Animals & Pets

Endangered Animals  Endangered animals animals whose existence as a species on Earth is threatened in some way  The new list adds over 200 animal species worldwide to the most critically endangered list, including 11 mammals, 14 birds and 38 reptiles.

Nature Reserves in China  With her vast area, diverse landscapes and climatic variations, China harbors a rich wildlife heritage. The Chinese government and conservation organizations have paid great attention to natural reserve construction as a means of protecting the natural environment and resources. by the end of 1995, 779 nature reserves of all 3 categories (forest wild animal and natural historical heritage) and 750 national forest area (a total area of 78,450 thousand hectares: 8.7% of national territory) were set up to preserve the unique fauna and flora and serve as basis for scientific research, education and tourism.

 Thanks to these efforts, some endangered species including Cathaya argyrophylla, Camellia chrysantha, Golden monkey, Takin, Eld deer, Chinese alligator and crested ibis have begun a gradual recovery and steady population growth.  While consolidating the established natural reserves, China will continue building new reserves. This is a great project of natural conservation to which China has always been committed

Giant Panda

Golden Monkey

Snow Leopard

Crested Ibis

Red-crowned Crane

The Dhole

IIIIn the jungles of south and southeast Asia there lives a little known member of the dog family, which has been described as the "red dog" in Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book. The "red dog", the dhole, or the Asiatic wild dog (Cuon alpinus), is an animal which lives in packs. According to Kipling, it was so feared that even the wolf pack featured in the story had to move out of an area invaded by a dhole pack. Of course in most parts of Asia, wolf and dhole packs do not live together and therefore the encounter was purely fictional. Dhole packs are feared by many inhabitants of the jungle, including spotted and sambar deer, which they prey upon. Even the big cats of the Asian jungles, the leopard and the tiger, will avoid contact with a dhole pack.

Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus) TTTThe Asian elephant is classified as a member of the order Proboscidea (Elephants) and is a member of the family Elephantidae. Also known as the Indian elephant, it stands up to ten feet high and weighs up to 10,000 pounds. The Asian elephant is classified as an endangered species due to a reduction of at least 50% of the Asian elephant population over the last three generations based on a decline in area of occupancy and levels of exploitation. The Asian elephant has four subspecies: the Indian, Ceylon, Sumatran, and Malaysian elephants.

Asian Elephant

Golden Lion Tamarin (Leontopithecus rosalia)  The golden lion tamarin is classified as a member of the order Primates and is a member of the family Callitrichidae. The golden lion tamarin's head and body are about one foot long, and the tail is slightly shorter. It weighs about one and a half pounds. The golden lion tamarin is classified as a critically endangered species due to the fact that it only exists in severely fragmented subpopulations consisting of no more than fifty mature tamarins each, and that there has been continuing decline in the golden lion tamarin population. The golden lion tamarin is one of the most endangered of all mammals.

Red Wolf (Canis rufus)  The red wolf is classified as a member of the order Carnivora (Carnivores) and is a member of the family Canidae. The red wolf is classified as a critically endangered species due to the estimation that its population consists of less than fifty mature red wolves.

Red Wolf

Texas Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis albescens)  The Texas ocelot is classified as a member of the order Carnivora (Carnivores) and is a member of the family Felidae. It is classified as an endangered species due to an estimated population of less than 250 mature individuals. The Texas ocelot can be found in Mexico and the United States.

Texas Ocelot

Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)  The giant panda is classified as a member of the order Carnivora (Carnivores) and is a member of the family Procyonidae. The male giant panda stands up to five feet tall, and weighs up to 265 pounds. The female giant panda is smaller and weighs less. The giant panda is classified as an endangered species due to the fact that it only exists in severely fragmented subpopulations consisting of up to 250 mature adults, and that there has been continuing decline in the area of habitat. The giant panda feeds mainly on bamboo, even though it is classified as a carnivore.

Giant Panda

Lesser Panda (Ailurus fulgens)  The lesser panda is classified as a member of the order Carnivora (Carnivores) and is a member of the family Ursidae. It is classified as an endangered species due to an estimated population of less than 2500 mature individuals and a continuing decline in numbers of mature individuals because of severly fragmented populations. Lesser pandas can be found in southern Asia.

Lesser Panda (Red panda)

Broom's Pygmy-possum (Burramys parvus)  The Broom's Pygmy-possum is classified as a member of the order Marsupialia (Marsupials) and is a member of the family Burramyidae. It is also known as the mountain pygmy-possum. The Broom's pygmy-possum is classified as an endangered species due to an estimated extent of occurrence that is less than 5000 km², a severely fragmented population, and a projected decline in area of occupancy, extent of occurance, quality of habitat, number of subpopulations, and number of mature individuals. The Broom's pygmy-possum can be found in Australia.

Broom's Pygmy-possum

Short-tailed Chinchilla (Chinchilla brevicaudata)  The short-tailed chinchilla is classified as a member of the order Rodentia (Rodents) and is a member of the family Chinchillidae. It is classified as a critically endangered species due to an estimated population decline of at least 80% over the past ten years based on a decline in area of occupancy and levels of exploitation. The short-tailed chinchilla can be found in South America.

Short-tailed Chinchilla

Giant Armadillo (Priodontes maximus)  The giant armadillo is classified as a member of the order Edentata (Edentates) and is a member of the family Dasypodidae. It is classified as an endangered species due to an estimated population decline of at least 50% over the past ten years based on levels of exploitation and a decline in area of occupancy. The giant armadillo can be found in South America.

Giant Armadillo

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