Since the ratification of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 1973, many animals across the U.S. that were once headed toward extinction have been given a second chance at survival. Today, the National Geographic Photo Ark uses the power of photography to inspire people to help protect at-risk species before it’s too late. National Geographic Explorer, photographer and founder of the Photo Ark Joel Sartore has taken portraits of 15,000 species, highlighting the importance of storytelling in conservation and empowering students to spread the word about species extinction.
As an educator, you also have the unique ability to motivate the next generation of conservationists to continue this incredible advancement as we secure an even brighter future of wildlife conservation.
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the ESA, dive into the Photo Ark! Below, you’ll discover five success stories from endangered species that are making a comeback, combined with connected classroom resources to integrate into your lesson planning.
1. Bald Eagle
One of the most well-known conservation success stories of the ESA is the national bird of the United States, the bald eagle. Over the past 50 years, the bald eagle population has rapidly increased, and their species success story highlights the power of combining resources and increasing empathy for wildlife around the world.
Play and learn by testing your student’s knowledge about birds with this Kahoot! Then, throughout the month of December, explore the National Geographic “Daily Stories of Impact” tool. This daily resource will spotlight 28 species that have been positively impacted by the ESA, National Geographic Explorers who are working to protect critical species, and ways you can help make a difference for wildlife. Use each day to prompt a conversation with your class around conservation and action you can take in your community!
2. American Alligator
American alligators are living fossils that have roamed our planet for over 200 million years, but overhunting and habitat destruction greatly weakened their population. They were listed as an endangered species (under a predecessor law to the ESA) in 1967, but a mere 20 years later the American alligator was delisted as land protection and breeding programs helped revive alligator congregations. The continued growth of the American alligator population remains a shining success story of how land protections granted by the ESA serve as a catalyst for rapid species recovery.
Today, the American alligator habitat is found throughout the southeastern U.S., primarily in Florida and Louisiana. Help your learners map out different animal habitats and microhabitats with this collection of resources on the Education Hub. Then, learn more about habitats where these alligators are often found like bayous, swamps and marshes.
3. Grizzly Bear
Grizzly bear populations once dropped so low they occupied an alarming two percent of their former range in the contiguous 48 U.S. states. By 1975, grizzly bear populations in the contiguous 48 states stood at just 700 to 800. Now, with ESA protection and the support of conservation organizations, there are over 1,900 grizzly bears in the contiguous 48 states. This support has helped protect their status as a keystone species.
Help young learners improve language skills while discovering how grizzly bear cubs grow and learn with this interactive activity from National Geographic.
4. Whooping Crane
Whooping cranes are the tallest bird in North America! While they used to roam free across prairies and wetlands, habitat loss from human settlement expansion greatly reduced their numbers to a point where there were just 15 of these birds left in North America in 1938. ESA protection and collaborative recovery efforts among various partners helped save this species from the brink of extinction. Today, their wild population is over 500.
Where are whooping cranes found? Check out a few fun facts on the species from National Geographic Kids to learn more, then create map visualizations to learn more about habitats where these large birds roam in the wild.
5. Green Sea Turtle
Green sea turtles, which are the largest of the hard-shelled sea turtles, typically weigh up to 400 pounds, with some of the largest on record weighing over 800 pounds! The Florida population of this massive reptile declined throughout much of the 20th century, and in the 1980s there were only several thousand total green sea turtle nests in the state. ESA and state protections helped allow green sea turtles to make a remarkable recovery: there were over 230,000 total green sea turtle nests in Florida in the entire 2010s decade! Furthermore, 2023 was a record year for green sea turtle nesting in Florida, as over 74,000 nests were counted — beating the previous 2017 record by 40%.
Learn about other sea turtle rehabilitation programs in this interactive idea set. For more examples of how scientists help sea turtles in the Gulf, watch this video on sea turtle egg relocation and ask your learners to discuss human responsibility and the ethics of rescuing and relocating wildlife.
“I believe that people want to help protect this world, and the species in it, but they first have to see these animals and learn what the issues are. I know that together we can protect the species and ecosystems that are critical to our survival before it’s too late. There is no better time to act than now.”
Joel Sartore
Wildlife, humans and the environment are all intertwined on this Earth. The consideration that we show others, wildlife, and the world we inhabit directly affects how the next 50 years and more will look. Get your students involved by creating a Campaign to Save Endangered Species, or join the Slingshot Challenge and broadcast your students’ ideas to the world! The decisions we make, as well as those of the next generation, can help bring about more success stories for wildlife, their habitat and the world in which we all live.
By taking the time to increase our empathy for a species, we create a more connected and optimistic future. Explore resources on the Education Hub to help your learners understand more about endangered species.