Did you know that emperor penguins are a type of bird that can’t fly? They are also the largest type of penguin. In late 2022, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced that emperor penguins should be protected by law because Antarctic ice, where the penguins raise their young, is being threatened by climate change.
Cheetahs, as many people know, are the fastest land animal in the world. They can reach speeds of up to 61 miles per hour, and their stride length reaches an incredible 23 feet. Now that there are just 7,000 cheetahs left in the wild, the U.S. Endangered Species Act by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has listed cheetahs as endangered.
By Anya Rothman, age 11
A study published by the Ecological Society of America found that beaver dams cooled streams in northwestern Washington by more than 4 degrees Fahrenheit during certain times of the year.
Hippopotamuses, which are native to Africa, are semi-aquatic animals, meaning that they live both in water and on land. An adult male hippo can weigh up to 9,000 pounds, but they are still very good swimmers. Hippo populations have been dropping due to habitat loss caused by climate change and hunting. As hippos are reliant on freshwater systems, they are often threatened by drought and the loss of grazing areas.
By Charlotte Osoria, age 9
Did you know there are over 255 species of bumblebee around the world, 49 of which live in North America? One such species is the American bumblebee.
By June Fink, age 10
So far this year, more than 841 manatees have already died in Florida, according to the Associated Press. That’s 11 more than the previous record high in 2013, which was for the whole year.
There is an ongoing global wildlife crisis, and according to new research from The Guardian, one hidden cause may be pharmaceuticals that enter the environment through human and animal waste.
The blob fish (Psychrolutes Marcidus) is known for its weird physical appearance and is considered one of nature’s oddities. Its face looks like a human face except with a big frown and a sagging nose.
Roadkill claims the lives of an estimated one million wild animals every day in the United States. Wildlife crossings are special bridges and tunnels that go over and under highways allowing animals to safely cross to the other side.
Jaguars, not polar bears, will be the first to disappear from the food chain as global warming continues. Researchers predict in the next 10 years, the tropics will experience a drastic change in climate.
