Feb 29th, 2012 by wwftravel
© Martin Harvey / WWF-Canon
Namibia is a land of stunningly diverse landscapes and cultures, and also is seen as a global model for its environmental achievements. Test your knowledge of the southern African nation and its wildlife.
Travel with WWF to Namibia on one of two expeditions:
Learn more about Namibia.
Feb 17th, 2012 by wwftravel
While visiting the Gallon Jug Estate, WWF travelers stay at Chan Chich Lodge. Photo courtesy Chan Chich Lodge
Where: Northwest Belize. Gallon Jug is a private estate located within the heart of La Selva Maya, the largest contiguous rain forest north of the Amazon.
What’s there: All five Latin American cats—jaguar, puma, ocelot, margay and jaguarondi; 350 bird species; apir, peccary, red brocket deer, coatimundi, tayra, agouti and kinkajou.
Why it’s notable: No hunting has occurred on the estate for more than 20 years, so you may see species that have vanished elsewhere, including large birds like the crested guan and great curassow.
How you’ll get there: On our Ultimate Belize Safari, we take a 30-minute flight from the Hidden Valley to the Chan Chich air strip. From there it’s a 30-minute drive on unpaved roads to the property.
Keep your eyes peeled for: The elusive jaguar. It’s spotted here about once a week, a record unmatched elsewhere.
Feb 13th, 2012 by wwftravel
Feb 6th, 2012 by wwftravel
© naturepl.com / Anup Shah / WWF
African elephants are a keystone species capable of altering the ecological structure of their environment; they foster healthy forests by creating open spaces that allow the regeneration of trees and disperse the seeds of many tree species in their habitats. Protecting African elephants is crucial to the protection of Africa’s biodiversity.
Habitat: Grasslands, open savannas and dense forests in sub-Saharan Africa
Diet: Leaves, branches, fruit, bark and grasses
Threats: Main threats include poaching for meat and ivory, and habitat loss due to poorly planned infrastructure development. Also, when elephant habitat is fragmented or destroyed, the resulting human-elephant conflict can be fatal: Elephants trample both humans and their crops, and are often killed in retaliation.
Interesting fact: African elephants are highly social mammals and communicate at a low frequency that cannot be heard by humans.
Reprinted from the March/April 2011 issue of FOCUS.
Jan 30th, 2012 by wwftravel
Get a sense of what it’s like to experience our Southeast Alaska expedition during this video by Lindblad Expeditions, our tour operator for the program.
Jan 26th, 2012 by wwftravel
Like the giant panda, the red panda eats primarily bamboo. © Susan A. Mainka / WWF-Canon
No trip to China is complete without a visit to see the giant panda, the country’s unofficial symbol.
But dozens of other wildlife species are found in China too, including these five that you may spot while on WWF’s tour.
Red panda: The bear-bodied, thick-furred species has little resemblance to its distant cousin except for the false thumb it both possesses, which is actually an extension of the wrist bone. The skillful, acrobatic animal stays predominantly in trees, using its tail for balance, and descends to the ground headfirst.
The Asiatic black bear has been the most popular source of gallbladders for traditional Chinese medicine. © Y.-J. Rey-Millet / WWF-Canon
Asiatic black bear: Also known as the moon bear, the Asiatic black bear is easily recognizable thanks to a patch of whitish fur in a crescent-shape on its chest. The species has seen a precipitous decline in its population because of poaching—bear organs are used in traditional Chinese medicine.
Yellow-throated marten: The yellow-throated marten looks similar to its relative the weasel, but is distinguishable by its gold and black hair. It can be found both on the ground and in treetops.
Sichuan takin grow a second coat in the winter. © Donald G. Reid / WWF-Canon
Sichuan takin: A goat antelope, the Sichuan takin has a thick golden coat and upturned horns. It makes its home in the mountains during the summer—when it forms large herds—and moves to lower elevations in the winter—when it breaks up into smaller groups.
Blue eared pheasant: The blue eared pheasant has a striking red face, gray-blue feathers, and distinctive white “ears.” This large, hardy bird does well in mountainous forests and is found throughout China.
Jan 17th, 2012 by wwftravel
Imagine a huge soup plate that slowly fills up with water and overflows in the rainy season, gradually empties during the dry season and then starts to fill up all over again. That image gives a good idea of what the Pantanal is like; a unique, rich, but threatened ecosystem located in Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay.
Jan 9th, 2012 by wwftravel
© David Lawson / WWF-UK
Just announced: Join WWF’s spring voyage to the Peruvian Amazon, scheduled for March 16-25, 2012, and receive free roundtrip airfare between Lima and Iquitos; a $368 value.
Cruise down the Amazon River on one of WWF’s most popular tours, in search of primates, monkeys, pink river dolphins and myriad bird species. You’ll also have the opportunity to meet the ribereño people living in riverside villages and tour Lima and Iquitos.
Travel aboard a newly renovated riverboat with classic touches. Aquamarina limits the number of guests to just 22, providing an intimate and relaxed atmosphere.
Jan 6th, 2012 by wwftravel
People are the new species in the Galapagos, having first set foot on the islands in the 1800s. © James W. Thorsell / WWF-Canon
The Galapagos Islands continue to call to increasing numbers of visitors — from a few thousand annually in the 1960s to more than 170,000 today. The purpose of the Galapagos National Park authority’s new regulations that will go into effect on February 1, 2012, is to enhance those travelers’ experiences while protecting the fragile ecosystems of what were once known simply as the “enchanted islands.”
Several recent news stories regarding the new regulations have either caused confusion or spread misinformation. In reality, while most tour providers were limited to seven-night itineraries under the old regulations (with only a few authorized to conduct 10-night or 14-night trips), the new regulations require that cruises in the Galapagos operate on a 15-day/14-night schedule. Operators may divide that span of time into a maximum of four segments. It is believed that most tour operators will split their itineraries into: 1) two, seven-night trips; 2) two, five-night tours and one, four-night trip; 3) two, four-night tours and one, six-night trip; or 4) two, four-night and two, three-night trips. During that 15-day timeframe, a boat may not visit the same site twice, with the exception of the Charles Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz Island.
Under the previous regulations, some sites—such as Darwin Bay on Tower (Genovesa) Island and Tagus Cove on Isabela Island—were off-limits to larger vessels. Lifting that ban will result in increased visitor numbers at underused spots and decreased numbers at sites that are becoming imperiled from too much traffic.
For the first half of 2011, the majority of travelers landed at the airport on Baltra Island. A smaller share of visitors landed at the San Crisobal Island airport. By including the requirement in the new regulations that the airport on San Cristóbal be utilized at least once in every 15-day/14-night cruise schedule, some of the tourist pressure on Baltra will also be lightened.
“Based on feedback we’ve received from IGTOA members,” says Matt Kareus, executive director of the International Galapagos Tour Operators Association, “most seem to see the new rules as a step in the right direction. These regulations will help reduce the impact on certain important sites and should, overall, improve visitor experiences.”
The Galapagos Islands were among the first group of sites added to the World Heritage List in 1978. But in 2007, threats from increasing tourism, overfishing, and encroaching invasive species put the Galapagos on the List of World Heritage in Danger places. However, because of Ecuador’s progress in strengthening conservation measures, the Galapagos were removed from that roster in July 2010.
The new regulations should help ensure that the Galapagos do not become “endangered” again.
-Candice Gaukel Andrews
© International Galapagos Tour Operators Association; reprinted with permission
Jan 4th, 2012 by wwftravel
Africa was on readers’ minds in 2011, with three of our top posts dedicated to the continent. © Howard W. Buffett / WWF-US
In 2011 we discussed destinations, interviewed experts and highlighted WWF’s work around the world. Here are 10 of the most read blog posts of the year.
10. Kenya or Tanzania: Which to choose?
We discussed the similarities and differences between these two classic safari destinations.
9. Q-and-A: Northern Great Plains
WWF Program Officer Dennis Jorgensen shared with us his passion for his work in the Northern Great Plains, a WWF priority place.
8. School of Thought: 10 things Micronesia taught us
The South Pacific region is home to the surreal Jellyfish Lake, the addictive betel nut and traditional money that weighs a ton … literally.
7. Nature’s Close Up: A Bornean Primate Slideshow
In the first installment of our slideshow series, we highlighted some of Borneo’s most fascinating primates.
6. In Your Words: The value of nature
We asked, you answered! WWF members shared their top picks for destinations that make them value nature the most.
5. Ten Things to Take on Your African Safari
Blogger Wendy Worral Redal went beyond the typical safari packing list, suggesting some great additions.
4. In Palau, Contending with a Crown of Thorns
A popular WWF snorkeling leader protects Palauan waters from an invasive species, one thrust of a hand-sharpened spear at a time.
3. Top Shot: Kenya
We highlighted a stunning photo of a group of Maasai women.
2. Five myths about Amazon River dolphins
Amazon residents believed that river dolphins held magical powers, which helped keep the species protected.
1. WWF Quiz: Great Apes
Turns out you know your stuff when it comes to orangutans, gorillas, chimpanzees and bonobos.
