Follow that Ferret

On September 4, the National Black-footed Ferret Conservation Center launched “Follow the Ferret" on Facebook.

This fun outreach tactic allows the public to follow a few of these undeniably cute endangered critters from birth in captivity to release in the wild. 

Here's a pic of a wee one:

Month-old black-footed ferret born in captivity to be released in the wild (photo courtesty of the USFWS).

I know you just cooed, "Awwww."

Who could resist?

According to the BFF Conservation Center, we'll get to see weekly shots of the ferrets as they grow, learn essential ferret skills from their mom, and finally run free on the Utah prairie.
 
That's what I call a great use of social media.

Read my latest article on About.com to learn more about how black-footed ferrets nearly went extinct and are now re-staking their claim on North America's wild prairies. Here's the link: Black-footed Ferrets: Reclaiming the Prairie

Grow, Baby, Grow!

The giant panda cub that was born at the San Diego Zoo in July is pushing five pounds! Considering the many unsuccessful attempts that have been made to breed pandas in captivity, every pound this little one gains is cause for celebration. 

Week-old panda cub at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in China. Photo by Colegota and post-processed with The GIMP [CC-BY-SA-2.5-es] / Wikimedia Commons

It sounds like his momma, Bai Yun, is doing a beautiful job caring for her cub. Let's hear it for maternal instinct! According to zoo officials, she has even started taking the little fellow out of the den when she needs a bite of bamboo.

This pint-sized panda epitomizes the value of captive breeding, which has been responsible for saving endangered animals from extinction and reintroducing many species to the wild.

Keep your ears open in November when the cub's name will be revealed. The zoo is waiting until he reaches 100 days old in keeping with Chinese tradition.

It's a bird, it's a plane ... it's Putin?

Picture Vladimir Putin in a white suit, playing Big Daddy for a group of young Siberian white cranes. 

It's no joke. Putin, who apparently takes an active interest in his country's wildlife, recently piloted a motorized hang glider wearing a white crane-daddy suit in the name of conservation.

Siberian Crane at the Tennouji Zoo in Osaka, Japan.

Photo courtesy of OpenCage / Wikimedia

Why? The Russian leader was doing his thing, leading a flock of captive-bred cranes along their southern migration route to Central Asia. The youngsters don't inherently know the way; they learn it by following their elders. Or, in this case, their President. Since these cranes are critically endangered, it's important for humans to blaze the trail.

After his excursion, Putin admitted uncertainty about his next animal adventure. "That's for the specialists to decide," he said. "It shouldn't be just for fun, but it should have some use." 

Watch a video of Putin's flight HERE.

Polar Bears and Politics

According to the USFWS, the U.S. and Russia are currently strengthening ties to protect the polar bears and native people we have in common. 

Photo courtesy of the USFWS

At the same time, though, our president is giving Shell the go-ahead to start drilling in the Chukchi Sea before its unique oil spill containment barge is ready. 

Hmmm ...

I'm sure the bears will appreciate that. Heck, the Chukotka people too.

Peculiar politics, it seems, but what else is new?

Read more here: http://www.adn.com/2012/08/30/2605296/shell-gets-ok-to-start-drill-preparations.html#storylink=cpy

Hanging on by a Thread

The Amur leopard is said to be the world's rarest big cat. With fewer than 50 remaining in the wild, this species is truly hanging on by a thread.

Thankfully, despite all our faults as a species, humans aren't giving up on the few leopards that linger in the far reaches of eastern Asia. Conservation efforts to rebuild wild populations are being coupled with captive breeding programs at a number of zoos around the globe. 

Photo by Mona-Mia / Wikimedia

This summer, just a stone's throw from my mountain home, an Amur leopard was born in the Denver Zoo. I had no clue until today, when I stumbled across this article that filled me in (I know that a "real" biologist is not admit the overwhelming urge to cuddle wild creatures, but did you see that baby?).

Anyway, I understand that there a many mixed feelings about zoos and their role in preserving wild animals, but with reintroduction possibilities being considered for the Amur leopard and other species, it's hard to diss Denver and the other good zoos for their work.