Farm 5 - World's Endangered Animals

Exciting News On The Philippines: Hot Spot for Endangered Species

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 07:23:09 +0000

So far, we’ve talked about endangered animals in Canada, South America, and Kenya. Although the Philippines has long been declared a hot spot for endangered species among conservationists and environmentalists, a new and exciting discovery has created a major buzz among US scientists. It was a welcome shot in the arm for the people behind the fight for survival among endangered species, and hopefully more media attention and financial support.Basing their information from university professors, a group of US scientists led by Terrence Gosliner of the California Academy of Sciences traveled to the Philippines without a clear agenda. It would be the 42-day adventure of a lifetime as they walked through virgin territory and jungles, stepping on never-before seen flora and fauna before reaching their destination.

Knowing the penchant for unscrupulous businessmen, this group refuses to divulge the exact location of their discovery, although they did mention it was near Mount Isarog which is over 6,400 feet high. They did document everything in photos. This is what they found:To their astonishment, they found over 300 new species and each dive revealed more and more new discoveries. There were lobsters with no shells, the tiniest sharks, and a starfish that feeds on driftwood. They also found a deep sea shark that would bloat itself as protection from predators, the tiniest slugs, barnacles, and spiders.

As one of the hottest spots for endangered species, the Philippines was previously thought to be a country where money ruled over preservation because of the extreme poverty. This was a wonderful discovery that brought hope for a new biodiversity from land to sea and ocean floors. As Gosliner says, “ The biodiversity here is still relatively unknown, and we found new species during nearly every dive and hike.”

Some of the places they visited were untouched by humans and revealed crabs with teeth like needles and a pipefish that looked like a worm. They also saw spikemoss, a cicada with a call that sounds like a laugh, and a rare snake eel. The Academy returned to the U.S. with hundreds of documents that would determine their hope of a new marine environment and ecosystem, untainted by pollution.

What Are The Endangered Animals in Kenya

Mon, 30 May 2011 17:59:09 +0000

Endangered animals are categorized into different levels. The International Union on the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) categorized it into 7 levels. The number of population and geographic range determine these levels and how fast is the estimated decline.

These 7 levels for the list of endangered animals are:

Least concerned
Near Threatened
Vulnerable
Endangered
Critically endangered
Extinct in the Wild
Extinct

Kenya is a country found in the southern part of the central east coast of Africa. This place has highlands with low plains around it. IUCN has a list of endangered animals for this country.

The list includes:

1. The Black Rhinoceros. This animal is dark brown to gray skin in color. The Black Rhinoceros has two horns. This animal is in the 5th level of the IUCN list of endangered animals. This means the Black Rhinoceros is considered critically endangered.

2. The Hartebeest or also called the Hirola. This animal is an antelope that lives in the grassy plains of Kenya. There are only 300-estimated Hirola left in the plains of Kenya, making it a critically endangered species or the 5th level in the IUCN list.

3. The Blue Whale. This is considered to be the biggest animal in the world. There are only an estimated 5,000 blue whales left in the world, 400 of it can be found in the Southern Hemisphere.

4. The Grevy’s Zebra. There are only an estimated 4,300 left of this zebra living in the grasslands of Kenya.

5. The African Elephant. This endangered animal is considered vulnerable or under the 3rd level of the IUCN list of endangered animals. There are only 22,000 to 29,000 left of these animals in Kenya.

To save these species, the Congress of the United States enacted the US Endangered Species Act. This act has two categories, namely, the endangered and the threatened category. There is a list of endangered animals made by this act. If ever an animal becomes included in this list, the Endangered Species Act will make sure that the species is protected. This Act makes sure that that species is not harmed or hunted down in any way. There will be prohibitions to be implemented to develop the natural habitat of that certain animal. If the animal species has recovered from being endangered, then it will be removed from the list.

Endangered Animals in South America

Tue, 17 May 2011 18:51:51 +0000

The Earth is rich and bountiful; this is how our ancestors believed the Earth to be. They believe in the abundance of the resources of the world. There are also a lot of people in the not so distant past that believes the same thing, that the world’s resources are inexhaustible and sustainable. Yes they are all right, but they can only be considered as correct if the people would also take care of the entire planet. If the people abuse the planet because they believe that resources will never be depleted, those beliefs of abundance in the world are wrong, and are what causes the world’s endangered animals to die.

Now, there is enough information needed for the people to understand once again what they have inherited from their ancestors. When they have re-examined what they inherited and realize that the worlds resources are slowly depleting, and then they must take responsibility and act accordingly for the future generations.

Even though, humans have amazing inventions and discoveries in relation to science and technology, it is well compensated, if not outmatched, by the tragedies that are happening to the world. From natural calamities, depletion of resources, extinction of some animal species, and starvation.

Pollution is fast increasing in the Oceans, Seas and fresh waters of the Earth. The people must act today to save the slowly decreasing numbers of many habitats, animals, plants and even microorganisms so that the future generations will still experience and see these wonders. Action must be done right now before everything is too late.

The fast depleting resources of the world can be evident with how fast the forest in South America is deteriorating due to logging and deforestation. Just a hundred years ago, a primitive forest blankets South America. This forest stretches from the entire length of Chile to the Patagonia of Argentina. It literally covers the whole part of South America. This is how rich in resources South America is, especially when it comes to trees. The trees that composes these forests are Beech trees of the Nothofagus genus, evergreen and different kinds of deciduous trees. The Nothofagus breeches are one of the oldest kinds of trees. It has already been in earth since 150 million years ago. These trees extend a wide 35 million acres in South America. These trees create the most pristine temperate rain forest in the whole world.

When the European settlers arrived in this region in the 16th century, they started logging the forest until the 20th century when widespread clearance started. A massive amount of these trees were cleared and burned for cattle ranching during the 1940s and 1950s. This cattle ranching destroyed more than 13,000 square miles, or 8.3 million acres. The Chilean government allowed commercial logging to continue and no conservation acts are being done. This has been going on since 1995.

Powerful business people who own these logging companies opposed the legislation of laws to protect the forest. With this logging continues and animals are forced to find other habitats and are becoming extinct.

Endangered Animals in Canada

Tue, 17 May 2011 18:25:57 +0000

There are a lot of endangered animals at risk in Canada. When European first settled in Canada 5 centuries ago, a number of animal and plant species in Canada were gone. A study by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC), the one assessing the status of species at risk, tells that over 500 species in Canada are at risk. These assessments are on plants and animals only. They have not assessed fishes and other invertebrates yet. As the committee studies and acts on the endangered species in Canada a growing number of species at risk will increase every year.

During the start of the 20th century, the Canadian beaver was hunted down because their furs were used as hats and are very popular that time. This made the Canadian beaver an endangered species. Just when the Canadian beaver was close to extinction, fortunately, the beaver hat became outdated in the fashion industry. Thankfully, the government prohibited the hunting of beaver in 1930; they also reintroduced the beavers to their natural habitat where hunters used to hunt them. It is very fortunate that the population of beavers recovered easily.

After solving the problems with the beavers, another problem in Canada arises. Wild plants and animals are being threatened by the environmental pollutions and destruction of habitats. These threats are more difficult to solve compared to hunting. A lot of habitats in Canada are disappearing in a very fast rate. Wetlands, forest and grasslands are being destroyed in a horrific fast rate.

The fast paced wealthy lifestyle of Canada produces a lot of chemicals that are very harmful to the environment. Pollutions created by acid precipitation can destroy so many aquatic lives and can negatively affect forests. Now that the threat of climate change is very evident, the climate of North Canada is slowly changing, and the survival of this is threatening polar bears. There are also other species being brought to Canada through human activities that tend to be invasive to the natural habitats of the species that lives in Canada.

However, despite all these negative happenings to the environment of Canada, there still is good news to compensate it. The Peregrine Falcon and the American White Pelican are slowly recovering and are not considered endangered by the COSEWIC anymore. The Trumpeter Swan and the Eastern Bluebird are other species that are also slowly recovering.

Not only are the COSEWIC doing steps to help the recovery of these species. Simple citizens also help by building nesting boxes for these birds to live in. Also, with the cooperation of the people, the hunting of these birds stopped and they are now helping in their own little ways to preserve these species.

The fast and wealthy lifestyle is a factor that can destroy the environment. There are also other pollutions that are very harmful to the ocean. These are grave threats to the Environment of Canada. However, with the cooperation of the people, as shown on how the birds recovered, the environment can still be saved.

Reference: Illustrated Encyclopedia of endangered animals.