Defenders of Wildlife’s Post

WIN FOR WILDLIFE! 🎉 Following a legal agreement with the Center and partners, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service just proposed a revised critical habitat plan that would protect nearly 2 million acres for Florida manatees. This will be the first time their habitat has been updated since 1976. Why this is needed: Hundreds of manatees tragically dying each year from boat strikes, habitat loss, malnutrition and other causes. Protecting the manatees’ home, including their seagrass food source, is the most important step on their road to recovery. Why this is important: Animals with federally protected critical habitat are more than twice as likely to move toward recovery than species without it. Learn more about our ongoing work to protect these loveable "chubby mermaids" ➡️ https://biodiv.us/3UpGQXd

Headhunterzz.net ..Use your Brain for a Change! #investing #energy #sustainable #eco #globalwarming #climatechange #carbonneutral #shareholderactivism #finance #parisagreement #banking #Risk #chemicals #pollution #solution #alternative #solutions #Sustainability #Innovation #RegenerativeBusiness #NaturePositive #Sustainability #DistributiveManufacturing #LocalEconomy #GreenInnovation #Innovation

𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 In the latest PeaceParks.TV episode, we follow an elephant collaring operation in Simalaha Community Conservancy. This initiative is crucial for protecting communities and crops while ensuring the elephants' safety. Tracking their movements helps promote peaceful coexistence between people and these giant creatures. Robyn Swart, Peace Parks Foundation’s Combatting Wildlife Crime Project Coordinator, explains the development of a radio network and an operations control room linked to EarthRanger to monitor patrols and animal movements. This system allows for quick action if elephants move towards populated areas, ensuring safety for both people and elephants. Dr. Brian Musala from Zambia's Department of National Parks & Wildlife highlights the importance of the data collected for effective wildlife management and fostering a balanced relationship between humans and elephants. Thanks to Zambia’s Department of National Parks and Wildlife and Simalaha Community Conservancy for supporting this mission Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/4g5lFkN and share your thoughts in the comments section below. #ElephantCollaring #SimalahaCommunityConservancy #PeacefulCoexistence #Zambia #PeaceParksFoundation #NatureWithoutBorders 

Manatees are dying at an alarming rate: Declining seagrass has led to an ongoing mortality event — almost 20% of the entire Florida population perished in just two years. These gentle giants are starving to death. But there's hopeful news: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) recently proposed to protect nearly 2 million acres of critical habitat for manatees under the #EndangeredSpeciesAct. If the proposal is finalized, the Act's safeguards will ensure that #manatees will have warm, safe places to swim and eat seagrass for generations to come. But the proposal leaves important waterways unprotected. Join us in urging the Service to protect all the critical areas manatees need to recover — as soon as possible.➡️ https://bit.ly/4eADzuH

We should clearly understand the consequences of introducing elephants and what will happen when overpopulation takes place with chronic habitat destruction over time. Please note other species are also affected . No trees no giraffe. Please explain how we manage this or come up with a solution. Unsustainable Conservation.There are open territories in Botswana under the same pressure not suited for elephants and degradation to the point that other species are lost or suffering.

Shocking News from Madikwe Game Reserve: A Call for Accountability and Action As a safari travel specialist and someone deeply invested in Africa’s wildlife and conservation, I am utterly shocked and saddened by the recent news from Madikwe Game Reserve. The National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) has highlighted severe issues with overpopulation, poor veld management, and neglect, resulting in heartbreaking outcomes for the wildlife we all hold dear. Reports of malnourished animals, including elephants and other species in dire conditions, are deeply distressing. The reserve, once celebrated for its wildlife and conservation efforts, now faces what can only be described as a crisis. This situation raises critical questions: • How was this allowed to happen? • What role did suppliers, stakeholders, and management play—or fail to play—in preventing this tragedy? • What immediate measures are being taken to alleviate the suffering and ensure this doesn’t happen again? As travel professionals, we work closely with suppliers to create experiences that celebrate Africa’s natural beauty while prioritizing responsible tourism and conservation. Stories like this shake the foundation of trust we build with our clients, who travel to these destinations expecting ethical and sustainable practices. I would like to urge our suppliers and partners to step forward and transparently share their efforts to address this crisis. We must collectively push for accountability, sustainable solutions, and a renewed commitment to preserving the ecosystems we rely on for travel and tourism. This is a wake-up call for all of us in the industry. Conservation is not just a buzzword—it is a responsibility. Let’s open the conversation. I’d love to hear from others in the travel and conservation community: • What are your thoughts on this tragedy? • How can we as an industry prevent such situations in the future? Together, we can and must do better—for the wildlife, the environment, and the travelers who trust us to guide them to Africa’s treasures. #Madikwe #WildlifeConservation #ResponsibleTourism #Safari #AfricaTravel #TravelAfricanTime

Manatees, often referred to as “gentle giants,” are more than just iconic symbols of aquatic life—they are essential to the health of our coastal ecosystems. Manatees, are also often called “ecosystem engineers,” as they play vital roles in maintaining the health and balance of local ecosystems. However, their populations are declining due to habitat loss, water pollution, and collisions with boats. This decline threatens not only the species but also the ecosystems they help sustain. Here are some of the vital roles manatees play in maintaining ecological balance and biodiversity: 1. Grazing on Seagrass: 🌱 Manatees consume large amounts of seagrass, preventing overgrowth and promoting the health of seagrass beds. This grazing helps maintain biodiversity by allowing sunlight to reach the seabed, benefiting various marine species. 2. Nutrient Cycling: 🔄 By feeding on aquatic vegetation and excreting waste, manatees contribute to nutrient cycling. Their waste acts as a natural fertilizer, supporting the growth of seagrass and other plants. 3. Sediment Redistribution: 🪨 As manatees move through shallow waters, their movements stir up sediment, which can help prevent the buildup of organic matter that might otherwise smother seagrass beds. 4. Habitat Creation for Other Species: 🐟 The maintenance of healthy seagrass beds by manatees provides habitat and feeding grounds for fish, crustaceans, and other marine organisms. 5. Indicator Species: 🌎 Manatees serve as indicators of ecosystem health. A thriving manatee population often signals clean, healthy water and balanced aquatic ecosystems. 6. Preventing Algal Blooms: 🦠 By keeping aquatic vegetation in check, manatees help reduce the risk of algal blooms, which can deplete oxygen in the water and harm marine life. 7. Promoting Biodiversity: ☮️ Their role in maintaining seagrass beds indirectly supports a wide range of marine life, fostering biodiversity within the ecosystem. By protecting manatees, we’re also safeguarding the ecosystems that countless other species—and we—depend on. Let’s work together to ensure these incredible animals thrive for generations to come. #manatees #biodiversity #ecosystems #protect #support

A plan approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in August would cull about 500,000 barred owls over 30 years to try to protect Northern and California spotted owls, which are classified as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The program would affect several national parks and monuments in California and the Bay Area. 🔗 READ: https://lnkd.in/gwKvEF7m ✍️: Thomas Hughes

Petition below

Good news 🎉: Thanks to a lawsuit by the Center, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), and Friends of Minnesota Scientific and Natural Areas, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed to protect 1.6 million acres of critical habitat for rusty patched bumblebees. 🐝 Although the species once thrived across the upper Midwest and Northeast, these fuzzy flyers have declined dramatically since the 1990s due to habitat loss, pesticides, and more. The final critical habitat decision will rest with the Trump administration, so we’ll keep fighting to ensure that rusty patched bumblebees get the protections they need to dodge extinction. For now, you can help defend these bees and other wildlife against pesticides in some of their last homes: wildlife refuges. ➡️ https://bit.ly/4g6eo4D