E-BOOK CODE:
REAU5025
Special School Photocopy Master Edition
© IMSI
Endangered
Animals
Resource Book
by Jane Bourke
About Ready-Ed Publications
Ready-Ed Publications was established in 1984 with the purpose of creating practical classroom blackline master
activities. At the time, the role of the teacher was becoming ever more diverse with an increasing range of duties and
responsibilities within the school and school community. Since then, the role of the teacher has continued to evolve
with an escalating range of tasks and obligations, ensuring a reduction in time available to prepare work for the daily
instructional program.
Throughout these past 21 years, Ready-Ed Publications has built a reputation as publishers of Australian made, high
quality, innovative, timesaving materials for teachers of primary and lower secondary levels. In addition, all materials
are based on state or national curriculum guidelines or specific age-related interest areas and subjects.
Ready-Ed Publications aims to assist busy professionals by making available contemporary classroom materials that
contain relevant and stimulating work to support the requirements of the curriculum.
A Resource for Young Learners: Endangered Animals
© 2006 Ready-Ed Publications
Printed in Australia
Author: Jane Bourke
Typesetting and Cover Design: Shay Howard
Acknowledgements:
i.
Clip art images have been obtained from Microsoft Design Gallery Live and are used under the terms of the End User License
Agreement for Microsoft Word 2000. Please refer to www.microsoft.com/permission.
ii. NOAA credits: Images courtesy of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/Department of Commerce.
iii. IMSI credits: Where credited the images used were obtained from IMSI’s Masterclips/MasterPhotos collection, 1895 Francisco
Blvd, East San Rafael, CA 94901-5506 USA. www.imsisoft.com
iv. COREL credits: Where credited the images used were obtained from Corel Corporation collection, 1600 Carling Ave., Ottawa,
Ontario, Canada K1Z 8R7.
v. Photos from individual sources have been acknowledged where applicable. While every attempt has been made to acknowledge
the ownership of photos used herein, in some instances this has not been possible. If you know of the photographers for these
images, please contact the publisher so that proper acknowledgement can be given.
Cover images:
i.
Tortoise – Image courtesy of NOAA
ii. Bilby – © Robert Dockerill
iii. Leafy sea dragon, panda, rhino – IMSI Collection
Published by:
Ready-Ed Publications
PO Box 276
Greenwood WA 6023
www.readyed.com.au
info@readyed.com.au
ISBN: 1 86397 645 0
COPYRIGHT NOTICE FOR THIS SPECIAL PHOTOCOPY MASTER EDITION
Permission is granted for the purchaser to photocopy sufficient copies for non-commercial educational
purposes. However, this permission is not transferable and applies only to the purchasing individual or
institution.
2
ENDANGERED ANIMALS
Contents
Animals Dying Out .......................... 5
Helping the Honeyeater ................ 35
Threats to Survival .......................... 6
Western Swamp Tortoise ................ 36
Introduced Species .......................... 7
Threats to the Tortoise ................... 37
Animal Alert! .................................. 8
Komodo Dragon ........................... 38
Animal Alert! .................................. 9
Dragons Dying Out ....................... 39
Protecting Endangered Species ...... 10
Galapagos Giant Tortoise .............. 40
Classifying Threatened Species ...... 11
Trouble for Tortoises ...................... 41
Meet the Animals .......................... 14
Pygmy Blue Tongue Lizard ............. 42
Malayan Sun Bear......................... 15
Long Live the Lizards..................... 43
Saving the Sun Bear ...................... 16
Tuatara ......................................... 44
Polar Bear ..................................... 17
Tuatara Turmoil ............................. 45
Polar Bears’ Plight ......................... 18
Harlequin Frog .............................. 46
Giant Panda ................................. 19
Frogs and Fungus ......................... 47
Panda Problems ............................ 20
Philippine Eagle ............................ 48
Black Rhinoceros .......................... 21
Rapt about Raptors ....................... 49
Rhinos Remaining ......................... 22
Humboldt Penguin ........................ 50
Endangered Elephants .................. 23
Hard Life for Humboldts ................ 51
Elephant Emergency ..................... 24
Leafy Sea Dragon ......................... 52
Big Cats ........................................ 25
Dragons in Danger........................ 53
Tiger Treatments ........................... 26
Meet a Manatee ........................... 54
Gilbert’s Potoroo ........................... 27
Manatees Under Threat ................ 55
Potoroos in Peril ............................ 28
Humpback Whale ......................... 56
Northern Hairy-Nosed Wombat ..... 29
Whales and Whaling ..................... 57
Wombat Worries............................ 30
Glossary ....................................... 58
Greater Bilby ................................. 31
Glossary ....................................... 59
Bringing Bilbies Back ..................... 32
Endangered Species Sites for Kids .... 60
The Numbat: No Longer Endangered ... 33
Animal Species – Online Links ....... 61
Regent Honeyeater ....................... 34
3
4
ENDANGERED ANIMALS
Animals Dying Out
Threats at
a Glance
© IMSI
Habitat Loss
Clearing the land:
•For buildings and houses
•For farming
Natur
al Disasters
Natural
•Bushfire
•Drought
•Flood
There are millions of animal species that
live in Australia and New Zealand. Most
of these species are unique to each
country and are found nowhere else in the
world except in captivity. The species may
live in aquatic (water) environments or
ter
terrrestrial (land) environments.
Introduced Species
Pests – compete with native
animals for food sources
Weeds – compete with
plants which are a food
source for native animals
Predators – prey on native
animals
Cattle – even though cattle
are a food source for
humans, they have damaged
the natural environment
Over the years, many things have changed
the way animals and plants interact with
their environment and some of these
things have changed the balance in the
ecosystem
Check out the GLOSSARY
ecosystem. Sometimes, the animals are
on page 58 for any words
able to adapt to the changes but quite
you are not sure about.
often the changes have meant that the
animals are not able to survive.
DID YOU KNOW?
Since European settlement 200 years ago, hundreds of species
have become extinct. This means they are no longer existing in any
part of the world. Australian scientists say that at least fifty
bird and mammal species, four frog species, and more than sixty
plant species have disappeared – and these are only the ones
they know about! Some species are in more danger than others.
5
ENDANGERED ANIMALS
Threats to Survival
Habitat Loss
Imagine if you came home from school one day and your home was
gone and possibly your family too! Well, this is the problem that
millions of living things are facing everyday. Many animal habitats
are lost or destroyed to make room for new buildings or houses.
Forest habitats can disappear when trees are cut down, when
bushland is cleared, when areas are prepared for mining and other
industrial activities, and when weeds and pests take over an area.
Logging
Polluted
Waterways
Industrial Mining
Pollution
Habitat Change
Changes to an animal’s habitat can occur after
a natural disaster such as fire, flood, drought
or storm. After a while, these areas may return
to what they used to be like, but in the
meantime many animals will have nowhere to
find shelter or may have even been killed during
the disaster.
Aquatic habitats, such as rivers, lakes and oceans, can be
affected by industrial activity such as run off into waterways.
The run off can contain harmful pesticides, herbicides,
fertilisers, sewage, oil, toxic chemicals and sediments. These
things can kill marine species or make them very sick. They
also damage the natural environment that aquatic animals
depend on for food and shelter.
6
ENDANGERED ANIMALS
Introduced Species
Many animal and plant species have
been brought to Australia and New
Zealand from other parts of the world.
These animals are known as
intr
oduced species as they are not
introduced
native to the area.
Different animal species were brought
here by early settlers for a number of
reasons.
z Some species have been used for
far
ming, e.g. chickens, sheep and cows.
farming,
z Some species have been used in sporting
events, e.g. horses and gr
eyhounds.
greyhounds.
ought her
e
z Some animals have been br
brought
here
as pets, e.g. cats and dogs.
Some of these animals have caused a
lot of damage to the environment. For
example, many animal species have
upset the ecosystem by preying on the
eggs and young of native species.
Other animals compete with native
species for food and space while some
types of fish, such as the European
carp, muddy waterways and upset
other species’ habitats that exist within
a natural ecosystem.
Meet the
Animals
Early settlers bought
these animals with
them:
Cats, dogs, goats,
cows, sheep, rabbits,
foxes, camels, pigs,
foxes, deer and more.
Oh, and they
accidentally bought
along mice and rats!
Pest Parade
Click here to see a school
project on Australia’s pests:
www.teachingtreasures.com.au/
science-projects/pests.htm
7
ENDANGERED ANIMALS
Animal Alert!
Marine Invaders
Introduced pr
edators aren’t just restricted to
predators
land. Many ships have brought fish, crustaceans,
molluscs and worms into Australian waters through
their ballast water, which is the water that ships fill their tanks
with before a voyage. An example of a marine invader is the
Northern sea star, a type of starfish. This starfish came all the
way from the Northern Hemisphere in the ship’s ballast water
and has caused some native species lots of problems!
Farming Damage
Animals such as rabbits,
goats, pigs, sheep, buffalo,
donkeys, horses, camels and
cattle have caused damage to
the environment. The hooves
of some animals compact the
soil which stops new plants
growing in areas of
revegetation. Without these
plants, the soil is eroded and
the amount of salt is
increased, which means many
animal habitats are ruined.
8
Animal Poachers
Animal poachers are people
who hunt and kill animals so
that they can sell animal
products like leather, ivory,
horns and skins. It is illegal to
hunt and kill these animals,
yet people all over the world
continue to buy products
made from them such as fur
coats, and leather shoes.
Poachers can make a lot of
money killing animals and
selling them for these
precious materials.
ENDANGERED ANIMALS
Animal Alert!
Predators
on Patrol
Some species, such as
foxes and cats, prey on
many native species. The
numbat, western quoll
(chuditch), woylie and
many species of wallaby
are a food source for
such predators and so it
is difficult to release
these Australian species
back into the wild where
the spread of foxes and
cats cannot be
controlled.
Check out Weedbusters~!
www.weedbusterweek.info.au
Learn all you need to know
about weeds and how to get
rid of them!
Also visit:
www.weeds.org.au
to identify a particular weed.
Plant Pests
Weeds are plants that invade an area
in the same way that some animals
have invaded areas. These “invasions”
upset the natural balance of an
ecosystem. Weeds are able to grow in
places where they would not normally
grow – they can usually grow
ANYWHERE! When they do this, they
compete with native plants for space,
water and nutrients from the soil.
Weeds can invade disturbed sites
such as land that has been cleared
or used for mining. Weeds are not
able to be of any use to native
animals as they are not a food
source or form of shelter. In fact, the
only animals likely to benefit from
weeds are feral animals.
9
ENDANGERED ANIMALS
Protecting Endangered Species
Threatened and endangered species are
found all over the world. Many of these
species live only in a tiny area while
others are still found – in small numbers –
scattered in a number of locations. Some
animals are in more danger than others
and so scientists have come up with a
number of categories to agree on which
animals are most at risk.
Each country, including Australia and New
Zealand, has its own environmental laws
which protect endangered animals.
Red Alert!
What is CITES?
CITES stands for the
Convention of International
Trade of Endangered
Species of Wild Flora and
Fauna. With this long name,
it’s easy to see why most
people just call it CITES.
The World Conser
Conservvation Union
helps to protect animals from
all over the world. This group
has a RED LIST which has the
names of all threatened
animal species.
You can look up this list at
.r
edlist.or
g
www
www.r
.redlist.or
edlist.org
10
The CITES agreement helps
to protect the trade of
animal species. Over 30,000
animal and plant species are
protected by this agreement.
You can learn more about
what CITES does at
www.cites.org
ENDANGERED ANIMALS
Classifying Threatened Species
Endangered or threatened species fit
into one of these groups:
A species is said to be extinct
when there are no living
individuals in existence.
Extinctions can be hard to
prove and a limit of 50 years
with no official sightings of
the species is now used.
Around 65 million years ago,
dinosaurs became extinct.
Other examples of extinct
species include:
Dodo bir
dzDodo
bird
Last seen in
1681 (Mauritius).
Thylacine zThylacine
Last seen in
1936 (Australia) - also
known as the Tasmanian Tiger.
Steller
’s sea cow - Last
zSteller
Steller’s
recorded sighting in 1768
(Pacific Ocean).
Each day, more and more
species are becoming extinct.
Many of the species that
were roaming about the
earth millions of year ago are
now extinct.
Extinct in
the Wild:
Sometimes a species is only
found in captivity (i.e. a zoo
program) or as a naturalised
population outside its past
range. Examples include:
z Saudi gazelle - Saudi Arabia
ow - Hawaiian
z Hawaiian cr
crow
Islands
Many zoos are set up to look
after endangered species.
These zoos have special
breeding programs which aim
to increase the numbers of the
species.
© Puneet and Daria Mehras
Extinct:
11
© IMSI
ENDANGERED ANIMALS
Critically
Endangered:
A species is critically
endanger
ed if it is facing an
endangered
extremely high risk of
extinction in the wild in the
“immediate” future.
Examples of critically
endangered animals include:
zSumatran
Sumatran orang-utan Indonesia
© Corel
hinocer
os - Eastern,
zBlack
hinoceros
Black rrhinocer
central and southern Africa
12
endangered:
Species that are considered
endanger
ed are likely to
endangered
become extinct in the “near”
future unless the threats and
dangers to their survival are
removed. Animal species in
this category are still facing a
very high risk of extinction in
the wild.
Examples of endangered
species include:
Asian elephant - India and
zAsian
Asia
Blue whale - Most oceans,
zBlue
however only 1500 of these
whales still exist
ENDANGERED ANIMALS
Vulnerable:
A species is classified as
vulnerable if it is facing a
risk of extinction in the
“medium-term” future.
These species are likely to be
classified as endangered or
threatened within the next
25 years if no action is taken
to preserve the species.
Species that are considered
vulnerable include:
zGr
Great
Gr
eat white shark Southern and Pacific
Oceans
zGr
Green
Gr
een turtle - Most warm
oceans of the world
ester
n quoll zChuditch,
Wester
estern
Chuditch, W
Western Australia
Learn more about endangered
animals:
www.kidsplanet.org/factsheets/
esa.html
Near Threatened:
Species classed as near
thr
eatened have been
threatened
studied but are not
considered to be critically
endangered, endangered,
or vulnerable. However, at
some time in the future they
are likely to be classified as
eatened species.
a thr
threatened
Species that are considered
“near threatened” include:
Maned wolf - South
zManed
America
Least Concern:
Animals that are still roaming
around in great numbers are
classified as being of least
concer
n. This means that
concern
there is no written evidence
that the numbers of this
species are changing.
An example of a species of
least concern includes:
Br
own bear zBr
Brown
Europe,
Asia and
Northern
America
13
ENDANGERED ANIMALS
Well, now that you
know all about how
animals can
become endangered,
let’s have a look at
some of the animals
that we need to protect.
Endangered animals are
found EVERYWHERE – in the
ice and snow, in the desert, in
the ocean, in the rivers, in the
rainforests, in the bush and in
the mountains. All of these
animals are facing different
problems and while people
are doing good things to
protect these endangered
species, there are many
endangered animals that no
one has even heard of.
Some of the animals in this
book are very popular
animals, such as pandas,
rhinos and elephants.
Everyone knows that these
animals are endangered and
there are a lot of special funds
set up to help them.
But what about some of the
more unknown animals that
are facing the same future?
14
Image courtesy of NOAA
Meet the Animals
Have you heard of a …
zleafy sea dragon?
zpygmy blue tongue lizard?
zKomodo dragon?
zregent honeyeater?
NO? Well, read on and learn
how you can help these
endangered creatures.
ENDANGERED ANIMALS
Malayan Sun Bear
Scientific Name: Helarctos malayanus
The Malayan sun bear is the smallest of
all of the eight bear species found
throughout the world.
Where do they live?
Sun bears live in the tropical forests of
South East Asia.
The sun bear feeds on a range of foods,
such as fruit, tips from palm trees, small
mammals, birds and roots.
What are the threats?
The demand for
bear products is
the greatest
threat to bears’
survival. Poachers
hunt bears for
products like bear
fat, blood and
bones, paws, spinal
chord and gall.
These things are
used in traditional
Asian medicines.
Malayan sun bears
are also kept for
pets – the mother
bears are killed so
that cubs can be
taken young
enough to tame.
© IMSI
¾ Logging of the forest habitat that the
sun bear lives in.
¾ Clearing the land for farming.
¾ The logging roads also allow poachers to
capture the bears more easily. As natural
food sources disappear, the sun bears are
driven by hunger to forage for food on
farms and plantations, where they are
often shot or trapped by angry farmers.
Poachers
on the
prowl
15
ENDANGERED ANIMALS
Saving the Sun Bear
The Bear Facts!
The sun bear has many
special adaptations that
suit its habitat:
¾ Very skilful climber. Because
it can climb the sun bear is
able to dig for honey and
grubs, which it licks up out
of tree trunks using its long
tongue.
¾ Its jaws are extra large so
that it can break open hard
fruits like coconuts.
¾ The sun bear is able to tear
trees apart with its long
curved claws to get to the
insects under the bark.
The Malayan sun bear has
ed
been listed as an endanger
endangered
species, however, many
people would rather use this
animal’s unique products for
medicines than worry about
the number of bears left in the
world.
Some countries have banned
trade in these bear products,
but in South Korea and
Taiwan – the greatest users of
bear products – they are still
able to be bought.
In China, scientists have
developed a way to
extract a substance called bile
from bears without killing
them. Bile is used in many of
the traditional medicines in
China.
Project: Sun Bear
www.perthzoo.wa.gov.au/help_sunbear.html
16
© IMSI
The Perth Zoo has a special
program set up to help sun bears.
Read all about it at this website:
ENDANGERED ANIMALS
Polar Bear
Scientific Name:
Ursus maritimus
© IMSI
Another endangered bear
species is the famous polar
bear. Scientists believe that
the “sea bear”, evolved about
200,000 years ago from its
brown bear ancestors. Polar
bears live in the Arctic region
and will pad across the ice all
the way from Russia to
Alaska, from Canada to
Greenland and even over to
Norway! These bears are the
world’s largest land predator
and feed mainly on seals.
More Bear Facts
How polar bears
survive in the cold
¾ They have a thick layer of
blubber up to 11 centimetres
thick which keeps them warm.
¾ Two layers of fur which
consist of hairs that
Polar Bears Alive:
conduct solar energy to their
www.polarbearsalive.org
heat-absorbing skin.
Polar Bear Tracker:www.panda.org/ ¾ Compact ears and a small
about_wwf/where_we_work/arctic/
tail that also helps stop heat
polar_bear/index.cfm
loss. On bitterly cold days
with fierce winds, polar bears
dig out a shelter in a snow
bank and curl up in a ball to
wait out the storm. While
curled up, the bears
sometimes cover their muzzle
with one of their thickly
covered paws. Polar bears
even overheat! Even in
freezing cold conditions they
can still overheat.
17
ENDANGERED ANIMALS
© IMSI
Polar Bears’ Plight
eatened
Polar bears are classified as a thr
threatened
Cool
species. In 1973, a special agreement
Swimmers
was signed by the United States, Russia,
Canada, Norway and Denmark. This
agreement aims to protect polar bears by
placing restrictions on what people can
do with bear products. There are special
organisations like Polar Bears Alive
www.polarbearsalive.org)) that teach people
(
Did you know that
about the polar bear’s uncertain future.
polar bears are
This group also helps to protect these
excellent swimmers
beautiful bears from being hunted
and have been known
unfairly.
to swim up to 35
Bear Talk
kilometres without a
zPolar bears communicate with each other
rest?
through a mix of body language and noises
They even have
called vocalisations
ocalisations. A deep growl serves as
forepaws that are
a warning or to defend a food source.
partially webbed.
zThey also like to play and are known to wag
These features and
their head from side to side or stand on
the massive size of
their hind legs with their front paws
their paws (up to 30
hanging by their side.
centimetres in
zHissing, snorting, a lowered head and ears
diameter), help polar
laid back are ways that lets other bears
bears to swim
know they are angry!
efficiently. The bears
have excellent
underwater vision
and can spot food
up to eight metres
away.
18
ENDANGERED ANIMALS
Giant Panda
The cuddly giant panda has become a
symbol for endangered species all over
the world. The World Wide Fund for
Nature (WWF) has used the panda’s
name for its official website
www.panda.org). The panda image is
(
the official WWF symbol since 1961.
Scientific Name:
Ailuropoda melanoleuca
Panda cam
© IMSI
www.sandiegozoo.org
Where Does the Panda Live?
Once upon a time giant panda
populations were found all through
southern and northern China, as well as
in northern Myanmar (formerly Burma)
and northern Vietnam. Today, the giant
ed and
panda is classified as endanger
endangered
is only found in the wild in mountainous
forest areas of central China near the
Yellow River. It is believed that there are
less than 1600 pandas left in the wild.
The San Diego Zoo
is world famous for
its panda breeding
program. The third
panda cub was born
on 2 August, 2005.
You can view the
pandas live at the
website above. If
you’re clever, you
should also be able
to find:
zApe cam
zElephant cam
zPolar bear cam
19
ENDANGERED ANIMALS
Panda Problems
The panda bear feeds on bamboo only
and its forest habitat in China is in
danger of being destroyed. The pandas
live in a number of small groups
scattered around the forest regions.
Each of these panda groups – known as
populations – is fairly isolated and the
clearing of their forest home is the main In the past, pandas
were hunted by
problem facing the animals. The forests
poachers so that
are logged for their wood and also so
their fur could be sold
that the land can be farmed. Bamboo
on the black market.
regions also die off at certain times,
Sometimes pandas
reducing the amount of bamboo
were killed by accident
available for the pandas. In the past,
when poachers set
this wouldn’t have been a problem as
traps meant for deer.
pandas would simply move to another
Today pandas are
area full of bamboo. However, now that
protected in special
the populations are scattered about, it is
reserves and so the
hard for them to move in search of food
amount of poaching
as the areas in between have been
has been reduced.
cleared.
Saving the Panda
The Chinese government has set
up more than 30 reserves for
pandas which protect them
from poachers. Only the
pandas that live in these
reserves – which is about 60%
of all pandas – are protected. In
1998, the Chinese government
banned the logging of the forests to
protect the panda habitats.
20
ENDANGERED ANIMALS
Black Rhinoceros
Rhinos have been roaming the planet
since prehistoric times and are the second
largest land mammals left on earth.
Rhinoceros species have existed for over
60 million years! Today, there are five
rhino species left and all of them are
ed with the
considered critically endanger
endangered
black rhino being the most well-known.
Scientific Name:
Diceros Bicor
nis
Bicornis
Thousands of years ago, rhinoceros
species were founds in all shapes and
sizes and on nearly every continent. Today
many of these species are extinct and
rhinos are only found in a few locations.
Did you know that the
word rhinoceros actually
means “horn-nosed”?
The rhino’s horn is used
to shovel the ground for
mineral salt and to
defend itself against
enemies. Rhinos have
been hunted for
hundreds of years
because of their horn.
Some people in ancient
times believed that the
horn was able to turn
poisons into harmless
substances. The horns
are also used to make
precious daggers that
only the rich can afford.
Farmers and hunters
poached the rhinos as
the money they could
get for the horns was
too good an offer to
resist. This practice also
happens with the ivory
from elephant tusks.
© IMSI
The rate at which the black rhino has
become endangered is frightening.
Usually, the reason for large mammals
being classed as threatened or
endangered is because of habitat loss.
However, for the black rhino, it’s the result
of poaching.
Rhino Horn
21
ENDANGERED ANIMALS
Rhinos Remaining
¾White Rhino
(Ceratotherium simum):
Nor
thern white rhinos of northNorthern
central Africa are critically
endangered – only about 30 are
left. Southern white rhinos
rhinos,,
found in the southern parts of
Africa, are considered the least
endanger
ed of the rhinoceros
endangered
species.
¾Indian Rhino
White Rhino
The white rhino is not even
white in colour – it’s a brownish
grey! Its name is thought to be
a mix-up with the Dutch word
wijde which means “wide” and
not “white”.
These rhinos are found in Nepal
and India and current rhino
numbers have now grown from
less than 200 to around 2400
due to rhino conservation
programs.
¾Javan Rhino
© IMSI
(Rhinoceros unicornis):
Conservation Efforts:
Trade in
rhino horn –
This is the rarest of the rhino
and also
species with fewer than 60
elephant
animals left. There is a
tusk ivory – is now banned.
population in Indonesia and one
Sadly, it is still sold illegally for
in Vietnam.
high prices. Today, because there
are so few black rhinos left, they
¾Sumatran Rhino
are literally under armed guard
(Dicerorhinus sumatrensis):
in protected reserves! Even when
This hairy rhino species is
possibly the most endangered of the rhinos go foraging for food, a
guard with a rifle goes with
all rhinoceros species, although it
them. Tragically, there have been
competes with the Javan rhino
armed guards killed by poachers,
for this title. Poaching has
just so they can get the valuable
reduced the numbers by 50% to
rhino horn.
(Rhinoceros sondaicus):
less than 300.
22
ENDANGERED ANIMALS
Endangered Elephants
Scientific Name:
Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus)
African Elephant (L
oxodonta
(Loxodonta
africana)
Tusk Trouble
Poachers kill
elephants for
ory
their iv
ivory
tusks. Ivory is a
hard, white
substance that
makes up the tusks of elephants
and other mammals such as
hippopotamus, walrus and
mammoth species. Ivory has been
used to make snooker balls and
piano keys as well as dagger
handles and other ornaments. The
sale and trade of ivory has been
banned since 1989 to help save
elephant populations.
© IMSI
Elephants are the largest land
animals that roam the earth
today. There are two species of
these great mammals and they
are both classified as
ed
endanger
endangered
ed. Uncontrolled
hunting has reduced elephant
numbers and elephants have
also faced the loss of their
natural habitat because their
forest homes have been
cleared.
The different types of elephants
vary in appearance and size
with some types being heavier,
having a different coloured
skin, or having ears and trunks
of different shapes and sizes.
Elephants are plant eaters
herbivor
es
(herbivor
herbivores
es) and can eat in a
number of ways. Their trunks
can bend around and
pull up grass, pick up
peas and tear off tree
limbs. The elephants’
tusks can also pry
bark loose and dig
pits, while their rasplike teeth grind up
the toughest grasses,
reeds, barks and
branches.
23
ENDANGERED ANIMALS
Elephant Emergency
There are three types of Asian
Angry Elephants
elephant and two types of
Elephants display an
African elephant. Some of
interesting variety of
these types are more
behaviours that let you know
endangered than others. The
how they feel.
Asian elephants are at more
risk than the African elephants. An angry elephant will stand
tall with its tail raised, ears
Around 100 years ago there
spread and its trunk hanging.
were about 200,000 Asian
It may even make a rapid
elephants, while today there
are thought to be no more than approach and trumpet loudly.
An elephant that is
40,000 left in the wild.
submissiv
submissivee will flatten its
Habitat Loss
ears, arch its back and raise
Elephants need a large habitat area
its tail. It might also sway,
because they eat huge amounts of
swing its foot or back up and
food. Because the population of
turn away.
humans in Africa and Asia has
If elephants are in pain they
exploded, the humans compete with
will scream or growl.
the elephants for living space. The
human populations of this region
have increased more than anywhere
else on the planet. This has meant
that the land which was once the
elephant range has now been
converted to
either farms,
business or
housing.
© IMSI
© Corel
24
ENDANGERED ANIMALS
© IMSI
There are 36 species of wild cat. Many of
Scientific Name:
these species are classified as critically
Family F
elidae
Felidae
endanger
ed
endangered
ed. Big cats are found in the
wild in Africa, Asia, Europe, and North
and South America.
Cats are carnivorous (meat-eating)
mammals and belong to the family
Felidae. All cats are hunters and have
special features to help them hunt. They
have large, forward-facing eyes, excellent
How Have Big Cats
hearing, sharp teeth and strong limbs
ime?
Time?
armed with sharp claws for catching their Survived Over T
Cats have changed little
prey. They move silently with unusual
since they first
grace and all of them purr – even the
appeared on earth over
largest members of the cat family.
30,000 years ago. This
Threats to Big Cat Survival:
fierce family of animals
Hunting. Cats are hunted for their fur
zHunting.
has survived so long
and sometimes body parts that can be
because their diet
consists of meat. Their
used in traditional medicines.
food is not found on
Lack of F
ood. Due to a lack of food,
zLack
Food.
trees and so the
big cats sometimes attack farm
animals and are then shot or poisoned clearing of forests and
wooded areas isn’t a
by farmers.
major concern to their
Loss of habitat. There is not enough
zLoss
survival. Nature supplies
space and too much competition for
the cat with the
live prey.
intelligence, courage
© IMSI
Big Cats
and speed to become
the hunter it needs to
be to survive. The similar
diet of all cats might
also explain why the 32
species of the family of
cats closely resemble
each other.
25
ENDANGERED ANIMALS
Tiger Treatments
The tiger is one of the most
critically endanger
ed
endangered
members of the big cat family.
All five tiger species live in
Asia and the largest cat in the
world is the Siberian tiger
(Panthera tigris altaica).
Already many tiger sub
species have become extinct:
an tiger (Panthera tigris
z Jav
avan
mondaica) - Last tiger seen in 1979
on the island of Java, Indonesia.
Extinct as a result of hunting and
habitat loss.
z Caspian tiger (Panthera tigris
virgata) - Last official sighting in
1968. This tiger was once found
roaming Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq,
Pakistan, Russia and Turkey.
z Balinese tiger (Panthera tigris balica)
- This tiger, which was only ever found
on the island of Bali, was hunted to
extinction with the last one thought
to have been killed in 1937.
Scientific Name:
Panthera tigris
One of the biggest threats
that tigers face is being
hunted for body parts. There
are thought to be only 5000
tigers left in the wild as the
illegal trade in their body parts
has meant that many tigers
are killed. The picture below
shows the parts that are used
in traditional Asian medicines.
Trivia:
The stripes on a tiger’s
body are said to be
elongated spots.
Want More?
www.5tigers.org
HOW TIGER PARTS
ARE USED:
BRAIN: Used to
treat pimples!
EYEBALLS: Used
to treat epilepsy.
WHISKERS: Used
for toothaches.
TAIL: Used
to treat skin
diseases.
26
BONES: Used to
treat bone diseases.
ENDANGERED ANIMALS
Gilbert’s Potoroo
Did you know that this tiny
mammal is classified as
critically endanger
ed and is
endangered
one of the rarest mammal
species in Australia?
© Jiri Lochman
A potoroo looks a little bit like
a bandicoot but is actually a
variety of rat kangaroo. Most
potoroos weigh less than one
kilogram. This species of
potoroo was named after
John Gilbert, who discovered
these creatures in 1840 at
King George’s Sound on the
south coast of Western
Australia. It is estimated that
there are less than 30 of
these animals left in the wild.
Sadly, there have been no
sightings of this animal
anywhere else in the world.
Did You Know?
John Gilbert recorded in his
notes that the potoroo was
often seen with another small
native marsupial called the
quokka
quokka. Quokkas are now only
found on Rottnest Island off
the coast of Western
Australia. Unlike the potoroo,
the quokka is still found in
great numbers in its native
habitat.
An Amazing
Discovery
Since 1870, it was believed
that the potoroo was extinct
as it had not been sighted
for many years. In 1994, it
was rediscovered at Two
People’s Bay near Albany in
Western Australia. A nature
reserve was set up in this
region, however, no other
populations of this mammal
have been found.
27
ENDANGERED ANIMALS
Potoroos in Peril
Many of the threats to the
survival of Gilbert’s potoroo
are the same factors that
threaten most of Australia’s
endangered animal species.
They include:
zBushfire: One bushfire could
wipe out the remaining
population of Gilbert’s
potoroo. Many potoroos have
already been killed in this way.
zPopulation Spread: Steps
are being taken to ensure
zFeral Predators: Because of
that the potoroo population
their size, the Gilbert’s
does not become broken up
potoroo species is perfect
into small groups of potoroos,
prey for feral cats and foxes.
leaving them more open to
Steps have been taken to
feral predators.
control the number of foxes in
zRelease into the Wild:
the region by using poison
Potoroos bred in captivity are
baits. At present, suitable
unable to be released into a
bait for feral cats is still being
wild area unless it is free from
tested to make sure it won’t
all of the above threats.
harm the potoroos.
Source Unknown
zDisease: An introduced fungi
species causes disease and
sometimes death to a variety
of native plant species. It is a
native to South East Asia and
is thought to have reached
Western Australian soil around
100 years ago. This disease
kills many native species of
plants including the truffle
food sources that the
potoroo feeds on.
28
ENDANGERED ANIMALS
Northern Hairy-Nosed Wombat
Scientific Name:
Lasiorhinus kreff
tii
krefftii
Terrific Teeth
The northern hairy-nosed
wombat is sometimes known
as the Queensland hairynosed wombat to distinguish it
from the southern hairy-nosed Did you know that the northern
hairy-nosed wombat has teeth
wombat (Lasiorhinus latifrons),
that NEVER stop growing? Even in
which is found mainly in the
old age, it is still able to grind
southern areas of South
away on native grasses and
Australia.
eucalyptus and acacia leaves. This
Image courtesy of Foundation for Australia’s Most Endangered Species (FAME)
This interesting marsupial has
a backward facing pouch so
that dirt stays out when it
burrows for food. Its funny
name comes from its unusual
snout which is covered in
short, brown hairs.
species of wombat is the largest
burrowing mammal in the world.
Where are the Wombats?
The northern hairy-nosed
wombat is classified as critically
endanger
ed
endangered
ed. While there have
never been high numbers of
wombats, fossil records show
that they used to live in a wider
area of Australia, ranging from
across Victoria to central
Queensland. Today there is only
one population of this wombat
species left and it is
restricted to the
300 hectares in
the Epping Forest Epping Forest
National Park
National Park in
Queensland.
29
ENDANGERED ANIMALS
Wombat Worries
The northern hairy-nosed
wombat lives along an ancient Helping the Wombat
In 1971, Epping National Park was
waterway where the soil is
set up to protect the habitat of
sandy and dry. There are a
the northern hairy-nosed
number of reasons for the
wombat. Only park rangers and
drop in wombat numbers.
researchers are allowed into the
Clearing the wombat’s natural
park, which is protected from
habitat for buildings and
bushfires by firebreaks and
farming have caused lots of
controlled burning. Cattle were
removed from the park in 1982
problems. Introduced animal
and wombat numbers soon
species such as sheep, cows
increased by 50% and are still
and rabbits compete with the
on the rise.
wombats for food and shelter.
Even some introduced grass
species have forced out the
native grasses that the
wombats like to feed on. This
meant the wombats needed to
move south to find more food
but instead they came across
Did You Know?
more predators. And as if that
isn’t enough, the drought in
There are only three species of wombat:
• southern hairy-nosed wombat;
the wombat’s natural habitat
nor
thern hairy-nosed wombat and;
northern
has also spelled trouble for the •• common
wombat.
wombat.
The northern hairy-nosed wombat is
Source Unknown
the largest of the three yet the rarest.
Common wombats breed at any time of
the year, southern wombats breed from
September to December and the
northern hairy-nosed wombat breeds
from April to November. The northern
hairy-nosed wombat is the only wombat
species that is in danger of extinction.
30
ENDANGERED ANIMALS
Greater Bilby
Scientific Name:
Macrotis lagotis
The greater bilby is sometimes
known as a rabbit-eared
bandicoot, pinki, dalgyte, ninu
or a walpa. This very cute
Australian marsupial is the
largest species in the
bandicoot family.
¾
Weight
eight: Males up to 2.5 kg,
Females up to 1.2 kg.
¾
Diet
Diet: Feeds on snails, fungi,
insects, bulbs and sometimes
small mammals and reptiles.
¾
Length
Length: 30-45 cm in length
(including about 25 cm tail).
¾
Fur
ur: Soft, silky blue-grey coat with
tan markings and a white belly
with rabbit-like ears. The bilby’s
long grey tail is carried upright like
a flag when it runs.
¾
Snout
Snout: Bilbies have a long,
hairless, pink snout.
¾
Senses
Senses: Bilbies have an excellent
sense of smell and good hearing,
however, their eyesight is poor.
¾
Camouflage
Camouflage: The bilby’s colouring
usually blends into the Australian
bush and desert. However, during
the day time the bilby mostly
spends time in its burrow,
venturing out at night for feeding.
© IRobert Dockerill
Bilbies used to roam at least
70% of the Australian
mainland. They are classified
as a vulnerable species and it
is now believed that they live
on less than 20% of the land
today. The lesser bilby
(Macrotis leucura) has not
been seen since the 1930s
and is classified as extinct.
About the Bilby
31
ENDANGERED ANIMALS
Bringing Bilbies Back
There are a number of reasons for the
decline in the number of greater bilbies.
Easter Bilby
In the past, bilbies have been hunted
by humans for their precious fur pelts.
© Darrell Lea
Another threat facing the bilby is the
loss of its grasslands habitat. Land has
been cleared for farming and cattle
have spoilt the habitat with their grazing
habits. The bilbies have also had to
compete for their burrows with rabbits
and other introduced species.
Predators such as foxes and feral cats
are also a main concern for the bilbies’
survival.
The good news is that there are a
number of conservation programs in
place that have helped to make sure
the bilby doesn’t end up on the critically
endanger
ed list.
endangered
Bringing the Bilby Back South A Conservation Program
In 1994, the South Australian Bilby
Recovery Team was set up to help
bring the bilby back to South
Australia. It was decided that if the
bilby is to survive, then it should be
reintroduced in captivity to the areas
in which it once used to thrive.
32
Already moves are
underway to give the
bilby a higher profile in
Australian culture with
the introduction of
chocolate bilbies at
Easter time, to replace
the traditional Easter
Bunny. Not only does
this increase the
awareness of the plight
of the bilby but part
proceeds from Easter
bilbies go to a Sav
avee the
Bilby fund.
www.easterbilby.com.au
Learn more about
this unique
breeding program:
www.environment.sa.gov.au/
biodiversity/bilby.html
ENDANGERED ANIMALS
The Numbat: No Longer Endangered
Scientific Name:
Myr
mecobius fasciatus
Myrmecobius
Only a few years ago
numbats were listed as
critically endanger
ed
endangered
ed. Their
main threats to survival were
predators such as foxes and
cats which were responsible
for a severe drop in numbers.
Source Unknown
The numbat is native to
Western Australia – and
its story is a happy one.
Numbat Rescue
In Western Australia, where
the numbat lives, the
The numbat is the state
mammal emblem for Western Department of Conservation
Australia. This marsupial is and Land Management (CALM)
put a plan into action to save
sometimes known as the
the numbats from extinction.
banded anteater or by the
Aboriginal name of walpurti
walpurti. They set up baits for foxes who
were preying on the numbats
The numbat’s recovery is a
and created nature reserves
good example of how
and forests to protect the
conservation groups can
numbat’s native habitat.
make a difference. This
New populations of numbats
animal is still classified as a
have been set up in nature
vulnerable native species but
reserves and a colony has
is no longer in the danger it
even been set up in South
was in a few years ago. Read
Australia.
about the captive breeding
program at Perth Zoo:
Learn more about the work of
www.perthzoo.wa.gov.au
CALM:
www.calm.wa.gov.au/schools/
33
ENDANGERED ANIMALS
The regent honeyeater is
Scientific Name:
known for its striking black, Xanthomyza phr
ygia
phrygia
white and yellow feathers.
This colourful bird was once
very common throughout
New South Wales,
Queensland, South Australia
and Victoria. Today it is only
found in forest areas of the
Great Dividing Range (New
South Wales). The honeyeater
is now restricted to ironbark
forest habitats which have
eatened
also become thr
threatened
communities
communities.
It is believed that there are
between 800-2000
honeyeaters left and it is listed
ed
as endanger
endangered
ed.
The birds like to live near wet
and fertile soils usually along
river beds and valleys. They
pollinate species such as
mulga ironbark, white box
and Blakely’s red gum trees.
The honeyeater relies on
these plant species for food
and shelter. This is a good
example of how plants and
animals in an ecosystem need
each other to survive.
34
A Useful Bird
Honeyeaters mainly eat plant
nectar from eucalypt species.
The honeyeater plays an
important role in the
reproduction of many flowering
plants, acting as a pollinator by
carrying pollen from the anther
of one plant to the stigma of
another flowering plant.
© Margaret Harris, www.barraba.org
Regent Honeyeater
ENDANGERED ANIMALS
Helping the Honeyeater
The main threat for the
honeyeaters is the loss of
their woodlands habitat.
Many other animal and plant
species native to this region
are also threatened as a
large amount of forest area
has been cleared. Today the
regent honeyeater lives in
what is described as boxir
onbark woodlands
ironbark
woodlands.
Today only 17% of Australia’s
original box-ironbark forest
still stands. In the last 200
years, the box-ironbark
woodlands have been
cleared to make room for
housing, businesses or farms.
Some of the areas have been
cleared to mine for gold.
ALERT!
Firewood collection is
threatening the future of
the regent honeyeater!
Many people think they are
helping the environment when
they collect firewood from the
bush. Instead, they are often
doing more harm than good! The
dead trees and fallen timber
that many people remove from
forests and bush regions
actually play an important part
in the survival of the forest
ecosystem as many fungus
species live on the dead wood.
The fungi are a food source for a
number of small woodland
species. At least 20 bird species
are affected by the reduced
amounts of these fungi.
Saving the Regent Honeyeater
© Margaret Harris, www.barraba.org
The main focus at the moment is to
preserve the disappearing habitats of the
regent honeyeater. Conservation programs
have been set up to protect and restore
these natural habitats.
Learn more about what is being
done to save woodland species:
www.wilderness.society
35
ENDANGERED ANIMALS
Western Swamp Tortoise
Tortoise Trivia
zA male adult reaches about 12.5 cm
in length.
zThis species of tortoise spends 6 to
9 months of the year buried in soil
and leaves.
zThe tortoise lives only in a
particular swampy habitat in two
locations in Western Australia.
During winter and spring when the
swamps are quite full, the tortoises
live in the water. When the swamps
start to dry out in summer and
autumn, the tortoises lie still in a
ation (a bit
state known as aestiv
aestivation
like the way some animals hibernate
in winter).
zTortoises do not interact with each
other and prefer to live solitary lives,
although they are happy to mix and
swim with other tortoises.
zThese reptiles are carnivorous and
feed on small crustaceans and
insect larvae. However, during their
aestivation in summer and autumn,
they don’t eat a thing!
36
Scientific Name:
Pseudemydura umbrina
A Rare Find!
The Western swamp
tortoise was first sighted
by European settlers in
1839 but was not seen
for a very long time after
that, leading people to
believe it had become
extinct. However, in 1954,
a schoolboy found one and
proudly displayed it at a
pet show, not realising the
importance of his find!
Source Unknown
The Western swamp tortoise is the
smallest of the Australian tortoise
species – it also is the most
endanger
ed reptile in Australia.
endangered
ENDANGERED ANIMALS
Threats to the Tortoise
There are only around 400 to
500 of these tortoises alive
today and while these
numbers are low, there was a
time when there were only 30
swamp tortoises in existence!
Predators on
the Prowl
Swampy Home
Introduced species such as
foxes, dogs, cats and rats, have
The main threat to the
been responsible for preying on
Western swamp tortoise is that
this tortoise species. In
much of their swampy habitat
addition, natural predators
has been drained for farming
such as lizards, birds and
purposes.
snakes are competing with
Natural
these predators for food
events such
sources and are also hunting
as drought and
the Western swamp tortoise
bushfires have also caused a
decrease in tortoise numbers
You can find out all about the
as well as adding to habitat
tortoise rescue program at
loss.
A Zoo to the Rescue
In 1988, Perth Zoo set up a
captive br
eeding program for
breeding
this species. As a result the zoo
has successfully bred around
500 tortoises. Since 1994, at
least 320 of these tortoises
have been placed back into
the wild at four swampy
habitats not far from Perth.
.perthzoo
.wa.gov
.au
www
www.perthzoo
.perthzoo.wa.gov
.wa.gov.au
Click on Breeding Programs
37
ENDANGERED ANIMALS
Komodo Dragon
Late Discovery!
Dragon Details:
¾ They live between 20 and 40
¾
¾
¾
¾
¾
¾
¾
¾
Komodo dragons weren’t known
about until a report came in
shortly after World War I in 1920.
A pilot, whose aircraft had gone
down, had managed to swim to
Komodo Island where he was
confronted by the scary dragons!
Creep around this site to learn
more about these deadly but
endangered dragons:
www.zoo.org/komodo
38
years.
Male dragons defend a territory
of up to two kilometres which they
patrol each day.
Occasionally the dragons will swim
long distances between islands.
During breeding season, a female
dragon will lay up to 30 eggs.
Hatchlings are approximately 40
centimetres long.
Adult dragons have about 60
teeth which they replace regularly.
They have long forked tongues
which they use to detect
chemicals in the air, warning them
of nearby animals and prey.
A dragon’s mouth contains very
poisonous bacteria, so even if prey
survives an attack, it is almost
certain to die from an infection
shortly after.
Young dragons live in trees.
Sometimes these dragons are
known as “land crocodiles”.
© John White
Look out! This fierce reptile is
the largest living lizard left on
the planet and is also the
world’s heaviest lizard. It is
found on Komodo Island in
Indonesia and also a few
smaller islands nearby that
belong to Komodo National
Park. Growing to over three
metres and weighing in at
about 70 to 90 kilograms, the
endanger
ed Komodo dragon
endangered
is actually quite fast moving,
given its size. This dragon is
also very skilled at climbing
trees and makes an excellent
swimmer.
ENDANGERED ANIMALS
Dragons Dying Out
There are less than 5000 Komodo
dragons left in the wild. These dragons
are facing a number of threats to their
survival.
What are the Threats?
¾Volcano eruptions on the islands that
they inhabit destroy the dragons’
habitat and also wipe out a lot of the
prey that these dragons rely on for
food.
¾Poaching of prey by humans has also
reduced the dragons’ food supply.
Some travel guidebooks suggest that
you bring your own goat for a dragon to
eat and tour organisers charge a high
fee for you to watch the gruesome
display of the Komodo dragon in action.
The money raised from tourism goes
towards protecting the Komodo dragon.
Komodo dragons are
meat eaters and are
known for eating
smaller dragons. They
are able to kill very
large prey such as
water buffalo, pigs and
small deer. These
dragons hunt anything
that they can
overpower and have
even taken a fancy to
injured humans in the
past!
The quantities of food
that a dragon can eat
are quite amazing. For
example, witnesses
have seen a 46
kilogram dragon eat a
pig weighing 41
kilograms in less than
20 minutes! If we
compare this to what
humans eat, this is
like a person weighing
46 kilograms eating
approximately 320
hambur
gers – and all
hamburgers
in 20 minutes!
© Corel
Check out Komodo National Park:
www.komodonationalpark.org/
Cannibal
Dragons!
39
ENDANGERED ANIMALS
Galapagos Giant Tortoise
Galapagos
islands
South
America
Scientific Name:
Geochelone elephantopus
Tortoise or Turtle?
Tortoises are turtles that live only
on land. They have different features
to the turtles that live in the ocean:
¾Their feet are more like those of
an elephant as they are quite
stumpy.
¾Their shell forms a high dome.
¾The tortoises of the Galapagos
Islands are the world’s largest land
turtles. Some
may weigh up
to 270
kilograms and
they can be up
to 1.5 metres long.
These fascinating creatures
are only found in the
Galapagos Islands, which
were discovered in the 1500s
by Spanish explorers. When
See Tortoises on the Web:
the Spanish first explored the
www.thebigzoo.com/Animals/
area they found so many
Galapagos_Giant_Tortoise.asp
giant tortoises that they
named the islands
“Galapagos” which in Spanish
means “shell” and refers to
the tortoise shell.
Back then there were an
estimated 250,000 tortoises
that lived on the islands.
Sadly, today only about
15,000 remain.
40
© Corel
The Galapagos giant tortoise
is the largest species of turtle
and is classified as critically
endanger
ed
endangered
ed.
ENDANGERED ANIMALS
Trouble for Tortoises
There are a number of
different sub species of the
giant tortoise. These tortoises
are found on most of the
Galapagos Islands yet their
appearance varies from island
to island. At least three sub
species are extinct and another
has only one tortoise left!
Successful efforts to protect the
tortoises are underway on
some islands but it is unlikely
the tortoise numbers will ever
return to 250,000.
Volcanoes and other natural events
such as bushfires, have also been
responsible for killing large numbers
of the giant tortoises.
Protecting
the Tortoise
In 1959, the Charles Darwin Research
Centre (www.darwinfoundation.org/))
was set up on one of the Galapagos
Islands. It is here that tortoise eggs
are incubated and hatchlings are
raised until they are four or five years
old. This process protects eggs and
the newborn tortoises from being
eaten by the introduced animals
animals.
More than 3500 giant tortoises have
been bred in this way.
Giant tortoises can live for a very long time.
It’s possible that many of these tortoises are over 150 years old!
Threats to Survival
In the 1800s, many sailors in the area actually relied on the tortoises as a food
supply. The sailors discovered that the animals could live on their backs for months
without food or water, providing a source of fresh meat during their long voyages.
The tortoises have also been prey for introduced animals to the area such as rats,
pigs, dogs and cats. Spanish settlers bought these animals to the islands and they
went on to feast on small tortoises as well as tortoise eggs.
41
ENDANGERED ANIMALS
Image courtesy of www.bluetongueskinks.net
Pygmy Blue Tongue Lizard
Blue tongue lizards are a critically endanger
endangered
ed species. They
are the largest lizards in the skink family and yes – they really
do have blue tongues! Like their name suggests, the “pygmy”
blue tongue is the
smallest of these lizard
species. It is still of a
medium size when
compared to other skink
and lizard species.
Scientific Name:
Tiliqua adelaidensis
These lizards
can only exist
¾Head is relatively large
in areas that
compared to its body.
have not been
¾Very short, narrow limbs.
ploughed. The
¾Rarely grow to more than 20
native grasslands that used to
centimetres in length.
extend south onto the
¾Is very secretive and only
Adelaide Plains once provided
ventures out of its burrows
habitats for several lizard
for food. It seeks refuge in its
populations. However, this
burrow and the only burrows
area has been cleared and
they use are empty spider
ploughed for farming.
holes.
¾Only one adult is ever found in Ploughing destroys the lizard
burrows and also kills lizards
a burrow.
in the process. Any lizards that
¾Feeds on native plants and
medium-sized insects such as do manage to survive the
cockroaches, beetles, ants,
plough are left without shelter
grasshoppers. Also eats
and become an easy target
spiders.
for predators.
Creature Features:
42
ENDANGERED ANIMALS
Long Live the Lizards
The Lizards That
Came Back To Life
The pygmy blue tongue lizard
species was first discovered
in Australia sometime in the
1800s. It then disappeared
from sight and was believed
to be extinct. In 1992, several
small populations were
discovered in the Burra region
of South Australia and it is
thought that up to 5000 of
these lizards are in existence
today. Not much is known
about where the pygmy lizard
lived back then but some
researchers suggest that it
was found in areas ranging
from the Adelaide Plains to
the North Mount Lofty
Ranges.
The only population of pygmy
blue tongue lizards in captivity
is kept at the Adelaide Zoo in
a special habitat exhibit. This
exhibit has been running since
the pygmy blue tongue lizard
was “rediscovered”.
Recovery Plans
The breeding program at the
Adelaide Zoo started from a
group of just six lizards. One
of the problems with the
program is that the lizards are
Source Unknown
kept on display for the public and
have shown aggressive behaviour.
In 1996, a larger display enclosure
was created that was heat
controlled.
The Adelaide Zoo highlights the dangers that the pygmy blue
tongue lizard species is facing. Not many people get to see a
pygmy blue tongue lizard in the wild so the zoo’s program is
able to show people the lizards as well as letting them know
about the threats to the lizards’ survival.
43
ENDANGERED ANIMALS
Source Unknown
The tuatara is the most
unique reptile left
roaming the earth.
Millions of years ago
the tuatara lived side
by side with dinosaurs
at a time when the
earth’s continents were
joined as one. These
amazing creatures also
survived the events that
led to the dinosaurs
becoming extinct
across the globe –
many people believe
that a meteor crash
was responsible,
occurring around 65
million years ago.
Tuatara
Scientific Name:
Sphenodon punctatus & Sphenodon guntheri
Tuatara are found only in New Zealand
but it is thought that in prehistoric
times they were found all over the
world. One of the reasons that they
have survived in New Zealand
is possibly because there are
no native mammal species.
Tuatara are found creeping
around on about 30 small,
hard-to-get-to islands
off the coast of
New Zealand.
Their habitat is
cold and damp with temperatures
often approaching freezing.
Ancient Reptiles
Tuatara are the last
surviving members of
an ancient reptilian
family that dates back
248 million years ago.
A Third Eye!
Not only are tuatara an
parietal
Yes, it’s true. Tuatara have a “parietal
ancient species, they
eye
eye” on the top of their head! This eye
can also live to a ripe
contains a retina and functions in the
old age – even past
same way that normal eyes do. However,
100 years old. Now
a scale grows over the top of the eye
that is ancient!
when a tuatara reaches adulthood.
44
ENDANGERED ANIMALS
Tuatara Turmoil
Both of the species of tuatara
are classified as vulnerable
vulnerable.
There used to be a lot more
tuatara slithering about the
place, but sadly their numbers
have gone down in the last
1000 years.
Natural events such as wildfires
have wiped out a lot of tuatara
but their biggest threat is the
clearing of their habitat for
farming and logging. Tuatara
oduced
are also hunted by intr
introduced
mammals such as cats, dogs,
rats and even humans.
There are only about 400
members left of the Sphenodon
guntheri species, which is
facing extinction in the future.
The other species, Sphenodon
punctatus is not in as much
danger and there are several to
be found on Stephen’s Island in
Cook Strait. This island has no
rats and provides a safe
habitat for tuatara.
Rat-Free Islands
In recent years, conservation
efforts have included the
creation of rat-free islands in
New Zealand such as Tiritiri
Matanga and Stephen’s
Island
Island. These islands are
unique, as they are filled with
bird life and other wildlife that
would normally have become
extinct in mainland New
Zealand forests. As these
islands are also free of other
introduced mammals, they are
rich in plant life which provides
food for a variety of lizard,
insect and bird species.
45
ENDANGERED ANIMALS
Harlequin Frog
Scientific Name:
Atelopus varius
This brightly coloured frog is
critically endanger
ed
endangered
ed.
It is very rare and not much
is known about its natural
history. Scientists do know
that these frogs “vocalise” in
order to communicate with
other frogs, particularly
around breeding season.
© Robert Puschendorf
The harlequin frog is a
poisonous frog species and
feeds on tiny insects. These
interesting frogs actually
only grow to five centimetres
in length.
46
Frog Names
The harlequin frog is
sometimes referred to as the
Panama golden frog or golden
harlequin toad
toad. It is found only
in Western Panama, Central
America, and is a national
symbol for that country.
Back From the Dead!
There are about 70 Atelopus
frog species, all very similar to
the harlequin frog. The
harlequin frog was actually
thought to be extinct for many
years and the species was only
recently rediscovered in a
Central American rainforest
reserve.
Atelopus frogs are only one of
a number of amphibian
families around the world that
are in danger of becoming
extinct. Scientists believe that
in the last ten years, more
than 50% of the Atelopus frog
species have become extinct.
ENDANGERED ANIMALS
Frogs and Fungus
Even though habitat loss is a
concern for the harlequin
frog, the main threat is
actually a disease with a very
difficult name to pronounce
and spell: chytridiomycosis.
This nasty fungal disease is a
worldwide problem and affects
a whole range of amphibians.
The fungus grows on the
surface layers of the frog’s
skin. It is thought that this may
stop the harlequin frog from
taking in water and oxygen, as
frogs drink and breathe
through their skin.
Help for the Harlequin
Harlequin frog research and
conservation efforts are slowly
making a brighter future for this
endangered amphibian species.
Several programs have been set up
to build up frog population
numbers.
Frogs that have the fungal disease
can be treated but they need to be
caught first for this to happen.
Amphibian Alert!
Amphibians are thought to have
evolved from fish around 300
million years ago. There are
about 4000 different kinds of
amphibians on the planet which
include frogs, toads,
salamanders and caecilians.
Scientists claim that the
world’s amphibian species are in
danger of dying out because of
environmental thr
eats such as
threats
loss of habitat, acid rain,
thinning of the ozone layer and
fungal diseases.
At least 122 amphibian species
have become extinct since 1980
and at least a third of the
amphibian species that are left
are facing an uncertain future.
One of the reasons they are in
more danger than other groups
of animals may be because they
have a very sensitive skin that is
easily affected by changes in the
air and water.
Ribbit!
Project Golden Frog
www.ranadorada.org
47
ENDANGERED ANIMALS
Philippine Eagle
You may not know anything about this bird
of prey, yet it is the second largest eagle in
the world. In fact, the Philippine eagle holds
the world record for wingspan – more than
2.5 metres! This bird was first thought to be
on the path to extinction around the 1960s.
ed
It is now classified as critically endanger
endangered
ed.
Scientific Name:
Pithecophaga
jeffer
yi
jefferyi
Location
The Philippines are a group of 1700 islands
known as the Philippine Archipelago. The
eagle is found on only four of those islands:
Leyte
Leyte, Samar
Samar, Luzor and Mindanao
Mindanao. It is
believed that there are less than 200 of these
birds left in the wild in the whole world!
The Philippine eagle is also famous for
eating monkeys! Standing over one metre
tall with a large curved beak and warlike
headdress of spiky feathers, it presents a
fierce and scary image. Along with monkeys,
these eagles will also hunt small mammals
such as dogs, pigs and goats and they are
very clever at snatching birds from trees.
48
Source Unknown
The world’s
largest eagle is
the harpy eagle
in Central and
South America.
The Philippine
eagle is actually
The Monkey-eating Eagle
taller than the
This eagle is classified as a raptor – a bird of
harpy.
prey. Other raptors include hawks, falcons,
owls and vultures. Raptors are known for
their cunning hunting skills, seizing their prey
with their taloned claws and tearing the
meat with their sharp beaks.
ENDANGERED ANIMALS
Rapt about Raptors
There are basically two reasons why the
Disappearing
Philippine eagle is critically endangered.
Rainforests
One is that the eagle is hunted by
Like so many other
humans to protect smaller species and
endangered species, the
the other reason is that the eagle’s
Philippine eagle was
rainforest habitat is being destroyed.
facing total extinction
Hunting the Eagle
Raptors are hunted all over the world.
As well as being hunted to save smaller
animals, the eagle is also a prized
hunting trophy, in fact, hunting these
eagles became a sport and many
important people paid a lot of money to
participate! Young Philippine eagles
have also been stolen from their nests by
collectors who hoped to make money by
selling the eagles to the highest bidder.
The Philippine Eagle Foundation
This organization is found on the
southern Philippine island of Mindanao
and was set up to protect the Philippine
eagle from extinction. Not only does this
group care about the eagle, it also
draws attention to other endangered
species in the region. You can learn
more at:
due to a severe loss of
habitat. At one time,
approximately 94% of
the Philippine islands
were covered in lush
tropical rainforests.
Today, scientists
estimate that only 25%
of these forests
remain. This loss of
habitat has meant
extinction for a whole
range of rainforest
animal and plant
species.
This Philippine Eagle Foundation also
has special breeding programs in place
to increase the numbers of this species.
© Lidz Ethnographics
www.philippineeagle.org
49
ENDANGERED ANIMALS
Humboldt Penguin
There are 17 penguin species
and all of them live in the
southern hemisphere. Most of
these penguin species are not in
any immediate danger of
extinction, particularly
those penguins that
inhabit the chilly
continent of Antarctica.
Amazingly, penguins
can live in some of the
harshest conditions
experienced on the
planet. The Humboldt
penguin lives in the warm
coastal regions of Peru
and Chile in South
America.
Scientific Name:
Spheniscus humboldti
Hunting Humboldts
Along with other penguin
species, Humboldt penguins
have been hunted for their
meat, oil and skins. In early
whaling days around 150
years ago, sailors thought
of penguins as a tasty
meal!
Many adult penguins and
their chicks have been
captured for zoos and
private collectors and a
number of people have
collected penguin eggs.
Scientists (called palaeontologists
palaeontologists) who
have studied penguin fossils think that
penguins that lived on earth millions of
years ago were able to fly. They suggest
that penguins stopped flying over 70 to
60 million years ago as they preferred a
life in the sea. Since then, their wings
olv
ed into flippers that are much
have ev
evolv
olved
more suited to moving around in the
water. Many early explorers thought that
penguins were some kind of fish or marine
mammal rather than a bird!
50
© Corel
Did You Know?
ENDANGERED ANIMALS
Hard Life for Humboldts
There are so many different threats
to the Humboldt penguin’s survival.
Penguin Poo?
Sadly, humans are to blame for
many of these things.
Fishing – Many penguins have
been caught up in fishing nets and
have drowned. The amount of
fishing in the Humboldt’s natural
habitat has also left the penguins
with little fish to eat.
Oil Spills – From time to time, a
massive tanker in the Pacific Ocean
has an oil spill that finds its way to
the penguins’ habitat. Thousands
of penguins and other marine
species have been killed or become
sick as a result of these oil spills.
Strangely enough, penguin
faeces – known as guano –
became highly popular as
fertiliser. Unfortunately,
people took little care
when they went to collect
it and damaged the
nesting areas of the
penguins in the process.
This meant that many
eggs were damaged and
reduced the birth rate of
Humboldt penguins.
© IMSI
Natural Causes – One
environmental factor that spells
danger for the humble Humboldt
penguin is El Niño
Niño. This is the
name for the warming of the
ocean’s temperatures off the
western coast of South America.
This effect has a huge impact on
weather patterns and natural living
ecosystems. When El Niño occurred
in 1982-3, approximately 65% of
the Humboldt penguins living off
the coast of Peru perished.
51
ENDANGERED ANIMALS
Leafy Sea Dragon
Scientific Name:
Phycodurus eques
Is it a plant?
Is it a fish?
© IMSI
Leafy sea dragons are
unique marine creatures
that have fascinating bodies
covered with leaf-like
structures. They look a lot
like floating pieces of
seaweed and can grow up
to 35 centimetres long.
The leafy sea
dragon is a
member of the
seahorse family
and is also closely
related to the
weedy sea dragon.
52
Camouflaged Creatures
Their unusual appearance
aims to protect them from
predators. By camouflaging
themselves among marine
plants, the sea dragons
become very difficult to find in
their natural habitat and so
there are very few predators
hunting them. The sea
dragon’s disguise also helps it
to prey on smaller fish.
The leafy sea dragon is very
rare and is classified as
endanger
ed
endangered
ed. They are found
only in Australia’s warm
coastal waters and there have
been sightings of them in
southern coastline waters
from Kangaroo Island (South
Australia) to Rottnest Island
(Western Australia). These
colourful sea creatures prefer
to live in sand patches near
kelp-covered rocks and rarely
swim deeper than 50 metres.
They are also found around
rocky reefs, seaweed beds and
seagrass meadows in shallow
coastal waters.
ENDANGERED ANIMALS
Dragons in Danger
As they are such a rare and
beautiful species, many leafy
sea dragons are captured to
be used in aquariums.
Collectors will pay high prices
for these dragons, however,
they are usually unable to
provide the sea dragons with
the right food and
environment and this often
leads to the sea dragon dying
soon after capture.
Sea dragons have also been
killed in large numbers during
sea storms. Their fragile
bodies are unable to cope
with sudden changes in water
pressure which can occur in
stormy weather and they are
often found washed up on the
beach after storms.
Polluted Waterways
The main threat to the leafy sea
dragon is the loss of habitat.
Many coastal habitats have
become polluted from run-off
caused by farming fertilisers
and drains from factories. This
run-off can be poisonous to the
leafy sea dragon.
Believe it or not!
Did you know that sea dragons are
one of the few animal species in
this world where it is the job of the
male to give birth to the young?
It’s true – the female sea dragon
gives the eggs to the male to
carry.
About 4-6 weeks later the male
hatches two batches of eggs.
Amazingly, once a sea dragon is
born, it needs no help whatsoever
from its parents and is straight
away able to fend for itself, eating
phytoplankton until it is large
enough to hunt for small marine
creatures.
53
ENDANGERED ANIMALS
Meet a Manatee
Scientific Name:
Trichechus manatus
(W
est Indian Manatee)
(West
BIG Eaters
The massive manatees are
herbivores, feeding on marine
plants and eating as much as
15% of their total body weight
each day! The average weight
of the manatee is around 450
kilos so that is a fair amount
of food to munch
through.
Manatees spend
up to eight hours a
day eating while
the rest of the day is
spent sleeping or
travelling around.
Source Unknown
Manatees are classified as an
endanger
ed species. These
endangered
rather ugly but fascinating
marine mammals are thought
to have evolved from wading
plant-eating mammals.
Where do they live?
Manatees are usually found in
shallow and slow moving rivers,
estuaries, saltwater bays and
coastal areas. They migrate to
warmer coastal waters during
summer months and rest. The
West Indian manatee
is found in the
waters off the
coast of North
America and
down to the
coastal regions of
Brazil.
The Manatee’s Relatives
Did you know that manatees are closely related to elephants?
They are also related to the dugong (Dugong dugon), and the
extinct Steller’s sea cow, which was last seen in 1768.
54
ENDANGERED ANIMALS
Manatees Under Threat
¾Red
Red tide - this occurs when
there is a higher than normal
amount of marine algae in the
water. In regions where manatee
populations live, most red tides
are caused by micro-algae that
produces a toxin which can
poison manatees and other
marine life.
Cr
ab tr
ap and fishing lines ¾Cr
Crab
trap
Manatees often get their tails
and fins caught up in nets in
shallow water, which cause
gashes that become infected.
They have also been killed after
swallowing fish hooks.
Human activities - Accidents in
¾Human
shallow waters involving speed
boats have killed many
manatees. These boats are one
of the main threats to
manatees. Many surviving
manatees have scars on their
bodies from collisions with
boats.
¾Canal
Canal locks - A large number of
manatees have been caught
and drowned in canal locks and
flood control structures.
Habitat loss - Housing along
¾Habitat
rivers and waterways has
damaged the natural habitat
that manatees live in and
polluted the water they feed in.
Manatees or
Mermaids?
Manatees belong to the
order of animals classified
enia
as Sir
Sirenia
enia, which is a Latin
word for “siren” or
“mermaid”. It is believed
that many early sailors
mistook manatees for
mythological mermaids.
© U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services
Manatees face a number of
threats to their survival. They
have a very high mortality
(death) rate as well as a low
breeding (birth) rate. It is
believed that there are less
than 2600 West Indian
manatees left. Threats
include:
55
ENDANGERED ANIMALS
Humpback Whale
Image courtesy of NOAA
The humpback whale is one of the most
endanger
ed of the larger whale species. In
endangered
the last 100 years the numbers of these
whales have dropped at an alarming rate.
Around 1870 it was believed that there
were at least 125,000 humpback whales
swimming the world’s oceans. However,
today it is thought that there are less
than 7000 of these whales left.
Where have the whales gone?
Whaling is the main reason for the
reduced numbers of whales. The
humpback whale was hunted for its meat
which was used as pet food. When
whaling first began, humpbacks were
hunted for their valuable bony plates that
were up to two metres long. These plates
were known as whalebone or baleen and
could be sold for thousands of dollars at
the time. Baleen was used as ribbing in
things like dress corsets and umbrellas.
Today plastic is used instead.
56
Scientific Name:
Megaptera
novaeangliae
Did You Know?
Whales:
¾are marine
mammals.
¾can live to about
95 years of age.
¾can weigh up to 65
tonnes.
¾grow to lengths of
up to nearly 15
metres long.
¾have large front
flippers that can
grow to over 4 metres.
¾migrate annually
from the tropics to
polar regions.
¾eat up to 4000
kilos of fish a day.
¾are very well-known
for leaping out of
the water
(breaching).
¾make vocalisations
known as “songs”.
ENDANGERED ANIMALS
Whales and Whaling
Today, steps have been taken
to stop whaling, although
illegal whaling still occurs in
some countries. Whales have
also died in fishing nets and in
polluted marine areas. The
Southern Ocean Whale
Sanctuary creates a safe
environment for the remaining
whales.
Save the Whale
The International Whaling
Commission (IWC) is a special
organisation that protects
whales all over the world from
extinction.
The IWC was set up in 1946 and
had members from many
countries who helped set up
rules about whaling. In 1986
they agreed to ban all whaling.
Unfortunately, some countries
have started up whaling again
for a number of reasons.
Learn more about
wonderful whales at:
www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/humpback
Image courtesy of NOAA
www.nwf.org/wildlife/humpbackwhale
57
ENDANGERED ANIMALS
Glossary
Community:: Describes all living
things (plants and animals)
that exist in an
environment.
Ecosystem: Includes all
living things and how they
interact with the non-living
things in the environment such as
air, water, light and soil. If anything
upsets the delicate balance the
whole ecosystem can be affected.
Environment: The surroundings in
which a plant or animal lives is
called its environment. It includes
habitat, climate, weather and even
human activities. An animal or plant
adapts to its natural environment in
order to survive. For example, polar
bears have a thick layer of blubber
which keeps them warm in freezing
temperatures.
Habitat: Where an animal or plant
lives. For example, the toucan lives
in a rainforest habitat and the
camel lives in a desert habitat.
Predators: Predators are
carnivorous (meateating) animals
that hunt and kill
other animals for
food. For example,
lions are predators of
deer and rabbits; frogs
are predators of beetles
and insects and
humans are predators of dairy
cattle, fish and chickens.
58
Special adaptations: Animals
make adaptations to their
environment to allow them to
survive and reproduce. Some
of these adaptations may be
behavioural
things they do (behavioural
behavioural)
while others, which develop over
long periods of time, may be
physical
features of their body (physical
physical).
Species: All animals and plants are
grouped according to their features.
A species is the basic unit of
classification for all members of the
animal and plant kingdoms.
Animals are grouped together
according to their common features.
For example, there are two species
of elephants, meaning that there
are two types of elephants: Asian
and African.
Sub species: Sometimes within a
species, there may be a number of
different types. This usually occurs
when animals of a species live in
different places. When a species is
separated, a group may develop
special adaptations suited to that
region. For example there are four
sub species of Asian elephant:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Indian elephant
Sri Lankan elephant
Sumatr
an elephant
Sumatran
Borneo (or Pygmy)
elephant
Each of these sub
species can be identified
by small differences or
adaptations that suit each
environment. The elephants have
developed these differences over
thousands of years.
ENDANGERED ANIMALS
Endangered Species Sites for Kids
www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/information/20-tips.html
- How You Can Help!
www.schoolworld.asn.au/species/species.html
- School World Endangered Species Project
www.science.org.au/nova/010/010key.htm
- Australia’s Threatened Species from NOVA
www.museum.qld.gov.au/features/endangered/
- Queensland Museum Endangered Species Online
www.rainforestinfo.org.au/spp/
- The Endangered Species Project
www.kidcyber.com.au/topics/Austendangered.htm
- Endangered Australian Animals
www.spx.nsw.edu.au/src/Links/endanganim.html
- Endangered Animals Links
www.calm.wa.gov.au/plants_animals/watscu_splash.html
- Saving Our Threatened Wildlife
www.australianwildlife.org/
- Australian Wildlife Conservancy
www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/information/factsheets/index.html
- World Wide Fund for Nature
www.extinctanimal.com/extinct/extinct_mammals.htm
- Extinct Mammals
users.netconnect.com.au/Easter_Bilby/
- Read the Easter Bilby Story
www.museum.vic.gov.au/bioinformatics/mammals/images/thumblmar.htm
- Mammal Images
rainforestinfo.org.au/spp/Schouten/
- Extinct Australian Species
www.calm.wa.gov.au/plants_animals/feeding_wild_animals.html
- Feeding Wild Animals
www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/information/factsheets/index.html
- National Threatened Species Day
edtech.kennesaw.edu/web/endangsp.html
- Excellent Links Page
www.allaboutmammals.com/subjects/mammals/Iceagemammals.shtml
www.calm.wa.gov.au/schools
- Conservation and Land Management School Section
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ENDANGERED ANIMALS
Animal Species – Online Links
Malayan Sun Bear
Big Cats
www.chaffeezoo.org/animals/
sunBear.html – About the Sun Bear
www.honoluluzoo.org/sun_bear.htm
– Honolulu Zoo Polar Bear
www.polarbearsalive.org
– Polar Bears Alive
www.nationalgeographic.com/kids/
creature_feature/0004/polar.html
– Kids’ Creature Feature
www.savethetigerfund.org/Directory/
kids.htm – Save the Tigers
dialspace.dial.pipex.com/agarman/bco/
ver4.htm – Big Cats Online
www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/
mammals/smilodon
– Smilodon: An Extinct Big Cat
Gilbert’s Potoroo
home.vicnet.net.au/~potoroo/
– Friends of the Potoroo
Panda
www.abc.net.au/southcoast/stories/
www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/
s490598.htm – Potoroo Conservation
mammals/panda/
www.calm.wa.gov.au/plants_animals/
– Enchanted Learning: Giant Panda
mammal.quokka.html – Quokka Info
nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/GiantPandas/
and giant-panda.com/
Northern Hairy-Nosed Wombat
Black Rhinoceros
www.nationalgeographic.com/kids/
creature_feature/0205/rhinos.html
– Black Rhino Creature Feature
www.rhinos-irf.org/rhinoinformation/
index.htm
– About the Five Rhino Species
Elephant
www.worldalmanacforkids.com/explore/
animals/elephant.html
– World Almanac: Elephants
www.bornfree.org.uk/
elefriendsindex.html – Elefriends
nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/
AsianElephants/elephantfacts.cfm
– Elephant Facts
home.iprimus.com.au/readman/wombatn.htm – Unique Animals
www.wombania.com/wombats/northernhairy-nosed-wombat.htm – WOMBANIA
Greater Bilby
www.arazpa.org.au/
Education_FactSheets_Bilby.htm
– Bilby Fact Sheets
users.netconnect.com.au/Easter_Bilby/
default.html – Easter Bilby Story
Numbat
australian-animals.net/numbat.htm
– Unique Australian Mammals
Regent Honeyeater
www.birdsaustralia.com.au/birds/
regent.html – Birds Australia
60
ENDANGERED ANIMALS
Animal Species – Online Links
Philippine Eagle
www.dvrconline.org/phileagle.html
Humboldt Penguin
www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/elnino/
– About El Nino
www.zoo.org/educate/fact_sheets/penguin/penguin.htm
– Penguin Fact Sheets
Western Swamp Tortoise
www.perthzoo.wa.gov.au/
index.html?wildlife_facts_au_wst.html
– Perth Zoo
www.wwf.org.au/
News_and_information/Features/
feature18.php – World Wildlife Fund
Komodo Dragon
www.amonline.net.aufactsheets/
blue_tongue_lizard.htm
Try your hand at drawing a blue
tongue lizard. Use a photo to help
you – there are plenty on the Net.
Submit your artwork to this amazing
blue tongue skinks website:
www.bluetongueskinks.net
Go to the Fun Facts area.
Tuatara
www.terranature.org/tuatara.htm
www.panda.org/news_facts/education/
middle_school/species/tuatara.cfm
Harlequin Frog
www.projectamazonas.com/subpages/
floraandfauna/amphibians.htm –
Project Amazonas Inc. Click on
Toads
www.zoo.org/educate/fact_sheets/
kom_dragon/komodo.htm – Fact Sheets
www.isidore-of-seville.com/komodo/ and
www.zoo.org/komodo/komo_flash.html
Leafy Sea Dragon
Galapagos Giant Tortoise
Manatee
www.kidzworld.com/site/p366.htm
– Kidzworld
www.gct.org/tortoise.html
www.bagheera.com/inthewild/
van_anim_manatee.htm
– Bagheera: The Manatee
www.savethemanatee.org
– Save the Manatee
www.gbrmpa.gov.au/corp_site/
info_services/publications/dugong/
– Facts about Dugongs
Pygmy Blue Tongue Lizard
www.abc.net.au/science/scribblygum/
February2000/gallery.htm
bluetongueskinks.netbpygmy.htm
www.amonline.net.aufactsheets/
blue_tongue_lizard.htm
www.divegallery.com/
Leafy_Sea_Dragon.htm – Images
61