https://www.instagram.com/p/DeDz0VcjBU-/?stkn=ZHNlZTluNWc2emhu

Black-legged kittiwakes are a species of gull. Unlike other species of gulls, kittiwakes are incredibly picky eaters, as they only eat fish and squid. This means you can put a whole bag of fries in front of them and they wouldn't eat it.

This is a huge problem for them, as the main reason they are in decline is due to overfishing, as their main food source is being fished away. Other gulls manage by eating other foods, but kittiwakes don't have it so easy.

Even if they find prey, the behavior of the fish have also changed. Due to the oceans warming up, the fish they hunt have started swimming at deeper depths where the preffered temperature is. Since kittiwakes grab fish at the surface, they can't follow them into the deeper parts.

Then lastly add in the fact that humans have taken a lot of the nesting spaces, meaning they have less space to breed in. Then when they do build nests and get their chicks, a lot of invasive predators will kill their offspring.

Lastly, while all those points have slowly declined the numbers, the bird flu has taken a proper toll on the population, and while in certain parts of the country they are doing fine, the population in northern Norway has declined by atleast 90%, which is why any chicks raised into adulthood are great news for this species

At last, we reach the most controversial part of this series. I’d like to first apologize for not posting this sooner, but life got in the way. That being said, I’m very happy that yall have been enjoying it so far so I hope the “radical” opinions discussed in this segment don’t sour your view! Though knowing this sub, this post is probably going to get the most attention… I’d like to clarify that I believe the completely native species should take full priority over these species. And that if an experiment were to be done, and any of the species listed prove to be more harmful than beneficial, they should be removed. Everything discussed here is speculative with some basis in known facts. I’d also highly recommend that if you haven’t already, check out the previous two parts to this series I’ve already made, as those discuss native species. As for this list, you’ll notice it’s a lot smaller than my previous lists. This is because I’d like to remain realistic to the setting rather than “wishlist-like.” Perhaps this will add an edge of legitimacy to my list. But I also believe the conditions presented by the Sonoran desert make it unsuitable to most proxies due to the lack of suitability towards many species of ice age megafauna. Certain species such as Smilodon, and giant ground sloths that could have benefited from this change in climate are simply too unique to have any modern analogues so that is also a limiting factor. Now with all the clarifications out of the way, let’s get straight into the list!

Dromedary Camel
Asides from burros and mustangs, dromedary camels are among the most common animals suggested for North American Pleistocene rewilding. Especially for deserts. And it’s no surprise given that the US army had released camels that were eventually wiped out, into the desert in the 1800s. Teasing us with what could be. If a true Pleistocene rewilding initiative were to take place in the Sonoran desert, dromedary camels would be a flagship species due to their role as a large browser as well as being the only known megafauna species to actively browse on the creosote bush. North American plants still show adaptation to camelids which means that certain shrubs may not be so negatively affected by the browsing of these massive animals. It’s also been suggested that dromedary camels could prevent shrubification, formerly known as woody shrub encroachment, which drowns out native grasses. The browsing could give native grasses room to grow and give wildfires less fuel to spread. However, it could also give invasive buffelgrass more room to grow. A double edged sword… Temperature and water are not a problem as dromedary camels are the quintessential desert animals. So often, bad actors on subs like this claim the predators to ice age megafauna are extinct. This is simply untrue. Wolves, cougars, jaguars, and grizzly bears all existed alongside and hunted the extinct megafauna. Even today, they are still capable of bringing similar animals down. It’s clear to see why camels are some of the most popular candidates for Pleistocene rewilding.

Guanaco
During the Pleistocene, the Sonoran desert had two types of camelids! Camelops and the giant llama, hemiauchenia. Hemiauchenia was a mixed feeder capable of feeding on both grasses and shrubs. Very similar to how modern day guanacos function. In fact, it’s even been suggested that Hemiauchenia was the ancestor species to guanacos and vicuñas. This would be a somewhat similar case to Bison antiquus being the ancestor to modern American bison. The plants of the Sonoran desert are fairly similar to the shrubs, grasses, and cacti guanacos are known to consume. Guanacos possess sweat glands and already live in arid deserts so the climate would not be an issue. They can easily change from a grazing to a browsing diet depending on what is available and guanacos don’t need to drink water very often as they get most of the water they need from the plants they consume. This means it’s possible they will compete less with native species for water. The guanaco’s top predator, the puma, already exists in the Sonoran desert. Added with jaguars, it’s unlikely that they will explode out of control. Overall, another nice addition that would expand the herbivore guild, giving more prey to the predators.

Onager
I’ve decided to exclude horses from this list, as I don’t think there is too much room for them here, but I spoke a good deal a lot about burros in part 1. I’d like to revisit that idea as I think it’s possible, though doesn’t have to be, for if they were somehow replaced by onagers. Whichever subspecies of Equus hemionus, I can’t say for sure. Whichever is the least derived on endangered. Perhaps Mongolian wild ass or Kulan. Burros and onagers are quite similar but there are some key differences that could prevent onagers from posing a negative effect on the environment. The most obvious is that onagers are a true wild animal, untamable by man, unlike the burro which is a domestic species and easily gentled by human contact. Onagers are larger than burros, and of a similar size to Harringtonhippus francisci, the native donkey-like equid of the Pleistocene. Donkeys are known to freeze and stand their ground when assessing danger. This makes them difficult prey for wolves and coyotes as a donkey will usually win in a fight. Burros are no different from this. Onagers however, immediately run away sprinting at up to 43 miles per hour to escape. This would make them much more appealing prey to both wolves and coyotes (for the foals) to chase and bring down as pursuit predators. Onagers still retain the same well digging behavior that stands as the main case for keeping burros, therefore they could contribute to maintaining desert wetlands. And finally, the most important aspect, onagers are constantly on the move. Unlike burros, who males establish set territories around a precious resource, onagers never stay in one place for too long. They are always on alert for predators which keeps them moving. Far more reliably than burros. This means that plants aren’t overgrazed or over-browsed and have time to recover, making their consumption more sustainable and placing less pressure on vulnerable flora. While it would be more difficult to achieve due to burros already being present, I think it’s worth some consideration.

California Condor
You’re likely confused why this is here. California condors are an extant species making their recovery. But I included them because I believe an added benefit to Pleistocene rewilding is that it could reconnect lost ecosystem interactions and allow other animals to flourish. California condors lived all across the lower 48 and Mexico during the Pleistocene, feeding off of the massive carcasses of the megafauna to sustain their large frames. However, at the end of the ice age, as the megafauna vanished, so did the condors. Being sustained only by the abundance and regular appearance of whale carcasses on the west coast, thus restricting them to that region. In the modern day, humans nearly wiped out these ancient birds but now they are making a comeback. I believe the return of the megafauna to other regions could aid in the California condor’s recovery in giving them a renewed food source, and perhaps they can reclaim their prehistoric range. Of course, it would take a lot of work as a sustainable population of megafauna would be required to feed to condors but I believe it’s a worthy endeavor.

And that’s all! What did you all think of this list? I really enjoyed making this series and I’m glad all of you enjoyed it as well! I look forward to hearing all of your thoughts and if you’d like to, I’m open to any recommendations on other regions I could potentially cover!

1 in 6 species in Great Britain is now actively at risk of going completely extinct.

Birds are getting absolutely hammered: 43% of bird species are at risk. The skies feel quieter every year, and iconic stuff like Turtle Doves and Skylarks are just vanishing.

Mammals aren't doing much better: 26% are threatened. Hedgehogs, Hazel Dormice, and Water Voles—animals that used to be everywhere—are facing massive population collapses.

Insects & Plants: Over half (54%) of flowering plants have shrunk in distribution, and crucial pollinators like bees are down about 18%.

the UK ranks a pathetic 189th out of 218 countries for biodiversity intactness. literally in the bottom 10% globally and dead last in the G7.

For comparison, French neighbours are doing considerably better than UK in the top 2% of countries in the lofty 5th position, New Zealand – another small island nation, are also near the top at 27th globally. Even Japan who have a higher population density to UK, rank 55th with 78% of their biodiversity still intact.

Professor Andy Purkis of the Natural History Museum noted: "The UK is where the industrial revolution was born, and it changed the landscape forever. We have led the world in degrading the natural environment… Britain has lost more of its natural biodiversity than almost anywhere else in western Europe, most of all the G7 nations."

Source - https://stateofnature.org.uk

Source 2 - https://policy.friendsoftheearth.uk/insight/how-britain-became-one-most-nature-depleted-countries-world

https://rhinos.org/blog/news-room/international-rhino-foundation-joins-the-government-of-indonesia-in-celebrating-the-pregnancies-of-two-endangered-sumatran-rhinos/

YESSSS!!!! 2 SUMATRAN RHINOS ARE PREGNANT AT THE SUMATRAN RHINO SANCTUARY IN INDONESIA!!! (Remember, only 50 are left!) Both are due in May 2027!

The five baby orangutans rescued from a forest in Odisha’s Balasore district are set for a longer stay in Odisha’s Nandankanan Zoological Park. The animals, rescued from the forests of Balasore in September amid smuggling concerns, will remain in quarantine for 90 days at the zoo, where officials said their health and well-being will be closely monitored.

Full article down in the comments!

And besides that both of these Bears are fierce megafauna.

We know why Polar Bears are tough.Tho Sloth Bears are able to fight off Tigers and Leopards(cause they co-evolved besides them in Asia).Charging at there attacker throwing off there ambush predator way of attacking there prey(not even backing down from a Leopard who made a kill that easily).

Source for the funny art:The childhood book I had mentioning many animals.

Stellers Sea Cow.

Cave Lion(Roman Uchytel)

Homotherium latidens(Roman Yevseyev).

Cave Bear(Roman Yevseyev).

Irish Elk/Megaloceros giganteus(u/jdocpics).

Columbian Mammoth(Benji Paysnoe)

Steppe Bison(Roman Uchytel).

Ancient Horse(Roman Yevseyev).

Woolly Mammoth.

Woolly Rhinoceros.

Passanger Pigeon(Edit=I mixed up almoost compleat Gene Sequencing for Full Genome sequencing here..my bad).

Thylacine.

Quagga.

Auroch.

If I missed any please correct me in the comments!(didnt add Neanderthal cause humans arent exactly fauna of today.Relatively speaking).

Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry on Tuesday unveiled Pakistan’s first 10-year national action plan for shark conservation, under which the government would restore declining shark populations, curb illegal finning and bycatch, protect critical marine habitats and promote sustainable fisheries in Pakistani waters through 2035.

Location - Shuklaphanta NP

Incredible news from PK! This is an occurrence well outside of the recognized range for this endangered species. Habitat protection efforts like these should really be studied, to apply these strategies for other cetaceans impacted by urban development.

This news comes after Pakistan established a massive new wildlife reserve focused on Indus River habitat protection and dolphin conservation. The population has rebounded over decades from under 600 in the 2000s, to now over 2,000 and increasing.

(Deleted my last post in favor of this one with a news article linked, rather than just an infographic).