Animal Fact Sheets - Index - San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Library: What's New

On this page, learn about new fact sheets and important updates.

Some types of news and updates you'll find here are:

• New Fact Sheet: An Animal Fact Sheet that is new to the collection. Thanks for helping us spread the word about these!
• Science Update: A fact sheet that has been updated with substantial revisions to its science and conservation information. We commonly collaborate with expert reviewers—scientists and wildlife care specialists with knowledge of that animal—to bring these fact sheets up to date.
• Content Update: Revisions to a specific type of fact used across the collection—for example, changes to the global conservation status (IUCN Red List assessments) of several species.

We focus on sharing notable fact sheet news and do not announce minor changes or all new research. Minor updates are reported in the "About This Fact Sheet" box on each fact sheet's Summary page.

Content Update: IUCN Status Updates

IUCN Red List and Green Status information was updated to reflect assessment changes released in June and October 2024. These include a new Red List assessment of the Bornean elephant and a change in categorization for African Penguin (now Critically Endangered), as well as new Green Status assessments for Black Rhino, Burmese Star Tortoise, Mountain Yellow-Legged Frog, and California Condor.

FAQ: What is The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species?

FAQ: What is The IUCN Green Status of Species?

Science Update: Asian Elephant

First published in 2008, the Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus) Fact Sheet has been revised to include new science, conservation, and cultural history information. Most notable are major updates to sections on social behavior, communication, ecological roles, senses, diet, and threats to survival.

Each fact sheet section was reviewed by at least one expert in that area of Asian elephant biology.

Get a trunkful of elephant facts.

Content Update: The IUCN Green Status of Species

The IUCN Green Status of Species measures species recovery and the impacts of conservation action. Assessments from this developing tool now appear alongside IUCN Red List information (see "Conservation Status" on Population & Conservation pages).

For Animal Fact Sheets, only assessments for African Penguin and American Bison are currently available, with more expected in October 2024.

What is The IUCN Green Status of Species?

Content Update: Life Expectancies

Median life expectancies were updated to reflect revised statistics reported in the AZA's Survival Statistics Table (released in January 2024).

For more information, review the AZA's Species Survival Statistics report website.

Science Update: Polar Bear

The Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) Fact Sheet now includes 15 years of new science (2009 to 2023), notably expanded habitat, diet and feeding, and conservation information.

Three polar bear biologists helped review the fact sheet content for accuracy. Thank you, reviewers!

Plunge into polar bear facts.