Jul 04 2026
Born at the San Francisco Zoo on July 4, 1971, Koko became one of the most famous gorillas in the world. Her full name, Hanabi-ko, means “fireworks child” in Japanese, a reference to her Independence Day birthday. Over the next forty-six years, she would become known for her extraordinary relationship with psychologist Francine “Penny” Patterson, …
Jul 03 2026
Happy World Meerkat Day! Few animals are as instantly recognizable as the meerkat. With bright eyes, pointed faces, sandy coats, and an amusing habit of standing upright to survey their surroundings, these small African mammals have become favorites at zoos and wildlife parks around the world. That famous meerkat lookout pose is only one part …
Jun 04 2026
High in California’s Sierra Nevada, granite peaks rise above forests, wildflower-filled meadows, rushing creeks, and clear alpine lakes. Trails disappear toward high mountain passes, marmots scramble between boulders, and some of the most dramatic landscapes in the American West stretch far beyond the nearest road. This is the John Muir Wilderness, an enormous protected landscape …
May 23 2026
From tiny freshwater turtles basking on logs to enormous leatherbacks crossing entire oceans, turtles are among the most distinctive animals on Earth. Their protective shells, slow and deliberate movements, remarkable migrations, and extraordinary longevity have fascinated people for generations. Every May 23, World Turtle Day celebrates turtles and tortoises while drawing attention to the growing …
Apr 03 2026
Born on April 3, 1934, Jane Goodall entered the forests of what is now Tanzania at twenty-six years old with no undergraduate degree, no conventional scientific career behind her, and an extraordinary willingness to sit quietly and watch. What followed transformed the study of animal behavior. Her observations of wild chimpanzees making and using tools, …
Dec 20 2025
There is something unmistakable about the winter solstice. Even before we look at a calendar, the season announces itself through long shadows, early sunsets, cold evenings, and mornings that seem reluctant to brighten. Then, near the end of December in the Northern Hemisphere, the shortening days finally reach their limit. The winter solstice has arrived. …
Nov 01 2025
There is something special about hiking in autumn. Summer heat gives way to crisp mornings, forests shift from green to gold and crimson, and familiar mountain landscapes can look completely transformed within a few weeks. Fall hiking also offers enormous variety across the United States. In Maine, maple-covered mountains rise above quiet ponds. Virginia’s Blue …
Oct 24 2025
When most of us picture dolphins, we imagine sleek animals racing through ocean waves. Yet some of the world’s most extraordinary cetaceans live far from the sea, navigating the muddy channels, flooded forests, tributaries, and enormous river systems of South America and Asia. Freshwater dolphins are wonderfully adapted to environments that can be difficult to …
Sep 22 2025
Rhinos look almost prehistoric. With massive bodies, thick skin, broad feet, and distinctive horns, they seem like animals that belong to another age. In a sense, they do. Rhinoceroses belong to an ancient mammal lineage that has survived enormous environmental changes, shifting continents, and the rise and disappearance of countless other species. Today, however, their …
Sep 17 2025
A manta ray moving through the ocean can look almost as though it is flying. Its enormous pectoral fins rise and fall like wings while its broad body glides seemingly effortlessly through the water. There is no frantic movement and no obvious rush. Even a manta several yards across can seem strangely weightless. That graceful …
