There are a variety of special resources you can use to learn more about endangered species and to be involved in conservation actions:
Virtual Tours/Web Cams
The following virtual tours and web cams offer a close-up look at a variety of species and their habitats, including some that are rare, threatened or endangered or “recovered” species.
*Google Earth offers virtual tours of 31 U.S. national parks.
*SAN DIEGO ZOO, San Diego, CA–See all of San Diego Zoo’s Live Cams at: https://zoo.sandiegozoo.org/live-cams
*Big Bear Bald Eagle Nest | Friends of Big Bear Valley
*AFRICAM.COM, various
Africam.com offers several options to choose from (look to the column on the left of the homepage): Cams in South Africa, Tanzania, Egypt, and North America. Under ‘Streaming Cams,’ clicking ‘Flamingos’ takes you to Kamfers Dam, where hundreds of the birds are milling about.
Watch: Africam.com
*Cornell Lab: Provides web cams of several bird species: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/cams/panama-fruit-feeders/
- Check back for more.
Educational Videos
PBS: Science Trek | Endangered Species Basics
National Geographic: Meet Some of the World’s Most Endangered Animals | National Geographic Society
CBS Endangered Species Act: On the brink: The Endangered Species Act
World Animal Network: (218) National Endangered Species Day 2021 – YouTube
Netflix/YouTube – Our Planet: (218) Our Planet | Jungles
WWF World Wildlife Classroom: (218) What is an Endangered Species? – YouTube
Podcasts
Following are podcasts and video profiles of endangered species from various sources:
*Fish & Wildlife Service: https://www.fws.gov/endangered/about/multimedia.html
*NPR: https://www.npr.org/tags/152343162/endangered-species
*All Creatures Podcast: https://www.allcreaturespod.com/episodes/episode-120-endangered-species-act-with-
*National Parks Traveler Episode 100: Parks, Endangered Species And The ESA, By Kurt Repanshek – January 10th, 2021, Listen Here
*“Endangered: Short Tales for The Nearly Forgotten,” is a new podcast anthology that celebrates species that are on the verge of extinction. It was created, written, directed and produced by Emmy-nominee Graham Sibley. The podcast is targeted toward kids, but also appeals to adults.
Nature Apps
iNaturalist is a social network for naturalists. Record your observations of plants and animals, share them with friends and researchers, and learn about the natural world. https://www.inaturalist.org
PlantSnap can currently recognize 90% of all known species of plants and trees, which covers most of the species you will encounter in every country on Earth. To identify a plant, you simply need to simply snap a photo of the plant, and the app will tell you what it is in a matter of seconds. http://www.plantsnap.com
Films
*America’s Endangered Species: Don’t Say Goodbye (National Geographic)
*Love & Bananas
*Racing Extinction
TED Talks
Following are TED talks that focused on/discussed endangered species/conservation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7MeCPfaPR0
https://www.ted.com/talks/stewart_brand_the_dawn_of_de_extinction_are_you_ready
Advocacy/Action
Visit these and other links (more to follow) to see what current legislation/policy proposals could impact endangered species and then contact your elected representatives on specific issues.
Center for Biological Diversity: https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/action/alerts/
Defenders of Wildlife: https://defenders.org/action
Endangered Species Coalition: www.endangered.org
Endangered Species Policy Project: https://ballotpedia.org/Endangered_Species_Policy
Coloring Book
Free coloring book from Fish & Wildlife Service: https://www.fws.gov/endangered/esa40/PDF/ESAColoringbook.pdf
Infographics/Reports/Other
Infographics: The Endangered Species Coalition has created a series of four infographics that provide further details about endangered species and the Endangered Species Act. See them at: http://www.endangered.org/cms/assets/uploads/2019/05/ESC-Infographics-large-PDF-for-poster-printing.pdf
Reports: Also review the Endangered Species Coalition’s Top Ten reports re: species in peril. Top Ten Reports
Special Report: The Plastics Plague: MARINE MAMMALS AND OUR OCEANS IN PERIL, A Report by the International Marine Mammal Project of Earth Island Institute • 2022, http://eii.org/immp/plastics
Posters: From the Animal Welfare Institute: https://awionline.org/store/catalog/animal-welfare-publications/materials-children-wildlife/endangered-species-poster
“Endangered Pollinators and Their Habitats: http://www.pollinator.org/shop/poster-2019
Plant Flyers: In addition, the Native Plant Conservation Campaign provides informational brochure/flyers on the importance and protection of plants. Visit http://www.plantsocieties.org
State ES Information
Environmental Policy: Welcome to the Endangered Species Policy Project, where you will find information about endangered species and government policies at the federal, state and local levels. Endangered species policy affects many aspects of citizens’ lives. Citizens will be able to decide which endangered species policies are most aligned with their interests, and make more informed decisions about which candidates and initiatives they support. https://ballotpedia.org/Endangered_Species_Policy
Organizations
*Association of Zoos & Aquariums–The Association of Zoos and Aquariums is committed to providing the highest quality member services to advance the zoo and aquarium movement. AZA is also committed to being a global leader in promoting species conservation and animal welfare by leveraging the size, scope, expertise, and public trust of its member institutions. Through AZA SAFE: Saving Animals From Extinction, AZA will redefine for the public the value of accredited zoos and aquariums and provide more opportunities for people to participate in wildlife conservation. You can see the directory of U.S. accredited zoos and aquariums at http://www.aza.org
*Center for Biological Diversity—At the Center for Biological Diversity, we believe that the welfare of human beings is deeply linked to nature — to the existence in our world of a vast diversity of wild animals and plants. Because diversity has intrinsic value, and because its loss impoverishes society, we work to secure a future for all species, great and small, hovering on the brink of extinction. We do so through science, law and creative media, with a focus on protecting the lands, waters and climate that species need to survive. We want those who come after us to inherit a world where the wild is still alive. www.biologicaldiversity.org
*Children & Nature Network—We are leading a global movement to increase equitable access to nature so that children– and natural places–can thrive. We do this by investing in leadership and communities through sharing evidence-based resources, scaling innovative solutions and driving policy change. Our Vision: A world in which all children play, learn and grow with nature in their everyday lives. http://www.childrenandnature.org
*Cornell Lab of Ornithology– Dedicated to advancing the understanding and protection of the natural world, the Cornell Lab joins with people from all walks of life to make new scientific discoveries, share insights, and galvanize conservation action. http://www.birds.cornell.edu/
*Defenders of Wildlife—Defenders of Wildlife is dedicated to the protection of all native animals and plants in their natural communities. Defenders’ approach is direct and straightforward – We protect and restore imperiled species throughout North America by transforming policies and institutions and by promoting innovative solutions. We speak with one voice informed by scientific, legal and policy expertise, hands-on wildlife management experience and effective advocacy. Our team has the experience and knowledge to engage in any arena to protect wildlife—Congress, the courts, federal and state agencies, academia and public debate—and does so tirelessly and effectively. www.defenders.org
*Department of Defense–The Department of Defense’s (DoD) Natural Resources Program (NR Program) supports the protection and conservation of all threatened, endangered, and at-risk species found on military installations. This site will provide you with numerous resources about these species and ways to promote their status.
*Earth Day Network–Earth Day Network works year round to solve climate change, to end plastic pollution, to protect endangered species, and to broaden, educate, and activate the environmental movement across the globe. http://www.earthday.org
*Endangered Species Coalition: The Endangered Species Coalition (ESC) is a national network of conservation, scientific, education, religious, sporting, outdoor recreation, business and community organizations – and more than 150,000 individual activists and supporters – all dedicated to protecting our nation’s disappearing wildlife and last remaining wild places. The Coalition’s mission is to stop the human-caused extinction of our nation’s at-risk species, to protect and restore their habitats, and to guide these fragile populations along the road to recovery. The ESC works to safeguard and strengthen the Endangered Species Act, a law that enables every citizen to act on behalf of threatened and endangered wildlife – animals, fish, plants, and insects – and the wild places they call home. For more information, visit http://www.endangered.org
*Jane Goodall Institute: We are a global community conservation organization that advances the vision and work of Dr. Jane Goodall. By protecting chimpanzees and inspiring people to conserve the natural world we all share, we improve the lives of people, animals and the environment. Everything is connected—everyone can make a difference. http://www.janegoodall.org
*Humane Society: The Humane Society of the United States “is the nation’s most effective animal protection organization. With you by our side, we take on the big fights to end suffering for all animals.” Humane Society’s mission includes a special focus on protecting endangered and threatened animals in the U.S., such as wolves and grizzly bears, from trophy hunting, predator control, and other threats. See https://www.humanesociety.org/trophyhunting
Humane Society International has similar information on trophy hunting and imperiled species worldwide: https://www.hsi.org/trophyhunting
*The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN): is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. It provides public, private and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together. IUCN has evolved into the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network. It harnesses the experience, resources and reach of its 1,300 Member organisations and the input of 14,500 experts. IUCN is the global authority on the status of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard it. Produces the IUCN Red List–Listing of all endangered species: www.iucnredlist.org
*National Audubon Society—The National Audubon Society protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow, throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education, and on-the-ground conservation. Audubon’s state programs, nature centers, chapters, and partners have an unparalleled wingspan that reaches millions of people each year to inform, inspire, and unite diverse communities in conservation action.
*National Military Fish and Wildlife Association (NMFWA): The NMFWA is a non-profit organization consisting of professional resource managers working to protect and manage wildlife and other natural resources on DoD lands. Through the publication of a quarterly Newsletter (Fish and Wildlife News [F.A.W.N.]), and the successful creation of an Annual Meeting and Training Workshop, members and supporters remain actively involved and engaged in issues of national and local importance. Our members have been involved in initiatives ranging from research on White-Nose Syndrome to the reauthorization of the Sikes Act. The work we do today is more relevant than ever before, as we are faced with significant challenges in policy, stewardship, and research. http://www.nmfwa.org
*National Park Service—Since 1916, the National Park Service has been entrusted with the care of our national parks. With the help of volunteers and partners, we safeguard these special places and share their stories with more than 318 million visitors every year. But our work doesn’t stop there. We are proud that tribes, local governments, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and individual citizens ask for our help in revitalizing their communities, preserving local history, celebrating local heritage, and creating close-to-home opportunities for kids and families to get outside, be active, and have fun. Taking care of the national parks and helping Americans take care of their communities is a job we love, and we need—and welcome—your help and support. http://www.nps.gov
*National Resources Defense Council—NRDC works to safeguard the earth—its people, its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends. We combine the power of more than three million members and online activists with the expertise of some 700 scientists, lawyers, and policy advocates across the globe to ensure the rights of all people to the air, the water, and the wild. http://www.nrdc.org
*National Wildlife Federation–The National Wildlife Federation, America’s largest and most trusted conservation organization, works across the country to unite Americans from all walks of life in giving wildlife a voice. We’ve been on the front lines for wildlife since 1936, fighting for the conservation values that are woven into the fabric of our nation’s collective heritage. Information on backyard wildlife gardens and other topics. http://www.nwf.org
*Native Plant Conservation Campaign– The Native Plant Conservation Campaign is a network of Affiliate native plant societies and other native plant conservation organizations throughout the United States. The mission of the Native Plant Conservation Campaign is to promote the conservation of native plants and their habitats through collaboration, education, and advocacy. www.plantsocieties.org
*NOAA Fisheries Office of Protected Resources– NOAA Fisheries, also known as the National Marine Fisheries Service, is an office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration within the Department of Commerce. NOAA Fisheries is responsible for the stewardship of the nation’s ocean resources and their habitat. We provide vital services for the nation: productive and sustainable fisheries, safe sources of seafood, the recovery and conservation of protected resources, and healthy ecosystems—all backed by sound science and an ecosystem-based approach to management. http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/
*North American Native Plant Society—NANPS is a volunteer-operated registered charitable organization concerned with preserving native plant habitat in wild areas and restoring indigenous flora to developed areas. Our key purpose is to provide information and inspire an appreciation of native plants with an aim to restoring healthy ecosystems across the continent. It is our belief that nature belongs in urban, suburban, and rural areas as much as in remote areas. http://nanps.org
*North American Orchid Conservation Center https://northamericanorchidcenter.org/. North America is home to over 200 orchid species, and more than half are endangered or threatened somewhere in their native range. The North American Orchid Conservation Center (NAOCC) was established by the Smithsonian Institution and the United States Botanic Garden to assure the survival of all native orchids in the U.S. and Canada. NAOCC activities focus on establishing collections of seeds and orchid mycorrhizal fungi, developing protocols to propagate and restore all native orchid species and developing an interactive website to provide the public with a mechanism to identify and learn everything that is known about our native orchids.
*Photo Ark– (Photo Ark founder Joel Sartore has photographed more than 9,000 species around the world as part of a multiyear effort to document every species living in zoos and wildlife sanctuaries, inspire action through education, and help save wildlife by supporting on-the-ground conservation efforts.) http://www.nationalgeographic.org/projects/photo-ark/
*Sierra Club—We work with other partner organizations, nonprofits, and campaigns to build a diverse, inclusive movement that represents today’s American public. We know that environmental issues can’t be separated from social justice—because we all breathe the same air and share the same land. And we help people enjoy the earth we’re protecting. Each year, Sierra Club volunteers lead over 15,000 trips annually, from extended trips across the world to afternoon hikes not far from home.
*The Rewilding Institute–“The Rewilding Earth Mission is to develop and promote the ideas and strategies to advance continental-scale conservation in North America and beyond, particularly the need for large carnivores and a permeable landscape for their movement, and to offer a bold, scientifically-credible, practically achievable, and hopeful vision for the future of wild Nature and human civilization.” www.rewilding.org
*Turner Endangered Species Fund–Ted Turner, his family, and Mike Phillips established the Turner Endangered Species Fund (TESF) and Turner Biodiversity Divisions (TBD) in June 1997. TESF focuses on species protected under federal and state endangered species laws, whereas TBD considers species that are at slightly less risk. These companion efforts are dedicated to saving biological diversity by ensuring the persistence of imperiled species and their habitats with an emphasis on private land. http://www.tesf.org
*U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service– Background information, listings and reports. www.fws.gov/endangered
*U.S. Forest Service–To sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. At the heart of our agency’s mission is our purpose—the ultimate answer to why we do what we do. Everything we do—across our broad and diverse agency—is intended to help sustain forests and grasslands for present and future generations. Why? Because our stewardship work supports nature in sustaining life. This is the purpose that drives our agency’s mission and motivates our work across the agency. It’s been there from our agency’s very beginning, and it still drives us. https://www.fs.usda.gov
*The Wilderness Society--“Since 1935, The Wilderness Society has led the effort to permanently protect 109 million acres of wilderness in 44 states. We have been at the forefront of nearly every major public lands victory. Mission: Uniting people to protect America’s wild places. Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: The Wilderness Society believes public lands belong to and should benefit all of us. Our organization and work must embody the cultures and perspectives of people and communities across our nation, and connect and inspire people to care about the outdoors. http://www.wilderness.org
*Wolf Conservation Center: The Wolf Conservation Center (WCC) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit environmental education organization working to protect and preserve wolves in North America through science-based education, advocacy, and participation in the federal recovery and release programs for two critically endangered wolf species – the Mexican gray wolf and red wolf. The WCC’s three ‘ambassador wolves’ reside on exhibit where they help teach the public about wolves and their vital role in the environment. Through wolves, the WCC teaches the broader message of conservation, ecological balance, and personal responsibility for improved human stewardship of our World. https://nywolf.org/
The Endangered Species Conservation Site 