My Science School

            The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species is the most detailed directory on the conservation status of plants and animals in the world. It is also called the Red Data Book, and was introduced in 1964.

            The Red List is prepared on the basis of an assessment system that uses certain criteria to understand the risks of a given species. The criteria include the rate of population decline, geographical range, the surviving population size etc.

            After a thorough study using these tools, the status of a species is determined. They could belong to any of the categories – extinct, extinct in the wild, critically endangered, vulnerable, near threatened, least concern, data deficient or not evaluated.

            Every five years, scientists check the conservation status. The Red List is subsequently updated with new data. This way, the information gathered helps governments and other agencies to prioritize their conservation efforts.

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            Endangered, in its simplest sense, means in danger, or threatened. An endangered species is one which has its population reducing at an alarming rate. The threat could be so serious that the animal or plant is likely to become extinct.

            However, if it’s lucky enough, it can be saved through conservationist activities. Mountain gorillas, Iberian lynx, North Atlantic right whales, and Siberian tigers are some of the best examples for endangered animals.

There are always many reasons for a species to become endangered. As we know, humans are the most vicious predators of non-humans. To satisfy his greed, Man makes changes in the environment, modifies its basic structure, and thus throws animals out of their habitats.

            Hence the most important factor contributing to a species’ endangered existence is habitat loss caused by human activities.

            Besides this, all animals are vulnerable to diseases, or predation by other animals. This sometimes results in the permanent disappearance of species.

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            The saiga antelope is a striking variety of antelope that originally inhabited large stretches of the steppes in Central Asia.

            They are animals that have evolved to survive in extreme temperatures. Physically, the antelopes have a distinctive appearance, with an enlarged nose that hangs down over the mouth. In summer, their coats are said to become cinnamon-buff in colour, but turn white, and become very thick in winters. Mature antelopes usually have vertical horns that are ringed in the bottom.

            At present, these uncommon animals can be spotted only in a few areas in Kazakhstan and Russia. They have become extinct in China and Mongolia. Due to their shrinking population, saiga antelopes were declared as critically endangered by the IUCN Red List.

            Habitat degradation, poaching, and human interference are some of the main threats the animals face.

            Besides, droughts, severe winters, predators and diseases too have worsened their fight for survival. Although measures were taken immediately, this is still a concern among conservationists.

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          Blue whales, as most of us know, are the largest animals that ever existed on Earth. They are incredibly huge and weigh as much as 150,000 kg, which is almost equivalent to the weight of 30  elephants!

          Blue whales are known to be found worldwide. Larger individuals grow up to 33.5 metres in length. Typically, they have long bodies with mottled gray colour patterns that appear to be light blue when seen through water. Krills, a kind of Small crustacean, form the major diet of blue whales. These marine animals can eat about four tonnes of krills every day.

          There are numerous other interesting facts about blue whales, but the saddest one is that they are endangered. The animals were almost extinct at a point, when the International Whaling Commission declared them a protected species in 1966.

          The main threat then was commercial whaling, but today, it is climatic changes. The changes in marine environment have badly affected krills, and this in turn, has led to a fall in the blue whale population too. The presence of toxic substances in waters is another factor contributing to this.

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            Fin whales are the second largest mammals in the world, after blue whales. They are also among the fastest of rorquals that can reach up to 37 kilometres in an hour. Hence, a fin whale is also called the greyhound of the sea.

            In physical appearance, fin whales are light grey to brown-black colour on the upper surface, and white on the lower.

            Another important feature is their dorsal fin which can be as long as 60 cms in length. It is said that these mammals that grow up to 26 metres in length and 114 tonnes in weight can dive to depths of 230 metres! Typically, females in this species are larger than their male counterparts.

            Fin whales are known to have a global distribution but they are mainly seen in the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, and Arctic Oceans. However, due to their slim population, these whales are classified as endangered. The major threat before the species is hunting.

            Besides that chemical pollution too largely contribute to the decline of their population.

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            By scientific classification, the African wild ass is a member of the horse family. But it can be best defined as an ancestor of domestic donkeys. These are animals that live in the deserts, and other arid areas of Africa, mainly Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia.

            The most important characteristic of this wild animal is that it can survive water loss of up to 30 per cent of its body weight, and drink enough water to replace it in under 5 minutes! Typically, these animals have stocky bodies with smooth coats in light grey to fawn colours. Wild asses can eat hard and dry plants too. However, in spite of thou ability to survive tough conditions, these animals are reducing in their number. They have been classified as critically endangered. The main reasons for this situation are inter-breeding, poaching, hunting and competition for food.

            Another reason is poaching for food and traditional medicine, which is quite common in African countries. Then, there is the competition with domestic livestock for grazing, as well as water. This is caused by agricultural development, which poses further threats to the survival of these wild asses.

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            The addax is a critically endangered desert antelope found in the Sahara Desert in Africa. It is also known as a white antelope.

            This animal has many interesting features and one of them is the ability to change colour of its coat, depending on the season. It could be grey or brown in winter, and sandy or white in summer. The neck and head of these animals is mainly brown.

            The addax is a desert animal that can live in a very harsh climate where no other animals can survive. This also means they have no particular competition for food or water. Under such circumstances how could their population drop to levels as low as to become ‘critically’ endangered? Well, the only answer to this would be human activities.

            The biggest threat these animals face is from people who visit their ranges in vehicles. They kill these slow-moving antelopes. It is said that when a car follows a herd of addax, they desperately try to escape, and later run out of energy, only to get killed.

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               A radiated tortoise is one of the most attractive species in the family, native to Southern Madagascar. Typically, these groups of tortoises have bright yellow skin coloration with black markings on the head. They also have high-domed black to brown shells, covered with yellow or orange star like patterns. This is what particularly makes the animal stunning.

               Radiated tortoises generally lead solitary lives, but are sometimes found grazing together.

               To protect themselves from predators, the tortoises pull their soft limbs and head inside their hard shells. They also make loud screeching noises during times of crises.

               Another interesting characteristic is their lifespan. Radiated tortoises live for a very long time, sometimes up to the age of 188! However their lives are often cut short by merciless humans and their activities. As a result, this species have become critically endangered. The reasons for this are poaching and destruction of habitat. The commercial trade of these aquatic beings and their pet trade are illegal.

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            A numbat is a rare marsupial animal that is native to parts of Australia. Also known as banded anteaters, they have long sticky tongues that help them pick up termites which they eat exclusively. Usually, these animals make shelters out of old and fallen trees that have hollow logs.

            Numbats were once found across the Southern part of Australia, including Western Australia, South Australia and parts of New South Wales, Victoria and the Northern Territory. But now they are restricted to isolated areas in South-Western Australia.

            The main reason for this sort of population fall is habitat loss. Their ranges have been cleared for agriculture, and destroyed by bush fires. Besides, these are slow-moving animals that can be easily caught by predators like cats, dogs and foxes.

            In recent decades conservation programmes were active and several numbats were reintroduced to a few sites including Yookamurra Sanctuary in South Australia, and Scotia Sanctuary in New South Wales as part of captive breeding and translocation programmes.

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            Cottontop tamarins are small species of primates native to the forests of South America. Presently, the population of these animals is at a dangerous level. Surveys indicate that there are just less than 6000 individuals in the world, making them a critically endangered species. Out of these, only 6000 tamarins can be found in the wild. The tropical forest edges and secondary forests from Costa Rica to north western Columbia are the places where the remaining wild population can be spotted.

            The interesting name of the tamarins comes from the elegant white fur that flows over their heads and shoulders. Typically, they are small primates with a body length of around 20 cms and tail length of 33 cms. These primates are very social and live in troops with around 14 members. Fruits, insects and green plants make up the majority of a tamarin’s diet. But they also eat rodents, reptiles, eggs and tree sap.

            The major threat for the survival of cottontop tamarins is deforestation. Besides, illegal pet trade and scientific research too contribute to their falling numbers.

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               The Malayan tapir is the largest of the tapirs native to Asia. In fact, they are the only members of this family seen in the continent, though in very small numbers. The rainforests in the Malayan Peninsula, Myanmar, Thailand and the Indonesian island of Sumatra are the places where tapirs can now be spotted.

               The number of animals surviving in the wild is unknown, but some surveys show that there aren’t any more than 2500 individuals.

               The appearances of tapirs are quite confusing. Though they look similar to pigs and elephants, tapirs are in fact related to horses and rhinos. Malayan tapirs are herbivores feeding on grass and nuts, water plants, and fruits.

               Generally, these are solitary animals with poor eyesight and a strong sense of smell. They are also excellent swimmers and divers.

               As we saw, tapirs need dense forests to survive. Hence, the primary reason for the decline in their population is loss of habitat, caused by deforestation. They are also known to be poached for meat and sport.

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               The Persian leopard is one of the largest recognized subspecies of leopard. Also called a Caucasian leopard, or a Central Asian leopard, it is seen predominantly in Iran, and sporadically across countries like Armenia, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. These wild cats are known to live in mountainous habitats, including in dry environments, lush forests and snowy ranges.

               Typically, Persian leopards have short legs, and a very powerful frame. Coats that appear from yellow to golden brown colours with a paler fur, and the black spots seen across the body together, make the animal royally attractive.

               Although there is a relatively large geographic range for them, the population of Persian leopards is disappointing. There are estimated to be less than 900 individuals in the wild. Subsequently, they have been classified as endangered by the IUCN Red List. There are several reasons known to have contributed to the fall. Poaching for fur trade and loss of habitat due to deforestation are the obvious ones.

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               Red-headed vultures, or the Asian king vultures, are wild birds native to the Indian sub-continent. Typically, they feed on the decaying flesh of dead animals.

               Although once seen throughout the Indian subcontinent and South-east Asia, these vultures have undergone a serious decline in population and range. They can be seen in some areas of India, especially in the west Himalayan foothills, and rarely in Pakistan, Laos and Nepal.

               There are many reasons attributed to the falling population of red-headed vultures. One of the most important reasons is poisoning. Scientists say that the serious fall in population that occurred in the 1990s was caused by the presence of diclofenac. It is a veterinary drug that used to treat livestock. Those vultures that fed on the dead bodies of these livestock, soon died. This unfortunate series of events is said to have reduced the number of vultures by half.

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               The African grey parrot is one of the largest parrots in the continent, most noted for its intelligence, and ability to mimic human speech.

               The species can be found across tropical Africa. They mainly inhabit primary and secondary lowland forests there.

               The parrots are infamous for damaging maize crops, but they mainly feed on fruits, seeds and nuts, particularly those of the oil-palm.

               The intelligence of a grey parrot is such that they can easily mimic human speech, and learn number sequences. A famous example is Alex, the captive parrot that could utter over 100 words, differentiating between colours, materials, objects and shapes.

               However, these birds are often exploited for the pet trade. Another major issue is the loss of nesting areas. According to a study conducted in 2016, the population of these parrots has declined by more than 90 per cent in Ghana due to poaching for pet trade and habitat loss.

               There are many efforts made to conserve the species, including banning of their export, increased monitoring etc. Salonga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo is one place where the birds are protected.

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            The swift parrot is a fast-flying migratory bird that breeds in Tasmania, along the Southeastern coast. It is a brightly coloured bird in a grass green shade, with a red beak. While flying, these birds are distinguished by their striking red under wings.

            It has been seen that in autumn, swift parrots migrate to mainland Australia, and in winter, to the inland slopes of the Great Dividing Range.

            What brings these parrots into spotlight is their population. With less than 2500 individuals, they have been declared as a critically endangered species in the IUCN Red List.

            There are many reasons attributed to the decline of swift parrot population. The most serious one is the clearing of trees.

            Besides this, there are as well predators like the sugar gliders who kill the parrots.

            The Australian Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 has listed swift parrots as endangered.

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