Which endangered animal are you?

Endangered Species Day is honored on the third Friday of May, and to help the energy of that day keep us moving forward, we wanted to celebrate a few friends who are sadly on the endangered list and provide ways to help!

Where are you most comfortable hanging out?

A) Peaceful forests where I can have quiet time

B) Forests where I can hang out and play

C) Beachside, in and out of water

D) Deep in my thoughts, or deep in the ocean

E) only at home - I don't like to go far away

What do you like to do for fun?

A) Relax with my family

B) Swinging, Climbing

C) Go with the flow

D) Wandering

E) Use tools, talk and sing

How do you inspire others?

A) Familial Love, Respect for Nature

B) Old stories and ancient thoughts

C) I can always find my way home

D) I'm a gentle giant

E) Vital to my homeland, spiritual

What's your dream job?

A) Botanist or Family Life

B) Arborist, or Gardener

C) Beach Lifeguard

D) Deep sea diver

E) Culture Keeper

How do you like to spend your time?

A) Quiet walks in nature

B) finding food and snacking

C) Relaxing on the coast

D) Slow Travel

E) Finding home

What's your favorite music or sound?

A) Wind through the Trees

B) Tenang - Quiet

C) "Under the Sea" - from The Little Mermaid

D) "Vox Balanae" by George Crumb

E) Mele music - anything traditional

How do you like to travel?

A) Slow and steady, with my family and friends

B) Independent - I'll go where I need to

C) I make the same trip every year

D) Ocean liner

E) Plane - things with wings!

What's your Favorite Food?

A) Fruits, Salads, and occasionally a salty snack

B) as much fruit as I can get

C) Savory Bits

D) non-stop eating, all the time, but never a lot at once

E) I forage for whatever is close by; I'm not picky

If you are mostly As - you are an African Forest Elephant - gentle, peaceful, family-oriented.

Listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN list, this is the smallest of the Elephant species and the least well-known. Their ears are oval-shaped and like African Savana elephants (the more commonly known African elephant), they live in family groups. The Forest elephant reproduces more slowly than the Savana elephant, which contributes to the concern for the population. They are gentle, spending their days walking through the rainforest, grazing on leaves, grasses, tree bark, seeds and as they walk, they disperse the seeds, helping the ecology of the rainforest. I first learned about the African Forest Elephant from the National Geographic documentary Secrets of the Elephants which I highly recommend.

To donate: https://africanconservation.org/project/protecting-african-forest-elephants/

If you are mostly Bs - you are a Tapanuli Orangutan - tree-loving, quiet, intelligent.

The most ancient of all orangutan species, the Tapanuli Orangutan was only confirmed as a different species in the 1990s. There are only 800 in the wild, found in Sumatra and they are Critically Endangered. They have never been observed on the ground - only in trees and they use tools, are intelligent and largely solitary.

To donate: https://www.theorangutanproject.org/weblog/2023/03/21/scorpion-foundation-saving-tapanuli-orangutans/

If you are mostly Cs - you are a Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle - loves the beach and relaxing.

The smallest of the sea turtles, and the rarest, the Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle is really cute.

They live in the Gulf of Mexico and along the US and Mexican coasts, but due to habitat loss and the challenges of nesting, these turtles need a lot of support.

https://www.today.com/video/watch-these-sea-turtle-hatchlings-swim-into-the-ocean-712140867674

To donate: https://seaturtleinc.org/conservation/

If you are mostly Ds - you are a whale shark - gentle, slow-moving, loves the water.

The largest cold-blooded animal, the whale shark, despite its name is NOT a mammal (whale). They prefer warm temperatures but travel oceans around the world. They are the third biggest creature in the ocean, but not aggressive. They are largely solitary and like all sharks, they don't have bones, but rather cartilage. Their endangered status is largely due to humans as they have no natural predators in the wild. Their markings are like fingerprints; each whale shark's pattern is unique.

To donate: https://www.galapagoswhaleshark.org/

If you are mostly Es - you are a Hawaiian Crow (ʻalalā) – Smart, resourceful, culturally connected

Endemic to Hawaii, and considered the protectors of souls of ancestors by Native Hawaiians. Smart (like all crows) and capable of using tools, these birds are extinct in the wild and reintroduction from captive populations has not yet been successful. They are important to Hawaiian ecology and culture. They are the most endangered corvid (crows, ravens, etc.) species in the world. Although Hawaiians today to not get to hear this bird in its home, this video shows how beloved the crow is.

To donate: https://thealalaproject.square.site/

There are SO many species that need care and support - vaquitas, manatees, indris, frogs (so many types of frogs need help), iguanas, butterflies, monkeys and on and on. We chose 5 to inspire you, but we hope that you look further and support all species. Our individual choices matter (using less plastic, not buying products with palm oil), and our donations matter, and of course, speaking out. There ARE species who have moved from endangered to a better status (like Giant Pandas), so we can make a difference!