Critically Endangered Species: The Hawaiian Monk Seal

Seals in Canada have been featured heavily in environmental news throughout the last few years, with environmentalists highlighting the vicious slaughter that is undertaken each year that has caused number of seals to plummet. Unfortunately other species of seal have been left out of the limelight thanks to this atrocity and as such have been left to suffer in their own ways.

One such species is the Hawaiian Monk Seal. Native only to Hawaii and its surrounding waters, this particular monk seal is one of only two left alive in the wild, the other being the Mediterranean monk seal, as the Caribbean monk seal is now extinct, which is an altogether likely outcome for the Hawaiian monk seal species as well as their numbers continue to decline, to the point where they are now categorised as critically endangered.

As the Hawaiian Islands are so far from another suitably sized landmass, the monk seals are forced to exist around the Hawaiian Isles. This makes it very important that the seals are not tampered or interfered with in any way; unfortunately incidental fishing accidents take a heavy toll on the seal population, and their natural predators of Tiger and Galapagos sharks cause issues during breeding season for the pups that are already at risk from pollution, fishing traps and other hazards. Thanks to the limited ecosystem that the seals are exposed to, there is no option for a population ‘boom’ as their environment could not sustain it.

Plans are in place to aid the dwindling monk seal populations and whilst the conservation efforts so far have had a good impact, it will take a long time for the populations to grow to a steady and sustainable level. The real threat lies with the lack of safe places for the seals to breed or give birth uninterrupted, as they are unlikely to return to any beaches where they have previously been disturbed. This decline in safe landmass has had a massive effect on their breeding habits, and if it is not reversed then we can only expect worse things for the monk seal further down the line. 

Critically Endangered: The African Wild Ass

The African Wild Ass may leave you confused as to the differences between an ass and the domesticated donkey as the two look very similar, but rest assured that the similarities between these two are no coincidence – a majority of the domesticated donkeys that you can see throughout Africa will probably share DNA with these hardy creatures at some point in their genetic line.

This is thanks to the wild ass being well suited for life in the desert or a semi desert environment, with tough digestive systems that can break down the tough desert vegetation and extract moisture very efficiently from their food – couple this with a reduced requirement for water and you have an animal with the perfect breeding for life in the desert. This is why we can see so many hardy donkeys and mules being used in everyday life in the African desert, as many will have been bred from domesticated donkeys that have mated with these wild asses to generate these preferred characteristics that enhance the donkeys natural abilities.

Unfortunately, this mating has meant that the wild ass genetic line has become diluted over time, meaning that despite a lot of mixed young being born, a reduced number of true Wild Asses have been produced, leading to a prolonged decline in the species. Thanks to the sparse spread of food and water sources in the desert, the Wild Ass cannot live in large herds like other species of wild horse as the ecosystem simply cannot support them. The intermittent herd system that is used instead means that small groups of wild ass can be found across a large area, keeping in contact by braying – their brays can be heard up to distances of 3km so they have a fairly large range and can still be in contact with others.

Around 570 individuals exist in the wild and whilst this would normally be cause for concern there are hopes that the efforts that have been made to help this durable species will be enough to prolong its survival and ensure the return and successful repopulation in Africa. A reserve that has been established in Somalia and if the wild ass that exist there are properly protected it is hoped that they may well recover from their current low. 

Critically Endangered: The Californian Condor

Reminiscent of a vulture, the California condor is the largest North-American land bird with a very limited area that it inhabits, with populations ranging between the Grand Canyon area, Zion national park, coastal mountains of central and southern California and northern Baja California. It is also one of the world’s longest living birds, as it can reach ages up to 60 years old in the wild.

Despite this longevity, the Californian Condor population declined drastically in the 20^th century thanks to poaching, lead poisoning and habitat destruction – this decline reached such a severe point that eventually a conservation plan was put into place that culminated with the capture of the 22 surviving wild condors that were put into breeding programs to try and reverse the damage that has made the Californian Condor one of the rarest bird species in the world; as of December 2011 there were only 390 in existence, with 210 of these in the wild.

The California condor has played an extensive and important role within the Native American culture. With a differing role for each tribe, it has mythological and ritualistic importance that has led to it being revered and hated, seen as a good luck charm or portent of bad fortune. Whilst this would appear to be a good thing in some cases, both options have often led to the condor being killed, either to fend off bad luck or to bring good luck to a tribe. It is believed that this superstition gradually helped the slow decline of the condor.

The low birth rates and mating habits of the condor have not helped with the repopulating attempts that have been made, as the California condor mates for life and only produce eggs every other spring. Scientists have managed to increase the birth rates in some cases by taking eggs away from the condor, which often ‘double-clutch’ (lay a replacement egg) when the first egg is lost, eaten or stolen. This egg that is removed from the nest can then be hand reared with a puppet and help increase the population further, whilst there has been no loss in the wild.

Conservation efforts and breeding programs are slowly starting to see an increase in the condor numbers across the Americas and hopefully, given time, we will see the Californian condor expand across the continent and flourish with new populations. Until that point, we can only hope that breeding efforts continue to prove successful and the wild populations grow strongly in the face of more and more land development that adds dangers of power lines and a lack of prey species to feed on. The California condor is no longer in as bad a position as it used to be in, but it will take a long time before it is out of the danger zone. 

Endangered Species: The Markhor

As the national animal of Pakistan, you could be easily deceived into believing that the Markhor was a species that was looked after, or at the very least in a stable position in terms of endangerment. Unfortunately this is not the case, as there are only around 2,500 mature breeding individuals left in the wild with an overall population of close to 4,000 including the young and infirm.

Found in north-eastern Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, southern Tajikistan and southern Uzbekistan, the Markhor is a hardy creature that survives in mountainous terrain between elevations of 600m to approximately 3,600m, typically in scrub forests with pines and oaks. Their diet shifts with the seasons from grazing in summer to browsing in winter and the cold months, which is when their mating season begins. Markhor have few young during this period, up to two or rarely three, which is part of the reason that the species population is declining.

It has been postulated that the Markhor was used to help breed many of the domestic goat species that have been used throughout the ages, as many of their signature characteristics can be traced through the genetic line. Egyptian goats and their horns seem to lend some weight to this theory, although there are enough differences to suggest against a close relationship. It is understandable why the Markhor is suited to be a genetic patriarch, as their ability to survive in rough conditions and their adaptive seasonal diet are perfect characteristics for feral or farmed goat breeds.

Part of the reason for the Markhor’s decline is thanks to the fashion of hunting them during the time of British India, where colonialists enjoyed them as prey due to the dangerous and challenging nature of the hunt in the high and mountainous terrain. In more recent times, they are still hunted for food by natives in India, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.  They have also been captured for use in private game ranches in Texas, but as of yet have not escaped with enough numbers to create a breeding population in the wild, like the Ibex and other species have managed in the past.

 Excessive hunting of the Markhor over the last few centuries that has carried on to present times has put intense pressure on the Markhor, making a species that is already spread out and fragmented that much more in danger, as overexploitation has pushed this hardy creature that can survive whatever the elements throw at it into a dangerous decline which, unless we work hard to change the way it is viewed as hunting product, will all but disappear. 

Endangered Species: The Dhole

You could be forgiven for assuming that you’d seen a Dhole before at the end of your garden or rooting around in bins, as they are remarkably similar looking to the foxes that we can expect to see in our own countryside. They are the only extant member of the genus Cuon, which differs from the Canis genus by the reduced numbers of molars and a greater number of teats that make the Dhole genus a distinct and stand out species in the Canid family.

A highly sociable animal, the Dhole can be considered a sort of wild dog that has a distinctive pack lifestyle not unlike the wolf. They live in large packs, but split into much smaller groups to hunt as this is more favourable for their preferred prey, which they will hunt over long distances to tire out before the kill is made. Unlike wolves, and critical to the pack mentality, pups are allowed to eat first to promote a strengthening of the unit as a whole rather than the requirement for wolves to weed out the weakest members of a pack when food sources are scarce.

Native to South and Southeast Asia, the Dhole preys upon medium sized ungulates but are known to be bold enough to attack larger and more dangerous animals, including wild boar, water buffalo and on some occasions even tigers. Despite this tenacity and seeming fearlessness, they are also wary of interfering with humans and prefer to leave livestock alone where possible, perhaps a learned defence against reprisal from angered farmers. Unlike many Canids, they more readily eat fruit and vegetable matter for pleasure, and not only when prey species are scarce; Dhole in the Tien Shan Mountains during summer are known to eat large quantities of rhubarb, perhaps to provide much needed hydration.

Their decline isn’t thanks to a constant pressure of hunting or for any one reason – whilst in the past, Dhole furs were well paid for and seen as a fashionable material with which to make accessories and clothing. Whilst this caused a decline in population at the time that was drastic, Dhole populations have kept up a relatively unmoving level of reproduction since then and, whilst endangered, do not appear to be at current risk of becoming critically endangered. 

Endangered Species: The Green Sea Turtle

When someone mentions ‘endangered species’, your first thoughts may jump to Giant Pandas or Blue Whales. Whilst you would be correct, these are only those animals that are heavily featured in a number of charities’ campaigns. You may not know, however, that the Green Sea Turtle or other, lesser publicised species are also at risk. It is unfortunate for the turtles that they are not as well known or considered as ‘cute’ as some of the other species that are focussed on in the media.

Green sea turtles are, however, a species that deserves recognition amongst the endangered species of the world. It is a large sea turtle, and the only species in the genus Chelonia, making it taxonomically different to other sea turtle species. The most obvious reason or this is that it is mostly herbivorous, a trait not often seen amongst sea turtles that commonly prey on fish and jellyfish.

As is normal to other turtle species, the green sea turtle travels great distances between feeding grounds and the beaches where the eggs are laid and the young hatch. If the young manage to survive and avoid natural predators, they can live in the wild up to 80 years of age. The green sea turtle is only preyed upon by sharks and humans; whilst sharks are a natural hunter and therefore can be included in natural population growth and loss, the human influence on the green sea turtles is clearly the driving force behind the species’ decline.

Pollutants, overfishing and development are all key factors in the decline of green sea turtles. Pollution can affect the turtle species at either a population or individual scale and is therefore hard to specifically pin down the causes, as they can be due to anything from toxic waste or chemical interference all the way down to swallowing of discarded objects. Overfishing is an obvious cause, as turtles are often caught by accident in nets and subsequently panic and drown whilst captured. Similarly, turtles that are purposefully hunted for food or nests that are raided for eggs are other highly impacting actions that are undertaken at the turtle’s expense.

The turtles can be found throughout the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, which not only means that they have a wide area that is available for them to find suitable habitat but also an increased range in which human interference can have an impact on their lives. The classification of endangered and the protection of the species from direct harm via fishing, hunting or nest-raiding is hopefully stalling the effects of the population decline, however they are still hunted as and where specific countries see them as a food source rather than a conservation species.

To help the turtles out of their predicament, we need to change the outlook of those communities that view the turtles as an expendable species to hunt and prey upon rather than be preserved. By altering their perceptions on these creatures, we can reduce the losses that are made every year thanks to hunting and unnecessary plundering of nests that are harming the reproduction rates of an already declining species. 

Endangered Species: The Volcano Rabbit

You may initially be confused as to what is meant by Volcano Rabbit – be assured that no-one is placing rabbits by volcanoes on purpose, but that these plucky fellows have been living in these dangerous and primal environments out of choice! Named of course for the slopes of the volcanoes that they live on, these rabbits are hardy creatures that are found between the elevations of 2800m and 4250m in the pine forests that have dense undergrowth and rocky terrain. This very specific habitat is known as the Trans-Mexico Volcano Belt.

Because of this highly-specific habitat of choice, the volcano rabbit is very susceptible to environmental damage and hunting effects – the necessary elevation and choice of terrain makes it very difficult for them to migrate to new territories and subsequently they have been in decline for many years, with their numbers counted at somewhere between just 1,000 and 1,200 in 1969. The number today is unknown, as damage and hunting has driven down population levels, although it can be expected that a vast majority of the rabbit numbers have disappeared.

They have a lifespan of between 7 to 9 years, but have a low yield of young per litter which is often between 2 or 3 rabbits. They feed very specifically on the green leaves in zacaton grass, whilst supplementing this diet with other leaves and shoots, which means that their spread is only possible along the zacaton corridors – as these patches of land decline and the zacaton disappears, the possibility for these rabbits to spread disappears and so the numbers decline faster than their lowered reproduction rate can manage, although this may also be thanks to an evolutionary trait to ensure the remaining zacaton supplies can sustain the current levels of population.

The hunting issue that faces the volcano rabbit is an unfortunate one. As they are seen as pests rather than as game by the locals, they are shot for feeding on crops and simply left, rather than hunted for food products. Hunters, on the other hand, also do not see them as suitable game animals, but instead utilise them as ‘target practice’. This is a sad state of affairs that has left the volcano rabbit’s population declining and without proper measures put into place we can only expect this kind of attitude towards the volcano rabbits to continue.

Conservation efforts are in place to prevent the amount of burning and other damages to the rabbit’s habitat and prohibit the capture, killing and sale of the rabbits. Captive colonies exist in a small number of Zoo’s in both Mexico and the USA, but real research needs to be undertaken into habitat management and species welfare to ensure the prolonged survival of this undeservedly endangered species. 

Vulnerable Species: The Dugong

The Dugong is a majestic marine mammal that is one of four species in the Sirenia order. As the other three species are Manatees, the Dugong represents the last of the once diverse family of Dungongidae; their closest modern relative, Steller’s Sea Cow, was hunted to extinction in the eighteenth century. As all Manatee use fresh water to some degree, the dugong is strictly speaking the only marine herbivorous mammal.

They are well known as the ‘sea cow’ which is somewhat understandable with their cumbersome size. Reminiscent of a dolphin without the dorsal fin, they propel themselves using their fluked tail and manoeuvre using their paddle-like forelimbs. Their snouts have downturned, an evolutionary trait that has better enabled them to eat their preferred food source of sea grasses.

They can be found in warm coastal waters from the Pacific Ocean to the eastern coast of Africa. Accurate numbers of dugong populations are hard to come by as they are shy creatures that do not approach humans, so it is believed that the current estimate could be lower than the actual total owning to this uncertainty in data. It is known that Australia is home to the largest populations of dugong, with the Great Barrier Reef itself supporting a population of around 10,000, with larger populations spread around the country’s many bays and estuaries.

Dugongs can be long lived, with the oldest known specimen reaching 73 before death. With only a few natural predators which include crocodiles, killer whales and sharks, the dugong is a species that should have been able to proliferate well and maintain a healthy level of population, even including disease and infection that affects the species. In Queensland alone it is estimated that 30% of the dugong that have died since 1996 have died due to disease.

The largest impact on the dugong is, unfortunately, from humans. Like Steller’s Sea Cow, they were seen as easy prey and were hunted for their meat and oil – they are such easy prey as they must surface to breathe quite frequently, an adult only able to hold their breath for up to six minutes at most. They are prone to over-exploitation, as their slow rates of reproduction are not enough to counteract intensive hunting, disease spread or pollutant threats that are killing the sea grasses which the dugong so heavily relies.

To save the dugong we must turn a more economical mind to our oceans and look to preserve those environments where we see less of the effects from our pollutants and other interferences that interrupt how the environment works. Once their habitat has been secured, we should minimise our interactions with the dugong to allow them to re-establish themselves, potentially by increasing the numbers of countries in which the hunting of a dugong is illegal. Whilst it may seem like changing how we affect the environment is a huge deal, if we all aspire to make a little change each day then we should easily meet our goal and help save the dugong. 

Vulnerable Species: The Maned Sloth

The maned sloth is one of only four species of three-toed sloth, and it can only be found in the Atlantic coastal rainforest of South-eastern Brazil. With no recognised subspecies and a natural adaption that allows it to eat many different types of leaves, it is thought that the maned sloth was once found further north as well.

Typically found in hot, humid climates that don’t have a dry season and includes annual rainfall of around 120cm, the maned sloth can reside in semi-deciduous or secondary forest as well as the rainforest that typically makes their home. They have two coats, and the outer coat is long and course and collects algae growths and parasites – whilst this sounds unhealthy, the algae growth gives the sloth an element of camouflage as the green tinge helps it blend into the canopy.

They are folivores, meaning that they feed on tree and liana leaves exclusively. They also spend between 60-80% of their day sleeping to conserve energy, with the rest of the day devoted to feeding or travelling. Maned sloths will spend most of their lives in the higher reaches of the rainforest, only coming to the forest floor to defecate or to move to another tree when the canopy does not enable them to pass between trees. They are unable to stand and walk, forced instead to drag themselves along with their front legs and claws, which also double as a superb defence as the claws are quite long and vicious when used to attack.

The problem that these sloths are having that has caused them to become vulnerable is the destruction of their natural habitat; it is this destruction that has probably forced them from the north and into the very isolated pocket of land that is left to them. Deforestation for lumber, charcoal and pastures is a heavily invested area of economic devastation as so many companies and individuals are set to make money from the forest being cleared, which means that the sloth is left with less and less room to proliferate. As it is believed that the sloth only reproduces once per year and only ever produces one offspring, the rate in which these sloths are dying thanks to land loss or from hunting is not being counter-acted.

The best chance that the sloth has is to be categorised as a protected species to prevent as much hunting as possible, as well as a prevention/reduction attempt made to halt the sheer amount of rainforest that is being destroyed each year, in order to save their habitats and prevent the interference from humans in their lives. 

Vulnerable Species: The Hippopotamus

The hippopotamus is the third largest land mammal by weight, beaten only by the white rhino and the separate species of elephant, which means that this is possibly one of the most dangerous animals in Africa. Able to run at speeds up to 19mph over short distances these highly aggressive animals are so large that, should they attack, there is very little that can be done to stop them.

Despite this aggressiveness and their large size, they are desired for their ivory which is harvested by removing their large teeth, which are used for fighting and asserting dominance over other hippopotamuses. Such poaching presents a problem to the populations of the hippopotamus, as their reproduction habits mean that they only have one offspring per year at most, and heavy levels of hunting and poaching can lead to a faster decline in population than reproduction can compete with.

Hippos' closest relations are surprisingly cetaceans, such as whales, dolphins or porpoises, unlike the mammals such as pigs that you would be forgiven for assuming they were closer to; indeed, it was not until 1909 that naturalists had been categorising them with pigs based on their molar patterns. Blood proteins, DNA and fossil records however showed that the common ancestors of whales and hippos split off from the even-toed ungulates, and soon after the cetacean and hippo lineage split apart as well.

Hippos have been highlighted as a vulnerable species since 2006 after reports that populations had decreased drastically across Africa, at an approximate loss of 20% since the 1996 IUCN report. The area of most dramatic decline is in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where numbers fell to around 800 or so down from 29,000 in the 1970’s – this loss is attributed to the Second Congo War.

Nowadays poachers hunt them for protection, as it is believed that the hippos are dangerous to society, as well as for money – the sale of hippo meat is illegal however it is difficult for conservationists and park officers to track any black market trading or dealings. As it is, the Hippo appears to be unmoving from its vulnerable status any time soon. The best ways to tackle this problem would be through a governmental crackdown on ivory and bush meat trade, whilst simultaneously imposing high charges on the illegal exportation of such material to make it undesirable for those individuals utilising the hippo as a source of income. 

Vulnerable Species: The Humboldt Penguin

The Humboldt Penguin is a fantastic little species of penguin that is, unfortunately, vulnerable to becoming endangered in the near future. Found on the pacific coast in South America, the Humboldt Penguin is endemic to Peru and Chile, known to swim in the cold ocean current from which the penguins get their name, which itself is named after the explorer that found the current, Alexander von Humboldt. 

Alexander von Humboldt actually plays a very important factor in determining the cause for the loss of Humboldt Penguins; despite being the namesake for these penguins, his chief contribution to their welfare actually lay with prospecting their nesting areas for guano, a prime commodity in 1802 as a fertiliser that was easy to mine and high in nitrogen. Von Humboldt wrote a paper on the subject of guano which became popular in Europe, sparking demand for the resource. Ultimately, this lead to the disturbing of the Humboldt Penguin’s nesting areas and the over-exploitation of their guano reserves meant that the Humboldt Penguin’s natural habitat was destroyed very quickly.

Thanks to developments in water based, ammonium fertilisers, the Humboldt Penguin overcame the threat from guano mining; however, this was not the end of their problems as overfishing, ocean acidification and climate change, which is thought to have severe impact at key points throughout history. It is thought that the El Nino from 1982 to 1983 was responsible for a 65% loss of Peruvian Humboldt penguins at the time.

Hunting and poaching has led to a decline in the penguin population as well throughout the years, and before the penguins were made a protected species sailors used the penguins as an easy meal. Collectors captured them for private zoos and eggs were poached either for sale or consumption. Since they were granted protected status however they have been left mostly alone.

With numbers estimated between 3,000 and anywhere up to 12,000, the Humboldt penguin is still in a position that can be reversed – unfortunately their natural habitat of the South American Pacific coast is limited in terms of space and has been declining thanks to habitat destruction, so the chance for the penguins to proliferate again relies entirely upon the restoration of the habitat and the prevention of over-fishing and fishing-related debris that can entangle and drown the penguins.

These are all key problems that affect all marine life across the world; however the Humboldt penguin is an animal that has been suffering at the hands of humans for a long time now. By using more ethical fishing sources and supporting a safer method of fishing, we can cut back on the destructive practices that are threatening this lovely species and give them a fighting chance to come back from their threatened status.