Utila Spiny Tailed Iguana

April 1, 2011 //

Utila Spiny Tailed Iguana is a critically endangered species of spinytail iguana endemic to the island of Utila, one of the Islas de la Bahía off the coast of Honduras. The Utila iguana is the only species of iguana and one of only two species of lizard to exclusively inhabit brackish mangrove swamps, forced there due to competition from larger species. This species currently has an estimated wild population of 10,000 animals in 2-3 subpopulations, but is greatly threatened by loss of habitat, as mangrove forests are being used as garbage dump sites and deforested for the construction of homes, resorts, and marinas. Beach habitat is being lost as natural vegetation is removed in preparation for hotel and road construction. According to a survey conducted by the IUCN, exotic invasive plants cover the ground near the mangroves and make the area inappropriate for nesting sites. The iguana is locally hunted for meat, although efforts to educate locals have helped reduce this somewhat in recent years. And we’re dedicated.

Tags conservation, endangered, environment, habitat, habitat loss, Honduras, hunted, iguana, reptile, Spiny, Tailed, threatened, Utila, Utila Spiny Tailed Iguana

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Bali Starling

August 21, 2010 //

The Bali Starling, Leucopsar rothschildi, also known as Rothschild’s Mynah, Bali Myna or Bali Mynah is a medium-sized (up to 25 cm long), stocky myna, almost wholly white with a long, drooping crest, and black tips on the wings and tail. The bird has blue bare skin around the eyes, greyish legs and a yellow bill. Both sexes are similar. The Bali Starling is critically endangered, hovering immediately above extinction in the wild for several years now (BirdLife International 2006). The last stronghold of the species is at West Bali National Park; about 1,000 individuals are believed to be held in captivity legally. And we’re dedicated.

Tags Bali Starling, bird, black market, conservation, endangered, environment, habitat loss, reserve, threatened, vulnerable

Leatherback Turtle

August 20, 2010 //

The leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) is the largest of all living sea turtles and the fourth largest modern reptile behind three crocodilians. Adult leatherback turtles have few natural predators once they mature. Leatherbacks are most vulnerable to predation in their early life stages. Birds, small mammals, and other opportunists dig up the nests of turtles and consume eggs. Shorebirds and crustaceans prey on the hatchlings scrambling for the sea. Once they enter the water they become prey to predatory fish and cephalopods. Very few survive to adulthood. And we’re dedicated.

Tags aquatic reptile, conservation, endangered, habitat loss, leatherback turtle, ocean, predators, reptile, threatened, turtle, vulnerable

Sea Otter

August 19, 2010 //

The sea otter (Enhydra lutris) is a marine mammal native to the coasts of the northern and eastern North Pacific Ocean. During the 20th century, sea otter numbers rebounded in about two-thirds of their historic range, a recovery that is considered one of the greatest successes in marine conservation. However, the IUCN still lists the sea otter as an endangered species, and describes the significant threats to sea otters as oil pollution, predation by orcas, poaching, and conflicts with fisheries – sea otters can drown if entangled in fishing gear. The hunting of sea otters is no longer legal except for limited harvests by indigenous peoples in the United States. The most significant threat to sea otters is oil spills. Sea otters are particularly vulnerable, as they rely on their fur to keep warm. When their fur is soaked with oil, it loses its ability to retain air, and the animal quickly dies from hypothermia. And we’re dedicated.

Tags arctic, arctic sea otter, conservation, endangered, environment, fur trade, habitat loss, oil, oil spill, otter, sea otter, vulnerable

Red Ruffed Lemur

August 13, 2010 //

The Red Ruffed Lemur (Varecia rubra) is one of two species in the genus Varecia, the ruffed lemurs; the other is the Black-and-white Ruffed Lemur (Varecia variegata). Like all lemurs, it is native to Madagascar and occurs only in the rain forests of Masoala, in the northeast of the island. It is one of the largest primates of Madagascar with a body length of 53 cm, a tail length of 60 cm and a weight of 3.5–4 kg. Its soft, thick fur is red and black in color but a few are known to have a white or pink patch on the back of the neck and a ring on the base of the tail in a similar color. And we’re dedicated.

Southern Cassowary

August 12, 2010 //

The Southern Cassowary, Casuarius casuarius, also known as Double-wattled Cassowary, Australian Cassowary or Two-wattled Cassowary, is a large flightless black bird. It is a ratite and therefore related to the Emu, Ostrich, and the genus Rhea. Some threats are through habitat loss (logging), feral animals eating their eggs, hunting, and roadkill. Road building, feral animals and hunting are the worst of these threats. And we’re dedicated.

Tags austrailia, cassowary, conservation, endangered, environment, habitat loss, southern cassowary, threatened, vulnerable

Red Panda

August 9, 2010 //

The Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens, or “shining cat”) is a small arboreal mammal and the only species of the genus Ailurus. Slightly larger than a domestic cat, it has reddish-brown fur, a long, shaggy tail, and a waddling gait due to its shorter front legs. It eats mainly bamboo, but is omnivorous and may also eat eggs, birds, insects, and small mammals. It is a solitary animal, mainly active from dusk to dawn, and is largely sedentary during the day. And we’re dedicated.

Tags conservation, endangered, habitat loss, loss, mammal, red panda, reserve, threatened, vulnerable

Goura Victoria Pigeon

August 6, 2010 //

The Victoria Crowned Pigeon, Goura victoria, is a large, approximately 74cm (29 in) long and weighing up to 2.5 kg (5.5 lb), bluish-grey pigeon with elegant blue lace-like crests, maroon breast and red iris. The bird may be easily recognized by the unique white tips on its crests. Due to continuing habitat loss, being tame and easily hunted for its plumes and meat, the Victoria Crowned Pigeon is evaluated as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. And we’re dedicated.

Manatee

August 5, 2010 //

Manatees (family Trichechidae, genus Trichechus) are large, fully aquatic, mostly herbivorous marine mammals sometimes known as sea cows. They are noted for their friendly nature, their large size (up to 3.6 metres (12 ft)), and paddle-like flippers. The name manatí comes from the Taíno, a pre-Columbian people of the Caribbean, meaning “breast”. And we’re dedicated.

Tags boat, boat accidents, conservation, endangered, environment, habitat loss, manatee, threatened, vulnerable

Mandrill

August 1, 2010 //

The Mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx) is a primate of the Cercopithecidae (Old-world monkeys) family, closely related to the baboons and even more closely to the Drill. Both the Mandrill and the Drill were once classified as baboons in genus Papio, but recent research has determined that they should be separated into their own genus, Mandrillus. The Mandrill is the world’s largest species of monkey. And we’re dedicated.

Tags conservation, endangered, environment, habitat loss, mandrill, vulnerable