Currently there are many animal and plant species that are at risk of disappearing. Human pressure on the natural habitats of animals causes serious consequences.
The indiscriminate felling of forests, the contamination of waters and agricultural exploitations, fragment the distribution areas of the different species. We hinder their reproduction by isolating communities and reducing their natural hunting.
In this AnimalWised article we will talk about the mammals in danger of extinction. Mammals are animals that give birth to their young and nurse them.
Red List of Endangered Mammals
The UINC,International Union for Conservation of Nature, periodically draws up the red list of threatened species. This list includes all the animal and plant species that are at risk of disappearing worldwide.
With the data on this list we can observe the loss of biodiversity that occurs globally. Mammals are one of the groups with the most endangered species. Hunting and the destruction of their habitats are their main enemies.
There are several categories within the red list:
- Extinct (EX)
- Extinct in the Wild (EW)
- Critically Endangered (CR)
- Danger of extinction (EN)
- Vulnerable (VU)
- Near Threatened (NT)
- Least Concern (LC)
Mammals of the world
Currently many species are under human pressure. The destruction of forests and natural environments, the contamination of waters and the impoverishment of the soil contribute to different species suffering the effects.
In the last decades many species have disappeared. Some examples are the Mexican bear, the Malvinas wolf or the Cabo lion. Indiscriminate hunting, whether for sport or other purposes, wiped out numerous species in the last century.
For this reason it is important to be aware of the effect that human action has on all species of the animal world.
Below we will discuss several of the world's mammals that are currently endangered or vulnerable to extinction.
Mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei)
Gorillas are currently divided into two species and these in turn into two subspecies. They are the western lowland gorilla, the eastern gorilla, the western lowland gorilla and the mountain gorilla. The last two are critically endangered of extinction.
The mountain gorilla has only about 700 individuals distributed mainly in national parks of central Africa. The war and instability in the region seriously affect them. They are victims of poaching and are affected by human diseases. They are very intelligent and social animals, an adult male usually coexists with several females. Sometimes several males can live together in the same community.
Sumatran tiger
The sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) is a critically endangered tigerof extinction that inhabits the island of Sumatra, in the Indonesian archipelago. It is the smallest of the tigers, its fur is darker and with the narrowest lines. It is an excellent swimmer and hunter. Two other species of Indonesian tigers, the Java tiger and the Bali tiger, became extinct in the 20th century.
Currently it is estimated that its population is around 500 specimens, spread over different reserves and parks both in freedom and in captivity. Unfortunately, poaching and the fur trade continue to be a problem for these tigers. In addition, the fragmentation of their populations and the loss of their natural habitat force them to be confined to small areas.
Black Rhino
The Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) inhabits the African savannah. It differs from the white rhinoceros in its color and smaller size. It feeds on shrubs and small trees. Its mouth is also different from that of the white rhinoceros, it has the shape of a prehensile beak adapted to its feeding.
Rhinoceroses, and especially the black rhinoceros, have been harassed and pressured by hunters for their horns for decades. Currently, although it is a protected species and its hunting is prohibited, its number is very low. There may be a couple thousand left in the wild.
In addition to poaching, another problem to which they are exposed is consanguinity Due to the low number of specimens, crosses tend to occur between related individuals. This causes loss of genetic diversity and is detrimental to this species.
Pygmy Hippo
This little hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis) inhabits marshes and forests in Africa. Like the normal hippopotamus, the pygmy is semi-aquatic. It stays close to water to keep its skin moist.
While the hippopotamus lives in a group, the pygmy hippopotamus is more solitary, they usually live alone or with a couple. They are herbivorous animals and at night they go into the woods in search of food.
It is believed that there are less than 3000 specimens in the wild, although we can also find them in zoos. According to the UINC it is in danger of extinction The main threat they face is the destruction of their habitat. Other species of pygmy hippos existed in the Mediterranean during the Pleistocene. On the island of M alta or Cyprus for example.
Mammals in Spain
In Spain there are several species that are in danger or threatened with extinction. The black stork or the bearded vulture are birds of the peninsula that are at risk.
As for mammals, we have several animals in danger of extinction. Next we will talk about the three most important mammals of the peninsula; the brown bear, the Iberian lynx and the Iberian wolf.
It is important to protect these species since they are the largest and most representative mammals of the peninsula.
Iberian lynx
The Iberian lynx (Linx pardinus) is a sign of our land. It is one of the most endangered felines on earth and one of the most beautiful. It is currently present in freedom in Doñana, Sierra Morena and Montes de Toledo. Formerly and even in the 1980s its distribution was much greater. According to the UINC it is in danger of extinction.
It is a very agile feline, its ears end in a brush of black hair, which gives it its characteristic appearance. It is a small feline, the adult male can weigh about 12kg. Currently it is estimated that their number is less than 300 individuals in the wild despite protection and conservation plans.
The bobcats face various problems:
- Run over.
- Destruction of their habitat.
- Isolation of communities by human action.
- Lack of prey.
- Human hunting of specimens.
The feeding of the lynx is closely related to the rabbit population, so its decline greatly influences them.
Grizzly
The brown bear (Ursus arctos) is present in the Pyrenees and in the Cantabrian Mountains. In both places there are two populations that do not usually come into contact. It is difficult to determine the number of brown bears that exist on the peninsula. Their current number is estimated to be approximately 200-250 bears in the wild.
It is the largest animal in the entire peninsula and yet they are small compared to other bears. It is in a state of minor concern since it is present in other regions of Europe, however its number in Spain is so low that work must be done on its conservation to prevent it from disappearing from the peninsula.
The feeding of this bear depends on fruits and young shoots, small animals and fish. Throughout the year it undergoes important weight variations depending on the availability of food and the times of lethargy.
The construction of ski resorts, mining and the destruction of forests in general, is the main threat to the brown bear.
Iberian wolf
El Iberian wolf (Canis lupus signatus) was formerly distributed throughout the Iberian Peninsula. Currently its presence is divided into two towns: north of the Duero and south of the Duero. The southern population is much smaller and is isolated from the other by human action. It is estimated that its total population is approximately 2000 specimens.
The Iberian wolf is listed as species vulnerable in the red book, however its hunting is allowed in the north of Spain. The population in the south of the Duero, although protected for the moment, is at risk of changing its protection status due to petitions to Europe to make hunting legal.
Between 1950 and 1970 the wolf was hunted indiscriminately, eliminating it from many regions of the country. For this reason it is important that the conservation plans are carried out and that the protection of the wolf is a real fact both in the south and north of the Duero.
The main problems facing the Iberian wolf are hunting, poisoning, the fragmentation of its habitat and human pressure on both the wolf and the species it feeds on.
