by Dr. Jane Goodall, and co-authors Thayne Maynard and Gail Hudson

Sometimes it¿s easy to get caught up in the doom and gloom about the destruction of our environment. Dr. Jane¿s new book, Hope for Animals and their World, chooses not to. She highlights the amazing survival stories of many animal species, thanks to extraordinary people who have worked to protect these animals and their habit.

Dr. Jane discusses well-recognized species like the Giant Panda from South China, to smaller, lesser known animals like the Black-Footed Ferret¿native to the North American Prairies. She writes about not only the animals¿ journeys to the brink of extinction and back, but the passionate researchers who have to and from remote locations protecting these animals and the places they call home.

This book is filled with hope for the world and the relationship between humans and animals. Every account explores how knowledge, compassion and action have rescued a diverse array of species from possible extinction. Roots & Shoots members across the U.S. and abroad join these brave individuals in working to protect threatened animals.

Take a look at what these Roots & Shoots groups are doing through knowledge, compassion and action to help endangered species, just like the stories Dr. Jane writes about in her book:

The Dry Creek Roots & Shoots group from California volunteered at Muir Woods National Monument, removing the invasive French Broom plant from the habitat of the threatened Northern Spotted Owl. They have also done habitat restoration at Milagra Ridge in Pacifica, CA for the endangered Mission Blue Butterfly by removing Monterey Pine and invasive Scotch Broom from the area. Learn more.

By researching and creating posters to display outside their library, 1st grade members of Save the World Roots & Shoots raised awareness in Maryland about the dangers some animals face because of habitat changes and human activity. Learn more.

Putting on a play titled Paws, Feathers, and Fins for their elementary school to raise awareness, a 5th grade class at Old County Road School in Rhode Island combined nonfiction writing, poetry, drama, dance, music, art, and science to emphasize the message that the Earth and endangered species needs our care. Learn more.

Trick-or-Treating is a Halloween tradition that members of an Illinois Roots & Shoots group turned into a fundraiser for endangered species. They ended up adopting a Snowy Owl through the World Wildlife Fund. Learn more.

The Sequoia Park Zoo Roots & Shoots group in California helped renovate the endangered White Handed Gibbon exhibit at the Zoo. The group cleaned walls, secured drains, and hauled wood chips for the gibbons to enjoy. They also helped prepare and install a fake enrichment log, so now these Gibbons enjoy a more natural habitat while in captivity. Learn more.

Visit the official Hope for Animals and Their World website for exclusive features with Dr. Jane, as well as other resources and links to helpful information on endangered species.