All posts by Sarah Bell

Current PhD candidate studying the effects of the 2014-2016 Ebola epidemic in Sierra Leone, including investigating any cultural changes that may have happened due to the epidemic and how these changes effect wildlife and the environment. Sometimes I am in the U.K. and sometimes I am in Sierra Leone.

The Weird & Wild Echidna

Now this spiny, little, egg-laying marsupial could probably have done with it’s own OAP, but it’s got some crazy features that I just couldn’t pass up now that Hump Day is being celebrated again on Endangered Living. You know, that little lull in the middle of the week when you could just do with some interesting animal sex facts to get you through! Wait… is that just me? (NSFW, depending on the job, picture of an echidna penis at the bottom of this post) Continue reading The Weird & Wild Echidna

OAP: Ringtail

The ringtail, sometimes called the ring-tailed cat, is an interesting and unique part of the landscape in the western United States. I know that many of the Odd Animal Profile’s you’ll find here on Endangered Living tend to be animals from far off places, but it’s good to remember we have incredible wildlife here in our own backyard.

Continue reading OAP: Ringtail

The Cultural Shift

Balinese culture has always had to fight for it’s survival in an increasingly Westernized world. In fact, Balinese culture was born out of the political turmoil that plagued the Indonesian island of Java that lasted from the 1200’s to the late 1400’s. In 1478 there was the last major exodus to Bali when the carvers, painters and artists fled to the small island in hopes of finding a creative sanctuary. Continue reading The Cultural Shift

Wild Learning through virtual field trips

Have you always wanted to travel to remote jungles but didn’t know how? Maybe your kids are fascinated by exotic wildlife and want to see amazing creatures in their natural habitat? There is an easy way to explore far away places without ever leaving your home, and it has come to Endangered Living. With Wild Learning you and your kids can experience the wonders of Southeast Asia by donating to my research to receive access to this series of virtual field trips. No minimum donation! Continue reading Wild Learning through virtual field trips

Did St. Patrick rid Ireland of serpents?

So Saint Patrick was not always a red-bearded man in a bright green top hat who drank loads and loads of green beer in March, despite what much of the world(or maybe it’s just America?) may think. The real Saint Patrick was a Christian missionary sent to Ireland in the 5th century A.D. and as rumor has it, he drove all of the snakes off of the island of Ireland. But is Saint Patrick the real reason there are no snakes on the Emerald Isle? Continue reading Did St. Patrick rid Ireland of serpents?

World Wildlife Day 2015: How Great Apes Change the World

Today, March 3rd, is World Wildlife Day. Every year there is a theme that brings attention to something that is threatening species all over the world. This year’s theme is #seriousaboutwildlifecrime. Wildlife crime includes things like the illegal poaching of animals or animal parts on the black market. This be anything from an elephant tusk sold for jewelry to an infant chimpanzee sold as a pet. Continue reading World Wildlife Day 2015: How Great Apes Change the World

The European Stork: From Marrakech to Urban Legend

These magnificent 3 foot tall birds may not be a species you have heard of, but then again, you may be wrong. If you have ever heard the panicked parent’s reply to the question “Where do babies come from?” you’ve probably at least heard reference to this iconic bird. When someone says “Storks bring babies” they are referring to the European stork. Continue reading The European Stork: From Marrakech to Urban Legend

Volunteer Tourism and the Orangutan

I find myself needing to apologize in nearly every post. All I can say is in the next few months I will be beginning my field work in Malaysia and Indonesia and I hope to post almost daily from there, as I will have regular access to wifi. But before I head over I thought I should share with you what my project will be about and why I believe it is important. I hope you will read this because I will be relying on people like you to help and donate anything to my research to help fund it. I will have a crowd funding site up and running as soon as everything is finalized.

Semi-Orangutans on a feeding platform in Malaysia by Clarkece (Colleen) on Flickr
Semi-Orangutans on a feeding platform in Malaysia by Clarkece (Colleen) on Flickr

Continue reading Volunteer Tourism and the Orangutan