Survey results

In my survey of endangered species I asked if people think every specie is valuable and how much they know about them, and are ready to help species which are in threat of extinction.

1. Question: Do you think every specie on this planet is valuable?
62.5 % of participants answered yes and think every specie is valuable.

2. Question: Have you ever helped some endangered specie?
12.5% answered yes, 37.5% would like to but do not know how, and 50% answered no.

3. Question: Is there any species which are endangered in your hometown and is there any rules or laws which are protecting them.
62.5% answered yes, 12.5% were not sure, and 25% answered no.

4. Question: Do you ever make sure that you do not buy things which are made for example of ivory?
62.5% answered no and 37.5% answered yes.

Based on the results I think majority if people think that protecting endangered species is important, but I think people do not have enough knowledge of that how much people are damaging the environment where many species live. People should also pay attention to that they do not buy things where are used for example ivory, shells or reptile/snake skin.

There are many ways how to help endangered species. There is volunteer work and different kind of organizations give the opportunity to invest in animals to make sure that their environment is saved and taken care of.

Humans and endangered species

Species have become extinct 
throughout the Earths geological history. Biological evolution, driven by natural climate change, catastrophic geologic events, and competition from better-adapted species, are reasons for billions of species extinction since life on Earth began about three billion years ago. However, in modern times, the rate of extinction is much higher. Scientist state that the present extinction rates are 1 000 to 10 000 times higher than the average natural extinction rate. 

Humans can cause either harm or good for other species on the Earth. Humans can help save endangered species by breeding more animals and saving their environment, making sick animals healthy and taking care of those animals which can no longer survive in the wild. Humans can also cause a lot of harm to animals, on purpose or by accident.

When humans destroy wild land to build buildings and roads and so on, the land is changed. Every specie from that area can disappear. Some can move to other areas but there are already other animals. There is not enough space, food and water for everyone. 

When farmers spray chemicals on the plants to save them from things which eat the plants (different bugs and molds), those chemicals will also hurt species which do not eat the plants. They can also kill or cause serious damage for the animals which feed from the poisoned bugs.

Some animals are endangered because of their beautiful fur or other parts for example bones, shells or internal organs. Snakes are killed for their skins and bears are killed for their paws etc.

People buy and catch animals to keep as pets, but very often people do not know how to take care of them and 50-90 % of these animals die early because of that.


Link to my survey: http://surveynuts.com/surveys/take?id=27865&c=197172757HTJD
Results will be announced later.

References:

http://science.jrank.org/pages/2467/Endangered-Species.html

http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/nwep16b.htm

http://www.anapsid.org/animalshumans.html

Amur Leopard

Amur leopard is considered the world's rarest cat and is critically endangered. Amur leopard is found in Russian Far East and has adapted to the temperate forests and cold weather and in that way it differs from other leopards which live in savannas of Africa and Asia. A few of Amur leopards are also found in China, near to the Russian border. 

Amur leopards have longer legs than other leopards which makes it easier to walk on the snow. Amur leopards fur is also a little different and changes between summer and winter. The summer pelt are about 2,5 cm long and during the winter they are replaced by 7 cm long ones. During the winter Amur leopards fur is more light and in the summer time it is reddish-yellow. The rosettes (print in the leopards fur)are more widely spaced and the borders are ticker than other leopard species. 

Male leopards weigh around 32-48 kg and the biggest males can even weigh 75 kg. Female leopards are usually 23-45 kg. 

Similar to other leopard, Amur leopard can run up to 60 km/h and can leap more than 6 m horizontally and up to 4 m vertically.

Amur leopards breed in spring and early summer. Litter size ranges form 1 to 4 puppies. The puppies are weaned when they are three months old and they leave their mother when they are one and a half or two years old. Amur leopard is known to live for 10-15, and in capture even 20 years. 

Amur leopards pray sika deers, roe deers, and small wild boars, along with hares, badgers and raccoon dogs. 

The main threats of Amur leopards are habitat lost and fragmentation, prey scarcity, illegal trade and poaching, conflict with human, and vulnerable population size and inbreeding. 

Previous population and distribution:
Amur leopards distribution has been reduced a lot from its original range. It once reached to northeastern China, including Jilin and Heilongjiang  provinces, and throughout the Korean Peninsula. During the seventies the distribution range was dramatically reduced in Russia, losing about 80% of its original size.

Current population and distribution:
Today, the Amur leopard inhabits about 5 000 km². The last remaining viable wild population, an estimated 57 individuals, is found in small area in the Russian Province of Primorsky Krai, between Vladivostok and the Chinese border. 
An estimated 7-12 scattered individuals are thought to remain in China. 

Many organizations are helping and supporting Amur leopards, and trying to spread information of this beautiful and critically endangered specie. 

References:
http://www.wcs.org/saving-wildlife/big-cats/amur-leopard.aspx
http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/endangered_species/amur_leopard2/

Baiji -The Chinese River Dolphin

Baiji is a fresh water dolphin and one of the most endangered species on Earth. It is pale blue to gray on the back (dorsal) side and white on the belly (ventral) side. It has a long beak which is slightly up-turned and it has 31-36 conical teeth on both jaw. Baiji has a low and triangular dorsal fin and it resembles of a light-colored flag when the dolphin swims just below the surface of the dark Yangtze river. It has smaller eyes compared to oceanic dolphins. Baiji dolphin weighs about 220kg and is about 2.5m long.

Baiji came to attention of the western world in 1916 but it has been described in classical Chinese literature much earlier. 

Baiji is thought to breed in the beginning of the year between February and April. A baby Baiji is about 1m long. Baiji dolphins live approximately 25 years. 

There is not much known about Baiji dolphins behavior, ecology and acoustics. Most commonly dolphins live in groups of 2-6 but also bigger groups with 16 members have been seen. Dolphins feed on large variety of fresh water fish species. Beiji dolphins are generally shy of boats and only top of their head or dorsal fin are shown when surfacing. 

Like many other dolphin species, Baiji produces two kind of sounds; clicks and whistles. Baijis use clicking noise mostly for navigation and identifying a pray or other objects in the environment. Whistles are thought to be used in communication and the pitch of the whistles change. 

The Chinese river dolphin is found only in fresh water and mostly in Yangtze river. The biggest threat for Baijis are local fishers who use rolling hooks, nets and electro-fishing. In 1970s and 1980s rolling hooks and other fishing gears caused at leas half of all dolphins deaths. In 1990s electro-fishing killed about 40% of the specie.
Other threats are for example pollution, river development projects, and underwater explosions.

Chinese government started to protect Baiji dolphins from extinction by setting laws and making organisations. Also in The United States Baijis are protected among many other marine species.

In 2006 an international research team made a six weeks survey to find and examine Baiji dolphins. By the end of the experiment the group failed to find any signs of the specie and concluded that the Chinese river dolphin may now be extinct.

References: http://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/pr/species/mammals/dolphins/chinese-river-dolphin.html

What is an endangered specie?

Endangered species are those who have a risk of extinction. There are so few left of their kind that they have a possibility to disappear from the planet all together. Many factors such as hunting, habitat lost, diseases and climate change are threatening species to be extinct. Endangered species usually have a declining population or a very limited range as well which means that those factors above could cause some species to disappear completely during our lifetimes.

Current extinction of species is thought to be greater than the expected natural extinction. Many species are disappearing before they are found. There are studies which show that a third of world's amphibians, a quarter of mammals, and one of eight birds are endangered. 

When some species have an alarming rate for disappearing it should be a concern for everyone. Not only these species bring beauty and wonder to the natural world, they are also important for global economy. A great diversity of species help to maintain the ecosystem essential for our existence. Protecting these species contribute to a thriving and healthy planet for people's health and well-being. For example forests slow climate change and filter water to oceans where one-sixth of world's food is provided.
Many countries have laws which protect species that have a risk of extinction, for example forbidding hunting or harming the environment which is necessary for the specie.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoTt9L1wAHo


References:
https://www.worldwildlife.org/species
http://www.arkive.org/endangered-species/

Plan

In this blog I will study endangered species. What means when a specie is endangered and what are the reasons for it? I will introduce a few species and share videos and pictures. I will also study how humans are involved to the extinction of species and is there anything a normal person can do to help these animals and plants.

Here is the link to my onedrive folder where you can find my plan and my learning diary.

http://1drv.ms/1JjdOhl