Karen Conger, Artist
My endangered wildlife paintings provide updated information about the protective support currently underway by major wildlife conservation partners. Scroll down to see paintings and detailed information. Home Paintings About Contact Endangered Wildlife Gallery Information/Details: Paintings 1 Paintings 2
Snow Leopard - Silent Guardian (Soft Pastel)
The snow leopard is unable to roar but puffing, hissing, growling, screaming, yowling, moaning, and even purring are enough for this elusive and mysterious cat.
The strikingly beautiful but endangered snow leopard remains one of the world’s most mysterious cats. Rarely sighted, it inhabits the high mountains of Central Asia over an expansive twelve-country range.
CITES is the United Nations Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. CITES bans or strictly limits trade of animals or their body parts. Since 1975, the snow leopard has been listed by CITES in Appendix I, which includes species that are threatened with extinction. This means it is illegal to internationally trade in snow leopards or their body parts.
IUCN classifies the snow leopard as vulnerable.
Reference photo for this artwork is licensed royalty-free from Shutterstock.
Information about the snow leopard can be found on the official websites of Wildlife Conservation Network (WCN), Snow Leopard Conservancy, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Copyright © 2023 Karen Conger All Rights Reserved.
Amur Leopard – Elusive Power (Digital Pen)
Stealthy, nimble, solitary. Strong and fearsome. Speeds up to 37 mph, Leaps 19’ horizontally and 10’ vertically. Hunting at night and never giving up the fight.
Pound for pound, the leopard is the strongest climber of all the big cats. Their shoulder blades even have special attachment sites for stronger climbing muscles.
They spend much of their time in trees even when stalking prey and for eating. Both lions and hyenas will take away a leopard’s food if they can. To prevent this, they will often store their kill high up in tree branches where it can feed in relative safety. They are cunning, opportunistic hunters. AWF and the IUCN “Red List of Threatened Species” list the leopard species as vulnerable with a decreasing population of fewer than 100 individuals. The primary threat to the leopard is human activity.
Reference photo for this artwork is licensed royalty-free from Shutterstock.
Information about the Amur leopard can be found on many official websites including World Wildlife Fund (WWF), African Wildlife Foundation (AWF), and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Copyright © 2023 Karen Conger All Rights Reserved.
Pound for pound, the leopard is the strongest climber of all the big cats. Their shoulder blades even have special attachment sites for stronger climbing muscles.
They spend much of their time in trees even when stalking prey and for eating. Both lions and hyenas will take away a leopard’s food if they can. To prevent this, they will often store their kill high up in tree branches where it can feed in relative safety. They are cunning, opportunistic hunters. AWF and the IUCN “Red List of Threatened Species” list the leopard species as vulnerable with a decreasing population of fewer than 100 individuals. The primary threat to the leopard is human activity.
Reference photo for this artwork is licensed royalty-free from Shutterstock.
Information about the Amur leopard can be found on many official websites including World Wildlife Fund (WWF), African Wildlife Foundation (AWF), and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Copyright © 2023 Karen Conger All Rights Reserved.
Amur Siberian Tiger – Territorial - I’m Watching You (Digital Pen)
They roar, rumble, and purr.
The Amur (Siberian) tiger is the biggest tiger of the tiger species and is the only subspecies of tiger that has learned to live in the snow. They have the longest fur of the tigers and they need it.
Adult male tigers are at the top of the food chain. They hunt alone and can run while holding a 100-kilogram (220-pounds) prey in their mouths, reaching speeds up to 50-mph.
In 2010, the 13 tiger range countries committed to TX2—to double wild tiger numbers by 2022, the next Year of the Tiger. In pursuing TX2, WWF and its partners have taken a comprehensive approach to tiger conservation. Achieving TX2 requires expanding support for site-based programs across priority landscapes and ensuring key populations endure long after the TX2 goal is met.
Global Tiger Day is observed on July 29th to reinforce concern and to inform of the ecological role of the Siberian Tiger. IUCN classifies the Amur tiger as endangered.
Reference photo for this artwork is licensed royalty-free from Shutterstock.
Information about the Amur Siberian tiger can be found on the official websites of Wildlife Conservation Network (WCN), World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Copyright © 2023 Karen Conger All Rights Reserved.
The Amur (Siberian) tiger is the biggest tiger of the tiger species and is the only subspecies of tiger that has learned to live in the snow. They have the longest fur of the tigers and they need it.
Adult male tigers are at the top of the food chain. They hunt alone and can run while holding a 100-kilogram (220-pounds) prey in their mouths, reaching speeds up to 50-mph.
In 2010, the 13 tiger range countries committed to TX2—to double wild tiger numbers by 2022, the next Year of the Tiger. In pursuing TX2, WWF and its partners have taken a comprehensive approach to tiger conservation. Achieving TX2 requires expanding support for site-based programs across priority landscapes and ensuring key populations endure long after the TX2 goal is met.
Global Tiger Day is observed on July 29th to reinforce concern and to inform of the ecological role of the Siberian Tiger. IUCN classifies the Amur tiger as endangered.
Reference photo for this artwork is licensed royalty-free from Shutterstock.
Information about the Amur Siberian tiger can be found on the official websites of Wildlife Conservation Network (WCN), World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Copyright © 2023 Karen Conger All Rights Reserved.
African Lion – Sunday Afternoon (Soft Pastel)
This was a really good hair day for this young African lion.
Conservation partners in Kenya and Mozambique are playing a large role in teaching lions and people to coexist.
With less than 2,000 lions left in the whole of Kenya, the region serves as an important habitat for the big cats. When lions kill and eat livestock, herders often retaliate with guns, spears or poison. Confined to parks, the lion population dwindled and was on the brink of disappearing in 2007 with only 11 lions found in protected areas. Ewaso Lions is working with communities to reverse this trend, creating one of the few places in Africa where lions exist outside protected areas, allowing community lands to once again serve as an important habitat for big cats. The area population has increased to over 50 lions making permanent residence in community lands.
A growing human population of 60,000 in Niassa that needs food and income poses challenges to the reserve’s 800 lions. With few opportunities for education and employment, many families rely on the use of natural resources—particularly fish, skins, ivory, and bushmeat—to support their subsistence lifestyles. The greatest threat to lions in Niassa comes from snares that are set to capture bushmeat and a growing trade in lion skins, claws, and teeth. IUCN classifies the African lion as vulnerable.
Reference photo for this artwork is from pixabay.com.
Information about African lions can be found on the official websites of Wildlife Conservation Network (WCN), WildAid, Ewasso Lions, Niassa Lion Project (NLP), Lion Recovery Fund (LRF), and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Copyright © 2023 Karen Conger All Rights Reserved.
Conservation partners in Kenya and Mozambique are playing a large role in teaching lions and people to coexist.
With less than 2,000 lions left in the whole of Kenya, the region serves as an important habitat for the big cats. When lions kill and eat livestock, herders often retaliate with guns, spears or poison. Confined to parks, the lion population dwindled and was on the brink of disappearing in 2007 with only 11 lions found in protected areas. Ewaso Lions is working with communities to reverse this trend, creating one of the few places in Africa where lions exist outside protected areas, allowing community lands to once again serve as an important habitat for big cats. The area population has increased to over 50 lions making permanent residence in community lands.
A growing human population of 60,000 in Niassa that needs food and income poses challenges to the reserve’s 800 lions. With few opportunities for education and employment, many families rely on the use of natural resources—particularly fish, skins, ivory, and bushmeat—to support their subsistence lifestyles. The greatest threat to lions in Niassa comes from snares that are set to capture bushmeat and a growing trade in lion skins, claws, and teeth. IUCN classifies the African lion as vulnerable.
Reference photo for this artwork is from pixabay.com.
Information about African lions can be found on the official websites of Wildlife Conservation Network (WCN), WildAid, Ewasso Lions, Niassa Lion Project (NLP), Lion Recovery Fund (LRF), and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Copyright © 2023 Karen Conger All Rights Reserved.
California Mountain Lion - Night Vigil (Digital Pen)
Unlike other large cats, they cannot roar. Instead they growl, shriek, hiss and purr, similar to house cats. Mountain lions are territorial and solitary. They use pheromones and physical signs (like claw markings or feces) to define their territory.
The mountain lion—also known as the cougar, puma, panther, or catamount—is a large cat species native to the Americas.
Mountain lions are an "umbrella species" for conservation because their conservation depends on the preservation of large amounts of habitat. A mountain lion usually requires about 13 times as much area as a black bear or 40 times as much area as a bobcat to thrive. By preserving enough wilderness to support a stable mountain lion population, countless other species of plants and animals that share mountain lion habitat benefit. The eastern cougar, a subspecies of mountain lion, was declared officially extinct by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in 2011, although individuals from western populations have been confirmed to wander as far as the East Coast. Florida panthers, the other U.S. subspecies of mountain lion, are listed as critically endangered on the endangered species list. There are less than 160 Florida panthers left in the wild.
Mountain lions are legally classified as "specially protected species". In July 2019, the Center for Biological Diversity petitioned the Fish and Game Commission (opens in new tab) to list mountain lions as threatened under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA) within a proposed evolutionarily significant unit (ESU) located in Southern California and along the central coast of California. In April 2020, the Commission found that listing of this ESU may be warranted and designated mountain lion within the ESU as a candidate species under CESA.
CDFW is now completing a 12-month status review of mountain lions within the proposed ESU. Upon completion, CDFW will make its recommendation on listing to the Commission. Under CESA, species classified as a candidate species are afforded the same protection as listed species. As a result, mountain lions in this proposed ESU are CESA-protected during the review period.
Elsewhere in California, mountain lion numbers appear to be stable. We lived in the Sierra Nevada mountain range for over fifteen years and we learned to appreciate the stealth and power of many kinds of wildlife. Our trail cam captured many kinds of wildlife walking by, including a mountain lion walking in front of our house late at night; yet, we only saw one a couple of times while living there and that was from a great distance through binoculars. We did hear a shriek one night less than 30 feet from us when we were getting out of our car. We were very close to our front door and the sound was just over the edge of the hill by the driveway in sagebrush. We suspected it was a mountain lion, but we didn't stay around to check it out - it was dark and we just went inside quickly! It was a very scary shriek and I have since confirmed it could have been a mountain lion by listening to audios of a mountain lion screaming. Apparently that is either a mating call or two cats fighting each other and it can only be heard if you are close to it.
Reference photo for this artwork is licensed royalty-free from Shutterstock. Copyright © 2023 Karen Conger All Rights Reserved.
The mountain lion—also known as the cougar, puma, panther, or catamount—is a large cat species native to the Americas.
Mountain lions are an "umbrella species" for conservation because their conservation depends on the preservation of large amounts of habitat. A mountain lion usually requires about 13 times as much area as a black bear or 40 times as much area as a bobcat to thrive. By preserving enough wilderness to support a stable mountain lion population, countless other species of plants and animals that share mountain lion habitat benefit. The eastern cougar, a subspecies of mountain lion, was declared officially extinct by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in 2011, although individuals from western populations have been confirmed to wander as far as the East Coast. Florida panthers, the other U.S. subspecies of mountain lion, are listed as critically endangered on the endangered species list. There are less than 160 Florida panthers left in the wild.
Mountain lions are legally classified as "specially protected species". In July 2019, the Center for Biological Diversity petitioned the Fish and Game Commission (opens in new tab) to list mountain lions as threatened under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA) within a proposed evolutionarily significant unit (ESU) located in Southern California and along the central coast of California. In April 2020, the Commission found that listing of this ESU may be warranted and designated mountain lion within the ESU as a candidate species under CESA.
CDFW is now completing a 12-month status review of mountain lions within the proposed ESU. Upon completion, CDFW will make its recommendation on listing to the Commission. Under CESA, species classified as a candidate species are afforded the same protection as listed species. As a result, mountain lions in this proposed ESU are CESA-protected during the review period.
Elsewhere in California, mountain lion numbers appear to be stable. We lived in the Sierra Nevada mountain range for over fifteen years and we learned to appreciate the stealth and power of many kinds of wildlife. Our trail cam captured many kinds of wildlife walking by, including a mountain lion walking in front of our house late at night; yet, we only saw one a couple of times while living there and that was from a great distance through binoculars. We did hear a shriek one night less than 30 feet from us when we were getting out of our car. We were very close to our front door and the sound was just over the edge of the hill by the driveway in sagebrush. We suspected it was a mountain lion, but we didn't stay around to check it out - it was dark and we just went inside quickly! It was a very scary shriek and I have since confirmed it could have been a mountain lion by listening to audios of a mountain lion screaming. Apparently that is either a mating call or two cats fighting each other and it can only be heard if you are close to it.
Reference photo for this artwork is licensed royalty-free from Shutterstock. Copyright © 2023 Karen Conger All Rights Reserved.
African Lion Cub - Born with Spots (Soft Pastel)
African lion cubs are born with spots and bright blue eyes. The leopard-like spots eventually disappear as they grow older and their eyes eventually change to a permanent golden hue.
Lionesses in a pride often have cubs around the same time as each other. They look after them in a group, known as a ‘crèche’. This helps to keep them safe from predators – meat-eating animals, such as other lions and tigers – and also large animals such as elephant and buffalo.
They remain hidden for one to two months before being introduced to the rest of the pride.
Are lion cubs dangerous? Yes. They are wild animals. IUCN classifies the African lion as vulnerable. Reference photo for this artwork is from pixabay.com. Information about African lions can be found on the official websites of Life Science; Wildlife Conservation Network (WCN) and conservation partners in Kenya and Mozambique; and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Copyright © 2023 Karen Conger All Rights Reserved.
Lionesses in a pride often have cubs around the same time as each other. They look after them in a group, known as a ‘crèche’. This helps to keep them safe from predators – meat-eating animals, such as other lions and tigers – and also large animals such as elephant and buffalo.
They remain hidden for one to two months before being introduced to the rest of the pride.
Are lion cubs dangerous? Yes. They are wild animals. IUCN classifies the African lion as vulnerable. Reference photo for this artwork is from pixabay.com. Information about African lions can be found on the official websites of Life Science; Wildlife Conservation Network (WCN) and conservation partners in Kenya and Mozambique; and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Copyright © 2023 Karen Conger All Rights Reserved.
Bengal Tiger - White Tiger Blues (Colored Pencil, Ink)
White tigers are Bengal tigers. They’re not albino or their own separate species, as many people think. A White Bengal tiger cub can only be born when both parents carry the unusual gene for white colouring. The double recessive allele (a viable DNA coding that occupies a given position on a chromosome) in the genetic code only turns up naturally about once in every 10,000 births. For unexplained reasons it seems to occur only in the Bengal subspecies.
Due to the small size of the gene pool, many White Bengal tigers suffer from health problems due to inbreeding. For this reason, responsible zoos refuse to breed two White Bengal tigers together.
Bengal tigers live in India and are sometimes called Indian tigers. They are the most common tiger and number about half of all wild tigers.
Tigers use their distinctive coats as camouflage (no two have exactly the same stripes).
Females give birth to litters of two to six cubs, which they raise with little or no help from the male. Cubs cannot hunt until they are 18 months old and remain with their mothers for two to three years, when they disperse to find their own territory. IUCN “Red List of Threatened Species” list the Bengal tiger species as endangered. Reference photo for this artwork is from pixabay.com. Information about Bengal tigers can be found on the official websites of National Geographic, WildAid, Wildcat Sanctuary, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Copyright © 2023 Karen Conger All Rights Reserved.
Due to the small size of the gene pool, many White Bengal tigers suffer from health problems due to inbreeding. For this reason, responsible zoos refuse to breed two White Bengal tigers together.
Bengal tigers live in India and are sometimes called Indian tigers. They are the most common tiger and number about half of all wild tigers.
Tigers use their distinctive coats as camouflage (no two have exactly the same stripes).
Females give birth to litters of two to six cubs, which they raise with little or no help from the male. Cubs cannot hunt until they are 18 months old and remain with their mothers for two to three years, when they disperse to find their own territory. IUCN “Red List of Threatened Species” list the Bengal tiger species as endangered. Reference photo for this artwork is from pixabay.com. Information about Bengal tigers can be found on the official websites of National Geographic, WildAid, Wildcat Sanctuary, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Copyright © 2023 Karen Conger All Rights Reserved.
Cheetah Cub – Your Cheetah Eyes (Digital Pen)
Cheetah cubs are born with all the spots they’ll ever have, but when they’re tiny those spots are very close together making their fur a darker, ash gray color. Cheetah cubs have a thick silvery-grey mantle down their back that helps camouflage the cubs by imitating the look of an aggressive animal called a honey badger. This mimicry may help deter predators such as lions, hyenas, and eagles from attempting to kill them. Cubs lose their mantle at about three months of age.
Adult cheetahs have undercoats ranging in color from light tan to a deep gold marked by solid black spots. These spots are not open like the rosettes found on a leopard or jaguar’s coat, which is one way to quickly identify the cheetah. Distinctive black tear stripes run from the eyes to the mouth. The stripes are thought to protect the eyes from the sun’s glare. It is believed that they have the same function as a rifle scope, helping cheetahs focus on their prey from a long distance by minimizing the glare of the sun. Unlike other large cats and pack predators, cheetahs do not do well in wildlife reserves. These areas normally contain high densities of other larger predators like the lion, leopard, and hyena. Predators such as these, compete with cheetahs for prey and will even kill cheetahs given the opportunity. In such areas, the cheetah cub mortality can be as high as 90%. Therefore, roughly 90% of cheetahs in Africa live outside of protected lands on private farmlands and thus often come into conflict with people.
CCF works internationally and maintains a field base in Namibia, the country with the largest population of wild cheetah. Employing a holistic approach that balances the needs of people, wildlife, and land, CCF’s success has inspired a nation that once viewed this species as vermin to proudly claim the title, "Cheetah Capital of the World.”
IUCN classifies the cheetah as vulnerable.
Reference photo for this artwork is from WCN/CCF.
Information about cheetahs can be found on the official websites of Wildlife Conservation Network (WCN), Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF), and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Copyright © 2023 Karen Conger All Rights Reserved.
Adult cheetahs have undercoats ranging in color from light tan to a deep gold marked by solid black spots. These spots are not open like the rosettes found on a leopard or jaguar’s coat, which is one way to quickly identify the cheetah. Distinctive black tear stripes run from the eyes to the mouth. The stripes are thought to protect the eyes from the sun’s glare. It is believed that they have the same function as a rifle scope, helping cheetahs focus on their prey from a long distance by minimizing the glare of the sun. Unlike other large cats and pack predators, cheetahs do not do well in wildlife reserves. These areas normally contain high densities of other larger predators like the lion, leopard, and hyena. Predators such as these, compete with cheetahs for prey and will even kill cheetahs given the opportunity. In such areas, the cheetah cub mortality can be as high as 90%. Therefore, roughly 90% of cheetahs in Africa live outside of protected lands on private farmlands and thus often come into conflict with people.
CCF works internationally and maintains a field base in Namibia, the country with the largest population of wild cheetah. Employing a holistic approach that balances the needs of people, wildlife, and land, CCF’s success has inspired a nation that once viewed this species as vermin to proudly claim the title, "Cheetah Capital of the World.”
IUCN classifies the cheetah as vulnerable.
Reference photo for this artwork is from WCN/CCF.
Information about cheetahs can be found on the official websites of Wildlife Conservation Network (WCN), Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF), and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Copyright © 2023 Karen Conger All Rights Reserved.
Black Jaguar Mother & Cub - Insight (Digital Pen)
The name Jaguar comes from the ancient Indian name “yaguar” which meant “the killer which overcomes its prey in a single bound.” If a black jaguar has a target animal 'in sight', that animal will probably not get away. That is the 'insight' which inspired the name of my painting.
Black jaguars are sometimes misidentified as black panthers, which are not actually a species but a term popularly used for melanistic leopards and jaguars which have dark pigmentation. Both black big cats are part of the genus Panthera but leopards are found in Africa and Asia while jaguars are found in the Americas. A rare variant within the jaguar species, it’s estimated only 11 per cent of jaguars have this dark colouration. But while the black jaguar may appear to be all black, it has spots like other jaguars called “rosettes.”
Jaguars are the third largest cat in the world — after the tiger and lion — and the biggest in the Americas. They can grow up to 170cm long, not including their impressive tails, and males can weigh up to 200 pounds. Their size can vary a lot between regions depending on the size of the local prey. They can kill just about any type of prey they encounter but prefer large animals such as capybaras, alligators, deer and armadillos.Unlike many other cats, jaguars do not avoid water; in fact, they’re quite good swimmers. Deforestation and poaching are just a couple of the threats contributing to their decline. The black jaguar’s range once spanned from the southern United States down to the tip of South America, but they have been virtually eliminated from half of their historic range. The average life span of the Jaguar in the wild is 15 years. This is one of the highest rates of all felines. They are able to live up to 20 years with the right conditions in captivity.
Jaguar populations are listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Reference photos for this artwork are licensed royalty-free from Shutterstock.
Information about Black Jaguars can be found on the official websites of Big Cat Rescue, Feline Worlds, World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Copyright © 2023 Karen Conger All Rights Reserved.
Black jaguars are sometimes misidentified as black panthers, which are not actually a species but a term popularly used for melanistic leopards and jaguars which have dark pigmentation. Both black big cats are part of the genus Panthera but leopards are found in Africa and Asia while jaguars are found in the Americas. A rare variant within the jaguar species, it’s estimated only 11 per cent of jaguars have this dark colouration. But while the black jaguar may appear to be all black, it has spots like other jaguars called “rosettes.”
Jaguars are the third largest cat in the world — after the tiger and lion — and the biggest in the Americas. They can grow up to 170cm long, not including their impressive tails, and males can weigh up to 200 pounds. Their size can vary a lot between regions depending on the size of the local prey. They can kill just about any type of prey they encounter but prefer large animals such as capybaras, alligators, deer and armadillos.Unlike many other cats, jaguars do not avoid water; in fact, they’re quite good swimmers. Deforestation and poaching are just a couple of the threats contributing to their decline. The black jaguar’s range once spanned from the southern United States down to the tip of South America, but they have been virtually eliminated from half of their historic range. The average life span of the Jaguar in the wild is 15 years. This is one of the highest rates of all felines. They are able to live up to 20 years with the right conditions in captivity.
Jaguar populations are listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Reference photos for this artwork are licensed royalty-free from Shutterstock.
Information about Black Jaguars can be found on the official websites of Big Cat Rescue, Feline Worlds, World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Copyright © 2023 Karen Conger All Rights Reserved.
Przewalski's Horse - Faces the Storm (Soft Pastel)
Przewalski’s horses (Equus ferus przewalskii), a critically endangered species from Mongolia, is considered to be the last truly wild horse in existence.
The Przewalski’s Horse has a special physique and one can easily see the differences to a domestic horse. Normally Przewalski’s Horses do not have a withers of more than 147 cm. Additionally their strong bones and the thick neck let them appear tough and robust.
Characteristical, they have an eel-colored back and a special coat with colors like grey-yellow or red-brown. The impression of a tough little wild horse becomes completed through the dark tail and mane as well as the massive and big head.
The Przewalski’s Horse gets its name from the Russian explorer Nikolai Przhevalsky. Nikolai Przhevalsky was the first to describe the przewalski’s horse as he found a skeleton of the horse during his expedition in 1881. The name Przewalski is of polish origin and is pronounced as she-val-skee. The horse is also known as the Dzungarian horse or Asiatic wild horse. It is famous as the takhi horse amongst locals of Mongolia.
The tough little horse has sharp hooves and a strong kick that can be deadly for any predator. Normally, the Przewalski’s Horse makes use of its sharp hooves to dig in the ground in search for water.
Przewalski’s horses nearly became extinct in the wild in 1969, leading conservation scientists around the world to begin breeding programs of captive P horses in the hope of saving the species. The captive-bred individuals were reintroduced to the wild in the 1990s and, today, several healthy herds can be seen roaming the steppes of central Asia.
The Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences’ (CVMBS) Winnie Carter Wildlife Center (WCWC) is the new home for two Przewalski’s horses (P horses). At the WCWC, the P horses will help teach veterinary and undergraduate students about exotic animal care and the importance of species conservation.
The 8- and 9-year-old P horses were born at San Diego Safari Park and, because their genetics were already well-represented in the park’s P horse population, they were sent to Fossil Rim Wildlife Center in Glen Rose, Texas.
Though the P horses were raised in captivity, they had little direct contact with humans and maintain the shy personality they share with their wild cousins. IUCN classifies Przewalski horses as endangered.
Reference photo for this artwork is licensed royalty-free from Shutterstock.
Information about Pzrewalski's Horse is from several websites including AboutAnimals.com; Smithsonian National Zoo; Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences; and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Copyright © 2023 Karen Conger All Rights Reserved.
The Przewalski’s Horse has a special physique and one can easily see the differences to a domestic horse. Normally Przewalski’s Horses do not have a withers of more than 147 cm. Additionally their strong bones and the thick neck let them appear tough and robust.
Characteristical, they have an eel-colored back and a special coat with colors like grey-yellow or red-brown. The impression of a tough little wild horse becomes completed through the dark tail and mane as well as the massive and big head.
The Przewalski’s Horse gets its name from the Russian explorer Nikolai Przhevalsky. Nikolai Przhevalsky was the first to describe the przewalski’s horse as he found a skeleton of the horse during his expedition in 1881. The name Przewalski is of polish origin and is pronounced as she-val-skee. The horse is also known as the Dzungarian horse or Asiatic wild horse. It is famous as the takhi horse amongst locals of Mongolia.
The tough little horse has sharp hooves and a strong kick that can be deadly for any predator. Normally, the Przewalski’s Horse makes use of its sharp hooves to dig in the ground in search for water.
Przewalski’s horses nearly became extinct in the wild in 1969, leading conservation scientists around the world to begin breeding programs of captive P horses in the hope of saving the species. The captive-bred individuals were reintroduced to the wild in the 1990s and, today, several healthy herds can be seen roaming the steppes of central Asia.
The Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences’ (CVMBS) Winnie Carter Wildlife Center (WCWC) is the new home for two Przewalski’s horses (P horses). At the WCWC, the P horses will help teach veterinary and undergraduate students about exotic animal care and the importance of species conservation.
The 8- and 9-year-old P horses were born at San Diego Safari Park and, because their genetics were already well-represented in the park’s P horse population, they were sent to Fossil Rim Wildlife Center in Glen Rose, Texas.
Though the P horses were raised in captivity, they had little direct contact with humans and maintain the shy personality they share with their wild cousins. IUCN classifies Przewalski horses as endangered.
Reference photo for this artwork is licensed royalty-free from Shutterstock.
Information about Pzrewalski's Horse is from several websites including AboutAnimals.com; Smithsonian National Zoo; Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences; and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Copyright © 2023 Karen Conger All Rights Reserved.
Grevy's Zebra Mother and Foal (Digital Pen)
Grevy’s zebra foals are born all legs and ears.
Ears standing to full attention, neck arched, muscles tensed, nearly 1000 lbs of alert zebra ready for action. Watch a Grevy’s zebra adult male presiding over his territory and one begins to understand the majesty of this species. Indeed in 1882, Menelik II, Emperor of Abyssinia (now Ethiopia), thought the zebra was so regal that he presented one as a gift to the President of France, Jules Grévy. And so the name Grevy’s zebra was coined.
The Grevy’s is quickly distinguishable from its plains and mountain zebra counterparts due to its charming large round ears, and because it is tailor-made for the semi-arid climate where it lives. This zebra can survive for five days without water.
The plains of Africa are filled with zebras, their distinctive coats forming a sea of black and white across the continent’s landscapes. But in dry northern Kenya the unique Grevy’s zebra makes its home, and less than 2,500 of these special animals remain. IUCN classifies Grevy's zebra as endangered.
Reference photo for this artwork is from WCN/GZT.
Information about Grevy's zebras can be found on the official websites of Wildlife Conservation Network (WCN), Grevy's Zebra Trust (GZT), and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Copyright © 2023 Karen Conger All Rights Reserved.
Ears standing to full attention, neck arched, muscles tensed, nearly 1000 lbs of alert zebra ready for action. Watch a Grevy’s zebra adult male presiding over his territory and one begins to understand the majesty of this species. Indeed in 1882, Menelik II, Emperor of Abyssinia (now Ethiopia), thought the zebra was so regal that he presented one as a gift to the President of France, Jules Grévy. And so the name Grevy’s zebra was coined.
The Grevy’s is quickly distinguishable from its plains and mountain zebra counterparts due to its charming large round ears, and because it is tailor-made for the semi-arid climate where it lives. This zebra can survive for five days without water.
The plains of Africa are filled with zebras, their distinctive coats forming a sea of black and white across the continent’s landscapes. But in dry northern Kenya the unique Grevy’s zebra makes its home, and less than 2,500 of these special animals remain. IUCN classifies Grevy's zebra as endangered.
Reference photo for this artwork is from WCN/GZT.
Information about Grevy's zebras can be found on the official websites of Wildlife Conservation Network (WCN), Grevy's Zebra Trust (GZT), and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Copyright © 2023 Karen Conger All Rights Reserved.
Okapi - Velvet Ghost of the Forest (Digital Pen)
Stripes like a zebra, the body of a horse, and a head like a giraffe ...
The okapi is one of the oldest and most distinctive mammals left on earth. The quiet, beautiful and enigmatic animal has only been known to Western scientists since 1901 due to its secretive and reclusive nature. However, the local people in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the only country where the okapi is found, have known about the animal for thousands of years. Though this endangered giraffe relative is a culturally respected animal and has been protected in the country since 1933, slash-and-burn agriculture, illegal gold mining and bushmeat poaching threaten its existence.
For over 30 years, the Okapi Conservation Project has never faltered in its ability to withstand civil wars, rebel attacks and insecurity in an area ripe with political strife and uncertainty. It’s this standing loyalty that OCP has developed a strong trust within the community, allowing their conservation programs to thrive and expand under arduous conditions. Throughout DRC’s turmoil, the Okapi Conservation Project has remained the primary supporter of the Okapi Wildlife Reserve and protector of okapi.
Okapis are more commonly known as the "forest giraffe" and they are the only living relatives of giraffes. The okapi and giraffe share a number of common features - elongated necks; long, dark tongues; and gaited walks where each mammal steps with the same front and hind leg on eah side rather than moving alternate legs like other ungulates (hoofed animals).
Okapis weigh between 440-770 lbs, and have a very thick skin covered with a velvety fur coat, covered with only body hair, which repels water. The hind quarters and tops of their legs are covered with black and white stripes. The ankles are white and have a dark spot above each cloven hoof.
Shy and usually solitary, okapis are nearly impossible to observe in the wild. Their large ears detect predatory disturbances, while the distinguishing brown and white marks on their rump act as camouflage in the forest. To avoid leopards, they stay in one place on a 'nest' for the first six to nine weeks of their life, which is much longer than calves of other species are known to do. Okapi mothers produce infrasonic calls at around 14HZ to communicate with their calves, which is useful in dense forest and cannot be heard by humans. IUCN classifies the Okapi as endangered.
Reference photo for this artwork is licensed royalty-free from Shutterstock.
Information about the Okapi can be found on the official websites of WCN (wildnet.org); AfricaGeographic.com; and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Copyright © 2023 Karen Conger All Rights Reserved.
The okapi is one of the oldest and most distinctive mammals left on earth. The quiet, beautiful and enigmatic animal has only been known to Western scientists since 1901 due to its secretive and reclusive nature. However, the local people in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the only country where the okapi is found, have known about the animal for thousands of years. Though this endangered giraffe relative is a culturally respected animal and has been protected in the country since 1933, slash-and-burn agriculture, illegal gold mining and bushmeat poaching threaten its existence.
For over 30 years, the Okapi Conservation Project has never faltered in its ability to withstand civil wars, rebel attacks and insecurity in an area ripe with political strife and uncertainty. It’s this standing loyalty that OCP has developed a strong trust within the community, allowing their conservation programs to thrive and expand under arduous conditions. Throughout DRC’s turmoil, the Okapi Conservation Project has remained the primary supporter of the Okapi Wildlife Reserve and protector of okapi.
Okapis are more commonly known as the "forest giraffe" and they are the only living relatives of giraffes. The okapi and giraffe share a number of common features - elongated necks; long, dark tongues; and gaited walks where each mammal steps with the same front and hind leg on eah side rather than moving alternate legs like other ungulates (hoofed animals).
Okapis weigh between 440-770 lbs, and have a very thick skin covered with a velvety fur coat, covered with only body hair, which repels water. The hind quarters and tops of their legs are covered with black and white stripes. The ankles are white and have a dark spot above each cloven hoof.
Shy and usually solitary, okapis are nearly impossible to observe in the wild. Their large ears detect predatory disturbances, while the distinguishing brown and white marks on their rump act as camouflage in the forest. To avoid leopards, they stay in one place on a 'nest' for the first six to nine weeks of their life, which is much longer than calves of other species are known to do. Okapi mothers produce infrasonic calls at around 14HZ to communicate with their calves, which is useful in dense forest and cannot be heard by humans. IUCN classifies the Okapi as endangered.
Reference photo for this artwork is licensed royalty-free from Shutterstock.
Information about the Okapi can be found on the official websites of WCN (wildnet.org); AfricaGeographic.com; and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Copyright © 2023 Karen Conger All Rights Reserved.
Giraffa Camelopardalis – Tallest of All (Digital Pen)
The Nubian giraffe, scientific name Giraffa Camelopardalis, is the tallest living animal in the world. It is three-horned, measures up to 19 feet tall, and weighs up to two tons.
World Giraffe Day (WGD) is an exciting annual event initiated by Giraffe Conservation Foundation to celebrate the tallest animal on the longest day or night (depending on which hemisphere you live!) of the year – 21 June – every year! The Nubian giraffe population is down 98 percent and lives only on protected lands in Kenya. According to the IUCN, this subspecies is “critically endangered,” which means they face an “extremely high risk” of extinction in the wild.
Reference photo for this artwork is licensed royalty-free from Shutterstock.
Information about the Nubian giraffe (Giraffa Camelopardalis) can be found on the official websites of Wildlife Conservation Network (WCN), the Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF), and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Copyright © 2023 Karen Conger All Rights Reserved.
World Giraffe Day (WGD) is an exciting annual event initiated by Giraffe Conservation Foundation to celebrate the tallest animal on the longest day or night (depending on which hemisphere you live!) of the year – 21 June – every year! The Nubian giraffe population is down 98 percent and lives only on protected lands in Kenya. According to the IUCN, this subspecies is “critically endangered,” which means they face an “extremely high risk” of extinction in the wild.
Reference photo for this artwork is licensed royalty-free from Shutterstock.
Information about the Nubian giraffe (Giraffa Camelopardalis) can be found on the official websites of Wildlife Conservation Network (WCN), the Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF), and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Copyright © 2023 Karen Conger All Rights Reserved.
African Elephant – Morning Call (Soft Pastel, Colored Pencil)
The African savannah elephant (also called African bush elephant) is the largest animal walking the Earth. Adult males grow up to 13 feet tall at the shoulder and weigh up to 11 tons; adult females weigh half of that. Their herds wander through 37 countries in Africa.
Their lifespan is up to 70 years - longer than any other mammal except humans. They are surprisingly nimble and can run up to 40 mph which is faster than any human!
Elephants are among the world’s most intelligent, sensitive and social animals, possessing both empathy and family values. They live in close family groups that over the years have been torn apart by an epidemic of poaching across Africa that is fueled by a growing demand for ivory. Tens of thousands of African elephants continue to be killed each year for their tusks.
There are three species of elephants - African savannah (or bush), African forest, and Asian. The Asian elephants have smaller ears than the African elephants. IUCN classifies the African elephant as vulnerable. Reference photo for this artwork is from pixabay.com. Information about African elephants can be found on the official websites of Wildlife Conservation Network (WCN), WildAid, Nature Conservancy, World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Elephants for Africa, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Copyright © 2023 Karen Conger All Rights Reserved.
Their lifespan is up to 70 years - longer than any other mammal except humans. They are surprisingly nimble and can run up to 40 mph which is faster than any human!
Elephants are among the world’s most intelligent, sensitive and social animals, possessing both empathy and family values. They live in close family groups that over the years have been torn apart by an epidemic of poaching across Africa that is fueled by a growing demand for ivory. Tens of thousands of African elephants continue to be killed each year for their tusks.
There are three species of elephants - African savannah (or bush), African forest, and Asian. The Asian elephants have smaller ears than the African elephants. IUCN classifies the African elephant as vulnerable. Reference photo for this artwork is from pixabay.com. Information about African elephants can be found on the official websites of Wildlife Conservation Network (WCN), WildAid, Nature Conservancy, World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Elephants for Africa, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Copyright © 2023 Karen Conger All Rights Reserved.
Giant Panda Panache (Soft Pastel, Colored Pencil, Ink)
Wild pandas live only in remote, mountainous regions in central China. They are found in dense bamboo and coniferous forests at altitudes of 5,000 to 10,000 feet.
Driven nearly to extinction by habitat loss and poaching, these individuals are among the rarest in the world, with only an estimated 1,800 remaining in the wild. Low reproductive rates make them more vulnerable to threats and extinction.
Improved conservation efforts and better survey methods show an increase in the wild panda population.
Hundreds more pandas live in breeding centers and zoos, where they are always among the most popular attractions. Much of what we know about pandas comes from studying these zoo animals, because their wild cousins are so rare and elusive. IUCN lists the giant panda as endangered.
Reference photo for this artwork is from pixabay.com.
Information about the giant panda can be found on the official websites of National Geographic, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Copyright © 2023 Karen Conger All Rights Reserved.
Arctic Fox – Whiteout (Soft Pastel)
His tail is wrapped around him – very dim in the snow.
The Arctic fox can survive frigid Arctic temperatures as low as -58 degrees F in the treeless lands where it makes its home. Its furry soles, short ears, and short muzzle also help it adapt to the cold climate. The fox's thick tail aids its balance and is especially useful as warm cover in cold weather. In a blizzard, it may tunnel into the snow to seek shelter.
It has a beautiful white (sometimes blue-gray) coat that acts as very effective winter camouflage, allowing the animal to blend into the tundra's snow and ice. When the seasons change, the coat turns brown or gray offering cover among the summer tundra's rock and plants.
In winter, prey can be very scarce on the ground and arctic foxes will follow the region's premier predator - a polar bear - to eat leftover scraps from its kills. Foxes will also eat vegetables when they are available. UN.Habitat.org categorizes the Arctic Fox as critically endangered.
IUCRedList.org considers them least concern and needing protection. An action plan has been developed for Arctic Foxes in Sweden (Elmhagen 2008) and status reports have been published for Norway (Ulvund et al. 2013) and Finland (Kaikusalo et al. 2000). In Sweden, Norway and Finland, a conservation project led to significant increases in the population (Angerbjörn et al. 2013).
Reference photo for this artwork is licensed royalty-free from Shutterstock.
Information about the Arctic fox can be found on the official websites of National Geographic, un-habitat.org, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Copyright © 2023 Karen Conger All Rights Reserved.
It has a beautiful white (sometimes blue-gray) coat that acts as very effective winter camouflage, allowing the animal to blend into the tundra's snow and ice. When the seasons change, the coat turns brown or gray offering cover among the summer tundra's rock and plants.
In winter, prey can be very scarce on the ground and arctic foxes will follow the region's premier predator - a polar bear - to eat leftover scraps from its kills. Foxes will also eat vegetables when they are available. UN.Habitat.org categorizes the Arctic Fox as critically endangered.
IUCRedList.org considers them least concern and needing protection. An action plan has been developed for Arctic Foxes in Sweden (Elmhagen 2008) and status reports have been published for Norway (Ulvund et al. 2013) and Finland (Kaikusalo et al. 2000). In Sweden, Norway and Finland, a conservation project led to significant increases in the population (Angerbjörn et al. 2013).
Reference photo for this artwork is licensed royalty-free from Shutterstock.
Information about the Arctic fox can be found on the official websites of National Geographic, un-habitat.org, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Copyright © 2023 Karen Conger All Rights Reserved.
Polar Bear Trio – Snow Warm (Soft Pastel)
The largest bear in the world and the Arctic's top predator, polar bears are a powerful symbol of the strength and endurance of the Arctic. The polar bear's Latin name, Ursus maritimus, means "sea bear." It's an apt name for this majestic species, which spends much of its life in, around, or on the ocean–predominantly on the sea ice. In the United States, Alaska is home to two polar bear subpopulations.
Considered talented swimmers, polar bears can sustain a pace of six miles per hour by paddling with their front paws and holding their hind legs flat like a rudder. They have a thick layer of body fat and a water-repellent coat that insulates them from the cold air and water. Polar bears spend over 50% of their time hunting for food. A polar bear might catch only one or two out of 10 seals it hunts, depending on the time of year and other variables. Their diet mainly consists of ringed and bearded seals because they need large amounts of fat to survive. Fun Facts: 40kph: The polar bear's top speed 42 razor sharp teeth: With jagged back teeth and canines larger than grizzly teeth, they pack quite the bite 30 cm wide paws: The size of a dinner plate! A natural snowshoe that helps the bear trek across treacherous ice and deep snow 3 eyelids: The third helps protect the bear's eyes from the elements 4 inches of fat: Under the bear's skin to keep it warm Black skin. Transparent fur. Blue tongue Are Polar Bears Endangered? The IUCN Polar Bear Specialist Group lists the polar bear as a vulnerable species, citing sea ice loss from climate change as the single biggest threat to their survival. The most recent study cited on IUCN estimates there are currently about 23,000 polar bears worldwide. Reference photo for this artwork is licensed royalty-free from Shutterstock. Information about the polar bear can be found on the websites of World Wildlife Foundation (WWF), Polar Bears International, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Copyright © 2023 Karen Conger All Rights Reserved.
Considered talented swimmers, polar bears can sustain a pace of six miles per hour by paddling with their front paws and holding their hind legs flat like a rudder. They have a thick layer of body fat and a water-repellent coat that insulates them from the cold air and water. Polar bears spend over 50% of their time hunting for food. A polar bear might catch only one or two out of 10 seals it hunts, depending on the time of year and other variables. Their diet mainly consists of ringed and bearded seals because they need large amounts of fat to survive. Fun Facts: 40kph: The polar bear's top speed 42 razor sharp teeth: With jagged back teeth and canines larger than grizzly teeth, they pack quite the bite 30 cm wide paws: The size of a dinner plate! A natural snowshoe that helps the bear trek across treacherous ice and deep snow 3 eyelids: The third helps protect the bear's eyes from the elements 4 inches of fat: Under the bear's skin to keep it warm Black skin. Transparent fur. Blue tongue Are Polar Bears Endangered? The IUCN Polar Bear Specialist Group lists the polar bear as a vulnerable species, citing sea ice loss from climate change as the single biggest threat to their survival. The most recent study cited on IUCN estimates there are currently about 23,000 polar bears worldwide. Reference photo for this artwork is licensed royalty-free from Shutterstock. Information about the polar bear can be found on the websites of World Wildlife Foundation (WWF), Polar Bears International, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Copyright © 2023 Karen Conger All Rights Reserved.
Pygmy Raccoon - Tiny Carnivore (Soft Pastel)
These small masked raccoons with the big black eyes are tiny carnivores with adult males weighing less than four kilograms. The IUCN lists this species of raccoon (procyon pygmaeus) as critically endangered, with a declining population of fewer than 200 individuals in 2016.
The pygmy raccoon faces four main challenges to survival:• They live only on one part of one small island in Central America and thus have only limited habitat• There is no escape for them from the impacts of habitat loss to human development for the tourism industry and sea level rise due to climate change• They are susceptible to diseases brought there by invasive species• They fall prey to non-native predators, from domestic cats to boa constrictors
The pygmy raccoon is officially protected, but there isn't much outside of that label being done to help them, including laws protecting them.
Ideas for conservation have included preserving the mangrove and semi-evergreen forests in which the pygmy raccoons live, halting development in the area and making it off-limits to any new development. Captive breeding is also a possibility, if there are conservation zoos willing to take on the expense. And of course, removing non-native disease-carrying predators like feral cats would be a huge benefit to the species. IUCN classifies the Pygmy Raccoon as critically endangered.
Reference photo for this artwork is licensed royalty-free from Shutterstock.
Information about Pygmy Raccoons can be found on the official websites of animaldiversity.org; treehugger.com; and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Copyright © 2023 Karen Conger All Rights Reserved.
The pygmy raccoon faces four main challenges to survival:• They live only on one part of one small island in Central America and thus have only limited habitat• There is no escape for them from the impacts of habitat loss to human development for the tourism industry and sea level rise due to climate change• They are susceptible to diseases brought there by invasive species• They fall prey to non-native predators, from domestic cats to boa constrictors
The pygmy raccoon is officially protected, but there isn't much outside of that label being done to help them, including laws protecting them.
Ideas for conservation have included preserving the mangrove and semi-evergreen forests in which the pygmy raccoons live, halting development in the area and making it off-limits to any new development. Captive breeding is also a possibility, if there are conservation zoos willing to take on the expense. And of course, removing non-native disease-carrying predators like feral cats would be a huge benefit to the species. IUCN classifies the Pygmy Raccoon as critically endangered.
Reference photo for this artwork is licensed royalty-free from Shutterstock.
Information about Pygmy Raccoons can be found on the official websites of animaldiversity.org; treehugger.com; and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Copyright © 2023 Karen Conger All Rights Reserved.
Koala – Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep (Colored Pencil)
Australia has listed the koala as an endangered species across most of its east coast, after a dramatic decline in numbers. The once-thriving marsupial has been ravaged by land clearing, bushfires, drought, disease and other threats. Australia has been urged to do more to protect koalas from rapidly diminishing habitats and climate change. The species was listed as "vulnerable" in those states and territory only in 2012. Save The Koala states that despite the rapid deterioration, "governments are dithering. There is currently no legislation, anywhere in the country, that can protect Koalas and Koala habitat in Australia. The listing of the Koala as 'vulnerable' under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act in 2012 changed nothing and did not cover Koalas in Victoria nor in South Australia. Now in 2022 the Koala was listed as 'Endangered' under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act and the law is not fit for purpose. If it did work, how come the listing got worse. This is supposed to be the premier law for protecting Australia’s environment, yet it is powerless. By the time you read this page the bulldozers may already be working, but it is not too late to take action. Below we have listed some of the things that might make a difference." - https://www.savethekoala.com/about-koalas/the-koala-endangered-or-not/
Reference photo for this artwork is from pixabay.com. Information about the koala can be found on the official website of Save The Koala and at BBC News 2022. Copyright © 2023 Karen Conger All Rights Reserved. MORE PAINTINGS Artist’s DisclaimerCopyright © 2023 Karen Conger all rights reserved. Endangered wildlife descriptions are from the official websites shown in the details for each image. These external links are provided for your convenience and I do not receive any remuneration or other form of compensation for the endangered species art I produce and highlight on my fine art website. I personally donate to some of these organizations but I am not endorsing any of them and I am not responsible or liable for any information provided by their websites or your use of their websites. Any fees associated with the user's participation in these sites are the sole responsibility of the user. Views or opinions expressed on their sites do not necessarily reflect my opinion and I am not responsible or liable for the content on their sites. Users should take appropriate precautions to minimize risks from viruses, Trojan horses, worms, or other forms of malware. Users should also familiarize themselves with the external websites’ privacy policies and other terms of use, including any collection or use of personally identifiable information. Thank you.