For those of us who don’t live near the ocean, it can sometimes be difficult to see how important the ocean is to our daily lives. But aren’t our bodies made of water? Don’t we use water to wash our hands, to shower, and to prepare our food? Don’t we eat seafood? In preparation for World Ocean Day on June 8, 2022, we wanted to take a look at some of the threats facing our oceans and what we can do to help protect them and the animals that live there.

Did you know that what seafood you choose to buy has a monumental impact on our oceans? There are over 171 tons of fish harvested every year. That’s a lot of fish! Removing so many fish from our oceans can have a wide variety of negative impacts. Non-sustainable practices can cause overfishing which can deplete fish populations. For humans, this can mean we may lose a food source if we cause extinction, but it also means that we can cause other ocean creatures like otters to lose a food source and to then experience population decline if they don’t find a suitable replacement. Some other issues we can see with non-sustainable fishing practices include by-catch and habitat destruction. Fortunately for us, there are easy to use resources to help us find sustainably sourced fish! Check out the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch website and app for easy ways to find what the best options are when shopping at the store or ordering at a restaurant.

Being careful about how much and how we remove fish from the ocean isn’t the only way we can help though. We should be vigilant about what we put INTO our oceans as well. Every year, humans add millions of tons of plastic into our ocean. These plastics will never biodegrade; they will simply break down into smaller and smaller pieces which become harder and harder to clean up. Many different ocean creatures ingest plastic because they mistake it for food. This in turn can mean that we will be eating plastic if we eat fish that consumed plastic. However, many ocean creatures that eat larger plastics may not be able to survive, like sea turtles mistaking plastic bags for jellyfish. This sounds pretty bleak, but we can help stop the addition of plastic to our ocean by reducing the amount of plastic we use in our daily lives. At restaurants, you can ask for no straw with your drink. At the grocery store, bring reusable bags and avoid using plastic bags. At the coffee shop, bring your own thermos or tumbler for your favorite beverage.

World Ocean Day is a time for us to connect with people on a global level to celebrate our shared ocean that connects us all. This year’s focus is on protecting at least 30% of our blue planet by the year 2030 (30×30). Leaders in over 90 countries have already adopted the 30×30 goal! According to the World Ocean Day network, less than 17% of land and 8% of the ocean worldwide is currently protected. You can make your voice heard though by sending a letter to your nation’s leaders saying that you want them to support the 30×30 movement. Use this link to sign and send your letter today and join the movement! To learn more, come out to the Lehigh Valley Zoo on June 8, 2022 for a fun day of ocean themed activities and educational opportunities!

Written by Tara Mlodzienski
Education Specialist
Lehigh Valley Zoo | Schnecksville, PA

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Sources:
https://www.seafoodwatch.org/
https://theoceancleanup.com/
https://worldoceanday.org/

17TH ANNUAL ENDANGERED SPECIES DAY: May 20th, 2022

The status endangered is given to species that are considered at high risk for extinction in the wild. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species is a comprehensive assessment of the species that are at risk of extinction. Assessments for their conservation status are based on their population size, habitat, range, ecology, threats, and conservation actions. These assessments are vital for scientists, governments, and organizations to identify the species and habitats that are most at risk. As biodiversity levels continue to decrease, these assessments can guide conservation projects toward critical locations.

What are the threats to biodiversity?

Biodiversity is the variety of living things on earth. Scientists can study biodiversity at different levels focusing on specific ecosystems or they can compile data on a whole continent. These assessments can help scientists understand the health and complexity of an ecosystem based on the number of species found in a habitat. Biodiversity is currently under threat from many different factors. The easiest way to remember the different threats that face biodiversity is with the acronym H.I.P.P.O.

Understanding the threats to biodiversity can help citizens participate in conservation in their everyday lives. Using the Lehigh Valley Zoo’s Conservation PACTS is a great way to get involved in helping endangered animals. Listed below are five easy ways to get involved in conservation and help protect biodiversity from the threats that it faces.

1. Habitat Loss -Support farming and agriculture practices that protect native habitats and prevent habitat loss.
   • Find alternative food and drink products that protect vital habitats. Purchase Bird Friendly Coffee items to help protect rainforest habitats in South America. To learn more about bird-friendly coffee, visit our Bird Friendly Coffee page. To purchase bird-friendly coffee, visit our online shop.
2. Invasive Species – Plant native backyard habitats at your house to promote native species over invasive species. These habitats can help native plants thrive and provide a haven for many important pollinator species and native birds.
   • To find native plants that will work best for your location, visit Edge of The Woods and Plants for Birds.
3. Pollution – Know Plastics! Participate in the Lehigh Valley Zoo’s #KNOWPLASTICS campaign to help eliminate single-use plastics.
4. Human Population – When everyone works together to lower their carbon footprint, it can decrease the impact humans have on biodiversity. Some easy ways to lower your carbon footprint are: carpooling, shopping for local produce, using reusable/renewable products, and buying clothes secondhand.
5. Overharvesting – Opt for renewable and sustainable resource options when possible.

60% of Pennsylvania is covered by trees. This provides vital habitat for many of the species in the state. Even with large areas for native animals to live, there are over 20 species considered endangered in Pennsylvania. Do you know any of the endangered species here in Pennsylvania? Scroll down to find five species endangered in Pennsylvania. See the full list on the PA Game Commission Website.

Celebrate Endangered Species Day at home this year by taking a nature walk to learn about the native plants and animals that live right in your backyard. To help you identify the plants and animals in your backyard, consider downloading some of the apps below as identification tools for your walk.

Written by Dani DiMarco
Education Specialist
Lehigh Valley Zoo | Schnecksville, PA

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Sources:

• https://www.iucnredlist.org/
• https://www.e-education.psu.edu/geog30/node/394#:~:text=There%20are%20many%20threats%20to,%2C%20Human%20Population%2C%20and%20Overharvesting
• https://www.conservation.org/blog/why-is-biodiversity-important
• https://www.pgc.pa.gov/Wildlife/EndangeredandThreatened/Pages/default.aspx
• https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/short-eared-owl
• https://www.pgc.pa.gov/Wildlife/EndangeredandThreatened/Pages/NorthernFlyingSquirrel.aspx
• https://www.appalachiaohioalliance.org/2018/11/aoa-partners-in-ohio-bat-conservation-project-over-500-acres-to-be-conserved/
• https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/yellow-bellied-flycatcher
• https://www.pgc.pa.gov/Wildlife/EndangeredandThreatened/Pages/CommonTern.aspx
• https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/northern-goshawk#photo1

Raise your hand if you’re as excited as Luani is about World Otter Day! The last Wednesday in May is the day that otters are celebrated worldwide so that organizations around the world can educate people about otters, conservation projects that help them, and different challenges they face. World Otter Day first started in 2009 as Otterly Mad Week, and through efforts by the International Otter Survival Fund (IOSF), it became the International Otter Awareness Day in 2014 and then World Otter Day as we now know it in 2016.

The IOSF was founded in 1993 in the UK by people inspired by observing otters in their natural environment. Since then, they have become one of the world’s leading otter conservation charities working on projects around the globe to help protect all 13 species of otters! Their goal is to use compassion and science to inspire and educate people. The research they have conducted has proved invaluable in the various projects they have conducted including organizing international conferences on otter toxicology and on “The Return of the Otter in Europe – Where and How.” They have also assisted with and conducted population size and habitat research studies in countries like Mexico, Chile, the Commander Islands, Russia, and Thailand. To find out more about their current projects and to learn more about otters, check out their website at https://www.otter.org.

At the Lehigh Valley Zoo, you can meet our spirited North American River Otter named Luani! He was born in 2013 at the Lee Richardson Zoo and came to live at the Lehigh Valley Zoo in 2017. Like most otters, he is known for his curious nature and playful personality. Playful activities are actually very important because they help strengthen social bonds and help young otters practice hunting techniques. One of Luani’s favorite things to do during the winter is roll around in the snow!

Providing novel enrichment daily is one of the ways that we make sure that Luani is living his best life here at the zoo. Enrichment is essential because it enhances animal well-being by giving them the opportunity to exhibit natural behaviors and can provide mental and physical stimulation. One of Luani’s absolute favorite forms of enrichment is when his keepers make him giant forts made out of cardboard boxes!

Because otters live both on land and in the water, there is a lot that we can do to help them! North American River otters spend about ⅔ of their life in the water. They will use the water to hunt, play, and clean themselves. Water pollution has been a major issue for river otters since they have a low tolerance of pollution and so they are considered an important indicator species for aquatic habitats. This means, low numbers and low birth rates of river otters in a specific habitat probably means it is significantly polluted. By keeping the waterways and neighboring areas free of debris, pesticides, and trash we can help protect these critical aquatic habitats and save species like the North American River Otter.

Written by Tara Mlodzienski
Education Specialist
Lehigh Valley Zoo | Schnecksville, PA

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