My Science School

            The Przewalski’s horse is quite a strange name for an animal, isn’t? Not many of us have heard of the animal, mainly because not many exist today. Also known as the Dzungarian horse, these are a rare and endangered subspecies of wild horses, native to the steppes of Central Asia.

             It is a relatively small member of the horse family, with a stiff, dark, upright mane and a height up to 1.4 metres. They were once found throughout Mongolia, Northern China, and some parts of Siberia. But at present, they can be spotted only on the plains and prairies of Mongolia. There is no evidence to show that the animal was ever domesticated, and so one can say a Przewalski’s horse is the only wild horse in the world today.

            In the 1960s, the species was almost extinct in the wild, but was saved after a few individuals were reintroduced to their native habitats at the Khustain Nuruu National Park, Takhin Tal Nature Reserve, and Khomiin Tal in Mongolia. The main reasons for the disappearance were hunting for meat, and interbreeding with domesticated horses. Today, there are many zoos in the world where these horses are seen in small numbers.

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            Green sea turtles are large sea turtles that can be spotted in tropical and subtropical seas around the world. The distinct populations of these sea animals are seen predominantly in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and sometimes, in the Indian Ocean too. Over 80 countries are known to have the nests of these turtles on their beaches. With a weight up to 300 kg, green sea turtles are huge. Their name comes from the greenish colour of their cartilage and fat.

            Like many other species, green sea turtles too have an unsafe existence. As a result, they have been listed as endangered by the IUCN Red List.

            The reasons for the falling population of the turtles are both intentional and accidental. In general, these animals are continuously hunted for food and their eggs. Then there are other unintentional reasons like boat strikes and fishing nets that lack turtle excluder devices.

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            The name bonobo many sound really cute to many of us, but the lives of these animals are anything but cute. A bonobo is an endangered animal that can be seen only in the jungles of the Democratic Republic of Congo, in Africa.

            They are also known by the names pygmy chimpanzees and gracile chimpanzees. The animal is distinguished by its long legs, dark face, pink lips, and parted long hair. In general, they are known to be peaceful primates, living in groups led by females.

            Along with common chimpanzees, bonobos are also very close relatives of human beings, and are of high intelligence.

            Although there isn’t much data, the remaining population of bonobos is thought to be something between 29,500 and 50,000. Hence, they are classified as endangered by the IUCN Red List.

            By now, you must be aware that almost all the species that are endangered, consider humans as their biggest threat. It’s not different in the case of bonobos either.

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            A hawksbill sea turtle is one of the most critically endangered species found in the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Generally, these aquatic beings spend most of their time in shallow lagoons and coral reefs, feeding on sponges, sea anemones and jellyfishes.

            The appearance of a hawksbill turtle is similar to that of other marine turtles. They have narrow, pointed beaks and distinctive patterns of overlapping scales on their shells. It is said that depending on the temperature of the water, the shells of these turtles change colour, making them a highly valuable species.

            A hawksbill sea turtle is now a rare animal, merely because of human activities. They are widely hunted for meat, as well as for other purposes. In many parts of the world, they are still seen as delicacies. Another reason for their exploitation is the attractive shells of hawksbill turtles, which have largely become materials for decoration and jewellery-making. The existence of these turtles is also threatened by heavy pollution in water and loss of nesting areas due to coastal development.

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            The red wolf or the Florida wolf is one of the two species of wolves native to the Eastern United States. The other one is the gray wolf. The name red wolf comes from the reddish colour of the animal’s fur. Otherwise, these wolves are mostly brown and buff coloured. They are highly social animals living in packs, known to avoid humans and human activities. Raccoons, rabbits, white-tailed deer, nutria, and other rodents form their main diet.

            Red wolves are in the news often because of their decreasing number. It is one of the critically endangered species in the world, as classified by the IUCN Red List in 1996.

            Red wolves started disappearing by the 1990s. The belief that red wolves cause cattle loss is widespread, and this has resulted in indiscriminate killing of these animals in remote areas. Land clearing, hunting, logging, road development, mineral exploration, etc., too have affected this helpless species.

            The current wild population of red wolves is at its worst ever - there are less than 100 left.

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            An aye-aye may not sound like a living thing, but it is in reality, a lemur that is native to Madagascar. The appearance of this creature is as strange as its name. At first glance, it seems to be a rodent, but in fact, it is a primate.

            The name aye-aye, was given by French naturalist Pierre Sonner-at in 1782, while describing the lemur. This primate comes in dark brown or black colour, and has a bushy tail that is larger than their body.

            The species was thought to be extinct in 1933. In 1957, they were rediscovered. Currently, aye-ayes are the largest and the most endangered nocturnal primates classified by the IUCN Red List.

            There are many reasons for the fall in their numbers. One of them is superstition. There is a belief in Madagascar that an aye-aye brings bad luck. For this reason, many of these animals are mercilessly killed on sight. Then of course, they are hunted down, and their habitats destroyed to meet man’s selfish needs.

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            As adorable as their name, chinchillas are rodents seen in the Andes Mountains of Northern Chile. These beautiful creatures are best known for their soft, velvet-like fur.

            But sadly, the same feature has taken them close to extinction. They are one of the most critically endangered species on Earth, as classified by the IUCN Red List.

            The population of wild chinchillas has been in danger for at least a hundred years. Previously, they were found extensively in the coastal regions, hills and mountains of Chile, Peru, Argentina, and Bolivia. But poaching, hunting, habitat destruction, deforestation etc have strictly confined the animals to the very few regions where they are now seen.

            In 1920, legal measures were framed by the countries to protect the species. However, they still don’t help as required. Poaching for fur has been the greatest threat before chinchillas.

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            The golden lion tamarin or golden marmoset is one of the rarest animals in the world, native to the Atlantic coastal forests of Brazil. It is a peculiar, tree-dwelling monkey with a small rounded head that is surrounded by a thick, golden mane. Its body and tail are covered with long silky hair that comes in pale blonde to reddish golden colour.

            After observing a   shrinking population, the IUCN Red List classified the golden lion tamarin as an endangered species. Subsequently, a few wildlife organisations started reintroduction programmes from 140 zoos worldwide.

            Although it was a success, the population of the monkeys is still not out of danger. Due to logging, agriculture and industry-expansion, the rain forests of Brazil are disappearing.

            That means that the habitats of the golden lion tamarins are being destroyed. Yet another challenge the species face is the illegal pet trade. With all these, the estimated wild population of this golden animal is thought to be less than 3500.

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            Pygmy hippopotamuses, as appropriately named, are small-sized relatives of common hippopotamuses. They are native to the swamps of West Africa, mainly Liberia.

            Compared to their cousins, a pygmy hippo is tiny in size. It reaches just up to 80 cms in height, and its weight is less than one-fourth of that of a full-sized hippo.

            Pygmies in general are nocturnal and solitary animals, eating only tree leaves, branches, fallen leaves, and fruits. With just less than 3000 individuals, they are classified as an endangered species by the IUCN Red List.

            The main reasons for their population decline can be predicted – habitat loss, conversion to farm land and hunting for food. In spite of the prohibition of the bush meat trade and several awareness programs about the need to conserve endangered species, hunting of pygmy hippos is still a reality in Liberia.

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            An Asiatic cheetah is one of the rarest animals today, because of its status of being critically endangered.

            One of the fastest mammals alive, this animal was once prevalent on the Indian subcontinent. Its range extended throughout India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Central Asia. But today, if one has to be lucky enough to see an Asiatic cheetah, he has to go to remote areas in Eastern Iran. Hence, the animal is now also known as the Iranian cheetah. Studies show that presently there are only less than 50 cheetahs in the wild.

            One of the reasons for the disappearance of Asiatic cheetahs is thought to be the absence of preferred preys. We know for a fact that when small animals in an area are over-hunted, it affects the larger ones too.

            Apart from this, cheetahs are poached in large numbers. In Afghanistan and Turkmenistan, it was hunting that brought the cheetah population to a close.

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            As their name suggests, Chinese alligators are members of the alligator family native to China. Originally, their range extended through much of the country. But today, they can be spotted in swamps and ponds in the lower basin of the Yangtze River alone. The population of these alligators has been reduced due to exploitation of their habitat and poisoning of prey.

            The skins of Chinese alligators were once used to make drums but it was never a popular material for making leather products. Besides, these alligators do not attack humans. Yet, we treat them so badly that they are on the verge of extinction. In 1998, the largest area where alligators lived was a small pond along the Yangtze River, surrounded by farmland. And the number of individuals in them was 11!

            Poaching is another threat. These animals are hunted for their meat, which is used in traditional Chinese medicine. Apart from all these, they are killed simply because people think of them as a menace. Experts warn that unless extreme actions are taken, this subspecies will soon become extinct in the wild.

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            Believed to be the cutest in the world, Borneo elephants are a subspecies of Asian elephants native to the lowland forests of Indonesia and Malaysia. They are also known as pygmy elephants, with relatively small sizes, baby-faces, large ears, and plump bellies. The size of these elephants is a fifth smaller than the mainland Indian elephants.

            The tails of Bornean elephants are so long that they often drag it on the ground as they move.

            With a population less than 2000 altogether, they have been classified as endangered by the IUCN Red List. Due to massive deforestation, the habitats of these elephants in Borneo are fragmented. This leaves the animals without shelter and food. Conversion of forest land to commercial plantations, logging, expansion of agriculture fields, and palm plantations too have affected the lives of Bornean elephants very badly.

            They are also hunted down for their valuable tusks. Reports reveal that snares or poisons are often used in forests to catch the elephants. However, this endangered species is protected by law in Malaysia.

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            African wild dogs are members of the dog family that are seen in southern Africa and the southern part of East Africa, especially Tanzania, and Northern Mozambique. They mostly roam in savannah, open plains, and sometimes, in the woodlands of these countries.

            Once respected by several hunter-gatherer societies, African wild dogs are known by various different names like painted dogs, cape hunting dogs, and African hunting dogs. They are highly social, and live in packs of around 10 individuals.

            However, the dogs are most talked about for their reducing numbers. They are considered to be the most endangered predators of Africa. The major threats to their existence are killing, both accidental and targeted, as well as diseases like rabies, canine distemper etc.

            As human encroachment increases, the habitats of the wild dogs are destroyed. This is another factor that leads to Man-animal conflict.

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            Gharials are large crocodiles found in the Indian subcontinent. They are among the largest living crocodiles in the world. These animals have long snouts and mouths with around 110 sharp teeth. The name of this species comes from the unique shape of their snouts. The snouts resemble earthenware pots used in India known as ‘gharas’, hence the name gharials.

            These animals were seen in Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Myanmar other than in India. But today, it is a critically endangered species that can be spotted only in India and Nepal.

            This change, experts say, has happened over the past decades. With increase in farming and agricultural practices, many habitats of the crocodiles were encroached. Then, factors like mining, pollution and other general disturbances contributed to environmental changes.

            History points out that the species came close to extinction by the 1970s, but was saved by a long-term captive breeding and re-introduction programme. However, in the late 1990s the population again declined. The National Chambal Sanctuary and Katar-niaghat Sanctuary are two of the places in the country where gharials are protected.

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            The proboscis monkey is a large tree-dwelling primate that is native to the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia. With its long and pendulous nose, this is one among the most easily identifiable species of Borneo’s primates. Hence, it is also called the long-nosed monkey.

            Proboscis monkeys have partially webbed feet that make them excellent swimmers.

            Due to extensive habitat destruction and hunting, they have become endangered. Today, there are just less than 1000 of them remaining in the world. Conversion of forest land for agriculture, and palm-plantations pose major threats to their existence.

            They are also vulnerable to poaching. They are hunted for bush meat, as well as to make traditional Chinese medicine. Hence, the population is said to have reduced by more than 50 per cent in the past four decades.

            Experts note that proboscis monkeys are highly sensitive to digestive complications, noise pollution, diseases, and human interference. They are therefore, protected by law, throughout the Borneo range.

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