Extinct, Endangered, Extinct, Endangered, and Conserved Species and Conserved Species

By AditiBy Aditi

Tasmanian Tiger Tasmanian Tiger (Thylacinus cynocephalus)(Thylacinus cynocephalus)

• Native to Australia, the thylacine Native to Australia, the thylacine was last seen on the mainland over was last seen on the mainland over 2,000 years ago 2,000 years ago

• Their heavy-handed hunting, Their heavy-handed hunting, prompted in part by farmers’ prompted in part by farmers’ protection of their livestock, brought protection of their livestock, brought the animal to minimalist numbers by the animal to minimalist numbers by the early 20th centurythe early 20th century

• Apex-predator Apex-predator

• Closest living relative is the Closest living relative is the tasmanian devil or numbat tasmanian devil or numbat

• Preferred the dry eucalyptus forests, Preferred the dry eucalyptus forests, wetlands, and grasslands in wetlands, and grasslands in Australia Australia

• Nocturnal and crepuscular hunter Nocturnal and crepuscular hunter

• Exclusively carnivorousExclusively carnivorous

• The thylacine’s disappearance followed heavy The thylacine’s disappearance followed heavy persecution by colonists in Tasmania, in persecution by colonists in Tasmania, in response to alleged sheep predation by this response to alleged sheep predation by this species.species.

VaquitaVaquita (Phocoena sinus)(Phocoena sinus)

•Vaquita, the world’s most rare marine Vaquita, the world’s most rare marine mammal, is on the edge of extinction.mammal, is on the edge of extinction.

•Caught and drowned in gillnets used by Caught and drowned in gillnets used by illegal fishing operations in marine illegal fishing operations in marine protected areas within Mexico's Gulf of protected areas within Mexico's Gulf of California.California.

•Most often found close to shore in the Most often found close to shore in the Gulf's shallow watersGulf's shallow waters

•No close relativesNo close relatives•They are top priority for conservation They are top priority for conservation campaigns.campaigns.

• Extinction of the vaquita could potentially cause Extinction of the vaquita could potentially cause negative effects on shark population sizes and negative effects on shark population sizes and lead to potential over-population of their prey lead to potential over-population of their prey species such as benthic fishes, squid, and species such as benthic fishes, squid, and crustaceans.crustaceans.

• Mexico is leading conservation efforts—Mexico is leading conservation efforts—>International Committee for the Recovery of the >International Committee for the Recovery of the Vaquita (CIRVA), which has attempted to help Vaquita (CIRVA), which has attempted to help prevent the accidental deaths of vaquita by prevent the accidental deaths of vaquita by outlawing the use of fishing nets within the outlawing the use of fishing nets within the vaquita’s habitat.vaquita’s habitat.

Przewalski Horse Przewalski Horse (Equus ferus przewalskii)(Equus ferus przewalskii)

• The World Conservation The World Conservation Union’s Red List of Union’s Red List of Threatened Species listed the Threatened Species listed the Przewalski’s horse as extinct Przewalski’s horse as extinct until 2008 when they were until 2008 when they were re-introduced re-introduced

• Causes of extinction: hunting, Causes of extinction: hunting, harsh climate, loss of habitat harsh climate, loss of habitat and loss of water source to and loss of water source to farm animalsfarm animals

• Habitat: Steppe vegetation, Habitat: Steppe vegetation, shrublands and plainsshrublands and plains

• Diet: grasses and other Diet: grasses and other vegetation vegetation

• 400 horses now roam in re-400 horses now roam in re-introduction sites in Mongolia introduction sites in Mongolia and China and China

Works CitedWorks Cited

• "EDGE of Existence." "EDGE of Existence." EDGE of ExistenceEDGE of Existence. N.p., n.d. Web. . N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Aug. 2014.21 Aug. 2014.

• "Przewalski's Horse." "Przewalski's Horse." FactsFacts. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Aug. 2014.. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Aug. 2014.

• WorldWildlife.orgWorldWildlife.org. World Wildlife Fund, n.d. Web. 21 Aug. . World Wildlife Fund, n.d. Web. 21 Aug. 2014.2014.