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Beluga Whale
Delphinapterus
leucas
HABITAT: One of the smallest whales, 4-6 metres long, with adults
easily identified by creamy-white skin. Arctic Belugas are threatened (Hudson
Bay) or endangered (Ungava Bay) but those in Quebec's St Lawrence River are most
in peril.
NUMBERS: A century ago there were 5,000 St Lawrence Belugas.
Today's population of approximately 500 is dangerously low.
THREAT: Habitat destruction and
reduced food stocks derive from hydroelectric projects and commercial fishing,
toxins from boating, extensive dredging, municipal sewage and industrial waste.
High concentrations of chemicals and heavy metals have been found in Beluga
carcasses since 1982.
CONSERVATION: Hunting was banned in 1979 but pollution remains
a grave threat despite a clean-up launched in 1988. St Lawrence Beluga numbers
may be too low to recover. |
Siberian Crane
Grus leucogeranus
HABITAT: The range of these long pink-legged cranes with snow-white
bodies includes: Afghanistan, China, India, Iran, Pakistan, Russia and sometimes
Mongolia. Its two spring breeding areas are in the marsh-like terrain of
Northern Siberia. Cranes migrate in winter to freshwater wetlands and shallow
ponds. Both parents incubate two eggs but usually only one chick reaches
adulthood.
NUMBERS: Three known flocks. The largest numbers about
2,700 birds; the smallest is 6.
THREAT: The hunting of cranes on their
migratory route in Iran and Afghanistan, and wetland destruction.
CONSERVATION:Eggs
laid in captivity hatched in electric incubators at nesting grounds near the Ob
River. Chicks are reared by caregivers disguised with hand-puppets and crane
costumes.
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South American
River Turtle
Podocnemis expansa
HABITAT: This large, freshwater omnivore weighs approximately
50 kgs and prefers large rivers, flooded forest and oxbow lakes. Nesting occurs
on sandbars or low, sandy beaches. It is found mainly in the Amazon and Orinoco
basins.
NUMBERS: Unknown, but listed as endangered by the International
Union for the Conservation of Nature.
THREAT: Exploited by European
colonizers for oil. Currently threatened by human encroachment in forests,
floodplain clearing and dam construction. It is still hunted for eggs and meat.
CONSERVATION: Some nesting sites are
protected, but enforcement is ineffective.With proper management it could be a
low-cost renewable food source in northern South America.:
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Mountain Gorilla
Gorilla gorilla berengei
HABITAT: All three subspecies of gorillas are threatened, but
none as perilously as mountain gorillas which live in the Virunga volcanoes
region of Rwanda, Uganda and Zaire. The largest living primate, it is thought to
be the most intelligent land animal next to humans. Infant-mortality rates
average about 45%.
NUMBERS: Estimated at less than 400 surviving in the
wild.
THREAT: The gorilla was first endangered when it was hunted for food.
Currently the most serious threat is habitat destruction from human
encroachment. Political unrest threatens conservation projects.
CONSERVATION:
Trade restrictions have diminished hunting for capture, but laws control rather
than prohibit trade in wild gorillas. The Bwindi Forest Reserve in Uganda
protects gorillas and their habitat. |
Peregrine
Falcon
Falco
peregrinusanatum (North American)
HABITAT:
cliffs, buildings and bridges across continental North America. Numerous
sub-species worldwide include the Eurasian peregrine. It hunts in grasslands,
meadows and open countryside, as far as 11 kms from its nest. It can fly faster
than 96 kms an hour and dive at up to 300 kms an hour to seize prey in its
powerful talons.
NUMBERS: About 500 breeding pairs (100 in eastern North
America and 400 in the west).
THREAT: DDT and other organochlorine
pesticides. At the top of the food chain, all raptors (birds of prey) are highly
susceptible to chemical toxins, resulting in egg-shell thinning and breakage.
CONSERVATION:
Captive-breeding programs from the early 1970s have re-established peregrines as
a breeding species in the east and are restocking populations in the west.
Nests on |
Chinese
Alligator
Alligator
sinensis
HABITAT: This small
alligator lives in the wetlands of Anhui (lower Yangzi valley), Zhejiang and
Jiangsu Provinces of China. A semi-aquatic reptile, it eats mainly snails,
freshwater mussels, fish, insects and small mammals. It hibernates in the winter
inburrows in the damp earth.
NUMBERS: Estimated at 500 in the wild. But
there are many more in captive populations.
THREAT: Habitat destruction and
intentional extermination by expanding human populations. During the flood
season many alligators drown while hibernating. Severe drought destroys their
wetland homes.
NSERVATION: Protected by the Chinese Government. There are
alligator-rearing centres in Anhui and outside China. |
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Brazilian
Rosewood
Dalbergia nigra
HABITAT: Scattered populations in the Atlantic Coastal Forests
of Brazil, mainly in fertile hilly areas. A timber tree, prized for expensive
furniture, musical instruments and crafts. It grows 15-25 metres high, with a
thin trunk of 0.3 to 0.4 metres in diameter.
NUMBERS: Few stands remain.
THREAT:
The Atlantic Coastal Forests have been reduced to 5% of their indigenous range
and are still being cleared for plantations and mining. Timber cruisers (madereiros)
still cut stands for the black market.
CONSERVATION: National law protects
Brazil's Atlantic Coastal Forest but no domestic plantations exist to satisfy
market demands. |
Babirusa
Babyrousa babyrussa
HABITAT:
Indonesia, islands of: Sulawesi, Buru, Sula and Togian. This pig-like mammal can
be identified by tusks that turn upward towards the forehead. An omnivore and
social animal, it inhabits river banks and ponds with abundant water plants in
tropicalrainforest.
NUMBERS: In 1978 estimated between 500 and 1,000
counting is difficult because of the Babirusa's shyness and remote habitat.
THREAT:
Habitat destruction from logging activity and hunting by locals for food.
ONSERVATION:
Legally protected since 1931, but enforcement has been ineffective. Reserves and
national parks in Sulawesi, but still poaching. Needs more reserves and new
stock for captive populations. |
Przewalski's Horse
Equus przewalski
iHABITAT:
This last truly wild horse probably now extinct in the wild, although there may
be a population in north-eastern Xinjiang. Last wild sighting in 1966. Prefers
open grassland, steppe and semi-desert. Differs from domestic horses in shedding
erect,long-haired mane.
NUMBERS: Over 1,000 are captive-bred in zoos and
reserves.
THREAT: Hunting and loss of grazing land to domestic stock.
CONSERVATION:
The captive-bred populations derive from animals captured 80-100 years ago. Loss
of genetic diversity from years of inbreeding. A program to return them to the
wild has been delayed by political instability. |
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Asian ('Indian')Elephant
Elephas
maximus
HABITAT: The Asian elephant?s range once included most of Asia.
Today it is restricted mainly to India and parts of South-east Asia. It requires
vast areas to graze, preferably forest with access to water and grass
eats up to 150 kgs of vegetation a day. Known as 'modern leviathans', elephants
are the only living Proboscidea. Unlike African elephants only some male Asian
elephants, and no females, develop tusks.
NUMBERS: Between 34,000 and
54,000.
THREAT: As many Asian elephants are tuskless, poaching is less of a
threat than in Africa. Deforestation and clashes with local farmers pose the
greater danger.
CONSERVATION: The 1990 ban on the sale of elephant ivory
caused the world-market price to plummet. |
Caribbean
Manatee
Trichechus manatus
HABITAT: Tropical and
subtropical coastal waters and rivers of Caribbean and Atlantic Americas. These
large aquatic 'sea cows' prefer coves and lagoons to open waters. But often
migrate great distances between winter and summer grounds. Graze on sea-grassand
can reach weights of 1,600 kgs.
NUMBERS: Exact numbers unknown. Estimated
1992 Florida population: 1,856.
THREAT: Over-hunting, beginning in the 16th
century, decimated populations. Now greatest dangers include accidental
drownings in fishing nets and death from boat collision (especially in Florida).
CONSERVATION:
Throughout range research, management and public education. In Florida,
manatee-protection zones and refuges. |
Proboscis Monkey
Nasalis
larvatus
HABITAT: Mangrove swamp, peat swamp and riverine forest on
Borneo. Its name comes from the adult male?s large, tongue-shaped nose, which is
as long as 10 cms. The Proboscis sleeps in trees; partially webbed hind feet
make it a good swimmer.
NUMBERS: Rapidly declining. The 1986 population of
250,000 is now less than 5,000.
THREAT: Land clearing for settlement, river
pollution, and poaching and hunting for meat.
CONSERVATION: Samunsam
Wildlife Sanctuary and Tanjung Puting National Park are studying ways to reduce
hunting. Populations are established at Kutai National Park in Kalimantan. |
