Endangered Species | smithsonianmag.comhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/rss/tag/endangered-species/RSS feed for Endangered SpeciesenThu, 17 Sep 2026 14:00:00 +0000New Zealand Welcomes a Record 90 Kakapo Chicks, Helping the World's Chunkiest Parrot Species Rebound From the Brink of Extinctionhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/new-zealand-welcomes-a-record-90-kakapo-chicks-helping-the-worlds-chunkiest-parrot-species-rebound-from-the-brink-of-extinction-180989511/Annual chick counts aren't confirmed until the youngest hatchling reaches 150 days old, a benchmark for independence. The population now stands at 325 birds, up from the 51 individuals that remained in 1995Thu, 17 Sep 2026 14:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/new-zealand-welcomes-a-record-90-kakapo-chicks-helping-the-worlds-chunkiest-parrot-species-rebound-from-the-brink-of-extinction-180989511/Australia’s Second-Smallest Rock-Wallaby Reappears in a Region Where It Had Not Been Seen for 50 Yearshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/australias-second-smallest-rock-wallaby-reappears-in-a-region-where-it-had-not-been-seen-for-50-years-180989469/The endangered nabarlek is not easy to find and difficult to distinguish from similar species. But a research team made new detections of the animals that offer “good news for their long-term survival”Thu, 10 Sep 2026 18:00:37 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/australias-second-smallest-rock-wallaby-reappears-in-a-region-where-it-had-not-been-seen-for-50-years-180989469/These Adorable, Critically Endangered Pygmy Raccoons in Cozumel Are Teaching One Another to Turn Trash Into Toy Ballshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/these-adorable-critically-endangered-pygmy-raccoons-in-cozumel-are-teaching-one-another-to-turn-trash-into-toy-balls-180989459/The observations offer rare evidence of a skill being passed among raccoons. But the work also highlights the effects of human pollution at the popular tourist destinationTue, 08 Sep 2026 18:49:50 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/these-adorable-critically-endangered-pygmy-raccoons-in-cozumel-are-teaching-one-another-to-turn-trash-into-toy-balls-180989459/Spain’s White-Headed Ducks Have a Signature Color Right in the Name. And That Isn’t Even Their Most Remarkable Huehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/spain-white-headed-ducks-signature-color-right-name-that-isnt-even-most-remarkable-hue-180989289/The first thing you’re likely to notice is the blue bill. But beyond appearances, the duck has an exciting story to tell about conservation and recoveryWed, 02 Sep 2026 13:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/spain-white-headed-ducks-signature-color-right-name-that-isnt-even-most-remarkable-hue-180989289/Marine Biologists Solved a Wildlife Mystery From the Walkway of the Golden Gate Bridge: How the Harbor Porpoise Mateshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/marine-biologists-solved-a-wildlife-mystery-from-the-walkway-of-the-golden-gate-bridge-how-the-harbor-porpoise-mates-180989163/The dolphin-like marine mammals returned to San Francisco Bay in 2008 after a decades-long absence from the area. Scientists took the rare opportunity to closely observe their behavior, and what they uncovered might help at-risk porpoise populationsFri, 14 Aug 2026 13:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/marine-biologists-solved-a-wildlife-mystery-from-the-walkway-of-the-golden-gate-bridge-how-the-harbor-porpoise-mates-180989163/