Mysterious and Magnificent: A Closer Look at Clouded Leopards

Photo Credit: The Houston Zoo Clouded leopards are some of the most elusive and awe-inspiring big cats in the animal kingdom. Named for their striking cloud-like spots, these cats aren’t true leopards but a distinct species with traits all their own. Smaller than many other wild cats, they typically weigh between 25 and 50 pounds, yet they have the longest…

Stripes of Survival: Celebrating Tigers

Photo Credit: The Houston Zoo Tigers are among the most captivating creatures on Earth—fierce, majestic, and shrouded in mystery. International Tiger Day, observed every July 29, is a time to honor these iconic big cats and renew efforts to protect them from extinction. With only around 5,570 wild tigers left in the world, their survival depends on global conservation efforts…

Living on the Edge with Mangroves

Living on the Edge with Mangroves by Susie Hairston When I saw that International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem was coming up on July 26th my mind immediately went to the Sundarbans, located in India and Bangladesh where the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna rivers meet and form a delta in the Bay of Bengal. The Sundarbans is…