Anthropology, Zoos, and Much More! http://www.anthrozoo.org Fri, 19 Aug 2011 03:11:57 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Endangered Species List – A Threat to Both Human and Animals! http://www.anthrozoo.org/animals/endangered-species-list-%e2%80%93-a-threat-to-both-human-and-animals/ http://www.anthrozoo.org/animals/endangered-species-list-%e2%80%93-a-threat-to-both-human-and-animals/#comments Fri, 19 Aug 2011 03:11:57 +0000 admin http://www.anthrozoo.org/?p=15

Endangered species list covers the types and groups of animals that are facing extinction either now or in the near future.  Usually this happens due to the changing climatic conditions or other threats from their surrounding. A lot of animals now fall in this group due to receding vegetation caused by de-forestation. Endangered species list is long, and if we are not careful, and take care of our surrounding responsibly; most of the animals that have been part of our lives will only remain in the zoo and the orphanages.

Topping our list of the species whose life is in danger is the ancient Panda Bear.  Panda Bears are the least of known animals as they can only be found in specific parts around world.  There are three types of panda bears, there is the red/brown bear (rarely seen and the least known); the black panda and finally, the giant white panda which is mostly known and seen in zoos around the world.

Panda bears are mainly found in Asia and its surrounding areas.  A lot of people around the world only manage to see them either in photographs or at the animal zoos. They are facing extinction mainly for two reasons, firstly because of their poor reproductive nature.  However hard zoos have tried to make them reproduce, it has remained a tall order for them.  Secondly, is due to their poor eating habits.  Panda’s main food is the bamboo.  And due to badly strained natural habitats, the bamboo also is facing extinction together with the panda.

Panda’s are notably poor parents and most of their youngsters rarely make it to adulthood. Their numbers both in the zoo and in the wild continue to dwindle tremendously and causing worry.  Their hide is of high value and hunters can go to any length to hunt them down and kill them. For whatever reasons, it is worth considering that even these animals have a chance to live and should not feel totally helpless around human being who are essentially suppose to be their protectors.  Give animals a chance to live too.

]]> http://www.anthrozoo.org/animals/endangered-species-list-%e2%80%93-a-threat-to-both-human-and-animals/feed/ 0 The DNA of the California Condor Preserved http://www.anthrozoo.org/birds/the-dna-of-the-california-condor-preserved/ http://www.anthrozoo.org/birds/the-dna-of-the-california-condor-preserved/#comments Fri, 19 Aug 2011 02:50:05 +0000 admin http://www.anthrozoo.org/?p=10 The largest flying bird is known as the California Condor and is now an endangered species and comes from North America. The wings of this majestic bird spans 10 feet from one tip to the other tip. They can fly up to 15,000 feet up in the air, making them the perfect scavengers of animals are large as deer and cattle.

They can devour one large deer or cow in one sitting. After resting for a few hours, it will start flying again in search of new prey.

The California Condor is a sacred bird to native Americans. Unfortunately, the population suffered so much that in the 1970s, it was at the brink of extinction.  There are many speculations as to why these birds began to die or disappear. Some of the theories were from eating poison, poachers stealing the California Condor eggs, and loss of natural habitat. None of these theories have ever been proven and it is most likely that the near extinction was a mix of all 3 reasons.

In addition to human intervention and error, the California Condor mature slowly. The females do not give birth frequently or in big numbers. In fact, a female California Condor can only get pregnant upon reaching 6 years. Then, she can only lay one or two eggs every two years. If a poacher manages to grab hold of that egg, then get a clearer picture of what may have happened.

With all these possibilities in mind, scientists with conservationists decided to breed them in captivity. They managed to get hold of some eggs and mature birds for their project. They also decided to get DNA samples which they added to the DNA bank for endangered animals. There is no plan yet what to do with the DNA samples, but they are there if and when needed. From the low population number of less than 10 wild California Condors, the numbers have slowly began to increase. It is very far from the hundreds of California Condors in the days of the native Americans, but the current number is now up by more than 100. For now, their biggest threat is hitting a power line when in flight.

Reference: Illustrated Encyclopedia of endangered animals.
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