A Lion in the Desert
Web site of Stander’s Desert Lion Conservation project.

Saving the Desert Cats
Information about the Predator Conservation Trust’s Namibian Lion Project.

African Predator Conservation Research Organization
The website of APCRO, which is funding a genetic study of the Namibian lions by Flip Stander.

Namibian Coast
Learn more about some of the coast’s other inhabitants.

Kunene Ecological Analysis
A conservation assessment of the deserts of Kunene.

Namibia Nature Foundation
Not-for-profit organization helping to protect Namibian wildlife.

Animal Diversity Web – Black Mamba Fact Sheet
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Dendroaspis_polylepis.html
University of Michigan posts a detailed black mamba fact sheet on its Animal Diversity project Web site.

Australian Venom and Toxin Database
http://www.kingsnake.com/toxinology/LD50/LD50men.html
The question of which snake is the “most venomous” is actually very complicated and open to some interpretation.  The Australian Venom and Toxin database explains some of the variables involved in such a toxin analysis, and provides lists of venomous snakes based on various testing procedures.  The black mamba appears on several of these lists.

Sean Thomas – “Most Dangerous Snakes in the World”
http://www.seanthomas.net/oldsite/danger.html
South African wildlife filmmaker Sean Thomas also has a list describing the deadliest snakes.  He too acknowledges the difficulty in compiling a definitive list, and bases his on relative mortality rates.

Wildlife Pictures Online – “Black Mamba Myths and Other Snake Stories”
http://www.wildlife-pictures-online.com/black-mamba.html
This website provides an article discussing the myths and facts about the black mamba, from the perspective of a South African raised with a cultural fear of them.

Treatment of a Black Mamba Bite
http://drdavidson.ucsd.edu/Portals/0/snake/Dendroa3.htm
Bitten by a black mamba? University of California San Diego posts detailed instructions for treating a black mamba bite.

Kruger Park – Black Mamba Myths and Facts
http://www.krugerpark.co.za/krugerpark-times-17-facts-about-the-black-mamba.html
Kruger national park, just north of Swaziland in South Africa, posts another detailed description of the myths and facts surrounding black mambas.

Antivenom Swazi Foundation
http://www.antivenomswazi.org/#/our-mission/4533665167
Thea and Clifton started the Antivenom Swazi Foundation to help provide the resources to treat snakebite victims in Swaziland.

NEWS

Times Online (UK) – “Black mamba bite kills Briton who dreamt of becoming a game ranger” (March 12, 2008)
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/africa/article3529594.ece
This article underscores the importance of fast administration of antivenom in saving lives after a black mamba bite.

BOOKS AND PRINT

Frump, Robert.  The Man-Eaters of Eden: Life and Death in Kruger National Park. Globe Pequot, 2006.

Nagami, Pamela. Bitten: True Medical Stories of Bites and Stings. Macmillin, 2005.

O’Shea, Mark.  Venomous Snakes of the World.  New Holland Publishers, 2008.

Grasslands – The University of California Museum of Paleontology
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes/grasslands.php
An article on the museum’s website describes the climate and locations of the savanna biome.

Golden Eagle – The Cornell Lab of Ornithology
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Golden_Eagle/lifehistory
This site provides a broad range of information about the golden eagle. Also find fun facts about the osprey on this site.

Hummingbirds: Magic in the Air – NATURE
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/hummingbirds-magic-in-the-air/introduction/5424/
NATURE journeys into the lives of the speedy hummingbirds that live in the jungle.

Giraffe – African Wildlife Foundation
http://www.awf.org/content/wildlife/detail/giraffe
This site describes giraffes and how they care for their young.

Tiger – Seaworld Info Books
http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/info-books/tiger/physical-characteristics.htm
This page contains a great deal of information about the tiger, including its physical characteristics and fun books for young readers.

Blue Morpho Butterfly – The Rainforest Alliance
http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/resources.cfm?id=blue_butterfly
This site describes the anatomy, habitat, diet, and threats of the beautiful blue morpho butterfly, including its multi-chromatic wing pattern.

Trap-Jaw Ants – University of Massachusetts
http://imladris.bio.umass.edu/biology/pateklab/mechanics-movement-trap-jaw-ants
The Patek lab writes about the trap-jaw ant, its evolution, and the way in which it moves through its environment with those powerful jaws.

Spider Monkey – Montclair State University
http://rainforest.montclair.edu/pwebrf/rainforest/Animals/mammals/spidermonkey.html
Learn about the spider monkey and its life in the canopy of the rain forest.

Bison – National Park Service
http://www.nps.gov/yell/naturescience/bisonqa.htm
This site answers some frequently asked questions about bison.

Cuban Crocodile – Florida Museum of National History
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/cnhc/csp_crho.htm
Read interesting facts about the different species of crocodile and their natural history.

Flying Snakes – The American Museum of Natural History
http://biomechanics.bio.uci.edu/_html/nh_biomech/flyingsnake/flyingsnake.htm
The AMNH describes the biomechanics of airborne snakes.

BOOKS & PRINT

Kelly, Lynne. Crocodile: Evolution’s Greatest Survivor. Allen & Unwin, 2007.

Mooring, MS and ML Patton. Fecal Androgens of Bison Bulls During the Rut. Hormones and Behavior, volume 46, issue 4, pgs 392-398, 2004.

Tilson, Ronald and Philip Nyhus, eds. Tigers of the World: The Science, Politics and Conservation of Panthera tigris. Academic Press, 2010.

Ulfstrand, Staffan. Fur, Cheryl Jones, trans. Savannah Lives: Animal Life and the Human Evolution of Africa. Oxford University Press, 2003.

North Pacific Universities Marine Mammal Research Consortium
http://www.marinemammal.org
A wealth of information on sea lion research, including work from Andrew Trites’ team.

Steller’s sea lion Information Page
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/speciesid/fish_page/fish35a.html
Profile of the Steller’s sea lion

Steller Sea Lions
http://stellersealions.noaa.gov/
Information from the National Marine Fisheries Service, including a searchable database of federally funded sea lion projects worldwide.

National Academies Sea Lion report
http://lab.nap.edu/nap-cgi/discover.cgi?term=sea+lions
A good overview of the factors contributing to Steller sea lion declines.

Steller Sea Lion
http://www.adfg.state.ak.us/pubs/notebook/marine/sealion.php
Basic biology and more.

Scientists involved in sea lion issues:

Ken Pitcher, Ph.D., Alaska Department of Fish and Game
http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/membership/ssc/pitcher.pdf (pdf)

Dr. Andrew Trites, Associate Professor and Director of the Marine Mammal Research Unit in the Fisheries Centre
http://www.fisheries.ubc.ca/members/atrites/

Dr. Fred Sharpe, Alaska Whale Foundation
http://www.alaskawhalefoundation.org/aboutAWF/board.html

Michael Rehberg, Alaska Department of Fish and Game
http://hosting.uaa.alaska.edu/afjmb4/People/mr/index.htm

Dr. Gary Thomas, Professor, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science
http://www.rsmas.miami.edu/divs/mbf/People/Faculty/Thomas/

Dr. Mark Wipfli, Associate Professor of Freshwater Ecology, University of Alaska – Fairbanks
http://users.iab.uaf.edu/~mark_wipfli/

Books

Ford, Corey. WHERE THE SEA BREAKS ITS BACK: THE EPIC STORY OF EARLY NATURALIST GEORG STELLER AND THE RUSSIAN EXPLORATION OF ALASKA. Anchorage: Alaska Northwest Books, 1992.

Reed, Don C. WILD LION OF THE SEA: THE STELLER SEA LION THAT REFUSED TO BE TAMED. San Francisco: Sierra Club Juveniles, 1992.

Riedman, Marianne. THE PINNIPEDS: SEALS, SEA LIONS, AND WALRUSES. San Francisco: University of California Press, 1991.

Steller, Georg. JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE WITH BERING, 1741-1742. Palo Alto: Stanford University Press, 1988.

Sydeman, Michelle. ALASKA WILDLIFE VIEWING GUIDE. New York: Falcon, 1996.

General Information

Hawaii Whale Research Foundation
http://www.hwrf.org/
The HWRF researches whales and provides educational outreach to help the community better understand and appreciate these majestic animals.

Alaska Whale Foundation
http://www.alaskawhalefoundation.org/
Alaska Whale Foundation is a nonprofit organization “committed to research, conservation, and public education about marine mammals in Southeast Alaska.”

Intersea Foundation
http://www.intersea.org/index.html
The Intersea Foundation is a nonprofit organization allowing lay people to assist scientists on “high adventure natural history and research voyages” among the whales of Southeast Alaska.

NOAA’s Humpback Whale Page
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/mammals/cetaceans/humpbackwhale.htm
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s profile on humpback whales, including multiple links to further reading.

NOAA’s Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary
http://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov/
NOAA also maintains a marine sanctuary in the shallow waters of the Hawaiian Islands that serves to protect the whales and their habitats in Hawaii.

The Whalesong Project
http://whalesong.net/
The Whalesong Project allows site visitors to listen to a live feed of singing whales in Hawaii. Live listening is only available while the whales are wintering in Hawaii. While the whales migrate, the Web site provides recordings of recent songs.

ARKive: Humpback Gallery
http://www.arkive.org/humpback-whale/megaptera-novaeangliae/
ARKive hosts a great collection of pictures and videos of humpback whales.

Migration and Observation

Whale Route
http://www.whaleroute.com/migrate/
A description of migration routes of various whale species, including the best locations for whale watching.

Mayumba National Park
http://www.mayumbanationalpark.com/cetaceans.htm
Mayumba National Park in Gabon is another haven for migrating whales. Here is their profile of the whale’s presence in the park.

Whale Watching in Big Sur, California
http://www.bigsurcalifornia.org/whalehumpback.html
The Big Sur Chamber of Commerce provides information about Humpback whale watching opportunities in the waters off California.

Conservation

Though at one time as few as 5,000 humpbacks remained after centuries of whaling, conservation efforts in the 20th century have brought their numbers back to over 80,000. In 2008, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) upgraded their classification from “Vulnerable” to “Least Concern,” signaling the humpback’s achievement of a stable population after a brush with near extinction.

However, many other species of whales and cetaceans remain threatened, and a number of organizations provide care and raise awareness.

WDCS – The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society.
http://www.wdcs.org/
WDCS describes itself as “the world’s most active charity dedicated to the conservation and welfare of all whales, dolphins and porpoises”. Their Web site contains a number of useful resources for getting involved in conservation efforts.

American Cetacean Society
http://www.acsonline.org/
The ACS is one of the world’s oldest whale conservation groups. They provide protection for whales, porpoises, and dolphins through education, research grants, and conservation programs.

The Oceania Project
http://www.oceania.org.au/index.html
The Oceania Project provides care, research and conservation initiatives for humpbacks and other cetaceans.

NEWS

PhysOrg.com – “Warbling whales speak a language all their own” (March 21, 2006)
http://www.physorg.com/news11980.html
Physicist Ryuji Suzuki uses information theory to analyze the communication power of whale songs, revealing a startling complexity.

Books

Bernard, Hannah J. Field Guide to the Humpback Whale. Sasquatch Books, 1993.

Bright, Michael. Whale Odyssey: A Humpback Whale’s First Year. JR Books Ltd, 2008.

Day, Trevor. Whale Watcher: A Global Guide to Watching Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises in the Wild. Firefly Books, 2006.

Martin, Stephen. The Whales’ Journey. Allen & Unwin Pty, 2002.

New York Times – “One Thing They Aren’t: Maternal”
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/09/science/09mama.html
This article features a number of animal mothers that “defy the standard maternal script in a raft of macabre ways.”

Emperor-Penguin.com
http://www.emperor-penguin.com/emperor.html
This Web site posts a detailed account of the breeding and birth cycle of emperor penguins.

Australian Government – Emperor penguins
http://www.aad.gov.au/default.asp?casid=1931
Here is another good informational site about the emperor penguin, from the Australian government’s Australian Antarctic Division.

Tufts University – Animal Psychology
http://www.pigeon.psy.tufts.edu/psych26/history.htm
For those with a devoted interest in animal learning and psychological development, this site hosted by Tufts University has an in-depth chronology of the most important research on the subject.

Time Magazine – “What Mother Nature Teaches Us About Motherhood”
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,996837,00.html
Time has an article about what we can learn about motherhood from nature.

RELATED PROGRAMS

These NATURE programs also depict life as a baby animal in the wild, across a variety of species.

Arctic Bears

Cheetah Orphans

Clever Monkeys

Penguins of the Antarctic

Prince of the Alps

White Falcon, White Wolf

BOOKS AND PRINT

Bekoff, Marc. The Emotional Lives of Animals: A Leading Scientist Explores Animal Joy, Sorrow, and Empathy – and Why They Matter. New World Library, 2008.

Michels, Dia. If My Mom Were a Platypus: Baby Animals and their Mothers. Platypus Media, 2008.

Mock, Douglas W. More Than Kin and Less Than Kind: The Evolution of Family Conflict. Harvard University Press, 2004.

For our younger viewers, Kingfisher Editors puts out a series of books about baby animals in different habitats, including grasslands, polar regions, rain forests, rivers, oceans, and around our own neighborhoods:
Schofield, Jennifer. Baby Animals in Grasslands. Kingfisher, 2004
Schofield, Jennifer. Baby Animals in Polar Lands. Kingfisher, 2004
Schofield, Jennifer. Baby Animals in Rain Forests. Kingfisher, 2007

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory
http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov
The U.S. Geological Survey’s official Hawaiian volcano watch site has eruption updates and live, panoramic views of Pu’u O’o!

Hawaii Biological Survey
http://hbs.bishopmuseum.org
The Hawaiian Biological Survey (HBS) is an ongoing inventory of native and non-native Hawaiian species. Get free access to scientific research papers on Hawaiian flora and fauna.

Hawaiian Ecosystem and Risk project (HEAR)
http://www.hear.org
This Web site gives detailed information about the invasive species problem in Hawaii, and what you can do to help.

Invasive Species Specialist Group
http://www.issg.org
Part of the Species Survival Commission (SSC) of The World Conservation Union (IUCN), the Invasive Species Specialist Group pays special attention to threats to oceanic island biodiversity.

Infrasound Laboratory of the University of Hawaii (ISLA)
http://www.isla.hawaii.edu
View photos, listen to audio clips, and learn more about infrasound and Milton Garces’s research.

Current Kilauea Volcano Eruption Update
http://www.volcanogallery.com/volcano_eruption.htm
“Current eruption status, information, and photos of Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii.” This site is part of the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Web site.

Books and Print

Wright, Thomas. Hawaii Volcano Watch: A Pictorial History, 1779-1991. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 1992.

Zeigler, Alan. Hawaiian Natural History, Ecology, and Evolution. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 2002.

Macdonald, Gordon Andrew, A.T. Abbott, F.L. Peterson. Volcanoes in the Sea. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 1983.

Wagner, Warren L., V.A. Funks (ed.). Hawaiian Biogeography: Evolution of a Hot Spot Archipelago. Herndon, VA: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1995.

Stein, Bruce A. Precious Heritage: The Status of Biodiversity in the United States. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000.

ASPCA
http://www.aspca.org/
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals provides local and national leadership in three key areas: caring for pet parents and pets, providing positive outcomes for at-risk animals and serving victims of animal cruelty. Visit their site for information about pet adoption, health, and more.

Meet Your Match (ASPCA)
http://www.aspca.org/adoption/meet-your-match/
For more information about the ASPCA’s Meet Your Match adoption program, featured in Why We Love Cats and Dogs, visit their Web site.

ICAT – International Cat Agility Tournaments
http://www.catagility.com/
You saw the cats in action in Why We Love Cats and Dogs! ICAT has created a new category of cat competition in which cats negotiate an agility course – showing off their skills and their connection to their owners.

The Humane Society: Pet Adoption
http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_adoption_information/
If you’re considering bringing a pet into your life, the Humane Society urges you to consider adopting from a local animal shelter.

Jerry’s Place for Tripawds
http://www.tripawds.com/
Jim Nelson and René Agredano, featured in Why We Love Cats and Dogs, provide resources and support for three-legged dogs and their owners.

MedlinePlus: Pet Health
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/pethealth.html
A resource of the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, this Web site has lots of resources to help you keep your pet happy and healthy.

My Smart Puppy
http://www.mysmartpuppy.com/
Sarah Wilson, featured in Why We Love Cats and Dogs, maintains this Web site as a resource for dog training and behavior information.

BOOKS AND PRINT

Bekoff, Marc. The Emotional Lives of Animals: A Leading Scientist Explores Animal Joy, Sorrow, and Empathy – and Why They Matter. New World Library, 2007.

Croke, Vicki and Sarah Wilson. Dogology: What Your Relationship with Your Dog Reveals about You. Rodale, 2008.

Dodman, Nicholas. The Cat Who Cried for Help: Attitudes, Emotions, and the Psychology of Cats. Bantam, 1999.

Dodman, Nicholas. The Well-Adjusted Dog: Dr. Dodman’s Seven Steps to Lifelong Health and Happiness for Your Best Friend. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2008.

Amphibian Conservation Alliance
http://www.frogs.org
This non-profit organization is working to protect amphibian wildlife through scientific, educational, and advocacy programs.

AmphibiaWeb
http://www.amphibiaweb.org
This online system provides access to information on amphibian declines, conservation, natural history, and taxonomy.

Amphibian Research Centre (Gerry Marantelli’s org in Australia)
http://frogs.org.au/
This Australian site provides an expertise in all areas of frog knowledge including captive breeding, research and education.

Association of Zoos and Aquariums
http://www.aza.org/helpfrogs
This page suggests ways you can help frogs, from reducing your use of water and carbon-based fuels, to educating yourself about frogs and other amphibians.

FrogwatchUSA – USGS/National Wildlife Federation
http://www.nwf.org/frogwatchUSA
Frogwatch is a site where you can help scientists conserve amphibians through a citizen science program.

ASG – (IUCN Amphibian Specialist Group)
http://www.amphibians.org
This site provides information on several organizations supporting a global web of partners to develop funding for amphibian conservation.

CBSG (IUCN/SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group)
http://www.cbsg.org
This site has networking information on professionals dedicated to saving threatened species.

IUCN Global Amphibian Assessment
http://www.globalamphibians.org
This organization assesses the conservation status of species, subspecies, varieties, and even selected sub-populations on a global scale.

WAZA (World Association of Zoos and Aquariums)
http://www.waza.org
This educational organization is the “umbrella” for the world zoo and aquarium community.

Mountain Yellow Legged Frog Site
http://www.mylfrog.info/
This site provides up-to-date information on the natural history and conservation of the mountain yellow-legged frog, a group of two closely-related species that inhabit California’s highest mountains.

Atlanta Botanical Gardens
http://www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org/site/conservation/amphibian_research
The Atlanta Botanical Garden has an active captive breeding and research program with educational displays.

The Nature Conservancy
http://www.nature.org/
This wonderful site’s mission is to work around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people.

Online Guide for the Identification of Amphibians in North America
http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/herps/amphibid/links.htm
Get information of a variety of topics, from malformed amphibians to ways you can get involved in conservation, on this U.S. Geological Survey Web site.

Amphibian Diseases
http://www.jcu.edu.au/school/phtm/PHTM/frogs/ampdis.htm
This site is to provide high quality information on diseases of amphibians with a focus on diseases of significance in wild populations.

Save the Frogs
http://www.savethefrogs.com
Save the Frogs! is an international team of scientists, educators, policymakers and naturalists dedicated to protecting the world’s amphibian species.

Drakensberg Tourism Association
http://www.drakensberg.org.za/
The Drakensberg Tourism Association promotes tourism in the Central and Northern Drakensberg region of South Africa.

“Drakensberg: Barrier of Spears” – SouthAfrica.info
http://southafrica.info/about/geography/drakensberg-050705.htm
This site provides an overview of the rich cultural and natural heritage of the Drakensberg Mountains.

“uKhalamba / Drakensberg Park” – UNESCO World Heritage Centre
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/985
The uKhalamba Drakensberg Park was designated a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 2000, both for its exceptional natural beauty and remarkable collection of San rock art.

Books and Print

Bristow, David. Best Walks of the Drakensberg. Struik, 2003.

Hilliard, Olive Mary and Linda S. Davis. Grasses, Sedges, Restiads & Rushes of the Natal Drakensberg. Pietermaritzburg: University of Natal Press, 1987.

Lewis-Williams, J. David. Images of Mystery: Rock Art of the Drakensberg. Double Storey, 2003.

Liebenberg, Doyle P. The Drakensberg of Natal. Cape Town: Cape and Transvaal, 1972.

Opperman, H. The Later Stone Age of the Drakensberg Range and Its Foothills. B.A.R., 1987.

Vinnicombe, Patricia. People of the Eland: Rock Paintings of the Drakensberg Bushmen as a Reflection of Their Life and Thought. Pietermaritzburg: University of Natal Press, 1976.

Willcox, A. R. Rock Paintings of the Drakensberg, Natal and Griqualand East. M. Parrish, 1956.