Conservation, like the global economy these days, is typically marred by dismal reports of melting glaciers, vanishing ecosystems and mounting pollution. Occasionally, however, there are glimmers of hope. In 1996, Pan Wenshi, China’s premier panda biologist, began a study of the highly endangered langurs of Chongzuo, Guangxi province. At the time, the langur’s population had […]
The news of several recent bear attacks on humans — including one near Yellowstone and another in Alaska — serves as an important reminder to be aware of wildlife while enjoying the outdoors. Understanding the behavior of grizzlies and mountain lions can help prevent negative interactions with hikers and campers. Grizzly bears are a wide-ranging […]
In the mid 1990’s, the federal government reintroduced wolves into Yellowstone National Park in hopes of restoring this animal to its natural landscape after eradication from much of North America. Since their reintroduction to the region, wolves have been steadily recovering and scientists believed 300 wolves distributed across the Northern Rockies demonstrated this recovery. Since […]
I always err on the side of optimism when it comes to tourism. After all, I am an avid traveler and have been for the past decade or so. I am bombarded by stories on how ecotourism has saved such and such endangered species or natural resource. However, tourism can be a double-edged sword bringing […]
