It starts with a single animal - Joel Sartore's inspiration

D.J. is an 11-month-old Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii) and Dirgahayu “Ayu” is an 11-month-old Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus). Unfortunately, both species are critically endangered, in large part due to the palm oil crisis. Both of these juvenile primates are cared for by the Taman Safari in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia.

I am not imagining things! These two adorable orangutans were not sighted in Wildewood Springs. 

Today I'm writing about the big picture inspiration to create this website.

Wildewood Wonders is inspired by National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore's project The Photo Ark: I take and share photographs of birds (and other wildlife) in our neighborhood with hope that all of us living here will notice them and care for the incredible habitat we share. 

So I wrote to Sartore and told him about you and us and our sweet neighborhood. His response is motivating:

He also shared other ways we can help. (Here is a link to read more about these three things.) I smiled reading this list knowing that we have a good start on implementing his suggestions.

1. Support your local zoo, aquarium or wildlife rehab center (our local center is Wildlife, Inc.).

2. Plant a pollinator garden (there are 5 butterfly gardens in WS2A)

3. Reduce, reuse and recycle (thanks especially to the HOA and Deb Coomer for the informative sign installed in the garbage area).

Find Joel Sartore on Facebook.