Category Zoology

            A numbat is a rare marsupial animal that is native to parts of Australia. Also known as banded anteaters, they have long sticky tongues that help them pick up termites which they eat exclusively. Usually, these animals make shelters out of old and fallen trees that have hollow logs.

            Numbats were once found across the Southern part of Australia, including Western Australia, South Australia and parts of New South Wales, Victoria and the Northern Territory. But now they are restricted to isolated areas in South-Western Australia.

            The main reason for this sort of population fall is habitat loss. Their ranges have been cleared for agriculture, and destroyed by bush fires. Besides, these are slow-moving animals that can be easily caught by predators like cats, dogs and foxes.

            In recent decades conservation programmes were active and several numbats were reintroduced to a few sites including Yookamurra Sanctuary in South Australia, and Scotia Sanctuary in New South Wales as part of captive breeding and translocation programmes.

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            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.

Picture credit: google