The mountain lion is a large cat that is also known as a cougar, panther, yellow cat, puma, and several other names (Danz, 1999, p.13). Shoulder heights average around 30 inches and length is approximately eight feet (“Mountain Lion”, 2014). The tail is about one-third of the entire body length and these cats typically weigh between 75 and 175 pounds (“Mountain Lion”, 2014). However, the largest mountain lion weighed 276 pounds and was killed near Hillside, Arizona (Danz, 1999, p.44). The legs of the cat are very muscular and the back legs are much longer than the front, allowing the cats to increase their leaping abilities (Knight, 2005).
Aggressive predator control programs and clearing of forested habitat reduced the red wolf population to 17 wolves by 1980. Almost hunted to the brink of extinction, the U.S. Fish and Wild Life Service rounded up fewer than 20 pure red wolves to breed in captivity. Red wolves were declared extinct in the wild between 1980-87. Thanks to captive breeding programs, today 100-120 red wolves call northeastern North Carolina home.
There are about 10,000 animals on the endangered species list. That is a big number that needs to be brought down in order to maintain biodiversity. However, that number is slowly shrinking thanks to the endangered species act passed in 1973. This act authorizes the listing of species as endangered and threatened, prohibits unauthorized taking, possession, sale, and transport of endangered species, provides authority to acquire land for the conservation of listed species, and authorizes the assessment of civil and criminal penalties for violating the act. One of these endangered animals is the Florida Panther.
Support for your claim: The declining number of Florida panthers is a topic of concern as this could leave a gap in the natural ecology of Florida and adversely affect all the members of this ecological chain. One main reason for dwindling of panthers was stated as poor survival rate of panther kittens. To deal with this problem, authorities looked up outcrossing (with Female Pumas from Texas region) as an ideal solution to increase the survival rate of panther kittens. The resultant offspring were of a robust nature destined to live a longer life in contrast with the purebreds as inbreeding is shown to have negative influence on the health rate of the kittens. The adult panthers of the outcrossed breed where again backcrossed with the Florida panthers.
The cheetah has suffered from inbreeding, high infant mortality, loss of habitat, a reduction in its prey base, conflicts with livestock farming, and a reduced ability to survive in parks and reserves due to the presence of larger predators. 5. On what continent did the cheetah originate and how long ago? Through the dating of fossil remains, it appears that the cheetah originated in the United States of America in the present-day states of Nevada, Texas, and Wyoming. 6.
Cave Lion 5. Chalicotherium The cave lion (Panthera leo spelaea) was probably the biggest lion that ever lived. It was 25 percent bigger than lions today and was up to about 11.5 ft (3.5 m) long. was an early, herbivorous mammal from the Miocene. This forest browser was an ungulate with large, clawed feet (instead of hooves).
This makes them critically endangered. They are currently surviving in patches of forest across the island of Sumatran. The reason for their rapid decline is accelerated deforestation and rampant poaching. These problems have occurred before with the Sumatran Tigers’ close relatives the Balinese and Javan Tigers, which are now extinct. Many Tigers are killed in self-defence due to the increased frequency of attacks that have taken place over the last 10 years.
It is largely threatened by habitat destruction, since its habitat has been greatly compromised by the spread of agriculture and cattle-ranching. Also, hunting of these bird is believed to occur largely due to fear of livestock
A)Some protected species are illegaly killes for their valuable parts or are sold to live collectors. Brings about $600,000 per hour. Mountain Gorilla, White Rhino, Komodo Dragon. Q)Why are wild tigers likely to disapear within a few decades? A)Because there are only between 3400 to 5100 adult tigers roaming free.
Many areas of the taiga have been harvested for wood. Only eight percent of the taiga biome regions are protected from development in Russia and Canada. Removing large numbers of trees requires loud, large equipment that pollutes the area and endangers wildlife by removing homes and vegetation from animals. Another problem that has emerged in recent years have been insect plagues including the Spruce bark beetle and the Aspen leaf miner. Animals are also being endangered by hunting, pollution and logging and some less important