Endangered Species Day

Tomorrow, May 20, is Endangered Species Day, established to recognize, celebrate, and further conservation efforts involving endangered species. You can join an event in your area, participate in a Twitter chat with the Department of the Interior, or simply learn more about some of the unique plants and animals that need our help.

Over the years, Science Today has featured several stories and videos about endangered species. Here’s a summary of some of those videos, featuring Academy scientists and the amphibians, mammals, reptiles, fish, and of course, penguins, they’re working to save.

Lake Oku Clawed Frog

This frog from Cameroon, also known as Xenopus longipes, is only found in a single lake in Cameroon, and is part of a captive breeding program here at the Academy. Scientists are also working to understand more about the species so they can help protect the wild population from habitat loss and disease. You can find more information here.

African Penguins

This charismatic bird (Spheniscus demersus)—familiar to visitors of the Academy or our live stream—is part of a Species Survival Plan across many zoos and aquariums in the United States. As a result, experienced zookeepers and aquarium staff head to South Africa every year to help raise wild chicks to the point where the penguins have the strength to fend for themselves. Follow two Academy biologists’ journey in this video.

Brownbanded Bamboo Shark

The Academy had a mystery on its hands when they discovered an egg case among its all female population of Chiloscyllium punctatum sharks. Some shark species are known for cloning, but genetic work by Moisés Bernal found this wasn’t the case. With a little more digging, he solved the puzzle. The results are revealed here.

Sloths and Sea Turtles

While we don’t have these animals here at the Academy, our researchers have traveled far and wide to study these endangered species in hopes of learning more about them and help protect them. J. Nichols works with fishermen up and down the coast of North and Central America to help save sea turtles from fishing bycatch and other threats. Bryson Voirin studies the habits of adorable pygmy sloths up in the trees to get a better handle on their population numbers and conservation needs.

Need more reasons to celebrate? The 43 year-old Endangered Species Act is a success at protecting species. According to the NRDC, “A whopping 99 percent of the species granted protection under the act have managed to survive until today.”