Wildlife Of Israel

Persian Fallow Deer Restoration Project Makes Huge Strides

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The Biblical Zoo in Jerusalem has successfully reintroduced 20 Persian (Mesopotamian) fallow deer into the wild this spring. The release marks a bold new chapter for the species, once teetering on the brink of extinction.

“We’re beyond excited to share that our Spring 2025 Persian (Mesopotamian) fallow deer release has successfully reintroduced 20 captive-bred deer into the wild!” the zoo announced.

This release took place at Nachal Dolev Nature Reserve, nestled in the scenic Judean Hills, just 25 kilometers from Jerusalem.

The location is significant. For two decades, the zoo has been working tirelessly to restore the Persian fallow deer population through carefully managed releases. Now, for the first time, the deer are being returned to new territory closer to Jerusalem, allowing them to reclaim portions of their ancient habitat.

“After 20 years of successful reintroductions, we’re now expanding to new territory near Jerusalem, helping this once nearly extinct species reclaim its ancient homeland!” the zoo shared.

The latest release also marked a major shift in strategy. In past efforts, the deer were gradually introduced to the wild using fenced acclimatization areas, allowing them time to adjust to their new surroundings. This time, however, the zoo’s team took a more daring approach.

“For the first time, we released the deer directly into the wild—without a fenced acclimatization area!” they said.

Extensive research conducted over the years had shown that the fallow deer are remarkably adaptable and capable of thriving in the Judean Hills, where food sources and water are plentiful.

To ensure the safety and success of the reintroduction, each deer has been fitted with an electronic tracking collar.

These devices enable the zoo’s scientists to monitor the animals’ movements and behaviors in real time, providing critical data on how the deer adjust to their new environment. The information gathered will help guide future conservation efforts, both in Israel and abroad.

Beyond the scientific achievement, the release was also a day of celebration.

“The day itself was a celebration—a joyful outing in the stunning spring landscape, surrounded by wildflowers and perfect weather,” the zoo reported.

Staff, scientists, and volunteers gathered to witness the culmination of years of hard work and dedication. “It was a well-earned reward for our dedicated staff and volunteers, whose tireless efforts are bringing this majestic species back to life.”

The success of the Persian fallow deer restoration project is a poweful conservation statement in a war-torn part of the world.

Thanks to the Biblical Zoo and its partners, these graceful creatures now roam once again where their ancestors once thrived—a living symbol of renewal in the land of their origin.

To contribute to this restoration program click here.

Chester Moore

Follow Chester Moore and Higher Calling Wildlife® on the following social media platforms

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Email Chester at chester@chestermoore.com.

Mysterious Wildlife

A Mexican Gray Wolf In Texas?

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I’ll never forget staring into the eyes of a big male Mexican gray wolf.

Its piercing eyes reflected a wild lineage that roamed the Southwest until the white man moved in with guns, traps and poison.

This was early in my career and the animal resided at a captive breeding facility where remnants of the highly endangered subspecies were being bred for release into the wild.

I shot tons of photos but they were lost in Hurricane flood damage-along with many others.

Since that time there have been numerous releases in New Mexico and even pups born in the wild there.

So, when Jaclyn Booth sent me this photo I took notice because the animal looked very much like the wolves I had seen at the facility so many years ago.

But before we get into this let me tell you about something that can save your life in the great outdoors.

In remote areas, finding an unusual amount of foot traffic is a real warning sign of finding illegal growers and meth operations. Believe me-It happened to me.

I give my safety tips and tell some crazy outdoors dangers stories including a guy who had an attack dog set loose on him when he came across a grow in Arkansas. Listen to this episode at the link below.

Dark Outdoors: Murder Mountain, Meth Labs & More

Now back to the wolf-something far safer to encounter in the wild! Remember-people are the most dangerous thing.

The photo came through my “The Wildlife Journalist” Facebook and had no information on where it came from.

My thought was “Wow, that’s a gray wolf, probably a Mexican gray wolf.”

I messaged her to find out what state the photo came from and when she said it came from her ranch in Hall County, TX I was in shock.

The photo below is a coyote from the same ranch and in fact at different angles of the same log. Compare this coyote and the canid in the above photo.

Now compare with this one of a Mexican gray wolf taken at the Alameda Park Zoo below. Notice the extreme likeness.

In 2013 I had a professional trapper who has trapped and killed thousands of coyotes tell me of seeing a Mexican gray wolf near Alpine, TX the year previous. He was adamant at what he saw.

Is there a possibility of having Mexican gray wolf-coyote hybrids (that maybe lean heavily on wolf appearance) in the region?

Absolutely. It has been proven that coyotes and gray wolves hybridize by numerous researchers.

A Mexican gray wolf in a zoo for comparison.

Are there Mexican wolves in Texas?

The jury is still out but on a ranch in Hall County there is definitely an animal that looks a whole lot like one. If you have any wolf photos or videos from Texas or animals you might suspect are carrying wolf DNA email to chester@chestermoore.com.

Chester Moore

Follow Chester Moore and Higher Calling Wildlife® on the following social media platforms

To support the efforts of Higher Calling Wildlife® click here.

Subscribe to the Dark Outdoors podcast on all major podcasting platforms.

@thechestermoore on Instagram

Chester Moore’s YouTube.

Higher Calling Wildlife on Facebook

Email Chester at chester@chestermoore.com.

Dark Outdoors

This One Tip Can Save You From Massive Outdoors Dangers-And No One Talks About It!

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One of the most important outdoor safety tips I can give for the outdoors—especially if you’re hiking or exploring remote areas—is this: be cautious of places that have an unusual amount of foot traffic for how remote they are. If you’re deep in the wilderness and start noticing a lot of signs of people—worn paths, tire tracks, trash, even campsites in strange spots—that’s often a red flag.

These areas can sometimes be used for illegal activity, and trust me, you do not want to accidentally stumble into something like that. I once found myself in a situation just like this, and it led me straight to a meth lab. It was one of the most unsettling experiences I’ve had in the outdoors. I talk about some of the host horrifying encounters I’ve collected over the years in the latest episode of Dark Outdoors. Listen here.

Encounters with illegal grows or trafficking operations are some of the most dangerous things that can happen out there. We’ve collected several terrifying tales from people who’ve faced these kinds of threats firsthand—including one near the infamous ‘Murder Mountain,’ made famous by the Netflix series.

🎧 Click here to listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Spotify, and Audible.

Plus, the episode talks about a savage trained killer dog sent to attack a hiker who found a growing area.

*A serial killer who turned himself in with “physical” evidence.

*Held at gunpoint on a deer lease 

*A special defense segment with Sheriff Grady Judd of Polk County, FL.

Mountain Goats!

Rocky Mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus) are the alpine acrobats of North America, thriving in some of the continent’s most rugged and inaccessible terrain.

Despite their name, these creatures aren’t true goats; they’re more closely related to antelopes and belong to the Bovidae family. Their unique adaptations allow them to scale near-vertical cliffs with slopes exceeding 60°, thanks to specialized hooves with rough pads that provide exceptional grip on rocky surfaces .

Both male and female mountain goats sport black, recurved horns that continue to grow throughout their lives, with age rings that can be counted to determine their age after about 22 months . Their thick, white double-layered coats are not just for show; they provide insulation against harsh alpine climates, withstanding temperatures as low as -46°C and winds up to 160 km/h .

I am revamping our Higher Calling Wildlife® podcast with a new format but before we do, we have a killer episode on mountain goats that my daughter Faith helped co-host.

Check it out here.

Gulf Great White Shark Documentary Premiee-You’re Invited!

A documentary from award-winning wildlife journalist & conservationist Chester Moore.

A mysterious great white shark sighting out of Sabine Pass, TX leads to a 20-year investigation from the Texas Gulf Coast to Cape Cod. This proves the true apex predator of the Gulf of Mexico is returning to southern waters in a big win for ocean conservation.

Click here to access the event page on Facebook. Please RSVP.

World Premiere Presentation at Museum of the Gulf Coast Saturday June 21.

700 Procter St, Port Arthur, TX 77640

Event 10-2

Documentary Premiere at Noon with second playing at 1 p.m.

Celebrating the new groundbreaking documentary on the 50th anniversary date of the “Jaws” release. 

*”The Jaws Effect: Presentation by Chester Moore 

*Premiere of Documentary 

*Q&A with Chester Moore & Videographer & Editor Paul Fuzinski and some of the stars.

*Door Prizes 

Follow Chester Moore and Higher Calling Wildlife® on the following social media platforms

To support the efforts of Higher Calling Wildlife® click here.

Subscribe to the Dark Outdoors podcast on all major podcasting platforms.

@thechestermoore on Instagram

Chester Moore’s YouTube.

Higher Calling Wildlife on Facebook

Email Chester at chester@chestermoore.com.

Mysterious Wildlife

Seguin, TX Jaguarundi, Big Cat Sighting

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Over the years, I’ve tracked countless reports of mystery cats across Texas—from the Pineywoods to the borderlands—and every now and then, a sighting pops up that really grabs my attention. That happened again recently with reports coming out of Seguin, Texas, where residents have taken to social media to share stories of a large, black feline being called a jaguarundi roaming near homes and fields.

Check out my latest video on the jaguarundi.

Some are saying it’s a jaguarundi—a small wild cat once native to South Texas and long rumored to still exist in isolated pockets. And honestly, I can see why people would think that. The descriptions match up: long-bodied, dark-colored, with a tail nearly as long as the body itself. It’s the kind of profile that some say matches a jaguarundi.

Jaguarundis are one of the least known cats on the planet. Although short, they grow fairly long and someone seeing one of these cats could easily label it “black panther”. (USFWS Photo)

But before we jump to conclusions, let’s take a breath.

I’ve been studying these kinds of sightings for decades, and while I don’t doubt the sincerity of the witnesses, I always encourage a cautious approach. Jaguarundis haven’t been officially documented in Texas for quite some time. That said, I do believe there are some in Texas but there is another cat with a similar appearance.

In my own work, I’ve coined the term “black longtail” to describe what some people mistakenly call “black panthers” in Texas and elsewhere. The cats I am talking about obviously aren’t melanistic leopards or jaguars but they also don’t neatly fit the normal domestic house cat category. They’re something else. I’ve collected dozens of firsthand accounts of black, long-bodied cats that defy easy classification.

So could the Seguin cat be a jaguarundi? It’s possible. Could it be a black longtail? Just as likely. I’ve even considered the idea of large black domestic cat hybrids or escaped exotics playing into these stories.

The reality is, we don’t have conclusive photographic or biological evidence yet. What we have is an intriguing sighting that fits a pattern I’ve seen before.

If you’re interested in digging deeper, I’ve covered the jaguarundi mystery in detail on my YouTube channel in the video in this video.

I also explore the wider phenomenon of “black longtails” in this video: A Look At The black Longtail

If you’re in the Seguin area and have seen something similar—or have clear photos or videos—I’d love to hear from you. These mystery cats continue to fascinate me, and every report helps build a broader understanding of what might be out there.

Whether it’s a surviving pocket population of jaguarundis or another chapter in the black longtail mystery, one thing is certain: Texas still holds wild secrets. And I’ll be here, doing my best to uncover them.

Gulf Great White Shark Documentary Premiee-You’re Invited!

A documentary from award-winning wildlife journalist & conservationist Chester Moore.

A mysterious great white shark sighting out of Sabine Pass, TX leads to a 20-year investigation from the Texas Gulf Coast to Cape Cod. This proves the true apex predator of the Gulf of Mexico is returning to southern waters in a big win for ocean conservation.

Click here to access the event page on Facebook. Please RSVP.

World Premiere Presentation at Museum of the Gulf Coast Saturday June 21.

700 Procter St, Port Arthur, TX 77640

Event 10-2

Documentary Premiere at Noon with second playing at 1 p.m.

Celebrating the new groundbreaking documentary on the 50th anniversary date of the “Jaws” release. 

*”The Jaws Effect: Presentation by Chester Moore 

*Premiere of Documentary 

*Q&A with Chester Moore & Videographer & Editor Paul Fuzinski and some of the stars.

*Door Prizes 

Chester Moore

Follow Chester Moore and Higher Calling Wildlife® on the following social media platforms

To support the efforts of Higher Calling Wildlife® click here.

Subscribe to the Dark Outdoors podcast on all major podcasting platforms.

@thechestermoore on Instagram

Chester Moore’s YouTube.

Higher Calling Wildlife on Facebook

Email Chester at chester@chestermoore.com.

Hogs

The Strange Origins Of Feral Hogs

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For all practical purposes, the feral hogs we hunt are Sus scrofa (Eurasian boar) but there are several regional variations that some people are adamant are a different species entirely.

In a column I wrote for Texas Fish & Game, I addressed this and talked about the “Pineywoods rooter,” for example, which is simply the genetic variation of feral hog most common in East Texas. The snouts are typically long and thin and they are typically black in color.

But before we go any further, have you heard the latest Dark Outdoors® podcast where we talk about the strangest wildlife poaching cases ever? We’re trying to raise awareness so please click link below to listen. Listen directly via Podbean here.

Click here to listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, IHeartradio & Audible.

These, as with all hogs in the United States, are not native to this country but there are many hunters who say the rooter is the “original wild hog” and they are native to the region. They might have been here for hundreds of years, but they are not native as whitetails and even black bears are. They are imports.

“Russian boars” are the original Sus scrofa and thus the genetic roadmap for all hogs. There are very few true “Russians” in the United States with the only pedigreed specimens living on small high-fenced ranches.

There are however a good number of hogs particularly in areas of Central and south-Central Texas that have a lot of characteristics of Russians with some looking almost as if they were captured in the Black Forest of Germany.

According to officials with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, “This hog usually has longer legs, a larger head and a longer, flatter snout. Eurasian piglets are reddish brown with black longitudinal stripes. As the animals mature, the stripes disappear and their color changes to gray grizzled or black. Eurasian hogs generally have longer guard hair and a more distinct mane of guard hair running from the neck to the base of the tail than the domestic hog.”

The appearance of hogs in different regions has much to do with the kinds of domestic hogs allowed to roam freely in the region years ago and the sources still entering the woods.

Near Deweyville about 15 years ago, people were dumping off potbelly pigs along one road for a year. For several years people thought they were excellent pets but when they realized the animals got much bigger than expected they would release them into the woods.

Well, this road which led to a county dump became the place to release potbellies. I had to take this road to one of the hunting clubs I was on and would frequently see a new batch of potbellies. 

It did not take long for these animals to breed with the ferals there and create some interesting looking pigs with a fat face and the classic pot belly.  I will never forget seeing a 200-pound sow that walked in front of my game camera, with the snout of a “Piney Woods rooter” and the belly and coloration of a potbelly.

I saw a straight up potbelly roaming a pasture behind a Buc-ee’s location here in our great state in more recent years.

Some hunters report killing “mule-footed hogs” which have one big hoof instead of being split like a typical pig. These animals have reached legendary status in the hog hunting community and are considered trophies. What they are killing are feral descendants of a super rare domestic breed.

According to researchers with Oklahoma State University, “The most distinctive feature of the American Mulefoot hog is the solid hoof which resembles that of a mule. Pigs with solid hooves (also called syndactylism) have attracted the interest of many writers over the centuries, including Aristotle and Darwin.

Yet of all the mule footed hogs described, the American Mulefoot is the only documented population with a breed standard and a long history of agricultural use. This breed is unique to the United States and is critically rare. Recent events, however, have led to more optimism regarding its survival.”

Mulefoot hogs are mainly black, with occasional animals having white points; medium flop ears; and a soft hair coat. The hogs were of gentle disposition, fattened quite easily, and weighed from 400-600 pounds at two years of age. They were considered the highest quality ‘ham hogs’ and were fed to great weights before slaughter.”

Despite all these potential variations the animals are legally known as “feral hogs” and therefore are considered varmints under law which means hunters in Texas can take them any time of year with no bag limit and by virtually any means whether they are red and spotted or black with a low-swinging pot belly.

Still, knowing their origins is quite interesting.

Chester Moore

Follow Chester Moore and Higher Calling Wildlife® on the following social media platforms

To support the efforts of Higher Calling Wildlife® click here.

Subscribe to the Dark Outdoors podcast on all major podcasting platforms.

@thechestermoore on Instagram

Chester Moore’s YouTube.

Higher Calling Wildlife on Facebook

Email Chester at chester@chestermoore.com.

Dark Outdoors

Black Bear Kills Florida Man

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In a shocking and unprecedented incident, an 88-year-old man and his dog were killed in what officials believe was a black bear attack near Jerome, Florida, early Monday morning. According to ABC News, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) confirmed this as the first fatal bear attack ever recorded in the state.

The victim, Robert Markel, was found by his daughter after she heard a disturbance and witnessed a bear attacking their family dog. After the dog was fatally mauled, she searched for her father and tragically discovered that he, too, had been attacked and killed. The two attacks occurred within a few hundred yards of each other and at different times, according to FWC spokesperson George Reynaud.

As reported by CBS News, wildlife officers immediately began searching for the black bear, setting four traps in the area and using drones to canvass the terrain. Two bears were euthanized Monday night, and The Associated Press notes that DNA testing is currently underway to determine whether either of them was responsible for the attacks.

The incident occurred near State Road 29 and U.S. 41, on the southern edge of the Big Cypress Wildlife Management Area. Officials have urged the public to stay away from the area while the investigation continues and to exercise caution around wildlife

Read the rest of the story here.

Strangest Poaching Case Ever?

In this unusual episode of Dark Outdoors, we uncover the bizarre case of a man who posed as a woman to gain illegal access to a city park—and its vulnerable deer population. What starts as a strange poacher scheme spirals into a web of wildlife trafficking, leading investigators deep into the shadowy world of exotic animal cloning. Join us as we track the trail from urban deer blinds to high-stakes deals involving the cloning and black-market trade of the elusive Marco Polo sheep and it’s “Frankensheep” hybrids.

Click here to listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, IHeartradio & Audible.

You can listen directly on Podbean here.

Follow Chester Moore and Higher Calling Wildlife® on the following social media platforms

To support the efforts of Higher Calling Wildlife® click here.

Subscribe to the Dark Outdoors podcast on all major podcasting platforms.

@thechestermoore on Instagram

Chester Moore’s YouTube.

Higher Calling Wildlife on Facebook

Email Chester at chester@chestermoore.com.

Uncategorized

Poacher Poses As Woman To Kill City Deer & The Dark Side of Wildlife Cloning

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In this unusual episode of Dark Outdoors, we uncover the bizarre case of a man who posed as a woman to gain illegal access to a city park—and its vulnerable deer population. What starts as a strange poacher scheme spirals into a web of wildlife trafficking, leading investigators deep into the shadowy world of exotic animal cloning. Join us as we track the trail from urban deer blinds to high-stakes deals involving the cloning and black-market trade of the elusive Marco Polo sheep and it’s “Frankensheep” hybrids.

Click here to listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, IHeartradio & Audible.

Chester Moore Wins Big At TOWA Awards

Chester Moore won big in the “Excellence In Craft Awards” of the Texas Outdoor Writer’s Association at their annual banquet in Rockport, TX.

He won first place in the following categories:

*Best Podcast (Dark Outdoors®)

*Best Website (Gulfgreatwhites.com.)

*Best News Story (Restoration of Bighorn Sheep to Franklin Mts.)

*Best Column (The Trafficking & Cloning of the Marco Polo Sheep)

*Best Video (Finding Hope In Yellowstone – plus second in this division for Discovering Bighorns.)

Gulf Great White Shark Event

Join the Museum of the Gulf Coast and Higher Calling Wildlife for the official debut of Gulf Great White Sharks: Return of an Icon on Saturday, June 21, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 700 Procter St, Port Arthur, TX. This exciting, family-friendly event is free and open to the public, featuring a screening of the brand-new documentary produced by award-winning wildlife journalist Chester Moore and filmed by Paul Fuzinski. The film dives deep into the mysterious reappearance of great white sharks in the Gulf of Mexico, including Texas waters.

Alongside the film, attendees will enjoy a shark conservation seminar, expert insights into Gulf wildlife, behind-the-scenes filmmaking stories, and family activities. Celebrate ocean science and pop culture on the 50th anniversary weekend of Jaws—the perfect moment to explore the real-life counterparts of the iconic shark.

👉 Event Details on Facebook

Follow Chester Moore and Higher Calling Wildlife® on the following social media platforms

To support the efforts of Higher Calling Wildlife® click here.

Subscribe to the Dark Outdoors podcast on all major podcasting platforms.

@thechestermoore on Instagram

Chester Moore’s YouTube.

Higher Calling Wildlife on Facebook

Email Chester at chester@chestermoore.com.

Dark Outdoors, Great White Sharks

The Missing Texas 40 & Great White Event

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In this special lost episode of Dark Outdoors, we uncover a never-before-heard interview with the late Jerrie Dean, founder of the Missing Texas 40 project.

Recorded before her passing, Jerrie shares chilling insights into unsolved disappearances, cold cases, and suspicious deaths, including a disturbing case involving a body found in a barrel and a brutal murder deep in the Pineywoods of East Texas. This rare interview sheds light on missing persons, rural crime, and the haunting mysteries hidden in the Texas wilderness. Join us for this gripping true crime story that brings forgotten victims back into the spotlight.

You can subscribe and listen here via Spotify, Apple Podcasts, IHeartradio  Audible.

.Gulf Great White Sharks Event

Join the Museum of the Gulf Coast and Higher Calling Wildlife for the official debut of Gulf Great White Sharks: Return of an Icon on Saturday, June 21, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 700 Procter St, Port Arthur, TX. This exciting, family-friendly event is free and open to the public, featuring a screening of the brand-new documentary produced by award-winning wildlife journalist Chester Moore and filmed by Paul Fuzinski. The film dives deep into the mysterious reappearance of great white sharks in the Gulf of Mexico, including Texas waters.

Alongside the film, attendees will enjoy a shark conservation seminar, expert insights into Gulf wildlife, behind-the-scenes filmmaking stories, and family activities. Celebrate ocean science and pop culture on the 50th anniversary weekend of Jaws—the perfect moment to explore the real-life counterparts of the iconic shark.

👉 Event Details on Facebook

Follow Chester Moore and Higher Calling Wildlife® on the following social media platforms

To support the efforts of Higher Calling Wildlife® click here.

Subscribe to the Dark Outdoors podcast on all major podcasting platforms.

@thechestermoore on Instagram

Chester Moore’s YouTube.

Higher Calling Wildlife on Facebook

Email Chester at chester@chestermoore.com.

Marine Conservation

Guy Harvey, Discovery Cove & Dolphins

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In a city where fantasy worlds dominate, Discovery Cove offers something refreshingly real: a chance to connect with animals in ways that are immersive, educational, and soul-stirring.

Tucked away in Orlando, FL, this all-inclusive day resort provides far more than just photo ops with dolphins (which is awesome in its own right!)—it’s become a launchpad for a deeper appreciation of marine life and a powerful tool for conservation.

“It’s just a very enjoyable and aesthetically pleasing experience. Very educational,” said Dr. Guy Harvey, the legendary marine artist and conservationist, in a recent interview.

“For many people, aquariums and places like Discovery Cove are the only way they will ever experience marine life firsthand. It’s one thing to see it on a screen—but when you get close enough to see the eyes, the texture of the skin, the movement—there’s nothing like it.”

A Gateway to the Ocean World

Discovery Cove’s mission is rooted in connecting guests, especially those with little access to the ocean, with the life teeming beneath the surface. Whether swimming with bottlenose dolphins, snorkeling in a million-gallon reef surrounded by rays and tropical fish, or hand-feeding exotic birds, the experiences are curated to ignite curiosity and compassion.

Crystal O’Hea, Vice President of Marketing at Discovery Cove said limiting crowd size is an important part of the experience.

“We limit capacity to about 1,000 guests a day, not just for the guest experience but for animal welfare. It’s like being on a private island—intimate, enriching, and respectful of the wildlife.”

That intimacy allows for meaningful education to unfold naturally. Guests might find themselves feeding a stingray, identifying Amazonian birds in an aviary, or helping a dolphin practice husbandry behaviors like presenting its tail for a health check—all while learning why such efforts matter.

“When a child sees a dolphin up close or swims with a spotted eagle ray named Narina, they start to connect personally with that animal,” said O’Hea.

“That personal connection can spark a lifelong interest in conservation.”

Conservation In Action

The park is more than a feel-good experience—it’s a conservation engine. Through its partnership with the Guy Harvey Foundation, Discovery Cove directly funds marine science research and education.

Proceeds from unique guest programs such as dolphin encounters and shark snorkel opportunities support ocean conservation and help dispel myths about these often-misunderstood predators.

Dr. Harvey sees these encounters as critical.

“People often think sharks are terrifying. But they’re incredibly misunderstood. Discovery Cove gives guests a way to safely see them and learn why they matter,” he said.

“Our oceans are being pushed to the brink. We need people to view marine life not just as food or entertainment, but as wildlife to be respected and protected.”

The park also partners with Rising Tide Conservation to propagate marine fish through aquaculture rather than wild harvesting. The reef system in Discovery Cove produces thousands of fish eggs annually, which are then sent to programs focused on sustainable breeding.

Even the flamingos contribute: visitors who participate in the Flamingo Mingle help fund habitat protection through the Audubon Society.

“We tell guests, ‘You’re not just buying a ticket. You’re investing in conservation,’” O’Hea said.

Empowering the Next Generation

For Dr. Harvey, who’s spent decades exploring the world’s oceans, places like Discovery Cove play a vital role in raising up future ocean advocates.

“We use documentaries, social media, and educational programs to reach people, but nothing replaces real-life experience,” he said.

“When someone touches a shark, watches a ray glide by, or feeds a dolphin, it activates something in them. That inspiration can lead to real change.”

Celebrate With a Life-Changing Giveaway

Now, Discovery Cove and the Guy Harvey Foundation are giving one lucky family a chance to create these unforgettable moments for themselves—with an epic National Dolphin Day Giveaway, running through May 14.

The $4,900 prize package for a family of four includes:

  • A four-night stay at a Discovery Cove partner hotel
  • Four Signature Dolphin Swim packages
  • Unlimited admission to SeaWorld & Aquatica for up to 14 days
  • A complimentary digital photo package
  • A hand-painted, one-of-a-kind dolphin artwork by Dr. Guy Harvey
  • A $150 gift card for use at GuyHarvey.com
  • A signed copy of Dr. Harvey’s book, 10,000 Chicken Sandwiches

For more information, visit DiscoveryCove.com .

Mysterious Wildlife

Bobcat or Ocelot Hybrid? Awesome Photo!

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This week, we received a remarkable bobcat from Grayson County, Texas, whose coat features unusually bold, ocelot-like spotting. The patterning is unusual.

Could this be a case of hybridization, or is it simply a rare natural variation?​

The bobcat from Grayson County adds to the intriguing spectrum of bobcat appearances in Texas. As bobcats continue to thrive across the state and show up on more game cameras. We have seen several with these kinds of markings.

Have you encountered a bobcat with unusual markings? Share your experiences and photos—we’re eager to learn more about these fascinating felines!

Self Defense In the Outdoors (Must Listen!)

Listen and subscribe here .

Joining us is special guest Jeff Stewart—renowned author, gunsmith, and outdoorsman—who brings decades of tactical knowledge and backwoods experience and self defense to the table. We cover vehicle ambush scenarios, defensive tactics, gear recommendations, and how to mentally prepare for the unthinkable.

This is a must-listen for anyone who spends serious time off-grid, from overlanders and hunters to campers and rural residents.

Follow Chester Moore and Higher Calling Wildlife® on the following social media platforms

To support the efforts of Higher Calling Wildlife® click here.

Subscribe to the Dark Outdoors podcast on all major podcasting platforms.

@thechestermoore on Instagram

Chester Moore’s YouTube.

Higher Calling Wildlife on Facebook

Email Chester at chester@chestermoore.com.