Refuge for Endangered and Vulnerable Animals
A refuge is a place set aside to protect wildlife and to help make sure the Earth’s ecosystem isn’t threatened. There are many wildlife refuges around the world. They not only protect wildlife and their habitats, but can also be visited! Here are just a few of the amazing animals that gain!
Elephants & Rhinos
Several African countries joined forces. They wanted to protect the stomping grounds of elephants and rhinos. This collaboration created the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area, or KAZA. The vast protected land is nearly the size of the entire country of Sweden!
Giant Pandas
Giant Pandas can find refuge at the Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuary in China. The sanctuary spreads over several different provinces, making it the largest and most important panda habitat in the world. This widespread sanctuary allows for the panda population to grow by limiting new building and roads through the area.
Orangutans
In Borneo, a large island in Southeast Asia, orangutans are protected by the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation. In their facilities, the foundation heals and rehabilitates orangutans that are in critical danger. These rescued primates are then reintroduced into the environments that are protected by the foundation. After being released, teams keep track of the released orangutans to make sure that they stay safe.
Sea Turtles
Sea Turtles in America are protected by organizations like the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. It was created to protect the turtles. It also monitors and protects the habitats and shorelines critical to the survival of the species.
Tigers
Thailand is home to the Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary. This sanctuary is a 1,200 square-mile refuge for tigers. It also provides shelter for other animals that support the local ecosystem. The sanctuary’s efforts to stop poaching have prevented illegal hunting. This has helped the devastatingly low number of Indonesian tigers grow from 35 to 90. That’s almost a 160% growth rate!
Manatees
Manatees can't survive for long in water temperatures below 68º. The Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge was established. It was created to protect these large and gentle sea mammals. The water in the refuge is fed by springs and keeps the underwater environment at an almost consistent 72º. Each year, about 600 manatees find their way to the refuge.
Get Involved!
There are many, many more animal sanctuaries around the world. If you are interested in helping threatened animals, track down a refuge or sanctuary near you. Get involved.
