Not Naked, But Still Afraid: Shark Valley

Sometimes, the things we fear the most are the least of our problems. It's the unexpected things that cause the most damage. Such was the case on a bicycling trip to the Florida Everglades that my husband and I naively embarked on April 25th. Don't get me wrong. This is a wonderful place to visit. It's the only such ecosystem in the whole world. Go visit in the winter unless you're in really great shape, up to the challenge or Survivor Man. Take this post as a "what not to do" example. I would do it again... in the winter that is.

Mile 0:

We started out early morning excited and ready for a 15 mile bike ride at one of the four visitor centers of Everglades National Park known as Shark Valley. The park is a paved loop into and out of the swamp. We pretty much knew that if we didn't do it this day, we would have to leave the ride for next winter/early spring season. The scorching heat makes it pretty unbearable in the summer. Everything started out ideally with a bright day and a nice breeze blowing towards us. We were prepared with plenty of water, mosquito repellent, sunscreen, a lets do it attitude and surrounded by plenty of other cyclists as the journey began. As soon as we pedaled away from the visitor's center the excitement started. Immediately, we spotted alligators, slithering snakes, hawks, giant snails and water birds! Photographers with two foot lenses clicked away at close-ups of the gators. I guessed they weren't aware that they can sprint at about 30 miles an hour for short distances. 

Mile 2:
The further we rode, the more people we left behind until we were pretty much alone. At one point in the middle of the solitude, we ran into a handful of German tourists going in the opposite direction. They probably started the loop on the other end. Their fuchsia colored skins were glistening with sweat and looked like they were about to burst into flames. With glassy eyes focusing forward, they weren't smiling. I brushed it off thinking they just weren't used to Miami heat or exercise. Onward and forward we continued.

Happy go lucky before we knew what was in store for us.

Baby Alligators basking on a rock.

Slithering snake

Mile 4:

I start worrying about my husband. He's not used to cardio and he's looking winded and starting to sweat... A LOT. I keep nagging him to drink water and make excuses to stop when I see a patch of shade. Miami decided to break a temperature record today. It was somewhere in the mid 90's with a heat index probably of 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

Mile 5.5:

Wait, could it be?! I think I see the tower at the halfway point of the loop. It's so far that I can cover it with the tip of my thumb. I ask my husband if he could see it, but he's blinded by the sweat in his eyes. The breeze is still with us, but now it feels more like someone pointing a hot blow dryer in my face.

Mile 7.5:

Finally, we arrive at the base of the tower which is looking like the monolith from "2001: A Space Odyssey" in contrast to the surrounding vast flatness. I'm feeling a bit delirious and I'm imagining that I can hear "Also Sprach Zarathustra" playing from the building. We are both a sweaty mess and looking forward to sitting in the tower while we catch our breath and cool off with the rest of the poor souls that have reached this point. The heat has been brutal and I've been rationing my drinking water because my husband seems like he needs it more. I'm hot, but I'm handling it. Unknowingly, this is when it all starts unraveling for me. As we park the bikes, my husband yells "Take off your hat! You have a huge wasp on it!" I flung the hat across the walkway never actually seeing the wasp except for a large shadowy mass that flew past my leg. This was an omen.

The Tower:

"Oh, this is so pretty!", I'm saying as we walk up a ramp overlooking a lagoon full of rare Florida orchids, blue herons and more alligators. Several park rangers were trimming the vegetation at the facility dressed in long pants, long sleeved shirts and broad rim hats pulled down almost to their eyebrows. Casually, they are having a conversation when we hear "not even mosquito repellent works, they'll bite right through your clothes". As soon as the ominous words register in my brain, the onslaught begins. Flies... biting flies the size of hornets are buzzing us with proboscises like hummingbird beaks. They smack into us just trying to find the opportunity to sink their pinchers into our skin and take some of our precious blood. I look at my husband and his sweaty head seems to be a beacon. It's surrounded by a black swirling mass that barely budges as he tries to swat them off. The last time I could remember being in a similarly terrifying situation was in the jungles of the Yucatan searching for Mayan ruins. My fear of biting insects is well justified as those who know me are aware that I tend to attract them like honey to bears. I take off screaming and running up the spiral ramp towards the top of the tower hoping that the elevation and wind would provide a safe harbor. Unrecovered from the exhaustion, I can feel my body temperature climbing and my heart pounding in my head and ears as I sprint. My husband unable to run from a torn ligament in his ankle had to endure the torture. Three quarters up the ramp the torment stops. It's time to recover and devise a plan for escape.

Florida Alligator cooling off.

Blue Heron fishing.

The Escape:

On the overlook, I still can't see where we originated our trip. All I see is a never-ending flat expanse of grass and water dotted occasionally with islands of shrubs and trees. It looks like nothingness, but don't kid yourself. It's teaming with life. This is the "River of Grass" as the environmentalist and champion of the Florida Everglades, Marjory Stoneman Douglas dubbed it. I think of the Native Americans that lived near these areas and the hardships they learned to live with. If I was sent here for an episode of Discovery Channel's "Naked and Afraid", I would have tapped out in the first 5 minutes.

A hot mess on the tower overlook.

The clouds were starting to darken on the horizon and we felt the need to leave before getting caught in thunderstorms. We still had 7.5 miles to ride back. The escape plan didn't involve much strategy. It basically consisted of running to the bicycles and peddling swiftly, hopefully outrunning the flies. Vultures were hanging around the bike racks probably waiting for someone to drop from the blood loss; I didn't find it amusing. So, I jumped on my bike and peddled as fast as I could leaving my husband behind. It was each man for themselves at this point, but just when I thought I was safe... the flies were back. The wind had died down leaving my scent close to my body and this time they crashed into my ears, neck, and back. My only defense was to use my cap as a continuous fly swatter for the remaining seven miles. Nothing was going to slow me down, not the view, not the heat, not my husbands foot, nothing! The goal was to make it to the visitor's center PRONTO! The only thing that momentarily distracted me from my aim were two Japanese women I came across. They were cutely dressed, looking fresh, peddling leisurely, enjoying the scenery and not a single fly on them. I rocketed right past them in disbelief, envy and disgust.

Vulture waiting by the bike racks.

Finally, we arrived back at the visitor's center. My sense of relief was immense and I quietly thanked a pantheon of gods. Making a bee-line to the air-conditioned gift shop, I could have kissed the floor! In the end, we looked worse than the German tourists we ran into at the start of our journey and as we stumbled to the parking lot, back by our car... more vultures waited.

Beautiful flower among the terror.

Disclaimer: Please don't let our experience dissuade you from visiting Shark Valley. My recommendation once again is to visit in the winter when it's cool. More animals are visible and insects are almost nonexistent. You can ride bikes, hike, or even take an open tram tour through the park. Check out the park website for more information at: http://www.nps.gov/ever/index.htm. After you're done, you can visit the Miccosukee Village, go for an airboat ride or try your luck at the Miccosukee Resort and Gaming Casino. 

We Are One: Happy Earth Day!!

Happy Earth Day!!

Today we come to the conclusion of the "We Are One" photographic series for conservation awareness with a mosaic of our planet created by the published photographs.

As I'm writing this, I'm listening to the weather news for April 20th, 2015 in Miami, Florida. The temperature was a record 92 degrees Fahrenheit (33.3 C) for this time of year. We seem to have skipped spring and headed full throttle into summer. At the same time another one of many cold fronts this year is forecast to hit the northern east coast of the United States and California is struggling with severe drought. Our weather is erratic to say the least. Greenhouse gases are at a record high and the melting glaciers and permafrost only serve to release more methane. The drone of deniers of science facts continues to assert paralysis over action while time ticks by. We send spacecrafts to find life on other planets when we can't seem to take care of life on our own.

Maybe it's time to change how we view Earth. It's not just a rock with water in space that creatures live on. It's a living, breathing organism just like a body made up of cells, except in this case the cells are life forms. The erratic weather and geological changes are symptoms and compensations due to illness. The survival of the organism is dependent on the cells being healthy and interacting in a symbiotic nature.

As humans, we are in a privileged position to be able to reason and manipulate our environment. We can argue all we want whether climate change is man-made of just part of a cycle, but it really doesn't matter. What matters is that we come together as a species to find solutions to avoid making the situation worse and hopefully turn the tide.

For more information on the threatened wildlife presented in this series you can visit the website for the World Wildlife Fund. They do a great job explaining "Why They Matter" to the environment, plants and other creatures (including us) on their species specific pages.

Want to learn more about green life and what you can do? Check out:
http://www.un.org/en/events/motherearthday/
http://www2.epa.gov/earthday
http://www.earthday.org

Sources:
Planet Earth image with creative commons license downloaded from: http://www.nasa.gov/connect/artspace/participate/royalty_free_resources.html#useof

We Are One: Vanishing Eastern Black Rhinos

The Black Rhino has suffered a drastic population decline from about 850,000 in the 20th century to 5,055 individuals in 2013. Three out of four subspecies remain with the Eastern Black Rhino being the most endangered at only 740 animals at last count in 2011. The major cause of this decline is illegal poaching for Rhino horns which are sought after for traditional Chinese medicine and dagger handles in Yemen. Sadly, the coveted horn is made out of nothing more than keratin, the same substance that makes up our nails and hair.

Black Rhinos can be distinguished from other rhinos by their prehensile upper lip in the shape of a "V" that allows them to grasp leaves to eat. They also have two horns while other species of rhinos have only one.

Conservation Status: Critically Endangered
Habitat: Highland forests and savannas of Kenya. Prior to 2010, they also inhabited Ethiopia, Somalia and Tanzania. Their populations have been decreased by 90% over the last 30 years.
Threats: Illegal Poaching is their number one threat followed by habitat loss. Most live in preserves.

Watch the story of the last male White Rhinoceros. With his horns already ground down as a deterrent to poachers, he is still heavily guarded by armed rangers to prevent his demise. The rangers face considerable danger as poachers have been know to kill them as well. https://youtu.be/8r0LyKaf0JU

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_black_rhinoceros
http://www.arkive.org/black-rhinoceros/diceros-bicornis/
http://www.rhinos.org/rhinos/black-rhino
http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/6557/0

We Are One: Mischievous Asian Small-Clawed Otter

The Asian Small-Clawed Otter is smallest of all otters, but still packs a huge load of charisma. These playful little charmers can keep anyone entertained for hours.

Besides their size, they differ from other otters by only having partial webbing on their paws and very short claws that allow for better dexterity. This comes in handy since unlike other otters, they catch their prey with their paws instead of their mouths.

They are monogamous and live in extended families of up to twelve individuals. Being very social, they use various ways to communicate that include vocalizations, marking territory with scent glands, tactile behaviors such as grooming and making sign heaps which are mounds made up of mud, grasses and pebbles that serve to alert that "an otter lives nearby".

Conservation Status: Vulnerable
Habitat: Freshwater swamps, river, mangroves, estuaries, and rice fields of north-western and south-western India, Southern China, Malay Peninsula Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Riau Archipelago (Indonesia), and Palawan Island in the Philippines.
Threats: Most significant is habitat loss followed by hunting and pollution.

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriental_small-clawed_otter
http://www.arkive.org/asian-short-clawed-otter/aonyx-cinerea/

We Are One: All About Pride, The Lion

Second only to the tiger in size, this big cat has awed humans and has been recorded in history since cave drawings of the Neanderthals.

They are the most social of all big cats and form groups called prides that revolve around related lionesses. Lionesses do most of the hunting in coordinated groups. They are lighter and more agile than the males and males can overheat more easily because of their manes.

The mane serves several purposes though. First, it makes the lion look larger and more intimidating to their enemies, secondly, it protects their necks when fighting other lions, and lastly it plays a role in attracting females. Thicker and darker manes are a sign of good health and higher testosterone levels.

Conservation Status: Vulnerable
Habitat: Sub-Saharan Africa, and about 360 inhabit the Gir Forest of western India. They used to exist in North Africa, parts of the Middle East and Eurasia.
Threats: Habitat loss due to human settlement, cattle farming, hunting or poisoning by cattle ranchers that see them as threats to their herds.

Sources:
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lion
http://www.arkive.org/lion/panthera-leo/

We Are One: Whoo-Hoo is the Great Horned Owl

There is nothing more cliché than the "Whoo-hoo-o-o, Whoo" call of the night in a Hollywood thriller movie, but it really isn't so far-fetched. The call is probably from the Great Horned Owl, a nocturnal raptor of great range and varied habitat throughout North and South America.

True to their name, they have the appearance of horns on their heads which are just really feather tuffs. Their eyes are almost the size of an adult human, but they are stationary. The bird must instead turn his head which is capable of rotating a full 270 degrees. The wing spans of these creatures run about three to five feet making it a formidable predator of small and mid-size mammals.

This photograph was taken in Ketchikan, Alaska at a raptor rescue center.

Conservation Status: Least Concern
Habitat: From the arctic tree line in North America to rainforests in South America.
Threats: The Horned Owl is protected in the United States. Threats include agricultural pesticides, and collisions with traffic and electrical wires.

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_horned_owl
http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/indiana/journeywithnature/the-great-horned-owl.xml
http://www.arkive.org/great-horned-owl/bubo-virginianus/

We Are One: King of the Swing, The Lar Gibbon

The Lar Gibbon also known as the White-Handed Gibbon is a primate whose color can range from sandy to black except for white fur on the hands, feet and a ring surrounding a black face.

Theses gibbons live in the canopies of the forests rarely ever coming down, but when they do they walk on two legs keeping their long arms above the head for balance. In the canopies they are the kings of the swing as they travel from branch to branch!

Mostly monogamous in their social structure, they are known for their vocalizations that reverberate throughout the rainforest.

Recently a video went viral of a Lar Gibbon taking a walk. You can watch him strut here!: https://youtu.be/xp9k1rc4_pE
Click here to catch them in swing action and singing in the canopies!: https://youtu.be/1-_4gMuFCqU

Conservation Status: Endangered
Habitat: Tropical rainforests of southern and Southeastern Asia (China, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia).
Threats: Hunting for bushmeat and habitat destruction though logging, development and agriculture.

Sources:http://www.arkive.org/white-handed-gibbon/hylobates-lar/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lar_gibbon

We Are One: Mythological Beauty, The Okapi

Some may say that the mythological Unicorn is the epitome of ethereal beauty and grace, but I beg to differ. Such beauty can be found on Earth in the Okapi.

Looking like a mix between a giraffe and a zebra, this gentle creature is related only to the giraffe. Their necks are shorter, but they still have an impressively long prehensile bluish tongue used to pick tree leaves and wipe their eyes and ears.

Okapis tend to be solitary and shy animals needing large and secluded areas to live. Scent glands by their hooves secrete a tar-like substance to help mark their territories.

Other Okapi fun facts:
Their skin secretes oil that covers the fur to keep them dry in the rainforest.
Baby Okapi calves do not have a bowel movement until they are 1 - 2 months old to prevent alerting predators such as leopards with their scent.

Conservation Status: Endangered. The population has been estimated to have been reduced by 25% in the last decade.
Habitat: Mountain rainforests of the Democratic Republic of Congo
Threats: Habitat destruction, poaching, and war.

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okapi
http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/15188/0
http://www.funzoomiami.org/Animals/AllRegions/Mammals/Okapi

We Are One: The Thinker, Chimpanzee

A thunderous boom and a group of people run out of the chimpanzee viewing cave at Zoo Miami. The thud was so strong I felt it in my chest. The cause was a male chimpanzee posturing and scaring the viewing crowd. I ran towards the cave to get a look, but he had taken off to cause some additional commotion in another area of his enclosure. With the male gone, a female quietly appropriated his corner by the glass to keep out of the hot sun. She is seen in this photograph resembling the thinker and seemingly contemplating life.

There are two species, the common chimpanzee and the bonobos which are the closest relatives to humans sharing 99% of our DNA. These intelligent apes can use tools, cooperate in hunting, are capable of deception, manipulation, use symbols, understand some human language, plan future events and display behaviors associated with emotions.

Conservation Status: Endangered
Habitat: Moist and dry forests of the Congo Basin
Threats: Poaching for bushmeat, diseases such as Ebola, illegal wildlife trade and habitat loss. Chimpanzees have already disappeared completely from four African countries.

Watch a chimpanzee use a tool to take down a drone and take a selfie: https://youtu.be/DDbyl_Q5-oE
Some more chimp antics from the Jane Goodall Institute: https://vimeo.com/janegoodallinst/chimp-outtakes

Sources:
http://news.sciencemag.org/plants-animals/2012/06/bonobos-join-chimps-closest-human-relatives
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chimpanzee
https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/chimpanzee
http://www.janegoodall.org/chimpanzees/fast-facts

We Are One: Affectionate Cockatiels

A member of the cockatoo family, these characters are endemic to Australia and populations are abundant. Cockatiels have made their way to second most popular pet bird after another native Australian parrot, the parakeet.

Distinctive for its crest and it's orange cheek patch they are quite social and their crests can express emotional state. When they are excited or startled the crest will be erect, when relaxed it's oblique and when angry they will pull it close to the head.

Conservation Status: Least Concern
Habitat: Australian wetlands, scrublands and bush lands
Threats: Currently they are not considered vulnerable, but in some parts of Australia they are killed due to crop-raiding. In other parts of Australia they are protected by law.

Sources:
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cockatiel
http://www.arkive.org/cockatiel/nymphicus-hollandicus/#src=portletV3api

We Are One: Caption This, The Western Lowland Gorilla

Caption this. What do you see, what do you feel? I saw a great ape irritated by the humans tapping on the glass and I also saw a child captivated by being close to an animal who's DNA is only 1.6% different than her own. Some ask why do we keep these animals in captivity? What role do zoos play in the quest for conservation?

I can attest that zoos are no longer the same facilities as when I was a child. The enclosures have no bars and enrichments are provided for psychological and physical well being. Many of these animals have been born in captivity and have never seen the wild. If they were returned, they would not have the skills to survive.

Zoos play a large role in field conservation for habitat and animals. They raise and donate financial, medical, educational and operational supplies for projects. Importantly, zoos educate and expose people to wildlife and conservation education therefore hopefuly touching enough of us with knowledge, compassion and eventually leading us to action.

Conservation Status: Critically Endangered
Habitat: Forests of the African Congo Basin
Threats: Deforestation, farming, grazing, poaching for bushmeat, medicinal and magical beliefs, war and disease (including Ebola) have diminished their numbers by 60% over the last 20 - 25 years.

Sources:
http://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/genetics
http://zoomiamiconservation.com/conservation-research-fund/
http://science.kqed.org/quest/2009/01/29/zoos-as-centers-for-conservation/

We Are One: The Bountiful, American White Ibis

One of the pleasures of living in Florida is coastal life and the abundance of various wetland ecosystems. For those of us that live here, I am sure the American White Ibis with it's distinctive curved bill is a somewhat frequent encounter. Even the University of Miami's mascot pays tribute to this waterbird.

There are 28 species of ibises throughout the world. In ancient Egypt the African Sacred Ibis was worshiped as the deity Thoth, an ibis-headed man who ruled over writing, math and magic.

The American White Ibis can be found in groups looking for food in mud and grasses. The ibises pictured above are not part of the Zoo Miami exhibit, but just visitors to the lakeside at the facility. 

Conservation Status: Least Concern
Habitat: Tropical mangroves, salt marshes, swamps, and forests ranging from Canada through South America.
Threats: Population is stable, but vulnerable to human disturbance while nesting and toxic pollutants that can cause eggshells to weaken.

Sources:
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibis
http://www.arkive.org/white-ibis/eudocimus-albus/

We Are One: Towering Giraffes

Standing as the tallest land animal, the giraffe looks like no other. It's long neck, legs and telltale patterned coat are it's distinguishing features. Interestingly enough, there are nine subspecies of giraffes and each have different coat patterns. Pictured above are the reticulated giraffes. Their long necks allow them to feed on the leaves of acacia trees where other animals cannot reach. Additionally, the giraffe's neck is a formidable 500 pound weapon. Males will fight for dominance in a battle of "necking". The prize... mating rights!

Conservation Status: Least Concern
Habitat: Arid and dry savannas south of the Sahara.
Threats: Poaching, habitat and acacia tree loss due to agriculture and population expansion.

Watch a violent "necking" fight in progress!:
http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/africa/videos/violent-giraffe-fight/

Sources:
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giraffe
http://www.awf.org/wildlife-conservation/giraffe

We Are One: Thriving, The American Alligator

Straight out of the Pleistocene epoch about 1.8 million years ago and to a Florida neighborhood backyard today, the American Alligator is living large. It wasn't always that way. There was a time that this reptile was endangered from hunting and recognized as such in 1967. With conservation efforts though, they were removed from the list in 1987.

American alligators are crocodilians, but not crocodiles which have narrow snouts in comparison. They are considered apex predators and play a major role in maintaining the wetland ecosystem. They create gator holes (nests) providing habitat and refuge for other animals and certain plants, they control populations of certain species and they provide protection to water birds by warding off other predators. In Florida, alligators serve as biological indicators for restoration success of the Everglades.

Did you know that alligators can use tools to hunt?! They have been know to balance twigs on their heads to attract birds with nesting materials and make snacks out of them.

Conservation Status: Least Concern
Habitat: Southeastern United States freshwater wetlands from Texas to North Carolina.
Threats: Saltwater intrusion into wetlands due to sea rise from climate change, warming of climate will produce only males (sex is temperature dependent) and in the Florida Everglades, Burmese pythons an invasive species compete for apex predator status with the alligator.

Check out this video on alligator tool use: https://youtu.be/3ul3zFk9jVE

Sources:
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_alligator
http://www.nps.gov/ever/learn/nature/burmesepythonsintro.htm

We Are One: Powerful Brown Bear

In my opinion, there is no other mammal that exemplifies the dangerous combination of power and primal instinct as the brown bear. Brown bears have faced regional extinctions such as in California and Mexico, but still are the most widely distributed bear species. There are several different subspecies of brown bear. In North America they include the Coastal Brown Bear, Grizzly and Kodiak. Bears living in coastal Alaska thrive on salmon and can weight up to 1500 pounds or more!

Dealing with bears is just another fact of life for Alaskans and the children are taught early in school how to avoid an attacks. Alaska is home to brown bears and black bears each requiring different approaches to survive an attack. Number one rule is to avoid and not surprise the bears. Best way to escape a brown bear attack is to play dead facedown while weaving your fingers together placed over your neck. In contrast, escaping a black bear attack requires you to fight with whatever you have. Hit the snout with a fist, or sticks or pepper spray to the face. Think twice about running or climbing a tree. Black bears are faster and better climbers.

The photograph above was taken at a refuge in Alaska, but I encountered several bears in the wild such as this mom and her cubs.

Conservation Status: Least Concern
Habitat: Principle ranges include forest and tundras of Russia, United States (mostly Alaska), Canada, Japan, Scandinavia and Central and Eastern Europe.
Threats: Habitat destruction and human persecution.

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_bear
Sweeney, M. S. (2009). National Geographic Complete Survival Manual. Washington D.C.: National Geographic.

We Are One: Mighty African Elephant

One of the first animals I became obsessed with as a child was the African elephant. The display in the Museum of Natural History in New York City would mesmerize me. The African Elephant is the largest land animal and weighing in at 11 pounds, has the largest brain of any land or sea mammal. Their intelligence is demonstrated by behaviors associated with grief, altruism, compassion, cooperation, self-awareness, memory, sense of humor, mimicry, art and tool use. Females are known to cooperate by taking turns babysitting other moms' infants. Furthermore, language is also a possibility, but not enough is known especially since some of the elephant vocalizations are not audible to humans.

Herds consisting of females and their calves are lead by a matriarch. Males after puberty leave the herd and roam with gangs of other young males. Adult males tend to roam alone.

Even though the trade of ivory was internationally banned in 1990, poaching continues. It was estimated that 23,000 African elephants were killed in 2013 by poachers and over 1,000 park rangers were killed while protecting the elephants.

Check out this experiment with an Asian elephant to test for "Theory of Mind", otherwise known as self-awareness: http://youtu.be/g5LfYHJWUtE

Conservation Status: Vulnerable
Habitat: Eastern, Southern, Central and West Africa in the dense forests, woodlands, scrub or deserts.
Threats: Poaching, habitat loss, and conflicts with humans.

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_elephant
https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/african-elephant
http://www.awf.org/wildlife-conservation/elephant
http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/12392/0

We Are One: Playful Juvenile Nyalas

Mostly active in the early mornings and evenings, the skittish Nyala prefers to remain hidden and with good reason. The antelope's list of natural predators is long and includes lions, leopards, Cape hunting dogs and for juveniles also includes baboons and raptors. Good thing that ewes usually conceive pretty early on at about 14 to 18 months of life.

Conservation Status: Least concern
Habitat: Dense woodlands and thickets along permanent water in Southern Africa.
Threats: Poaching, habitat loss, agriculture and cattle grazing.

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nyala
http://www.krugerpark.co.za/africa_nyala.html

We Are One: Yes, We Have No Bananas: Revisiting the Western Lowland Gorilla

Today we start the second week by revisiting the original muse for this photographic series, the Western Lowland Gorilla.

I was walking the zoo when I came across an excited group of people clustered at one end of the gorilla display. The reason was that they had been throwing bananas into the gorilla enclosure. This is a terrible thing to do because the animal may become sick and there are signposts discouraging the behavior. Needless to say, by the time I got close enough I found her with outstretched arm gesturing for more.

Conservation Status: Critically Endangered
Habitat: Forests of the African Congo Basin
Threats: Deforestation, farming, grazing, poaching for bush meat, medicinal and magical beliefs, war and disease (including Ebola) have diminished their numbers by 60% over the last 20 - 25 years.

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_lowland_gorilla
https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/western-lowland-gorilla

We Are One: Easter Egg Colored Budgies

Need an attitude adjustment? Just walk into an aviary full of these little fellas and your frown will be turned upside down immediately with their antics. Budgerigars also known as budgies or parakeets are native to Australia where they are found in the wild. Highly social, cheerful and vocal, budgies are the third most common pet after dogs and cats. They are also considered one of the top five talking parrots.

Check out Disco the talking parakeet's mimicry of beat box and more! http://youtu.be/RF_CDLAjg4E

Conservation Status: Least concern
Habitat: Scrubland, open woodlands and grasslands of Australia
Threats: Agricultural advancement and climate change

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budgerigar
http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/22685223/0

We Are One: Stylish Grevy's Zebra

Beautiful and iconic Grevy's Zebra is the largest of the three zebra species and also the most endangered. Currently the wild population is estimated to be less than 2500 in comparison to the 1970's when they were estimated to be 15,000 - 17,000. The gestation period for females is over a year and they only give birth to one foal at a time making recovery more difficult.

Conservation Status: Endangered
Habitat: northern Kenya and isolated populations in Ethiopia.
Threats: Hunting, loss of habitat, blocked access to watering holes by livestock herders and disease such as Anthrax.

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gr%C3%A9vy's_zebra
http://www.arkive.org/grevys-zebra/equus-grevyi/

We Are One: A Success Story, Bald Eagle

"There's one..., there's another, and another one!" Those were my words when traveling through Alaska. Bald Eagles seemed to be almost as common as Mocking Birds in Florida. They are a conservation success story. After nearly facing extinction in the continental United States from the effects of DDT used in agriculture and hunting, they were taken off the endangered and threatened list in 2007. The Bald Eagle serves as an example of what we can accomplish when something really matters to us.

Conservation Status: Least Concern
Habitat: Most of Canada, continental United States, northern Mexico
Threats: Illegal shooting, lead poisoning from consumption of fowl with lead shot, and habitat loss.

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bald_eagle
http://www.defenders.org/bald-eagle/basic-facts

We Are One: Graceful Gerenuk

These antelopes resemble ballerinas with their long necks, legs and eyelashes. They are even known for standing on their hind legs to reach tree leaves and bushes. Interestingly, they do not drink standing water. They rely on succulent plants for hydration.

 

Conservation Status: Near Threatened

Habitat: African Serengeti plains in Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Southern Somalia

Threats: Habitat loss due to expanding settlements, roads and agriculture

 

Watch a gerenuk in tippy toe action at the San Diego Zoo!!: https://youtu.be/cyWxfZyLznE

 

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerenuk

http://www.awf.org/wildlife-conservation/gerenuk

We Are One: The Muse, Western Lowland Gorilla

Here she is. The catalyst for this series. The expression on the face of this gorilla as I was taking her picture was one of intelligence, emotion, attitude and pride. These great apes are able to fashion tools and even learn sign language. The well known Koko mastered more than 1000 signs.

Conservation Status: Critically Endangered
Habitat: Forests of the African Congo Basin
Threats: Deforestation, farming, grazing, poaching for bushmeat, medicinal and magical beliefs, war and disease (including Ebola) have diminished their numbers by 60% over the last 20 - 25 years.

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_lowland_gorilla
https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/western-lowland-gorilla

We Are One. Photographic series for Earth Day Observance.

Starting April 1st, 2015 as part of Earth Day observance, I will be posting a series of daily photographs celebrating the diversity of life that we share this planet with. Earth Day was proclaimed on April 22, 1970 to bring awareness and support to environmental issues and protection. The observance became international in 1990.

Most of the photographs were taken while on urban safari at my hometown "Zoo Miami" in Florida and some while traveling through the wilds of Alaska. Many of the animals you will see are quite endangered. Habitat loss due to human population growth, consumption, pollution, climate change and continued poaching have deceminated their numbers. With heavy heart, I am aware that some of these creatures will become extinct in my lifetime. Many more will be extinct in your children's and grandchildren's lifetimes. We as a species fail to understand that we are inter-related, symbiotic with the natural world. Harm and destruction to one ecosystem will lead to imbalances in others and eventually affect human health and life. It's up to us to make the changes necessary to preserve and better the health of our Earth. No one person or organization will come to our rescue like in a Hollywood movie. Each one of us is called to be a hero, a champion... in the quest for conservation. Happy Earth Day!