Guardians of Change: Protecting Wildlife and Paving a Greener Future - 55th Issue

You might have never heard of a pangolin, nor the fact that February 20 is World Pangolin Day. But there’s no time like the present to get to know this internationally protected species. 

As wildlife traffickers poach pangolins for their scales, skin, and even meat, these rare mammals are facing possible extinction. Over a 10-year period, at least 1 million pangolins were trafficked, reports the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). And while the internet can be a source of awareness, it has also proved to be a culprit in the illegal advertising and sale of endangered species, including pangolins, elephants, rhinos, and tigers.

Fortunately, organizations like WWF have teamed up to help halt illegal wildlife trade. Through its online reporting page, the Coalition invites people to report pangolin products for sale and involves major tech companies in the fight.

As wildfires began ripping through Los Angeles in the first week of 2025, thousands of people stepped up to save the City of Angels. Whether giving blood, volunteering in shelters, or donating food and clothing, people around the country want to help their LA neighbors. 

For one sustainable fashion brand, offering help has meant saying no to fast fashion donations.

Pickle, a New York City shop that offers a peer-to-peer clothing rental app, aims to reduce textile waste and the large carbon footprint generated by mass-produced clothing. Amid the fires, the company hosted a clothing drop-off to support LA folks in need. But with a line wrapped around the block of eager donators, the shop decided to prioritize only high-quality items they felt would best help Angelenos rebuild.

Solar development can be a boon to the environment, providing a clean, renewable energy source and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. However, in one part of California, it brings unique concerns about the area’s endangered San Joaquin kit fox. 

Operators must carefully monitor kit fox populations to ensure the solar farms do not harm them. Yet the kit fox is nocturnal and lives underground, making it challenging to spot the cute but elusive animals.

Enter a team of trained rescue dogs whose job is to sniff out kit fox scat. From there, DNA analysis of the droppings offers insights into the animals’ health and how the solar panels or construction is impacting them.

It’s a dirty job, but these dogs get it done.

Cosmetics and topical drugs have been free of Red 3 dye since 1990, when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) determined the dye causes cancer when eaten by animals. However, it wasn’t until this year that the FDA banned its use in foods, beverages, oral medications, and dietary supplements.

This move comes decades after the FDA vowed to take steps to ban the carcinogenic dye from the food supply and oral products. A color additive petition filed in 2022 by the Center for Science in the Public Interest to remove all remaining uses of Red 3 finally prompted FDA action.

Food and drug manufacturers have until January 16, 2027, to comply with the order. Until then, continue to read nutrition labels to avoid ingesting any unwanted surprises.