Oct 23 2024
High in the mountains of Central and South Asia lives one of the world’s most elusive wild cats.Snow leopards move across steep cliffs, rocky valleys, and snowy slopes with such effective camouflage that they can seemingly disappear into the landscape. Their thick gray coats, enormous paws, powerful hind legs, and extraordinarily long tails are all …
Sep 20 2024
High in the temperate forests of the Himalayas, a small reddish animal moves carefully through a canopy of moss-covered branches and bamboo. Its face resembles a mixture of fox, raccoon and teddy bear. Its thick rust-colored coat stands out beautifully in photographs but can blend surprisingly well among reddish mosses and lichens. A long, ringed …
Jun 20 2024
A bee disappearing into a squash blossom, a butterfly resting on a coneflower, or a hummingbird hovering beside a trumpet-shaped bloom may look like an ordinary moment in the garden. Behind each visit, however, is a biological partnership that helps flowering plants reproduce and supports food webs, wildlife habitats, farms, and gardens around the world. …
Jun 01 2024
Coral reefs may look like colorful underwater gardens, but they are actually living ecosystems built by tiny animals called coral polyps. Together, those animals create some of the richest habitats on Earth. Reefs provide food and shelter for fish, sea turtles, crustaceans, mollusks, and countless other creatures. They also help protect coastlines from waves and …
May 13 2024
Every spring and fall, billions of birds embark on journeys that can stretch across countries, continents, and oceans. Some travel only a few hundred miles, while others make astonishing migrations of several thousand miles. Even more remarkable is their ability to arrive in the right place, often returning to the same breeding grounds, wintering areas, …
Mar 03 2024
World Wildlife Day is observed every year on March 3 to celebrate wild animals and plants and to recognize the importance of wildlife to people, ecosystems, and the planet. The United Nations General Assembly established the observance in 2013, choosing March 3 because that is the date the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species …
Feb 27 2024
International Polar Bear Day is celebrated every year on February 27, shining a spotlight on one of the Arctic’s most recognizable animals and the rapidly changing environment it depends on. Polar bears are remarkable animals. They can swim through frigid Arctic waters, survive months when food is difficult to find, locate seals beneath snow and …
Jan 05 2024
Birds are among the easiest wild animals to encounter in everyday life. Cardinals visit backyard shrubs, gulls patrol beaches, hawks circle above highways, chickadees investigate winter feeders, and migrating flocks pass overhead during journeys that may cover thousands of miles. National Bird Day, observed each year on January 5, asks us to look at birds …
Nov 04 2023
Few animals are as closely tied to the landscapes and history of North America as the American bison. Once numbering in the tens of millions, enormous herds moved across grasslands, river valleys, woodlands, and mountain country from Mexico into Canada and Alaska. Their presence shaped ecosystems, influenced the lives of countless other species, and played …
Sep 24 2023
A silverback gorilla sitting quietly in a forest can be more impressive than almost any dramatic wildlife scene. These enormous primates do not need to roar or charge to command attention. A glance, a gesture, or the sight of an infant clinging to its mother is often enough. Gorillas are the largest living primates and …
