A large number of the animals at Rolling Hills Wildlife Adventures are endangered in the wild. In fact, many of them, such as Amur leopards, Sumatran orangutans, and Indian rhinos, have wild populations that are on the verge of extinction. For a complete list of the RHWA animals and their status in the wild, check out the animal pages.
Abbreviations/terminology to know...
USFWS = The United States Fish & Wildlife Service is part of the U.S. Department of the Interior. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service categorizes species as either "Endangered" or "Threatened." Endangered" species are animals or plants that are in immediate danger of becoming extinct. "Threatened" species are animals or plants whose populations are declining and may become endangered. The USFWS also recognizes species as "species in need of conservation."
IUCN = The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources is an international organization composed of over 170 government agencies and over 400 non-government organizations from all over the world. The IUCN produces the IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals. The IUCN categorizes species as follows:
Extinct: A species is Extinct when there is no reasonable doubt that the last individual has died.
Extinct in the Wild: A species is Extinct in the Wild when it is known only to survive in cultivation, in captivity, or as a naturalized population(s) well outside the past range. A taxon is presumed extinct in the wild when exhaustive surveys in known and/or expected habitat, at appropriate times throughout its historic range, have failed to record an individual. Surveys should be over a time frame appropriate to the taxon's life cycle and life form.
Critically Endangered: A species is Critically Endangered when it is facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild in the immediate future.
Endangered: A species is Endangered when it is not Critically Endangered but is facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future.
Vulnerable: A species is Vulnerable when it is not Critically Endangered or Endangered but is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild in the medium-term future.
Lower Risk: A species is Lower Risk when it has been evaluated and does not satisfy the criteria for any of the above categories.
Data Deficient/Insufficient data: Listing of a species in this category indicates that more information is required and acknowledges the possibility that future research will show that threatened classification is appropriate.
Indeterminate: A species known to be "Endangered," "Vulnerable," or "Rare" but where there is not enough information to say which of the three categories is appropriate.
Rare: A species with small-world populations that are not at present "Endangered" or "Vulnerable," but are at risk. These species are usually localized within restricted geographical areas or habitats or are thinly scattered over a more extensive range.
CITES = Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. CITES is a group of over 120 countries that agrees to ban or restrict trade on an agreed upon list of plants and animals. There are 3 CITES categories:
- Appendix I - Species threatened with extinction.
- Appendix II - Species not presently threatened with extinction, but may become so if trade is not regulated.
- Appendix III - Species not protected under Appendices I or II but which are regulated by a CITES party nation for conservation purposes.
Conservation Links:
American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) - This site has been designed to provide information about the many zoos and aquariums of the AZA throughout North America, and their many conservation programs.
American Association of Zoo Keepers (AAZK) - AAZK is a non-profit 501(c)(3) volunteer organization made up of professional zoo keepers and other interested persons dedicated to professional animal care and conservation.
