NORTHERN WHITE RHINO
The white rhino is the third largest African animal. White rhinos are not white, but grey. The confusion results from a misinterpretation of the Dutch word ‘wijde’ (meaning wide), which is used to describe the rhino’s mouth. The white rhino is an herbivore (graminivore) mammal, maintaining a grass-based diet. The animal can survive 4 – 5 days without directly drinking water, although it will drink twice a day if possible. Rhino horn is used in traditional Asian medicines and to demonstrate social status
The northern white rhino formerly ranged over parts of northwestern Uganda, southern South Sudan. Poachers reduced their population from 500 to 15 in the 1970s and 1980s., There are now just two northern white rhinoceros remaining in the world ( Najin and Fatu). The two females of the subspecies survive in captivity, while the last remaining male (Sudan) died in 2018. Scientists may take a Jurassic Park approach to bring these giants back. While the male rhinos may be dead, their genetic materials are preserved in labs. Could these subspecies be brought back from extinction? The future is uncertain, and it is a challenge against time.
Credit AA.com
Sumatran Tiger
Sumatran tigers are the smallest of all tiger subspecies. They have a more bearded and manned appearance than their other family members. The last of the Sumatran tigers are estimated to be fewer than 400. Today, all remaining Sumatran tigers are found only in Sumatra. The Sumatran tiger persists in small and fragmented populations across Sumatra, from sea level in the coastal lowland forest of Bukit. They are generally very shy and try to avoid people Tigers are carnivores and will eat whatever they can catch including fish, crocodiles, and fowl, with the most common larger prey being wild pigs and deer.
Habitat loss and poaching are the two biggest threats the critically endangered beast faces. In Indonesia, anyone caught hunting tigers could face jail time and steep fines. Tiger bones are used to make tiger bone wine, a drink in demand by a small number of wealthy Chinese, believing it will impart the characteristics of the tiger to the drinker. Conservation efforts supporting the sustainable management of tiger habitat, and development programs for the communities that live nearby are held. Though efforts are underway to sustain the population, it still may disappear in the coming decades.
Credit worldatlas
Spix’s Macaw
Spix’s macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii), also known as the little blue macaw, Discovered by the German naturalist Johann Baptist von Spix in the early 19th century, is a macaw native to Brazil. Males and females are almost identical in appearance, however, the females are slightly smaller. The Spix’s macaw achieved onscreen fame in 20th Century Fox’s “Rio” as a charming parrot named Blu who travels thousands of miles in an attempt to save his species.
Like many other species of macaw, Spix’s macaws are masters of mimcry. They can mimic human noises a so-called “talking” bird. Macaws are lively, noisy birds.
Today only around 160 Spix’s Macaws exist in captivity worldwide. The last known wild bird disappeared at the end of 2000 .The long-term goal of the Brazilian Government, ACTP(ASSOCIATION FOR THE CONSERVATION OF THREATENED PARROTS ), and other partners in the Spix’s Macaw Program is the reintroduction of the species back into the wild by this year.
Credit mongabay
American Crocodile
American Crocodile is one of the largest crocodile species in the world. Unlike other species of crocodile, these reptiles are not green. The body of the American crocodile is either tan grey or olive-grey, covered with dark patches. The American crocodiles are aquatic animals found on Cape Sable and along Lake Worth and the southeastern coast of Florida. The American crocodile is most active at night. The animal spends more time of the evening submerged in water, which cools slowly, keeping the animal warm for a long period. While the traditional crocodiles usually depend on birds to clean their bodies from parasites, the American crocodiles allow small fishes to clean their bodies.
Historically crocodiles were hunted extensively as their hides were worth a considerable amount of money. This caused considerable damage to their population rates. Today, illegal hunting and habitat destruction are the main threats to the crocodile population. It is illegal to hunt crocodiles in the U.S. however, hunting still occurs. The American crocodile is protected as a Threatened species by the Federal Endangered Species Act and as a Federally-designated Threatened species by Florida’s Endangered and Threatened Species Rule.
Credit wikipedia
African Forest Elephant
African forest elephant closely resembles African bush elephant; African forest elephant is noticeably smaller than African bush elephant. The African forest elephant has grey skin, which looks yellow to reddish after wallowing. It inhabits the dense rainforests of west and central
Africa. The area of this species’ distribution covers a vast territory in central and western Africa. They are known to move between habitats seasonally. African forest elephants are social animals. Their groups consist of 2 – 8 individuals. This giant is an herbivore. To supplement their diet with minerals, they congregate at mineral-rich waterholes and mineral licks.
For these mammals, hearing, and smell are the most important senses they possess because they do not have good eyesight. The elephant’s feet are sensitive and can detect vibrations through the ground, whether thunder or elephant calls, from up to 10 miles away
Both African elephant species are threatened foremost by habitat loss and habitat fragmentation. Presently, African Forest elephants are not included in the IUCN Red List; however, according to the Wikipedia resource, the total population size of the African forest elephant today is less than 100,000 individuals.
