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Western Lowland Gorilla

This brings us here to segment two of our four week long information extravaganza on gorillas. This week we will be looking into the endangerment of the Western Lowland Gorilla.

The western lowland gorilla is the most numerous and widespread of all gorilla subspecies. Populations can be found in Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Equatorial Guinea as well as in large areas in Gabon and the Republic of Congo. The exact number of western lowland gorillas is not known because they inhabit some of the most dense and remote rainforests in Africa. Significant populations still exist, including in isolated swamps and the remote swampy forests of the Republic of Congo.

Although these animals have a bigger population than mountain gorillas and some other relatives, they are placed on the IUCN Red List as critically endangered.  Over the last 20 to 25 years, Western Lowland Gorillas have seen their populations decrease by 60 percent due to poaching and disease. The World Wildlife Fund stated, "even if all of the threats to western lowland gorillas were removed, scientists calculate that the population would require some 75 years to recover." The western lowland gorilla is the focus of many well-organized conservation efforts, yet its future remains in severe doubt nevertheless. Wildlife management resources are being steadily developed to help conserve these apes. Other critical conservation drives involve quickly and effectively finding viable alternative protein sources for local communities to reduce poaching for bushmeat.

Some interesting points about them:

Western lowland gorillas build temporary leaf nests for shelter and display a high degree of intelligence. Young gorillas ride on their mothers’ backs for several years before achieving greater independence. Sexual maturity is not reached until the age of ten, and gorillas reproduce slowly.

Western lowland gorillas live for between 30 and 40 years in the wild. In captivity they may live to be 60.

Only the alpha male in a group will mate with the females to produce young. 

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Gorillas

This entry isn’t an info conference about a certain species, this is a call for action. A cry for help. These gorillas share the same compassion and love that we possess. They care for their young and are one of closest mammals related to humans. Four of the five subspecies of gorillas are endangered; the Mountain Gorilla, Western Lowland Gorilla, Eastern gorilla, and Cross River Gorilla.  We will go into individual detail of each type every week. This week we will begin with the Mountain gorilla. This species is listed as endangered with currently just over 1000 individuals. This by the way is an improvement from 2012 from 786 to now approximately 1004.

Why are these animals in danger?

There are three main reasons, poaching, disease, and habitat loss. We will get into each one.

1.Habitat loss

Mountain gorillas live in the cool and moist climate of the Virunga Mountains. They are herbivores, feeding on plants like wild celery, thistle, and nettle, as well tree species like bamboo, and one of the reasons that they are endangered is due to human encroachment as the forests they occupy are being cleared and degraded for the growing human population. In addition, the conversion of land for agriculture, livestock, and competition for limited resources like firewood, lead to varying levels of deforestation. This can be seen around Virunga National Park in DR Congo where illegal settlers cleared 3,700 acres of forest. Inside the park, charcoal is harvested as a fuel source in cooking and heating.

2. Disease

Mountain gorillas are closely related to human beings, making them vulnerable to human diseases. With the already existing burden of diseases that these mountain gorillas suffer from, visiting tourists pose a further threat of infecting them with illnesses such as the flu and even the common cold (which can prove fatal to gorillas).First time exposure to an illness, that is relatively innocuous to humans, may devastate an entire gorilla population. As gorillas live in family groups, they may not be able to recover from a sudden fall in numbers brought on by diseases passed on from human.

3. Poaching

In the first two decades after their discovery, European and American scientists, as well as trophy hunters, killed over 50 mountain gorillas. Today, poaching (of mainly other wild animals) has continuously threatened their survival and habitat. Poachers usually set traps (like wire snares) to catch forest antelopes, bush pigs and other wildlife, but unfortunately gorillas can get caught as well and sometimes fail in removing the snare, which results in them losing a body part or dying from gangrene. There are still cases where mountain gorillas have been killed for their body parts that are sold to researchers, while the infants are sold to people as pets. Hunting gorillas for food (bush meat) is still carried out in the DR Congo area of Virunga.

It is not too late for these animals. There are many conservation aspects being implemented. Gorilla trekking, as a result of selling gorilla permits, provides the money required for environmental initiatives, such as conserving and protecting the gorillas and providing locals with alternative sources of income. Education support through outreach programs help as well as these create awareness of the importance of protecting the gorillas and also teaches locals about good hygiene to avoid disease transmission between them and the animals.

Other ways:

Donating and providing funds towards conservation projects.

♦ Habituating the mountain gorillas

♦ Visiting other attractions in and around the gorilla parks to ensure that tourism revenue contributes to the local economy.

♦ Buying local handicrafts to support small-scale enterprises.

♦ Encouraging companies operating in the range states to behave in an environmentally responsible way.

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African Civets

African Civets are adorable little creatures. You might know one of their close relatives, the racoon. They are the largest of all civet species in sub-saharan Africa. African Civet populations are also under threat from both habitat loss and deforestation, and have been subject to trophy hunters in the past, across the continent. One of the biggest threats to the African Civet is the want for their musk.

What is musk?

The musk secreted by the glands close to the African Civet's reproductive organs has been collected by Humans for hundreds of years. In its concentrated form, the smell is said to be quite offensive to people, but much more pleasant once diluted. It was this scent that became one of the ingredients in some of the most expensive perfumes in the world (and made the African Civet a well-known African animal).

Description:

The African Civet has short, dense fur that is a greyish colour, with black spots arranged in rows along their bodies. Their legs and about 2/3 of their tail is black, with about a third of the base of their tail having striped markings. Their face is solid grey except for a white muzzle and black markings around the eyes that lead down the face. Their long necks have bars of white and black running down the sides, usually one white bar enclosed by two black bars, one above and one below. They have a short mane of about 3-10cm in length that runs along their back. Civets have 40 teeth.

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Cape Sea Horses

Seahorses are adorable little creatures that we have learned about since we were young. They are quite different from your typical fish; seahorses are characterized by a rapid growth rate, early age at maturity, high natural mortality, short generation time, and multiple spawnings per year.  In a seahorse’s life cycle, male is the one to give birth. Seahorses can reach a size of 20 cm (8 inches). 

The smallest seahorse is Hippocampus satomiae with a length of 13.8 mms (0.54 inches) and a height of 11.5 mms (0.45 inches). Their preferred habitats are coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds and estuaries. They use long snout to absorb tiny shrimp, fish, and plankton. Seahorses protect themselves against predators by blending perfectly in their environment. Male can give birth to up several hundred young from one pregnancy.

Threats to Cape Horses

Legal and illegal trade for ornamental display (sold dried as souvenirs), aquarium fishes, and traditional Chinese medicine. More than 20 millions of seahorses are estimated to be traded each year for Chinese medicine. Hundreds of thousands of seahorses are sold for the aquarium trade driven primarily by North American. Most of these seahorses are juveniles where they usually die within a short period.

Bycatch in the shrimp trawl and other fisheries off of Florida, Mexico, Central America, and South America.

Habitat degradation and destruction due to coastal development, marine pollution, coral reef destruction, and land-based deforestation. Deforestation leads to increased siltation in surrounding marine waters, thereby suffocating seagrass bed and killing coral reefs

The Knysna Seahorse Status Project (KySS) , which is part of the larger Knysna Basin Project. The KySS aims to understand and protect the Knysna seahorse population, and is currently surveying various habitat types to understand the seahorses’ behaviour in different areas. The local community is very supportive of the KySS, and a few locals have been stewards of the seahorse population for decades. Peet Joubert, a former manager of SANParks, has watched the Knysna seahorse population fluctuate due to freshwater floods, local development, and changes in sewage treatment.The KySS is hoping to better understand the nature of the Knysna seahorse reliance on its local habitat, and its ability to withstand external pressures. That way, conservation and management can be better informed for the protection of endangered species.

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Riverine Rabbit

An adorable rabbit that is quite unique from its fellow species. Unlike other rabbits, the beautiful Riverine Rabbit has a particularly slow breeding rate, with only one or two babies being born to a female throughout the course of an entire year. These rabbits will mate with a number of individuals, and are the only known rabbit species to make nests for the baby. Very rarely, two kits may be born at once. Their gestational period is around 35 days.

So, what has been going wrong with these adorable little guys? Well. like most species, their demise is primarily caused by some kind of human interference. In this case, humans are destroying their habitat for agricultural purposes and overgrazing is occuring. These two things have led to the destruction of over 60% of the rabbits’ habitat. These animals are viewed as critically endangered considering that there are only about 400 left in the wild

In 2003, Cape Nature and the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) launched the Drylands Conservation Programme, which focuses not only on saving the rare lagomorphs, but also the stretches of Karoo they call home. The rabbit became a flagship species – drumming up more support for its conservation would hopefully benefit the region as a whole, and any other wildlife within it. And with most of the rabbits scraping by on farmland, helping them also meant working closely with farm owners on strategies that help rabbits and humans coexist. "The Endangered Wildlife Trust's riverine rabbit project is forging ahead with exciting rabbit research," says Christy Bragg, the manager of the conservation program. "We are using mobile camera traps to detect and count these rare critters.”

Fun Fact:

The differences between rabbits and hares? Rabbits are born blind, hairless and immobile and are totally dependent on their mother after birth. Hare are born with open eyes, fully furred and active within 48 hours after birth.

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Blue Cranes

The main causes of the sudden decline of the Blue Crane are Predation of eggs by dogs, collisions with transmission lines, urbanisation, crop farming, human population growth, the conversion of grasslands into commercial tree plantations, and poisoning all contribute to the decrease in numbers observed especially in the eastern parts of their distribution range. Poisoning is occurring as farmers place poison on hei properties to offset any crop disruptions while this practice is killing the birds. In one incident, one farmer killed 200 cranes.

The South African government has stepped up legal protection for the Blue Crane. Other conservation measures are focusing on research, habitat management, education, and recruiting the help of private landowners in order to rebuild populations.

The Blue Crane, also known as the Stanley Crane and the Paradise Crane, is a tall, ground-dwelling bird of the crane family which stands a little over a meter high. It is a beautiful symbol and is the national bird of South Africa. Blue cranes lay their eggs in the bare veld, often close to water. It likes wet parts and lays its eggs on the ground.Pairs and potential pairs engage in courtship dancing in which they bow to each other, leap into the air, take short runs and toss up bits of grass and small mammals into the air. It grazes in the field and eats seeds, insects and small reptiles. They fly at as much as 60–70 km/hr.

Of the 15 species of crane, the Blue Crane has the most restricted distribution of all. While it remains common in parts of its historic range, and between 10,000 and 20,000 birds remain, it began a sudden population decline from around 1980 and is now classified as critically endangered. the Blue Crane has largely disappeared from the Eastern Cape, Lesotho, and Swaziland.The population in the northern Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Gauteng, Mpumalanga and North West Province has declined by up to 90%.

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African Wild Dogs

African Wild dog are a species that are considered one of the most endangered mammals in South Africa. They live in deserts, grasslands, and forests. They are about 30 inches tall and weigh on average around 40-70 pounds. They are opportunistic  predators which means that they will hunt whatever medium sized reminent they can get their paws on which is typically things such as gazelles. 

They can reach a wild speed of up to 44 mph! Their gestation period is typically about seventy days.

There are only about 6,600 individuals left in the wild. They have been considered endangered for the last twenty years. IN South Africa, it is only around 500. These animals are being poached for their pelts as well as getting caught on snares. Over the last five years over 40 individuals have died this way.

Conservationists are dedicated to saving these animals, although they would love to sit and let them be, they have to intervene to keep them alive. They have provided medical attention to the individuals that had been stuck in snares. They closely monitor every pack of dogs. They relocate them in order to improve the gene pool. 

They place collars on the dogs so that they can identify and track them also. Due to their tremendous efforts the populations have been increasing, moving from only four packs in 2006 to 14 in the present.

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Cheetahs

The already declining numbers of the cheetahs may become even lower. The last cheetah consensus showed that the species’ population could decrease by another 53% in the next fifteen years if trends continue to connect. Based on these results, the study authors are calling for the cheetah’s status to be changed from vulnerable to endangered on the IUCN Red List.

Today, there are only about 7,000 cheetahs left but in 1975 there were over 14,000.  The cheetah has been driven out of 91 percent of its historic range. The cats once roamed nearly all of Africa and much of Asia, but their population is now confined pretty much to six African countries: Angola, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa, and Mozambique. The species is already almost extinct in Asia, with fewer than 50 individuals remaining in one isolated section of Iran.

Humans play a large role in the demise of the cheetahs. Cheetahs face habitat loss driven by conversion of wilderness areas into managed land dedicated to agriculture or livestock. People will then sometimes kill cheetahs if they perceive the animals as a threat to their livestock, even though cheetahs rarely take domesticated animals. Cheetahs are also subject to vehicle collisions, poaching for their skin and other body parts, and even being killed for bushmeat, though that threat is mostly targeted at cheetah’s prey species. Even if the cheetahs aren’t being killed for bushmeat, it isn’t good because either the cheetahs are getting killed, or their food is. There is also a high demand of cheetah cubs in the middle east through an illegal trade coming from North Africa.

Researchers are hoping that changing the species status to endangered they will be able to take a stand since this will open new avenues through funding, research, conservation, and many other avenues.

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Cape Vulture

Cape Vultures are a vulture species that is endemic to South Africa but has been found in Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe. They have different names, besides the Cape Vulture they are also known as Cape griffon and the Kolbe's vulture. The are primarily found in rocky areas like land cliffs and mountain peaks, they can also be found in open grassland, arid Savannah and steppes. They are scavengers, which means that they feed solely on dead and dying animals. Breeding season for Cape vultures is between April and July. The Cape vulture breeds in large colonies on cliff faces. Females only lay one egg per year.

Interesting Fact: A group of 50 vultures can reduce the carcass of a sheep or impala to skin and bones in 20 minutes

This species is overlooked since it isn’t the cutest of creatures. Unfortunately, the population of this species had decreased between The species declined 60-70% in a nine year period and is still quickly declining. There are only 4,700 pairs or 9,400 mature individuals. As the large African herds of animals have diminished, there is less food for these birds to savage. Man made threats are posing even more of a challenging as poachers poison the carcasses of dead rhinos and elephants, killing anywhere between 50 to 500 cape vultures per carcass. They are also being electrocuted by power lines that have been in put in place in South Africa.

To help conserve and replenish the populations of the Cape vulture, groups and organizations such as REST have been temporarily capturing cape vultures and placing satellite telemetry collars before release. These collars allow their flight, breeding, and feeding patterns to be monitored and provide information about the sources of contaminants in their environment. Researchers believe that with their help and if solutions to the poisonings can be developed that they can save this species.

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Pickersgill’s Reed Frog

Before we get into today’s blog I would like to say that I am now going to be specializing on species in South Africa because I am planning on taking a two week trip to Cape town and spend one week on a safari out of Johannesburg. So, I think that this will be a good way for me familiarize myself with species that I will see as well as share some of the information with my readers!

Pickersgill’s Reed Frog is found only in one province of South Africa, where it occupies only a small area of coastal wetlands. It is also a very small species, measuring up to 30 mm in females. The reed frog changes color quite dramatically with age. Juveniles are pale brown to greenish, while adult females and some males become a much brighter green color, often with beautiful yellow and white stripes along their sides. This species has been listed as critically endangered since for years. This is mainly because of urban development, the use of the insecticide DDT for mosquito control, and drainage for agricultural purposes.

Conservation groups have been working to protect this species bby making case studies in order to better understand where breeding sites are, how long the periods are, what time of year it is, how often does reproduction occur, etc. In doing this, scientists and conservationists have a better chance at protecting these amphibians from extinction.

There are three captive rescue populations in South Africa for this species, one at the South African Association for Marine Biological Research (SAAMBR) in Durban, one at the National Zoological Gardens in Pretoria, and the third one at Johannesburg Zoo. Offspring have been produced by the populations in Durban and Pretoria, and it is hoped that the populations can be strengthened with the collection of additional founder animals.

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Vaquitas

Endling, a little word with so much devastation and heartbreak in its meaning. An endling is the last member of a species on the brink of extinction. Now today, there is a little Vaquita, swimming in the Gulf of Mexico that could just as well be this species’ endling. There populations have been devastated. In 1997, nearly 600 vaquitas swam the waters of the Gulf. A decade later there were 250. Then there were fewer than 100. Then 60. A 2016 report warned that the vaquita was "racing toward extinction. A follow-up in 2017 lamented that the collapse had "continued unabated." Today, fewer than 30 vaquitas remain. They are the world's most endangered marine mammal.

What is happening to this species? How could changes become so drastic but yet no progress was made? Is there anyway to save them?

To elaborate more, the Vaquita more than anything else, falls victim to gill nets and bycatch. A gill-net is a wall of netting that hangs in the water column. The mesh is designed so that fish can get their heads through, but not the rest of their bodies. As they struggle to free themselves, they get entangled with their gills. Gill-nets are very effective and used around the world, but often lead to large amounts of by-catch and pose a threat to other marine animals, such as sea turtles, seals and sea lions and cetaceans like the vaquita. If a vaquita gets entangled, it only has minutes to free itself. Most animals drown, and those that escape often do so with severe injuries. Bans on gillnets haven’t stopped any illegal fisheries, therefore this is continuing. Other factors that could be taking effect on the populations is reduced flow from the Colorado River creating a nutrient deficiency and water pollution.

Although the Mexican government set laws in place, the per capita is only $3,000 and by participating in the trade, it becomes an easy source to a significant amount of wealth leaving the problem to continue. There are many anti poaching and activists that have been attempting to help the situation such as sea shepherd and the porpoise conservation society. Now more than ever, we need to do whatever we can to make a final stride to save this beautiful species before it is too late.

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Piping Plovers!

These little birds, named after their piping mating call, are quite adorable little creatures. Piping Plovers are a very small bird species reaching only about 17cm long. Piping Plovers breed along ocean shores in the Northeast and along lakeshores and alkali wetlands in the northern Great Plains and Great Lakes but their populations have taken a severe hit. They eat small marine invertebrates such as worms, fly larvae, beetles, crustaceans, mollusks and other small marine animals and their eggs. 

They typically live up to 5 years but some have lived up to eleven years. Some piping plovers may breed the first spring after they hatch. Although, some birds do not find a mate each year, but piping plovers can breed every year. They can also have up to 5 eggs per clutch.

Why are these endangered?

There are a few threats that these animals have been facing. Shoreline development in the Great Lakes region has caused a loss of loss of habitat. Especially from recreational areas, buildings, walkways, and man-made islands.Predation was identified as the cause of nest failure of approximately 14.5% of clutches in Michigan from 1981 to 1999. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act protects the species from taking and bans trade in piping plovers and their parts, it was determined that because the Act does not protect habitat, the Act alone would not provide adequate protection to prevent further loss of the species’ habitat. There are many other things such as Beach-walking, bike riding, kite flying, fireworks, bonfires, horseback riding, kayaking, windsurfing, camping, and close-up photography are among the many non-motorized activities that disturb piping plovers and disrupt normal behavior patterns. Contaminants also have an effect on behavioral impairment, deformities, and impaired reproduction.

Protection of this species began in 1984 when the populations hit an all time low of only 300 breeding pairs. SInce then, recovery has brought back the populations but it is still considered endangered until they have made a full recovery. In September of 2003, a recovery plan was developed featuring the course action of the following:

Actions Needed:

1.Protect the Great Lakes piping plover breeding population and manage breeding habitat to maximize survival and fecundity,

2. Protect wintering piping plovers and manage habitat to promote survival and recruitment,

3. Identify and protect migration habitat outside of wintering range,

4. Conduct scientific research to facilitate recovery efforts,

5. Develop and implement public education and outreach,

6. Develop partnerships and additional funding mechanisms,

7. Develop emergency methods to prevent extirpation

8. Review progress toward recovery and revise recovery tasks as appropriate

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Amur Tigers!

These beautiful cats, you will likely know more as Siberian tigers, are a majestic and picture perfect species. They are the world’s largest cat, resting at about ten feet long and about 660lbs. There was once nine subspecies of tigers but after the 20th century, three of them have gone extinct. Which leaves us all with the responsibility to protect the remaining six from the many threats they face such as destruction of habitat and poaching. 

Tigers are hunted as trophies and also for body parts that are used in traditional Chinese medicine. All six remaining tiger subspecies are threatened but there have been many programs put in place in which poaching has been reduced, but it still remains a significant threat.

Reproduction

The gestation period, or duration of pregnancy, for an Amur Tiger is 3-3.5 months. They typically have 1 litter every two years and can get pregnant at any point of the year. Females give birth to litters of two to six cubs, which are typically raised with little to no help from the male. Cubs also can not hunt until they are 18 months old, and remain with their mothers for two to three years before branching off on their own.

What has been done to help?

There have been many things done all around the world. For example in areas that this species isn’t occupying, like the United States, laws have been put in place to make trade of the animal’s products illegal. There are many programs in place where metaphorical adoption of tigers through donations helps to directly stop poaching and save these animals. To do your part (you probably know the drill by now) educate yourself, donate, keep informed, and spread the word!

Resources:

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/s/siberian-tiger/

https://animalfactguide.com/animal-facts/siberian-tiger/

https://defenders.org/tiger/what-you-can-do

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Bluefin Tuna

Tuna has become quite popular over the last several years as the demand and popularity of sushi increases leaving many of the targeted species to become victims of overfishing. This species specifically has seen dramatic a decrease in numbers up to 97%. The most recent studies show that there is only about 2.6% of the populations.

Japan is responsible for up to 80% of all tuna consumption. As well as a rising demand in the United States and other industrial countries. Scientists are concerned that this species will never be able to make a recovery since their birth rates are low and overfishing is becoming more and more of a problem every day. Scientists have predicted that if they can find a sustainable solution before. In 2014, scientists stated that the likeliness of restoring the tuna stocks to normal levels is only at .1%. 

The most common products that come out of this species is sushi, the meat itself, tuna jerky, canned tuna, and some more rare items. In fact, while researching I even came across an advertisement for a bluefin tuna face mask(sounds pretty gross to me but you do you).

How can we solve this issue?

There have been food specialists that have specifically worked on finding substitutes that will appear to have the same texture and taste as tuna but with a vegan option. They are doing this by taking a tomato substrate and meshing it with vegan components such as soy in order to create a like substance.

If all this continues, there should be a way to replenish the populations before it is too late to save them.

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Black Rhinos

Black Rhinos are the smaller of the two african species. Their populations have dropped about 98% between 1960 and 1995. This species lives in a variety of climates such as wetlands, forests, woodland, and the semi-desert savannah. They are about 5.2 feet tall and survive off a herbivore diet, mainly leafy plants, branches, shoots, thorny wood bushes and fruit. This species hit an all time population low of about 2,000 and since have bounced back to about 5,000 but there is still much work to do in order for this species to be fully recovered.

Why are these animals critically endangered?

There are many threats that are still pushing at this species. One of the most pressing issues is the demand for rhino horns. This species has two horns which makes them a prime target for international poachers. As this problem continues the governments of the countries this is occuring in can not do much since they are emphasising their finances into protecting the country from war and economic disaster. All effort in replenishing the populations have taken hits as 1,215 rhinos were poached in 2014 and another 1,054 in 2016.

There are also problems when it comes to population density. For example, if there are a lot of rhinos in one area, they are more likely to become victim to inbreeding and spread of disease. But, if they are too far it decreases the breeding rates.

Who is working to Solve this problem and what are they doing?

One organization that is working heavily to try to fix this population issue is the WWF, also known as the World Wildlife Fund has been working to help by working with rangers to stop poachers, working with law enforcement, and also pushing to implement more protection laws so that this species as well as some others receive the protection that they need. Some organizations are also working to protect these animals by cutting off their horns so that poachers have no desire to hurt them.

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Northern Sportive Lemur!

A critically endangered species located in narrowing parts of Madagascar have had populations dwindling to approximately 10,000-100,000 individuals. The average weight of these tiny animals is about 1.5lbs. They will typically give birth to one offspring at a time and it takes around 18 months for one to reach sexual maturity. They typically live up to eight years in the wild and up to fifteen years in captivity. They are happy little herbivores but are also cecotrophic, which means they digest their feces in order to absorb all possible nutrients.

So why are these little guys in danger?

The answer is quite simple. There is a very intense issue that Madagascar is facing. The issue is deforestation. No only will this problem eventually negatively affect the economy. It destroys the environment. It leads to decreased biodiversity which creates a little problem for many species such as lemurs, leaving a disturbing 95% of them in listed endangerment. The increasing human presence in these animals lives have not helped. As more and more people move into these areas, these animals are pushed back and become victims to roads and people hunting. This species in particular is very vulnerable to disease since it is so small and its populations are dwindling. Although these animals are claimed to be protected they are still hunted for their furs and sadly are one of the many animals to become victim to local bushmeat vendors.

So how can you help these little guys before it is too late? 

One way is to donate to an organization that is working to protect these little guys. As well as pushing for more strict regulations when it comes to the habitat these animals are found in. It is important to stay very well informed about what is happening with the species as well as knowing where your products come from. Most exotic products are contributing to deforestation which in the end is hurting ecosystems all around the world.

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Amur Leopard

An Amur Leopard is one of the most critically endangered animals of 2018, being a terrifying low of less than seventy individuals left in the wild. This gorgeous species is found in the temperate forests of far-eastern Russia and a few parts of China. These habitats have extremely cold winters and deep snow as well as hot summers. The main dietary choices of this animal are spotted deer and the roe deer. They will also eat badger, raccoon dog, Manchurian hare, and many other species when they are starving. Amur leopards have been known to live for up to 21 years in captivity, though their lifespan in the wild is typically 10 to 15 years.

Why are these animals so critically endangered?

There are a few reasons why these animals are so in trouble. One reason is poaching, the lush coats of these animals has made them a target where hundreds were killed every year until we have gotten to the numbers they are at now.

Due to commercial logging, loss of habitat has also become a concern, leaving the Amur leopards at risk and reducing their prey species populations. With less prey, human interference has began occurring as the leopards are wandering onto deer farms where they are getting killed by the farmers. Since there are such low populations, it leaves the leopards easily susceptible to disease and environmental catastrophe. Finally, due to the small population, inbreeding is increased leaving increased chances of health problems in offspring such as decreased fertility, which could hurt the species population even more down the line. As you can see, there are many different reasons for these animals to be losing their population over the last few decades.

What is being done to help?

The Amur Leopard and Tiger Alliance, also known as ALTA, has been working with regional and local organizations to try and protect these animals. They maintain four anti-poaching teams with a total of 15 members in the Amur leopard range. These people will monitor the Amur leopard population through snow track counts and camera trap counts, restore leopard habitats, support recovery, and run a media campaign to create awareness about the Amur leopard.

The World Wildlife Fund,or WWF, has established anti-poaching teams and environmental education programs to increase appreciation for the leopard among local communities. They also work to implement programs to stop the traffic of Amur leopard parts and to increase the population of prey species in the leopard's habitat. One of their accomplishments was in 2007 when the WWF was successful in getting the Russian government to reroute a pipe that would have disturbed this fragile species population. They are also trying to established a Sino-Russian nature reserve so that the cats can freely maneuver across borders to hopefully increase reproduction.

What can you do to help?

Symbolically adopt an Amur Leopard from WWF to help support their efforts

Donate to an organization that is focused on improving the situation

Stay well-informed

Spread Awareness

I hope you all enjoyed today’s post. This is the first post on a series that I will be starting about endangered species around the world. Share if you enjoyed! Thank you.