INTERNATIONAL RED PANDA DAY

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.

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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

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

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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. 

Going Green, Emeralds it is!

Wether its the Emerald isles or the Emerald Coast, they both get their names from May’s beautiful birthstone….you guessed it Emeralds.  These precious stones have been coveted by humanity throughout history and its easy to see why.  If you have a May birthday this is your stone.  If not the allure and beauty of the stones gives all the reason needed to add these to your wardrobe.

Symbolically, emeralds have been treasured for millennia as stones of foresight and truth. Ancient Romans dedicated the gem to Venus, the goddess of love and beauty, believing it protected lovers from infidelity and deepened the bonds of commitment. Cleopatra, history’s most famous emerald enthusiast, used them not just as adornment but as political and romantic statements—each green stone a promise of power and passion intertwined. In medieval lore, an emerald held before a serpent would blind it, but held to a lover’s lips, it revealed whether their vows were true. This dual symbolism of protection and honesty makes the emerald a profound choice for engagement rings or anniversary gifts.

Colors range from light Columbian to deep Emerald.  Most are determined by mine location.  The fewer inclusions the more valuable the stone.  In times gone by these stones were thought to have powers beyond matching a gown.  Some are rumored to be cursed, while some held curative powers if ingested.  Emeralds are so coveted they even have a shape of diamonds and gems named after them.

A symbol of unending love and honesty have encouraged favoritism as wedding stones of choice.  The Regency era in particular Irish and English girls received many.  Long seen as a symbol of hope and prophecy made them very popular.  Unlike the red ruby, a statement of passionate love, an emerald conveys a complex symbolism and emotions.  Cleopatra draped herself in Emerards.  Rich luscious green color beautifully played off the violet of Elizabeth Taylor’s eyes in the 1960’s. While being most calming color green, it reflexes growth, peace, balance, and reflection.  Healing and fertility are also attributed to these very rare gemstone.  Verdant tones and inside are tempered by cool blue within the stone symbolize a steadfast bond.

Beyond myth, the emerald’s physical character reinforces its romantic message. Known for its characteristic “jardin,” or garden-like inclusions, no two emeralds are exactly alike. These internal fissures and flecks, once considered flaws, are now celebrated as the stone’s fingerprint—proof that perfection is not the goal, but rather unique, resilient beauty. Gifting an emerald says, “I see your imperfections, and I love the whole garden they create.” It is a love that accepts depth and history, much like a long-term partnership that has weathered small storms and grown stronger for them.

Moreover, green itself is the color of the heart chakra in Eastern traditions, believed to govern love, compassion, and emotional balance. Wearing an emerald close to the skin is thought to soothe old wounds and open the wearer to genuine connection. For a May birthday, receiving this stone is more than a keepsake; it is a wish for a life filled with loyal friendships and a marriage rooted in mutual growth. Just as spring’s green deepens into summer’s abundance, so too does emerald love mature—from tender beginnings to a rich, unbreakable bond.

Emeralds are often associated with strong sexuality and fertility, it was historically believed to help with difficult births or the problems bearing children.  Linked to healing and balance within the nervous, respiratory and even aid digestion.     Ancient Romans, for example, felt that the very soul of an individual was restored when they wore emerald jewelry.
So whether for your Birthstone or you just love the color, I wish you any and all luck they may contain.

NATIONAL SKIP THE STRAW DAY

On the fourth Friday in February, The Coral Keepers ask you to consider a different way on National Skip the Straw Day! For thousands of years, humans have enjoyed slurping a refreshing beverage through a cylindrical tube. If Marvin Stone (the inventor of the first paper straw in 1888) were alive today, he might be shocked to know of the five large areas of the ocean, called gyres, where plastic garbage collects. The sea’s currents create vortexes trapping plastics, and in the collection are plastic drinking straws.

Straws and other plastics cause harm to marine life in many ways.  Birds, fish and other sea life consume plastics accidentally or when they mistake it for food. Plastics don’t biodegrade.  They break down into smaller and finer, microscopic pieces. When plastics break down, they produce bisphenol A (BPA) which interferes with reproductive systems in marine life. It also produces styrene monomer which is a suspected carcinogen.

According to the National Park Service, Americans use 500 million drinking straws daily! So, on National Skip the Straw Day that’s potentially 500 million fewer straws that don’t end up in landfills or the ocean.

We can give you all sorts of other statistics to convince you to Skip the Straw on National Skip the Straw Day (and on other days), but we would rather show you how.

NATIONAL SKIP THE STRAW DAY HISTORY

The Coral Keepers, students at Whitehall Middle School in Whitehall, MI, along with their advisor, Susan Tate, founded National Skip the Straw Day in 2017 to encourage Americans to give up the straw habit and help spread awareness about the damage caused by disposable plastics. See also National Drinking Straw Day.

HOW TO OBSERVE #SkipTheStrawDay

For most of us, the easiest way is to pick up the glass and tip it back like our parents taught us to do when we four or five. It may take some practice and maybe both hands.  There are other fun, eco-friendly, healthy options.

  • Bamboo straws are a renewable, reusable and biodegradable.
  • Paper straws, while still disposable, are biodegradable and from a renewable source.
  • Glass straws are coming in durable, colorful designs fit for a variety of beverages.
  • Stainless steel straws are an option for those of us who like our cold drinks really cold!

Other Ways to Observe:

  • Volunteer to help clean up your local beaches, parks or neighborhoods.  Take note of how many straws are included in all the litter.
  • Plan ahead. Do you frequent fast-food restaurants or get beverages to go?  You will often receive the straw before you have the chance to say no.  Be prepared when you order to request your drink without a straw.

Share your solutions and use #SkipTheStrawDay on social media.