your curiosity about Twycross Zoo and its capybaras!

I often talk to you about the Bengal tiger in India 🇮🇳… but do you know about the Sumatran tiger? The Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) is a subspecies of tiger endemic to the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. It is the smallest of the existing tigers, but despite its modest size, it is just as powerful and majestic as its larger cousins. Characteristics of the Sumatran tiger: Size and Weight: Males measure between 2.20 and 2.55 meters in length (including the tail) and weigh between 100 and 140 kg. Females are smaller, measuring between 2.15 and 2.30 meters and weighing between 75 and 110 kg. Coat: Their coat is darker than that of other subspecies, with narrower and closer-set stripes. This coloration and pattern are adapted to the dense jungles of Sumatra, providing effective camouflage. Habitat: They primarily inhabit the tropical forests, swamps, and grasslands of Sumatra. Conservation efforts are underway to save this subspecies, including habitat protection measures, anti-poaching initiatives, and captive breeding programs. In summary, the Sumatran tiger is a powerful symbol of Sumatra’s unique biodiversity and the urgency of wildlife conservation worldwide. @_planettiger_ #safariwithplanettiger #sumatrantiger #sumatratiger #tigerphotos #tigerphotography #tiger #endangeredspecies #endangeredtigers #endangeredwildlife #wildlife #ongplanettiger #animalsofinstagram #animalsonearth #animalsoftheworld #animalsphotography #bigcatsphotography #bigcatsofinstagram #bigcats