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Sebastian Kennerknecht chatted with Andy Varvel about his passion
for photographing wild cat behavior for the Cats of the Wild podcast.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/7JvHdpw0L1bk9dH9SaXC8o?si=3sLlKFemSA6XtXqG8w-wnQ&dl_branch=1

On a cold winter's day, a Green Sea Turtle swimming off Balicasag Island in the Philippines by Tim Fitzharris transports us to the tropics.

Two year old Eastern Chimpanzee, thinking it over.

October 12, 2020 Minden Pictures launches an updated website. A select set of images carrying the Buy Prints button are available for purchase as prints and other merchandise through the AnimalsandEarth shop.

A swooping abstract flight, as a Wrinkled Hornbill makes his way through the rainforest.

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Sumatran Rhino female feeding, Way Kambas National Park by Stephen Belcher #rhinoceros #sumatranrhino #waykambasnationalpark #wildlifephotography #animalphotography #pictureoftheday #jungleanimals #mindenpictures #stephenbelcher #stockphotography

A post shared by Minden Pictures (@minden_pictures) on Sep 18, 2020 at 1:58pm PDT

With two new books coming out, Suzi Eszterhas sat down for a chat with with Sonoma Magazine. 'My Wild Life: Adventures of a Wildlife Photographer' for children and 'New on Earth,' for grown-ups will hit the shops and Amazon soon. Check out her interview in the Sept/Oct issue. https://bit.ly/3hUFuxu

We used to call these Lightning Bugs. In this image by Hiroya Minkachi, they seem more like twinkle lights or a festival of faeries. For prints Search Keyword and Artist: Firefly Minakuchi.

Kids learn about opposites with wildlife photographer Suzi Eszterhas. A portion of the proceeds from this book will be donated to Pandas International to help protect Giant Pandas around the world.

Wildlife Photographer Suzi Eszterhas talks about the joys and difficulties of pursuing her passion for wildlife photography. www.youtube.com/watch?v=yU2qzT1BfiY

The NY Times reported that the IUCN upgraded the Giant Panda status. The wild population has increased suc that it is no longer listed as Endangered. Now it is listed as ‘Vulnerable.’ The species is not out of the woods yet. Pandas still face habitat loss from deforestation, and concern over the future effects of global warming on bamboo forests. For now, we're going to accent the positive.

Pete Oxford and Renee Bisch have spend years exploring the Amazon rainforest in their backyard- which happens to be Yasuni National Park. It is also known as the most biologically diverse place on earth. They have published numerous books and magazine articles about the flora, fauna and native people of Yasuni in the hope of saving it from the ravages of oil exploration which threatens to destroy this great wilderness.

This talk is not so much about photographer, it's about a place.

A very, very special place.

It's about a conservation photographer who has tried to help, but who has essentially failed.

Copy the following link into your browser for the video posted by YouTube by WildSpeak. bit.ly/1RJ6Rd4

Photographer Tui De Roy talks about some of her experiences in Atipodes Island as a mouse eradication program works toward restoring them to their natural state.

Imagine hearing a heartbeat like sound in the ocean … but not knowing the source. Whale Trust researchers including Jim Darling spent a decade listening for these sounds and wondering what they were. Finally, on a calm glassy day these 40 Hz pulse sounds were recorded within a few meters of a pair of Humpback Whales off of Maui. Even more convincing, the sounds increased in volume as the whales got closer and became softer as the whales swam away. This led to the publication of a new paper describing these so-called mystery sounds for the first time. If verified, and these sounds are indeed another communication channel for humpback whales beyond the familiar song and social sounds, it could completely change how we view and interpret whale behavior on the breeding grounds.

Click the following link to hear a recording of the sound that has everyone so excited.

http://www.whaletrust.org/wp-content/uploads/Example-2.mp4?_=2

Photographer Flip Nicklin is a co-founder of Whale Trust. A selection of his work is available as prints from AnimalsandEarth.

Congratulations to Suzi Eszterhas. The newest title in her ongoing series of children's books, KOALA HOSPTIAL is a Fall 2015 selection by the prestigious Junior Library Guild.

Koala Hospital kicks off the new 4-book Wildlife Rescue series from Owlkids Books. Each book introduces a species of animal in danger somewhere in the world and invites readers inside a rescue center that helps them. Photos by award–winning wildlife photographer Suzi Eszterhas give readers a rare view of the animals and the high level of care they receive.

Koala Hospital features a koala rescue center in Australia. It shows why koalas are in danger, how they come to be in the sanctuary, and the process of healing and rehabilitating koalas for return to the wild. Koala Hospital also focuses on the people who work at the rescue center and how they aid the animals.

Other special features include a map showing the rescue center and the koala’s native habitat range, as well as an index, glossary, and author Q&A based on common questions from kids. An author’s note at the end introduces readers to small-scale ways that even they can help save koalas.

A portion of the royalties from sales of this book will be donated to the Koala Hospital.

The book is available through Amazon at http://amzn.to/1RiDNX0.

Frog Mass Extinction: A recent study by John Alroy at Macquarie University in Australia suggests that about 200 frog extinctions have occurred and hundreds more will be lost over the next century, so we are on pace to create a mass extinction.

Many factors are contributing to this alarming decline - habitat destruction the introduction of the deadly chytrid fungus are the main culprits.

At least another 6.9% of all frog species may be lost within the next century, even if there is no acceleration in the growth of environmental threats.

That means that reptiles and amphibians are going extinct at 10,000 times the rate of other organisms!

This Panamanian Golden Toad couple was photographed at the San Deigo Zoo. The species is listed as critically endangered, but is likely to be already extinct in the wild.

If you have been lucky enough to catch the fascinating PBS series, Gorongosa Park, Rebirth of Paradise, this week you met our photographer and expert entomologist Piotr Naskrecki. This region in Mozambique has been ravaged by a civil war that ended in 1992. The impact upon the people, wildlife and habitat was immense but there is good news. In 2008 a cooperative restoration project between the country's government and a conservation group has contributed to the park's rapid recovery. Piotr has been photographing the park's inhabitants for years as part of the conservation team. His photography was published in A Window on Eternity: A Biologist's Walk Through Gorongosa National Park written by E.O.Wilson who is also involved in this PBS series which on PBS on September 22nd. You can now stream it at http://www.pbs.org/gorongosa/home/.

This week the US Navy has agreed to limit its use of sonar that may inadvertently harm whales and dolphins in waters near Hawaii and California. For the first time, the Navy has agreed to put important habitat for numerous populations off-limits to dangerous mid-frequency sonar training and testing and the use of powerful explosives. Scientific studies have documented the connection between high-intensity mid-frequency sounds, including Navy sonar, and serious impacts to marine mammals ranging from strandings and deaths to cessation of feeding and habitat avoidance and abandonment. For more information about conservation efforts on behalf of whales check out NRDC.org.

The journal Science just ran a good piece on efforts to thwart smuggling of exotic wildlife in Brazil.
http://news.sciencemag.org/latin-america/2015/08/fighting-wildlife-smuggling-one-dna-test-time

A recent study published in Science Advances explores the question 'Why do animal eyes have pupils of different shapes?'. In short - if an animal is a hunter they have round or vertical pupils and, in turn, prey species have horizontal pupils which give them the advantage of a panoramic view to detect predators and to flee across uneven ground. But wait, why do small cats (lynx, bobcats and housecats) have vertical pupils while large cats (pumas, leopards and lions) have round ones? The authors suggest that ambush predators have vertical pupils that determine distance better while round pupils are more useful for cats that chase down their prey.

The tiny and adorable red-eyed tree frog may look harmless, but it is indeed a rainforest ambush predator. The very cool adaptation of a semi-transparent eye-lid allows it to watch it surroundings while resting.

In celebration of 99 years of protecting our wild national heritage, the National Park Service is giving us all a free pass. Admission to our national parks is waived all day today. The Park Service was created by an act signed by President Woodrow Wilson on August 25, 1916. Our beloved Yellowstone National Park was established by an Act signed by President Ulysses S. Grant on March 1, 1872, as the nation's first national park. It's hard to conceive of a time when this special place wasn't protected land. In that time, natural sites like the Grand Prismatic Pool in Midway Basin, have become symbols of of the natural history of the U.S.

Suzi Eszterhas gave Ranger Rick magazine an interesting interview about her life as wildlife photographer, closing with a terrific story from the field. Ranger Rick posts their videos to: https://vimeo.com/136017818.

We hope you enjoy it as much as we did at AnimalsandEarth.

On May 11, National Geographic whale photographer Flip Nicklin will be spinning tales about his career and life spent Among Giants at San Francisco's California Academy of Science. An entertaining and compelling speaker, Nicklin will be sharing stories of adventure and science 40 years working with talented scientists, chasing and photographing whales for a living. The talk will be accompanied by a show if his current and most memorable photos presented on the Morrison Planetarium's 75 foot all digital dome. We're looking forward to it.

National Wildlife Federation and its treasured publication, Ranger Rick magazine, are pleased to announce that Pete Oxford, of Quito, Ecuador is the winner of the Ranger Rick 2014 Photographer of the Year Award. Each year this award is given to the professional photographer whose work in Ranger Rick has most effectively advanced the magazine’s mission: to inspire in young children a love and understanding of wildlife and the natural world. The contest winner will be featured in the May 2015 issue of Ranger Rick magazine

Oxford’s eye-popping photos appeared in several 2014 issues of Ranger Rick and represented a broad range of wildlife, including a sailfish on the hunt, a charming Chachi treefrog, a grub-eating aye-aye, and a sssensational banded tree snake.

The contest judges took special note of Oxford’s ability to tell fascinating animal stories through photography, his subject versatility, his technical expertise, and his lifetime commitment to wildlife education and conservation.

"Pete is the ultimate can-do wildlife photographer," says Ranger Rick’s photo editor, Susan McElhinney. "He can drop down on all fours to capture the look on a tiny frog that is so intimate you immediately bond with it. Then he can turn his camera upward on a huge rhino being lifted by helicopter and transported to safety and thoroughly mesmerize you with the results. He can also put on scuba gear, dive into a school of sardines and photograph a sailfish swimming in wild swirls at 60 miles an hour. He’s truly amazing!"

A British biologist and conservationist, as well as a photographer and writer, Oxford has had a passion for wildlife and the natural world since childhood. "As long as I can remember," he says, "I have wanted to spend my life traveling and (involved) with wildlife. Having converted my dream to a career, my mission now is, through photography, to inspire in others an appreciation for the beauty, the importance, and the fragility of nature."

Oxford works as a team with his wife, Renee Bish. The two have traveled repeatedly to all continents in search of awe-inspiring images. Their photographs have appeared in many major national and international magazines, including National Geographic, Time, Smithsonian, BBC Wildlife, International Wildlife, Geo, and Airone. Oxford has also published 12 books on wildlife, conservation, and native cultures and is one of the founding members of the prestigious International League of Conservation Photographers. http://animalsandearth.artistwebsites.com/art/all/all/all/pete+oxford

Accomplished hotographer and entemologist Piotr Naskrecki chronicled his experience raising a bot fly from a tiny larve lodged under his skin to adulthood on his blog www.thesmallermajority.com. The entry for Jan 9 tells the entertaining story with still. On Jan 12, he posted a video of the larva's life cycle. The video in not for the faint of heart, but the Jan 9 entry is great without the gross-out factor.

Other fabulous images of animals from the smaller majority are available here as prints, cards, and phone cases.

Check out this new interview with Suzi Eszterhas from Femworldview.com. www.femworldview.com/journey-of-passion-2/

Konrad Wothe's adorable shot of two friendly young Lynx photographed in Bayerischer Wald National Park appeared on the Bing Homepage yesterday.

Working as part of Dr. Wilson's team of scientists tasked with cataloging every species in Mozambique's Gorongosa National Park, Piotr Naskrecki has beautifully photographed many of the smaller species of the park. Click here to read the review:
www.nytimes.com/2014/11/11/science/in-a-window-on-eternity-edward-o-wilson-finds-a-paradise-but-says-more-are-needed.html?ref=books&_r=0

Piotr Naskrecki's photos of the Giant Bird-eating Spider have been getting a lot of attention this week. You may have seen them on MSN.com, the HuffingtonPost.com, ABC News, Fox News or even the Today show. Check out this link to his blog The Smaller Majority.
http://thesmallermajority.com/?s=goliath It's a fascinating insight into the life of the smaller critters of this works, without the crazy sensational headlines.

By Presidential Proclamation, and continuing a project started by the Bush administration, the President Obama has expanded the size of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument from 83,000 square miles to 490,000. At three times the size of California and nearly as large as Alaska., it is the world's largest marine sanctuary. Protected islands include Hawaii, Wake Island, Kingman Reef and Palmyra Atoll, Johnston Atoll, and Jarvis Island.

Photo: Palmyra Atoll, a wet, equatorial atoll with fringing reefs, native forests and abundant seabirds, Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, US Line Islands, PRIMNM by Tui De Roy

Whale Tales, hosted by Whale Trust Maui, is one of the world’s top whale research and education events. Whale Tales is a four-day event, with presentations, receptions and opportunities to network with world-renowned personalities in whale research. You can hear directly from researchers about their most recent discoveries; view stunning underwater photography and video of whales in their natural environment; take a benefit whale watching cruise hosted by presenters and more! Held every year over President’s Day week-end, presentations are free and open to the public on Saturday, February 14 and Sunday, February 15 from 10 am – 4 pm at Lahaina’s Maui Theatre (home of ‘Ulalena). Photo by Flip Nicklin, one of the founders of the non-profit Whale Trust.

Together with the National Wildlife Federation, the G2 Gallery is putting together an exhibit of some of the most exciting and newsworthy nature imagery which has graced the pages of Ranger Rick magazine. Among the featured photographers, prints of Pete Oxford and Christian Ziegler's work are available through AnimalsandEarth.

Just listened to terrific NPR nterview. Diane Rehm talked to Alan Rabinowitz about his experiences with Jaguars. He is one of the world’s leading experts on big cats and CEO of Panthera, a nonprofit organization devoted to saving wild cat species. Probably best known for his children's book A Boy and Jaguar, he tells some terrific stories. Paste the following link into your browser to find the podcast:

http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2014-08-18/alan-rabinowitz-indomitable-beast-remarkable-journey-jaguar

It's a must listen for lovers of big cats.

There image posted is by photographer Gerry Ellis and we love the sense of tension in the cat and the calm of it's reflection.

Pete Oxford's fantastic shot of Long-beaked Common Dolphins feeding on schooling Sardines off of South Africa is the perfect illustration for the Telegraph's story on dolphin emotions. Click the more link to read the story.

On August the 10th we celebrate World Lion Day to raise awareness of threats faced by the King of the Jungle. A population decline of 30% over the last twenty years is linked primarily to disease, reduction of prey animals and human activity - trophy hunting, disruption of habitat and killing at the hand of farmers protecting livestock. With the human population in Africa estimated to double by 2050, the pressures faced by lions will only increase. It begs the question, how to we reach a point where humans and lions can co-oexist?

Follow the link to a gallery of lion images: majestic males, cuddly cubs and family live on the savannah.

Breaching Humpback Whale off of Maui by the master, Flip Nicklin.

Monterey Bay waters are seeing a strong return of the anchovy this summer which has been a boon to whale and bird watchers. This past spring blue whales were spotted in high numbers.

Today we are still a twitter over humpback sightings in the Monterey Bay this past week. Last evening from one of our local beaches, a staffer counted 42 breaches (many where one could see the entire whale rising out of the bay) over a period of a hour or so. The activity level is akin to what one sees in Hawaii during the winter or Alaska during the summer. Additionally, close to the beach she spotted a single adult dorsal fin as well as fins of an adult and calf together. Amazing.

Add to the mix a large flock of seagulls, a massive flock of Sooty Shearwaters, assorted terns and California Sealions and it was an exciting evening on the beach.

A comprehensive 15-year analysis of the movements of satellite-tagged blue whales off the West Coast of the United States, by researchers from the Oregon State University Marine Mammal Institute, found that their favored feeding areas are bisected by heavily used shipping lanes, increasing the threat of injury and mortality. Paste the following link into your browser to link to a gallery of elegant, action-packed and humorous humpback whale images. http://bit.ly/1uEYsgE

In honor of International Day of the Tiger, we've assembled a gallery of of the biggest of the big cats. Whether it brings to mind Tony the Tiger or the more menacing Shere Khan of Jungle Book fame, one must agree that tigers sport with the best stripes in the animal kingdom. Check out www.tigertime.info for more information about efforts to protect this mighty but threatened predator.

Boyd Matson talks to Suzi Eszterhas about the challenges of photographing cheetah families in the wild, as well as the survival challenges facing cheetah cubs on his radio show National Geographic Weekend. Suzi's new book is A Future for Cheetahs. Click the more link to hear their conversation.

National Moth Week is a week long, global mothing event to promote the understanding and enjoyment of moths and to raise awareness about biodiversity. Click the more link for events in your area this weekend. Maybe you'll find and count a gorgeous Emperor Moth like this one photographed by Thomas Marent in Switzerland. It's eyespots are to deter predators approaching from behind. Notice hot the wing tips vaguely resemble a snake head, another deterrent aimed at hungry birds.

Yesterday's Daily Mail featured a lesson in the art of camouglage featuring a set of Pete Oxford's images. Leaf insects mimicking dead leaves demonstrate the advantages of making like a leaf in the jungle.

Just after posted a beautiful gallery in honor of Coral Reef Appreciation week, we read about the current state of the Great Barrier Reef. Next year UNESCO will decide whether to designate it as a World Heritate Site in danger. Face threats from global warming, coastal development and dredging projects, the reef can no longer rebound like as it once could. Click here for a link to the Guardian story.

For several years now, Piotr Naskrecki has been working as part of world renowned entomologist and crusader for biodiversity E.O. Wilson on Dr. Wilson's project to catalog all of the animal species of Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique. While they are still toiling away in the rainforest, collecting, cataloging and discovering the wildlife of Goronogosa, some of their finds are now showcased and discussed in their new book.

A WINDOW ON ETERNITY A Biologist's Walk Through Gorongosa National Park , written by Dr. Wilson and photographs contributed by Piotr Naskrecki brings the reader into one of the most biologically richest places in Africa and perhaps in the world. The book has been so well received, that even out Praying Mantis friend feels the need to applaud.

In honor of Coral Reef Appreciation week, we've created a new gallery of reef photography. Images range from spectacular sweeping aerials of the Great Barrier Reef to close-up abstract details of coral patterns.

Last week, NOAA announced the addition of the Scalloped Hammerhead Shark to the U.S. Endangered Species list, making it the first shark protected under U.S. law. See More for the full article in Scientific American.

We love this underwater view of a Cape Gannet paddling. It conveys and both the photographer's playful sensibility and the unknown threat of the deep unseen by the gannet.

We're thrilled to see Thomas Marent's sexy Puss Moth caterpillar featured on the BING.com home page today. This tiny guy is rearing up and waiving its tail in a threat display. Who knew caterpillars could be so charismatic. Click More for print, cards, and phone cases featuring this guy.

In honor of World Snake Day we've posted a selection of beautiful serpents to a new gallery. Click here for more info.

With equal parts patience and passion, Michael Durham photographs bats in the dead of night in Oregon's Deschutes National Forest.
Follow the link to the Daily Mail feature about photographing the small, fast, mysterious night flyer.

From Suzi, "So excited to have just signed with Owlkids Books for my next children's book series, Wildlife Rescue. Coming in 2015.."
Here Eye on the Wild series of children's books published by Frances Lincoln Children's Books include Elephant, Gorilla, Cheetah, Lion, Brown Bear, Orangutan, and Sea Otter. Suzi spends much of the year in the field photographing wildlife, specializing on family life and growing up wild. We can't wait to see what this next series on wildlife rescue brings.

From it's source in Angola, the Okavango River winds it way down to Botswana pouring in the Kalahari Desert spreading out into the Okavango Delta. The heart of the delta is a year round swamp providing life to a wide variety of plants and wildlife in this arid land. The hippos aren't the only Botswanans grateful for the water. Rain or "Pula" is so important in this arid land that the same word is also used for their currency. In recent years the river and delta has faced threats from dam projects and diamond mining.

BBC Wildlife magazine is featuring images from Suzi Eszterhas latest book A Future for Cheetahs in their July 2014 issue. For those who aren't familiar with BBC Wildlife or cannot find in at your local bookstore, a gallery of images from the story is posted to their website.

Suzi Eszterhas of an adult male lion grousing under the attention of his cub made a terrific pre-Father's Day appearance as the Bing-US home page the past weekend.

Did you know that 6 out of 7 of the world’s endangered turtle species, like this Green Sea Turtle, can be found along the Great Barrier Reef. UNESCO is gathering signatures to raise awareness of ecosystem's delicate balance and encourage Australian lawmakers to prevent dumping in waters around the reef thereby preserving a World Heritage site and important biome.

The popular PBS program ANTIQUES ROADSHOW maintains a policy of only wildlife related items featuring which are legal under U.S. law including the Endangered Species Act and U.S. regulations for implementing the (CITES). They have also just announced that Elephant tusks will no longer be accepted for appraisal. One more reason to love the Roadshow.

With patience and calm, Flip Nicklin was able to get eye to eye with this friendly singer. Years ago it was Flip's free-diving ability which enabled him to photograph the underside of a singing humpback without the startling bubbled of a SCUBA tank, thereby enabling researchers to determine that singing humpbacks are all males. Years later we still don't know why they sing or what they're saying. As one of the founding members of Whale Trust, Flip Nicklin continues to work with researchers to unearth the secrets of the deep- and particularly those of the Humpback Whale.

In honor of the upcoming World Oceans Day, here is a great image of Clown Anemonefish nestled in the tentacles of their host anemone. Clownfish and sea anemones have a mutualistic relationship. Anemonefish are unaffected by the toxins found in the sea anemone's tentacles which provide the tiny fish with shelter and protection from predators which don't have the same immunity to the toxins. In return, fish excrement fertilizes algae living in the host which in turn keep the anemone healthy and happy.

Suzi is proud to announce her exhibit, with 100% of the proceeds benefiting TigerTime - Save the Tiger, at the opening of the Wildlife Artist of the Year at the Mall Galleries in London.

There are said to be more tigers living in captivity in the US than there are left in the wild. Lax regulations mean that authorities have no way of knowing who owns captive tigers or what happens to their body parts when they die. These gaps in US regulations could make tigers held in captivity a target for illegal trade. The David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation as initiated Tiger Time- a campaign to raise awareness about the plight of these captive animals. Photographer Suzi Eszterhas committed to the conservation of the wild animals she photographs as well as the treatment of animals no longer living free.

On Thursday, the 22nd of May, 2014 Yasuni National Park, the UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, was handed some bad news from Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa. Oil drilling will be allowed to move forward in protected areas of the park since a conservation plan has been scrapped due to a lack of funding. Established in 2010 the Yasuni-ITT initiative outlined how Ecuador would forego extracting the untapped oil, 21% of Ecuador's natural reserve, in exchange for $3.6 billion over thirteen years from the international community. Only $13 million of the funds were pledged so the initiative has been dissolved. Now the drilling company Petroamazonas who has a record of destruction and spills has a signed permit to drill in a 6,500-square-mile reserve known as block 43; oil production may begin as soon as 2016.

Yasuni is a special place. Considered one of the most biologically diverse areas on earth it boasts 655 species of trees, 173 species of mammals, 610 species of birds and over 4,000 plant species. One hectare of the area is richer in tree species than the entirety of the United States and Canada combined. In addition, two indigenous tribes, the Tagaeri and the Taromenane, live in voluntary isolation within the Park borders. Increased oil exploitation in the Park will threaten both the human and animal residents of this protected area beginning with the construction of access roads and drilling camps. Click here for a gallery of Yasuni images by Pete Oxford: http://animalsandearth.artistwebsites.com/galleries.html

The NRDC reports that DOW and Syngenta chemical companies have requested permission to expand the use of two pesticides that are particularly problematic for bees. As prime pollinators, honeybees in particular are essential to our production of fruit, vegetables and nuts. For more information visit the NRDC BioGems website at http://bit.ly/1m2CSKm .

Every year, American Tortoise Rescue sponsors World Turtle Day on May 23rd. The day was created as an observance to help people celebrate and protect turtles and tortoises and their disappearing habitats around the world. Many threats face these animals in the wild, including smuggling, the exotic food industry, habitat destruction, global warming and the pet trade.

Ranger Rick, the award winning children's magazine of the National Wildlife Federation, is featuring a story on a jungle school for orphaned baby orangutans. Rescued orphans brought to the Orangutan Care Center in Borneo are cared for and taught jungle skills by surrogate mothers. It can be just as challenging, if not more so, to get baby orangutans into the bath. Afterwards they are towel dried, cuddled and given bananas as a treat to make it a pleasant experience. This two-year old seems to be enjoying both its towel and banana. See the whole story in the June issue of Ranger Rick available on newstands at the end of May.

There's still plenty of time to celebrate Garden for Wildlife Month! Browse these projects & tips from the National Wildlife Federation to turn your yard into a haven for wildlife.

The NRDC writes that in Wyoming, prairie dogs are slowly recovering from decades of hunting and disease. Now the U.S. Forest Service is considering a plan to poison an estimated 16,000 prairie dogs, which are essential to the survival of many other species. Urge the Forest Service to reject this heartless and misguided plan.

The United Nations agency that oversees World Heritage Sites has issued an urgent appeal for the end of oil exploration in Virunga National Park. After a field mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) property, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) reported “extreme concern” over the prospect of petroleum extraction in the park, which is home to the greatest variety of plants and animals in Africa. “Any oil exploitation inside the property would seriously affect its integrity,” UNESCO said. The World Wildlife Fund website provides more information:
wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/?221553%2FUNESCO-warns-against-Virunga-oil-exploration

Join us in not celebrating, but recognizing Endangered Species Day, a day to learn about the imperiled birds, fish and plants in your area and to share the importance of wildlife conservation with your community.

In a Huffington Post editorial, Richard Brandon, Bishop Desmond Tutu and Howard Buffett weigh in on oil exploration coming to Virugna National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and stomping ground of the endangered Mountain Gorilla.

Tonight is the night! If you are on the East coast of the US, go out at night to the beach to see the spawning of the amazing Atlantic horseshoe crabs – Jurassic Park come alive. These animals come out in huge numbers during the full and new moon high tides of May and June, but the full moon in May is usually the best time to see them.

To friends in the Boston Area. If you have not reserved your spot for the Harvard Museum Gorongosa event this Saturday (May 17th), there is still time. The event is free but prior registration is required. The event starts with film screenings at noon, followed by lectures by E.O. Wilson, Greg Carr, and Piotr Naskrecki in support of their new book A WINDOW ON ETERNITY: Exploring Mozambique's Gongorosa National Park [produces as part of Dr. Wilson's campaign to document every animal species worldwide. http://reservations.hmsc.harvard.edu/Info.aspx?EventID=17

Don't be fooling by the rosy pink coloration. This orchid mantis is a fearsome predator, perfectly camouflage against it's host orchid. It's prey will never seem it coming.

In honor of National Wildflower Week, here is an image of Sand Verbena by Tim Fitzharris.

A 10-day polar bear research expedition by the Norwegian Polar Institute has just been completed. Traveling to Svalbard a team of researchers placed twenty satellite collars on female polar bears to track their travels on the peninsula. Males and cubs cannot be included in the study; their heads are smaller than their necks so collars would just slip off. The collars will record temperature, the amount of time and depth that the animals spend in the ocean and exposure to daylight. With this information the researchers will be able to determine how frequently the bears hunt and how long they stay in their dens. This data will help answer the question about how polar bears will respond to less and less sea ice. Global warming has consistently reduced the amount of summer sea ice that the bears use as platforms where they hunt seals and other marine prey. The scientists predict that their findings will indicate that the bears are moving north to colder climes.

Lonely Horseshoe Crabs will arriving en masses as part of the annual migration and courtship season. Eager wildlife enthusiasts and photographers will follow. If you haven't seen this spectacle, viewing days this year will be around the full and new moons of May and June: 5/13- 15, 5/27-29, 6/12-14, 6/25-27. You may even run into Piotr Naskrecki, as many of our photographers are also migratory creatures following the earth's natural rhythms.

Congratulations to Suzi Eszterhas on the publication of A Future for Cheetahs with the Cheetah Conservation Fund.

A Future for Cheetahs is a simple and elegant large format book featuring Suzi Eszterhas incredible photography that provided insight on the past, present and future of cheetahs in the wild. World renowned cheetah expert Dr. Laurie Marker provides commentary.

Through the eyes of the cheetahs, Suzi brings us face to face with some the the rarest and most beautiful images taken of wild cheetahs. Together the photos and stories weave a tapestry of life on the savanna and the conservation initiatives that provide hope for the survival of the species.

Suzi Eszterhas is a professional wildlife photographer based in California. She specializes in documenting the family lies of endangered species and is well know for her unprecedented work with newborn animals. Her images have been published in magazines and newspapers around the world including: TIME, Smithsonian, BBC Wildlife, Ranger Rick and National Geographic Kids. She is the author of Eye on the Wild, a series of children's book about wildlife. Suzi is in the field for many months of the year, following stories and leading photography tours all over the world.

Prints, cards and phone cases featuring Suzi's images are available from the A Future for Cheetahs gallery.