Gligs, the first known Muppet endangered species
Kermit introduces the Endangered Species Chorus Line on The Muppet Show
Endangered: Grapdelites on Dinosaurs
Not endangered: The Great Poonga Poonga on Sesame Street
Endangered species describes animals which are so diminished in numbers as to be facing extinction. The term is often used in connection with the United States Endangered Species Act of 1973, which covered both endangered species and those which may become endangered in the near future (threatened). Several projects by Jim Henson and other Muppet-related productions examined the topic of endangered species and environmental concerns.
References[]
- The earliest Muppet instance to address endangered species is a Land of Gortch segment on Saturday Night Live (November 8, 1975). King Ploobis discovers that the once plentiful Gligs, preyed on as both a culinary luxury and for fashionable clothing, is down to one remaining male (which almost goes down The Mighty Favog before the pragmatic idol returns him to repopulate).
- Cookie Monster is collecting money for endangered species in Sesame Street Episode 0849 (1976). He defines what an endangered species is, and he and Buffy give examples such as the American eagle, the whooping crane, and the polar bear. At the end, Cookie Monster reveals the endangered species in question is actually himself, reasoning that "as me only Cookie Monster, me endangered species."
- Sam the Eagle, in his editorial in The Muppet Show episode 217 (1977), scoffs at a list of endangered animals which "namby-pamby conservationists" seek to protect, including the mountain lion, the timber wolf... and the American bald eagle. The latter leads him to declare the list inoperative. By the time of Muppets Tonight episode 110 (1996), Sam is more comfortable openly declaring himself to be an endangered species.
- The Muppet Show episode 501, for its opening number, presents the Endangered Species Chorus Line (consisting of penguins and baby seals) performing "Jambalaya."
- Dr. Nobel Price, in a Sesame Street News Flash sketch (1981), is dismayed to find out that he has not discovered an endangered species, the Great Poonga Poonga, but the very common rabbit.
- The subject of endangered species on Sesame Street was revisited in Episode 1576 (1981), as part of the 13th season's curriculum emphasis on the environment. After being discovered by two birdwatchers, Big Bird is declared an endangered species by bureaucrat Mr. McNulty. After being taken to a bird sanctuary for protection, however, an unhappy Big Bird is returned home (and the arrival of Uncle Slim indicates his species may be less endangered than presumed).
- Several National Wildlife Federation PSAs examined threats to wildlife, including pollution, poaching, and loss of habitats.
- The Jim Henson Hour special The Song of the Cloud Forest (1989) directly addresses endangered species and extinction as applies to rainforest species. The golden toad, the central species in the special, was declared extinct that same year.
- The Earth Day Special (1990) examines the declining numbers of frogs (which includes Kermit and Robin) and possibility of extinction.
- In the Muppet Babies episode "What's New at the Zoo?," Baby Gonzo fears he might be an endangered species.
- Sesame Street Episode 2876 (1991) examines the plight of Floyd Fluter-tooter, a bird who is endangered after his habitat is destroyed and the rest of his species have disappeared. Big Bird and Gina help him find a new home at a wildlife reserve, which attracts others of his kind and raises hope for the future of fluter-tooters.
- Dinosaurs looked at prehistoric endangered species in "Endangered Species" (1991) and its book adaptation, as well as the series finale "Changing Nature" (1994).
- Several episodes of The Animal Show addressed the topic of endangered species, notably "Gorilla & Rhino."
- Elmo Saves Christmas (1996), due to the careless wishing of a little red monster, shows a future in which Christmas trees have become endangered.
- The 2011 stage show X•tink•shun at the Philadelphia Zoo featured Muppet-style puppets by the Jim Henson Company representing endangered and extinct animals.