Amazing Animals: Exploring Wildlife on the Edge of Extinction

Imagine a world without elephants, tigers, or even tiny frogs that glow in the dark. We are losing species faster than ever—some disappear before we even discover them. In this class, students will explore the rarest and most endangered animals on the planet, from the wild camels of Mongolia to the elusive Andean cat. Let’s celebrate biodiversity and learn what can be done to protect it!

Many of us will never trek through the Amazon to spot a Spix’s Macaw or dive into coral reefs to see endangered sea creatures, but this class brings these rare animals closer to us.

Each class will introduce an at-risk animal species from all over the world. We look at all animal groups from corals to mammals. Students will learn about their life history, interesting facts, threats, and any conservation management plans for the species listed as Vulnerable, Endangered, Critically Endangered, and Extinct in the Wild. Occasionally we also look at the success stories of animals that have been previously on the endangered list but have since been de-listed. 

This class is ongoing and students are welcome to join at any time. 

Class Schedule
Mar 23 - Mar 29	Orange-bellied parrot
Mar 30 - Apr 5	American Bison
Apr 6 - Apr 12	Mississippi sandhill crane
Apr 13 - Apr 19	Jamaican rock iguana
Apr 20 - Apr 26	Flat-headed cat
Apr 27 - May 3	Mokohinau stag beetle
May 4 - May 10	Asian Elephant
May 11 - May 17	Nashville crayfish
May 18 - May 24	Tonkin Snub-Nosed Monkey
May 25 - May 31	Java sparrow
Jun 1 - Jun 7   	Siamese crocodile
Jun 8 - Jun 14	Pygmy Hippopotamus
Jun 15 - Jun 21	Bog Turtle
Jun 22 - Jun 28	Freswater pearl mussel
Jun 29 - Jul 5 	Aye-Aye

More animals will be listed as we go. Students are encouraged to suggest an animal they'd like to see in class!