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<p><em>By Fossil Rim Wildlife Center</em></p>\n
<p>The scimitar-horned oryx has been tied to humanity for thousands of years. Once roaming across North Africa, it appeared in ancient Egyptian art and supplied food, tools and legend. Its tan-and-white coat mirrored the Saharan sands, while its long, curved horns resembled the scimitar sword for which it’s named.</p>\n
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-4532 size-full" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/11/639664_WK_Media_Oryx_images4-scaled.jpg" alt="Herd of scimitar-horned oryx grazing on a grassy hillside with wildflowers." width="2560" height="1003" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/11/639664_WK_Media_Oryx_images4-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/11/639664_WK_Media_Oryx_images4-300x118.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/11/639664_WK_Media_Oryx_images4-1024x401.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/11/639664_WK_Media_Oryx_images4-150x59.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/11/639664_WK_Media_Oryx_images4-768x301.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/11/639664_WK_Media_Oryx_images4-1536x602.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/11/639664_WK_Media_Oryx_images4-2048x802.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></p>\n
<p>By the 20th century, however, this once-abundant antelope faced extinction. Competition with livestock, trophy hunting and conflict across its native range drove numbers down. By 1985, only about 500 remained in the wild. By 2000, the scimitar-horned oryx was officially declared extinct in the wild.</p>\n
<h2>The rise of oryx conservation breeding</h2>\n
<p>By the time conservationists began working with the scimitar-horned oryx, captive breeding wasn’t new. Zoos had been refining methods since the 1960s, but preparing animals for release into the wild requires far more than pairing males and females. Genetics, behavior and human interaction all determine whether offspring can one day survive outside a controlled environment.</p>\n
<p>The Arabian oryx, a close relative, had already shown the world that “extinct in the wild” didn’t have to be permanent. Inspired by that success, Sahara Conservation, the Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi and the government of Chad launched a coordinated international program in 2008 to bring the scimitar-horned oryx back.</p>\n
<p><a href="https://fossilrim.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fossil Rim Wildlife Center</a> in Glen Rose, Texas, was a natural partner. Known for its work with Saharan species, Fossil Rim joined the effort to help breed healthy oryx for eventual release in Chad.</p>\n
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-4531 size-full" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/11/639664_WK_Media_Oryx_images3-scaled.jpg" alt="A scimitar-horned oryx antlers are being held by a researcher." width="2560" height="1003" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/11/639664_WK_Media_Oryx_images3-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/11/639664_WK_Media_Oryx_images3-300x118.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/11/639664_WK_Media_Oryx_images3-1024x401.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/11/639664_WK_Media_Oryx_images3-150x59.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/11/639664_WK_Media_Oryx_images3-768x301.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/11/639664_WK_Media_Oryx_images3-1536x602.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/11/639664_WK_Media_Oryx_images3-2048x802.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></p>\n
<p>Conservation breeding is a global puzzle. Zoos, private ranches, nongovernmental organizations and governments each play a role from animal care to research, funding and logistics. Fossil Rim contributes across multiple fronts, raising strong, genetically diverse scimitar-horned oryx with the goal of one day returning them to Africa.</p>\n
<h3>How Fossil Rim brought oryx to the wild</h3>\n
<p>At Fossil Rim, researchers tested GPS collars on antelope before using them in the Sahara, saving time and minimizing stress on wild oryx. But eventually, the animals themselves had to make the journey.</p>\n
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-4534 size-full" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/11/639664_WK_Media_Oryx_images6-scaled.jpg" alt="Scimitar-horned oryx wearing a tracking collar in a grassy field." width="2560" height="1003" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/11/639664_WK_Media_Oryx_images6-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/11/639664_WK_Media_Oryx_images6-300x118.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/11/639664_WK_Media_Oryx_images6-1024x401.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/11/639664_WK_Media_Oryx_images6-150x59.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/11/639664_WK_Media_Oryx_images6-768x301.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/11/639664_WK_Media_Oryx_images6-1536x602.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/11/639664_WK_Media_Oryx_images6-2048x802.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></p>\n
<p>Transporting endangered wildlife internationally is complex and risky. Each animal must be crated, monitored and moved across thousands of miles. Fossil Rim has sent 18 scimitar-horned oryx on this 10,000-mile journey. First, they went to Abu Dhabi and then to prerelease pens in Chad’s Ouadi Rimé-Ouadi Achim Game Reserve — a landscape of 30,000 square miles and once a native home to the species.</p>\n
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-4535 size-full" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/11/639664_WK_Media_Oryx_images7-scaled.jpg" alt="Group of scimitar-horned oryx resting on grass, some with numbered ear tags." width="2560" height="1003" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/11/639664_WK_Media_Oryx_images7-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/11/639664_WK_Media_Oryx_images7-300x118.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/11/639664_WK_Media_Oryx_images7-1024x401.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/11/639664_WK_Media_Oryx_images7-150x59.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/11/639664_WK_Media_Oryx_images7-768x301.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/11/639664_WK_Media_Oryx_images7-1536x602.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/11/639664_WK_Media_Oryx_images7-2048x802.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></p>\n
<p>There, timing is everything. The oryx remain in holding pens until seasonal rains arrive, then follow the water into their range.</p>\n
<h2>Why reintroducing oryx was successful</h2>\n
<p>Reintroduction isn’t only about animals. It’s about people. Many communities in Chad had never seen a scimitar-horned oryx before, and without education and support, the project couldn’t succeed.</p>\n
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-4533 size-full" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/11/639664_WK_Media_Oryx_images5-scaled.jpg" alt="Four scimitar-horned oryx grazing near a pond with dense green foliage in the background" width="2560" height="1003" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/11/639664_WK_Media_Oryx_images5-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/11/639664_WK_Media_Oryx_images5-300x118.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/11/639664_WK_Media_Oryx_images5-1024x401.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/11/639664_WK_Media_Oryx_images5-150x59.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/11/639664_WK_Media_Oryx_images5-768x301.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/11/639664_WK_Media_Oryx_images5-1536x602.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/11/639664_WK_Media_Oryx_images5-2048x802.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></p>\n
<p>In 2012, Sahara Conservation and its partners held a three-day meeting with government leaders, tribes and pastoral groups to explain the program. Teams also visited nomadic camps with photos and information, ensuring local leaders felt invested in protecting the scimitar-horned oryx for the long term.</p>\n
<p>Reflecting on the project, Dr. Julie Swenson, associate veterinarian at Fossil Rim, notes that what made it unique wasn’t just the human collaboration but also the rare fortune of intact habitat. Many vulnerable species lack this advantage — their homelands are too degraded or urbanized to sustain them. In this way, land conservation and wildlife conservation are inseparable.</p>\n
<p>The scimitar-horned oryx had the rare fortune of both a preserved homeland and dedicated global partners. Today, hundreds of scimitar-horned oryx roam free once more, thanks to years of planning, research and collaboration.</p>\n
<p>At Fossil Rim, every calf born represents hope — not just for oryx, but for conservation itself. Their story proves that with commitment, cooperation and vision, even species lost to the wild can return home.</p>\n
<p><a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/protecting-the-wild">Watch Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild</a>’s episode, “<a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/video/extinct-in-the-wild">Extinct in the Wild</a>,” to see Fossil Rim’s work with oryx in action.</p>\n
<p>For another amazing story of conservation success at Fossil Rim, check out Protecting the Wild Season 1 episode, “<a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/video/protecting-the-prairie-chicken-clip">Protecting the Prairie Chicken</a>,” all about the Attwater’s prairie chicken.</p>\n
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<p><em>By the Houston Zoo</em></p>\n
<p>In the dense forests of Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, an extraordinary team of veterinarians from Gorilla Doctors risks everything to save endangered mountain and Grauer’s gorillas. The <a href="https://www.houstonzoo.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Houston Zoo</a> partners with this organization to support its critical mission to prevent extinction.</p>\n
<p>“This organization is doing incredible things to save a species, one gorilla at a time,” said Ben Jones, the Houston Zoo’s vice president of conservation and education.</p>\n
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-4417 size-full" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/09/639659_MediaCtrGorilla_1440x564_Image1.jpg" alt="Close-up of a gorilla's face surrounded by green foliage in its natural habitat." width="1440" height="564" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/09/639659_MediaCtrGorilla_1440x564_Image1.jpg 1440w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/09/639659_MediaCtrGorilla_1440x564_Image1-300x118.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/09/639659_MediaCtrGorilla_1440x564_Image1-1024x401.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/09/639659_MediaCtrGorilla_1440x564_Image1-150x59.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/09/639659_MediaCtrGorilla_1440x564_Image1-768x301.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1440px) 100vw, 1440px" /></p>\n
<h2><strong>Fighting extinction since 1986</strong></h2>\n
<p>Gorilla Doctors traces its roots to 1986, when famed primatologist Dian Fossey called for veterinary care to help stem the steep decline of gorilla populations. With only about 1,063 mountain gorillas left in the wild today, the organization’s work remains essential.</p>\n
<p>Veterinarians like Dr. Jean Bosco Noheri – known as Dr. Noel — hike into the forests more than 300 times each year to monitor and check on gorilla families. When an animal is injured by a poacher’s snare or battling illness, they step in with urgent care.</p>\n
<p>“When we started, the population was dramatically declining,” Dr. Noel said. “If we hadn’t used veterinary science, we might not be talking about gorillas today.”</p>\n
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-4419 size-full" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/09/639659_MediaCtrGorilla_1440x564_Image3.jpg" alt="Quote from Dr. Noel -- "When we started, the population was dramatically declining. If we hadn't used veterinary science, we might no be talking about gorillas today."" width="1440" height="564" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/09/639659_MediaCtrGorilla_1440x564_Image3.jpg 1440w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/09/639659_MediaCtrGorilla_1440x564_Image3-300x118.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/09/639659_MediaCtrGorilla_1440x564_Image3-1024x401.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/09/639659_MediaCtrGorilla_1440x564_Image3-150x59.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/09/639659_MediaCtrGorilla_1440x564_Image3-768x301.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1440px) 100vw, 1440px" /></p>\n
<h2><strong>Demanding work in the wild</strong></h2>\n
<p>The work is demanding. A typical day might mean trekking for hours through steep terrain, carrying medical supplies to treat a gorilla within its family group.</p>\n
<p>“It’s truly heroic work,” Jones said.</p>\n
<p>The results are clear: Up to 40% of mountain gorilla population growth can be linked to these efforts, making them the only great ape species currently increasing in number.</p>\n
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-4418 size-full" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/09/639659_MediaCtrGorilla_1440x564_Image2.jpg" alt="Gorilla in a lush green forest, facing away toward distant hills and mountains under a hazy sky." width="1440" height="564" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/09/639659_MediaCtrGorilla_1440x564_Image2.jpg 1440w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/09/639659_MediaCtrGorilla_1440x564_Image2-300x118.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/09/639659_MediaCtrGorilla_1440x564_Image2-1024x401.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/09/639659_MediaCtrGorilla_1440x564_Image2-150x59.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/09/639659_MediaCtrGorilla_1440x564_Image2-768x301.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1440px) 100vw, 1440px" /></p>\n
<h2><strong>A comprehensive approach</strong></h2>\n
<p>The Houston Zoo’s support for Gorilla Doctors extends beyond funding. The zoo champions the organization’s One Health approach, which protects gorillas, park rangers and local communities by addressing disease risks. This approach is especially urgent since gorillas share so much human DNA.</p>\n
<p>At the Houston Zoo, staff share this story with the more than 2 million guests who visit each year through the gorilla habitat and conservation programs.</p>\n
<p>By visiting the Houston Zoo, you can be part of the effort to keep these forests alive with the sound of thriving gorilla families for generations to come.</p>\n
<div style="position: relative;padding-bottom: 56.25%;padding-top: 30px;height: 0;overflow: hidden"></div>\n
<p> </p>\n
<p>Learn more about the Houston Zoo’s efforts to help protect gorillas by listening to <a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/podcast/hope-for-the-wild-stories-from-the-aza-part-1">this episode</a> of <a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/the-podcast">Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom The Podcast</a>.</p>\n
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<p><small><em>By The Florida Aquarium</em></small></p>\n
<p>Meet the African penguins at The Florida Aquarium, a species native to the coasts of Namibia and South Africa. These beloved birds are facing the alarming prospect of functional extinction by 2035. Yet, against the odds, biologists and conservation organizations worldwide are gaining critical insights into their biology and behaviors to support wild populations. Under human care, the penguins at The Florida Aquarium receive world-class veterinary attention, ensuring good health and well-being as the team works to secure their future.</p>\n
<p>But why should this matter to you? The survival of African penguins is deeply interconnected with the health of our global ecosystems. When they struggle in the wild to find fish for their next meal, it’s a warning of broader environmental issues that could impact us all. By working together — through initiatives like the global Penguin Waddle and other conservation efforts — we can build stronger connections between people and wildlife and create a future where African penguins and our ecosystems not only survive but thrive.</p>\n
<p>To learn more about The Florida Aquarium’s conservation programs and priorities, visit <a href="http://FLaquarium.org/conservation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">FLaquarium.org/conservation</a>.</p>\n
<h2>African penguin fun facts</h2>\n
<p>African penguins are one of 18 penguin species worldwide and are thought to be one of the first discovered by humans. Discover more African penguin facts.</p>\n
<ul>\n
<li>They swallow fish whole! Their diet includes small fish, such as capelin, Peruvian smelt, anchovies, herring and sardines.</li>\n
<li>Each penguin has a unique pattern of black spotting on their chest and belly.</li>\n
<li>Predators include cape fur seals, sharks and toothed whales.</li>\n
<li>They can swim up to 12 mph.</li>\n
<li>African penguins molt once per year, meaning they lose all their feathers and grow a new set.</li>\n
<li>They pair-bond for life.</li>\n
<li>African penguins have pink glands above their eyes to which they send blood, acting as a cooling system. Thus, the hotter the penguin, the pinker the glands!</li>\n
</ul>\n
<p>The Florida Aquarium and other Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) facilities are helping protect African penguins through the AZA’s Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE) program. This program brings together AZA members to share resources and develop ways to help save these animals from extinction. <a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/article/zoos-and-aquariums-key-to-conservation-success">Learn more about SAFE programs</a>.</p>\n
<p>For more penguin fun, check out this <a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/video/learn-about-penguins-wild-kingdom-and-wonders-of-wildlife">video of gentoo penguins</a> with Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild Co-Host Peter Gros.</p>\n
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0:09\r\n
Florida Aquarium has four pillars of focus for conservation, one of which is to safeguard imperiled species.\r\n
\r\n
0:16\r\n
And there are few species here in the Florida Aquarium that are more imperiled than the African Penguin.\r\n
\r\n
0:21\r\n
So for us, this is a natural fit to make sure we're doing our best to help protect the species.\r\n
\r\n
0:29\r\n
African Penguin is an endangered species that can only be found in South Africa and Namibia and their population has been dwindling year after year after year.\r\n
\r\n
0:39\r\n
One of the most challenging things of of of saving an animal from extinction is trying to figure out what caused it to get to that point to begin with.\r\n
\r\n
0:47\r\n
Sometimes it's it's natural causes, in many cases of their man made causes, African Penguins, their their populations are, are being impacted by pollution, by overfishing, those things that those are economic drivers and to be able to correct that will probably not be likely.\r\n
\r\n
1:03\r\n
So working with these animals in human care and then being able to help in the field in the wild with with our partners that are actually doing the boots on the ground work is critically important.\r\n
\r\n
1:14\r\n
We also know a lot about Penguins being managed in human care because we know what they do, We know what they eat, they get regular checkups, we how old they are, what kind of a health history they have.\r\n
\r\n
1:24\r\n
And we can take that information and helps us understand wild populations a little bit better.\r\n
\r\n
1:33\r\n
Teams that manage animals like this, that work with them day in and day out, they know the birds inside and out.\r\n
\r\n
1:38\r\n
It's just amazing to see those relationships develop.\r\n
\r\n
1:40\r\n
Wild animals often mask symptoms, stillnesses, So the animals that are being cared for by the professional staff here at the aquarium know the idiosyncrasies of the birds.\r\n
\r\n
1:49\r\n
And oftentimes they'll think a bird is getting I'll before they even show outward signs of, of an illness.\r\n
\r\n
1:55\r\n
They give regular exams are looked at every each and every day.\r\n
\r\n
1:58\r\n
Their feet are examined, their body condition is, is looked at on an annual basis.\r\n
\r\n
2:02\r\n
They're going to go through a full health exam just like you would do with your dog at at the vet.\r\n
\r\n
2:07\r\n
The blood panels will be taken, blood work will be taken.\r\n
\r\n
2:09\r\n
Their eyes will be observed when the animals are healthy.\r\n
\r\n
2:12\r\n
So when they do start to have problems, we have something to compare against.\r\n
\r\n
2:21\r\n
Why should people in Florida care about what's happening to species in Africa or across the world?\r\n
\r\n
2:26\r\n
It matters because we really live in one planet, one world.\r\n
\r\n
2:30\r\n
And So what affects one species ultimately affects the ecosystems, including our own.\r\n
\r\n
2:35\r\n
Here.\r\n
\r\n
2:36\r\n
Penguins are out there fishing for their food, right?\r\n
\r\n
2:38\r\n
Like we do for our food across the globe.\r\n
\r\n
2:40\r\n
They can't find their food right now, which is a indicator of a bigger problem, and it's a problem that affects all of us across the globe.\r\n
\r\n
2:51\r\n
So one of the most important things we can do today is to form relationships with partners.\r\n
\r\n
2:55\r\n
Collaborative conservation is the only way we're going to address the issues that we face in today's world.\r\n
\r\n
3:01\r\n
So last year we hosted a Penguin waddle and the Florida Aquarium coordinated this international waddle with our partners in South Africa and Namibia.\r\n
\r\n
3:09\r\n
And we had dozens of countries that participated in the waddle on the same day.\r\n
\r\n
3:15\r\n
And the ask was for the public to send letters to the Minister of the Environment in South Africa to continue protecting the waterways where the South African Penguin fishes for its food.\r\n
\r\n
3:25\r\n
And what we can do here is not only work in country, but we can also work with our audiences.\r\n
\r\n
3:30\r\n
We've had more than a million visitors at the Florida Aquarium last year, and they get the unique opportunity to see Penguins close up and to learn about what's affecting them and take actions to help us move forward with conservation efforts for the species.
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"excerpt" => "<p>By The Florida Aquarium Meet the African penguins at The Florida Aquarium, a species native to the coasts of Namibia and South Africa. These beloved birds are facing the alarming prospect of functional extinction by 2035. Yet, against the odds, biologists and conservation organizations worldwide are gaining critical insights into their biology and behaviors to […]</p>\n"
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<p>Have you ever seen a white-nosed coati in person? Guests to Brevard Zoo in Florida make a lot of interesting guesses when trying to identify this species with their ringed tails, distinctive coloring and penchant for sniffing out a snack. Monkeys or raccoons are the more popular guesses —the latter close to the correct answer, as coati are members of the raccoon family.</p>\n
<p>It may come as a surprise to learn that coati subspecies call areas of Central America, South America and the southwestern U.S. home. Populations of white-nosed coati, along with other subspecies, such as eastern and western mountain coati, are facing decline due in large part to habitat loss from deforestation and development.</p>\n
<p>“This species once lived throughout areas of Texas and Arizona and has almost been completely extirpated due to human encroachment and hunting, except for a small population in Arizona,” said Brevard Zoo’s Director of Animal Programs Lauren Hinson.</p>\n
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3758" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/01/coati-brevard-article-image-1024x401.jpg" alt="A group of coatis gathered around, sniffing things around them. Coatis are small diurnal mammals with look similar to raccoons. They have longer, pointed snouts with black, white and brown markings, whiskers, small ears atop their heads and brown and gray furry bodies." width="1024" height="401" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/01/coati-brevard-article-image-1024x401.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/01/coati-brevard-article-image-300x118.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/01/coati-brevard-article-image-150x59.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/01/coati-brevard-article-image-768x301.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/01/coati-brevard-article-image.jpg 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></p>\n
<h2>Creating an environment for coatis to thrive</h2>\n
<p>With more and more animals facing declines in their natural range, organizations accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) are looking to help by supporting species in their natural habitat and by maintaining safeguard populations in zoos and aquariums. For the last five years, Brevard Zoo has focused on reestablishing this safeguard population of white-nosed coatis.</p>\n
<p>After becoming the AZA regional species survival plan coordinator and studbook keeper for white-nosed coati, Hinson faced a stark situation in 2018.</p>\n
<p>“I quickly realized that I spent all my time updating the studbook with deaths from aging animals and there were no births happening,” Hinson said. “I watched the population dwindle and eventually, during the AZA reimagination process, downgraded to just a studbook since the population was no longer sustainable.”</p>\n
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3762" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/01/coati-brevard-article-image2-1024x401.jpg" alt="A coati sniffing a plastic purple ball. The ball is an enrichment tool that has treats in it, and the coati must figure out how to get the treats out." width="1024" height="401" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/01/coati-brevard-article-image2-1024x401.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/01/coati-brevard-article-image2-300x118.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/01/coati-brevard-article-image2-150x59.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/01/coati-brevard-article-image2-768x301.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/01/coati-brevard-article-image2.jpg 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></p>\n
<h3>Increasing the endangered coati population</h3>\n
<p>With the support of Brevard Zoo, Hinson set out to learn more about why breeding had dwindled among the AZA population (around 40 as of 2024) and how to bring in new members for this population.</p>\n
<p><strong> </strong>After taking on her AZA role, Hinson imported animals from Mexico for AZA-accredited zoos. She also placed confiscated animals into AZA-accredited organizations. Following a rigorous vetting process, coati from a private facility were brought to Brevard Zoo to establish a founding breeding group.</p>\n
<p>Understanding this species’ natural history was also key to this incredible success. In recent history, most zoos housed their coati as a single male-female pair, despite this species living in all female bands of up to 20 members with males only temporarily joining the group for breeding seasons.</p>\n
<p>Brevard Zoo established new habitats with flexible spaces to give its coati group a more natural group dynamic and allow the members to choose how to spend their days. The animal care team closely monitored the female coati this year, adding male Tito from his habitat to the space occupied by the all-female band once timing was right.</p>\n
<p>“All of this has been going on throughout the last five years to get to a point where we can have successful reproduction to boost the population,” Hinson said.</p>\n
<p>In April 2024, Brevard Zoo welcomed eight white-nosed coati kits from two of its younger coati residents, Sky and Rita.</p>\n
<p>“This was the first successful breeding in a North American AZA zoo in seven years!” Hinson said.</p>\n
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3763" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/01/coati-brevard-article-image3-1024x401.jpg" alt="Four coati kits climbing on some wire fencing in their enclosure at a zoo." width="1024" height="401" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/01/coati-brevard-article-image3-1024x401.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/01/coati-brevard-article-image3-300x118.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/01/coati-brevard-article-image3-150x59.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/01/coati-brevard-article-image3-768x301.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/01/coati-brevard-article-image3.jpg 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></p>\n
<h3>Coati kits at the Brevard Zoo</h3>\n
<p>Even in the early days for the new first-time coati moms and their kits, Brevard Zoo’s animal care team learned so much about this species. Thanks to cameras in the coati’s behind-the-scenes nestboxes, the zoo’s animal care team has gathered information for other AZA-accredited zoos for future coati births.</p>\n
<p>One surprise — delayed births. Both Sky and Rita initially gave birth to two kits only to give birth to their remaining kits days later. Another surprise: Other coati moms may accept babies who aren’t their own. But the situation has to be monitored as they still might reject the babies after some time.</p>\n
<p>Soon, the kits will move to other AZA-accredited organizations. The Brevard Zoo looks forward to continuing doing its part in reestablishing a sustainable population of this charismatic animal.</p>\n
<p>To do your part in protecting this species and other rainforest dwellers, Brevard Zoo recommends:</p>\n
<ul>\n
<li>Drinking bird-friendly coffee. By doing so, you’re supporting farms that grow coffee in a way that helps migratory birds — and other forest-dwelling animals — live their best lives in healthy habitats!</li>\n
<li>Disposing your e-waste, or electronic waste, from old phones, computers, cords and similar products properly. E-waste is one of the fastest-growing types of waste in the world, and when not disposed of properly, it can cause environmental harm. Find a recycling or reusing station near you — your local zoo might be a good place to start!</li>\n
</ul>\n
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3764" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/01/coati-brevard-article-image4-1024x401.jpg" alt="A coati walking on a wood structure in its enclosure at a zoo. Coatis are small diurnal mammals with look similar to raccoons. They have longer, pointed snouts with black, white and brown markings, whiskers, small ears atop their heads and brown and gray furry bodies." width="1024" height="401" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/01/coati-brevard-article-image4-1024x401.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/01/coati-brevard-article-image4-300x118.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/01/coati-brevard-article-image4-150x59.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/01/coati-brevard-article-image4-768x301.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/01/coati-brevard-article-image4.jpg 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></p>\n
<h2>Coati fun facts</h2>\n
<ul>\n
<li>Coatis are also known as coatimundi. This name means “lone coati” in the native South American language, Guarani. Because male coatis live alone, researchers initially thought they were a different species and called the male coatis coatimundi.</li>\n
<li>Female coatis live in groups of 20 or more called bands.</li>\n
<li>Their ankles are double-jointed, rotating 180 degrees. This lets coatis climb down trees headfirst.</li>\n
<li>Unlike their racoon relatives, coatis are active during the day.</li>\n
</ul>\n
<p> </p>\n
<p>Watch Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild episode, “<a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/video/coati-comeback">Coati Comeback</a>,” to see this adorable species and to experience the Brevard Zoo team’s work firsthand.</p>\n
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"date" => "2025-01-09 12:07:29"
"excerpt" => "<p>Have you ever seen a white-nosed coati in person? Guests to Brevard Zoo in Florida make a lot of interesting guesses when trying to identify this species with their ringed tails, distinctive coloring and penchant for sniffing out a snack. Monkeys or raccoons are the more popular guesses —the latter close to the correct answer, […]</p>\n"
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<p>As Black girls fascinated by wildlife, Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant, Dr. Jo-Elle Mogerman, Hollis Stewart and Denise Verret, didn’t see many people who looked like them working in wildlife conservation.</p>\n
<p>But today, they’re inspiring the next generation of Black female conservationists with their prominent careers. Dr. Rae is co-host of <a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/protecting-the-wild">Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild</a>, Mogerman is the CEO of the <a href="https://www.philadelphiazoo.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Philadelphia Zoo</a>, Stewart is a wildlife veterinarian and Verret is the CEO of <a href="https://lazoo.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens</a>.</p>\n
<p>All have achieved major accomplishments — from hosting award-winning podcasts and groundbreaking wildlife series to being the first woman of color in their roles, as well as saving endangered species and co-founding companies.</p>\n
<p>In their careers, they’re encouraging more diverse and dynamic portrayals of women in STEM in hopes to motivate more girls and women to consider these careers and emerge as future trailblazers in wildlife conservation and protecting our natural resources.</p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<h2>Meet 4 Black trailblazers in wildlife conservation</h2>\n
<h3><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-2580" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/10/rae-1-1024x508.jpg" alt="Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant smiling, standing in front of luscious palm trees." width="1024" height="508" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/10/rae-1-1024x508.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/10/rae-1-300x149.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/10/rae-1-150x74.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/10/rae-1-768x381.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/10/rae-1-1536x761.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/10/rae-1.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></h3>\n
<h3>Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant</h3>\n
<p>Wildlife Ecologist and <a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/meet-our-hosts">Co-Host</a> of<a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/protecting-the-wild"> Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild</a></p>\n
<p>With a career in the wild spanning two decades, Dr. Rae carved a niche for herself as one of very few Black female wildlife ecologists. She is leading today’s carnivore conservation efforts, building roadmaps for endangered species and supporting environmental justice programs.</p>\n
<p>On Protecting the Wild, she’s made history as the first Black woman to co-host a network wildlife conservation series, while also fulfilling her childhood dream of hosting a television show.</p>\n
<p>In addition to Wild Kingdom, Dr. Rae is the award-winning podcast host of “<a href="https://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/podcast/">Going Wild</a>” and one of the first Black professors at The Bren School at University of California, Santa Barbara. Her memoir, “<a href="https://zandoprojects.com/books/wildlife/">Wild Life</a>,” will be released this April.</p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<p><strong>Did you watch Wild Kingdom growing up? </strong></p>\n
<p>Yes, watching Wild Kingdom growing up was my only way to spend time in nature as a city kid. It was my dream to be the host of wildlife TV show, and it’s a full circle moment for me to have that role now.</p>\n
<p><strong>What did you think of the original series? </strong></p>\n
<p>I thoroughly enjoyed the original series; it inspired me to pursue a career in wildlife ecology and dedicate my life to wildlife conservation.</p>\n
<p><strong>What are some tips you have for the future generation of those passionate about wildlife conservation? </strong></p>\n
<p>For young people, I always advise finding the fun in it early. I don’t think it’s important to get an internship or volunteer — those can be forms of work! And once you’re an adult you’ll have lots of work to do — no need to start early. But finding a fun way to engage with conservation is key. Whether it’s watching your favorite show, following a social media account, spending time in nature with friends or family, all of this positions young people to be leaders in conservation without burning out early.</p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-2880" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/02/mogerman-giraffe-1024x508.jpg" alt="Dr. Jo-Elle Mogerman feeding a giraffe a lettuce leaf at the Philadelphia Zoo." width="1024" height="508" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/02/mogerman-giraffe-1024x508.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/02/mogerman-giraffe-300x149.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/02/mogerman-giraffe-150x74.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/02/mogerman-giraffe-768x381.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/02/mogerman-giraffe-1536x761.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/02/mogerman-giraffe.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></p>\n
<h3>Dr. Jo-Elle Mogerman</h3>\n
<p>President and CEO of Philadelphia Zoo</p>\n
<p><a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/article/wildlife-conservation-and-representation">Mogerman</a>’s impressive background in wildlife conservation began in 1995 as an outreach programs manager for the Chicago Zoological Society’s Brookfield Zoo. She now serves as President and CEO of Philadelphia Zoo, the first woman of color to serve in the zoo’s 164-year history.</p>\n
<p>This isn’t the first time she’s made history, however. Mogerman served as the first Black female zoo director at the Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Park, where she built a new safari experience and animal conservation breeding facility. Dedicated to the future generation of scientists, she also teaches an online course at DePaul University that engages students as citizen scientists.</p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<p><strong>Did you watch Wild Kingdom growing up? </strong></p>\n
<p>Yes, my family and I would watch Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom all the time!</p>\n
<p><strong>What did you think of the original series? </strong></p>\n
<p>I’ve always had a love for animals and growing up on the South Side of Chicago, I was only really surrounded by urban wildlife. The original series allowed me to immerse myself with different types of wildlife which is something I was very interested in.</p>\n
<p><strong>What are some tips you have for the future generation of those passionate about wildlife conservation? </strong></p>\n
<p>I would encourage those passionate about wildlife conservation to network with others who have similar passions and to tap into their strengths.</p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-2918" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/02/Hollis_1-resized-1024x508.jpg" alt="Hollis Stewart next to a Florida panther who is also looking at the camera." width="1024" height="508" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/02/Hollis_1-resized-1024x508.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/02/Hollis_1-resized-300x149.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/02/Hollis_1-resized-150x74.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/02/Hollis_1-resized-768x381.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/02/Hollis_1-resized-1536x761.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/02/Hollis_1-resized.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></p>\n
<h3>Hollis Stewart</h3>\n
<p>International Wildlife Veterinarian</p>\n
<p>Stewart is one of the few Black female wildlife veterinarians specializing in endangered species. She’s lived on four continents helping endangered and threatened animals from cheetahs to Florida panthers. With more than 20 years in the wildlife space, Stewart has worked for notable organizations, including Georgia Sea Turtle Center, Sea Life Park Hawai’i, Wildlife Conservation Society, Dubai Falcon Hospital, Cheetah Conservation Fund and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.</p>\n
<p>In 2023, Stewart co-founded and was named the chief veterinary officer for <a href="https://goquipu.com/">Quip u Labs, Inc.</a>, a database for pet owners to hire vets and trainers, track their pet’s wellness and engage in micro-communities.</p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<p><strong>Did you watch Wild Kingdom growing up? </strong></p>\n
<p>YES! I loved watching Wild Kingdom growing up.</p>\n
<p><strong>What did you think of the original series? </strong></p>\n
<p>It was so fascinating to me! It definitely influenced my life trajectory!</p>\n
<p><strong>What are some tips you have for the future generation of those passionate about wildlife conservation? </strong></p>\n
<p>My advice is to not give up hope. I understand that the future may look bleak, however we can still make changes. Understanding nature helps us want to save it. I encourage the future generation to get outside! Visit parks, plant native plants in your yard (if you have one) observe the wildlife around you. Learn the names of the plants and animals. Form a conservation group in your neighborhood or school. Encourage recycling and precycling. A little can go a long way. You may not see the impact you are making, but it all adds up.</p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<h3><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-2919" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/02/Denise-Verret-Headshot-2023-resized-1024x508.jpg" alt="Denise Verret standing in front of the giraffe exhibit at the Los Angeles Zoo." width="1024" height="508" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/02/Denise-Verret-Headshot-2023-resized-1024x508.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/02/Denise-Verret-Headshot-2023-resized-300x149.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/02/Denise-Verret-Headshot-2023-resized-150x74.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/02/Denise-Verret-Headshot-2023-resized-768x381.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/02/Denise-Verret-Headshot-2023-resized-1536x761.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/02/Denise-Verret-Headshot-2023-resized.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></h3>\n
<h3>Denise Verret</h3>\n
<p>CEO and Zoo Director at Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens</p>\n
<p>Verret’s role at the LA Zoo has allowed her to save wildlife, enrich communities and create connections to nature. Through her career, she’s been dedicated to mentoring and giving back to people of color. For 20 years, Verret has been actively involved in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. She was recently appointed to the association’s executive committee as chair elect.</p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<p><strong>Did you watch Wild Kingdom growing up? </strong></p>\n
<p>Watching Wild Kingdom as a child growing up was a family tradition as it followed our weekly Sunday dinners at my grandparents’ home. My grandfather would share with me nuggets of animal facts and it became a big part of my childhood and memories that I cherish today.</p>\n
<p><strong>What did you think of the original series? </strong></p>\n
<p>I loved the original series because it connected me with animals through storytelling and dramatic scenes that kept me on the edge of my seat.</p>\n
<p><strong>What are some tips you have for the future generation of those passionate about wildlife conservation? </strong></p>\n
<p>Wildlife and wild places are in need now, more than ever, of everyone’s passion, concern and action. There are opportunities for everyone to get involved and make a difference, whether it’s through career choices, community habitat clean ups, supporting legislation that protects wildlife or visiting your local AZA-accredited zoo or aquarium — there is something for everyone. We need participation from the broad and diverse communities that are the fabric of this country. Everyone can take part in protecting wildlife and the ecosystems so that people and wildlife can thrive together for generations to come.</p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<p>Why does representation matter in conservation? Because conservation needs more diverse voices and perspectives to ensure a sustainable future for humans and wildlife, Mogerman says. <a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/article/wildlife-conservation-and-representation">Learn more about Mogerman’s career journey and thoughts on wildlife conservation and representation</a>.</p>\n
<p>Plus, <a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/article/the-women-of-wild-kingdom">discover more inspiring women of Wild Kingdom</a>.</p>\n
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<p><em>By Ron Magill, Zoo Miami communications director</em></p>\n
<p>Of all the species found within the rainforests of the Americas, few are as impressive as the harpy eagle. With a wingspan of between 6 and 7 feet and talons the size of grizzly bear claws, it’s one of the largest and most powerful <a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/article/birds-the-word-discover-birds-of-prey">birds of prey</a> on earth.</p>\n
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-4339 size-full" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/08/640826_MediaCtr_Harpy_Images3-scaled.jpg" alt="Talons of a harpy eagle" width="2560" height="1003" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/08/640826_MediaCtr_Harpy_Images3-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/08/640826_MediaCtr_Harpy_Images3-300x118.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/08/640826_MediaCtr_Harpy_Images3-1024x401.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/08/640826_MediaCtr_Harpy_Images3-150x59.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/08/640826_MediaCtr_Harpy_Images3-768x301.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/08/640826_MediaCtr_Harpy_Images3-1536x602.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/08/640826_MediaCtr_Harpy_Images3-2048x802.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></p>\n
<p>To put this into perspective, an adult bald eagle generally weighs close to 9 pounds, whereas an adult harpy eagle can weigh more than twice that at nearly 20 pounds. The tarsus of this magnificent bird can be the size of a woman’s wrist, and they can exert over 100 pounds of pressure when snatching their prey.</p>\n
<p>Learn more about this fascinating bird of prey and the role of the Miami Zoo in its conservation.</p>\n
<h2>Harpy eagle characteristics</h2>\n
<p>Among harpy eagles’ distinguishing features is a majestic crest that they elevate to help create a facial disc, often getting them confused with a large owl. The disc helps direct sound into the ears of the harpy. Though they have exceptional eyesight that’s estimated to be four times as fine as that of a human, the thick canopy in which these birds hunt often obstructs vision and necessitates exceptional hearing to locate prey.</p>\n
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-4341 size-full" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/08/640826_MediaCtr_Harpy_Images5-scaled.jpg" alt="Harpy eagle" width="2560" height="1003" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/08/640826_MediaCtr_Harpy_Images5-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/08/640826_MediaCtr_Harpy_Images5-300x118.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/08/640826_MediaCtr_Harpy_Images5-1024x401.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/08/640826_MediaCtr_Harpy_Images5-150x59.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/08/640826_MediaCtr_Harpy_Images5-768x301.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/08/640826_MediaCtr_Harpy_Images5-1536x602.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/08/640826_MediaCtr_Harpy_Images5-2048x802.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></p>\n
<p>Other distinguishing features are relatively short and stout wings with a long tail. This is an adaptation to facilitate hunting in the dense canopy of the rainforest. As opposed to other eagles that have relatively long wings and short tails for soaring over open areas, such as prairies and bodies of water looking for their prey, the harpy must be able to fly quickly and make sharp twists and turns as it maneuvers through the dense canopy during a hunt.</p>\n
<p>It’s analogous to the difference between a bomber airplane with long, thin wings that allows it to soar high above its target without any obstructions, and a fighter jet with short, broad wings and special tail to be able to make quick turns to avoid contact during battle.</p>\n
<p>As juveniles, harpy eagles have plumage ranging in color from off-white to tan and gray. As they mature, dark gray to black bars appear on their wings and tail, creating a stark contrast with their white chest and light gray face. It can take up to five years for a harpy eagle to develop its adult plumage.</p>\n
<p>Harpy eagles have the slowest reproductive rate of any bird of prey, producing only one offspring every two to three years. Though a female will often lay two eggs, only one chick is raised as it’s incredibly demanding and will be cared for by its parents for up to 18 months.</p>\n
<p>Their diet consists mainly of arboreal mammals, predominantly monkeys and sloths, but they’ve also been known to take macaws, porcupines, armadillos and kinkajous among others. Because of harpy eagles’ formidable size and strength, they can carry prey weighing up to 15 pounds.</p>\n
<p>Harpy eagles live in tropical rainforests, some of the most biologically diverse ecosystems in the world. Though tropical rainforests only occupy less than 6% of the earth’s surface, they’re home to approximately half of all the world’s plant and animal species. It’s estimated that there are millions of species of plants, insects, animals and microorganisms yet to be discovered within them.</p>\n
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-4340 size-full" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/08/640826_MediaCtr_Harpy_Images4-scaled.jpg" alt="A female harpy eagle feeds her harpy eagle chick." width="2560" height="1003" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/08/640826_MediaCtr_Harpy_Images4-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/08/640826_MediaCtr_Harpy_Images4-300x118.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/08/640826_MediaCtr_Harpy_Images4-1024x401.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/08/640826_MediaCtr_Harpy_Images4-150x59.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/08/640826_MediaCtr_Harpy_Images4-768x301.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/08/640826_MediaCtr_Harpy_Images4-1536x602.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/08/640826_MediaCtr_Harpy_Images4-2048x802.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></p>\n
<h3>Where did the name ‘harpy’ come from?</h3>\n
<p>The harpy eagle gets its name from the mythical Greek beasts, “harpies,” creatures with the head of a woman and the body of a massive bird of prey. The myth states that harpies would snatch people and take them to the underworld. Unfortunately, many people took that myth and applied it to the harpy eagle, perpetuating the false narrative that harpy eagles would steal children and eventually livestock.</p>\n
<p>Because of this, harpy eagles were seen as a threat and shot indiscriminately, which contributed to a declining population. However, it’s habitat destruction that presents the greatest threat to these majestic raptors, as they need great areas of undisturbed forests to thrive.</p>\n
<h2>Zoo Miami’s commitment to harpy eagle conservation</h2>\n
<p>Working with the Wounaan Indigenous tribe of Panama, the Panama Audubon Society and the Peregrine Fund, <a href="https://www.zoomiami.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Zoo Miami</a> participated in an expedition into Panama’s Chagres National Park to visit the active nest of a harpy eagle to gather data and better understand their needs and ecology.</p>\n
<h3>Magill’s expedition to a harpy eagle nest</h3>\n
<p>After hours of hiking through a lush tropical forest, we arrived at the nest tree that was approximately 140 feet tall. Though we could not see the nest at the top of the tree through the lower canopy, the droppings at the base of the tree confirmed its presence and that it was occupied.</p>\n
<p>We used a modified crossbow attached to a fishing reel to send a line over the top of the tree so that we could set up climbing ropes, with the hope of ascending to the nest to see firsthand what was in it.</p>\n
<p>As I reached the nest that was approximately 120 feet up in the massive tree, my heart skipped a beat when I saw an approximately 10-week-old harpy eagle chick sitting in the center staring at me with wonder and curiosity! I was joined by Rafael Alvarez, who had ascended before me. He had climbed to several harpy eagle nests previously and was considered one of the world’s experts.</p>\n
<p>I sat beside the nest which was about 6 feet wide and 2 feet deep. About 20 feet away on a branch of the same tree, the adult female harpy kept a close eye on us. She issued a series of calls that made me nervous, but never showed any signs of aggression. I had read reports of harpy eagles attacking people at nest sites. Rafael calmly explained that, although he was aware of the reports, he had never experienced an attack and reassured me that we weren’t in any danger.</p>\n
<p>While up there, we collected bones, including skulls and mandibles from several sloths and a skull from a kinkajou, as well as casts that had accumulated in and around the nest. Casts are regurgitated pellets that contain hair, bones, claws and other non-digestible parts of the prey. These items, when identified, would provide a wealth of knowledge about the eagle’s prey species and feeding behaviors.</p>\n
<p>After closely examining the chick, Rafael set a trap of nylon cords baited with chicken in hopes that we could capture one of the adults so that we could attach a satellite transmitter to it, which would provide us with important data on range and movement.</p>\n
<p>The following day, we were able to successfully capture the male in the trap and brought him down so that we could collect a series of measurements while also fitting him for a backpack that we would attach the satellite transmitter to. In addition, we attached a leg band with the name “Chagre” inscribed on it in reference to the national park in which he lived. After collecting all the data, Chagre was released and successfully reconnected with the female and the chick at the nest.</p>\n
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-4342 size-full" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/08/640826_MediaCtr_Harpy_Images6-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="2560" height="1003" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/08/640826_MediaCtr_Harpy_Images6-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/08/640826_MediaCtr_Harpy_Images6-300x118.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/08/640826_MediaCtr_Harpy_Images6-1024x401.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/08/640826_MediaCtr_Harpy_Images6-150x59.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/08/640826_MediaCtr_Harpy_Images6-768x301.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/08/640826_MediaCtr_Harpy_Images6-1536x602.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/08/640826_MediaCtr_Harpy_Images6-2048x802.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></p>\n
<h2>Saving the harpy eagle with Jim Fowler</h2>\n
<p>The data we were able to collect on that expedition, combined with all the programs designed to educate the Panamanian people about the harpy eagle, resulted in Zoo Miami leading the effort to build a Harpy Eagle Center at Summit Gardens just outside of Panama City.</p>\n
<p>A leading consultant in that project was Wild Kingdom’s Jim Fowler, who had served as an inspiration and mentor to me for many years and who was one of the first biologists to publish studies that he did on harpy eagles in Guyana. Jim flew down to Panama with me when we first presented the project. His notoriety and the immense respect people had for him led to the successful completion of the center that he helped design and pick the location for.</p>\n
<p><a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/article/wild-kingdoms-storied-history-of-harpy-eagles"><em>Read more</em></a><em> about Ron and Jim’s incredible journey to save the harpy eagle.</em></p>\n
<p>The ultimate reward for all these efforts happened on April 10, 2002, when Panama passed a law officially declaring the harpy eagle as the national bird of Panama. Today, Panama has an annual festival celebrating the harpy eagle, and it holds a distinguished spot on everything from the national crest to the badges of a variety of Panamanian law enforcement agencies. Most importantly, it’s now federally protected and holds a place of reverence and respect among the Panamanian people who no longer fear the myths of the past.</p>\n
<p>Since that time, Zoo Miami has exhibited harpy eagles and is presently the only zoo in the United States to successfully reproduce them, with several chicks hatching over the past decade.</p>\n
<p>The very first chick that hatched was named, “Panama,” and was gifted to the country as a symbol of gratitude and partnership in the conservation of this iconic species. “Panama” continues to live at the Harpy Eagle Center outside of Panama City, where she’s cherished and revered by the many thousands of people who visit the center each year.</p>\n
<p>For me, that initial experience of sitting in a nest alongside a harpy eagle chick in the wilds of a pristine Panamanian rainforest remains the most amazing wildlife experience of my life. I will never forget having sat in a very special place where normally only eagles dare to fly.</p>\n
<p>See Ron Magill and Zoo Miami’s harpy eagles on Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild, “<a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/video/the-most-powerful-predator-of-the-sky">The Most Powerful Predator of the Sky</a>.”</p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<p> </p>\n
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<p><em>By the Association of Zoos and Aquariums</em></p>\n
<p><em>Photo courtesy of The Maryland Zoo</em></p>\n
<p>When you visit an <a href="https://www.aza.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Association of Zoos and Aquariums</a> (AZA) facility, you’re doing more than seeing animals. You’re visiting a place that meets the highest standard of animal care and well-being.</p>\n
<p>AZA is an independent accrediting organization which sets the global gold standard for modern zoos and aquariums. Of the 2,800 wildlife exhibitors licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture under the Animal Welfare Act, less than 10% meet the high standards set by the AZA. The highly trained professionals at AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums provide excellent care for more than 800,000 animals, making them the leading experts in animal care.</p>\n
<p>The AZA’s Accreditation Commission evaluates every zoo or aquarium to make sure it meets AZA’s standards for animal welfare, care and management, including living environments, social groupings, health and nutrition. Every animal at AZA-accredited institutions undergoes a thorough welfare assessment at least once a year. The AZA also makes sure animals are provided with enrichment, which stimulates each animal’s natural behavior. The Accreditation Commission also evaluates the veterinary program, education programs, safety policies and procedures, security, physical facilities, guest services and involvement in conservation and research. Learn more about AZA <a href="https://www.aza.org/what-is-accreditation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">accreditation standards</a>.</p>\n
<p>One way AZA members are involved in conservation is through the <a href="https://www.aza.org/ssp-population-sustainability" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AZA Species Survival Plan®</a>. This program is a cooperative animal management and breeding effort that works to ensure genetically diverse, self-sustaining populations of more than 500 species of animals.</p>\n
<p style="text-align: right"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright wp-image-4259 size-large" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/06/639644_MediaCtrJune25_1440x564_1-1024x401.jpg" alt="Green thick billed parrot hangs from an old tree." width="1024" height="401" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/06/639644_MediaCtrJune25_1440x564_1-1024x401.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/06/639644_MediaCtrJune25_1440x564_1-300x118.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/06/639644_MediaCtrJune25_1440x564_1-150x59.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/06/639644_MediaCtrJune25_1440x564_1-768x301.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/06/639644_MediaCtrJune25_1440x564_1.jpg 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><em>Photo courtesy of AZA SAFE</em></p>\n
<h2>Conservation in action: AZA SAFE program</h2>\n
<p>AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums are leaders in the protection of threatened and endangered species. Through <a href="https://www.aza.org/aza-safe" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AZA SAFE (Saving Animals From Extinction)</a>, the AZA-accredited zoo and aquarium community is focusing our conservation science, wildlife expertise and outreach to millions of annual visitors on saving species in the wild.</p>\n
<p>SAFE’s impact goes beyond the confines of AZA facilities. Through <a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/protecting-the-wild">Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild</a>, wildlife lovers across the U.S. are learning about SAFE’s role in conservation. SAFE species featured on the series include <a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/video/conservation-comeback-clip">black-footed ferrets</a>, <a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/video/the-forest-beneath-the-sea-clip">sunflower sea stars</a> and <a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/video/sea-creatures-of-the-florida-coast-clip">sea turtles</a>.</p>\n
<p>In addition to television spotlights, Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom highlights SAFE programs each month on social media channels. Fans can learn facts about these species and read stories from AZA facilities directly involved with the programs. Spotlight species include <a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/video/how-safe-program-protects-chimpanzees">chimpanzees</a>, <a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/article/meet-this-asian-elephant-herd">Asian elephants</a>, <a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/article/andean-highland-flamingos-conserved-by-safe-program">Andean highland flamingos</a> and <a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/article/what-are-sloth-bears">sloth bears</a>.</p>\n
<p>AZA supports SAFE species programs through two granting programs. With SAFE as AZA’s signature conservation brand, funds are directed only to projects that advance the objectives of SAFE species programs.</p>\n
<p>In 2021, JoEllen Doornbos, a generous AZA donor, contributed $1 million to create an endowment that’ll support SAFE species programs in perpetuity. AZA doubled donations to the endowment in 2023 and 2024 by successfully matching challenge grants from the Arthur L. and Elaine V. Johnson Foundation and Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom, which has generously contributed to AZA SAFE for several years.</p>\n
<h3>Conservation education: connecting future generations to the natural world</h3>\n
<p>As centers for conservation, AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums provide the public with essential connections to the natural world. More than 50 million visitors to AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums are children, making accredited zoos and aquariums essential to science and environmental education.</p>\n
<p>AZA-accredited facilities train 40,000 teachers every year, supporting state science curricula with teaching materials and hands-on opportunities for students who might otherwise have no first-hand experience with wildlife. In fact, there is growing evidence that aquariums and zoos are highly effective at teaching people about science and connecting them to the natural world.</p>\n
<p>Fostering connection with wildlife early on creates a lifelong care for animals and drives the next generation of conservationists. AZA employees know this well. The AZA’s “<a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/article/inspiring-generations-to-protect-our-wild-kingdom">Wild Impact Report</a>” shows that 77% of AZA employees say the classic Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom series influenced their decision to pursue a career working with wildlife. What was once an entertaining show to watch with family, ignited a passion to care for wildlife.</p>\n
<h3>Guiding Principles of Animal Wellbeing</h3>\n
<p>The <a href="https://www.aza.org/about-animal-wellbeing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">well-being</a> of the animals in human care is essential to AZA’s mission and is achieved by giving them lifelong opportunities to thrive. AZA Guiding Principles of Animal Wellbeing Culture reflect the AZA community’s shared values and goals for promoting the well-being of animals.</p>\n
<p>Care that promotes animal well-being is elevated through the sharing of information. The AZA community has developed and compiled a variety of tools and resources to facilitate animal care. Staff training and animal welfare science are vital for ensuring our knowledge and application of animal care improves. AZA-accredited facilities can apply for funding to facilitate this research and training through the AZA Animal Care and Wellbeing Grants Fund.</p>\n
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-4260 size-large" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/06/639644_MediaCtrJune25_1440x564_2-1024x401.jpg" alt="Marlin Perkins wrestles an anaconda snake in the wild." width="1024" height="401" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/06/639644_MediaCtrJune25_1440x564_2-1024x401.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/06/639644_MediaCtrJune25_1440x564_2-300x118.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/06/639644_MediaCtrJune25_1440x564_2-150x59.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/06/639644_MediaCtrJune25_1440x564_2-768x301.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/06/639644_MediaCtrJune25_1440x564_2.jpg 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></p>\n
<h2>Partners in conservation storytelling</h2>\n
<p>“Growing up, I dreamed of wrestling anacondas like Marlin Perkins or diving alongside Jacques Cousteau. Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom ignited my connection to nature and inspired a more than 40-year career in wildlife conservation with incredible organizations like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the AZA,” Dan Ashe, president and CEO of AZA, said.</p>\n
<p>“We protect vulnerable species and ecosystems, reintroduce animals into the wild and save threatened and endangered species from the brink of extinction. We’re working to create a future where all animals thrive and all people respect, value and conserve wildlife and wild places.”</p>\n
<p>As a longstanding partner, AZA is proud to honor the legacy of Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom through our highest distinction, the R. Marlin Perkins Award for Professional Excellence, which recognizes an AZA-accredited member for their outstanding contributions.</p>\n
<h3><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-4261 size-large" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/06/639644_MediaCtrJune25_1440x564_3-1024x401.jpg" alt="Quote from Dan Ashe, President and CEO of AZA, "By featuring the work of our AZA organizations on the show and podcast, we're educating and inspiring new generations together."" width="1024" height="401" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/06/639644_MediaCtrJune25_1440x564_3-1024x401.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/06/639644_MediaCtrJune25_1440x564_3-300x118.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/06/639644_MediaCtrJune25_1440x564_3-150x59.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/06/639644_MediaCtrJune25_1440x564_3-768x301.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/06/639644_MediaCtrJune25_1440x564_3.jpg 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></h3>\n
<h3>About the AZA</h3>\n
<p>With more than $356 million invested in field conservation projects, the AZA works to save the most vulnerable wildlife species through its signature conservation program, AZA SAFE. As an AZA Commercial Member Engagement Council member, Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom is a significant partner and contributor to SAFE.</p>\n
<p>“We’re deeply grateful for Wild Kingdom’s contributions to AZA SAFE, which has supported AZA-accredited institutions’ conservation efforts for over 50 species in the wild,” Ashe said. “By featuring the work of our AZA organizations on the show and podcast, we’re educating and inspiring new generations together.”</p>\n
<p>As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, AZA is dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, education, science and recreation. AZA represents 251 facilities in 13 countries, which collectively draw more than 200 million visitors every year.</p>\n
<p>AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums meet the highest standards in animal care and well-being and provide a fun, safe and educational family experience. In addition, AZA zoos and aquariums dedicate millions of dollars annually to support scientific research, conservation and education programs.</p>\n
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"date" => "2025-06-30 10:38:36"
"excerpt" => "<p>By the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Photo courtesy of The Maryland Zoo When you visit an Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) facility, you’re doing more than seeing animals. You’re visiting a place that meets the highest standard of animal care and well-being. AZA is an independent accrediting organization which sets the global gold […]</p>\n"
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<p>For more than 60 years, one TV series has done more than showcase wildlife — it has inspired an entire generation of conservationists. <a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/">Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom</a>, in partnership with the <a href="https://www.aza.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Association of Zoos and Aquariums</a> (AZA), unveiled the “Wild Impact Report,” a look at how the legendary TV series inspired generations of wildlife professionals across the nation.</p>\n
<p>Decades later, the show’s impact prevails, making it not just a legacy, but a living force shaping generations of conservation leaders and instilling a deep passion for wildlife in the hearts of countless viewers turned scientists, conservationists and educators.</p>\n
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-4233 size-large" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/06/640267_MediaCtr_1440x564_5-1024x401.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="401" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/06/640267_MediaCtr_1440x564_5-1024x401.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/06/640267_MediaCtr_1440x564_5-300x118.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/06/640267_MediaCtr_1440x564_5-150x59.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/06/640267_MediaCtr_1440x564_5-768x301.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/06/640267_MediaCtr_1440x564_5.jpg 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></p>\n
<h2>New survey finds Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom ignited generations of conservation careers</h2>\n
<p>The 2025 “Wild Impact Report” confirms what long-time fans have long felt. Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom didn’t just entertain — it planted seeds of passion and purpose. Showing just how deeply the series has influenced countless AZA professionals worldwide, the findings prove stories told well, and watched by children, can plant seeds that bloom decades later. The survey also showed the impact media has on inspiring STEM education from an early age.</p>\n
<h3>‘Wild Impact Report’ findings</h3>\n
<ul>\n
<li>77% of AZA employees say Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom influenced their decision to pursue a career working with wildlife.</li>\n
<li>The influence was especially strong among seasoned professionals.\n
<ul>\n
<li>82% of those with 10 or more years of experience said the show played a significant role in shaping their career paths.</li>\n
</ul>\n
</li>\n
<li>Across all age groups, survey responders consistently credit watching Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom as a career influence:\n
<ul>\n
<li>60% of Generation Z (ages 13–28)</li>\n
<li>49% of millennials (ages 29–44)</li>\n
<li>69% of Generation X (ages 45–60)</li>\n
<li>93% of boomers (ages 61-70)</li>\n
</ul>\n
</li>\n
</ul>\n
<p>“Many of those young viewers grew up to become scientists, conservationists and educators — driven by a show that made the wonders of nature and the importance of wildlife conservation accessible to all,” said Jen Wulf, vice president of Brand Marketing at Mutual of Omaha.</p>\n
<p>“Today, many of those same individuals are tuning into Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild with their children and grandchildren. One generation, inspired to act. The next, just beginning to dream. That’s the enduring magic of Wild Kingdom — a timeless legacy of wonder, education and protection that continues to ripple across generations.”</p>\n
<p>When respondents shared how Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom impacted them and helped shape their understanding of wildlife conservation, some clear themes roared to the surface.</p>\n
<ul>\n
<li><strong>Wild ties that bind:</strong> Many shared childhood memories and family traditions linked to watching the show together on Sunday nights, highlighting its lasting impact over the years.</li>\n
<li><strong>Science, but make it cool: </strong>Respondents noted the program deepened their understanding of ecosystems and animals, breaking barriers to complex topics in an educational and entertaining way.</li>\n
<li><strong>From couch to career:</strong> Respondents shared that the show offered their first glimpse into real-world conservation work, making careers in wildlife care, environmental science and education feel both accessible and essential.</li>\n
</ul>\n
<p style="text-align: right"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-4234 size-large" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/06/640267_MediaCtr_1440x564-1024x401.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="401" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/06/640267_MediaCtr_1440x564-1024x401.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/06/640267_MediaCtr_1440x564-300x118.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/06/640267_MediaCtr_1440x564-150x59.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/06/640267_MediaCtr_1440x564-768x301.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/06/640267_MediaCtr_1440x564.jpg 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><em>Photo Courtesy of AZA</em></p>\n
<p style="text-align: left">“Growing up, I dreamed of wrestling anacondas like Marlin Perkins or diving alongside Jacques Cousteau. Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom ignited my connection to nature and inspired a more than 40-year career in wildlife conservation,” said Dan Ashe, president and CEO of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.</p>\n
<p>“We’re deeply grateful for Wild Kingdom’s contributions to AZA SAFE: Saving Animals from Extinction. Through featuring the work of our AZA organizations on the show and podcast, we’re educating and inspiring new generations. And we’re also proud to honor the legacy of Wild Kingdom through our highest distinction, the R. Marlin Perkins Award for Professional Excellence.”</p>\n
<h2>Reviving the series for a new generation of protectors</h2>\n
<p>Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom was more than just a television show — it served as a gateway to wildlife education. In 2023, the beloved series made a triumphant return to its original broadcast network, NBC, with a new series for the next generation, <a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/protecting-the-wild">Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild.</a></p>\n
<p>Co-hosted by Peter Gros and Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant, the Daytime Emmy®-nominated and multi-Telly Award-winning series continues to capture imaginations and forge connections across generations. It shines a spotlight on stories of conservation success and highlights the dedicated work of caring, compassionate experts — including those at AZA-accredited organizations — who are making a meaningful impact on our natural world.</p>\n
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-4232 size-large" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/06/640267_MediaCtr_1440x564_2-1024x401.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="401" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/06/640267_MediaCtr_1440x564_2-1024x401.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/06/640267_MediaCtr_1440x564_2-300x118.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/06/640267_MediaCtr_1440x564_2-150x59.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/06/640267_MediaCtr_1440x564_2-768x301.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/06/640267_MediaCtr_1440x564_2.jpg 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></p>\n
<p>Currently airing its second season, Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild invites a new generation to fall in love with the wild, just as their parents and grandparents once did.</p>\n
<p>Tune in on Saturdays on NBC’s “The More You Know” time block to watch the latest episodes or <a href="https://www.nbc.com/mutual-of-omahas-wild-kingdom-protecting-the-wild" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stream episodes on NBC.com</a> and Peacock.</p>\n
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"date" => "2025-06-24 07:50:16"
"excerpt" => "<p>For more than 60 years, one TV series has done more than showcase wildlife — it has inspired an entire generation of conservationists. Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom, in partnership with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), unveiled the “Wild Impact Report,” a look at how the legendary TV series inspired generations of wildlife […]</p>\n"
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<p><em>By Clarice Knelly and Jenny Rogers with the Brevard Zoo</em></p>\n
<p>Deep in the lush canopies of Central and South American rainforests lie some of nature’s most fascinating and unhurried animals — sloths. With their slow movements and hook-like feet, sloths have evolved over millions of years to thrive among the treetops.</p>\n
<p>Learn about sloths and how you can protect them. Plus, meet the resident sloths at the <a href="https://brevardzoo.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brevard Zoo</a>.</p>\n
<h2>Sloths: Life in the slow lane</h2>\n
<p style="text-align: right"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-4188 size-full" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/05/HIggins1-scaled.jpg" alt="Brown sloth hanging from a vine." width="1707" height="2560" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/05/HIggins1-scaled.jpg 1707w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/05/HIggins1-200x300.jpg 200w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/05/HIggins1-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/05/HIggins1-100x150.jpg 100w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/05/HIggins1-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/05/HIggins1-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/05/HIggins1-1365x2048.jpg 1365w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1707px) 100vw, 1707px" /><em>Image courtesy of Brevard Zoo</em></p>\n
<p>Ever wonder why sloths are so slow? They have extremely low metabolisms and need to conserve their energy whenever possible. Both two-toed and three-toed sloths use their curved claws and strong grip to help them shimmy along branches and stay suspended upside down for hours — even while sleeping — which helps them save energy.</p>\n
<p>Though they’re mostly known for their appearance and slow-paced lifestyle, these tree-dwellers play a vital role in preserving the health of their rainforest ecosystem as a keystone species. Sloths’ dense fur doubles as a habitat for other organisms such as algae, insects, fungi and moths. These critters flourish from the nutrients and protection of a sloth’s fur, while sloths benefit from the camouflage the algae growth provides, creating a symbiotic relationship between the two.</p>\n
<p>Sloths have many positive impacts on their environment. As arboreal creatures, sloths balance the biodiversity of plants in their environment. By consuming leaves, sloths prevent the overgrowth of vegetation and act as seed dispersers to promote new plant growth. Sloths are also an indicator species, helping us identify which regions in their natural ranges need our help the most, because a decline in sloth populations typically goes hand in hand with a decline in a forest’s health.</p>\n
<p>See sloths in the wild and at the Brevard Zoo in Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild episode, “<a href="https://www.nbc.com/mutual-of-omahas-wild-kingdom-protecting-the-wild/video/rescuing-the-sloths-of-panama/9000414712" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rescuing the Sloths of Panama</a>.”</p>\n
<h3>Brevard Zoo’s work with sloths</h3>\n
<p style="text-align: right"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-4189 size-large alignright" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/05/Higgins-1024x683.jpg" alt="Brown sloth hanging from a vine." width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/05/Higgins-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/05/Higgins-300x200.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/05/Higgins-150x100.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/05/Higgins-768x512.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/05/Higgins-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/05/Higgins-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><em>Image courtesy of Brevard Zoo</em></p>\n
<p>Brevard Zoo is just one of many Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accredited organizations working to support sloths both in and out of their native ranges.</p>\n
<p>Brevard Zoo is home to Lorenzo and Higgins, two resident Linne’s two-toed sloths who help build a bridge between the public and their species through the Ambassador Animals program. Lorenzo and Higgins represent their species during educational encounters with guests. During these interactions, guests can form meaningful connections and learn about the important roles sloths play in their native ecosystem and the threats they face today.</p>\n
<p>During guest interactions with the sloths and all the Ambassador Animals, the animal care team continually gauges the animals’ comfort levels. Lorenzo and Higgins were specifically chosen to be Ambassador Animals because they were both hand-raised, forming a positive association with humans.</p>\n
<p>The zoo also uses choice and control. This practice encourages the animals to walk away from any experience or human interaction whenever they please. These measures help ensure the zoo provides impactful experiences for guests while continuing to be thoughtful of the Ambassador Animals’ needs.</p>\n
<p>Beyond educational opportunities, Brevard Zoo financially supports sloth conservation in the species’ native ranges. In 2024, 20% of all proceeds from the zoo’s sloth encounters were donated to the Panamerican Conservation Association (APPC), a Central American-based organization focused on public outreach, rescue and rehabilitation for sloths. Brevard Zoo has also recently teamed up with <a href="https://arcas/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ARCAS</a>, another nonprofit supporting sloth conservation based in Guatemala, for a long-term partnership.</p>\n
<h2>Threats sloths face in the wild</h2>\n
<p style="text-align: right"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-4190 size-large" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/05/Lorenzo-1024x683.jpg" alt="Brown sloth hanging from a vine." width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/05/Lorenzo-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/05/Lorenzo-300x200.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/05/Lorenzo-150x100.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/05/Lorenzo-768x512.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/05/Lorenzo-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/05/Lorenzo-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><em>Image courtesy of Brevard Zoo</em></p>\n
<p>All six sloth species are decreasing in population. While several of these species are yet to be considered endangered, their populations continue to face serious threats that could one day push them into a more perilous category.</p>\n
<p>Deforestation and habitat loss may be the single largest risk facing sloths today. Native sloth habitat overlaps with a large portion of the Amazon rainforest, and this wild land is quickly disappearing. One of the main factors leading to deforestation is natural resource extraction, including mining and logging. Clearing forests to make room for crop cultivation, such as palm oil trees and soybean plants, is also common. And with the human population on the rise, urban development is also a major culprit for rainforest destruction.</p>\n
<p>Another risk factor sloths face is the illegal wildlife trade. Sloths are frequent victims of this deadly practice when they are taken from the wild and placed under poor conditions to be marketed to tourists for photo opportunities. According to <a href="https://slothconservation.org/sloth-problems-and-how-to-solve-them/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Sloth Conservation Foundation</a>, sloths placed under these conditions often only live for three to six months before perishing.</p>\n
<p>Brevard Zoo has moved away from sharing images of the animal care team holding sloths. While picking up sloths is often part of medical care, the zoo doesn’t want to communicate that these actions are okay for tourists to do when presented with the opportunity.</p>\n
<p>The zoo works carefully to accustom its sloths to human contact so that the keepers and veterinary staff can provide the best care for them, but sloths in general don’t like to be petted, groomed or bathed. Loud noises and sudden movements can often stress sloths out, but it takes a well-trained eye to understand when a sloth is showing signs of stress. These animals don’t often display signs obvious to humans that they’re in distress. Their natural fear response is to hold still. Sloths also have very sharp claws and teeth that can cause serious harm to untrained individuals handling sloths for a selfie.</p>\n
<p>Finally, human-animal conflicts are a growing threat. For sloths, habitat fragmentation has led them to cross roadways by crawling, leaving them vulnerable to traffic accidents. Others attempt to use powerlines to move, leaving them at risk of electrocution. Both car collisions and powerline electrocutions kill thousands of sloths each year as this species continues to try and navigate their rapidly changing environment.</p>\n
<h3>How you can help protect sloths</h3>\n
<p style="text-align: right"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-4191 size-large" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/05/Lorenzo-1-1024x683.jpg" alt="Brown sloth hanging from a vine." width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/05/Lorenzo-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/05/Lorenzo-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/05/Lorenzo-1-150x100.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/05/Lorenzo-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/05/Lorenzo-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2025/05/Lorenzo-1-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><em>Image courtesy of Brevard Zoo</em></p>\n
<p>There are lots of ways to support sloths in their native range from wherever you are in the world.</p>\n
<ul>\n
<li><strong>Practice responsible tourism</strong>. Before you head out on your dream Amazon vacation, make sure your tour group doesn’t contribute to the exploitation of sloths. If it’s promoting sloth selfies or allowing you to hold sloths, it’s not a place you should be spending your money. Instead, look for groups that admire sloths from a distance and show respect when in their natural habitat. You can find ethical sloth tourism opportunities through <a href="https://slothconservation.org/sloth-friendly-network/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Sloth Conservation Foundation’s Sloth Friendly Network</a>.</li>\n
<li>Head to your local AZA-accredited organization to see sloths up close and learn all about this incredible species in the right way.</li>\n
<li>Make eco-friendly swaps in your kitchen. Did you know that your daily cup of joe or your favorite chocolate bars require ingredients that contribute to deforestation? By purchasing coffee with the <a href="https://nationalzoo.si.edu/migratory-birds/bird-friendly" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Smithsonian Bird Friendly® certification</a> or avoiding foods with palm oil, you’re helping to preserve sloth habitat and promote biodiversity.</li>\n
<li>Ready to hop on a plane and spend a few weeks volunteering? Make sure you’re dedicating your time at a worthy facility that puts their sloths’ well-being first.</li>\n
<li>A simple way to make a big impact is donating to reliable sloth conservation organizations. Make sure to do your research to ensure your money is going to a reliable and ethical organization first.</li>\n
<li>Spread the word. Educate your friends, family or co-workers on eco-friendly practices they can use in their daily routine or share educational fun facts about this incredibly cool species.</li>\n
</ul>\n
<p>Sloths are an important part of the critical Amazon rainforest habitats that are currently under threat across Central and South America. While individual actions can seem small, collectively they make a huge difference. Together, we can all help conserve sloths and the lush jungle habitats they call home for generations to come.</p>\n
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"date" => "2025-05-28 13:05:08"
"excerpt" => "<p>By Clarice Knelly and Jenny Rogers with the Brevard Zoo Deep in the lush canopies of Central and South American rainforests lie some of nature’s most fascinating and unhurried animals — sloths. With their slow movements and hook-like feet, sloths have evolved over millions of years to thrive among the treetops. Learn about sloths and […]</p>\n"
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<p><small><em>By: Stephanie Westmoreland, South Carolina Aquarium</em></small></p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<p>The days are getting longer, the air is getting hotter and plans for beach trips are ramping up. Summer’s just around the corner, so take a walk along a South Carolina beach with us. Learn how to make your next trip to South Carolina or any beach remarkable, while being respectful to local wildlife!</p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<h2>How to share the beach with wildlife</h2>\n
<p> </p>\n
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3164" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/dune-resized-1024x508.jpg" alt="Sand dunes near a beach. There is tall, sparse grass and weeds growing on the dune, and behind the dune is bright blue sky." width="1024" height="508" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/dune-resized-1024x508.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/dune-resized-300x149.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/dune-resized-150x74.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/dune-resized-768x381.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/dune-resized-1536x761.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/dune-resized.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<h3>Sand dunes home to many animals</h3>\n
<p>Your adventure to the beach begins with a walk through the sand dunes. These small hills are often covered in sea oats or sweetgrass, welcoming you with a gentle wave in the ocean breeze. While you may not notice wildlife among the sand dunes, amazing creatures lie within, waiting to make their debut! Sand dunes are the chosen nesting spot for some shorebirds, such as least terns and American oystercatchers, as well as the <a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/article/sea-turtle-stranding-brings-organizations-together-for-rescue">endangered loggerhead sea turtle</a> — South Carolina’s state reptile.</p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3165" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/loggerhead-resized-1024x508.jpg" alt="A loggerhead sea turtle hatchling is making its way towards the ocean. It's walking on wet sand and the ocean shoreline is near it." width="1024" height="508" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/loggerhead-resized-1024x508.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/loggerhead-resized-300x149.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/loggerhead-resized-150x74.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/loggerhead-resized-768x381.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/loggerhead-resized-1536x761.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/loggerhead-resized.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<p>Here are ways to safely travel through the dunes.</p>\n
<ul>\n
<li><strong>Stay on walking paths!</strong> Although sand dunes may look like a fun spot to run and roll for kids, human traffic can destroy nests or interrupt natural nesting behaviors. Conservationists who <a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/video/sea-creatures-of-the-florida-coast-clip">protect endangered sea turtle nests</a> will mark them with orange diamond-shaped signs, but there may be more animal nests within that you don’t see.</li>\n
<li><strong>Obey beach rules regarding dogs</strong> and keep a close eye on your furry friends! Dogs are known to sneak to the dunes and snack on bird eggs, so make sure they’re enjoying the day by your side.</li>\n
</ul>\n
<p><strong> </strong></p>\n
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3166" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/pelican-resized-1024x508.jpg" alt="A brown pelican flying above. The sky is bright blue around it." width="1024" height="508" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/pelican-resized-1024x508.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/pelican-resized-300x149.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/pelican-resized-150x74.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/pelican-resized-768x381.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/pelican-resized-1536x761.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/pelican-resized.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<h3>A shore way to spend your day</h3>\n
<p><strong> </strong>Past the sand dunes lies the open shore, a perfect location for play, relaxation and bird watching! As you enjoy the sun and breathe in the salty air, glance up to spot some of the state’s avian residents, such as seagulls and brown pelicans. Watch the waves roll in and enjoy the moves of various sandpipers as they skitter to pluck coquina clams from the sand! If you’re lucky, you may even spot more wading birds such as egrets or herons. Upon the sand, you’ll find unique seashells and pieces of coral washed up from days past.</p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3167" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/shark-tooth-resized-1024x508.jpg" alt="A shark tooth and other pieces of shells and coral in the sand on a beach. The shark tooth is black." width="1024" height="508" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/shark-tooth-resized-1024x508.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/shark-tooth-resized-300x149.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/shark-tooth-resized-150x74.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/shark-tooth-resized-768x381.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/shark-tooth-resized-1536x761.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/shark-tooth-resized.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<p>Have an easy breezy day with these important reminders.</p>\n
<ul>\n
<li><strong>Pack reef friendly sunscreen.</strong> Protect your skin while protecting wildlife! Many sunscreens contain chemicals that are known to harm coral reefs. Plan ahead and purchase reef friendly sunscreen. These don’t contain chemicals like oxybenzone and octinoxate, which contribute to coral bleaching.</li>\n
<li><strong>Keep an eye on your belongings! </strong>Whether you’re eating snacks, playing with beach toys, reading a magazine or using sunscreen, ensure nothing gets blown away by the ocean breeze and becomes debris. <a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/video/from-trash-to-art-saving-oceans-through-sculpture">These efforts help plastic stay out of habitats</a> (and their wild residents).</li>\n
</ul>\n
<p> </p>\n
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3171" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/jelly-resized-1024x508.jpg" alt="A cannonball jellyfish washed in the sand. It's silver looking with spots of brown." width="1024" height="508" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/jelly-resized-1024x508.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/jelly-resized-300x149.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/jelly-resized-150x74.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/jelly-resized-768x381.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/jelly-resized-1536x761.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/jelly-resized.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<h2>Make your way to the surf</h2>\n
<h3>Spot species in the swash</h3>\n
<p>Did you know that bit of water that runs down the sand and back into the ocean after a wave is called swash? As you walk the waterline, focus on the sand below to spot treasures such as shark teeth, fossilized vertebrae, bivalves, mermaid’s purses and more. Look out for the locals that rule this habitat, too. <a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/video/the-forest-beneath-the-sea-clip">Sea stars</a>, sand dollars, fiddler crabs, cannonball jellies, whelk egg casings and more reside in this dynamic space, so watch your step as you search for your swash “gold!”</p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3168" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/sea-star-resized-1024x508.jpg" alt="A sea star washed up on a beach. It only has 4 limbs as is still pink-red, indicating that it is still alive." width="1024" height="508" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/sea-star-resized-1024x508.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/sea-star-resized-300x149.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/sea-star-resized-150x74.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/sea-star-resized-768x381.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/sea-star-resized-1536x761.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/sea-star-resized.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<p>Check out these tips to search the swash.</p>\n
<ul>\n
<li><strong>Gently scoop up any stray sea stars</strong> located beyond the tide line and bring them back to the water to lend a helping hand.</li>\n
<li><strong>Leave sand dollars at the beach.</strong> Don’t take or touch any sand dollars that are brown or tan — these are still alive!</li>\n
<li><strong>Watch out for jellies</strong> that may have washed in with the swash; they can cause a painful sting if you encounter them.</li>\n
</ul>\n
<p> </p>\n
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3170" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/ocean-resized-1024x508.jpg" alt="The shoreline of the ocean. You can see a little sand, some soft rolling waves, and the horizon is bright blue." width="1024" height="508" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/ocean-resized-1024x508.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/ocean-resized-300x149.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/ocean-resized-150x74.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/ocean-resized-768x381.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/ocean-resized-1536x761.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/ocean-resized.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<h3>Make your day a splash hit</h3>\n
<p>Once you’ve reached the water, another ecosystem awaits! Many surfers and kiteboarders take advantage of breezy days at the beach, while tourists and locals alike often spend hours floating in the waves … sometimes spotting our <em>other</em> locals. It’s not unusual to see pods of bottlenose dolphins swimming and feeding parallel to the shore!</p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3169" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/bottleneck-dolphin-resized-1024x508.jpg" alt="The fin of one bottlenose dolphin and the nose of another, breaching the ocean water." width="1024" height="508" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/bottleneck-dolphin-resized-1024x508.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/bottleneck-dolphin-resized-300x149.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/bottleneck-dolphin-resized-150x74.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/bottleneck-dolphin-resized-768x381.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/bottleneck-dolphin-resized-1536x761.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/bottleneck-dolphin-resized.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<p>Enjoy a safe swim with these guidelines.</p>\n
<ul>\n
<li><strong>Practice the “stingray shuffle!”</strong> Instead of picking up your feet for each step in the surf, make smaller shuffling motions to move about the water. This keeps nearby stingrays safe from accidental steps (and keeps you safe from accidental stings).</li>\n
<li><strong>Be aware of sea turtles</strong> <strong>if you’re fishing</strong> for a local catch to cook later! If you reel in a sea turtle, leave at least two feet of line attached to the hook and call the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, or a local wildlife agency, who can determine what further care is needed.</li>\n
<li><strong>Practice safe wildlife watching!</strong> Federal regulations require boats and spectators to stay at least 50 yards away from dolphins and other marine mammals. Dolphins in this region practice a behavior called “strand feeding,” where they herd fish to the shoreline to make catching prey a breeze! If you’re lucky enough to witness this behavior, keep your distance and don’t disturb.</li>\n
</ul>\n
<p> </p>\n
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3172" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/loggerhead-nest-resized-1024x508.jpg" alt="A sign noting there is a loggerhead sea turtle nest in the area. The nest is in some sand, and is blocked off by four wood posts and some rope." width="1024" height="508" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/loggerhead-nest-resized-1024x508.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/loggerhead-nest-resized-300x149.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/loggerhead-nest-resized-150x74.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/loggerhead-nest-resized-768x381.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/loggerhead-nest-resized-1536x761.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/loggerhead-nest-resized.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<h2>Leave no trace at the beach</h2>\n
<p>When your beach adventure ends, remember you’ve just visited the home of thousands of creatures; leave it wild, but keep it clean. Take a few minutes to gather all your belongings and keep these additional tips in mind to be a true friend to wildlife. <a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/article/how-to-be-an-ecotourist">Learn more about how to be an ecotourist</a> from co-host Peter Gros.</p>\n
<ul>\n
<li><strong>Fill in any holes</strong> so nesting sea turtles have a clear pathway to the dunes to lay their eggs!</li>\n
<li><strong>Lights out!</strong> If you’re staying overnight along the beach, turn off all exterior lights at sundown and only use a red flashlight for nighttime beach strolls. Sea turtle hatchlings can mistake white lights for the moon, making their already arduous journey to the water much more difficult.</li>\n
</ul>\n
<p> </p>\n
<p>The Carolina coast is calling, and now you’re ready to answer! Respecting local habitats is vital to sustaining dozens of species, and it’s easy to be a friend to the extraordinary animals you see in this state. For an up-close look at these amazing creatures (and so many more), visit the <a href="https://scaquarium.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">South Carolina Aquarium</a>, home to thousands of animals native to South Carolina’s diverse regions. Within the walls of the aquarium, accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, opportunities for hands-on interactions and animal encounters await!</p>\n
<p>Enjoy your visit, knowing that your extra care to respect beach habitats ensures future generations can enjoy the thrill of South Carolina’s water, wildlife and wild places.</p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<p>Learn more about sea turtles and more marine life by watching “<a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/video/sea-creatures-of-the-florida-coast-clip">Sea Creatures of the Florida Coast</a>” on Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild.</p>\n
<p>Plus, <a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/article/what-is-a-saltmarsh">discover another South Carolina environment, the saltmarsh</a>.</p>\n
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"date" => "2024-05-21 14:25:31"
"excerpt" => "<p>By: Stephanie Westmoreland, South Carolina Aquarium The days are getting longer, the air is getting hotter and plans for beach trips are ramping up. Summer’s just around the corner, so take a walk along a South Carolina beach with us. Learn how to make your next trip to South Carolina or any beach remarkable, […]</p>\n"
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<p><small><i>By the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium</i></small><br />\n
<small><i>Cover image courtesy of Grahm S. Jones, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium</i></small></p>\n
<p>Meet Stubby, the <a href="https://www.columbuszoo.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Columbus Zoo and Aquarium</a>‘s long-term resident manatee, community favorite and affectionately dubbed “Aquatic Queen of the Columbus Zoo.”</p>\n
<div id="attachment_2441" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2441" class="wp-image-2441 size-large" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/09/stubby-manatee-main-1024x508.jpg" alt="An underwater of a large manatee. This manatee has a skin condition that gives its grey coloring a white spotted look." width="1024" height="508" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/09/stubby-manatee-main-1024x508.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/09/stubby-manatee-main-300x149.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/09/stubby-manatee-main-150x74.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/09/stubby-manatee-main-768x381.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/09/stubby-manatee-main-1536x761.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/09/stubby-manatee-main.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-2441" class="wp-caption-text">Image courtesy of Grahm S. Jones, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium</p></div>\n
<h2>Stubby the manatee’s journey to Columbus Zoo</h2>\n
<p>Stubby was rescued in 1995 around age 10 in the St. John’s River in Jacksonville, Florida. She then arrived at the Columbus Zoo on Oct. 9, 2005, from Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park in Florida.</p>\n
<p><em> </em>Stubby’s health evaluation showed she was not yet ready to be released in the wild. Her injuries from a boat strike resulted in losing a large portion of her tail — and that was just the beginning of her health challenges.</p>\n
<p>Evidence of dermatitis (a skin infection) was first reported in Stubby in 2011. The infection progressed to the point that large areas of her body were affected. Stubby’s care team worked around the clock to aggressively treat her with antibiotics, antivirals, fluid therapy, nutritional assistance and wound care — at some points requiring daily or twice daily treatments.</p>\n
<p>“This was a terrible struggle for Stubby. She lost a significant amount of weight during various outbreaks caused by the infection, and there were at least five times we came very close to losing her,” said Doug Warmolts, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium’s vice president of animal care. “I remember one day when all of us were sitting by her pool after we had just finished another round of treatment. We were trying to determine next steps and while we realized we were losing the battle, we just weren’t ready to give up on her.”</p>\n
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-2435 size-large" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/09/stubby-manatee-arrival-1024x508.jpg" alt="A rescued manatee being lowered into an aquarium, where it will be rehabilitated. You cannot actually see the manatee. Only a large blue tarp that's being lifted by a crane. The manatee is wrapped inside the tarp as to keep its stress down during transport." width="1024" height="508" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/09/stubby-manatee-arrival-1024x508.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/09/stubby-manatee-arrival-300x149.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/09/stubby-manatee-arrival-150x74.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/09/stubby-manatee-arrival-768x381.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/09/stubby-manatee-arrival-1536x761.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/09/stubby-manatee-arrival.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<h3>Stubby the manatee’s miraculous recovery</h3>\n
<p>“I’ve never seen an animal rally back from a serious illness the way Stubby did, and she handled every one of her treatments with such grace. She was so trusting of us and so calm. She would look at us with those big, beautiful eyes, and I really believe that she knew we were trying to help her,” added Becky Ellsworth, curator of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium’s shores and aquarium region, where Stubby resides.</p>\n
<p>Stubby’s health eventually improved, and she has since made a full recovery, with only residual scarring remaining on her skin. However, due to Stubby’s other previous injuries, she is considered to be a conditionally non-releasable animal. Her condition is evaluated every five years to determine if she’s ready to return to Florida, but it is unlikely that she will move out of this category.</p>\n
<p>Although this is certainly unfortunate, in true Stubby fashion, it soon became clear that she was meant to forge her own path in helping her species.</p>\n
<div id="attachment_2442" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2442" class="wp-image-2442 size-large" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/09/stubby-manatee-tail-1024x508.jpg" alt="A close up of an injured manatee fan. The tail was split in the middle and has scars from boat strikes. " width="1024" height="508" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/09/stubby-manatee-tail-1024x508.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/09/stubby-manatee-tail-300x149.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/09/stubby-manatee-tail-150x74.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/09/stubby-manatee-tail-768x381.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/09/stubby-manatee-tail-1536x761.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/09/stubby-manatee-tail.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-2442" class="wp-caption-text">Image courtesy of Grahm S. Jones, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium</p></div>\n
<h2><strong>Stubby’s training and contributions to manatee conservation</strong></h2>\n
<p>After Stubby’s health stabilized and her interest in training grew — perhaps due to her fondness for rewards in the form of leaf-eater biscuits — her care team also noticed other changes. As other manatees continued to come and go as part of the program, Stubby began to go off feed, seemingly affected if she didn’t have other manatees with her, even for a short amount of time.</p>\n
<p>This was relatively surprising since, at the time, researchers believed that manatees were usually more solitary. Because the care team had initially needed to place all their focus on getting Stubby through her illness, once she was better they began seeing other behaviors, particularly how intricately she interacted with the orphaned calves.</p>\n
<div id="attachment_2436" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2436" class="wp-image-2436 size-large" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/09/stubby-manatee-arrival2-1024x508.jpg" alt="Two manatees underwater at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium holding tank, where they assess the health of the manatees before they are released with the other manatees in the aquarium." width="1024" height="508" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/09/stubby-manatee-arrival2-1024x508.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/09/stubby-manatee-arrival2-300x149.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/09/stubby-manatee-arrival2-150x74.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/09/stubby-manatee-arrival2-768x381.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/09/stubby-manatee-arrival2-1536x761.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/09/stubby-manatee-arrival2.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-2436" class="wp-caption-text">Image courtesy of Allison Martain, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium</p></div>\n
<h3></h3>\n
<h3>Stubby’s role as a manatee foster mom</h3>\n
<p>Stubby has voluntarily filled the role of a surrogate mother to the orphaned manatees who arrive, providing them with lessons that the human care team is unable to offer. She teaches them how to be a manatee.</p>\n
<p>“She socializes them and provides them with all the tools they will need that we’ll never know how to teach them,” Ellsworth said. “Each time new young manatees come to the zoo, Stubby immediately welcomes them. She lifts them to the surface to take a breath. She guides them out into the main aquarium and takes them on a full tour. She shows them where the food is and, of course, reminds them that she gets the good heads of lettuce.”</p>\n
<div id="attachment_2439" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2439" class="wp-image-2439 size-large" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/09/three-manatees-1024x508.jpg" alt="One large manatee swimming underwater with two smaller manatees swimming around it." width="1024" height="508" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/09/three-manatees-1024x508.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/09/three-manatees-300x149.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/09/three-manatees-150x74.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/09/three-manatees-768x381.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/09/three-manatees-1536x761.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/09/three-manatees.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-2439" class="wp-caption-text">Image courtesy of Grahm S. Jones, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium</p></div>\n
<p> </p>\n
<h3>Rehabilitating Squirrel the manatee</h3>\n
<p>All the young manatees immediately take to Stubby, who thrives in her vital role. In 2020, the Columbus Zoo welcomed Squirrel, who, at 116 pounds, was one of the smallest manatees ever to arrive at the zoo. Throughout Squirrel’s rehabilitation, she rarely left Stubby’s side, often keeping one flipper on her even while sleeping. As Squirrel grew, she started to show more independence, also thanks to Stubby’s guidance.</p>\n
<p>“People will ask us how we know when a manatee is ready for release. There are a lot of benchmarks, such as weight and length and time they have been in professional care. But we always watch Stubby carefully, too. As quick as she is to take a young orphan under her flipper, she’s just as quick to separate herself from the older ones that are ready to go,” Ellsworth said.</p>\n
<p>In 2024, Squirrel was returned to the wild. Watch her release into Florida’s Blue Springs State Park on Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild in the episode, “<a href="https://www.nbc.com/mutual-of-omahas-wild-kingdom-protecting-the-wild/video/gentle-giants/9000414725">Gentle Giants</a>.”</p>\n
<div id="attachment_2437" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2437" class="wp-image-2437 size-large" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/09/stubby-manatee-training-1024x508.jpg" alt="A zookeeper interacting with a manatee in care. The manatee is in the water with its belly up and one fin in the zookeeper's hand. The zookeeper is touching the area around the manatee's mouth." width="1024" height="508" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/09/stubby-manatee-training-1024x508.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/09/stubby-manatee-training-300x149.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/09/stubby-manatee-training-150x74.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/09/stubby-manatee-training-768x381.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/09/stubby-manatee-training-1536x761.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/09/stubby-manatee-training.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-2437" class="wp-caption-text">Image courtesy of Grahm S. Jones, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium</p></div>\n
<p> </p>\n
<p><strong>Stubby’s legacy </strong></p>\n
<p>“I remember visiting Stubby when I was a kid, and now I’m bringing my kids to the Zoo to see her,” said Annie N., a Columbus Zoo member from Westerville, Ohio. “She is one of our favorites — a true icon — and a great ambassador for her species as she provides our family with a personal connection and a reminder of the importance of taking care of the world around us.”</p>\n
<p>Stubby’s care team has a long list of favorite memories, though many have to do with the inspiration, hope and lessons that she provides to them, too.</p>\n
<p>“I hope people see that if a manatee with health issues and no tail can find her calling in life, they can, too. The Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership is doing incredible work for the manatee population, and Stubby is a huge part of those efforts,” Ellsworth said. “Stubby has been through so much and has persevered through it all. She has played such an important role for so many animals, and she will never know the impact that she’s had on the species.”</p>\n
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-2440 size-large" style="font-size: 16px" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/09/stubby-manatee-lettuce-1024x508.jpg" alt="manatee eating lettuce" width="1024" height="508" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/09/stubby-manatee-lettuce-1024x508.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/09/stubby-manatee-lettuce-300x149.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/09/stubby-manatee-lettuce-150x74.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/09/stubby-manatee-lettuce-768x381.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/09/stubby-manatee-lettuce-1536x761.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/09/stubby-manatee-lettuce.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></p>\n
<p>Image courtesy of Grahm S. Jones, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium</p>\n
<h2></h2>\n
<h2>How can you aid in manatee conservation?</h2>\n
<p>Want to help protect manatees and other aquatic specie? Check out these tips to get started:</p>\n
<ul>\n
<li>Reducing the use of fertilizers in our lawns and gardens helps prevent the harmful algae blooms in the ocean that may harm many sea animals and the food they depend on. Avoiding the use of fertilizers can also help local plants and wildlife return to their native ranges and habitats.</li>\n
<li><a href="https://myfwc.com/research/manatee/information/support/contact/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Report</a> a sick, dead, injured or tagged manatee that you see in the wild.</li>\n
<li>Pick up trash! When trash ends up in our oceans, animals often mistake it for food. That same trash can also wash up on beaches and impede species like sea turtles from nesting.</li>\n
<li>Admire wildlife from a distance</li>\n
<li>Support sustainable seafood practice. Learn how to <a href="https://www.seafoodwatch.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">make the best choices</a> when it comes to buying seafood.</li>\n
<li>Sunscreen is a must, especially in the hot summer days. Make sure to think about the ocean and use a sunscreen that is considered coral reef friendly.</li>\n
<li>And, of course, consider visiting the <a href="https://www.manateerescue.org/partners" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MRP partner facilities</a> to learn more about manatees!</li>\n
</ul>\n
<p> </p>\n
<p>Watch another manatee release on Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild’s Season 1 episode, “<a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/video/sea-creatures-of-the-florida-coast-clip">Sea Creatures of the Florida Coast</a>.”</p>\n
<p> </p>\n
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"excerpt" => "<p>By the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Cover image courtesy of Grahm S. Jones, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Meet Stubby, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium‘s long-term resident manatee, community favorite and affectionately dubbed “Aquatic Queen of the Columbus Zoo.” Stubby the manatee’s journey to Columbus Zoo Stubby was rescued in 1995 around age 10 in the […]</p>\n"
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<p>Visiting a zoo or aquarium is a great way to see favorite animal species. But did you know these facilities are also helping protect and conserve wildlife around the world?</p>\n
<p>The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) <a href="https://www.aza.org/aza-safe" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Saving Animals From Extinction</a> (SAFE) program brings together AZA-accredited facilities to share expertise and build conservation plans for species at risk of extinction.</p>\n
<p>Check out these 12 SAFE programs to learn about amazing conservation work in action and how you can help these animals.</p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<h2>Wild Kingdom highlights 12 SAFE programs</h2>\n
<p> </p>\n
<h3><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-2869" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/01/sloth-bear-carrying-one-cub-1024x508.jpg" alt="A mom sloth bear walking on some rocks, carrying one baby on its back." width="1024" height="508" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/01/sloth-bear-carrying-one-cub-1024x508.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/01/sloth-bear-carrying-one-cub-300x149.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/01/sloth-bear-carrying-one-cub-150x74.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/01/sloth-bear-carrying-one-cub-768x381.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/01/sloth-bear-carrying-one-cub-1536x761.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/01/sloth-bear-carrying-one-cub.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></h3>\n
<h3></h3>\n
<h3>Sloth bear</h3>\n
<p>With their scruffy black hair and long claws, sloth bears look a bit different than other bear species. Wild sloth bears can be found in India, Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan. In the U.S., zoos, such as Kansas’ Sunset Zoo, are working with partners in India to exchange caregiving techniques and ensure the species’ survival.</p>\n
<p>Check out these sloth bear stories for more facts:</p>\n
<p>“<a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/article/what-are-sloth-bears">What Are Sloth Bears and How Are They Conserved?</a>” with the Sunset Zoo</p>\n
<p>“<a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/article/what-sets-sloth-bears-apart">What Set Sloth Bears Apart?</a>” with Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild Co-Host Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant</p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-2932" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/02/andean-flamingo-species-1024x508.jpg" alt="Four Andean flamingos in a shallow lake with their beaks in the water." width="1024" height="508" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/02/andean-flamingo-species-1024x508.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/02/andean-flamingo-species-300x149.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/02/andean-flamingo-species-150x74.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/02/andean-flamingo-species-768x381.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/02/andean-flamingo-species-1536x761.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/02/andean-flamingo-species.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></p>\n
<h3></h3>\n
<h3>Andean Highland flamingo</h3>\n
<p>Way up in South America’s Andes Mountains are three species of flamingos: Andean, Chilean and Puna (James’s). These three species are all protected under the AZA’S Andean Highland Flamingo SAFE program. Some program initiatives include installing satellite transmitters to analyze flamingo movement in Chile and teaching Chileans about their wild flamingo neighbors.</p>\n
<p>Get to know what sets each species of Andean Highland flamingos apart in this story:</p>\n
<p>“<a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/article/andean-highland-flamingos-conserved-by-safe-program">Andean Highland Flamingos Conserved by SAFE Program</a>”</p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-2971" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/03/Asian-elephant-Raja_2022_photo-credit-JoEllen-Toler-Saint-Louis-Zoo-resized-1024x508.jpg" alt="An Asian elephant walking through its habitat at the Saint Louis Zoo. This elephant has smaller ears and tusks." width="1024" height="508" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/03/Asian-elephant-Raja_2022_photo-credit-JoEllen-Toler-Saint-Louis-Zoo-resized-1024x508.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/03/Asian-elephant-Raja_2022_photo-credit-JoEllen-Toler-Saint-Louis-Zoo-resized-300x149.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/03/Asian-elephant-Raja_2022_photo-credit-JoEllen-Toler-Saint-Louis-Zoo-resized-150x74.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/03/Asian-elephant-Raja_2022_photo-credit-JoEllen-Toler-Saint-Louis-Zoo-resized-768x381.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/03/Asian-elephant-Raja_2022_photo-credit-JoEllen-Toler-Saint-Louis-Zoo-resized-1536x761.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/03/Asian-elephant-Raja_2022_photo-credit-JoEllen-Toler-Saint-Louis-Zoo-resized.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></p>\n
<h3></h3>\n
<h3>Asian elephant</h3>\n
<p>Did you know elephants can have freckles? Asian elephants do! It’s one way to tell them apart from African elephants. But perhaps the easiest way is to look at their heads and ears. Asian elephants have smaller ears and a twin-domed head that looks like it has a part in the middle. These gentle giants aren’t just cute. They’re in need of protection, particularly through the treatment and management of elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus, a viral infection that affects Asian elephants.</p>\n
<p>Learn more about Asian elephants in these stories:</p>\n
<p>“<a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/article/meet-this-asian-elephant-herd">Meet This Asian Elephant Heard</a>” with the Saint Louis Zoo<br />\n
“<a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/article/how-the-cincinnati-zoo-protects-asian-elephants">How the Cincinnati Zoo Protects Asian Elephants</a>”</p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<div id="attachment_3023" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3023" class="size-large wp-image-3023" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/04/YoungLion_Floodplain-credit-Miguel-Lajas-resized-1024x508.jpg" alt="A young lion walking in the floodplains of Gorongosa National Park. The field is green with some sparse trees in the background." width="1024" height="508" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/04/YoungLion_Floodplain-credit-Miguel-Lajas-resized-1024x508.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/04/YoungLion_Floodplain-credit-Miguel-Lajas-resized-300x149.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/04/YoungLion_Floodplain-credit-Miguel-Lajas-resized-150x74.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/04/YoungLion_Floodplain-credit-Miguel-Lajas-resized-768x381.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/04/YoungLion_Floodplain-credit-Miguel-Lajas-resized-1536x761.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/04/YoungLion_Floodplain-credit-Miguel-Lajas-resized.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-3023" class="wp-caption-text">Credit | Miguel Lajas</p></div>\n
<h3></h3>\n
<h3>African lion</h3>\n
<p>One of the most iconic animal species, the African lion can be found in a variety of habitats in sub-Saharan Africa. They’re known for their social nature, forming groups called prides. One way the AZA SAFE program helps African lion conservation efforts is through a partnership between Zoo Boise and Gorongosa Restoration Park in Mozambique. Funding from the zoo has helped bring back a population of African lions to their homeland.</p>\n
<p>Read more about African lion conservation in this story:</p>\n
<p>“<a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/video/saving-african-lions-with-zoo-boise">Saving African Lions With Zoo Boise</a>”</p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3157" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/chimp-zoo-inline-1024x508.jpg" alt="A chimpanzee sitting at the top of what are supposed to mimic bamboo stalks. They are large poles and painted green and brown to mimic what bamboo shoots look like." width="1024" height="508" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/chimp-zoo-inline-1024x508.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/chimp-zoo-inline-300x149.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/chimp-zoo-inline-150x74.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/chimp-zoo-inline-768x381.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/chimp-zoo-inline-1536x761.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/chimp-zoo-inline.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<h3>Chimpanzee</h3>\n
<p>With their charming smiles and incredible smarts, it’s easy to see how chimpanzees have stolen the hearts of many for generations. Chimps may be famous in the entertainment industry, but it’s important to remember they’re endangered, wild animals. In the wild, these apes thrive in large social groups in western and central Africa. Through the SAFE program, zoos are working to provide solutions to threats against chimpanzees in the wild.</p>\n
<p>Learn more about how zoos are protecting chimpanzees in these stories:</p>\n
<p>“<a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/video/how-safe-program-protects-chimpanzees">How SAFE Program Protects Chimpanzees</a>” with the Dallas Zoo</p>\n
<p>“<a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/article/your-social-media-can-help-protect-chimpanzees">Your Social Media Can Help Protect Chimpanzees</a>” with the Lincoln Park Zoo</p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<div id="attachment_3224" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3224" class="size-large wp-image-3224" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/06/giraffe-tongue-credit-oakland-zoo-1024x508.jpg" alt="A close up of a giraffe sticking its tongue out. Its tongue is long and grey. In the background is other giraffes." width="1024" height="508" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/06/giraffe-tongue-credit-oakland-zoo-1024x508.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/06/giraffe-tongue-credit-oakland-zoo-300x149.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/06/giraffe-tongue-credit-oakland-zoo-150x74.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/06/giraffe-tongue-credit-oakland-zoo-768x381.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/06/giraffe-tongue-credit-oakland-zoo-1536x761.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/06/giraffe-tongue-credit-oakland-zoo.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-3224" class="wp-caption-text">Credit | Oakland Zoo</p></div>\n
<p> </p>\n
<h3>Giraffe</h3>\n
<p>Did you know giraffes have been studied by NASA scientists? Their one-of-a-kind circulatory system piqued the scientists’ interest, with an ability to drive blood and fluid upward against gravity. Giraffes are native to Africa, but their population has declined by 30% in the last 40 years. To help restore native giraffe population, SAFE program has partnered with the Somali Giraffe Project, an initiative that provides community-based support to help protect giraffes.</p>\n
<p>Discover SAFE’S work on giraffe conservation in Eastern Kenya in this story:</p>\n
<p>“<a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/article/how-well-do-you-know-giraffes">How Well Do You Know Giraffes?</a>” with the Oakland Zoo</p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-3287 size-large" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/07/Edit-Jaguar2-PHX-Zoo-WJ-Wheaton-1024x508.jpg" alt="A jaguar with its mouth open and tongue out as if its howling or hissing. You can see the" width="1024" height="508" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/07/Edit-Jaguar2-PHX-Zoo-WJ-Wheaton-1024x508.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/07/Edit-Jaguar2-PHX-Zoo-WJ-Wheaton-300x149.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/07/Edit-Jaguar2-PHX-Zoo-WJ-Wheaton-150x74.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/07/Edit-Jaguar2-PHX-Zoo-WJ-Wheaton-768x381.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/07/Edit-Jaguar2-PHX-Zoo-WJ-Wheaton-1536x761.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/07/Edit-Jaguar2-PHX-Zoo-WJ-Wheaton.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<h3>Jaguar</h3>\n
<p>One way to tell a jaguar apart from a leopard? Look at the spots! Jaguars have spots inside of their black rosette markings, while leopards don’t. In the wild it’s even easier — jaguars live in the Americas and leopards in Africa and Asia. As a keystone species, jaguars are essential to the health of their ecosystem. SAFE Jaguar funds, conducts and supports jaguar fieldwork in Central and South America, helping these big cats in their native land.</p>\n
<p>Get more jaguar facts in these stories:</p>\n
<p>“<a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/video/how-u-s-zoos-help-jaguar-conservation-abroad">How U.S. Zoos Help Jaguar Conservation Abroad</a>” with the Phoenix Zoo</p>\n
<p>“<a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/article/connecting-and-conserving-jaguars-with-phoenix-zoo">Connecting and Conserving Jaguars With Phoenix Zoo</a>”</p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3429" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/08/red-winged-blackbird-1024x508.jpg" alt="Red-winged blackbird" width="1024" height="508" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/08/red-winged-blackbird-1024x508.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/08/red-winged-blackbird-300x149.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/08/red-winged-blackbird-150x74.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/08/red-winged-blackbird-768x381.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/08/red-winged-blackbird-1536x761.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/08/red-winged-blackbird.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<h3>North American songbird</h3>\n
<p>If there was an award for greatest animal musicians, we think North American songbirds would win it! These 319 species may be well-known for their melodious tunes, but they also play a crucial role in pest control and seed dispersal. The SAFE program helps protect songbirds with a focus on reducing bird collisions with glass, keeping domestic cats indoors and building native habitats.</p>\n
<p>Learn how you can help protect North American songbirds in these stories:</p>\n
<p>“<a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/article/how-organizations-protect-north-american-songbirds">How Organizations Protect North American Songbirds</a>” with the Columbus Zoo</p>\n
<p>“<a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/article/your-guide-to-north-american-songbirds">Your Guide to North American Songbirds</a>” with Lauritzen Gardens</p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<div id="attachment_2561" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2561" class="size-large wp-image-2561" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/10/manedwolf-EWC-1024x508.jpg" alt="maned wolf" width="1024" height="508" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/10/manedwolf-EWC-1024x508.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/10/manedwolf-EWC-300x149.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/10/manedwolf-EWC-150x74.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/10/manedwolf-EWC-768x381.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/10/manedwolf-EWC-1536x761.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/10/manedwolf-EWC.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-2561" class="wp-caption-text">Credit | Victoria Ziglar, Bright Coral Creative, Endangered Wolf Center</p></div>\n
<p> </p>\n
<h3>Maned wolf</h3>\n
<p>Unlike most wolves, maned wolves are solitary creatures, only living among others during breeding season. They’re known for their long legs, slender build and foxlike coloring. Native to South America, maned wolves are threatened by habitat fragmentation. AZA-facilities, such as the Endangered Wolf Center, are researching maned wolves to help safely return them to the wild.</p>\n
<p>Check out maned wolf conservation in the U.S. in this story:</p>\n
<p>“<a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/video/have-you-heard-of-the-maned-wolf">Have You Heard of the Maned Wolf?</a>” with the Endangered Wolf Center</p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3630" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/10/resize-LeadPhoto_SAFEBlackRhino-1024x508.jpg" alt="A large adult rhino standing next to a small baby rhino amongst some red rocky ground. They are both grey in color. The adult rhino has two horns on the top of its face and the small one does not, only large ears that stick up." width="1024" height="508" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/10/resize-LeadPhoto_SAFEBlackRhino-1024x508.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/10/resize-LeadPhoto_SAFEBlackRhino-300x149.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/10/resize-LeadPhoto_SAFEBlackRhino-150x74.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/10/resize-LeadPhoto_SAFEBlackRhino-768x381.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/10/resize-LeadPhoto_SAFEBlackRhino-1536x761.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/10/resize-LeadPhoto_SAFEBlackRhino.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<h3>Black rhino</h3>\n
<p>In conservation, it’s always good to have a friend like the Rhino Rangers, a dedicated group of professionals providing data to conservation biologists. Black rhino conservation wouldn’t be possible without the collaboration between community members and wildlife conservationists. The SAFE program strengthens this support through community engagement campaigns such as Save the Rhino Trust, Reading With Rhinos and Rhino Cup Champions League.</p>\n
<p>Learn more about these community-based conservation initiatives in this story:</p>\n
<p>“<a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/article/helping-black-rhinos">Who’s Helping Protect Black Rhinos in Namibia?</a>” with the Minnesota Zoo</p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3680" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/11/Living-Desert-painted-dog3-1-1024x508.jpg" alt="Two African painted dogs running on a dirt path through some green grass. One is directly behind the other. African painted dogs are wild dogs with unique white, brown and black spots, a black snout and large round ears atop their heads." width="1024" height="508" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/11/Living-Desert-painted-dog3-1-1024x508.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/11/Living-Desert-painted-dog3-1-300x149.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/11/Living-Desert-painted-dog3-1-150x74.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/11/Living-Desert-painted-dog3-1-768x381.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/11/Living-Desert-painted-dog3-1-1536x761.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/11/Living-Desert-painted-dog3-1.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<h3>African painted dog</h3>\n
<p>One of the most successful hunters in the animal kingdom, the African painted dog lives in close family units, a key factor to triumphant hunts. They’re often mistaken for hyenas, but African painted dogs are much smaller and have large, round ears. Through the SAFE program, zoos work with organizations in Africa, such as the Painted Dog Research Trust, to help these animals in the wild. One simple act that’s protecting these dogs is lowering speed limits in Zimbabwe, reducing vehicular collisions with animals.</p>\n
<p>Explore plans to protect African painted dogs in this story:</p>\n
<p>“<a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/video/meet-the-african-painted-dog">Leader of the Pack: Meet the African Painted Dog</a>” with The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens</p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3707" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/12/african-penguin-facebook-1024x538.jpg" alt="Two African penguins standing on a rock as waves from the ocean splash up behind them." width="1024" height="538" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/12/african-penguin-facebook-1024x538.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/12/african-penguin-facebook-300x158.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/12/african-penguin-facebook-150x79.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/12/african-penguin-facebook-768x403.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/12/african-penguin-facebook.jpg 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<h3>African penguin</h3>\n
<p>Weighing in at only four to 11 pounds, African penguins may be small in size, but they live in large colonies on the southwestern coast of Africa. Each penguin has a unique pattern of black spotting across its chest and belly. These birds face the threat of functional extinction by 2035, and the SAFE program is working to ensure penguins are protected for generations to come. Conservation efforts include improving disaster response protocols for oil spills and constructing artificial nests to help with population declines.</p>\n
<p><a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/video/florida-aquarium-penguin-conservation">Watch African penguins in action in this video</a>.</p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<p><a href="https://www.aza.org/find-a-zoo-or-aquarium" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Visiting an AZA-accredited zoo or aquarium</a> can help spark a lifelong interest in animal conservation. When we see these animals up close, it’s easy to know why so many people want to protect wildlife. Thanks to the SAFE program, we hope to share our planet with these species for generations to come.</p>\n
<p>Learn more about <a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/article/zoos-and-aquariums-key-to-conservation-success">why zoos and aquariums are key to conservation success</a>.</p>\n
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"excerpt" => "<p>Visiting a zoo or aquarium is a great way to see favorite animal species. But did you know these facilities are also helping protect and conserve wildlife around the world? The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE) program brings together AZA-accredited facilities to share expertise and build conservation plans for […]</p>\n"
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<p><small><em>By the Association of Zoos and Aquariums<br />\n
Top image credit | WCS Nigeria</em></small></p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<p>Zoos and aquariums are much more than places to see wildlife from far away places. They’re home to extensive conservation research and advocacy, protecting species now and in the future.</p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3200" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/06/african-painted-dog-1024x508.jpg" alt="An African painted dog laying on a grave ground. This canid species has large round years and brindle-like black and tan markings all over its fur. It looks like a dog with Mickey Mouse ears." width="1024" height="508" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/06/african-painted-dog-1024x508.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/06/african-painted-dog-300x149.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/06/african-painted-dog-150x74.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/06/african-painted-dog-768x381.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/06/african-painted-dog-1536x761.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/06/african-painted-dog.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<h2>Saving Animals From Extinction® programs</h2>\n
<p>Every year, Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) member facilities invest more than $200 million in activities directly benefiting animals and habitats in the wild. One example of this is the AZA’s Saving Animals From Extinction® (SAFE) program, bringing AZA-accredited facilities together to share expertise and save species.</p>\n
<p>With SAFE, the AZA community takes conservation to the scale needed to have a meaningful impact on wildlife conservation generally, and species survival alongside people specifically.</p>\n
<p>In 2023, SAFE grew to 41 species and taxonomic-wide programs and published three more species program plans. SAFE added seven new programs that will benefit the African elephant, Mexican wolf, North American bison, North American freshwater mussels, ocelot, Perdido Key beach mouse and sunflower sea star. By the end of March 2024, a 42nd SAFE program was created to benefit red pandas and three more program plans were published.</p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<div id="attachment_3201" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3201" class="size-large wp-image-3201" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/06/resized-Community-rangers-receiving-patrol-instructions_Photo-©-WCS-Nigeria-1024x508.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="508" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/06/resized-Community-rangers-receiving-patrol-instructions_Photo-©-WCS-Nigeria-1024x508.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/06/resized-Community-rangers-receiving-patrol-instructions_Photo-©-WCS-Nigeria-300x149.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/06/resized-Community-rangers-receiving-patrol-instructions_Photo-©-WCS-Nigeria-150x74.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/06/resized-Community-rangers-receiving-patrol-instructions_Photo-©-WCS-Nigeria-768x381.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/06/resized-Community-rangers-receiving-patrol-instructions_Photo-©-WCS-Nigeria-1536x761.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/06/resized-Community-rangers-receiving-patrol-instructions_Photo-©-WCS-Nigeria.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-3201" class="wp-caption-text">The SAFE programs fund work happening abroad, like this group of community rangers who are receiving their patrol instruction.<br />Credit | WCS Nigeria</p></div>\n
<p> </p>\n
<h3>SAFE species featured on Wild Kingdom</h3>\n
<p>Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom is a proud partner and supporter of AZA SAFE and serves as a member of AZA’s Commercial Member Engagement Council.</p>\n
<p>“Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom’s mission is to inspire the next generation of wildlife lovers to preserve species under threat of extinction in our modern world. As such, we are proud to support the important work of AZA SAFE and its mission to leverage the power of zoos and aquariums to save animals from extinction,” said Jennifer Wulf, Mutual of Omaha vice president of brand marketing.</p>\n
<p>The impact of SAFE’s work can be seen worldwide. Because of SAFE, the Zambian Department of National Parks and Wildlife now has enhanced staff capacity. This allows staff to use technology and leverage law enforcement and wildlife field data to help protect African elephants and black rhino. SAFE programs have also worked to better understand the movements and behavioral patterns of cold-stunned sea turtles that strand in the Northeast and are rehabilitated and released in Florida.</p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<div id="attachment_3029" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3029" class="size-large wp-image-3029" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/04/Zoo-Boise-male-African-lion-Revan-by-Naomi-Clayton-NAC-Photography-2023-resized-1024x508.jpg" alt="Male lion with a tan and dark brown mane licks his top lip as he looks at the camera." width="1024" height="508" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/04/Zoo-Boise-male-African-lion-Revan-by-Naomi-Clayton-NAC-Photography-2023-resized-1024x508.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/04/Zoo-Boise-male-African-lion-Revan-by-Naomi-Clayton-NAC-Photography-2023-resized-300x149.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/04/Zoo-Boise-male-African-lion-Revan-by-Naomi-Clayton-NAC-Photography-2023-resized-150x74.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/04/Zoo-Boise-male-African-lion-Revan-by-Naomi-Clayton-NAC-Photography-2023-resized-768x381.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/04/Zoo-Boise-male-African-lion-Revan-by-Naomi-Clayton-NAC-Photography-2023-resized-1536x761.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/04/Zoo-Boise-male-African-lion-Revan-by-Naomi-Clayton-NAC-Photography-2023-resized.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-3029" class="wp-caption-text">African lions at Zoo Boise not only receive top-notch care and enrichment, they’re doing the important task of public education for their conservation in their native country.<br />Credit | Naomi Clayton, NAC Photography</p></div>\n
<p> </p>\n
<p>“The collaboration between AZA organizations is not only impressive but imperative to conserving the SAFE species and teaching future generations the importance of doing so. We’re partnering with many AZA organizations to highlight their work in our new series Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild, through digital content and in our 2024 Wild Kingdom Calendar,” Wulf said.</p>\n
<p>SAFE is a framework to help the AZA community do more and better conservation. SAFE protects threatened animals, builds on established recovery plans and a history of commitment, prioritizes collaboration among AZA member institutions, implements strategic conservation and stakeholder inclusive activities and measures and reports its conservation progress.</p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3202" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/06/sea-star-1024x508.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="508" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/06/sea-star-1024x508.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/06/sea-star-300x149.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/06/sea-star-150x74.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/06/sea-star-768x381.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/06/sea-star-1536x761.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/06/sea-star.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<p>Wild Kingdom has shared these conservation stories and the AZA zoos and aquariums who are working tirelessly for conservation on its series, <a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/protecting-the-wild">Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild</a>. SAFE species featured on the series include <a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/video/conservation-comeback-clip">black-footed ferrets</a>, <a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/video/the-forest-beneath-the-sea-clip">sunflower sea stars</a> and <a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/video/sea-creatures-of-the-florida-coast-clip">sea turtles</a>.</p>\n
<p>In addition to television spotlights, Wild Kingdom highlights SAFE programs each month on social media channels. Fans can learn facts about these species and read stories from AZA facilities directly involved with the programs. Spotlight species include <a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/video/how-safe-program-protects-chimpanzees">chimpanzees</a>, <a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/article/how-the-cincinnati-zoo-protects-asian-elephants">Asian elephants</a>, <a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/article/andean-highland-flamingos-conserved-by-safe-program">Andean highland flamingos</a> and <a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/article/what-are-sloth-bears">sloth bears</a>.</p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<div id="attachment_3203" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3203" class="size-large wp-image-3203" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/06/resized-Image-4.SAFE-Andean-Highland-Flamingo.Credit-Zoologico-Nacional-de-Chile.2023-1024x508.jpg" alt="Four people wearing blue disposable hospital gowns and face masks pose for the camera. One is holding a pink flamingo, one they just did a health check on. They're standing in a sparse field in the Andean Highlands with a mountain range behind them." width="1024" height="508" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/06/resized-Image-4.SAFE-Andean-Highland-Flamingo.Credit-Zoologico-Nacional-de-Chile.2023-1024x508.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/06/resized-Image-4.SAFE-Andean-Highland-Flamingo.Credit-Zoologico-Nacional-de-Chile.2023-300x149.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/06/resized-Image-4.SAFE-Andean-Highland-Flamingo.Credit-Zoologico-Nacional-de-Chile.2023-150x74.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/06/resized-Image-4.SAFE-Andean-Highland-Flamingo.Credit-Zoologico-Nacional-de-Chile.2023-768x381.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/06/resized-Image-4.SAFE-Andean-Highland-Flamingo.Credit-Zoologico-Nacional-de-Chile.2023-1536x761.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/06/resized-Image-4.SAFE-Andean-Highland-Flamingo.Credit-Zoologico-Nacional-de-Chile.2023.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-3203" class="wp-caption-text">Scientists track and study Andean Highland flamingos in Chile.<br />Credit | Zoológico Nacional de Chile</p></div>\n
<p> </p>\n
<h3>The future of AZA’s SAFE program</h3>\n
<p>And there are more SAFE stories to share. Over the course of the last year, SAFE species programs and partners:</p>\n
<ul>\n
<li>Enhanced wildlife authorities’ scientific capacity to detect wildlife poisoning and their ability to provide veterinary interventions to save poisoned African vultures and other wildlife via a five-day workshop in Kenya</li>\n
<li>Planted more than 8,000 trees across six sites in the Kinabatangan rainforest of Borneo to provide healthy habitats for orangutans</li>\n
<li>Improved eastern indigo snake hatching success, allowing 30 animals to be released at each of two reintroduction sites in the southern United States</li>\n
<li>Developed a Best Practices in Handling and Welfare working group to create decision trees, strategies, tools and other resources for use when handling elasmobranchs in human care and in the wild</li>\n
</ul>\n
<div class="mceTemp"></div>\n
<p> </p>\n
<div id="attachment_3205" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3205" class="size-large wp-image-3205" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/06/resized-Andean-Bear-SAFE_camera-trap-image-of-Andean-bear-1024x508.jpg" alt="An Andean bear walking through the forest. The bear is black and has a brown snout. " width="1024" height="508" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/06/resized-Andean-Bear-SAFE_camera-trap-image-of-Andean-bear-1024x508.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/06/resized-Andean-Bear-SAFE_camera-trap-image-of-Andean-bear-300x149.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/06/resized-Andean-Bear-SAFE_camera-trap-image-of-Andean-bear-150x74.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/06/resized-Andean-Bear-SAFE_camera-trap-image-of-Andean-bear-768x381.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/06/resized-Andean-Bear-SAFE_camera-trap-image-of-Andean-bear-1536x761.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/06/resized-Andean-Bear-SAFE_camera-trap-image-of-Andean-bear.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-3205" class="wp-caption-text">A field camera caught this picture of an Andean bear.</p></div>\n
<p> </p>\n
<p>Each year, SAFE species programs celebrate species-related days, weeks and even full months to raise awareness, educate the public, engage people in conservation action, elevate new voices and raise funds to support their species’ conservation activities.</p>\n
<p>AZA supports SAFE species programs through two granting programs. With SAFE as AZA’s signature conservation brand, funds are directed only to projects that advance the objectives of SAFE species programs. In 2021, JoEllen Doornbos, a generous AZA donor, contributed $1 million to create an endowment that will support SAFE species programs in perpetuity. AZA doubled donations to the endowment in 2023 by successfully matching multiyear challenge grants from the Arthur L. and Elaine V. Johnson Foundation, initial funders of one of the two granting programs. Mutual of Omaha is a strong supporter of the SAFE granting programs and has made significant financial contributions over the past several years.</p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<div id="attachment_3204" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3204" class="size-large wp-image-3204" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/06/resizedAndean-Bear-SAFE_Tatama-National-Park-Colombia_Habitat-Restoration1-1024x508.jpg" alt="A women walking through grass in a hilly range. There are large trees on the hills behind her and the sky is very foggy." width="1024" height="508" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/06/resizedAndean-Bear-SAFE_Tatama-National-Park-Colombia_Habitat-Restoration1-1024x508.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/06/resizedAndean-Bear-SAFE_Tatama-National-Park-Colombia_Habitat-Restoration1-300x149.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/06/resizedAndean-Bear-SAFE_Tatama-National-Park-Colombia_Habitat-Restoration1-150x74.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/06/resizedAndean-Bear-SAFE_Tatama-National-Park-Colombia_Habitat-Restoration1-768x381.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/06/resizedAndean-Bear-SAFE_Tatama-National-Park-Colombia_Habitat-Restoration1-1536x761.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/06/resizedAndean-Bear-SAFE_Tatama-National-Park-Colombia_Habitat-Restoration1.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-3204" class="wp-caption-text">Habitat restoration at Tatama National Park in Colombia is vital to Andean bear conservation.</p></div>\n
<p> </p>\n
<p>“Together we are saving the most vulnerable wildlife species from extinction and protecting them for future generations. The mission of SAFE: Saving Animals From Extinction is to combine the power of zoo and aquarium visitors with the resources and collective expertise of AZA members and partners to save animals from extinction,” said Dan Ashe, AZA president and CEO.</p>\n
<p>“We’re grateful for Mutual of Omaha’s support in promoting SAFE to the public by featuring SAFE species on Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom and through the work they’ve done to financially support the SAFE programs in place in the wild. Their partnership has been a vital component of AZA’s mission to protect wildlife and wild places.”</p>\n
<p>For more information and to learn how you can help save animals from extinction visit <a href="http://www.aza.org/safe" target="_blank" rel="noopener">aza.org/safe</a></p>\n
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<p><span data-contrast="auto">It takes a community to protect wildlife, something Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom and </span><a href="https://nwf.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span data-contrast="none">National Wildlife Federation</span></a><span data-contrast="auto"> know well. The two teamed up once again for the 2025 </span><a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/article/wild-kingdom-college-and-university-grant-program"><span data-contrast="none">EcoLeaders® college and university grants</span></a><span data-contrast="auto">, which support the next generation of conservationists who are working to help protect and/or restore wildlife and/or their habitats.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>\n
<p><span data-contrast="auto">2025’s recipients built bat and bird boxes, identified habitat for endangered species, removed invasive plants, monitored wildlife activity and released animals back to the wild. In the process they helped little brown bats, Eastern blue birds, San Joaquin kit foxes, brown-headed nuthatches, red-headed woodpeckers, Eastern rat snakes, gopher tortoises and freshwater mussels.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>\n
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Wild Kingdom and National Wildlife Federation’s grant supported the following seven colleges and universities for 2025:</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>\n
<ul>\n
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="8" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Allegheny College in Pennsylvania</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>\n
</ul>\n
<ul>\n
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="9" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">California State University Bakersfield</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>\n
</ul>\n
<ul>\n
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="10" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Georgia State University Perimeter College</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>\n
</ul>\n
<ul>\n
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="11" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Kentucky State University</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>\n
</ul>\n
<ul>\n
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="12" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Smith College in Massachusetts</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>\n
</ul>\n
<ul>\n
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="13" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">University of South Florida</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>\n
</ul>\n
<ul>\n
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="14" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">University of Tennessee</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>\n
</ul>\n
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Learn more about how each school helped protect wildlife through their projects.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>\n
<h2><span data-contrast="auto">2025 grant recipient projects</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></h2>\n
<h3><span data-contrast="auto">Little brown bat, Eastern bluebird</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></h3>\n
<h4><span data-contrast="auto">Allegheny College</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></h4>\n
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Songbirds in Pennsylvania, rejoice! Allegheny College built and installed 20 pine bird boxes across its campus to attract at least four native cavity-nesting songbirds: black-capped chickadees, Eastern bluebirds, house wrens and tree swallows. The team also installed boxes to protect habitat for endangered Northern long-eared bats and threatened little brown bats.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>\n
<p><span data-contrast="auto">In addition, the team created a perennial native flower landscape which provides habitat and shows a sustainable alternative to a typical lawn. They planted three species of live plants, one species of bare root plant and 14 species of seeded plants.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>\n
<h3><span data-contrast="auto">San Joaquin kit fox</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></h3>\n
<h4><span data-contrast="auto">California State University Bakersfield</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></h4>\n
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Protecting habitat is a critical part of protecting species. San Joaquin kit foxes are endangered, so the team at California State University Bakersfield conducted research to figure out the fox’s habitat. First, they collected 221 scat samples and extracted DNA to help identify which mammals the scat belonged to. Through this research, the team found five hot spot sites for the foxes.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>\n
<p><span data-contrast="auto">This data was then used for a campus habitat conservation plan to preserve denning and hunting grounds for the foxes. This noninvasive plan was proposed to the City of Bakersfield to help protect the foxes and other endangered species.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>\n
<h3><span data-contrast="auto">Brown-headed nuthatch</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></h3>\n
<h4><span data-contrast="auto">Georgia State University Perimeter College</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></h4>\n
<p><span data-contrast="auto">As a species of concern, the brown-headed nuthatch needs help from conservationists. The team at Georgia State University Perimeter College answered the call by building and installing 130 nest boxes across the campus as well as partner sites in the area. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>\n
<p><span data-contrast="auto">The team also created 30 educational signs and engaged students in hands-on lab and field activities. This spring, the team will begin data collection during the bird’s nesting season.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>\n
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-4745" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2026/04/645494_WK_NWFArticle_social_Page_4.jpg" alt="A group poses near a sign recognizing 25 years of wildlife protection, with an inset image showing a nest with young birds resting inside." width="1500" height="588" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2026/04/645494_WK_NWFArticle_social_Page_4.jpg 1500w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2026/04/645494_WK_NWFArticle_social_Page_4-300x118.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2026/04/645494_WK_NWFArticle_social_Page_4-1024x401.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2026/04/645494_WK_NWFArticle_social_Page_4-150x59.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2026/04/645494_WK_NWFArticle_social_Page_4-768x301.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></p>\n
<h3><span data-contrast="auto">Red-headed woodpecker</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></h3>\n
<h4><span data-contrast="auto">Kentucky State University</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></h4>\n
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Supporting the red-headed woodpecker (a species of conservation concern) started with building and installing three nest boxes, but the project didn’t end there. Kentucky State University’s students and staff also removed invasive shrubs and sprayed invasive wineberry. These steps are key to habitat management and restoration.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>\n
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Finally, the team hosted invasive species removal days called Woodland Wednesdays and community nest box building workshops with KSU’s Environmental Education and Research Center. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>\n
<h3><span data-contrast="auto">Eastern rat snake</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></h3>\n
<h4><span data-contrast="auto">Smith College</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></h4>\n
<p><span data-contrast="auto">As a tree snake, the Eastern rat snake needs woody habitat to survive. Smith College’s project focused on habitat restoration through invasive plant species removal. The team removed five acres of invasive vegetation. They then planted over 100 native trees and shrubs and spread native grassland seed over two acres.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>\n
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Finally, the team built a snake hibernaculum, or refuge to help both Eastern rat and other snake species. The techniques used in this project were documented to be applied for future restoration efforts in the area.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>\n
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-4744" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2026/04/645494_WK_NWFArticle_social_Page_3.jpg" alt="A person kneels outdoors while planting vegetation, alongside a close-up inset of hands tying a labeled tag to a newly planted sapling." width="1860" height="729" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2026/04/645494_WK_NWFArticle_social_Page_3.jpg 1860w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2026/04/645494_WK_NWFArticle_social_Page_3-300x118.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2026/04/645494_WK_NWFArticle_social_Page_3-1024x401.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2026/04/645494_WK_NWFArticle_social_Page_3-150x59.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2026/04/645494_WK_NWFArticle_social_Page_3-768x301.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2026/04/645494_WK_NWFArticle_social_Page_3-1536x602.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1860px) 100vw, 1860px" /></p>\n
<h3><span data-contrast="auto">Gopher tortoise</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></h3>\n
<h4><span data-contrast="auto">University of South Florida</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></h4>\n
<p><span data-contrast="auto">As the Bull’s Nature Trail Boardwalk is being built in Florida, the team at University of South Florida is ensuring its construction doesn’t impact gopher tortoise habitat. To do this, they installed four trail cameras which showed how the area is a corridor for many animals, but not the gopher tortoise. This is great news because it confirms the trail placement won’t harm tortoise habitat.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>\n
<p><span data-contrast="auto">The team also used a positioning tool to map out existing gopher tortoise burrows to ensure the boardwalk project won’t have any impact on the gopher tortoise. A preliminary report was taken and the team continues to monitor it today.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>\n
<h3><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-4746" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2026/04/645494_WK_NWFArticle_social_Page_5-scaled.jpg" alt="A trail camera image shows a deer in green woodland vegetation, next to a photo of two field researchers standing on a dirt path with surveying equipment in a natural area." width="2560" height="1003" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2026/04/645494_WK_NWFArticle_social_Page_5-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2026/04/645494_WK_NWFArticle_social_Page_5-300x118.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2026/04/645494_WK_NWFArticle_social_Page_5-1024x401.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2026/04/645494_WK_NWFArticle_social_Page_5-150x59.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2026/04/645494_WK_NWFArticle_social_Page_5-768x301.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2026/04/645494_WK_NWFArticle_social_Page_5-1536x602.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2026/04/645494_WK_NWFArticle_social_Page_5-2048x802.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></h3>\n
<h3><span data-contrast="auto">Freshwater mussels</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></h3>\n
<h4><span data-contrast="auto">University of Tennessee</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></h4>\n
<p><span data-contrast="auto">As the freshwater mussel population is affected by human activity in Tennessee, conservationists are actively trying to restore this native species. University of Tennessee students and staff fit 80 propagated freshwater mussels with VHF radio transmitters. These transmitters help the team track and monitor mussel activity to inform conservation action.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>\n
<p><span data-contrast="auto">The team released the mussels into the river and then monitored mussel activity. As of January 2026, all mussels have survived and will continue to be tracked for six months. The team also created an identification guide for community awareness and held a workshop about mussel conservation.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>\n
<p><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>\n
<p><a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/article/wild-kingdom-grant-helps-colleges-protect-wildlife"><span data-contrast="none">Discover the 2024 EcoLeaders® grant recipients</span></a><span data-contrast="auto">.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>\n
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"date" => "2026-04-15 17:00:13"
"excerpt" => "<p>It takes a community to protect wildlife, something Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom and National Wildlife Federation know well. The two teamed up once again for the 2025 EcoLeaders® college and university grants, which support the next generation of conservationists who are working to help protect and/or restore wildlife and/or their habitats. 2025’s recipients built bat and bird boxes, identified habitat for endangered species, removed invasive plants, monitored wildlife activity and released […]</p>\n"
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<p>Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom and The National Wildlife Federation’s (NWF) <a href="https://www.nwf.org/EcoLeaders">EcoLeaders</a> renewed their collaboration to fund innovative, solutions-based programs that protect threatened, vulnerable and endangered wildlife and habitats. The program will award winning colleges and universities up to $8,500 in grants.</p>\n
<p>“Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom is proud of the continued collaboration with the National Wildlife Federation on this important funding program that supports and empowers students to pursue careers in conservation,” said Jennifer Wulf, vice president, brand marketing for Mutual of Omaha. “This initiative acknowledges the impact these students have on wildlife in their local communities and continues our enduring mission to inspire the next generation of conservationists.”</p>\n
<p>“The National Wildlife Federation has a long history of supporting colleges and universities conducting leading conservation efforts for critical species and areas of habitat. Year after year, we’re impressed with the innovation and creativity of these schools,” said Kristy Jones, director of higher education programs for National Wildlife Federation. “None of this could be possible without our collaboration with Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom and, together, we look forward to supporting and mentoring solutions that address the wildlife crisis.”</p>\n
<h2>2026 Wild Kingdom grant program details</h2>\n
<p>Grant recipients will be selected based on, but not limited to, the below focus areas with more information <a href="https://www.nwf.org/EcoLeaders/Get-Involved/Protect-Wildlife-on-Campus" target="_blank" rel="noopener">found here</a>. The <a href="https://www.nwf.org/-/media/PDFs/Campus-Ecology/Mutual-of-Omaha-Wild-Kingdom-2026-RFP.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">request for proposal can be found here.</a> Applications are due March 13, 2026 by 11:59 pm Pacific Standard Time.</p>\n
<p>Some areas of focus may include:</p>\n
<ul>\n
<li>Research on threatened or endangered species on campus or in the community.</li>\n
<li>Surveys of species on campus, for the purpose of identifying any threatened or endangered species.</li>\n
<li>Developing and implementing plans to protect and/or restore habitat for specific threatened or endangered species on campus or in the community.</li>\n
<li>Implementing conservation strategies with the goal of ensuring a safe and healthy habitat for humans and endangered or threatened wildlife to coexist.</li>\n
<li>Incorporating smart student-led growth strategies to a campus expansion project with specific wildlife in mind.</li>\n
<li>Introducing environmental solutions to urban spaces with specific wildlife in mind.2023-2024 Wild Kingdom grant recipients</li>\n
</ul>\n
<h2>2025 Wild Kingdom grant recipients</h2>\n
<ul>\n
<li><strong>California State University, Bakersfield </strong>CA, San Joaquin kit fox</li>\n
<li><strong>Kentucky State University </strong>KY, red-headed woodpecker</li>\n
<li><strong>Allegheny College </strong>PA, eastern bluebirds, tree swallows, house wrens, northern long-eared bats and little brown bats</li>\n
<li><strong>Smith College </strong>MA, eastern rat snake</li>\n
<li><strong>University of South Florida </strong>FL, gopher tortoise</li>\n
<li><strong>University of Tennessee </strong>TN, freshwater mussels</li>\n
<li><strong>Georgia State University Perimeter College</strong>, GA, longleaf pine forests</li>\n
</ul>\n
<h2>2023-2024 Wild Kingdom grant recipients</h2>\n
<p>Grants awarded in 2024 supported seven important college and university conservation projects. ranging from habitat restoration for native bats by students at Roanoke College, to student-led campus-wide enhancements and education focused on living in harmony with bears at the University of Montana in addition to projects at Bellevue College, Joliet Junior College, University of Nebraska at Omaha, University of West Alabama and University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.</p>\n
<p><a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/article/wild-kingdom-grant-helps-colleges-protect-wildlife">Learn more about the 2024 grant recipient projects</a>.</p>\n
<p> </p>\n
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"date" => "2023-11-13 16:12:00"
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<p><small><em>By David Mizejewski, naturalist, National Wildlife Federation</em></small></p>\n
<p>Of all wildlife, birds are the easiest to see and enjoy. Especially around our homes. While mammals, reptiles and amphibians use camouflage, silence or only being active at night to avoid people, birds can be seen and heard all around us every day. Whether you live in the heart of the city, in the burbs or out in the county, birding is a great way to relax and connect with nature.</p>\n
<p>Follow these 10 tips for attracting and enjoying birds to your own yard or neighborhood. You’ll become an expert birder in no time!</p>\n
<div id="attachment_3397" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3397" class="size-large wp-image-3397" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/08/resized-Costas-Hummingbird_Joshua-Tree-NP_Flickr-1024x508.jpg" alt="A hummingbird taking nectar from a small flower. It's flying in a field full of small orange and pink wild flowers." width="1024" height="508" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/08/resized-Costas-Hummingbird_Joshua-Tree-NP_Flickr-1024x508.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/08/resized-Costas-Hummingbird_Joshua-Tree-NP_Flickr-300x149.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/08/resized-Costas-Hummingbird_Joshua-Tree-NP_Flickr-150x74.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/08/resized-Costas-Hummingbird_Joshua-Tree-NP_Flickr-768x381.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/08/resized-Costas-Hummingbird_Joshua-Tree-NP_Flickr-1536x761.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/08/resized-Costas-Hummingbird_Joshua-Tree-NP_Flickr.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-3397" class="wp-caption-text">Costa’s Hummingbird</p></div>\n
<h2>How to enjoy birding in your backyard</h2>\n
<ol>\n
<li><strong>Plant natives</strong> — Want to see more wild birds? The best way is to plant native trees, shrubs, wildflowers and grasses, which are the natural habitat for birds. Plants provide cover, nesting places and feed birds with their seeds, berries, nuts and nectar<a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/article/building-your-garden-for-wildlife">. Learn how to build a wildlife garden</a>.</li>\n
<li><strong>Keep feeders clean</strong> — That said, there’s nothing wrong with a few bird feeders — as long as you keep them clean to avoid spreading disease. Regularly wash your feeders to disinfect them, and let them dry completely before refilling. Just remember, feeders are a supplement, not habitat.</li>\n
<li><strong>Don’t use pesticides</strong> — Insects are a critically important food source for birds. Some 96% of backyard birds rely on insects as food for their babies. If you spray pesticides, you kill this food source. Remember, the majority of insects are harmless or beneficial. A bug-filled garden attracts more birds! Native plants support the most insects.</li>\n
<li><strong>Keep your cat indoors</strong> — Free-ranging domesticated cats kill more than 4 billion wild birds every year. It’s not the cat’s fault, but this unnatural predation from a domesticated species is an extension of our own impact on wildlife. Spay or neuter your cat and keep it indoors. It’s safer for your cat too!</li>\n
<li><strong>Turn out the lights</strong> — Light pollution causes migrating birds to become disoriented and fatally crash into buildings. As many as 3.4 billion birds die every year in the U.S. from hitting windows, many of them during migration. Reduce light pollution by turning outdoor lights off when you go to bed or put them on timers.</li>\n
<li><strong>Use your ears</strong> — Given that many bird species are small and are most active in the cover of trees and other vegetation, it can be hard to spot them. Use your ears as well as your eyes. Birds are some of the most vocal wildlife and once you start to learn their calls, you’ll experience more species than you’ll ever see.</li>\n
<li><strong>Get up early </strong>— Most birds rise with the sun, so your best chance of seeing or hearing them is in the morning.</li>\n
<li><strong>Practice stillness</strong> — Most birds are prey for other animals (including other birds). They’re constantly on the lookout for predators. You’ll have the most success experiencing birds if you keep movement to a minimum. You don’t have to build a blind to hide in, but find a comfortable spot to relax and birds will ignore you and go about their business.</li>\n
<li><strong>Be present</strong> — Resist the urge to reach for your phone to get a photo. You’re likely only going to see the bird for a few seconds, so just enjoy and observe. Don’t miss out on the moment just to get a blurry photo.</li>\n
<li><strong>Use field guides</strong> — The exception to the previous tip is when you really want to learn more about birds and identify the species you’re seeing and hearing. Use binoculars and your phone to get pics and recordings of birdsong. Then use a field guide to help you identify species. There are many excellent printed field guides, including regional ones, that will help you identify birds based on visual markings and songs that will also tell you about their habitat and behavior. There are also some great digital guides and apps, including the <a href="https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Merlin Bird ID app</a> from Cornell Lab of Ornithology which will identify birds based on their call.</li>\n
</ol>\n
<div id="attachment_3398" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3398" class="size-large wp-image-3398" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/08/resized-Pileated-Woodpecker_Braelei-Hardt-1024x508.jpg" alt="A pileated woodpecker sitting in a tree. It's mostly dark brown and grey with some orange coloring on the top of its head." width="1024" height="508" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/08/resized-Pileated-Woodpecker_Braelei-Hardt-1024x508.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/08/resized-Pileated-Woodpecker_Braelei-Hardt-300x149.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/08/resized-Pileated-Woodpecker_Braelei-Hardt-150x74.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/08/resized-Pileated-Woodpecker_Braelei-Hardt-768x381.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/08/resized-Pileated-Woodpecker_Braelei-Hardt-1536x761.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/08/resized-Pileated-Woodpecker_Braelei-Hardt.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-3398" class="wp-caption-text">Pileated Woodpecker | Credit: Braelei Hardt</p></div>\n
<p>If you follow these tips, you’ll create a haven for wild birds right where you live and increase your chances of getting to see and hear this wonderful, feathered wildlife. When you do, the National Wildlife Federation will recognize your bird-friendly yard or other garden space as a <a href="https://nwf.org/garden" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Certified Wildlife Habitat</a>.</p>\n
<p><em>For more tips on attracting birds and gardening for wildlife, pick up Mizejewski’s book </em><em>Attracting Birds, Butterflies and Other Backyard Wildlife</em><em>. </em></p>\n
<p><em> </em><a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/article/lgbtqia-representation-in-conservation">Learn more about Mizejewski</a> and <a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/video/sea-creatures-of-the-florida-coast-clip">see him featured</a> on <a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/protecting-the-wild">Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild</a>.</p>\n
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"excerpt" => "<p>By David Mizejewski, naturalist, National Wildlife Federation Of all wildlife, birds are the easiest to see and enjoy. Especially around our homes. While mammals, reptiles and amphibians use camouflage, silence or only being active at night to avoid people, birds can be seen and heard all around us every day. Whether you live in the […]</p>\n"
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<p><small><em>By the National Wildlife Federation</em></small></p>\n
<p>Did you know connecting children with nature offers significant <a href="https://www.nwf.org/Home/Kids-and-Family/Connecting-Kids-and-Nature/Health-Benefits-and-Tips" target="_blank" rel="noopener">health benefits</a>? Studies indicate that outdoor time helps children develop physical strength, enhances their imagination and attention spans, reduces aggression and improves academic performance. Additionally, children who regularly spend time in nature tend to become better stewards of the environment.</p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<h2>How kids benefit from nature</h2>\n
<p>For decades, the National Wildlife Federation has nurtured a connection with and stewardship of nature among wildlife enthusiasts of all ages, particularly children and families, through various resources, programs, policies and outdoor experiences.</p>\n
<p>Today, the amount of time kids spend outdoors is alarmingly low. Yet research shows that time spent in nature has many benefits for both children and adults.</p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3141" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/kids-playing-outside-inline-1024x508.jpg" alt="Boys playing on tree stumps in forest. Friends are wearing casuals. They are spending leisure time together." width="1024" height="508" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/kids-playing-outside-inline-1024x508.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/kids-playing-outside-inline-300x149.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/kids-playing-outside-inline-150x74.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/kids-playing-outside-inline-768x381.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/kids-playing-outside-inline-1536x761.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/kids-playing-outside-inline.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<h3>Children and nature today</h3>\n
<ul>\n
<li>Children are spending half as much time outdoors as children did 20 years ago.</li>\n
<li>Children who play outside are more physically active, more creative in play, less aggressive and show better concentration.</li>\n
<li>Sixty minutes of daily unstructured free play is essential to children’s physical and mental health.</li>\n
<li>The most direct route to caring for the environment as an adult is participating in nature activities before the age of 11.</li>\n
</ul>\n
<p> </p>\n
<h2>How kids can rediscover nature</h2>\n
<h3></h3>\n
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3142" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/person-hugging-tree-green-heart-inline-1024x508.jpg" alt="Arms wraped around a tree trunk in the forest. The tree trunk has a green heart on it that appears to be made of algae." width="1024" height="508" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/person-hugging-tree-green-heart-inline-1024x508.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/person-hugging-tree-green-heart-inline-300x149.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/person-hugging-tree-green-heart-inline-150x74.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/person-hugging-tree-green-heart-inline-768x381.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/person-hugging-tree-green-heart-inline-1536x761.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/person-hugging-tree-green-heart-inline.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<h3>Rediscover Nature with Green Hour™</h3>\n
<p>One way the National Wildlife Federation encourages everyone to spend more time outdoors and engage with nature is by making a <a href="https://nwfcontest.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Green Hour™ Pledge.</a></p>\n
<p>The National Wildlife Federation’s <a href="https://thegreenhour.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Green Hour™</a> initiative encourages and provides activities and tips to help kids and families of all ages spend time outside every day, in every season, discovering nature and the wonders of wildlife.</p>\n
<p>The idea for a “<a href="https://thegreenhour.org/about-green-hour/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Green Hour”</a> comes from research on creative play and health by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Research also shows the best way to connect young people to a lifelong concern for nature, wildlife and the outdoors is through regular positive experiences.</p>\n
<p>Green Hour™ activities can be completed in 15- or 30-minute segments, but participants are encouraged to spend a full hour to get the most benefit and master their outdoor skills. New activities are provided every week and often coincide with family-friendly outdoor-focused special days and events.</p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<h3>Spring Green Hour™ ideas</h3>\n
<ul>\n
<li><a href="https://thegreenhour.org/activity/search-for-spring/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Search for Spring</a></li>\n
<li><a href="https://thegreenhour.org/activity/plant-may-flowers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Plant May Flowers</a></li>\n
<li><a href="https://thegreenhour.org/activity/trees-are-terrific/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Trees are Terrific!</a></li>\n
<li><a href="https://thegreenhour.org/activity/backyard-gifts-for-birds/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Backyard Gifts for Birds</a></li>\n
<li><a href="https://thegreenhour.org/activity/counting-caterpillars/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Counting Caterpillars</a></li>\n
<li><a href="https://thegreenhour.org/activity/find-a-four-leaf-clover/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Find a Four-Leaf Clover</a></li>\n
</ul>\n
<p> </p>\n
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3143" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/green-hour-scavenger-hunt-promo-inline-1024x508.jpg" alt="A promotional sheet for the "Wildlife Detective" Green Hour scavenger hunt sponsored by the National Wildlife Federation. On the sheet are images of a duck, squirrel and a ladybug plus the scavenger hunt activity sheet." width="1024" height="508" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/green-hour-scavenger-hunt-promo-inline-1024x508.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/green-hour-scavenger-hunt-promo-inline-300x149.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/green-hour-scavenger-hunt-promo-inline-150x74.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/green-hour-scavenger-hunt-promo-inline-768x381.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/green-hour-scavenger-hunt-promo-inline-1536x761.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/green-hour-scavenger-hunt-promo-inline.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<p>Make time outdoors more meaningful by keeping Green Hour’s <a href="https://thegreenhour.org/nature-notebook/spring-nature-notebook/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nature Notebook</a>. Children and adults can document their discoveries and remember their experiences by putting their observations in context. Scientists, explorers, detectives, writers and artists who study in the outdoors always carry paper or a device to record their findings.</p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3144" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/nwf-nature-activity-books-1024x576.jpg" alt="Four examples of nature activity books. Two are open and have small handwriting in them, accompanied by some drawings of leaves and birds. One is closed with flowers drawn on the cover and a stick near it that was used as a pen. And one says "Nature 360" on it and a hand is actively writing in that notebook." width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/nwf-nature-activity-books-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/nwf-nature-activity-books-300x169.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/nwf-nature-activity-books-150x84.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/nwf-nature-activity-books-768x432.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/nwf-nature-activity-books-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/nwf-nature-activity-books.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<h3>Working with teachers and youth organizations</h3>\n
<p>The National Wildlife Federation provides ongoing nature and outdoor programming to schools, childcare centers, park agencies and other institutions to create a lasting base of environmental literacy, stewardship and problem-solving skills. Schools and community-based organizations across the country incorporate regular time for outdoor learning and play, using the National Wildlife Federation’s <a href="https://www.nwf.org/Garden-for-Wildlife/Create/Schoolyards" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Schoolyard Habitats®</a>, <a href="https://www.nwf.org/Eco-Schools-US" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Eco-Schools USA program</a> and opportunities, such as tree planting events with <a href="https://www.nwf.org/Trees-for-Wildlife" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Trees for Wildlife™</a>. The National Wildlife Federation also offers educational resources such as <a href="https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Educator-Tools/Lesson-Plans-and-Webinars" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lesson plans, curriculum and webinars</a> for connecting kids and nature.</p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3145" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/smiling-kids-inline-1024x576.jpg" alt="Four kids laughing in the woods. They are all either kneeling or sitting on the forest floor." width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/smiling-kids-inline-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/smiling-kids-inline-300x169.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/smiling-kids-inline-150x84.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/smiling-kids-inline-768x432.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/smiling-kids-inline-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/05/smiling-kids-inline.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<h3>Inspiring kids and families</h3>\n
<p><a href="https://kids.nwf.org/Kids/Ranger-Rick.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ranger Rick®</a>, the National Wildlife Federation’s flagship children’s publication, is an award-winning nature magazine for kids ages 7 to 12. It’s filled with captivating photos and intriguing stories and complimented with engaging <u>online activities and mobile and iPad apps</u>. Named for the National Wildlife Federation’s wildlife ambassador, Ranger Rick® has connected kids to nature for decades. Also, Ranger Rick® magazine is a great tool for developing nonfiction reading skills and conceptual science understanding.</p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<h3>Influencing policymakers</h3>\n
<p>Working with affiliates and other partners, the National Wildlife Federation is making sure decision-makers recognize the integral role outdoor time plays in the health and well-being of our nation’s kids and our environment, advocating for them to <a href="https://www.nwf.org/Home/Kids-and-Family/Connecting-Kids-and-Nature/Kids-and-Nature-Policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pass policies</a> that help children, youth and families spend regular time outdoors.</p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<p>The National Wildlife Federation is committed to instilling a passion for nature in today’s youth. Read about its <a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/article/nwf-community-involvement">initiatives to bring communities outdoors</a>.</p>\n
<p>Plus, learn how to get your children or grandchildren more involved in the great outdoors by <a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/article/discovering-nature-in-your-community">discovering nature in your community</a>, <a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/article/your-guide-to-enjoying-nature-this-summer">enjoying your time outside this summer</a> and <a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/article/creating-wild-places-in-urban-spaces">finding wildlife in urban spaces</a>.</p>\n
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<p><small><em>By </em><a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/article/lgbtqia-representation-in-conservation"><em>David Mizejewski</em></a><em>, naturalist, National Wildlife Federation</em></small></p>\n
<p>There’s an easy way each of us can help wildlife, starting right outside our own door: We can <a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/article/building-a-wildlife-garden">plant a wildlife habitat garden</a>! Habitat gardens help all sorts of wildlife, from birds and butterflies to bees and other pollinators. It’s one of the simplest and most rewarding ways to think globally and act locally.</p>\n
<p>Creating natural gardens is a fast-growing trend, but it’s one that has a long history. Over 50 years ago, the National Wildlife Federation kicked off the <a href="https://www.nwf.org/garden" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Garden for Wildlife movement</a>, inspiring people to help wildlife on the local level. The idea is to restore natural habitats where people live and connect cities, towns and neighborhoods back to the local ecosystem. The wildlife benefit, but people do too by having access to the beauty of nature all around.</p>\n
<p>Scroll to the end of this article to get an exclusive code for Garden for Wildlife curated plants!</p>\n
<div id="attachment_2985" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2985" class="size-large wp-image-2985" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/03/yellow_butterfly_RANDY-STREUFERT-1-1024x508.jpg" alt="A yellow butterfly sitting on a bright purple flower with an orange center." width="1024" height="508" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/03/yellow_butterfly_RANDY-STREUFERT-1-1024x508.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/03/yellow_butterfly_RANDY-STREUFERT-1-300x149.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/03/yellow_butterfly_RANDY-STREUFERT-1-150x74.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/03/yellow_butterfly_RANDY-STREUFERT-1-768x381.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/03/yellow_butterfly_RANDY-STREUFERT-1-1536x761.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/03/yellow_butterfly_RANDY-STREUFERT-1.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-2985" class="wp-caption-text">Credit | Randy Streufert</p></div>\n
<h2>What’s in a wildlife habitat garden?</h2>\n
<p>Wildlife habitat gardens provide four things: food, water, cover and places to raise young. It all starts with your plants, as what plant and how you plant it has a huge impact on wildlife.</p>\n
<p>For example, many lawns are made up of nonnative grasses and offer no habitat for most species. They typically require pesticides, fertilizer and watering to maintain them. Additionally, pollutive mowers and trimmers are often used.</p>\n
<p>In contrast, a landscape made up of <a href="https://www.nwf.org/Garden-for-Wildlife/About/Native-Plants" target="_blank" rel="noopener">native trees, shrubs and beds of wildflowers</a> requires much less maintenance and gives nectar to bees, butterflies and hummingbirds, as well as host plants for caterpillars. It supplies seeds, nuts and berries for songbirds to eat, places to nest and insects they need to feed their babies. It also provides the cover wildlife needs to hide, sleep safely and move about without being seen by people and predators. Add a birdbath or a garden pond to provide water, and supplement with a birdhouse or a feeder, and you’ll instantly have a living landscape teeming with wildlife for you to enjoy.</p>\n
<div id="attachment_2984" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2984" class="size-large wp-image-2984" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/03/Cardinal-flower-_Lobelia-cardinalis_hummingbird_Zhixia-Shi-1-1024x508.jpg" alt="A hummingbird drawing nectar from red flowers that are on a long, skinny stock. " width="1024" height="508" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/03/Cardinal-flower-_Lobelia-cardinalis_hummingbird_Zhixia-Shi-1-1024x508.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/03/Cardinal-flower-_Lobelia-cardinalis_hummingbird_Zhixia-Shi-1-300x149.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/03/Cardinal-flower-_Lobelia-cardinalis_hummingbird_Zhixia-Shi-1-150x74.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/03/Cardinal-flower-_Lobelia-cardinalis_hummingbird_Zhixia-Shi-1-768x381.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/03/Cardinal-flower-_Lobelia-cardinalis_hummingbird_Zhixia-Shi-1-1536x761.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/03/Cardinal-flower-_Lobelia-cardinalis_hummingbird_Zhixia-Shi-1.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-2984" class="wp-caption-text">Credit | Zhixia Shi</p></div>\n
<h2>Joining the Garden for Wildlife movement</h2>\n
<p>The beauty of this concept of food, water, cover and places to raise young is that there are infinite ways you can provide each habitat component. It doesn’t matter where you live or even how much space you have. You can choose a formal design or a more naturalistic design.</p>\n
<p>It’s also a great way to celebrate regional diversity. A wildlife habitat garden in Arizona will look very different from one in Ohio, and both will differ from one in Oregon. It can be done on large rural property, an average suburban backyard or even in containers on a patio or urban rooftop. If you plant native plants, you help wildlife.</p>\n
<p>When you provide these four habitat components and commit to maintaining your garden or landscape in a natural way, you can join the movement and the National Wildlife Federation will <a href="https://www.nwf.org/Garden-for-Wildlife/Certify">recognize it as a Certified Wildlife Habitat</a>.</p>\n
<div id="attachment_2983" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2983" class="size-large wp-image-2983" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/03/wildlife-habitat-david-mizejewski-1-1024x576.jpg" alt="A "Certified Wildlife Habitat" sign from National Wildlife Federation in front of some greenery. " width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/03/wildlife-habitat-david-mizejewski-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/03/wildlife-habitat-david-mizejewski-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/03/wildlife-habitat-david-mizejewski-1-150x84.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/03/wildlife-habitat-david-mizejewski-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/03/wildlife-habitat-david-mizejewski-1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/03/wildlife-habitat-david-mizejewski-1.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-2983" class="wp-caption-text">Credit | David Mizejewski</p></div>\n
<h3>5 ways to get started on your wildlife garden</h3>\n
<ol>\n
<li><strong>Start small: </strong>Don’t feel like you need to completely tear out your existing garden or landscape. <a href="https://www.nwf.org/-/media/PDFs/Garden-for-Wildlife/Certified-Wildlife-Habitat/NWF_Garden-Certification-Checklist.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Use this checklist</a> to assess what habitat you already have. Then, decide what things you’re missing that you’d like to add, and make a plan.</li>\n
<li><strong>Plant one thing: </strong>Commit to planting one native tree or shrub or creating one new garden bed for native wildflowers. You’ll be surprised how even a small area of native plants supports wildlife, especially when it replaces barren lawn. You can add more each year. Gardens with 50% to 70% native plants support 50% more wildlife than the surrounding areas with just lawn and ornamental nonnative plants.</li>\n
<li><strong>Spring cleaning: </strong>Conventional gardening rules say you need to get rid of all your fallen leaves and prune old flower stalks back to the ground — but that’s all habitat for wildlife. Wait to do cleanup until after temperatures are consistently above 50 degrees, which gives beneficial insects a chance to emerge from winter hideaways in the leaves and stems. <a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/article/leave-the-leaves">Use fallen leaves</a> year-round as natural mulch and fertilizer where it will also be habitat for insects, amphibians and birds. Don’t cut old flower stalks down to the ground. Leave about a foot standing to be nesting spots for native bees. New spring growth quickly covers the old stems.</li>\n
</ol>\n
<ol start="5">\n
<li><strong>Don’t spray: </strong>Commit to going organic: Don’t spray insecticides, herbicides or other pesticides. Natural gardens rarely have pest problems and there are many tried-and-true <a href="https://www.nwf.org/Garden-for-Wildlife/Sustainability/Organic-Practices" target="_blank" rel="noopener">organic gardening techniques</a> that don’t require toxic chemicals. Hiring companies to spray insecticides to kill mosquitoes also kills bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects, even if they use “natural” sprays. There are better <a href="https://blog.nwf.org/2020/09/what-you-need-to-know-before-spraying-for-mosquitoes/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ways to prevent mosquito bites</a>.</li>\n
<li><strong>Make a place for you: </strong>Habitat gardens are for people too! Be sure to include a seating area where you can just relax and enjoy watching the habitat you’ve created and knowing that you’ve done something good for wildlife.</li>\n
</ol>\n
<h3>Build your own Garden for Wildlife</h3>\n
<p>Start your wildlife garden with plants from the National Wildlife Federation’s Garden for Wildlife native plant collections. These plants are specifically curated for your region to do the greatest good for local wildlife.</p>\n
<p>By creating a wildlife garden with regional plants, you’ll enjoy even more visits from wildlife that will use your plants for food and pollination. Garden for Wildlife makes it easy to get started. You’ll receive plants right to your door with all the tips you need for success.</p>\n
<p>Sample curated wildlife garden plants by region</p>\n
<p>(Collections ship to: AR, CT, DE, DC, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, TN, VT, VA, WV, WI)</p>\n
<ul>\n
<li>Spring Bee Buffet 6-plant collection. *Limited edition* plants are especially beneficial to bees in early spring. Includes two of each: Golden Alexander, Wild Geranium and Blue Wood Aster. Supports 103 butterfly species, 36 native bee species and 96% of backyard birds.</li>\n
<li>Monarch Munchables 12-plant collection: Includes three of each: Orange Butterfly Milkweed, Lanceleaf Coreopsis, Smooth Blue Aster, Grayleaf Goldenrod. Supports 114 butterfly species, 44 native bee species and 96% of backyard birds.</li>\n
<li>Pollinator Power 12-plant collection: Includes three of each: Cardinal Flower, Great Blue Lobelia, Beard Tongue Foxglove, Black Eyed Susan. Supports 28 butterfly species, 29 species of native bees and 96% of backyard birds.</li>\n
</ul>\n
<p>Visit the <a href="https://gardenforwildlife.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Garden for Wildlife website</a> to check out native plants in your area. Use code WILDKINGDOM15 to save on your order.</p>\n
<p>For further reading on plants and wildlife, learn why it’s important to <a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/article/leave-the-leaves">leave the leaves in the fall</a>. Plus, check out these <a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/article/the-buzz-about-honey-bees">ideas for bee-friendly plants</a>.</p>\n
<p> </p>\n
<p>#635135</p>\n
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"excerpt" => "<p>By David Mizejewski, naturalist, National Wildlife Federation There’s an easy way each of us can help wildlife, starting right outside our own door: We can plant a wildlife habitat garden! Habitat gardens help all sorts of wildlife, from birds and butterflies to bees and other pollinators. It’s one of the simplest and most rewarding ways to […]</p>\n"
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<p><small><i>By <a href="https://naturalist.nwf.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">David Mizejewski, National Wildlife Federation Naturalist</a></i></small></p>\n
<p>As we head into autumn, many trees and shrubs shed their leaves or needles in preparation for their winter dormancy. The standard practice is to rake up or blow away all the leaves and bag them for the trash — but doing so causes pollution and further disconnects our cities, towns and neighborhoods from the local ecosystem. It also hurts wildlife.</p>\n
<div id="attachment_2572" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2572" class="size-large wp-image-2572" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/10/leaves-credit-Maria-Swanenburg-via-National-Wildlife-Federation-1024x508.jpg" alt="autumn leaves" width="1024" height="508" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/10/leaves-credit-Maria-Swanenburg-via-National-Wildlife-Federation-1024x508.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/10/leaves-credit-Maria-Swanenburg-via-National-Wildlife-Federation-300x149.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/10/leaves-credit-Maria-Swanenburg-via-National-Wildlife-Federation-150x74.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/10/leaves-credit-Maria-Swanenburg-via-National-Wildlife-Federation-768x381.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/10/leaves-credit-Maria-Swanenburg-via-National-Wildlife-Federation-1536x761.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/10/leaves-credit-Maria-Swanenburg-via-National-Wildlife-Federation.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-2572" class="wp-caption-text">Fallen leaves are important habitat for many species of wildlife. Photo: Maria Swanenburg via National Wildlife Federation.</p></div>\n
<p>What do fallen leaves have to do with wildlife? Turns out the fallen leaf layer that forms each autumn as plants drop their foliage is an <strong>incredibly important habitat</strong> for many kinds of wildlife.</p>\n
<p>To bring awareness to the importance of leaves for wildlife, the National Wildlife Federation has designated October as <a href="https://www.nwf.org/Garden-for-Wildlife/About/National-Initiatives/Leave-the-Leaves-Month" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Leave the Leaves Month</strong></a>. Learn about five types of animals that rely on leaves.</p>\n
<h2>Five types of wildlife that benefit from leaves</h2>\n
<h3><strong>Butterflies and moths</strong></h3>\n
<p>Butterflies and moths start their lives as caterpillars. While winged adults feed on flower nectar, their caterpillars feed on the leaves of plants. Each species has different types of host plants that their caterpillars eat until it’s time to pupate (a step in their life cycle). This is where fallen leaves become important.</p>\n
<p>Many of these species spend the winter months as pupae in the leaf layer beneath the trees where they fed as caterpillars. Some species spend the winter in the fallen leaves as caterpillars or adults too. For moths, a whopping <a href="https://www.nwf.org/Home/Magazines/National-Wildlife/2020/Dec-Jan/Gardening/Winter-Yards" target="_blank" rel="noopener">94% of species rely on the leaf layer</a> to complete their life cycle.</p>\n
<div id="attachment_2573" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2573" class="size-large wp-image-2573" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/10/luna-moth-credit-Alan-Schroeder-via-National-Wildlife-Federation-1024x508.jpg" alt="luna moth on a leaf" width="1024" height="508" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/10/luna-moth-credit-Alan-Schroeder-via-National-Wildlife-Federation-1024x508.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/10/luna-moth-credit-Alan-Schroeder-via-National-Wildlife-Federation-300x149.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/10/luna-moth-credit-Alan-Schroeder-via-National-Wildlife-Federation-150x74.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/10/luna-moth-credit-Alan-Schroeder-via-National-Wildlife-Federation-768x381.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/10/luna-moth-credit-Alan-Schroeder-via-National-Wildlife-Federation-1536x761.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/10/luna-moth-credit-Alan-Schroeder-via-National-Wildlife-Federation.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-2573" class="wp-caption-text">Luna moths spend winters as pupae in the leaf layer. Without leaves, they cannot complete their life cycle. Photo: Alan Schroeder via National Wildlife Federation.</p></div>\n
<p>Some species, such as the seafoam green <a href="https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Actias-luna" target="_blank" rel="noopener">luna moth</a>, incorporate fallen leaves into their actual cocoon when they pupate. Others, such as the vivid tiger swallowtail butterfly, form chrysalises that resemble dead leaves for camouflage in the winter leaf layer. <a href="https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Calycopis-cecrops" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Red-banded hairstreak butterfly</a> caterpillars even feed on dead leaves and mourning cloak butterflies spend the winter in the leaves as adults.</p>\n
<p>If you remove all the leaves that fall in autumn, you wipe out whole generations of these insects, most of which are pollinators and all of which are important parts of the food web.</p>\n
<h3><strong>Birds</strong></h3>\n
<div id="attachment_2574" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2574" class="size-large wp-image-2574" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/10/bird-credit-Matt-Felperin-via-National-Wildlife-Federation-1024x508.jpg" alt="bird with worm" width="1024" height="508" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/10/bird-credit-Matt-Felperin-via-National-Wildlife-Federation-1024x508.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/10/bird-credit-Matt-Felperin-via-National-Wildlife-Federation-300x149.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/10/bird-credit-Matt-Felperin-via-National-Wildlife-Federation-150x74.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/10/bird-credit-Matt-Felperin-via-National-Wildlife-Federation-768x381.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/10/bird-credit-Matt-Felperin-via-National-Wildlife-Federation-1536x761.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/10/bird-credit-Matt-Felperin-via-National-Wildlife-Federation.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-2574" class="wp-caption-text">Most songbirds, such as this immature Kirtland’s warbler, rely on caterpillars of moths and butterflies as a critical food source. Photo by Matt Felperin via National Wildlife Federation.</p></div>\n
<p>Did you know that 96% of our backyard birds include insects and other invertebrates in their diet? And that those invertebrates are the only food source for their babies in the spring? Without insects, spiders, earthworms and other creatures, birds cannot survive.</p>\n
<p>Where do many of these invertebrates live? In the fallen leaf layer. Caterpillars of butterflies and especially moths are <a href="https://www.nwf.org/Magazines/National-Wildlife/2016/AprilMay/Gardening/Growing-A-Better-Birdfeeder" target="_blank" rel="noopener">an absolutely critical</a> food source for baby birds. Many butterflies and moths cannot complete their life cycle without the leaf layer. When you get rid of all of your leaves, you not only decimate butterfly and moth populations, you wipe out the main food source for next year’s baby birds. Plus, some birds even nest in the leaf layer, including <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/veery" target="_blank" rel="noopener">veeries</a>, ovenbirds and northern bobwhites.</p>\n
<h3><strong>Salamanders</strong></h3>\n
<div id="attachment_2575" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2575" class="size-large wp-image-2575" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/10/salamander-william-borne-via-national-wildlife-federation-1024x508.jpg" alt="Salamanders, such as this red eft, live in the leaf layer. Photo: William Borne via National Wildlife Federation. " width="1024" height="508" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/10/salamander-william-borne-via-national-wildlife-federation-1024x508.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/10/salamander-william-borne-via-national-wildlife-federation-300x149.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/10/salamander-william-borne-via-national-wildlife-federation-150x74.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/10/salamander-william-borne-via-national-wildlife-federation-768x381.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/10/salamander-william-borne-via-national-wildlife-federation-1536x761.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/10/salamander-william-borne-via-national-wildlife-federation.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-2575" class="wp-caption-text">Salamanders, such as this red eft, live in the leaf layer. Photo: William Borne via National Wildlife Federation.</p></div>\n
<p>As amphibians, salamanders have special skin through which they absorb oxygen and liquids. If they dry out, they can die. The fallen leaf layer is a naturally moist environment and as a result many salamander species rely on it as their primary habitat.</p>\n
<p>Salamanders and other <a href="https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Amphibians" target="_blank" rel="noopener">amphibians</a> are globally disappearing faster than any other group of vertebrate wildlife. One-third of all species is endangered — so anything we can do on the local level to make sure these cute and often colorful animals have habitat is important. Leaving a natural layer of leaves in your yard is a simple way to do that.</p>\n
<h3><strong>Chipmunks</strong></h3>\n
<div id="attachment_2576" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2576" class="size-large wp-image-2576" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/10/chipmunk-credit-diane-spray-via-national-wildlife-federation-1024x508.jpg" alt="chipmunk in leaves" width="1024" height="508" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/10/chipmunk-credit-diane-spray-via-national-wildlife-federation-1024x508.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/10/chipmunk-credit-diane-spray-via-national-wildlife-federation-300x149.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/10/chipmunk-credit-diane-spray-via-national-wildlife-federation-150x74.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/10/chipmunk-credit-diane-spray-via-national-wildlife-federation-768x381.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/10/chipmunk-credit-diane-spray-via-national-wildlife-federation-1536x761.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/10/chipmunk-credit-diane-spray-via-national-wildlife-federation.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-2576" class="wp-caption-text">Chipmunks rely on the leaf layer for food and shelter. Photo: Diane Spray via National Wildlife Federation.</p></div>\n
<p>Who doesn’t love the adorable chubby cheeks of a chipmunk? There are several species of these tiny striped squirrels found across North America, but they all utilize the leaf layer as their habitat.</p>\n
<p>Like other types of squirrels, chipmunks love acorns and other nuts, but they are also surprisingly carnivorous. Chipmunk diets include insects, snails and all sorts of other invertebrates, as well as their fellow leaf layer inhabitants, salamanders and even young mice.</p>\n
<p>With their brown, tan and black-striped fur, they’re also perfectly camouflaged in the leaf layer, which helps them from becoming a meal themselves to foxes, hawks and other predators. Watching the scurrying antics of your chirping <a href="https://blog.nwf.org/2011/12/not-alvin-and-the-chipmunks-10-facts-about-the-real-rodents/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">chipmunk</a> neighbors is a nice reward for cultivating a leaf layer in your yard.</p>\n
<h3><strong>Turtles</strong></h3>\n
<div id="attachment_2577" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2577" class="size-large wp-image-2577" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/10/turtle-jenni-lopez-via-national-wildlife-federation-1024x508.jpg" alt="turtle in leaves" width="1024" height="508" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/10/turtle-jenni-lopez-via-national-wildlife-federation-1024x508.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/10/turtle-jenni-lopez-via-national-wildlife-federation-300x149.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/10/turtle-jenni-lopez-via-national-wildlife-federation-150x74.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/10/turtle-jenni-lopez-via-national-wildlife-federation-768x381.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/10/turtle-jenni-lopez-via-national-wildlife-federation-1536x761.jpg 1536w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2023/10/turtle-jenni-lopez-via-national-wildlife-federation.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-2577" class="wp-caption-text">An eastern box turtle feeds in the leaf layer and survives winter by burying beneath it. Photo: Jenni Lopez via National Wildlife Federation.</p></div>\n
<p>Box turtles are a beloved reptile that sometimes shares our neighborhood. These woodland turtles don’t live in ponds. Their home is the leaf layer.</p>\n
<p>Box turtles are omnivores, feeding on everything from berries and mushrooms to worms and insects, all of which can be found in the leaf layer. The rapidly disappearing wood turtle also relies on woodlands with a healthy leaf layer as part of its habitat.</p>\n
<p>Like all reptiles, turtles are ectothermic or cold-blooded animals whose body temperatures are dictated by their environment. Unprotected exposure to freezing temperatures will kill them. When the weather turns cold, they escape by burying themselves and going dormant. <a href="https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Reptiles/Eastern-Box-Turtle" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Box turtles</a> do this by digging themselves into the top layer of soil beneath the leaf layer. The leaves provide critical insulation for these charismatic creatures and they wouldn’t survive the winter without them.</p>\n
<p>Saving your fallen leaves is just one way to help wildlife in your backyard. Get Naturalist David Mizejewski’s garden for wildlife how-to book, <a href="https://naturalist.nwf.org/get-davids-book/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Attracting Birds, Butterflies and Other Backyard Wildlife</a>, to learn more.</p>\n
<p>Plus, save these tips on <a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/article/building-a-wildlife-garden">how to grow your garden to attract wildlife</a>.</p>\n
<p>Don’t have your own backyard? No sweat! <a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/article/creating-wild-places-in-urban-spaces">Discover wildlife in urban places</a>.</p>\n
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"excerpt" => "<p>By David Mizejewski, National Wildlife Federation Naturalist As we head into autumn, many trees and shrubs shed their leaves or needles in preparation for their winter dormancy. The standard practice is to rake up or blow away all the leaves and bag them for the trash — but doing so causes pollution and further disconnects […]</p>\n"
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<p>Have you heard the story of the celebrity who lived rent-free in the Hollywood Hills? For 10 years, he resided in Los Angeles’ Griffith Park. He was quite elusive, only allowing the rare photograph to be taken under the cover of night. Unlike some Hollywood stars, he didn’t let fame get to his head. In fact, it’s unlikely he knew he was beloved by thousands worldwide. His name was P-22, and he was L.A.’s most famous mountain lion.</p>\n
<p><a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/video/p-22-on-mutual-of-omahas-wild-kingdom">P-22</a>’s claim to fame was his incredible journey. He was first documented on a Griffith Park Connectivity Study trail camera in 2012. He likely crossed major L.A. highways, U.S. Route 405 and U.S. Route 101 to end up in the 9 square miles of Griffith Park — a journey many mountain lions have died trying to complete. P-22’s unbelievable life in the Hollywood Hills made him a revered icon for urban wildlife conservation, a legacy that endures after his death in 2022.</p>\n
<div id="attachment_3060" style="width: 1610px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3060" class="wp-image-3060 size-full" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/04/P22-inline.jpg" alt="Closeup look at P-22, a famous mountain lion that lived in L.A. His face is square to the camera and it's dark behind him." width="1600" height="793" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/04/P22-inline.jpg 1600w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/04/P22-inline-300x149.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/04/P22-inline-1024x508.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/04/P22-inline-150x74.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/04/P22-inline-768x381.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/04/P22-inline-1536x761.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px" /><p id="caption-attachment-3060" class="wp-caption-text">P-22, while often illusive, was sometimes spotted on trail cams throughout Griffith Park.</p></div>\n
<h2>Save LA Cougars</h2>\n
<p>Though P-22 made an impression on many, one of his advocates was Beth Pratt, California regional executive director for the National Wildlife Federation.</p>\n
<p>“P-22 had me at hello,” Pratt said. “After I read the first story about this young male cougar, I developed a ‘conservation crush.’”</p>\n
<p>Pratt went so far as nicknaming P-22 the “Brad Pitt of the cougar world,” for his good looks and adoring fans all over the world.</p>\n
<p>“But it wasn’t P-22’s dreamy looks alone that captivated me,” Pratt said. “It was the improbability of his existence — his continued survival in the second largest city in the United States — that elicited equal doses of profound awe and sadness in me.”</p>\n
<p>She went on to create the <a href="https://savelacougars.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#SaveLACougars</a> campaign, an effort to build the world’s largest wildlife crossing over Highway 101, to help animals safely travel through the city.</p>\n
<div id="attachment_3061" style="width: 1610px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3061" class="wp-image-3061 size-full" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/04/savelacougars-inline.jpg" alt="A yellow hardhat with #SAVELACOUGARS on it with a silhouette of a cougar above the wording." width="1600" height="793" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/04/savelacougars-inline.jpg 1600w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/04/savelacougars-inline-300x149.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/04/savelacougars-inline-1024x508.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/04/savelacougars-inline-150x74.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/04/savelacougars-inline-768x381.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/04/savelacougars-inline-1536x761.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px" /><p id="caption-attachment-3061" class="wp-caption-text">A hardhat for the #SaveLACougars wildlife crossing project.</p></div>\n
<h3>P-22’s story featured on Protecting the Wild</h3>\n
<p>In the Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild episode, “<a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/video/p-22-on-mutual-of-omahas-wild-kingdom">Urban Wildlife</a>,” Pratt met with Co-Host Peter Gros to tell the story of P-22 and the work of #SaveLACougars. Peter also saw the construction site of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, scheduled to be completed by early 2026.</p>\n
<p>Despite the urban landscape of Los Angeles, Pratt said, “there’s still a lot of green space — all we need to do is connect it.” The wildlife crossing will serve as that connector with protected space on either side for animals to call home.</p>\n
<p>“When the number one threat to wildlife worldwide is a loss of habitat, and we are paving over more and more of their homes every day, we are going to have to coexist,” Pratt said. “We need wildlife as much as they need us.”</p>\n
<div id="attachment_3065" style="width: 1610px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3065" class="wp-image-3065 size-full" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/04/beth-pratt-filming.jpg" alt="A woman with blond hair and wearing a black shirt and shorts, sitting on a stool in a park. She is smiling towards a camera as she prepares to be filmed for an interview." width="1600" height="793" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/04/beth-pratt-filming.jpg 1600w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/04/beth-pratt-filming-300x149.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/04/beth-pratt-filming-1024x508.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/04/beth-pratt-filming-150x74.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/04/beth-pratt-filming-768x381.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/04/beth-pratt-filming-1536x761.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px" /><p id="caption-attachment-3065" class="wp-caption-text">Beth Pratt, donning her favorite P-22 shirt, on the set of Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild.</p></div>\n
<h2>Why we need wildlife crossings</h2>\n
<p>Before Pratt became P-22’s biggest fan, she spent decades working in the remote wilderness in places such as Yosemite and Yellowstone national parks.</p>\n
<p>“When I was coming up in conservation decades ago, the dominant paradigm was, you put the people here, set aside some habitat for wildlife over here and call it a day for saving animals,” Pratt said.</p>\n
<p>“But we now know islands of habitat don’t work,” Pratt said. “Even in the best protected places on the planet, like a Yosemite, wildlife is still struggling because it doesn’t recognize park boundaries.”</p>\n
<p>Wildlife needs to be able to travel to find food, mates and shelter. A freeway limits their ability to survive.</p>\n
<p>“You read heartbreaking stories of deer traveling their historic migration path, for example, and one year coming across a new road or fence blocking it and perishing as a result. Wildlife crossings provide that vital connection over human obstacles,” Pratt said.</p>\n
<p>Despite P-22’s remarkable feat, his Griffith Park habitat never allowed him to truly be a mountain lion.</p>\n
<p>“Being trapped on an island of wilderness surrounded by roads and development, he was unable to escape, doomed to live out his days a lonely bachelor,” Pratt said. “His whole life, he suffered the consequences of trying to survive in unconnected space, right to the end when being hit by a car led to his tragic end.”</p>\n
<div id="attachment_3066" style="width: 1610px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3066" class="wp-image-3066 size-full" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/04/david-beth-peter-crossing.jpg" alt="Three people standing on the top of a hill, looking down to a highway and the end of the grassy hill." width="1600" height="793" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/04/david-beth-peter-crossing.jpg 1600w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/04/david-beth-peter-crossing-300x149.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/04/david-beth-peter-crossing-1024x508.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/04/david-beth-peter-crossing-150x74.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/04/david-beth-peter-crossing-768x381.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/04/david-beth-peter-crossing-1536x761.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px" /><p id="caption-attachment-3066" class="wp-caption-text">David and Beth of NWF and Peter Gros checking out the future site of a wildlife crossing over a busy L.A. highway.</p></div>\n
<h3>How to coexist with wildlife in urban areas</h3>\n
<p>Wildlife crossings create opportunities for animals, like mountain lions, to expand their habitat and increase their chance for survival. But most people probably won’t invite a mountain lion to their backyard. So, how do we share our cities?</p>\n
<p>“The good news is, it’s <a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/article/live-wildly-with-floridas-wildlife">easy to coexist with wildlife large and small</a> — not without its challenges — but taking some simple steps can help both people and wildlife live together harmoniously,” Pratt said.</p>\n
<p>Here are some ways to make your area safer for wildlife:</p>\n
<ul>\n
<li>Learn more about animal behavior. Predators, such as coyotes, cougars and bears, want to avoid conflict with us just as much as we want to avoid conflict with them. Get tips from <a href="https://projectcoyote.org/take-action/promote-coexistence/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Project Coyote</a>, the <a href="https://cougarconservancy.org/safety-tips" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cougar Conservancy</a> or your state’s wildlife agency.</li>\n
<li>Turn off your lights at night. Artificial light interrupts natural instincts for animals and plants, as light is a signal to species for when it’s time to hunt or mate.</li>\n
<li>Grow native plants. Start your own <a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/article/building-your-garden-for-wildlife">wildlife garden</a> to provide habitat for pollinators.</li>\n
<li>Avoid using rat poisons or herbicides as they can be harmful to wildlife.</li>\n
<li>If you happen upon <a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/article/what-do-i-do-if-i-find-an-injured-animal">injured wildlife</a>, don’t touch it. Call a local wildlife rescue group to take care of the animal.</li>\n
</ul>\n
<p><em>Cougar, mountain lion, panther … no matter what you call them, they’re all the same species. </em><a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/video/cougar-fun-facts"><em>Learn more about this big cat</em></a><em>.</em></p>\n
<div id="attachment_3067" style="width: 1610px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3067" class="wp-image-3067 size-full" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/04/p48-from-nwf.jpg" alt="A young cougar looking at the camera, with its mouth open as if it's meowing." width="1600" height="793" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/04/p48-from-nwf.jpg 1600w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/04/p48-from-nwf-300x149.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/04/p48-from-nwf-1024x508.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/04/p48-from-nwf-150x74.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/04/p48-from-nwf-768x381.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/04/p48-from-nwf-1536x761.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px" /><p id="caption-attachment-3067" class="wp-caption-text">National Park Service researchers discovered two litters of mountain lion kittens in the eastern Santa Susana Mountains in June 2016. The kitten in this is P-49.</p></div>\n
<h2><em> </em>Why humans need wildlife</h2>\n
<p>“We need wildlife in our lives, for both our physical and mental health,” Pratt said. “We live on the same planet they do and are part of the same ecosystems. You start pulling any plant or animal out of the equation, and it can also impact us.”</p>\n
<p>Yes, this includes animals you may not care for, like snakes. Every animal plays an important role in the ecosystem. “I tell people, you would not want a world without snakes — the rodent populations would be out of control.”</p>\n
<p>Aside from the ecological importance of coexistence, Pratt believes a connection to the wild world is essential to fundamental human health.</p>\n
<p>“I see the joy P-22 brought Los Angeles, knowing such a magnificent creature lived among them,” Pratt said.</p>\n
<p>It’s something she continues to experience at the annual P-22 Day Festival held in the mountain lion’s former home of Griffith Park. Wildlife enthusiasts gather to celebrate P-22’s legacy and connect with the intersection of the urban and natural worlds.</p>\n
<div id="attachment_3069" style="width: 1610px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3069" class="wp-image-3069 size-full" src="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/04/peter-p22-event.jpg" alt="Man on stag holding a microphone. Behind him is a large image of a cougar and it says "Peace Love P-22."" width="1600" height="793" srcset="https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/04/peter-p22-event.jpg 1600w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/04/peter-p22-event-300x149.jpg 300w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/04/peter-p22-event-1024x508.jpg 1024w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/04/peter-p22-event-150x74.jpg 150w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/04/peter-p22-event-768x381.jpg 768w, https://blogs.mutualofomaha.com/wknewsroom/files/2024/04/peter-p22-event-1536x761.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px" /><p id="caption-attachment-3069" class="wp-caption-text">Peter Gros on stage at the P-22 memorial in 2023.</p></div>\n
<p>At the first P-22 Day, a group of second grade students read letters to the mountain lion. The students lived in an impoverished area, and many came from undocumented families. Sometimes the students didn’t have enough food to eat. And sometimes they’d go home not knowing if their parents would be deported.</p>\n
<p>“One little boy read in his letter to P-22, ‘I’m so sorry you are sad and lonely and scared. I have been there before,’” Pratt said. “I started crying when he read that. And I realized that for him, having a connection to P-22 helped him cope with problems just like I had as a kid.”</p>\n
<p>Pratt said she believes that access to wildlife, especially in cities, is a fundamental human right.</p>\n
<p>“This connection provides us all with a psychological safety in some respects,” Pratt said. “We owe these kids, especially, that connection.”</p>\n
<p>If you live in an urban area, you can still experience a connection with wildlife. Learn from Co-Host Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant, who spent her childhood in big cities, <a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/article/creating-wild-places-in-urban-spaces">how to make the most of urban green spaces</a>.</p>\n
<p>Watch Pratt on the Protecting the Wild episode, “<a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/video/p-22-on-mutual-of-omahas-wild-kingdom">Urban Wildlife</a>,” to hear more about coexistence with cougars. Plus, <a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/article/visiting-cougar-experts-in-california-and-florida">learn from mountain lion experts</a>.</p>\n
<h4>Did you know L.A. isn’t the only area developing wildlife crossings for cougars?</h4>\n
<p>Discover how Floridians are <a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/article/saving-the-florida-panther">“living wildly” with Florida panthers</a> and <a href="https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/article/saving-the-florida-panther">sharing the road with these big cats</a>.</p>\n
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