Chihuahuan Desert Education Coalition

During the past decade the orangutan population has decreased by approximately 50 percent in the wild. This is primarily due to human activities including rainforest destruction for palm oil plantations. At present, 80 percent of orangutan habitat has been altered or lost. Photo by David Cook, Wikimedia Creative Commons. Guest Blogger – Robert Hii -TheContinue reading "National Certification Standards, the way forward for sustainable palm oil?"

Young Mexican wolf pup born at the El Paso Zoo and Botanical Gardens in 2022. By Rick LoBello, Board Member The Right to be Wild, a documentary by Madileine Torneman opens with a quote by Aldo Leopold “Only the mountain has lived long enough to listen objectively to the howl of the wolf.” Fifteen yearsContinue reading "Only the mountain has lived long enough to listen objectively to the howl of the wolf"

Often the word “conservation” is synonymous with beach clean ups, recycling, planting trees, etc. What about “wildlife conservation”? Wildlife conservation is the preservation and protection of animals, plants, and their habitats. One component of wildlife conservation that is often overlooked is their health. Just like humans and our pets, animals like lions and dolphins getContinue reading "Wild Animal Heath Fund helps zoo and wildlife veterinarians"

This is a monarch butterfly feeding on a showy milkweed (Asclepias speciose). Many people are alarmed at how our most recognizable species of butterfly, the monarch butterfly, is dramatically declining in many areas of the country.  Butterfly watchers and scientists have been sounding the alarm for years and recently the US Fish and Wildlife Service completed aContinue reading "How we can help monarch butterflies"

Desert WillowChilopsis linearisCommon small desert tree.Some plants can grow up to 30 feet tall.Habitat: Arid grassland/desert scrub.At the El Paso Zoo: Along the pathway in the Chihuahuan Desert Exhibit.  Desert willow responds to heavy rains 2-3 times each year with pink flower clusters.  We recommends it as a water efficient tree to landscape with at home.  InContinue reading "Desert Willow"

Black-tailed Rattlesnake Crotalus molossus Status: CommonSize: 28-49 inchesHabitat: Desert scrub and forestAt the Zoo: Reptile House The black-tailed rattlesnake is one of six species of rattlesnakes found in El Paso county including the western diamondback rattlesnake, rock rattlesnake, Mohave rattlesnake, prairie rattlesnake and massasauga.  Not to be confused with other rattlesnakes one of their most distinguishing features is anContinue reading "Chihuahuan Desert Wildlife: black-tailed rattlesnake"