Island Conservation
Blue Iguanas, threatened by invasive species, were downlisted from “Critically Endangered” to “Endangered” thanks to conservation efforts. What could possibly put a 5-foot long, 25-lb giant reptile on the Critically Endangered species list? How could the largest species on the Grand Cayman Islands be at risk of extinction? Under normal conditions the Blue Iguana would thrive in its native […]
Scientists and conservationists take steps to save the Hawaiian Crow “‘Alalā” from extinction. A Hawaiian Crow, also known as “‘Alalā”, chick recently hatched at the San Diego Zoo. The arrival of the chick–the first one this year–marks an important step in a project to reintroduce the ‘Alalā to its natural habitat. The Hawaiian Crow has […]
Have you heard of the Eastern Barred Bandicoot? It’s a small furry marsupial that lives in Tasmania and Victoria, Australia. If you’ve never seen one before, it’s not too late. Thanks to a recovery program, this adorable species is rebounding from extinction. The Eastern Barred Bandicoot’s population size had fallen at an alarming rate in […]
A recent study finds invasive alien species to be the second-biggest cause of extinctions. A 2015 publication states that invasive alien species are the leading cause of extinctions on islands and globally (Tershy et al, 2015). Whether they are identified as the #1 or #2 cause of extinctions, the bottom line is: invasive alien species are […]
From 22 to 235 individuals in the wild! Our spirits soar with the news of California Condors rebounding from the brink of extinction. These enormous scavengers clean up the remains of animal carcasses. Declines in prey populations and habitat loss contribute to this species status as Critically Endangered. They are also threatened by potential poisoning […]
Giant insects-“Tree Lobsters”-of Lord Howe Island were once thought to be extinct. The island had been overrun with rats that disturbed the native species. But after two climbers identified evidence of the Tree Lobster on a volcanic feature near the island, scientists set to searching. And there, spread out on the bushy surface, were two […]
Can this species dodge extinction once and for all? The Critically Endangered Norfolk Island Parakeet (Cyanoramphus cookii)–known to the locals as the Green Parrot–has the dubious honor of having to be rescued from the very brink of extinction not once, but twice! Found only on Australia’s Norfolk Island, north-east of Sydney, the population of this beautiful […]