Publications

After decades of studying southern resident orcas, we now know much about their behavior, culture—the learned behaviors unique to this population—and what they need to survive. We also have answers to some of the most pressing questions about the population’s decline, including the impact of toxic chemicals found in the orcas’ food supply.

This bi-annual newsletter is prepared by the co-chairs of the Species Survival Network Shark Working group, Alejandra Goyenechea (Defenders of Wildlife) and Rebecca Regnery (Humane Society International). The newsletter provides a summary of the latest international and regional shark news, and an analysis of the latest actions and regulations regarding sharks.

North American species feeling the effects of climate change

Defenders has been working to conserve jaguars in Mexico and the United States for more than a decade. In Mexico, we played a major role in creating, supporting and guiding the Northern Jaguar Project, which works to sustain the most northern known breeding population of jaguars in the Americas.

This white paper evaluates every section 4(d) rule issued under the Endangered Species Act through May 2016. It also describes Defenders' position on the use of those rules and recommendations for better ways to implement the rules.

Defenders provides you with our co-sponsored newly-published book on Freshwater rays (Potamotrygonidae), where you will find exquisite details of the latest research from Carlos Lasso (Humboldt Institute from Colombia) on these magnificent and forgotten species in the mega-diverse countries of South America. Freshwater rays have been a topic of discussion in CITES since 2004 and, in 2016, Colombia and Brazil listed some species of the Family in Appendix III.

Climate change poses profound challenges to human and natural communities that are already seriously threatened by habitat loss, overexploitation of resources and pollution. Understanding what we know about climate change and its impacts, what we still need to learn and what we can do to address the impacts effectively is essential to protecting species, habitats and future generations