A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Birds

A family of former fishers created the Kino Bay Turtle Group to monitor sea turtles in Mexico’s La Cruz Lagoon. The conservationists work to rescue and tag turtles entangled in fishing gear, track the population, and educate the public about their importance.

After a failed removal attempt of a bear cub from a tree, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife for North Puget Sound decided they needed a new high-strength tarp. With a reported increase in the number of wildlife sightings, the one net they had in stock for the six-county region wasn’t always easy to deploy. So they secured funding for a tailor-made catch net that could be used for both cougar and bear removals.

After once again being granted rights to their native land, the Martu people are bringing back the bioregenerative technique of small-scale land burning. In the past century, wildfires have ravaged the areas these people call home and has lead to the loss of over 18 species of animal. They hope that imparting this traditional method of ecological maintenance will decrease the number of wildfires and in many cases, the resulting extinction of other animal species.

Volunteers from the Harris Center for Conservation Education in New Hampshire spend spring nights helping amphibians cross the road safely. The volunteers work during mass amphibian migration periods and collect data on the species they see for conservation efforts.

Led by Native Hawai’ians, Kamehameha Schools owns thousands of acres of land dedicated to stewardship and conservation. The school partners with Native Hawaiian organizations and conducts eco-cultural education programs for students and members of the community to foster connections between them and the environment.

In India, there were 1.2 million snakebite deaths reported between 2000 and 2019. Agricultural workers and farmers are the worst hit. Amit Sayyed wanted to find a way to reduce the number of snakebites, particularly in remote villages. He created a team of 1,400 volunteers spanning 10 states, known as the Wildlife Protection and Research Society. They've created an archive of 30,000 photos to readily identify snakes and help villagers with snakebites.

For some Mainers, in their spare time, they treat and care for wild animals and return them to the wild. These small-scale wildlife rehabilitators care for animals like flying squirrels and black bears by opening up their homes and wallets for these creatures. Rachel Ann Parsons of R&R Wildlife Rehabilitation cares for more than 80 wild animals annually in her home. While their services are often in high-demand during spring and summer months, these licensed professionals provide a public service for those who find a wild animal in need.

When a people in Playa El Jobo, La Cruz realized that their beaches were home to sea turtle eggs, they took action to protect the species by joining together. What started as a neighborhood effort to patrol the beaches has now turned into a successful NGO that collects data for research purposes and teaches tourists, students and children how to become research assistants.

A conservation researcher from the Creative Conservation Alliance in Bangladesh has formed a partnership with the Mro people by training them to be parabiologists. They have learned to document and save threatened species. The Chittagong Hill Tracts has some of the greatest biodiversity in Bangladesh, and this work has led to the discovery and preservation of some species previously thought to be extinct.

Monarch butterfly populations, having declined around 90 percent over roughly 20 years, are getting a helping hand from cities like San Antonio. By providing crucial habitat and hosting butterfly-centered festivals, cities along the Monarch's route are aiding migration while boosting conservation awareness.