Category Zology

            As strange as their name, tapirs are animals that look like pigs with a trunk, but they are in fact, related to horses and rhinoceros. Baird’s tapir is a Latin American species of tapir that is seen in Mexico, Central America, and North-western South America.

            Not many researchers have been conducted on the lives of Baird’s tapirs. But experts say that the animals are shy and solitary, and live in forests, close to areas that have a permanent water supply.

            With less than 5500 individuals left in the wild, Baird’s tapirs are classified as endangered animals by the IUCN.

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            The Andean cat is considered to be one of the cutest, and the most endangered wild cats in the world. It is a small feline with long soft fur, a thick tale and pale silvery gray colour.

            Andean mountain cats are found in the areas of the Andes Mountains of Chile, Argentina, Bolivia and Peru. The cat is believed to be a solitary animal. Its population is estimated to be less than 2500, and hence, is classified as endangered by the IUCN.

            The main reasons for the danger these cats face is habitat loss, cattle grazing, and hunting. It is said that many Andean cats have been killed by local people who believe that the cats are predators of their domestic animals. They are also killed by local shepherds or their dogs, and hunted for food and traditional medicine in places in Peru. Besides, the reduction of its prey is also a factor for the decline of this cat population.

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            The brown spider monkey is one of the seven species of spider monkeys that can be spotted in the forests of Northern Colombia and Northwestern Venezuela.

            They are primates that prefer undisturbed dense forests, and stay most of the time high in trees. Instead of walking or running on all fours, these monkeys travel mostly by swinging and climbing.

            However, it is not for their strange eating habits that the brown spider monkeys are in the news, but for the threat of extinction they face. This species was among the world’s 25 most endangered primates as of 2004 and 2006, and has been classified as critically endangered, by the IUCN Red List.

            Hunting and habitat destruction due to human encroachment, conversion of forests into agricultural lands etc. are the main factors that threaten them. Its slow reproductive rate also makes the situation worse.

            Serrania de San Lucas in southern Bolivar is one of the places where the monkeys are protected. There are also various zoos, especially in Europe, that provide them safe shelters.

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            The name Siamese crocodiles may not be familiar to most of us. They are among the most endangered reptiles in the world today. These fresh water crocodiles were previously found throughout South Asia, in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Malaysia. But today, their surviving population can be seen only in the Mekong River basin and wetlands in Cambodia, and a few other places. Even here, their habitat is fragmented, owing to hunting and human activities.

            The main threats to Siamese crocodiles are humans. Aggressive hunting for crocodile skin, conversion of rainforest habitats into agricultural farms, use of pesticides and chemical fertilisers etc have contributed greatly to the declining population of these reptiles. It is said that there are not more than 5000 Siamese crocodiles alive today.

            However, the crocodiles are extensively bred and maintained in captivity, in Cambodia, as well as in Thailand. There are also many conservation programmes underway in these two countries, which gives a little hope regarding the future of these endangered crocodiles.

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            The Malayan tiger is a subspecies of tiger found in the southern and central parts of the Malay Peninsula, and in the southern tip of Thailand. Unlike other tigers, they mostly live in open woodlands. Deer, wild boar, gaur, tapir, sun bear, and elephant calves are the main food source of these wild animals.

            In 2015, the Malayan tigers were classified as critically endangered by the IUCN. This was because their population was estimated to be less than 250, and had declined by more than 25 per cent in seven years.

            The main reasons for the fall in the Malayan tiger population are hunting and habitat destruction. The tigers especially are of high demand across markets in Asia, for their bush meat and bones, which are also used as a sign of wealth, or for making folk medicine.

            The Malaysian Conservation Alliance for Tigers (MYCAT), comprising the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS), Traffic South-east Asia, Wildlife Conservation Society, and WWF-Malaysia is a prominent organisation that works towards conserving this subspecies.

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