Endangered — Blog — Wildlife Woods

Human beings won the evolutionary race so long ago that it’s almost hard to believe any genuine competition as the world’s most dominant species ever existed. As self-appointed custodians of the beautiful planet we inhabit, it is our duty to look after the welfare of all species that call the Earth home.

The term “social responsibility” is one that I hear almost on a day-to-day basis. Most who embrace this ethos consider the positive impact they can contribute to human society, but many forget about the flora and fauna that play a pivotal role in balancing the delicate ecosystems our lives depend upon.

In 2020, it is fairly common knowledge that the human race depends heavily on nature. Despite this, our rainforests are being cut down at an alarming rate, carbon emissions are melting sea ice, and plastic and other harmful waste is being dumped into the oceans, in some cases literally choking marine life to death. These are just a few of the terrible consequences of irresponsible human activity.

While scientists warn that our destructive and unsustainable practices will eventually come back to haunt us, the effects of our actions are already proving to be catastrophic to many other species. The vast majority of people already know about the plight of iconic animals such as the tiger, orangutan, and Asian elephant, but this article serves to bring attention to some of the lesser-known species threatened with extinction.

Kakapo

The only parrot incapable of flight, the Kakapao was once widespread on all three main islands of New Zealand and at one time was considered the third most numerous of all species residing in the Oceanian nation. However, since human settlement, the Kakapao population has plummeted to around only 126 birds, making them extremely susceptible to extinction. The ground-dwelling birds were once hunted for food and their feathers which were turned into cloaks, but recent conservation efforts have helped them to become a protected species.

Baiji

Also known as the Chinese River Dolphin, the Baiji is a functionally extinct species of freshwater cetacean. As China began to industrialize, their population declined emphatically due to factors such as fishing, transportation and hydroelectricity. The last know living Baiji was spotted back in 2002, but after a number of unofficial sightings including a video tape caught by a Chinese man in 2007, it has been somewhat tentatively confirmed that there may be up to 20 individuals still living somewhere in the Yangtze River.

Amur Leopard

With an estimated figure of only 57 individuals prowling the southeastern regions of Russia between Vladivostok and the Chinese border, the Amur Leopard is the rarest big cat on the planet. Threats to these critically endangered felines include poaching, forest fires, encroaching civilization, and habitat loss. Due to their alarmingly small population, they are also at risk from inbreeding depression.

Javan Rhinoceros

As one of the most recognizable species on the planet, most, if not all know of the rhinoceros. The more zoologically curious will probably also be aware of the black and white rhino that reside in sub-Saharan Africa, both of which are endangered. What many don’t realize, however, is that three other species walk the grasslands, forests and swamps of southeast Asia. The trio are severely threatened with extinction, but none more so than the Javan Rhinoceros. They are continuously poached for their horns which can reach as much as $30,000 per kilo on the black market. Sadly, it is estimated that only 56-68 individuals remain in the wild today.

Cross-river Gorilla

Estimated at between 200-300 individuals, the Cross-river Gorilla is very similar in appearance to the Western Lowland Gorilla. They live in a region heavily populated by humans around the borders of Cameroon and Nigeria. The large ape’s low numbers are due to deforestation for timber and clearing space for agriculture and livestock. Human encroachment plays another crucial factor in their survival, with individuals being highly vulnerable to the diseases and viruses that we carry.

Giant Ibis

By far the largest of the world’s ibises, the Giant Ibis is considered critically endangered on the IUCN Red List with less than 100 pairs left in the wild. Primary causes include clear-cutting of forests for rubber plantations and drainage of wetlands for cultivation. Human warfare and local droughts - possibly in relation to global climate change - have severely compromised the behavior and breeding habitats of the Giant Ibis in Cambodia, Laos and possibly Vietnam.

Leatherback Sea Turtle

On a global scale Leatherback Sea Turtles are considered vulnerable, but there are many sub-populations which are critically endangered. The largest of all sea turtle species, Leatherbacks are also one of the most migratory. Despite their wide distribution, Leatherback numbers have diminished in the past century owing to irresponsible human activities. This includes intense egg collection, entanglement in lobster pot ropes, bycatch, and physical and chemical pollution. Many Leatherbacks also die from malabsorption and intestinal blockage whilst ingesting plastic bags they mistake for their jellyfish prey.

Saola

Often referred to as the “Asian Unicorn”, Saola are so rare and elusive that they have only been categorically documented by scientists in the wild on four separate occasions. Their restrictive habitat in the Annamite Mountains of Vietnam and Laos and aversion to human proximity make the Saola highly vulnerable to habitat loss and fragmentation. Closely related to bovines, goats, and antelopes the species also suffer losses through illegal hunting for their meat and fur. Only discovered in 1992, it is not yet known exactly how many Saola exist, but the species is widely considered to be critically endangered.

Chinese Giant Salamander

Giant Chinese Salamander / Photo: Shutterstock

Of all the animal classes, Amphibians are most vulnerable to the effects of climate change and therefore the greatest indicators of the health of the surrounding environment. The Chinese Giant Salamander was once widely distributed across China, but human interventions such as over-hunting for food and medicine, destruction of habitat, and global warming have all contributed to their downfall. Most Chinese Giant Salamanders stop feeding at water temperatures in excess of 20 °C and with rates rapidly rising, it may well spell the demise of the world’s largest amphibian.

Vaquita

Only discovered in 1958, the Vaquita is a tiny porpoise considered to be the world’s rarest marine mammal. Almost 60 years after the first sighting, the species is now on the brink of extinction with only 30 individuals swimming off the coasts of the northern regions of the Gulf of California. Their plight is mostly down to illegal fishing operations, with many individuals caught and drowned in gillnets. Unfortunately, the future of the Vaquita looks very bleak.

This article was originally published by Youth Time International Magazine on 20.12.2017

The Rhinoceros is a truly fascinating creature. They belong to a taxonomic order called Perissodactyla, or, odd toed ungulates, which actually makes them more closely related to the equids (Horses and Zebras), than the likes of Elephants or Hippopotamuses.

Even today, it's still surprising for some to learn that there are five species of Rhinoceros distributed across the globe. While the Javan, Sumatran, and Greater One-Horned Rhinoceroses span the Asian continent, the Black and White Rhinoceroses grace the plains and savannas of sub-Saharan Africa.

Aside from the obvious, the one thing that all of these species have in common is their critically endangered status. But since this article is focused mainly on spotting the differences between the two African species, I'll leave this important information to the end.

You'd be forgiven for thinking that the most obvious difference between the two is their colour. In fact, they are actually both grey in colour, and the origins of their names are widely thought to be the result of a language mixup.

The English word "white" is said to have been derived by mistranslation of the Dutch word "wijd", which means "wide" in English. The word "wide" refers to the width of the rhinoceros's mouth. Consequently, English-speaking settlers in South Africa misinterpreted the "wijd" for "white" and the rhino with the wide mouth ended up being called the White Rhino and the other one, with the narrow pointed mouth, was called the Black Rhino.

While there are plenty of differences between Black and White Rhinoceroses, I've aimed to highlight the easiest to identify. Images of Black Rhinos are on the left, with White Rhino comparisons on the right.

Lips

Alternative names for these beautiful animals are the Wide-lipped (white) and Hook-lipped (black) Rhinoceroses. The shapes of their mouths are without doubt the most easily distinguishable feature between the two. Black Rhinoceroses developed a pointed, hooked lip used to pick fruit from branches and select leaves from twigs. In contrast, White Rhinoceroses exhibit flat, wide lips that are perfectly suited to grazing.

Size

The White Rhinoceros is the largest of the whole family, but the difference between its African cousin can only really be appreciated when the two are seen together. In terms of weight, White Rhino males can reach a staggering 2,300 kg, whereas the largest Black Rhinos are about 1,100 kg. The White Rhino can grow as high as 5-6 ft at the shoulder, with Black Rhino reaching between 4.5 and 5.5 ft.

Horn

Both species have two horns, but differences in the way they grow are not a reliable means of identification. White Rhinos tend to have a larger size difference between the two horns, with the front one always being the longest. Black Rhino horns are often more manicured, and, while fairly uncommon, the back horn can be longer than the front.

Back

When observed from a long distance, it can be particularly difficult to determine which species you're looking at. One fairly common way of comparing the two is to take a look at the shape of their backs. While the Black Rhino has a deep concave back, the White Rhino has a fairly flat back with a prominent bump just behind the midway. Another distinguishable characteristic you may notice is that Black Rhinos tend to hold their shorter, rounded heads in a raised position, whereas the White Rhino keeps its elongated, square-shaped head lowered.

Feeding

One should not rely solely on feeding behaviour to distinguish between the two, but in general White Rhino are grazers that feed upon grass and Black Rhino are browsers that gorge on fruits and leaves attached to bushes. In times of drought, however, both have been known to adopt the other's feeding habits.

Offspring

Being significantly larger, the gestation period of the White Rhino is around 16 months as opposed to Black Rhino which is approximately 15 months. The young of the White Rhino usually runs ahead of its mother where it can be easily seen and therefore protected at all times. Due to their habit of spending most of their time in thick bush, the young of Black Rhino usually stay behind the mother as a defence tactic against predators.

Behaviour

There are many behavioural differences, but the best known is the Black Rhino's tendency to be more excitable and aggressive than White Rhinos. One theory for this is because they spend most of their time browsing in thick bush where predators or other threats can spring up on them at any given moment. White Rhino generally spend most of their time in open fields where they have plenty of time to react to any threats.

Why are Rhinoceroses facing extinction?

Poaching has escalated in recent years with a growing demand in Asian countries such as China and Vietnam for Rhino horn. It is used in traditional Chinese medicine but is more commonly purchased as a status symbol of wealth and power.

Despite concrete evidence supporting the fact that rhino horn has absolutely no medicinal value whatsoever, poachers are now being supplied with sophisticated equipment by international criminal gangs to track and kill rhinoceroses. The horn is made of keratin, the exact same substance that makes up human hair and nails. Despite this scientifically proven fact, rhino horn is currently fetching prices of up to $100,000 per kilogram, so it's no wonder anti-poaching units are being kept so busy.

If you'd like to contribute to the conservation of one of our planet's most enchanting and iconic species, you can do so by supporting amazing organisations like Save the Rhino, Helping Rhinos, and International Rhino Foundation.

10 Awesome Animals on the Brink of Extinction