Conservation
27 questions tagged Conservation — spanning every one of the seven Ws.
What Is a Keystone Species?
A keystone species is an organism that has a disproportionately large effect on its ecosystem relative to its abundance — its removal would cause dramatic changes or even collapse of the ecosystem.
When Was the First National Park Established?
Yellowstone became the world's first national park on March 1, 1872.
What is a pangolin?
A pangolin is a scaly, ant-eating mammal found in Asia and Africa — the only mammals covered in large protective scales made of keratin.
Where do axolotls live in the wild?
Wild axolotls live only in the canals and wetlands of Lake Xochimilco on the southern edge of Mexico City.
Where do red pandas live?
Red pandas live in the cool mountain forests of the eastern Himalayas and south-western China, including Nepal, India, Bhutan and Myanmar.
What is a vaquita?
A vaquita is a very small porpoise found only in the northern Gulf of California. It is one of the world’s rarest marine mammals.
When was the first marine protected area created?
One of the earliest marine protected areas was established in 1961 in the Bahamas. It was created to protect marine life and regulate fishing.
When were sea otters first recognized as a keystone species?
Sea otters were recognized as a keystone species in the 1960s, especially through the work of Robert Paine. The concept helped explain how one species can shape an entire ecosystem.
When was the first modern marine mammal rescue center established?
Dedicated marine mammal rescue efforts became established in the 1970s. They responded to strandings, injuries, and pollution-related harm.
When did the kakapo become recognized as a threatened conservation species?
The kākāpō came under major conservation attention in the 1970s, when its tiny surviving population was identified.
When was the California condor breeding program launched?
The modern California condor recovery program began in the 1980s, after the species fell to just 27 individuals in the wild by 1987.
When did the first bird conservation organization form?
Some of the earliest bird conservation groups formed in the late 19th century, including the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in 1889.
When was the first successful captive breeding of the hellbender reported?
The first successful captive breeding of hellbenders was reported in the early 21st century, with notable successes in the 2000s. These efforts became important for a species that has declined in many parts of its range.
Where do giant pandas live in the wild?
Giant pandas live in mountain forests in central China, mainly in Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu provinces.
What is a Ramsar wetland?
A Ramsar wetland is a wetland recognized under an international treaty for its importance to biodiversity and water resources. The treaty was signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971.
What is a gharial?
A gharial is a critically endangered crocodilian from South Asia with a long, narrow snout adapted for catching fish.
When was the first conservation law for whales introduced in modern times?
International whale conservation began in 1946 with the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling. It created the International Whaling Commission.
When was the first major international agreement to protect the Antarctic marine environment signed?
The Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty was signed in 1991. It strengthened protection for Antarctic ecosystems, including surrounding seas.
When was the first marine protected area established?
One of the earliest marine protected areas was established in 1935 with the creation of the Fort Jefferson National Monument protections around Dry Tortugas. Modern marine protected area systems expanded much later.
When was the world’s first national park established?
Yellowstone National Park was established on 1 March 1872.
When was Death Valley first protected as a national park?
Death Valley became a national monument in 1933 and was later designated a national park in 1994.
When did the first bird conservation law begin?
One of the earliest major bird protection laws was the United Kingdom’s Protection of Birds Act of 1954, though bird protection efforts started earlier.
When did the first bird of prey captive breeding program begin?
Captive breeding programs for birds of prey began in the 20th century, especially as raptor conservation grew after pesticide declines were recognized.
Where is the ivory-billed woodpecker historically known from?
The ivory-billed woodpecker was historically found in old-growth bottomland forests of the southeastern United States and Cuba. Its range was tied to large, mature forest ecosystems.
Where are the whooping cranes’ main breeding grounds?
The only self-sustaining wild population breeds in Wood Buffalo National Park in Canada. This population winters mainly on the Texas coast at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge.
Where are the only wild populations of the kakapo found?
The only wild kakapo populations are found on predator-free islands in New Zealand. Conservation groups moved them to offshore islands such as Whenua Hou and Anchor Island.
Whose name is attached to the first scientific description of the kakapo?
The kakapo was described by early naturalists during European exploration of New Zealand, but no single household-name scientist is universally attached to it. It is now one of the world’s rarest parrots and a conservation success story.