Archive
If it looks like a duck, swims like an otter, and lays eggs, it's the platypus! Get an in-depth look at this freshwater-loving mammal.
How wildlife trafficking affects turtle and tortoise populations in North America.
Helping Mojave Desert Tortoises Survive in a Rapidly Changing World
Wildlife Care Specialists put their passion for wildlife into daily practice.
Check out the cold, hard facts about reptiles and temperature sex determination.
SAN DIEGO, PALM DESERT, Calif. (April 15, 2024) – Seventy critically endangered Mojave desert tortoises have successfully emerged from their winter burrows after being reintroduced into their native habitat on Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, the global authority on desert plant and wildlife conservation, are working in partnership with Edwards Air Force Base, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Geological Survey, using headstarting techniques designed to increase the survival rate for young tortoises. The cohort of young tortoises was the first in the program to be reintroduced into the wild after receiving a combination of an indoor- and outdoor-rearing. Within 24 hours of reentering their native habitat, the tortoises were exhibiting positive natural behaviors by constructing new burrows or modifying existing burrows for shelter. Now, six months later, they have emerged after winter brumation—a state of deep sleep specific to reptiles—and are spending more time basking at burrow entrances. Scientists are currently conducting health assessments and replacing radio transmitters on the tortoises to continue monitoring their success and better understand the juvenile age class.
What’s the buzz about pollinators? Here’s a look at how mighty these tiny species are.