Endangered Animals

March 22, 2023

90-Year-Old Tortoise Becomes First-Time Dad to Three Hatchlings

Mr. Pickles, a 90-year-old radiated tortoise and oldest resident at the Houston Zoo, has finally become a father. After cohabitating with his companion, Mrs. Pickles, for 27 years, they recently welcomed three hatchlings, named Dill, Gherkin, and Jalapeño. While this is an important step for the Pickles family, it is also an important achievement for this critically endangered species originally from Madagascar. It has been 36 years since Mr.

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December 29, 2022

This Rainbow Fish Is Born Female and Becomes Male As It Ages

Untold wonders fill the seas. In 2022, a new wonder was revealed: an elusive rainbow-colored fish in the waters off the Maldives. The rose-veiled fairy wrasse—or Cirrhilabrus finifenmaa—darts along the reefs. Patterned in yellow, rose, and violet, the interesting creature is born female and becomes male as it ages. This shift in gender is accompanied by one in the vivid color of its scales.

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November 2, 2022

18-Year-Old Lioness Named Zuri Grows a Mane at Kansas Zoo

Male lions are known for their fluffy manes which appear during sexual maturation between a year and a half and two years old. This iconic fluff typically makes it easy to determine the male among a pride. Females, by contrast, are typically a light, sleeker tan. However, the beauty of nature is never so simple. Zuri, an 18-year-old lioness at Topeka Zoo and Conservation Center in Kansas, has recently grown herself a magnificent, fluffy mane.

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October 11, 2022

Australia Will Dedicate 30% Of Its Land To Protect Wildlife

The last few years have been devastating for Australian wildlife. The horrific bushfires of 2019 and 2020 killed billions of animals. Through the fires and other causes, the list of threatened or high-risk Australian species has grown at a swift rate since 2016. The new government is confronting the problem with an impressive declaration: 30% of the nation's landmass will be designated for conservation.

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