Animal Survivors

by Suzanne Zimbler

With help from humans, some endangered species are bouncing back from the brink of extinction. Scientist and conservationist Jane Goodall shares their stories.

Jane Goodall is on the road 300 days a year. She travels around the world, encouraging people to protect our planet. Wherever she goes, she brings along a shiny black feather from one of America's most endangered birds, the California condor.

The feather is a symbol of hope. Like the other 32 species featured in Goodall's new book, Hope for Animals and Their World, the condor would not be here today if it were not for the help of some dedicated people.

Miracle Birds
Thousands of California condors once soared in the skies above the western coast of North America. But by 1982, all except 22 of the graceful birds had vanished.

Lead poisoning was the main culprit. The condors were poisoned when they ate animals that had been shot by hunters' lead bullets.

Many people believed there was no hope for the species. But one group of scientists decided to help. Between 1985 and 1987, they brought all of the remaining condors into captivity to try to save the species. "They were told it was a waste of time," Goodall told TFK, "but they refused to give up."

Inside, the birds were not free, but they were safe. With the help of the scientists, the condor population has grown to more than 350 birds. About half have been returned to the wild. They are safer now, because in 2007 a law was passed that bans the use of lead bullets where condors live.

Wild Things
Removing animals from the wild is sometimes necessary in order to save them. But even in captivity, animals can run into problems.

The Sumatran rhino is one of the most endangered large mammals in the world, due to illegal hunting and habitat loss. In 1990, seven Sumatran rhinos were shipped from Indonesia to zoos in the United States. The rhinos quickly became sick, and four died. Scientists scrambled to figure out what was wrong.

Luckily, zookeeper Steve Romo had observed the rhinos in the wild and had seen them eating sap-covered fruit. In the zoo, the rhinos were fed hay and alfalfa. When that was replaced with a fruit similar to what they once ate, the animals recovered almost immediately. Now, conservationists are working to set up more captive-breeding programs, where rhino families can grow in safety.

It Takes a Village
Scientists and zookeepers are not the only people helping endangered animals. Communities are pitching in too. In Colombia, monkeys called cotton-top tamarins were vanishing from the forest. Logging and pollution had put their habitat in danger. A group of local women decided to help. They collect and recycle the plastic bags that litter the forest. They make reusable totes from the plastic. Other community members helped by switching to cooking stoves that use fewer logs. As a result, more trees are now standing in the forest.

Condors, rhinos and tamarins are still in danger. But thanks to people who care, these animals now have a chance. "These extraordinary people and amazing projects really do give hope," says Goodall. "They show that we can turn things around."

This is a great article for animal lovers. Can you sum up this article in 2-3 sentences? What are the main points?