KeepBearsWild.org
KeepBearsWild.org, a collaboration of Yosemite Conservancy, Yosemite National Park and Wharton Media, is dedicated to raising awareness, appreciation and respect for Yosemite’s iconic and beloved black bears. The website features the National Park Service’s first-ever online bear tracker, information on ways for the public to help save bears, insight into the bear management program, fun facts about Yosemite’s bears, and stunning photography and videos not before available to the public. KeepBearsWild.org also provides a call to action to drive slowly and alertly on park roads, store food properly at all times and observe bears from a safe and respectful distance.
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BAND Foundation
Wharton Media has partnered with the BAND Foundation, a US-based private family foundation that makes grants in support of nature conservation and epilepsy care, to develop strategic digital media outreach assets and solutions in support of their portfolio of global initiatives.
Several years ago, a mysterious disease started to appear in sea stars all along the Pacific coast of North America, rapidly and simultaneously decimating well-known species such as the sunflower and ochre stars. Sea stars are keystone predators vital to the health and productivity of intertidal zones. The affliction, known as sea star wasting disease (SSWD), can kill an otherwise healthy sea star in a matter of days, ultimately by causing the animal’s body structure to break down and collapse.
Dr. Sarah Gravem, a research scientist at Oregon State University and BAND grantee, is currently involved in research focusing on the ecological consequences of SSWD for intertidal communities from Oregon to Central California.
Services: Website design and development, video production, digital strategy
AfricanLions.org
Researchers from the University of California, Santa Cruz, Living With Lions and Ewaso Lions are conducting a new study to better understand how human activities impact the physiology and behavior of Africa’s threatened lions. The research collaboration is using state-of-the-art SMART (Species Movement, Acceleration, and Radio Tracking) wildlife collars to continuously monitor the movements and predation of a number of male coalitions and female prides in Laikipia County, Kenya.
Africanlions.org is the official education and outreach website for this research effort. In addition to stunning photography and fascinating updates from the field, one of the main interactive features of the site is Lion Tracker, a web app which displays real-time satellite tracking data so the public can remotely explore the lives of these amazing animals.
Services: Website design and development, video production, photography, identity, digital strategy
Southall Environmental Associates, Inc.
Wharton Media has partnered with SEA, Inc., an international research company that delivers science to support conservation management, to develop strategic digital media outreach assets and solutions in support of their multi-year SOCAL-BRS (Southern California Behavioral Response Study) research project off the coast of Southern California. The overall objective of SOCAL-BRS is to measure the impacts of anthropogenic noise sources on marine mammals using acoustic tags to provide a better scientific basis for estimating risk and minimizing effects of active sonar for the U.S. Navy and regulatory agencies.
Dr. Brandon Southall, President and Senior Scientist for SEA, Inc., is a research associate with the University of California, Santa Cruz and past director of NOAA’s Ocean Acoustics Program. He is currently involved in research to measure behavioral responses of marine mammals to various human sounds, primarily military sonar signals, the effects of impulsive noise on hearing in seals and sea lions in laboratory settings, and efforts to implement quieting technologies on the largest commercial ships in the oceans, and developing environmentally-responsible ways of capturing offshore energy.
Services: Website design and development, video production, photography, identity, digital strategy
Santa Cruz Puma Project
With most large predators now in decline worldwide, a University of California, Santa Cruz research project is now underway to better understand their physiology, behavior and ecology so as to better inform their management and conservation. Santacruzpumas.org is the official education and outreach website for this research effort.
The study, which combines mathematical models with rigorous field studies, involves deploying telemetry collars on mountain lions that collect continuous movement and location data from each animal. By studying and analyzing data collected from these collars, Dr. Chris Wilmers and his team hope to answer important physiological and ecological questions that have so far evaded science. In addition to providing solutions to pressing environmental problems, the research project will further enhance the understanding of cougar habitat requirements as well as provide guidance on important movement corridors for lions within and between the Santa Cruz Mountains located in the central coast of California.
Services: Website design and development, video production, photography, identity, digital strategy