Keystone Species Profile: African Elephants

Common name: African elephant
Scientific name: Loxodonta africana

The world's largest terrestrial animal plays a vital role in maintaining grasslands in Africa and their survival is critical for many other species. This iconic mammal needs our help to keep its population from dwindling into extinction.

Role in ecosystem:

• They eat small trees adn break up thorny bushes which open up grasslands for other animals
• They dig waterholes in dry riverbeds that other animals can utilize as a water source
• Their dung is picked through by baboons and birds for undigested seeds and dung beetles reproduce in the droppings - their nutrient rich poo also refreshes depleted soils
• The trails they make serve as fire breakers and water run offs 

Threats to their survival:

• Habitat destruction
• Human encroachment on their land which is then converted to cropland, logged or used to maintain livestock
• Poaching - they are hunted and killed for their ivory or "white gold"

What you can do to help them:

• Learn about the species by going to your local zoo or browsing the internet...then tell your friends!
• Tell the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Serve that you support the protection of wild elephants
• Adopt an animal through the WWF as a symbol for your donation
• Participate in ecotourism activities in Africa that fund the continuation of wildlife preserves and this vital species

Sources

SOS Elephants

World Wildlife Fund (WWF)

Cheetahs at the Woodland Park Zoo

Liz

We've got cheetahs at the WPZ in Seattle, Washington! The is the new temporary home of two 14 year old cheetahs, Liz and Missy. The zoo has taken in the cheetahs per the request of the Species Survival Plan (SSSP) which is a conservation breeding program among Association of Zoo and Aquarium accredited zoos for 6-18 months. As a volunteer at the zoo, the addition of these slinky cats is an amazing opportunity to see cheetahs in person and promote their conservation to our zoo guests.

Liz was born in South Africa in 1999 and Missy was born in the Netherlands in the same year. Missy has a verticle stripe above her eyes and can frequently be found napping, while Liz is lighter in color with line and dots above her eyes; she loves watching the singing birds which are abundant in Seattle during the summer. The girls came from Oregon's Wildlife Safari.

Miss

Cheetahs are adapted for speed with small lightweight heads, flexible spines, large chest and lungs, and blunt claws that perform like track spikes. And of course, their signature spots act as camouflage as the big cats lurk in the savanna grasses before they dart into attack mode at speeds of up to 65 miles per hour.

.If you're in the area, hurry into Seattle's Woodland Park Zoo to check out these beauties before they've found their permanent home.

Sources:

Woodland Park Zoo's website

WPZ's cheetah page