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It’s Endangered Species Day!

Three species of tapir are endangered; one species, which we know little about, is vulnerable to extinction.
Baby tapirs are super cute! This is a baby Malaysian tapir. There are four species of tapir. Three are endangered; one species, which we know little about, is vulnerable.

Today is Endangered Species Day! There are amazing animals and plants in danger of going extinct all over the world–probably even in your own state. Here in Washington, animals in danger of extinction include Western pond turtles, grouse, and super cute pygmy rabbits. Like many animals around the world, the main threat to these critters is habitat destruction. We humans are bulldozing and paving, pumping oil and gas, spilling chemicals, cutting down trees and vegetation, introducing invasive species, and heating up their climates.

The best way to protect many species is to protect their habitats!

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It’s International Migratory Bird Day!

Arctic terns migrate from the Arctic to the Antarctic!

Happy International Migratory Bird Day!

Arctic terns (Sterna paradisaea) have the longest-distance migration of any bird! They fly from their summer breeding grounds in the Arctic down to spend the other summer in the Antarctic – that’s right, they get two summers.

You can read more about these polar sun-loving birds at Animal Diversity Web.