Learn about Endangered Animals
Amur Leopard
Panthera pardus orientalis, more commonly known as Amur Leopards, are mammals that live up to 10-15 years old. They are found on the east side of Russia and China. Amur Leopards are carnivorous and prefer hunting in the dense forest for deer and rodents. Due to climate change, there are only about 100 of these leopards left. Additionally, they have been declared critically endangered since 1996 by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Northern White Rhino
The Northern White Rhino is believed to be extinct in the wild with only 2 females living in captivity, Najin and Fatu. They currently live in the guarded Ol Pejeta Conservatory where they eat grass. The extreme scarcity of these creatures is because of hunting and habitat loss.
Red Panda
Ailurus fulgens, more commonly known as Red Pandas is a mammal native to Myanmar and China. Their diet consists of fruits, bamboo, grasses, and occasionally insects and small mammals. Although they also eat bamboo, Red Pandas are unrelated to Giant Pandas. Over the last 20 years, their population has decreased by nearly 50% due to habitat loss, and are listed as endangered by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Sierra Neveda Red Fox
The Sierra Nevada Red Fox, also known as Vulpes vulpes necator is a mammal that has a lifespan of about five to six years which is longer than most foxes. As its name implies, they are native to the high-elevated forest areas in the Sierra Nevada. They usually prey on small mammals like mice or squirrels, but they also eat manzanita berries and deer carrion (dead corpses). Additionally, its thick coat of fur helps it stay warm in the winter. In 2021, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service declared them as endangered as there are less than 40 left.
African Forest Elephant
The African Forest Elephant or Loxodonta cyclotis is one of the only two living species of African elephants. They are usually greyish-brown, with noticeably more rounded ears and hairier trunk than their savanna relatives. These gentle giants can weigh 2-5 tons and stand up to 10 feet tall. They live in thick forests in Central and West Africa. Their herbivorous diet consists of grasses, seeds, roots, fruit, tree bark, leaves, twigs, and other vegetables. The African Forest Elephant is declared Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species because they were poached for their ivory tusks.
Western Lowland Gorilla
The Western Lowland Gorilla, or Gorilla gorilla gorilla is one of the 2 spieces of the genus gorilla. They can run up to 25 mph. In the wild, they can live up to 40 years, but in captivity, they can live up to 50 years. Lowland gorillas are usually 4.5 to 5 feet tall. Males can weigh anywhere from 300 to 600 pounds, with females weighing 150 to 300 pounds. They eat the leaves and stems of herbs, shrubs, and vines. They also eat the fruits of many seasonally fruiting tree species. The Western Lowland Gorilla is critically endangered because of hunting and disease. Fewer than 150,000 Western Lowland Gorillas exist today.
Southern Sea Otter
The Southern Sea Otter or Enhydra Lutris is a marine mammal that can live from 15 to 20 years old. They inhabit the coastal waters of the Pacific coast. They prey on sea urchins, crabs, clams, fish, octopus, mussels, and other marine invertebrates. When attacked by a shark or an orca, they will dive deep underwater or play dead as a defense mechanism. Adult southern sea otters typically weigh about 60 pounds and can measure up to 4 feet. Currently, the endangered southern sea otters are on the brink of extinction - only 3,000 individual otters remain. Pollution, oil spills, fishing gear entanglements, disease, loss of kelp, and boat strikes all pose a threat to the survival of this species.
Green Sea Turtle
The Green Sea Turtle also known as Chelnodia Mydas are ocean reptilians that have a pale underbelly and a greenish olive color for the shell. They mainly eat algae, seagrasses, and seaweed, but they also eat fish and other invertebrates. Adult Green Sea Turtles are hunted by larger sharks , and crabs while birds and other mammals hunt the Juveniles. They are found in subtropical and temperate regions of the Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, and the Mediterranian Sea. They rarely interact with each other, other than when mating. The main threat to their survival is bycatch by commercial and recreational fishers, loss of habitat, and boat collisions, so in 2016 the Green Sea Turtle was declared endangered by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Polar Bears
The Polar Bear, or Ursus maritimus is a white-furred bear living in the northernmost place on the planet, the Arctic. Their scientific name is Latin and means “sea bear”. They generally hunt alone for seals with their adequate sense of smell. Unlike its close relative the brown bear, polar bears do not hibernate during the winter. Instead, they rely on their thick layers of fur and fat to stay warm. Due to climate change, polar bears are currently vulnerable, but some say they will become extinct by the end of the century.
Blue Whales
The Blue Whale, the Balaenoptera musculus is the largest known animal to roam this planet. They can grow up to 100 feet long and weigh 199 tons, with a heart that is 5 feet long. They have a long and narrow blue body. Scientists have documented many blue whales and have estimated that they can live upwards of 90 years. They have a baleen, a comb-like material that hangs from the roof of their mouth. The baleen allows Blue Whale to filter krill out of saltwater. They are endangered because of commercial whaling activities and have been on the Red List since 1970.
December Animal of the Month
Chinchillas
The Animal of the month is the chinchilla! They have extremely soft fur with over 80 hairs per follicle. This dense fur makes them perfectly adapted to the cold region in the Andes Mountains in South America. However, they cannot take baths like most animals due to their dense fur. Instead, they roll in volcanic ash which helps remove excess oils and cleans their fur.
Chinchillas have been roaming the earth for 41 million years but were nearly extinct by the 1900s because they were poached for their fur. In fact, the word Chinchilla comes from the native Andes Tribe, Chicha who hunted wild chinchillas for clothing.
In 1920, almost a dozen chinchillas were imported to the US.
Nearly all chinchillas here are a direct descendant of the eleven chinchillas brought to this country.
In the wild, Chinchilla forage for grass, leaves, and twigs to eat at night, away from the predators.
Some examples of wild chinchilla predators are owls or hawks, who hunt from the sky, while foxes, cougars, and snakes hunt them from the ground. Besides their natural instinct to hide, chinchillas employ 2 mechanisms to escape predators. Chinchillas release fur if they are ever grabbed or bitten, and spray urine whenever threatened to scare away predators.
-Jolina Jian
How can we help?
The sad part is chinchillas are still hunted for their fur. Due to their super soft fur, they are commonly bred and killed to make fur coats. This is one of the main reasons why they are declared critically endangered by the IUCN. While it is illegal to kill wild chinchillas now, many breeders are still breeding chinchillas to make fur coats. They are also forced to live in tiny enclosures and aren’t able to interact with other chinchillas. It’s like being locked in a closet with nothing to do and no one to play with. For social animals like chinchillas, it can lead to many behaviors such as biting their own fur and more.
By supporting organizations like Save the Wild Chinchillas or by signing petitions to stop the killing of chinchillas, you can stop the heartless killing of chinchillas. We can stop this… Tell your friends, family, any anyone to not buy any fur coats. And remember, to reuse reduce and recycle to stop the damage on their habitat.
-Jolina Jian
