day 115 ~ a vulnerable tree lover

Red Panda

as photographed at the Cincinnati Zoo

per Wikipedia:

"The red panda has been classified as Vulnerable by IUCN because its population is estimated at fewer than 10,000 mature individuals. Although red pandas are protected by national laws in their range countries, their numbers in the wild continue to decline mainly due to habitat loss and fragmentation, poaching, and inbreeding depression.^[2]"

In the interest of balance, a little good news in regards to conservation efforts:

Blue & Gold Macaw ~ successful conservation effort of the Cincinnati Zoo

and

Another success in rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing Florida manatees

and

6 Conservation Successes that Brought Animals Back From the Brink

6. Bald Eagle

5. US Fish Stocks

4. Reforestation in China

3. American Bison

2. Southern White Rhino

1. Global Marine Reserves

(check out the links for more details)

Clearly, there is still much work to be done, but let's remember:

Hope, though not always garnering the same ink as fear and panic, is always in the house

somewhere.

good news ~ caring conservationist hearts

that eye to eye moment ~ red panda & misha