WILDLIFE RESTAURARE Endangered Animals & All The Not So Cute Facts About Them WRITTEN & ILLUSTRATED BY AALIYAH GARZA WILDLIFE RESTAURARE Endangered Animal & All The Not So Cute Facts About Them Written & Illustrated by Aaliyah Garza Sumatran Rhino The Sumatran rhino is one of the three rhino species found in Asia. Their population is said to have declined by about 50% since the late 1990’s. Their decline, like all other species of rhino, is due to poaching for their horn but the Sumatran Rhino is also suffering due to loss of habitat. Their natural habitat is being destroyed and developed for palm oil plantations. The Sumatran rhino once roamed as far away as the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas in Bhutan and eastern India, through Myanmar, Thailand, possibly to Vietnam and China, and south through the Malay Peninsula. Today, the species only survives on the Indonesian islands of Sumatra and Borneo. Experts believe the third subspecies is probably extinct. Tarisers Tarsiers are primates found only in the islands of Southeast Asia. These animals live in arboreal and jump through the trees to catch their food, which is mainly insect based, although can include lizards, snakes and birds. They are small with very large eyes, elongated hind legs and feet, a thin tail and long fingers. They are nocturnal (active at night) although some species may move around in the daytime. The majority of Tarsier species are now endangered or threatened, and some are designated critically endangered. Threats include habitat destruction and fragmentation, hunting, agricultural pollutants and human disturbance. Tarsiers are very shy animals that prefer to stay away from human contact. Western Low Land Gorilla The western lowland gorilla is the most numerous and widespread of all gorilla subspecies. The exact number of western lowland gorillas is not known because they inhabit some of the most dense and remote rainforests in Africa. Significant populations still exist, including in isolated swamps and the remote swampy forests of the Republic of Congo. Because of poaching and disease, the gorilla’s numbers have declined by more than 60% over the last 20 to 25 years. Even if all of the threats to western lowland gorillas were removed, scientists calculate that the population would require some 75 years to recover. Iberian Lynx Iberian lynx are found only in two small areas of southwest Spain on the Iberian Peninsula, west of the Pyrenees mountains.They show a great deal of seasonal and individual variation in activity levels. In summer they are nocturnal and crepuscular but in winter they are active during the daylight hours. Their overall activity patterns are closely synchronized with that of the rabbits. In 2015 the Iberian lynx was officially downgraded from Critically Endangered to Endangered. Further action is still needed to save the Iberian lynx such as continuous effort to stimulate rabbit recovery, enhance habitat quality and connectivity, combat threats, and the restocking and release of lynx in new areas to connect populations. Mountain Pygmy Possum Mountain Pygmy-possums were thought to be extinct until they were rediscovered at Mt Hotham in the 1960s. The possum is Australia’s only hibernating marsupial; it hibernates for up to seven months under the snow. There are three populations of Mountain Pygmy-possums. They live in the alpine and subalpine rocks and boulders found in the Bogong High Plains and Mt Buller in Victoria and Mt Kosciuzko in New South Wales.Climate change, the loss of habitat and predators, mainly feral cats and foxes, are all severe threats to the Mountain Pygmy-possum. An emerging threat is the reduction in the possum’s key food source over spring, the Bogong Moth.This is a currently particular focus within the Mountain Pygmy possum Recovery Team. Hawaiian Crow Hawaiian crows are endemic to the Hawaiian Islands and found nowhere else in the world. Revered in Hawaiian culture, these football-sized birds with dull black feathers are social, extremely intelligent, and well-known for their raucous calls.The Hawaiian crow was primarily found in the western and southeaster parts of Hawaii. They inhabited dry and mesic forests on the slopes of Mauna Loa and Hualalai. They only lived in elevations of 300-2500 meters. However, fossil remains reveal that they were abundant on all the main islands at one point.Some minor components of their diet included flowers and carrion’s. They would also pry bark off of trees and eat the insects that resided underneath it. The Red Wolf Red wolves mate for life, and each pack is formed around the breeding pair. They usual form a group of five to eight, composed of the breeding male and female and their offspring from different years. The pack is a very close family unit.The dens themselves are well hidden near stream banks, downed logs, sand knolls, or even drain pipes and culverts. The adult pack members will range and return with food for the pups until they are strong enough. In the wild, red wolves typically live five to six years, and as long as 14 years in captivity. Red wolves communicate through body language, scent marking, and a series of vocalizations. These include the characteristic howl, along with a series of barks, growls, and yaps. The red wolf’s howl sounds somewhat similar to a coyote’s, but is often lower pitched and lasts longer. Golden Tabby Tiger The Golden Tabby Tiger is an extremely rare colour variation of this exquisite wild cat, and not a separate subspecies. Their thicker and softer than other tigers fur, giving it a distinctly luxurious look and feel. A Golden Tabby Tiger (or a Strawberry Tiger, as it is sometimes known by the public) is simply a different coloured version of the Bengal Tiger subspecies. Scientific research involving this particular variety of the majestic tiger remains scarce due to its limited numbers. Yet, researchers have made one rather interesting observation. Various tests indicate that the Golden Tabby Tiger also appears to be slightly more intelligent than other tigers. Pinta Island Tortoise Like others of its subspecies, the Pinta Island tortoise has a dark brownish-gray saddleback-shaped shell with large, bony plates on its upper portion and thick, stumpy limbs covered in scaly skin. The Pinta Island has a long neck and toothless mouth shaped much like a beak, suitable for its vegetarian diet. During the 19th century, whalers and fishermen killed Pinta Island tortoises for food, driving the subspecies to the brink of extinction by the mid-1900. Pinta tortoises were originally considered extinct during this time until visitors spotted Lonesome George in 1971. George was taken into captivity the following year. Following his death in 2012, the Pinta Island tortoise is now considered to be extinct. Thank you very much for taking the time to read this book! Want to know how you can us protect these animals? Visit us at our webstite: www.wildliferestaurare.org OUR MISSION As the leading independent voice advocating on behalf of the Wildlife Restaurare we protect, promote, and enhance America’s wildlife heritage through strategic programs that serve the System and wildlife beyond its boundaries. OUR VISION Inspire nationwide support for the Wildlife Restaurare, its wildlife, and habitats. OUR WORK The Wildlife Restaurare is a non-profit exclusively focused on protecting and promoting the 850-million-acre Wildlife Restaurare, the world’s largest network of lands and waters set aside for wildlife conservation Our work is largely focused in Washington, DC. We vigilantly watch for policies and legislation that undermine the integrity of the Wildlife Restaurare, while advocating for efforts that advance wildlife conservation. The Wildlife Restaurare addresses Refuge System funding, management, and strategic growth, while also promoting programs that maximize the system’s conservation impact. I was hoping to see penguins in this book, but I didn’t find any. Does that mean they are exctint or did this book forgot to include them? Either way I enjoyed the story! - Kevin from Statefarm Love this book! I’m glad to see that my speicies isn’t in here. -Car Fax Great illustrations and very useful eye opening information. Wildlife Restaurare does amazing work in animal protection and through amazing projects like this! - New York Times.