Rhino Encounter - NOW FIXED & SMALLER FILE!

Check out these endangered species of animals images:

Rhino Encounter - NOW FIXED & SMALLER FILE!

Image by GollyGforce
The orig file I posted this morning (in a rush on my way to work) was 58mg and took forever to load, for those who could even get it to start loading. I apologize, I wasn't paying attention and have re-saved the file optimized for flickr and it loads fine. PLEASE try it again, I promise it will be worth it!

This was taken Tuesday night during a docent training class that I was sitting in on to get continuing education hours. I know the video quality is low, but it was taken on my cruddy phone using the night mode. It's only 90 seconds and you get a glimpse of a few remarkable creatures from a perspective not many see.

Many of you know about my volunteer work as a docent with our local zoo, but most of the work you hear about is done off the grounds at events, schools and similar situations using the education animals. We are also trained on the exhibit animals, tours, events and such on zoo grounds.

Not many people have the opportunity to interact with a critically endangered species like the Black Rhino's, especially in a controlled environment with minimal risk of serious injury. I stress this because I don't want people to think these are docile or tame animals, they can be very aggressive and unpredictable. This is part of the indoor nonpublic areas that the Rhinos spend their winter safely in. The building was designed specifically to house 2 adults, you only see a small bit in the video, but there are permanent barriers and a variety of hydraulic gates. Mobile gates give keepers flexibility to allow the animals to rotate pens, and reconfigure pen layout so they can access all areas as needed while always having a safety barrier between humans and animals.

I added a couple big cat clips at at the end, the female Snow Leopard, and 2 of the three Amur Tiger cubs born at our zoo in Sept of 2011. All three species shown in my videos have one thing in common, they are all critically endangered species, and are all part of the Species Survival Plan (SSP).

Grand Canyon National Park: 2012 Celebrate Wildlife Day 5949

Image by Grand Canyon NPS
Information about California condor reintroduction and the benefits of non-lead ammunition was shared by Peregrine Fund's Condor Field Project Supervisor Chris Parish and AZG&F's Condor Program Coordinator Kathy Sullivan. NPS Photo by Michael Quinn,

Thank you to all who participated in Celebrate Wildlife Day - Saturday, May 19, 2012 at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center.
Visitors who attended experienced family friendly activities throughout the day..
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Approximately 2,700 park visitors joined rangers and event collaborators at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center to learn more about the park's wildlife and endangered species. .
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Celebrate Wildlife Day provides an opportunity for park visitors to learn about the Grand Canyon’s abundant wildlife and the work of wildlife biologists. It is made possible through the collaborative efforts of the National Park Service, Grand Canyon Association Arizona Game and Fish Department of Wildlife Education and Adobe Mountain Wildlife Center, the Peregrine Fund, Xanterra Parks and Resorts, and the Grand Canyon Unified School District. Celebrate Wildlife Day is dedicated to the memory of park biologist Eric York, who devoted his life to the study of wildlife.

Get thee behind me pesky photographer

Image by arichards63 - smile if you missed me
Long standing Harpy couple.

With weights reaching 18 pounds, a wingspan of more than six feet, and a healthy diet of mammals including sloths and monkeys, the world's largest eagle is often referred to as the "flying wolf." Harpy Eagles are becoming increasingly rare in the wild, but Guyana still provides a refuge for this endangered species. In fact, Guyana's relatively large population of Harpy Eagles caught the attention of National Geographic who filmed the documentary, Flight of the Harpy Eagle in Guyana.
(from guyanabirding.com)