EXTINCT AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS Endangered animals are basically those animals whose population is reducing at an alarming rate.

This drastic reduction in numbers can be attributed to a number of things and it is therefore prudent to carefully learn about some of the possible causes of extinction. Below are just a couple of reasons that may result into wildlife extinction. Possible Causes of Extinction One of the reasons why animals can be considered an endangered species is lack of food. Animals must eat well in order to reproduce and continue thriving. However, there are many instances when food becomes scarce and thus many of these animals may starve to death. Environmental degradation is a major factor when it comes to food scarcity for certain animals. The second thing that may put animals in danger of extinction is the existence of too many predators. If for example a certain specie of animals is eaten by several others, there are very high chances that the animals being preyed upon will drastically reduce in numbers. The outbreak of deadly diseases can also contribute a lot to the reduction of animal numbers. While there are natural occurrences that ensure animals remain relatively healthy, it is important to acknowledge the fact that from time to time deadly diseases arise and this leads to the death of a lot of animals. The next point to note when it comes to extinction is the fact that some animals are not able to reproduce quickly. Certain animals take very long periods of time before giving birth and when they do give birth, their offspring are either too few or very vulnerable and thus they end up dying at a very tender age. Another possible cause of animal extinction is bad weather and poor quality of the habitat in which the animals live. Indeed there are certain cases when human beings are largely responsible for the destruction of animal habitats and this can easily lead to endangerment of animals. Examples of Endangered Fish and Other Animals 1. Western Lowland Gorillas; These animals are basically running out due to diseases and illegal hunting by the indigenous people of the region in which they exist.

2. Northern Right Whales; these endangered animals are about 350 in number today. Their survival is at a high risk because of the hunting that normally takes place in the Atlantic.

3. Siberian Tigers; these are the worlds largest cats and can be found in the Siberian forests. 4. Chinese Giant Salamander; this is a delicacy for a huge number of people and that is the main cause of endangerment for the giant salamander.

1. The Quagga; this animal resembled a Zebra except its stripes were not so consistent. It had a brownish back with stripes appearing only on the front part of the body 2. The Golden Toad; this was also another animal that resembled normal toads which can be found throughout the world today. The only difference is that it had a strikingly beautiful orange color which made it stand out. 3. The Javan Tigers; these were subspecies of Tigers and were only found in the Indonesian Islands of Java. ENDANGERED ANIMALS Nature has its own way of maintaining the balance in flora and fauna. But, man's greedy advancements in making progress have left a deep impact on other creatures. In an effort to create the situations according to his wishes, man has gone beyond the limit, and has made many animals as critically endangered animals. Some of the animals endangered critically are:Asian elephants : According to an estimate, only 15,000-20,000 Asian elephants are alive today. The main reason for their decreasing numbers is their loss of habitat, and extensive poaching for their ivory tusks. Goods made from ivory tusks are in huge demand in the international market. Asian elephants are mainly found in the terai region of Uttar Pradesh, Bengal, Assam, Karnataka, and Kerala.

Tiger: Tigers are mainly hunted for their bones and skin. Tiger bones are widely used to make traditional medicines, as a cure for diseases like cancer. They are also hunted for pleasure in games, and, sometimes,

to protect the domestic livestock. An estimated only 40,000 tigers are left today.Great Indian Onehorned

Rhinoceros: They are one of the most endangered animals in India. They are hunted for their horns, which are believed to have aphrodisiac properties. They are mainly found in the Kaziranga and Orange national park. It is sad to note that only 1,500 of the Great Indian One-horned Rhinoceros are left today Asiatic Lion: Asiatic lions are considered to be the most powerful living animals on earth. But, they are the most critically endangered animal in India. Only 352 of these mighty creatures are left to be seen today. Poaching is considered to be the main reason for their decreasing number. Today, they are mainly found in Gir national park.

Leopard: Leopards are also fighting for their survival. They are mainly found in the parts of central India and the north-east. Their number has decreased to about 7,500. Snow Leopard: They are mainly found in the upper Himalayas. Lack of food for them, and poaching has considerably reduced their numbers. But, some appropriate and timely help from the environmentalists have protected them from becoming extinct.

Tibetan Antelope: Tibetan Antelope is also called "Chiru". They have very soft furs on their body, known as "sahtoosh". This light-weight wool has a great demand in the market. A shawl made of sahtoosh can fetch upto $16,000. It is for this fur that the Tibetan Antelopes are hunted and have become an endangered animal in India. 20,000 Chirus are poached every year to satisfy the needs of human beings .

The list also includes Kashmir Stag, Lion-tailed Macaque,Blue whale Ganges River Dolphin, Red Panda, Marsh Mongoose, Hoolock Gibbon, and it may go endlessly. It is important to save the lives of these endangered animals in India. If correct steps for saving them are not taken now, then we may find them only in zoos, or in the museums. EXTINCT ANIMALS Extinct and Endangered Animals: The extinction of species has always been a natural part of evolution. The fossil record shows that since life originated about four billion years ago the vast majority of species that have existed are now extinct. Extinct species outnumber living ones by a factor of perhaps a thousand to one.

sciencegnus Scientists have identified five extinction events in Earth's history, with some so severe that more than 90 percent of all life forms were killed off. The last and most famous extinction was the Cretaceous-Tertiary

event some 63 million years ago that killed off the dinosaurs and allowed the rise of mammals. It is thought to have been caused by an asteroid hitting Earth.

Dinosaur Today we are in the middle of a sixth extinction events that began about 50,000 years ago but is now accelerating in an alarming speed! This extinction event is not a natural event, but is caused directly or indirectly by humans. Most recent extinctions extinctions have been associated with European expansion in the 15th and 16th century. However, in some parts of the world some species are known to have become extinct before the arrival of the Europeans. For example, the Polynesians who colonised the Hawaiian Island in the 4th, 5th, and 6th centuries may have been responsible for the loss of around 50 of the 100 or so species of endemic land birds in the period between their arrival and that of the Europeans.

African Elephant The African elephant is the largest living land animal and weighs up to 5,400 kg. It inhabits the Savannah, brush, forest, river valleys, and semi-desert regions of Africa south of the Sahara Desert. Besides its greater size, it differs from the asian elephant in having larger ears and tusks, a sloping forehead, and two fingers at the tip of its trunk, compared to only one in the Asian species.

Green Turtle Female green turtles return to the same beaches regularly and in great numbers to lay their eggs. Throughout history these turtles have been an important source of food to local human populations and sea voyagers. The green turtle was once common in the warm oceans of the world, but has become increasingly scarce in areas where it is commercially exploited. It is still common, however, in Hawaii, but now rarely nests in North America, although feeding areas in Florida still have fairly large populations. The green turtle can also be found around Australia.

Bald Eagle This majestic bird is found across all of southern Canada, but is commonest on the Pacific coast. The Bald eagle also ranges in Alaska and the rest of the United States. The adult can be distinguished by its white head and neck which it takes about four years to attain. Adult males have a body length of 75 to 85 cm and a wingspan of 180 to 213 cm. Females are slightly larger.

Dodo Mauritius, an island in the Indian Ocean, was the only home of the dodo, a large,flightless bird that weighed up to 14 kg and was very good to eat. Dodos were an easy-to-catch source of food for sailors and settlers. Having developed in isolation, the dodo easily fell victim to this new pressure. In addition, forest clearing destroyed the birds habitat, and introduced pigs, goats, cats, rats, and monkeys became competitors as well as predators.

African Wild Dog Although similar in appearance to hyenas, African wild dogs are nevertheless true wild canidae. They are a mixture of black, yellow, and white in such a wide variety of patterns that no two individuals look exactly alike. African wild dogs are widely distributed across the African plains but they do not live in jungle areas. They are social animals, living in packs of usually from 2 to 45 individuals. A hierarchy exists within the pack, but the animals are so friendly to one another that the pecking order is hard to determine. The young and the infirm are given special privileges within the pack. African wild dogs use their sense of sight, not smell, to find their prey. They pay no attention to wind direction and they do not use cover when approaching their prey. They can run up to 55 km/h for several kilometres. In eastern Africa, they mostly hunt Thomsons gazelles, but they will also attack calves, warthogs, zebras, impalas, and the young of large antelopes such as the gnu.

Wild Yak

Throughout history, the domesticated yak of central Asia has provided Tibetan herders with wool, leather, meat, milk, and cheese. It is a beast of burden and its dung is used as fuel and fertilizer. There are many of them. The larger wild yak, however, decimated by hunting, is an endangered species.Once widely distributed in the high valleys and plateaus of Tibet and the adjoining mountain country, the wild yak now survives in scattered, isolated herds in the most remote, inhospitable areas. Although officially protected from hunting and commercial trade, its future may depend on suitable reserves with good pastures and efficient protection.

Mountain Gorilla This largest of the great apes inhabits a number of isolated areas on the forested mountain slopes of eastern Zaire and parts of Uganda and Rwanda. Its population is estimated at approximately 400. Although much of the animals range is within national parks and reserves, human's growing needs for farming and grazing lands have reduced these areas. These disruptions may also force other animals, such as elephant and buffalo, into a reduced habitat where they compete with the gorilla for the same foods. Listed as an endangered species the mountain gorilla has some protection in a ban among most zoos against the acquisition of specimens and in restrictive controls against international trade *****