My Science School

            Cottontop tamarins are small species of primates native to the forests of South America. Presently, the population of these animals is at a dangerous level. Surveys indicate that there are just less than 6000 individuals in the world, making them a critically endangered species. Out of these, only 6000 tamarins can be found in the wild. The tropical forest edges and secondary forests from Costa Rica to north western Columbia are the places where the remaining wild population can be spotted.

            The interesting name of the tamarins comes from the elegant white fur that flows over their heads and shoulders. Typically, they are small primates with a body length of around 20 cms and tail length of 33 cms. These primates are very social and live in troops with around 14 members. Fruits, insects and green plants make up the majority of a tamarin’s diet. But they also eat rodents, reptiles, eggs and tree sap.

            The major threat for the survival of cottontop tamarins is deforestation. Besides, illegal pet trade and scientific research too contribute to their falling numbers.

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               The Malayan tapir is the largest of the tapirs native to Asia. In fact, they are the only members of this family seen in the continent, though in very small numbers. The rainforests in the Malayan Peninsula, Myanmar, Thailand and the Indonesian island of Sumatra are the places where tapirs can now be spotted.

               The number of animals surviving in the wild is unknown, but some surveys show that there aren’t any more than 2500 individuals.

               The appearances of tapirs are quite confusing. Though they look similar to pigs and elephants, tapirs are in fact related to horses and rhinos. Malayan tapirs are herbivores feeding on grass and nuts, water plants, and fruits.

               Generally, these are solitary animals with poor eyesight and a strong sense of smell. They are also excellent swimmers and divers.

               As we saw, tapirs need dense forests to survive. Hence, the primary reason for the decline in their population is loss of habitat, caused by deforestation. They are also known to be poached for meat and sport.

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               The Persian leopard is one of the largest recognized subspecies of leopard. Also called a Caucasian leopard, or a Central Asian leopard, it is seen predominantly in Iran, and sporadically across countries like Armenia, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. These wild cats are known to live in mountainous habitats, including in dry environments, lush forests and snowy ranges.

               Typically, Persian leopards have short legs, and a very powerful frame. Coats that appear from yellow to golden brown colours with a paler fur, and the black spots seen across the body together, make the animal royally attractive.

               Although there is a relatively large geographic range for them, the population of Persian leopards is disappointing. There are estimated to be less than 900 individuals in the wild. Subsequently, they have been classified as endangered by the IUCN Red List. There are several reasons known to have contributed to the fall. Poaching for fur trade and loss of habitat due to deforestation are the obvious ones.

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               Red-headed vultures, or the Asian king vultures, are wild birds native to the Indian sub-continent. Typically, they feed on the decaying flesh of dead animals.

               Although once seen throughout the Indian subcontinent and South-east Asia, these vultures have undergone a serious decline in population and range. They can be seen in some areas of India, especially in the west Himalayan foothills, and rarely in Pakistan, Laos and Nepal.

               There are many reasons attributed to the falling population of red-headed vultures. One of the most important reasons is poisoning. Scientists say that the serious fall in population that occurred in the 1990s was caused by the presence of diclofenac. It is a veterinary drug that used to treat livestock. Those vultures that fed on the dead bodies of these livestock, soon died. This unfortunate series of events is said to have reduced the number of vultures by half.

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               The African grey parrot is one of the largest parrots in the continent, most noted for its intelligence, and ability to mimic human speech.

               The species can be found across tropical Africa. They mainly inhabit primary and secondary lowland forests there.

               The parrots are infamous for damaging maize crops, but they mainly feed on fruits, seeds and nuts, particularly those of the oil-palm.

               The intelligence of a grey parrot is such that they can easily mimic human speech, and learn number sequences. A famous example is Alex, the captive parrot that could utter over 100 words, differentiating between colours, materials, objects and shapes.

               However, these birds are often exploited for the pet trade. Another major issue is the loss of nesting areas. According to a study conducted in 2016, the population of these parrots has declined by more than 90 per cent in Ghana due to poaching for pet trade and habitat loss.

               There are many efforts made to conserve the species, including banning of their export, increased monitoring etc. Salonga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo is one place where the birds are protected.

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            The swift parrot is a fast-flying migratory bird that breeds in Tasmania, along the Southeastern coast. It is a brightly coloured bird in a grass green shade, with a red beak. While flying, these birds are distinguished by their striking red under wings.

            It has been seen that in autumn, swift parrots migrate to mainland Australia, and in winter, to the inland slopes of the Great Dividing Range.

            What brings these parrots into spotlight is their population. With less than 2500 individuals, they have been declared as a critically endangered species in the IUCN Red List.

            There are many reasons attributed to the decline of swift parrot population. The most serious one is the clearing of trees.

            Besides this, there are as well predators like the sugar gliders who kill the parrots.

            The Australian Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 has listed swift parrots as endangered.

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            Like animals on land and water, birds in the sky too are equally vulnerable to survival threats.

            One among the endangered birds is the steppe eagle. It is a widespread migratory species that breeds in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and Mongolia.

            In winters, they fly to Africa and Southwestern Asia. They mostly inhabit steppe, semi-desert areas, and lowland hills.

            Although considered to be common throughout its ranges, the population of steppe eagle shows a dropping trend.

            The major threats before these attractive birds are conversion of habitats into agricultural land, and collision with power lines. The species has already become extinct in countries like Moldova, Romania, and Ukraine.

            In a study conducted in 2014, it was found that steppe eagles are negatively affected by the veterinary use of a drug named diclofenac, which is used to treat livestock. Being scavengers, the birds have high chances of being exposed to the risk of diclofenac poisoning.

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               The diademed sifaka, though it might sound totally new to most of us, is a critically endangered member of the lemur family that is seen only in certain rainforests of eastern Madagascar.

               Typically, these primates have bare dark grey or black faces framed with white hair. There is also a patch of black seen on top of their heads. Since the head resembles a diadem or an ornamental crown, the animals are called diadem sifakas. The long silky fur and the orange or golden coloration, altogether make the primate strikingly attractive.

               The main threat before a diademed sifaka is destruction of habitat. Being very sensitive to even the slightest disturbance, sifakas vanish from the areas very soon. In addition to deforestation, they are also hunted for food. It has been reported that hunting happens even inside national parks and other reserves. The Duke Lemur Centre in North Carolina, USA, is one place where the primates are held in captivity for conservation and breeding.

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            The geometric tortoise is one of the most endangered reptiles on Earth, endemic to the Western Cape of South Africa. Its name arises from the geometric pattern that is seen on its high, domed shell. Typically, these shells are brown or black, with yellow stripes. Female tortoises can be identified by their larger size, and  smaller tails.

            What brings geometric turtles into the spotlight is their decreasing population. They are critically endangered according to the IUCN Red List. It is said that more than 90 per cent of the habitats where the tortoises reside have been destroyed in the past years, which in turn, has led to their decline. In addition to this, the introduction of invasive alien vegetation and animals like feral and wild pigs, have further led to habitat crises and competition for food.

            The hapless animals are also occasionally eaten by locals, or sought after for the pet trade. All these together have made it quite tough for this species to survive. At present, there are less than 3000 geometric tortoises alive.

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            The Galapagos sea lion is a coastal animal that breeds in the Galapagos Islands, as the name suggests. But some of them are also spotted on the Isla de la Plata, close to mainland Ecuador. These animals are most noted for their playful and social nature. They are seen in waters, sandy beaches and rocky areas that connect to waters.

            Typically, sea lions have smooth and streamlined bodies. It makes them smart hunters, especially of sardines. The animals are as well brilliant divers that can dive up to depths of 200 metres.

            However, in spite of their smartness, Galapagos sea lions face serious challenges for survival. The natural predators of these animals are sharks and killer whales. But their main threat is the El Nino event which disturbs the marine life on which they depend.

            Many of the animals migrated, while several others died of starvation. Other than El Nino, sea lions are also vulnerable to threats caused by humans.

            Currently, there are just less than 50,000 Galapagos sea lions alive.

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            The ring-tailed lemur is a larger primate found in the dry forests of Southern Madagascar. It is distinguished by its brownish-grey fur, and tail with black and white rings.

            Typically, these are highly social creatures that live in groups of around 20 individuals. Unlike others in their family, ring-tailed lemurs can tolerate extreme environments – like the hottest, driest and the coldest climates in Madagascar.

            But what is not-so-interesting about ring-tailed lemurs is their population. With the number falling to less than 2000 in the wild, they have been categorized as endangered by the IUCN Red List.

            The main threat facing them is habitat destruction. Reports suggest that much of their habitat is converted to agricultural farmlands, or harvested for charcoal production. Then there are as well dangers of hunting for food and pet trade.

            However, lemurs are very well bred in captivity. It is said that over a 1000 can be found across 140 zoos in the world.

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               The Mediterranean monk seal is the rarest pinniped species in the world. It is endemic to the Mediterranean Sea, and the East Atlantic Ocean, along the coast of North-west Africa.

               Monk seals are known to have been first described by Greek philosopher and scientist Aristotle in the 3rd century BC. For the ancient Greeks, they were sacred animals. However, modern man has torn apart the tradition, leaving the species with very little chances of survival. According to the IUCN Red List, Mediterranean monk seals are endangered animals, with less than 700 individuals.

               The main reasons for the dropping population of the monk seals are intentional killings for their fat, oil and skin and accidental killings during fishing activities. Like all other coastal species, seals too are threatened by the destruction of coastal ecosystems, particularly because they rest and nurse their young ones on the shores.

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           Nilgiri tahrs are stocky goats found on the Nilgiri Hills and the southern portion of the Western Ghats across the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. It is also the state animal of Tamil Nadu. The other name of this wild goat is Nilgiri ibex.

            Generally, the goats are either dark brown or grey in colour. A fully grown male is about a metre tall, and weighs around 100 kg. But females are smaller in size. Both have short and coarse coats, as well as horns that curve backwards. As for their habitats – tahrs prefer cliffs and grass-covered plateaus high up in the mountains.

            Due to the decreasing number in their population, Nilgiri tahrs are listed as endangered by the IUCN Red List. There are just between 2000 and 2500 individuals alive today, with the biggest population spotted within the Eravikulam National Park, Munnar.

            Efforts for conserving the species have been taking place for the past few decades.

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            Mountain gorillas are large apes that live mainly in the national parks across the Virunga Mountains in Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. With a population of around 800, they are a critically endangered species.

            By nature, mountain gorillas are shy, but strong. They can be very aggressive if provoked. Beating their chests, they let out angry roars, and attack their opponents. Mother gorillas may even fight till death to protect their young ones.

            Mountain gorillas are under the threat of extinction. Their main enemies are humans, who hunt them, and destroy their habitats. What worsens the situation is the civil unrest in their native countries. This results in a flow of rebels into forests, who often disturb the lives of animals.

            Another reason for the population decline of mountain gorillas is diseases. They are very vulnerable to diseases transmitted from humans, including common cold.

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            The North Atlantic right whale is one of the most endangered whales in the world. It is a huge marine animal that grows up to 16 metres in length and 70 tonnes in weight. It is known to be an easy target for fishermen and hunters, as it swims close to shores, and floats when dead. Hence, its name right whale.

            Generally, these mammals are spotted along the Atlantic coast of North America. Compared to others in the whale family, right whales are slow swimmers. They are also known to be very playful and curious animals, often poking and bumping objects they find in water.

            However, the population of this species today, is just around 450! The biggest challenges for their survival are ship collisions, and entanglement in fishing nets. Besides, they have a history of being over-exploited by whalers for fat and bones. Another important factor contributing to their decline is climatic change.

            A study conducted in 2012 suggests that underwater noise created by ships could obstruct the ability of whales to communicate. This in turn, affects them while hunting food, and escaping predators.

            The International Whaling Commission is an important body that regulates whaling and addresses other issues faced by this species.

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