Cloning Extinct Animals

I read on Yahoo News that they're trying to bring the Thylacine back to life.


I also heard that they are trying to bring back the Pyrenean Ibex...


and the Huia.


I really hope they do bring them back. The first step was they put Thylacine DNA in a mouse. It will take many years. Who knows what will happen?

Should they try to bring back the dinosaurs? Saber tooth tigers? Maybe even the Do Do?

Saving the Polar Bear

I just heard that the polar bear will be put on the Endangered Species list. I had written posts asking you to write and help save the polar bear. If you did it made a difference. It is listed as threatened. This is a very good thing. But we still have a lot to do to stop global warming and help the environment.

Global warming is melting the polar bear's habitat and hunting grounds. Being hunted is also a big problem for the polar bear. Let's hope this helps.

I'm back...and so is the Bali Mynah, Black-footed Cat

Sorry I haven't done a posting in a while. OK, make that a long while. I've been busy visiting zoos and seeing wildlife. I'll tell you about it soon.

You know the Bali Mynah, one of the rarest birds on earth? Well, one was eaten by a wild snake at the Riverbanks Zoo one time. I was looking at animal x-rays during a zoo tour, and it said that a wild snake ate a Bali Mynah. Wow. This was simply shocking to me. But Riverbanks has done a lot to help conservation efforts of the Bali Mynah.

Another conservation effort at Riverbanks is for the black-footed cat. A black-footed kitten was born in March. It's native to South Africa, and it is the smallest cat species in the wild.

Riverbanks is helping endangered animals. I'll do postings more regularly this Summer. Thanks for visiting. Bye.

Happy Easter from the Volcano Rabbit

Since today is Easter we shall do a special posting on the Volcano Rabbit, the Easter Bunny's cousin.

The Volcano Rabbit lives in the mountains of Mexico. It lives on the slopes of old volcanoes and is the second smallest rabbit. They are critically endangered mostly because their habitat is disappearing and they are hunted as pests. There are different breeding programs for them like Jersey Zoo in the UK and the Chalpultepec Zoo in Mexico City. They feed on green leaves in Zacaton grasses. (Zacaton is connected sinkholes in Mexico.)

Are you amazed at all the animals in the world? Are you surprised by how many are endangered?

People of the Forest

We recently went to the Greenville Zoo, and took this video of Bob, the baby Bornean Orangutan. Orangutans are our closest relatives with 97 percent of the same DNA! Orangutan means people of the forest.

The Bornean Orangatan is highly endangered and the Sumatran Orangutan is critically endangered. Logging and mining is wiping out their habitats. It's hard to believe but poaching baby orangutans is also a big problem. Some scientists think they'll be extinct in five or ten years!!!

Some people are trying to save them like this Orangutan Conservancy. Do what you can.

Gray Wolves Making a Comeback

Gray Wolves were endangered for a long time in the U.S. and it's great they aren't anymore. So the good news is that they are coming back. And it's always nice to have some good news. But the bad news is they can be hunted now and its probably to soon for that. Here's a story from England and one from Wyoming. What do you think?

There are other wolves that are still in danger, like the Florida Red Wolf, which was thought to be extinct but was recently rediscovered. But it's probably too late for the Red Wolf.

Oz

Last Saturday I saw the baby koala at Riverbanks Zoo. The baby koala, named Oz, was resting by its mom, just looking around. Koalas are marsupials from Australia, not bears. They are considered endangered, and some people think they could be extinct in the wild in ten years. It's good to know there's a breeding program helping. Be sure to go by and say hi to Oz. Or if you live too far away, you can watch the koalas on Riverbanks Zoo View webcam.

Obama wins!

I met Barack Obama on Saturday!!! He was very nice and stopped to talk for a little while. I told him he'd make the best president for the environment. So I was happy he won!!!! I hope you will tell everyone you know in all the other states to vote for Barack Obama.

Global Warming in South Carolina

Did you know that scientists think global warming will cause the sea level to rise almost 19 inches in my lifetime? That will cause a lot of beach erosion and a big change to the environment and animal life. Read here how it might change South Carolina.

They say many ducks could disappear from SC. It could also hurt brook trout, woodpeckers, pelicans, loggerhead sea turtles, and lots more.

I hope you'll think about what you can do to help stop global warming. And don't vote for anyone until you know if they will help or hurt the environment.

Teaching evolution in the schools?

Why not? Species on earth have changed over time. Here's an educational video that covers everything you need to know about evolution.



I read about Charles Darwin and his Voyage of the Beagle. A cool adventure.

Will We Save the Polar Bear?

The US government can't decide whether it wants to save the polar bear or not.
Scientists say polar bears will be extinct by 2050, mainly because of global warming. We can't wait. They should put it on the endangered species list now.
Click here and read about it.

The polar bear is the largest land carnivore on earth. You can follow polar bears being tracked by World Wildlife Fund by clicking here.

Vote for Barack Obama or John McCain

I was born in Iowa, so I was happy to see Iowa support Barack Obama. In another posting I wrote why he would be the best president for the environment and endangered animals.

Barack Obama scored a 100 on the League of Conservation Voters Scorecard. We really need a president who cares about the earth and all the animals.

I hope everyone who cares about the environment and endangered animals will vote for Barack Obama. And it's not just because I shook his hand at the Oprah event, which you can see here.

If you're a Republican, you should know John McCain is the only candidate who says ANYTHING about the environment on his web site, so you should go for him.

Just don't vote for anyone until you know where they stand on global warming and endangered animals. OK?

Aquarium-Reptile Complex at Riverbanks Zoo

Here are a few of the animals at the Aquarium Reptile Complex at Riverbanks Zoo. It was built in 1989 and has many rare and endangered species.

Watch my video-- check out the diver in the Pacific Coral Reef tank. See the false gharial crocodile's sharp teeth. And the Moon Jellies are amazing. And look at the Shortnose Sturgeon. They are native to South Carolina and are endangered.

Meet the Animals at NC Zoo

Last summer I visited the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro. It's huge-- more than 500 acres. It took us six hours to see everything.

The habitats are really nice. It has an Africa exhibit and a North America exhibit.

Like many good zoos it is helping endangered animals and plants. The NC Zoo has been reintroducing the endangered Red Wolf to parts of North Carolina, and other conservation projects.

If you can't visit or want a quick tour, here's my video. I hope you like it.