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Biodiversity

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Biodiversity refers to the variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem. It is necessary for life to thrive on Earth.

Aldo Leopold, one of the great thinkers of conservation, observed more than half a century ago the importance of protecting species. "To keep every cog and wheel is the first precaution of intelligent tinkering," he wrote. Losing species is like throwing away one by one the engine parts of an airplane while flying.

Biodiversity is a major initiative of Conservation International.

Biodiversity conservation provides substantial benefits to meet immediate human needs, such as those for clean, consistent water flows; protection from floods and storms; and a stable climate. 

Curated by mokiethecat

A Cameo by ‘Cinco’ the Jaguar

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May 13, 2026
A remote Center camera in the Sky Islands of southern Arizona captured new video, released this week, of a rare jaguar moving through the area in March and April — along with a bear, a mountain lion, and other wild creatures. The jaguar, a male nicknamed Cinco, was first caught on camera in 2025. “Seeing this incredible jaguar is a powerful reminder that these great cats belong here,” said Russ McSpadden, our Southwest conservation advocate. “Tragically their northern range is being ripped apart by Trump’s border-wall construction, along with mining, groundwater depletion and climate-driven drought. A landscape this wild is too precious to sacrifice.” Jaguars are the world’s third-largest cats, after tigers and lions, and once lived as far west as the mountains of Southern California and as far east as Louisiana. ********************* About the Center: The Center for Biological Diversity is a 501c3 nonprofit headquartered in Tucson, Arizona. At the Center, we believe that the welfare of human beings is deeply linked to nature — to the existence in our world of a vast diversity of wild animals and plants. Because diversity has intrinsic value, and because its loss impoverishes society, we work to secure a future for all species, great and small, hovering on the brink of extinction. We do so through science, law and creative media, with a focus on protecting the lands, waters and climate that species need to survive. We want those who come after us to inherit a world where the wild is still alive. Where to find us: WEBSITE: https://www.biologicaldiversity.org TWITTER: https://twitter.com/CenterForBioDiv FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/CenterforBioDiv INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/centerforbiodiv TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@centerforbiodiv TAKE ACTION: https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/action/alerts For questions or media inquiries, email us at center@biologicaldiversity.org.

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