What is an Endangered Species?
continued from main newsletter

The term endangered is used to describe a species whose continued survival in the wild is in immediate jeopardy. Usually “endangered” is an official designation by a governmental or supra-government body. At Fossil Rim, endangered animals are those defined as such by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), otherwise known as, The World Conservation Union.

At Fossil Rim you have the possibility of seeing as many as 15 endangered species. Our exotic endangered animals include:

• Addax
• Arabian Oryx
• Black Rhinoceros
• Cheetah
• Grevy’s Zebra
• Japanese Red-Crowned Crane
• Maned Wolf
• Przewalkski’s Horse
• Scimitar-Horned Oryx

We also have some native animals that fall into this category:

• Attwater’s Prairie Chicken
• Mexican Grey Wolf
• Red Wolf
• Ocelot **
• White-Nosed Coati **

** These species are not current participants in AZA Species Survival Programs (SSP) programs, but are listed as endangered.
Not included in our official list of endangered animals here at Fossil Rim are the Golden-cheeked warbler and the Black-capped vireo. These are two endangered songbirds that make Fossil Rim their home from March to June.