Amazing Wildlife: A San Diego Zoo PodcastEndangered Species Day – Celebrate Conservation Successes
Endangered Species Day is May 17, and in this episode, hosts Rick and Marco talk about species that need our help. From the ālula plant to the axolotl salamander, many species around the world have seen their numbers drastically decline. There is good news, though, because there are steps we can take to help safeguard ecosystems and create sustainable populations. Tune in to find out how conservationists are coming together to support these plants and animals and how you can make a difference.
Hi, I'm Rick Schwartz, Bunless World.
A'm Marco Wentz.
Welcome to Amazing Wildlife, where we explore unique stories of wildlife from around the world and uncover fascinating animal facts. This podcast is a production of iHeartRadio's Ruby Studio and San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, an international nonprofit conservation organization which oversees the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park.
Marco, we wrapped up our last.
Episode telling everyone that we would use this episode to talk about Endangered Species Day, which this year is on May seventeenth, just a week away from when this episode comes out.
It's true, very true. We did say that, and here we are ready to go.
But before you did this episode, I think it's important to remind everyone that Endangered Species Day, it's a pretty significant day for all of us who work in conservation or support conservation efforts of species that are endangered of becoming extinct exactly.
And the cool thing about this episode is that we were all set to have a conversation with one of our conservation scientists about wildlife that had once been listed as an endangered species, but thanks to conservation efforts, they're no longer endangered.
Oh wow, that's going to be such a great interview.
Well wait, wait, did you say we're all set to have a conversation with one of our conservation scientists, Because to say that means we were not.
Yeah, so yeah about that.
Apparently they are all really busy this time of year, Like, I mean really really busy.
Like there's nobody available to talk to us. All right, So it's just going to be me and you today. However, I think we could do this.
I think it'll be a fun version of what we initially planned, but just with a little twist.
You and I talking about hundred percent, And I have a couple of species I think i'd like to talk about for this endangered species.
Eh, right on, I.
Do too, And even have one that is a conservation success story, a species that was once critically endangered but's now completely off the endangered species list.
Oh nice, I can't wait to hear about that.
All right, So let's see. How about you go first?
Yeah, I know you have a special one you want to talk about right off the bat.
Oh yes, thank you, friend. Now, you know I know everyone is thinking I'm going to pick a bird. You were going to think that I was gonna think that's.
Well.
I wanted to challenge myself.
Man.
So actually on Friday, I walked around the zoo trying to get inspired. And it also happens to be native plant mouffent in April, right, you see whe I'm going with this? Yeah, And so I ran into our plant specialist crew. Horticulture team have a wonderful event that happens every third Friday. By the way, plant They at the zoo and there were proning some really interesting species and I started talking to them like when you're thinking.
Endangered species, like what species comes to mind? And they brought one up.
I don't know if you ever heard of a species called The one that most people know of is called cabbage on a stick? Sir?
Have you heard of this cabbage on a staff restaurant?
It sounds appetizing, But the more traditional name is called the alula. So everyone, we're going to travel to our wonderful conservation hub, the Pacific Islands, right, the beautiful people Polynesia, and we're going to be talking about a plant called the illula.
Or the cabbage on a stick.
Now, this particular species, now it looks really really unique. Friend, I'm trying to think that the best way to describe it now, it is a perennial usually reaches say three to six feet in length. It's got this beautiful stem that juts out with these tapering leaves at.
The very top.
It sort of gives you sort of like a lettuce quality cabbage.
That's a good point. That's probably why they named it that.
And not only that, Buddy, they were saying it's pretty palpable for goats, so that's kind of an issue that they're having out in those areas as well. Now, this particular plant species is found off of the islands of Kawaii and n E Howe.
Now hopefully I'm pronouncing that right.
But this species is very specific to a colster region of those islands, and at this point, friend, they're basically extinct in the wild, which is incredibly credibly sad. And when I was having this conversation with our plant team out the zoo, they were telling me that they had one of these specimens on grounds at the San Diego Zoo. And it wasn't until get this, nineteen nine. There was a magazine from Cactus and Succulents that did a special edition that year and they were referencing the alula.
Now, there was a gentleman, Mike, our horticulture specialist that still works at the zoo today.
He was reading this and he realized we had one of those species at the zoo.
No one knew what it was before that, which is crazy.
In my ninety six we had on the zoo, but nobody knew what it was.
Exactly exactly right.
So by reading this article, they realize they have this species, and now they're helping us send samples of this to the Chicago Botanical Garden and other collaborators to help out with this very unique species.
Well, really drew me about this was not only the plant itself.
Front, but the direct link it has with a pollinator. And you and I were talking with Age, right, the imports of pollinators from bees to butterflies, to moths as well.
Right, So you know it's funny page you've brought that up. We were talking about butterflies with her all She's like, and moths.
Too, I know, right, Yeah, So when I heard about that, like, oh, this is the perfect segue. So not only thinking about you know, one plant that's been so affected by our encroachment to those native habitats, but also the removal of really essential pollinators. So it is a long tongue hawk moth, and when I started doing a little more research, I didn't realize what incredible flyers they are. So they're unique for a couple things. One the proboscis or the tongue if you will, right of the moth. It's so long, So they can actually effectively pollinate a variety of non food like plants like the ilula as an example. But also being such an amazing flyer, they can travel from islands to islands. It's something that right that butterflies and beescanto. So the concept of this beautiful plant species off the coast of very unique area in the Pacific Islands that now the numbers have been devastated by the removal of this one pollinator that it needed.
You know how special that connection must be.
And deep diving further into this particular species of moth, and I know we're shifting from allula to the moth. I'm seeing there's effects even in islands of Puerto Rico as well with certain species. So it's interesting you see the dynamics of how we're moving. One pollinator can devastatingly affect the population of many different plant species, like the illula the cabbage on a stick. Now, if you guys, by the way, want to check out this species, you can find them in the Hawaiian Gardens at them at the Zeo off of Front Street.
So I wanted to point that out for and I learned.
It, and I do want to say this as well for anyone who won't be coming to the zoo right away to check out the cabbage on a stick. Oh yeah, check it out on Google a l ula plant. Just type that in allula plant and go under images. You'll see the gardens that the Sante goo zu because pops up right away, but you also see some other ones.
They're actually quite beautiful.
That's really yeah to look at them, and they're so unique to think they're such a critically endangered species, So that's really cool.
And you brought that up.
Yeah, yeah, well, I have to admit Mark, it kind of surprised me going with a plant, but I love the fact that you did that end that you brought up the connection to the moth, because a lot of these species that are facing being endangered or critically endangered, there's a connection with their environment as well, and other species. So really good point that you brought that up. I'm personally going to be going a more traditional route here and talk about one of my spotted.
Friends, the more leopard.
Oh yeah, that's a really good choice, Rick.
I mean, the more leopard is critically endangered, and if I remember correctly, there are less than about one hundred in the wild, right.
That's right, Marco.
The most recent information that I could find states that there is estimated around sixty to seventy five individuals remaining in the wild. Because these cats live in temperate forest habitat that stretches across a wide range of eastern Russia, which is a huge land mass, and into parts of China, conservationists rely on trail cameras to monitor the numbers, which of course can make it challenging to have an exact number of who's out there now. Although we tend to think of leopards in Africa living in these jungles and these warm savannahs, the amor leopard is well adapted to cold weather climate, hunting different deer species and wild boars, amongst other forest animals. Now, of course, these leopards face many pressures. That's why they are critically endangered, so few left in the wild.
Some of these.
Pressures include poaching, and it's not just them that's being poached. People want them for their fur, their teeth or claws and other things. We've talked about this during our discussion about wildlife trafficking how important it is not to purchase things like this, But there's also poaching happy on.
Their prey species.
Several species of deer that live in that region are poached quite a bit, so it creates a really big challenge for them, not only for their own personal safety, but then just the ecosystem as a whole. Now you kind of mentioned that with the ecosystem with the moth and the plant too. They're also dealing with habitat loss due to forest fires and human populations growing into the native habitats, and this is not unique to the muror leopard.
Other species faces as well.
Now, things like this are causing genetic challenges because it causes isolated populations for the leopard, meaning think of it almost like land islands, if you will. So these populations become isolated, then you start to get inbreeding due to the inability for them to have the opportunity to cross with other populations, and unfortunately in the past there's been a lack of political commitment to conservation. Now here's the turning point for them, though. It's a lot, it's a lot for those Mr Leopards to deal with. Yah Zoos are involved. There's a lot of programs in place right now to help build a safe population, and San Diego Zo's right there with them. We've had some clubs born in the past and it's really so exciting, every single one, every single d was so important for the whole species. The nice thing too, though, is the trend is shifting also in the political climate as well. Things are far from hopeless for the species. There is a small but mighty population in Russia that has remained mostly stable for the last thirty years. That is a really really good sign. Anti poaching efforts and educational programs appear to be working too when it comes to wildlife trafficking, specifically for the I muor leopard. China has even established a reserve that connects with leopard habitat in Russia, allowing populations to start to mix again. And get this, there is a possibility, it's being talked about, just a possibility, but.
It's being talked about.
So it's a big step in establishing a second population in Russia's Far East by reintroducing a Moor leopards from a population of Amor leopards that are under human care and zoos.
So yes, like many critical.
Endangered species, the Amure leopards are in a precarious situation and facing many challenges, but there are also a lot of great things happening to improve their situation through cooperative, committed international conservation of more leopards have a hopeful future.
I love it, friends, just the idea of collaboration right across borders.
Absolutely love it.
And you know all this talk about endangered species a when I was doing more research about it, you know, I didn't really like understand the definition of it originally. So looking at up the concept of it being in time to consider declining numbers of some animals and the point of working together to help write all about the collaboration like you'd mentioned Theomoor leopard. And for me, when I think about collaborative work, I kind of wanted to go back to the land of my people, my family in Mexico. Right, So think you guys that I'm to be talking about it.
I have a strong feeling I know what you're talking about it.
I'm gonna say three words, and there's three ways of saying this animal, right, the ox a Lottel, of course, the holte en Espanol, and of course the Now I'm going to try to do this just saying the traditional verbiage of ahaloto.
Hold on, I interrupt you here. Oh yeah, okay, this I'm having total flashbacks of season one when you were a guest.
Oh I remember talk about and you were sharing with us the history of the word and everything else.
So I'm sorry, was a little flashback, so you have not listened.
To the actual little episode back in season one.
Go back, Marco was a guest, not a co host at that time. It's so awesome.
Oh, go ahead ahead, you know it's full circle now, buddy. You know, I'll try to reference it really quick.
So if you're not familiarly, guys, this is a really wicked salmon or from Mexico. Now it's a very unique era. So think about Mexico City. Let's start with that. Or a beautiful, vibrant city. Over twenty million people live in Mexico City. Humongous. Now the city was originally built over what's termed is the no Cheche land, which is the Aztec capital city basically, you want to think about it.
And it was a floating city.
So this was built on estuaries on marshlands, a beautiful vibrant hub in meso America. And there's a very unique species that thrived in those estuaries in those swamplands, type of tiger salamon, a sort of like a cousin of the tiger salamander called the oxlato. Now we were talking in season one the origin of the name. Now it's because of the people's slick a language called na wattle or no what, however you want to pronounce it. And this is where the pronunciation of that show look comes from. So I'll try to use that and this particular species they were thriving in those areas. But you know, you think about one specific thing I want to reference here is the importance of culture with animals, right meso American people from my mom's side, Sapotec. Also the aspect that lived in those areas, they had a vibrant community. Eventually you had Europeans coming to colonize those areas, so there was a lot of conflict going on, so that particular city to not Chizlan, through hundreds of years, got drained of its waterways.
Urbanization happening, and you know, I'm forwarding, you know, years and years.
We're going really quick down down the timeline here, you guys. But basically all these things have devastated this population. So a little sad number here is the decline of the Ashualuk has dropped over ninety five percent of.
The wild population was incredible.
Right at this point, they're living in this little corner in the lake called Chuchimilco in Mexico City actually, so it's a little sliver of what their previous ecosystem was and how they were thriving. Now, the concept of community, so many people have got together. So for instance, now there's an a fishing museum being dedicated to the asher Lutz that you can find in Mexico City and the batka that Chapultepec, So it's like the zoo in the city of Mexico culture pul Depec. Not only that, there's been a lot of research happening, and one particular research here, I want to get the name correctly because this is a wonderful program that they were doing. A gentleman, this is the only two thousands Luis and Brano. He's an ecologist of the National Autonomous University of Mexico UNAM, and they were working together to try to save this species and learn how many astrolotes were left in this area. A big issue they were having was invasive plants and animals. So one is a carp I don't know if you guys familiar with a car everything. I was just gonna say, there are hungry little fishies, you know, and they unfortunately were gobbling up a lot of.
The asher Loutz eggs and still are at the time.
Not only that urbanization happening, a lot of pollutants going into the river Weys and this is these are fresh water canals that these animals are trying to thrive in, and so they're just devastated by the pollution.
Going on in those waters.
The cultural portion I want to add is in southern Mexico City, you have what's called chinampas, So think of it sort of like a meso American agricultural method, and these rely on small rectangular plots of fertile land that's cultivated and put crops over that over the valley of Mexico. Now, this was a traditional way of growing food for the meso American people. And what's interesting is the people we're thriving, but also the usher looks we're thriving as well during this time. But with the removal of this more traditional farm technique and the urbanization of those areas, of course, the numbers have been just decimated. So this group, led by this gentleman that I mentioned here, they're doing this study to try to actually reintroduce the actual look into some of these areas, and they're working directly with farmers. I think it's about twenty families now in Mexico City.
Right in that area. I love it.
They're called timpinetos. They're really really awesome this culture. There are tradition of this more traditional farming technique and not only trying to preserve the people their traditions. Some of these families have been there for years and you can imagine the history they have in these lens, right, and trying to just conserve not only their traditional techniques but also this local species. So they will try to reintroduce these animals into those areas, monitor them very closely, of course, and try to establish this population in that area. And so it's not only that, it's not only the museum that's happening in the podkivichpil Depek. It's not only these students and colleges working together try to reintroduce this species. There's also a program I'm going to botch the name pronounce again, but it's basically adopt Axilato adopt a salt, And you can find this online and you can literally adopt a national lot online and help out with.
The conservation programs that are happening there.
So the concept of this animal that has been connected with the people of mahikl for hundreds and hundreds of years and we're seeing the devastation happening right now, but so many people working together, right and that's the point of endangered species, acknowledging these species and working together to try to make a big impact. It's just an awesome animal, right man, who doesn't allow a national lot?
I mean, yes, they're awesome animals.
But I love the fact to this program, the multiple programs you mentioned.
It is the culture.
It is the people that most every species that is on this list of being endangered it's because of human activity, So that means it's human activities can also make the shift to make the change and bring them back and get them off that list. And I love everything you brought up there, from the history of the connection of the people and the animal to now the current events of the people stepping up to do everything they can for the animal.
That's so cool, so cool.
Well, I have to say, as you were talking about that, it made me think about the species I want to talk about next. And I have to tell everybody I'm pulling a Marko here. I'm going to highlight a feathered friend. I've been indoctrinated by Marco.
It's true, it's true.
So this is what's really cool about this particular species.
Thanks to conservation efforts, it is now listed as least concern. So this is where we're ending on this episode because it really is a great story that shows us how things can end up for these species. And just in case anyone listening is wondering. According to the International Union of Conservation of Nature IUCN, which is what we use, zoos across the world used sort of as this gauge of where animals are on the endangered species or vulnerable. They state that a species is considered least concern if it is abundant in the wild, does not pose a threat to extinction, and is not a focus of wildlife conservation at this time. This particular bird species is absolutely I have to say, I do really like working with parrots, and I do really like working with tricky volciers, one of the first birds I.
Fell in love with.
But this one's one of my favorites to do an in person presentation about because they are so well known and admired for being the fastest animal alive. Now I know there's probably people in the audience they're like, wait a minute, Wait a minute, a cheetah doesn't fly, And that's right. They are faster than a cheeta because the cheetah is the fastest animal on land. I'm talking about the paragon falcon reaching speeds of over one hundred and ninety miles an hour while in its stoop or it's power dive. These beautiful birds have so many great adaptations for being able to manage, reaching and sustaining those speeds. I mean, just think about it for a second. You're in a car and you put your head out the window fifty five miles an hour.
Your eyes are gonna hurt.
That's a lot of watering going on there, and then the air being forced into your nose. There are so many cool adaptations about the nostrils of this species. Is the way the ridges are around the eyes so they can keep their eyes open and keep an eye on their prey.
It is crazy, amazing. But we're not here to talk about all the adaptations. What I know, right, Marc a.
Whole I'm trying to be quiet this whole time, you guys.
Okay, Marco is sitting across from me. He is buzzing on the edge of his seat, like I want to dive in and talk about this.
No, it's all you, bady.
We're going to talk about the conservation side of things. So here it is the story of the Peregon falcon. In the nineteen seventies, there are only thirty nine known pairs of paragon falcon in the forty eight contiguous states of the US.
So think about this.
They were completely gone east of the Mississippi River, like just none.
Wow.
And then on the west side of Mississippi it was estimated eighty to ninety percent loss of population so I want to reflect back real quick to what you said about the ox lootum.
Yeah, if you said.
About ninety five percent of the population is gone, it made me think of the paragon falcon where they were, and that seems.
Like a lot, and it is. It is a lot, don't get me wrong.
But it also this story just makes me just go, okay, but we can still make a difference. We can make a difference because a paragon falcon, like many other birds of prey in the nineteen seventies, for some reason, there was not reproduction happening, and under more studies we found that they were mating and they were laying eggs, but for some reason, the shells the eggs were too thin and would break every time the parents would try to incubate them. It was later understood that the pesticide called DDT. This is something that was actually I think developed during World War iiO or something like that. It was being used for many things to try to control insects, especially mosquitos, was one of them. Unfortunately, smaller birds and other animals would eat bugs that had been exposed to the DDT, and in turn, the peagon falcon would eat those smaller birds and animals.
The DDT that they.
Were consuming was not enough to kill or really make the birds sick, but it was enough that it affected the ability for their body to create enough calcium for the shells, and the populations started to plummet. Now here's where things shifted. One set was realized. Not only did people come together created nonprofit organizations to bring birds in for breeding programs, but also activated citizens to start petitioning the government to make changes. People everyday people got together and told their representatives to take action, and through that process, DDT was removed from the ecosystem as best as they could at the time, and these birds were given a fighting chance. It took about twenty nine to thirty years, but they went from being one of the very first species on the endangered species list to being delisted in that thirty year window. So it's one of those things where we hear about the muor leopard, or the alulu or even like you were saying with the actual Lottel. There's so many species out there where we see why they are endangered and it is just heart wrenching and it feels like too much to manage. But that's why I love that we're ending on the paragrin falcon because it's an opportunity for us to look back and go, yeah, it can be really tough, it can look really dire and bad, but we as individuals have the ability to make a difference. We can get together, we can educate, we can create programs, we can create nonprofit organizations that stand up for these species. And then just like your paragrion falcon, now they are found all over the place and they're doing really well.
Yeah, one hundred percent for And I absolutely love it the fact that you know everyone can get involved in these efforts. I'm really stoked we ended with the peregrin falcon. By the way, that was crazy, right, I tried my best not to speak up. Now was amazing, And you know, to your point, there is silver lining, is there is hope out there. We didn't talk about the Connor. That's an obvious one, right, twenty two to begin with. Now we're over five hundred and we're starting with the milky Stoke. When we were interviewing Miranda, right, she said about a little around twenty or so that they're bringing into help out. So absolutely, we can do a lot in this particular year I was reading for Endangered Species Day.
The theme for twenty twenty four.
It's going to be connecting people and the planet exploring digital innovations in wildlife conservation.
Which is perfect especially for kids today.
Right, I'm sure, yeah, right, there are aspects that we don't know about in technology. I'm sure one of you have a wonderful idea to help out and impact in a positive way a really cool species that you're passionate about.
Yeah, And I know just.
From when I was growing up passionate about wildlife and conservation, to just even have a small sliver, the tools available in the digital world today have made.
Such a big difference.
So I was really excited for the future, not only for the fact that I know there's plenty of kids out there and adults that are passionate about wildlife. We want to make a difference so we can with the digital technology we have. So what a great theme for this year's in Dangered Species Day. And with that, I think we should probably wrap this up with sort of a teaser.
For the next episode. What do you think, Yeah, let's do it all right.
Well, I want to make sure everyone knows they need to subscribe so they don't miss out on our next episode where we poke around with the spiny anteater, which is actually not an anteater at all, but directly related to the platypus.
I'll mark Awa and I'm Rich for Itz. Thanks for listening.
We're more information about the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park go to SDZWA dot org. Amazing Wildlife is a production of iHeartRadio. Our supervising producers are Nikkia Swinton and Dylan Fagan, and our sound designer are Sierra Spreen and Matt Russell. For more shows from iHeartRadio, check out the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.
