Endangered Mammals

Being mammals ourselves, we tend to feel most passionately for the plight of other mammals, such as tigers and pandas. Most endangered mammal species are threatened by habitat loss while a significant percentage continue to be hunted despite dwindling population sizes. According to the IUCN, some 20 percent of all known mammal species are either threatened or endangered. That's nearly 1,100 species. Some, like the baiji, are likely beyond hope. Others, like the giant panda, continue to make strides in the right direction.

ASIAN BUFFALO,/WATER BUFFALO (Bubalus bubalis)

The Asian buffalo is a cattle species that occurs in India, Nepal, Bhutan and Thailand, but its range was once much larger. It is a massive animal with heavy, flattened horns that are used to shovel and fling mud onto its back. Its preferred habitat is grasslands with abundant plant life and nearby watering pools for wallowing. The Asian buffalo is threatened by hunting, interbreeding with domestic stocks and loss of habitat, and there may be only a few thousand individuals left in the wild. IUCN Status: Endangered Major Threats: Hunting, interbreeding with domestic stocks and habitat loss Habitat: Abundant grasslands near watering pools Location: India, Nepal, Bhutan and Thailand Diet: Grasses and other vegetation ASIAN ELEPHANT (Elephas maximus) Asian elephants are somewhat smaller than African elephants, their close relatives. Like all elephants, they live in small family groups and young calves are raised by their mothers as well as other members of the herd. Individuals communicate by vocalizations, foot stomping and postures, in order to stick together and to warn each other of approaching predators. The Asian elephant is rapidly declining due to loss of suitable habitat throughout its range. IUCN Status: Endangered Major Threats:Loss of suitable habitat Habitat: Mainly scrub forest Location: Parts of India and Southeast Asia Diet: Grasses, bark, roots, leaves and other vegetation BAIRD'S TAPIR (Tapirus bairdii)

Tapirs are pig like animals with long legs, an extended trunk and relatively streamlined bodies. Baird's tapir — the largest of the tapirs — has short, dark bristly hair with a light-colored chin and throat. It can be found in the forests of Central and South America, feeding on plant parts near freshwater sources. Baird's tapir are endangered throughout their range due to hunting and habitat destruction.

IUCN Status: Endangered Major Threats:Hunting and habitat destruction Habitat: Dense tropical rain forest Location: Central and South America Diet: Leaves and fallen fruit BLUE WHALE (Balaenoptera musculus) The largest animal on the planet, the blue whale can reach a length of more than 100 feet. Despite their size, they are remarkably skilled divers, rapidly plunging several hundred feet below the surface using their back muscles to propel them. When they emerge from the dive, they let out a torrent of water, air and mucus from their blowhole. They are found in most of the world's oceans, and are threatened by noise and other environmental pollution throughout much of their range. IUCN Status: Endangered Major Threats: Noise and other environmental pollution Habitat: Open ocean Location: World's oceans Diet: Mainly krill CHEETAH (Acinonyx jubatus)

The cheetah is a golden-yellow cat with black spots and a ringed tail. The world's fastest land animal, the cheetah can reach speeds of more than 60 miles per hour. It cannot, however, maintain that speed for more than a few seconds. If prey can last longer than 10-20 seconds, it usually escapes. Cheetahs are among the world's most loved animals. There are major international efforts to save them from extinction. It is endangered due to habitat loss, reduction of prey species, inbreeding and high infant mortality.

IUCN Status: Vulnerable Major Threats: Habitat loss, loss of prey species, inbreeding and infant mortality Habitat:Areas with tall grass and shrubs Location: Sub-Saharan African and Northern Iran Diet: Mainly gazelles; also impalas, antelope young and small mammals . CHIMPANZEE (Pan troglodytes) The chimpanzee has a bare face, longer arms than legs and dark hair thinly covering its body. It is one of the few primate species capable of walking upright. They live in large social groups in which the young are cared for by their mothers for about three years. During that time, young chimpanzees learn feeding techniques, including the use of tools. Chimpanzees are threatened by hunting and loss of habitat. IUCN Status: Endangered Major Threats: Hunting and habitat loss Habitat:Tropical rain forest, montain forest,and forest-savanna environments Location: Central Africa Diet: Mainly fruits and young leaves; also other plant parts, insects, small vertebrates, eggs, etc. GIANT PANDA (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) The giant panda has a distinctive white head with black eye patches, ears and shoulders. Unlike other bear species, giant pandas are entirely herbivorous, spending up to 12 hours a day chewing bamboo shoots and roots. Because of poaching and habitat loss, they are extremely rare, occurring in small populations in the bamboo forests of China. Despite being the subject of major international conservation efforts, wild populations of giant pandas may not be enough to save this species.

IUCN Status: Endangered Major Threats:Habitat loss, poaching and human encroachment Habitat:Mountainous regions where bamboo is present Location:Central China Diet: Bamboo shoots and roots . GORILLA (Gorilla gorilla) The gorilla is the largest of the primates. Adult males are often twice the size of females and have a silvery back when fully mature. They live in highly complex social groups led by a dominant male in the lowland and swamp forests of Central and Equatorial Africa. The gorilla faces many threats in the wild, including slash-and-burn forest clearing, illegal hunting for the bushmeat trade and trophy poaching. IUCN Status: Endangered Major Threats:Habitat loss and hunting Habitat:Tropical secondary and montane forests Location:Central and Equatorial Africa Diet: Fruits, leaves shoots and some insects. ORANGUTAN (Pongo pygmaeus) The orangutan is a tree-dwelling primate that rarely ventures down to the ground. It has orange-red fur, long arms and handlike feet. Young orangutans cling to their mother as she navigates the forest canopy, feeding on fruit and other plant parts as well as honey, lizards, birds and eggs. Threats to the orangutan include hunting, loss of habitat and being captured for the illegal pet trade. IUCN Status: Endangered Major Threats:Hunting, habitat loss and the illegal pet trade Habitat:Various tropical forest habitats Location: Island of Borneo Diet: Fruits and other plant parts; also honey, lizards, birds and eggs TIGER (Panthera tigris)

The tiger is the largest member of the cat family. A symbol of wildlife conservation, it is a majestic animal with an orange coat, black stripes and white markings. It lives in tropical forests, where it is usually solitary and nocturnal. Its range once extended to Eastern Europe, but it now lives in scattered populations in southern and eastern Asia. It is threatened by poaching, habitat loss and loss of prey species.

IUCN Status: Endangered Major Threats:Poaching, habitat loss and loss of prey species Habitat: Various habitats including rain forest, deciduous forest and coniferous forest Location: Southern and eastern Asia Diet: Mainly large, hooved animals. SUMATRAN RHINOCEROS (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis)

The Sumatran rhinoceros is the smallest and hairiest of the world's living rhinoceroses. It is also one of the most critically endangered. As the name suggests, these animals occur in Sumatra and also Borneo, although they once roamed throughout Southeast Asia. Because of poaching and destruction of its rainforest habitat, Sumatran rhinoceros numbers have been in steady decline in recent decades and there may be fewer than 300 hundred individuals left in the wild.

IUCN Status: Critically Endangered Major Threats:Poaching and habitat destruction Habitat: Lowland secondary rainforest, swamps and moss forests Location: Sumatra and Borneo Diet: Young saplings, leaves and other vegetation.

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