Photo Doc
Animals in Peril: In Lakes, Rivers and Wetlands
Four Photos (in two sets).
Prehistoric survivors face extinction
Caption: The Chinese alligator, also known as the earth dragon, and the Gharial, found in India and
Nepal, are the most threatened crocodile species. Fewer than 200 individuals of each species remain in
the wild. Hunting and vanishing habitat have pushed these prehistoric animals to the brink. Zoologists
have tried to increase their numbers by breeding them in captivity, but habitat protection offers the
only viable strategy to improve their chances of survival.
Baby Chinese alligator: Wildlife Conservation Society permission required
http://wcs.org/home/wild/herpetology/crocs/
Gharial: Gettyimages (gettyimages.com) Permission and use rights required
Photo title: A Threatened African Icon
Caption: Both the common hippopotamus, seen here on the Zambezi River in Africa, and its more
reclusive cousin, the pygmy hippo, found in the swamps of West Africa, are now threatened with
extinction because of habitat loss and hunting for meat and ivory.
Photo sources:
Hippo: photo from Jon Hoekstra (TNC) – high res available at no cost.
Pygmy hippo: from ARKive.org permission required.