Destination: Wildlife

04/22/2026

On this 𝙀𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙝 𝘿𝙖𝙮 let's remember that when we protect the planet, we protect ourselves. As a small boy in the Colombian mountains once told me, "Biodiversity is our gold!" Indeed, it is - it is also our health and our lives.

Image taken by Amy Groveman on safari in Africa to study Wild Painted Dogs with Destination: Wildlife. The trip raised funds for African Painted Dogs in South Africa and Grey Wolf conservation in the US. All life is connected.

04/15/2026

𝙃𝙪𝙢𝙥𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙛
Over 12,000 𝙃𝙪𝙢𝙥𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙚𝙨, representing about half of the total North Pacific population, migrate over 3,000 miles from their sub-arctic feeding grounds to Hawaii’s warm waters, now protected as the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale Sanctuary, to breed, calve, and nurse.

Read about their importance in Hawaiian culture https://zurl.co/HdSif

We are going to Hawaii! Join us in Hawaii to learn about Green Sea Turtles, Manta Rays, and other marine life. DM us or checkout the Destination: WIldlife Website



Image: ©Wirestock

04/13/2026

A pair of 𝙈𝙖𝙨𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙗𝙞𝙚𝙨 enjoy the view from the backs of two 𝙂𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙎𝙚𝙖 𝙏𝙪𝙧𝙩𝙡𝙚𝙨 on 𝙋𝙖𝙥𝙖𝙝ā𝙣𝙖𝙪𝙢𝙤𝙠𝙪ā𝙠𝙚𝙖 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙉𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙈𝙤𝙣𝙪𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩.

PMNM is a protected area encompassing 10 islands and atolls in Northwestern Hawai’i. Currently, no visitators are allowed due to the administration’s funding and staff cuts; however, we hope tourism will resume in the future.
The Monument is the world’s largest seabird rookery (14 million birds / 22 species!) and protects over 7,000 marine species, 1,700 of which are endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, including the Monk Seal and this unique population of Green Sea Turtles.

Read “𝙃𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙞’𝙞’𝙨 𝙁𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙈𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝘾𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙎𝙞𝙜𝙣𝙞𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙎𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙎𝙚𝙚 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙢” in the Destination: Wildlife journal



Image: Mark Sullivan for NOAA

04/10/2026

𝙂𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙎𝙚𝙖 𝙏𝙪𝙧𝙩𝙡𝙚 and 𝙈𝙤𝙣𝙠 𝙎𝙚𝙖𝙡 are two of Hawaii’s most iconic marine species - and both feature in Hawaii's unique culture. Do you have an Aumankua?

According to NOAA, Hawaii’s famous Green Sea Turtle population is a unique subset of the main population. Their characteristic fondness for sunbathing on the beach – very un-sea-turtle-like behavior is found in only two other populations worldwide (the Galapagos Islands and the Wellesley Islands, Australia). And Hawai’i’s Green Sea Turtles (honu) do not migrate – maybe because they have Monk Seal (ilio-holo-i-ka-uaua - endemic and Endangered) friends!


The image is a Green Sea Turtle (honu) and an endangered Monk Seal (ilio-holo-i-ka-uaua)

https://zurl.co/uRejc

These five charismatic marine species hold cultural significance as guides and spiritual protectors for Hawaii’s ancient native people. Traditionally thought of as a bridge between the spiritual and physical worlds, today the people’s deep connections to the natural world have given rise to some...

03/25/2026

𝘽𝙞𝙜 𝙃𝙤𝙧𝙣 𝙎𝙝𝙚𝙚𝙥 in Yellowstone are mostly found between the North Entrance near Gardiner, where we were staying on our wolf watching expedition, and Mammoth Springs. Lucky for us, that is exactly the section of the Park that stays open in the winter! We got to watch them along the road – and also high on the cliffs among the rocks – truly amazing!

All big horn sheep have horns, but only the males have the wonderful curling horns like this young guy. When he gets older, and his horns are bigger and thicker, he’ll use them as battering rams on other males in his quest to impress the ladies and show dominance. His brain is protected with two layers of bone. Good luck, young fellow!

Read about our 𝙒𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙒𝙤𝙡𝙛 𝙒𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙀𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙞𝙣 𝙔𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙣𝙚 in the https://zurl.co/WhIXA Journal. We were in Yellowstone to raise funds for the Wolf Conservation Center

Thank to Kristen Cooney, our Expedition Leader for her wonderful photography!

03/24/2026

The 𝙍𝙤𝙘𝙠𝙮 𝙈𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙭 is a subspecies of red fox adapted to high elevations – and one of the three canines (wolf, coyote, and fox) in Yellowstone National Park. In Yellowstone, when you see a wolf, coyote, and fox on the same day, it is called a “Three Dog Day.” This little guy gave us our second TDD for the week!

We found this beauty hunting for its lunch while on our way to Cook City for the same reason. We watched as it listened for sound under the snow – then pounced! The fox seemed very happy with its fresh vole. We ordered sandwiches.



Read about our 𝙒𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙒𝙤𝙡𝙛 𝙒𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙀𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙞𝙣 𝙔𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙣𝙚 to raise fund for the Wolf Conservation Center in the Destination: Wildlife Journal. https://zurl.co/TdAVr

Thank to Kristen Cooney, our Expedition Leader for her wonderful photography! And to for trusting us to raise

03/20/2026

𝙔𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙂𝙧𝙚𝙮 𝙒𝙤𝙡𝙛. It has been 30 years since the first wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park Their population, naturally regulated by food supply, has never exceeded 175 wolves – but the joy they bring visitors is boundless. We just completed our annual winter wolf watching and learning.

You can read about our expedition in our Journal. As always, Yellowstone in winter was magic – and we raised money for the Wolf Conservation Center for their research and work with wolves!

Read about our 𝑾𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑾𝒐𝒍𝒇 𝑾𝒂𝒕𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑳𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏 𝒀𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝑬𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 in the Destination: Wildlife Journal. https://zurl.co/bJP9m

03/15/2026

𝙂𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙎𝙚𝙖 𝙏𝙪𝙧𝙩𝙡𝙚𝙨, already Endangered, are in more trouble. A study in Australia showed that new hatchlings are almost 99% female. Why? The planet is warming. The temperature of the sand during the incubation period determines the s*x of the hatchling. On many nesting beaches, no males are being born. Further research revealed that this effect has been happening for the past two decades. An all-female population is a sure road to extinction for the Green Sea Turtle. Can we save Green Sea Turtles – and ourselves?

Read more on Destination: Wildlife blog, “11 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙒𝙝𝙮 𝙎𝙚𝙖 𝙏𝙪𝙧𝙩𝙡𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙎𝙪𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙤𝙚𝙨”

Special Thanks to The Olive Ridley Project Olive Ridley Project for allowing us the use of their beautiful images and for the vital work they are doing for Sea Turtle conservation.

03/11/2026

𝘽𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙠-𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙈𝙖𝙜𝙥𝙞𝙚 looks over its shoulder at us. When we think of Yellowstone National Park, bison, wolves, elk, and geysers usually come to mind, but there are also over 300 documented bird species in the Park. The beautiful Black-billed Magpie is one you cannot miss; they want to be seen - and heard! Magpies are flashy and loud!

The Black-billed Magpie will eat almost anything: wild fruit and grains, grasshoppers, beetles, and ticks that they pick off large mammals, like moose. Magpies are carrion eaters - and they will steal. Guard your picnic. Those friendly Magpies sitting in the tree above you are just waiting for the right moment to grab your lunch!

Kristen Cooney captured this image while leading our annual 𝙒𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙒𝙤𝙡𝙛 𝙒𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝙔𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙣𝙚 tour to Benefit the Wolf Conservation Center

03/04/2026

Another sighting from our annual fundraising tour for the Wolf Conservation Center ! A sunrise ride through Yellowstone brought us to a herd of Bison that did not seem bothered at all by the heavy ( and beautiful) snowfall. We were thrilled!

Thanks to our Leader, Kristen Cooney, for this great capture! Kristen is a naturalist and wildlife photographer, and a tour leader for Destination: Wildlife

03/02/2026

We are in Yellowstone National Park on our annual fundraising trip for Wolf Conservation Center . Yellowstone in winter is always thrilling, but when you are lucky enough to make a sighting like this, it is magic. This lone coyote grabbed a huge hunk of a buffalo carcass and made his determined way to a safe spot for his meal.

The coyote stayed close to the road for a fast getaway - why? Our vehicle and another one were on the road. Other predators would be hesitant to get close to us. This guy understood that and used the "competition's" normal behavior to his benefit. he was nervous too, but the meat was worth his risk.

The wolves had already sated themselves on the carcass, but ravens gather, harass, and will steal his dinner.

Look at that beautiful little face! He found a spot in the sage, hid, and enjoyed his meal.