The Earth Story

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Maarifa is always following (or chasing!) her Keepers around. She’s just a month old, so these running excursions are usually brief and end in a much-needed nap.

Maarifa, a white rhino, will remain in our care until she’s ready to rejoin her counterparts in the wild. To learn about how and why we rescued her, visit:

www.thedswt.org/maarifa

• beautifuldestinationsThe jolliest little elephant that ever lived chasing a bird in Zimbabwe. Between 2007 and 2014, the country saw its elephant population decrease by 30 percent — a considerable loss — partly due to increasing ivory prices. These gorgeous creatures not only have complex consciousnesses capable of intense emotion, they are icons of the landscapes they inhabit and a keystone species, meaning they play a vital role in the maintenance of biodiversity in the ecosystems where they live. For example, when this happy elephant calf feeds on tree sprouts and shrubs on the savannah, it helps to keep the plains open and able to support new growth, boosting the health of the ecosystem. You can help keep elephants around and flourishing by giving your support to conservation organizations like the @africanwildlifefoundationand spreading the word for others to do the same. (🎥: @captainpotter📍: Zimbabwe)