The World Conservation Union (also known by its international acronym, IUCN) is widely recognized as providing the most reliable assessment of the world’s species. Earlier this year, the IUCN produced its 2007 Red List of Threatened Species, classifying them according to their endangered status, bringing into sharper focus the ongoing decline of the world’s biodiversity and the impact that we, as humans, are having upon life on our planet.
 

Sadly, the natural world is disappearing quickly and will continue to decline as a result of human activities; habitat destruction, pollution, over-fishing and increasingly, climate change, are the most serious threats. The forecast is startling: one in four mammals, one in eight birds and one-third of all amphibians are in jeopardy. There are now 16,306 species classified on the IUCN’s Red List as threatened with extinction and the number of extinct species has reached 785 with a further 65 only found in captivity (including the Micronesian kingfisher which was saved from extinction by the efforts of the Philadelphia Zoo). One of our closest relatives, the western lowland gorilla, is now classified as Critically Endangered due to the commercial bushmeat trade and the Ebola virus.
 

With the state of global change, it’s easy to become overwhelmed and feel unable to have any positive impact. But the good news is that we all can make a difference – with small changes to our personal behavior. How can my behavior impact gorillas? One easy answer is in that ubiquitous device that has become central to all our lives – the cell phone. Coltan, a mineral mined in the same areas where gorillas live, is an essential part of cell phones. Demand for coltan has sparked an explosion of mining – both legal and illegal – which impacts gorillas through habitat destruction and killing of gorillas for bushmeat. Decrease the demand for coltan by recycling cell phones and the concomitant loss of gorillas should also decrease. The Zoo has an active cell phone recycling program, run by Docent volunteers, with collection boxes on Zoo grounds and in businesses and community organizations around the City. We encourage you to recycle your old cell phone with us.

On the bushmeat front – did you know that Americans are just as culpable as our foreign neighbors in over-consuming wild-grown food? We aren’t eating gorilla and duiker meat but we do eat seafood in an unsustainable manner that is leading to the decline of many fish populations. But making smart seafood choices is easy. On your next trip to a market or restaurant take along a Seafood Watch Card (downloadable from our website) and use it to guide your healthy and wildlife-friendly seafood choices.

As we begin the new year, we should remember that not since the dinosaur age are so many species on our planet under threat of extinction. We have created the problems and it is our responsibility to not only raise awareness but to do our part to take corrective action. You should know that your Zoo is doing just that every day. From our Zoo family to you, our very best wishes and thanks for your support and involvement over the years. As always, I look forward to our continuing dialogue – in the Zoo gardens and on line at dewan.vik@phillyzoo.org.