On the land of lizzards and Spanish moss

#Repost @worldanimalnews_ —— Earlier this week, tragic news was released by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (@MyFWC) that a three-year-old #whiterhino was shot and killed last September after escaping his enclosure at #WildFlorida. 💔🦏 The drive-through safari park located 60 miles south of #Orlando, in #Kenansville, verified that staff members killed the 2,000-pound #rhino because he was a “public safety risk.” Animal advocates, including the anonymous informant who advised authorities about the tragic situation remain outraged due to the fact that the rhino could have been safely subdued without using lethal force. This type of animal cruelty will only end when people stop subsidizing facilities that hold wild animals in captivity for so-called "entertainment." There are plenty of ways to educate people about animals and conservation without putting animals’ lives at risk. 😥 #KeepThemWild 🙏🦏 READ MORE: 🌍👉 WorldAnimalNews.com (LINK IN OUR BIO) ⬇️👆@worldanimalnews_ @peace_4animals #WorldAnimalNews (at Florida Fish and Wildlife) https://www.instagram.com/p/CoLB9bXKFeX/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

It was a #WildFlorida #Drive thru #Safari kinda day. (at Wild Florida) https://www.instagram.com/p/ClSATL1O9Hg/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

This hissy fellow decided to fight my #halloween decorations. And he is pissed. #wildlife #wildflorida #tortoise (at Palm Bay, Florida) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cjs0B-NOOj3/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#Repost @canvasofthewild @download.ins --- Meet our first characters on our journey through #wildflorida 👉 Swipe to see them all! 🦜 The Carolina Parakeet (Conuropsis carolinensis) was social, petite, colorful, and the only parrot native to the eastern US before its extinction in the 1900s. Once found across the region in large flocks, they mainly inhabited old-growth forests near rivers or wetlands. 🦋The Schaus’ Swallowtail butterfly (Heraclides aristodemus ponceanus), was once found from Miami to the Florida Keys weaving between mangroves and thick coastal forests. Over the last century, its population declined rapidly due to urbanization and the high use of insecticides. 🦩 Flamingos are indeed native the #Florida ! Once a common migratory species, their Florida population declined rapidly due to unsustainable hunting for the feather trade in the early 1900s. Thankfully, this species exists across the Caribbean, with an estimated 80,000 adults in the wild! Once thought gone forever from the Florida wetlands, today, small flocks of the wild Caribbean birds are returning to their historical migration feeding grounds in southern Florida! Excited to share the drawing lessons with you tomorrow! 😙 . . Illustrations by @kellyofthewild . . #keepflwild #lovefl #wildflorida #floridalife #floridaexplored #floridahome #floridalife #floridastories #floridahike #floridian #floridanews #floridawild #archboldstation #pathofthepanther #scientificillustration #illustration #floridatrails #floridatrail #scientificillustration #sciart #science #illustrations #parrot #flamingo #butterfly #digitalart @nflandtrust @stpeteaudubon @audubon_fl @fl_wildcorridor @floridastateparksfoundation @leef.florida @floridamarinescience @1000friendsofflorida https://www.instagram.com/p/CZPO-AKuoP8/?utm_medium=tumblr

He’s just sitting there. And just a point, never chase these beach dwelling gentle giants. It is totally illegal to harass wild animals in Florida! Enjoy their beauty and leave them in peace. #Pelican #FloridaBeaches #BeachSunset #WildFlorida https://www.instagram.com/p/CL0JiMzBxq6/?igshid=spztcnq14dal

The things you can see when you step outside!!!! #wildflorida #myfloridalife #stepawayfromtheholidaymadness #stepawayfromthescreen https://www.instagram.com/p/CI0wROCBNOZ/?igshid=1vjrfaayz3fhr