Tag conservation

INTERNATIONAL RED PANDA DAY

Jensperspectiveblog 3 Comments

During the third Saturday in September, International Red Panda Day dedicates a day to learning about about red pandas. Join the campaign to raise awareness about saving their habitats.

Red pandas are much smaller than the more familiar black and white pandas. In fact, red pandas are not related to giant pandas at all. Red pandas weigh between 12 to 20 pounds, which is about the size of a housecat. These adorable mammals live in the trees of the Himalaya Mountains. The Red panda’s popularity in Asia features them in cartoons and as team mascots. However, only about 10,000 red pandas live in the wild. Because of deforestation, poaching, and the illegal pet trade, red pandas are endangered.

5 Fun Facts About Red Pandas

  1. Their fur is the color of cinnamon and keeps them warm in cold climates.
  2. Red pandas eat mostly bamboo.
  3. They were discovered in 1825, before the giant panda.
  4. Other names for the red panda include bear-cat, firefox, and Himalayan raccoon.
  5. Although they resemble raccoons, they have no living relatives.

According to the Red Panda Network, red pandas symbolize of life. Red pandas help to keep forests healthy, the water clean, and the ecosystem vibrant. Saving the red panda helps combat global climate change as well as protect the ecological integrity of South Asia.

INTERNATIONAL RED PANDA DAY HISTORY

The Red Panda Network launched International Red Panda Day in 2010. At that time, 16 schools and a few zoos participated in red panda activities. Currently, more than 60 zoos around the world participate, with over 100,000 visitors on Red Panda Day.

Explore More…

HOW TO OBSERVE #InternationalRedPandaDay

Many conservation organizations, along with schools and zoos all around the world, celebrate International Red Panda Day. Some zoos celebrate by having informational presentations about red pandas. In China, the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding visits schools in rural areas where red pandas live. In Nepal, communities celebrate with speech competitions and film viewings. Many other organizations host activities that educate the public on the importance of red panda conservation.

If you want to take part in International Red Panda Day, check with your local zoo to see if they have any activities. Donate to the Red Panda Network or another group that strives to protect the red panda. Encourage your child to become a Red Panda Ranger to help spread the word about red pandas. You can also share an image of a red panda on social media with #InternationalRedPandaDay.

NATIONAL WILDLIFE DAY

Jensperspectiveblog 2 Comments

National Wildlife Day on September 4th encourages improved awareness of the species around us and in the broader world. 

This National Day focuses on endangered species, preservation, and conservation efforts around the world. Zoos, aviaries and marine sanctuaries provide a variety of ways to get involved.

No matter where you live, opportunities abound to learn and participate in the day. Wildlife doesn’t only exist in the forest or outside the city limits. Look closely. The creatures and animals sharing our world live under our feet and in the sky above us. Our rivers, lakes and oceans are teeming with wildlife of all sizes. It’s essential to understand how we impact the habitats that animals need to survive. Their homes supply their food and shelter.

Around the world, facilities and organizations will present seminars and educational programs. Additionally, podcasts and documentaries alert us to the changing conditions for various species around the world.  Some may be as close as your own back yard. From the sky to the depths of the ocean, wildlife surrounds us.

Since wildlife relies on a stable habitat, understanding conservation and preservation is important. Developing strategies helps to maintain existing habitats and repair or replace those that have been destroyed. These strategies are especially important when a decline in a species is detected. For example, each year in August, International Whale Shark Day brings attention to the plight of the world’s largest fish. Despite efforts, the gentle giant continues to decline in numbers.   

NATIONAL WILDLIFE DAY HISTORY

Colleen Paige, the Pet Lifestyle Expert, and author founded National Wildlife Day in 2005. She created the day in honor of and later in memory of wildlife conservationist Steve Irwin. The global awareness day brings education to the public concerning the number of endangered animals and the need for conservation and preservation. 

If we can teach people about wildlife, they will be touched. Share my wildlife with me. Because humans want to save things that they love. – Steve Irwin

Explore More…

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalWildlifeDay

Participate in a presentation. Volunteer to fund-raise for rehabilitation services. Other ways to celebrate the day include:

  • Learn about the needs of endangered species and how conservation efforts work.
  • While learning, implement your own techniques, as suggested by preservationists.
  • Go on a wildlife walk and learn about the inhabitants near you. Visit the National Wildlife Federation to learn more. 

Use #NationalWildlifeDay to post on social media. Share photos of your neighborhood wildlife or even those farther from home. 

Living Planet: Preserving Edens of the Earth#NationalWildlifeDay
Living Planet: Preserving Edens of the Earth
Animal Kingdom Playing Cards #NationalWildlifeDay
Animal Kingdom Playing Cards
WWF WWF14574 Plush Collection World Wildlife Fund Bunny Plush Snow Rabbit, Realistically Designed Plush Toy, Approx. 24 cm Tall and Wonderfully Soft, Multi-Coloured#NationalWildlifeDay
WWF WWF14574 Plush Collection World Wildlife Fund Bunny Plush Snow Rabbit, Realistically Designed Plush Toy, Approx. 24 cm Tall and Wonderfully Soft, Multi-Coloured
Build a Bear Workshop World Wildlife Fund Series 2012 Plush Stuffed Leopard Cheetah #NationalWildlifeDay
Build a Bear Workshop World Wildlife Fund Series 2012 Plush Stuffed Leopard Cheetah

NATIONAL ELEPHANT APPRECIATION DAY

Jensperspectiveblog 2 Comments

If you didn’t remember September 22 is National Elephant Appreciation Day, it’s fine. We’re sure the elephant probably didn’t forget.

People of all ages are fascinated by elephants. Discover some interesting facts about them to celebrate with us! 

These captivating and social animals live between 60 to 70 years. Like humans, elephants develop remarkably close family bonds. Two species, the African Savannah and Asian elephant, exist. However, recently scientists suggested that the African Forest elephant is also a unique species and not a subspecies. 

Each day, poachers kill approximately 100 elephants for their ivory, meat, bones, and skin. 

These pachyderms are closely related to rhinoceroses and hippos. In fact, pachyderm describes thick-skinned animals with hooves or nails similar to hooves. While the African elephants outgrow the Asian, both hold the prize for the largest land mammal on earth. However, there are some differences between the species, though. 

Differences Between African & Asian Elephants:

  • The African elephant grows larger ears.
  • In the Asian species, only the male grows tusks. However, in the African, both male and female elephants grow tusks.
  • One of the things that fascinate us about elephants is their trunk. It’s super sensitive. At the end, a small finger-like appendage grows. The appendage, also known as a lobe, gives elephants the ability to pick up small twigs, bits of grass and other items. On the Asian elephant, the lobe grows at the top tip of the trunk. However, the African elephant grows a lobe at the top and bottom, giving it extra pinching dexterity. 
  • Both species live in herds. The herds are led primarily by a matriarch and comprised of sisters, daughters and their young. As the males grow, they move off on their own. Asian herds tend to be smaller than the African herds.
  • While both species are herbivores, their diets vary based on the available habitat. 

Elephants are spirited and playful animals. Have you ever seen them frolic in the water?  And they will defend their own with their mighty tusks. Whether foraging for food or digging a mud hole, their tusks are vital for survival. Since hunters value the ivory more than the life of the elephant, they endanger the continued existence of these majestic animals. 

Do elephants never forget? Well, studies have determined that elephants have excellent memories. They remember vital locations over large areas of land. Elephants also show recognition of faces and other elephants even after a long time has passed. And while we may be forgetful from time to time, we don’t recommend forgetting this holiday!

NATIONAL ELEPHANT APPRECIATION DAY HISTORY

National Elephant Appreciation Day originated in 1996 to raise awareness concerning the plight of elephants. 

The word “pachyderm” is often used in reference to an elephant. However, the elephant isn’t the only pachyderm in the world. The obsolete term was once a classification of animals which also included hippopotamuses, rhinoceroses, pigs, and tapirs.

Elephants do sleep standing up, though not all the time. Wild elephants will spend more time sleeping standing up than their captive relatives.

Explore More…

National Wildlife Day

National Urban Wildlife Refuge Day

National Wildlife Conservation Day

National Endangered Species Day

World Lion Day

National Monkey Day

National Pig Day

National Elephant Day

National Dolphin Day

National Wildlife Week

World Wildlife Day

National American Eagle Day

Save the Eagles Day

National Panda Day

International Red Panda Day

National Zoo Lovers Day

National Zoo and Aquarium Month

HOW TO OBSERVE ELEPHANT APPRECIATION DAY

Don’t forget to celebrate the Elephant on September 22nd! Show your appreciation today by visiting the elephants at your local zoo. Get involved. Learn about conservation and eliminating poaching.

Read up about elephants. We suggest The Elephant Whisperer by Lawrence Anthony or Love, Live and Elephants: An African Love Story by Daphne Sheldrick. You could also read Horton Hears a Who by Dr. Seuss or any of the Babar stories by Jean de Brunhoff.

Documentaries bring the life of the elephant into our living rooms. Watch Elephant directed by Mark Linfield or When Elephants Were Young directed by Patricia Sims.

Use #ElephantAppreciationDay to post on social media.

The Jungle Book Colonel Hati's March
See Colonel Hati’s March
Dumbo #ElephantAppreciationDay
Dumbo
Horton Hears A Who movie #ElephantAppreciationDay
Horton Hears A Who
ZQQLITE Solar Elephant Statue Lights Outdoor Garden Decoration, Elephant Statue with Solar...#ElephantAppreciationDay
ZQQLITE Solar Elephant Statue Lights Outdoor Garden Decoration, Elephant Statue with Solar…
Lambs & Ivy Jungle Safari Gray Plush Elephant Stuffed Animal Toy Plushie - Jett#ElephantAppreciationDay
Lambs & Ivy Jungle Safari Gray Plush Elephant Stuffed Animal Toy Plushie – Jett
4.2 lbs Elephant Weighted Stuffed Animals, 24" Weighted Elephant Plush Toy Weighted Plush Animal Throws Pillows Gifts for Kids & Adults(Gray)#ElephantAppreciationDay
4.2 lbs Elephant Weighted Stuffed Animals, 24″ Weighted Elephant Plush Toy Weighted Plush Animal Throws Pillows Gifts for Kids & Adults(Gray)

WORLD ELEPHANT DAY

Jensperspectiveblog Leave a comment

Join in the worldwide observance on August 12 as we celebrate of one of Earth’s most magnificent creatures on World Elephant Day.

As the largest living land animal on earth, elephants weigh up to 9 tons and stand almost 13 feet high. They have large ears and a long trunk used for drinking, grabbing things, smelling and breathing. Interestingly, elephants also use their trunk as a way to defend themselves. 

Elephants are native to Africa and Asia. There are two types of African elephant species–the savanna elephant and forest elephant. Only Asian male elephants grow tusks, while both African male and female elephants can grow tusks. Interestingly, Asian elephants only have one “finger’ on their trunk and African elephants have two. 

5 Elephant Tidbits

  1. An elephant has around 150,000 muscles in their trunk, allowing breath, drink, and smell.
  2. Elephant skin is around 2.5 cm thick. The wrinkles in their skin holds water to help keep them cool. 
  3. On average, an elephant eats around 300 pounds of food a day, including grass, tree shrubs, fruit, and leaves. 
  4. Elephants can communicate by feeling vibrations in their bones, carried through the ground.
  5. The temporal lobe responsible for memory is larger than a human, meaning an elephant has an amazing memory.

Elephants are spirited and playful animals. Have you ever seen them frolic in the water? And they will defend their own with their mighty tusks. Whether foraging for food or digging a mud hole, their tusks are vital for survival. Since hunters value the ivory more than the life of the elephant, they endanger the continued existence of these majestic animals. 

Elephants are in danger of extinction. Poaching for ivory from the tusks and loss of habitat are two of the main problems elephants face today. Through communication, awareness, and community involvement, we can protect this animal and the beauty they bring to nature. 

WORLD ELEPHANT DAY HISTORY

We encourage you to learn more about elephants by visiting the WorldElephantDay.org website. 

Explore More…

CELEBRATE WORLD ELEPHANT DAY

Show your appreciation today by visiting the elephants at your local zoo. Get involved. Learn about conservation and eliminating poaching. Watch a documentary about elephants to learn more about this majestic creature. Use #ElephantAppreciationDay to post on social media.

Celebrate World Lion Day: Protect the King of the Jungle

Jensperspectiveblog 4 Comments

August 10th is World Lion Day, a global event dedicated to raising awareness about the plight of lions and the urgent need for their conservation. Once roaming across Africa, Asia, and Europe, lion populations have drastically declined due to habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and poaching. Today, fewer than 20,000 lions remain in the wild.

The lion species, also known as Panthera leo, is one of the largest species on earth. Typically weighing 300 to 550 pounds, the lion can vary from a light buff color to a deep reddish brown color.  Surprisingly, there is also the rare white lion found in the wild. Easily recognized by it’s thick mane, the lion is also muscular and has a loud, deafening roar.  Unfortunately, as majestic lions my seem, they are slowly disappearing.

As far back as 3 million years ago, lions roamed freely across Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East .  Today, loins are live freely in their natural habitat in only two locations, Africa and Asia.  In addition, some lions are bred in captivity.

Lions are listed as a vulnerable species according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Though they are not under the classification of an endangered species, they still face obstacles that endanger their survival.

Currently, there are about 30,000 to 100,000 lions left on earth.  In the past few decades, lion populations have decreased almost by half.  Trophy hunting and loss of natural habitat are the primary reasons for the diminishing lion population.

This World Lion Day, let’s honor these majestic creatures and take action to ensure their survival. Here’s how you can participate and make a difference.

Why Lions Matter

Lions are apex predators, crucial for maintaining ecosystem balance. Their decline signals broader environmental issues that affect us all. By protecting lions, we safeguard biodiversity and our planet’s future.

This World Lion Day, let’s roar for change!

Explore More…

Animal days

How to Observe #WorldLionDay

Learn about lions—their behavior, habitat, and the threats they face. Share fascinating facts with friends and family to spread awareness.

Did you know?

  • Lions are the only big cats that live in social groups called prides.
  • A lion’s roar can be heard up to 5 miles away!
  • They have disappeared from 94% of their historic range.

Support Conservation Organizations

Donate to or volunteer with organizations working to protect lions, such as:

Reduce Demand for Wildlife Products

Avoid products that contribute to habitat destruction or illegal wildlife trade, such as trophies or traditional medicines made from animal parts.

Visit a Sanctuary or Zoo (Responsibly)

Support ethical wildlife sanctuaries that prioritize conservation over entertainment. Avoid places that allow lion petting or exploitative activities.

Share on Social Media

Use your voice to amplify the message! Here’s how:

Share a Documentary Clip – Recommend films like The Lion King (for fun) or Blood Lions (for awareness).

Post a Lion Photo – Share an image with facts and the hashtag #WorldLionDay, #SaveTheKing,  #LionConservation,  and #ProtectWildlife

Aurora® Adorable Mini Flopsie™ Lionel™ Stuffed Animal - Playful Ease - Timeless Companions - Brown 8 Inches#Worldlionday
Aurora® Adorable Mini Flopsie™ Lionel™ Stuffed Animal – Playful Ease – Timeless Companions – Brown 8 Inches
Douglas Zeus Lion Plush Stuffed Animal#Worldlionday
Douglas Zeus Lion Plush Stuffed Animal
Lion Wood Piggy Bank For Boys and Girls - Personalized Animal Coin Box For Kids - Tiger Wooden Money Saver - Cute Children Gift Idea For Developing Money Saving Habit#Worldlionday
Lion Wood Piggy Bank For Boys and Girls – Personalized Animal Coin Box For Kids – Tiger Wooden Money Saver – Cute Children Gift Idea For Developing Money Saving Habit