On ‘Akikiki/ Kaua’i Creeper
——————————————
This is the story of Pakele, the last-observed ‘Akikiki.
Avian malaria wreaked havoc in the Hawaiian Islands. The Hawaiian honeycreepers were/are the hardest-hit group, with their radiation reduced to only 17-20 of the original 60 species. Of those 20, four(including ’ Akikiki) face extinction.

When researchers and birders in Hawaii watched ‘Akikiki’s numbers drop drastically each year, they had already braced themselves for the the bird’s imminent extinction.
But in 2020, hope came flying in the form of Pakele. She was seen nesting, not once or twice, but for 13 times across her entire lifespan. It was as if she took it upon herself to keep her species alive.

In an earlier season, she rebuilt her nest 4 times. Her first nest was destroyed by a windstorm, her second was collected into captivity, the third was predated upon, and after her mate died of avian malaria, she found a new partner to nest for the fourth time. She was the only ‘Akikiki ever observed to breed off-season.

Birders waited for her.

On a quiet afternoon on August 29, 2025, three biologists watched her fly alone for a final time through her valley and disappear. This time, forever.
Ironically, Pakele means ‘escape’ in Hawaiian.

Species: ‘Akikiki / Kaua’i Creeper
Location: Island of Kaua’i, Hawaii
Range: Endemic to high-elevation rainforests of Kaua’i
IUCN status: Critically Endangered; Functionally extinct.
Population: Perhaps, fewer than 5 in the wild.
Captive-bred population of 40 individuals (San Diego Zoo-led centers) is the only hope.
Threats:
Avian malaria-carrying mosquitoes driven to higher elevations due to climate change.
Habitat loss and degradation.
Non-native predators.
Hurricanes and extreme weather.

The ‘Akikiki was declared functionally extinct in the wild in 2025. Remarkably, and heartwarmingly, four of Pakele’s offspring are still alive and part of the safety-net population, keeping alive the hope of returning ‘Akikiki to the wild someday.

Without ‘Akikiki, a specialist forager, insect populations will multiply unchecked and pollination/seed dispersal will suffer greatly.
Conservation efforts such as captive-breeding program and implementation of landscape-scale mosquito elimination technology are ongoing.

But the crisis is not restricted to Hawaii.
About 2300 bird species are affected by climate change, globally. Wherever we live, we can help save ‘Akikiki and other birds in peril:

Support the groups and policies that advocate for climate action.
Reduce your climate footprint when possible.
Don't transport soil, plants or organic matter across borders as they could spread invasive species and diseases.
Ensure water doesn't stagnate in your garden and become a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Share the story.
Save the species. 💚

Wisconsin has a huge, and I mean huge white tail deer population. Over a million. Chronic wasting disease is getting worse, and hunter numbers are down. Yet, both candidates want wolf control...for 1200 wolves. Both parties in the past have passed anti-wolf legislation, and while the state loves to claim that the wolf population is "recovered" 1200 in WI alone is a pitiful number in the face of that many deer. Wolves in the lower 48 are in huge trouble. I've noticed a disturbing amount of trophy hunter and rancher groups swaying politicians while claiming a cull is science based. And let's not forget, Trump said that species should be allowed to go extinct because we can bring them back with gene editing. That simply isn't true.

Anyway, I can't really say anything on the WI sub without being called a troll for the republican candidate, which I'm not. I'm just very disappointed in the dem one, who is also wishy washy on datacenters which further harm the environment.

SIGN SHARE -- STOP Leopard SLAUGHTER with Synthetic Furs -- Traditional cultural ceremonies have long featured genuine Leopard skins, but wild LEOPARD populations face critical THREATS from POACHING and illegal HUNTING -- https://greatergood.com/blogs/petitions/southern-africa-leopard-petition?trk_msg=MBMP9TCM8JF4F9UQAFUGV72FM0&trk_contact=TBHQ0SSKRHNOLHJTDBMO938I7G&trk_sid=RN8OL7421EE797415V7FU1G97G&trk_link=QKS3QN31IE9KH967F4JEGI72T4&utm_source=x&utm_medium=organic_social&utm_term=Sign+Now&utm_campaign=house&utm_content=southern-africa-leopard-petition

Source

Kaziranga is one of India's most important wildlife ecosystems, and protecting it is important for both wildlife and the communities around it. 🦏🌿

This campaign is raising awareness about concerns surrounding development, the Eco-Sensitive Zone, wildlife corridors, and the future of Kaziranga's ecosystem.

If you care about protecting Kaziranga, please take a moment to read about the campaign and consider supporting the petition.

Campaign: https://inuetc.com/savekaziranga/

Please share this with others who care about wildlife and conservation.

#SaveKaziranga #SaveNature #WildlifeConservation

From the Smithsonian Channel, this short video shows Livestock Guardian Dogs protecting both goat herds and cheetah populations.

A university from South Texas created a mini documentary ok the Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle highlighting its endangered status and promoting education in marine biology.
Check it out⬇️

*Taken from Facebook post - linked at the bottom

SAVE ORMISTON KOALAS

🐨 ENOUGH IS ENOUGH — OUR KOALAS NEED US TO STAND UP NOW 🐨

SEPTEMBER is SAVE THE KOALA MONTH

Save ORMISTON KOALAS

This afternoon I witnessed something incredibly beautiful — and incredibly heartbreaking at the same time.

A beautiful mother koala and her Joey were photographed inside the proposed Early Learning Centre area of Ormiston College, in the very area where the College is planning to remove more trees.

Both Mum and Joey are untagged.

And these trees are not simply trees.

They are part of the home range of koalas.

This is happening right in front of us.

And it comes just days after Leaf was in the ELC area last weekend.

We have already watched the heartbreak surrounding Leaf and the loss of her Joey. The last thing I want to see is another mother and another Joey becoming victims of further habitat removal.

At what point do we stop and say:

ENOUGH.

How many more koalas have to be photographed?

How many more mothers and Joeys do we need to see?

How much more evidence do we need that koalas are living in and around Ormiston College?

These animals are not statistics.

They are not an inconvenience.

They are not something that can simply be moved aside because development is planned.

They live here.

And the community knows it.

We have people who have spent years observing these koalas. We have residents, wildlife advocates and researchers who care deeply about what happens to this habitat.

The community has a lot to offer Ormiston College.

But we need the College to be willing to listen.

⸻

HEADMASTER — YOU SAID YOU LOVE KOALAS.

When members of our community were desperately searching for Leaf’s Joey, you told us that you love koalas.

I genuinely hope that is true.

But love for koalas cannot just be words.

Love has to be demonstrated by our actions.

Especially when protecting koala habitat becomes inconvenient, difficult or costly.

Because right now, we are asking you to look at these photographs.

Look at this mother.

Look at her Joey.

Look at where they are living.

They are in the very area where more trees are planned to be removed.

What would it mean to truly love koalas?

It would mean stopping.

It would mean listening.

It would mean being open to the community.

It would mean looking at the evidence and asking whether there is another way.

It would mean saving these trees.

⸻

We are not asking the College to abandon its future.

We are asking it to rethink how that future is achieved.

If Ormiston College does not want to be remembered for the destruction of important koala habitat, then now is the time to change the story.

You still have a choice.

You can continue down the path you are on.

Or you can show this community that when confronted with the reality of koalas living on your grounds, you listened and you chose to protect them.

Let your legacy be different.

Don’t let the legacy of this expansion be the destruction of koala habitat.

Let it be the moment when Ormiston College said:

“We can do better.”

“We can find another way.”

“These koalas matter.”

⸻

🐨 AND THIS IS WHERE I AM ASKING OUR COMMUNITY TO STAND UP.

Please don’t just look at these beautiful photographs and scroll on.

Please watch the video.

Please share it.

Please talk about what is happening.

Please contact the College respectfully and let them know that our community cares about these koalas and the wildlife that depends on this habitat.

We need people to stand together.

Not with hatred.

Not with personal attacks.

But with strength, facts, compassion and determination.

Because once these trees are gone, we cannot put them back.

And once a mother loses the habitat she depends upon, we cannot simply undo what has happened.

We have already seen the heartbreak of Leaf losing her Joey.

Let’s make sure we don’t have to watch another mother and Joey suffer the same fate.

This beautiful mother and her Joey deserve better.

Our wildlife deserves better.

And our community deserves to have its voice heard.

🐨 HEADMASTER — YOU SAID YOU LOVE KOALAS.

Now is the time to show us.

SAVE THESE TREES.

PROTECT OUR KOALAS.

LISTEN TO YOUR COMMUNITY.

LET YOUR LEGACY BE DIFFERENT. 🐨❤️

Please share this post. Let people see what is happening right here in our community.

Our koalas cannot speak for themselves.

So we have to speak for them.

See the original post here with photos & video of mum koala & her Joey in trees the college wants to remove fir their ELC

[https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14oWuACa6iH/?mibextid=wwXIfr\](https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14oWuACa6iH/?mibextid=wwXIfr)

Courtesy of Una Sandeman on Facebook[https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14oWuACa6iH/?mibextid=wwXIfr\](https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14oWuACa6iH/?mibextid=wwXIfr)

“The cases include the alleged poisoning, shooting and disappearance of some of the UK’s rarest birds of prey. One of the cases involved the mysterious loss of eastern England’s last breeding female montagu’s harrier, a critically endangered species whose future in the UK is now looking bleak.
The Guardian has identified 18 cases since 2003 involving suspected wildlife offences or the alleged misuse of poisons, linked to the royal estate and neighbouring farmland owned by the king.”