The Wild Life

UC Berkeley Marine Science graduate passionate about conservation and the welfare of all animals.

[oceanblogger]

The snaring crisis in Southeast Asia

Illegal snaring is a rampant threat to wildlife and people in the forests of Southeast Asia. Snares are used to capture animals for the illegal wildlife trade. WWF-supported ranger patrols are working to address this crisis by removing snares.

[danidraws]

Black kids matter ❤️

[oceanblogger]

Petition against whaling in Iceland

I promise not to eat whale meat and I ask Iceland to stop whaling.

“IFAW has been working for more than two decades to end the killing of whales in Icelandic waters. It’s been a complex campaign. Commercial whaling ended in Iceland in 1990, but then resumed again in 2003.  Since then, more than 1,500 minke and fin whales have been needlessly slaughtered.

Much of the demand for whale meat has come from international tourists, falsely led to believe it is a typical Icelandic dish. 

Through our “Meet Us Don’t Eat Us” campaign, IFAW collaborates with concerned Icelandic whale watching companies, scientists, government officials, celebrities, restaurant owners, and others to discourage tourist demand for whale meat.” - IFAW

I just signed the petition and I encourage you to too!

[sharktopia-deactivated20251216]

(Please take a moment to read the full caption, it’s appreciated ❤️)

I created this little cartoon-esque sketch back in 2015. Over the past four years, this illustration has been seen and shared by millions of people across the world. That’s amazing since this piece has one real purpose; to create an emotional response and open the dialogue about shark finning (which needs to end). Unfortunately, millions of people don’t know “Sharktopia” due to the art being shared without artist credit and from too many sources to get back to the original. My unique artist signature has always been on it (my name; Caiti)...but I wasn’t in the habit of writing “Sharktopia” on my art until recently. Honestly, I always thought my signature would be enough. Understandably, my name as my signature (which I’ve used for 20+ years!) wasn’t leading anyone back to my little world of Sharktopia, where I have even more awareness artwork, numerous pieces about shark finning, and 50+ free non-profit conservation coloring pages, etc etc. Thus, I’ve added my dear “Sharktopia” to this sketch.

🔥Now, I’m asking you to consider spreading this drawing far and wide with artist credit. Spread the word that shark finning needs to end. We NEED sharks alive and thriving if we want to ensure our own future as well. 70% of our oxygen comes from healthy Oceans...which can only remain healthy with the help of sharks; a vital and irreplaceable keystone species. Despite how much we need them alive, more than 100 MILLION sharks are slaughtered every single year. Our Oceans will fall when extinction comes...and my dear friends and followers...we are witnessing ‘the end’ grow nearer every single day. It’s not a time to tone down the dramatic vibe. It’s time to yell louder, call for action, and do what we can. Every moment counts. [www.sharktopia.org]

[oceanblogger]

Fires are raging in the Amazon forest. Here's how you can help slow all rainforest loss

The Amazon, the largest rainforest in the world, roughly half the size of the United States, is key to the health of the entire planet. Here's why its destruction matters, and how you can help the nonprofits fighting to save it and forests worldwide.

[oceanblogger]

Tell NOAA to Protect the Right Whale

Entanglement in fishing gear and ship strikes have pushed the North Atlantic right whale to the brink of extinction. Make your voice heard d

[oceanblogger]

Orcas eat great white sharks — new insights into rare behavior revealed — National Geographic

Though the great white is considered the top marine predator, orcas may actually rule the oceans, new observations suggest.

[oceanblogger]

Ensuring sustainable palm oil

Palm oil is the most widely consumed vegetable oil on the planet. The clearing of forests for the production of palm oil may destroy critical habitat for many animals.

Click here to see which everyday products contain palm oil!

Read more here about the benefits of and the threats facing forests. 

“Many products that use palm oil aren't clearly labeled. Palm oil and its derivatives can appear under many names, including:

Vegetable Oil, Vegetable Fat, Palm Kernel, Palm Kernel Oil, Palm Fruit Oil, Palmate, Palmitate, Palmolein, Glyceryl, Stearate, Stearic Acid, Elaeis Guineensis, Palmitic Acid, Palm Stearine, Palmitoyl Oxostearamide, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-3, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Kernelate, Sodium Palm Kernelate, Sodium Lauryl Lactylate/Sulphate, Hyrated Palm Glycerides, Etyl Palmitate, Octyl Palmitate, Palmityl Alcohol”

Look for the RSPO label on products to ensure that they were made using sustainable palm oil.

[oceanblogger]

11 ocean-friendly companies like Patagonia and Adidas that are removing plastic from our seas and transforming it into cool new products

This day in age, it's almost hard to justify buying much of anything not made with recycled plastic. Here's a list of our favorite brands doing their part.

[oceanblogger]

The Mushroom Coral (Fungia scutaria) or ko’a-kohe in Hawaiian, is a stony coral that has sharp septa that gives it the mushroom-like shape. As with many other corals, the mushroom coral has photosynthetic zooxanthellae living inside it’s cells that allows it to grow it’s limestone skeleton which in turn helps create the reef environment. 

Help keep the symbiotic relationship between zooxanthellae and the mushroom coral intact (help prevent coral bleaching) by using reef-safe sunscreen that does not contain oxybenzone or octinoxate. 

[oceanblogger]

Reminder: Turn off all of your artificial lights for an hour (8:30-9:30 pm your local time) on Saturday, March 30th to recommit to the fight against climate change.

[oceanblogger]

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY 2019 Campaign theme is #BalanceforBetter

A balanced world is a better world. How can you help forge a more gender-balanced world?

Celebrate women's achievement. Raise awareness against bias. Take action for equality.

[oceanblogger]

MAJOR BEAUTY NEWS: Covergirl is Now Cruelty-Free

They're the biggest beauty brand to get certified cruelty-free.

“Covergirl is now the largest makeup brand to carry a cruelty-free certification, but their parent company Coty has committed to making all their brands free from animal testing by 2020.”

“The brand took to Instagram to assure customers that all Covergirl products that are currently sold on shelves are cruelty-free, and the brand does not sell in China, where animal testing is sometimes required by law.”

Leaping Bunny has certified many other brands and you can find them listed on their website.  

[oceanblogger]

Lifespan of various pieces of marine debris

The data produced by a recent beach cleanup in Maui, HI by a marine conservation non-profit group showed that 87.56% of the debris collected was single-use products. 

You can help decrease the amount of marine debris in our oceans by reducing your use of single-use products and plastics. 

Support this non-profit’s conservation work and others by purchasing a bamboo straw or a reusable water bottle.  

[oceanblogger]

Starting off the new year right with a reminder that we can all do our part in the fight against climate change. On March 30th, please participate in Earth Hour and turn off all artificial lights from 8:30-9:30 PM your local time. #Connect2Earth

[oceanblogger]

The Pacific Angel Shark (Squatina californica) has a flattened body and large pectoral fins which causes it to resemble it’s close relatives; skates and rays. Unlike other sharks, the angel shark’s mouth is at the front of it’s head rather than at the bottom and it’s pectoral fins are not completely attached to it’s body. Its gray, brown and black coloring allows it to be camouflaged by the sand and instead of having to swim to get water to flow over it’s gills, the angel shark has muscles that pump water over it’s gills through holes in it’s head called spiracles. This allows it to rest on the ocean floor and ambush prey. It is listed as Near Threatened under the IUCN Red List and has a decreasing population trend with fishing, habitat loss and pollution being some of it’s main threats. 

Get involved, Adopt a shark

(image source)

[oceanblogger]

This Civil Rights Activist Is the Reason I've Been Vegan for 30 Years

Dick Gregory, who passed away in August, spent his career advocating for the state—and the plate—of Black America

In his memoir, Callus on My Soul, Gregory wrote:

I had been a participant in all of the "major" and most of the "minor" civil rights demonstrations of the early sixties. Under the leadership of Dr. King, I became convinced that nonviolence meant opposition to killing in any form. I felt the commandment "Thou Shalt Not Kill" applied to human beings not only in their dealings with each other—war, lynching, assassination, murder, and the like—but in their practice of killing animals for food and sport. Animals and humans suffer and die alike. Violence causes the same pain, the same spilling of blood, the same stench of death, the same arrogant, cruel, and brutal taking of life.