Wildlife Reserves

                In response to Molly’s post about saving wild animals from outside factors I decided to do a little research on wildlife preserves because I was interested in learning a little more about them. It turns out there are a lot of wildlife preserves around the world so I decided to narrow my searching to the United States. I came across the National Wildlife Refuge System and spent a lot of time on their website www.fws.gov. In addition to conserving the wildlife, they also manage six wildlife-dependent recreational uses: hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, photography, environmental education, and interpretation. One really interesting thing that I found on their website was how proactive they are with protecting animals and providing areas for the species to be rehabilitated. The website says,

                “National wildlife refuges are home to more than 280 of the nation’s 1, 311 endangered or threatened species. So far, 11 of those species have been removed from the list due to their recovery, and 17 others have improved in status from endangered to threatened. More than 500 listed species are now stable or improving. Fifty-nine national wildlife refuges have been created specifically to help imperiled species” (National Wildlife Refuge System).

                Another thing that I found impressive was that there are even preserves in Nebraska. They are used for fishing, hunting, and even protecting animals that reside here. They are used mostly for restoring species here. I didn’t realize how expansive this movement was. I think it relates to the zoo because we all have previously talked about creating a life that is suitable and humane for the animals that belong in the zoos. If the zoo can’t handle doing something as simple as creating a healthy and natural environment for the animals they should be moved to a preserve where they will be more comfortable and happy. Confining animals to small cages and spaces is not okay and doesn’t sit well with me. The preserves provide a home for the animals outside of the zoos that aren't suitable for them and creates an environment that is as close to their natural one as possible.
-Katie

"Endangered Species." National Wildlife Refuge System. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 17 Feb 2012. Web. 24 Apr 2012. <http://www.fws.gov/refuges/whm/endangered.html>.