DEATH ROW; Man has made the Yangtze River Dolphin extinct .. many other species are on the edge.Byline: By ROS ROS, n.pr See reactive oxygen species. WYNNE-JONES THIS week the Yangtze River Yangtze River Chinese Chang Jiang or Ch'ang Chiang River, China. Rising in the Tanggula Mountains in west-central China, it flows southeast before turning northeast and then generally east across south-central and east-central China to the East China Dolphin was declared extinct - the first large animal to vanish from the planet in 50 years, killed by mankind's negligence. For millions of years, the dolphin has lived in the longest river in China. But today the vast container ships that plough up and down the Yangtze have destroyed their habitat, disrupting their sonar and dragging them on to the ships' propellers. Biologists estimate there are between five and 15 million species of plants, animals and micro-organisms on the planet, of which only about 1.5 million have been named. About 23 per cent of mammals and 12 per cent of birds are on the World Conservation Union's 'red list'. Here are the 10 most endangered species endangered species, any plant or animal species whose ability to survive and reproduce has been jeopardized by human activities. In 1999 the U.S. government, in accordance with the U.S. on Earth... For more information go to www.wwf.org.uk Vietnam Leaf-Nosed Bat The Vietnam Leaf-nosed Bat (Paracoelops megalotis) is a species of bat in the Hipposideridae family. It is monotypic within the genus Paracoelops. It is endemic to Vietnam. It is threatened by habitat loss. THE only specimen of this bat was discovered in a very small area of forest which is now being cleared - and the species has not been sighted in 60 years. Many other bats are also threatened, including the New Guinea Big-Eared and Peter's Tube-Eared. How many are left? May be extinct. Iberian Lynx THE world's most endangered cats, mainly due to falling numbers of rabbits - their favourite food. Lynx numbers have also been hit by forest loss, agricultural changes, road and dam development. But the biggest killer is the car, through road accidents. How many are left? About 100 in Spain and Portugal. Ethiopian Wolf THE most endangered member of the dog family lives in remote mountains of south-east Ethiopia. Mainly targeted by farmers who fear losing their livestock. Wolves compete for food, too, and their numbers were also hit by an outbreak of rabies rabies (rā`bēz, ră`–) or hydrophobia (hī'drəfō`bēə), acute viral infection of the central nervous system in dogs, foxes, raccoons, skunks, bats, and other animals, and in in the 1990s. How many are left? Less than 500. Mountain Gorilla HAVE endured war, disease, destruction of their habitat and being hunted - almost to extinction. Numbers slowly increasing thanks to emergency conservation measures but poaching poaching: see cooking. continues. How many are left? Slightly more than 700 survive in the wild, divided between Rwanda, Uganda and DRC DRC Democratic Republic of Congo DRC Down (Stage) Right Center DRC Director(ate) of Reserve Components DRC Disability Rights Commission (United Kingdom) . Golden Lion Tamarins golden lion tamarin or golden lion marmoset Species of tamarin (Leontideus rosalia), having a thick, lionlike mane, black face, and long, silky, golden fur. A striking-looking animal, it is found in South America, where it is listed as critically endangered. BEAUTIFUL squirrel-sized primate, which lives in trees and feeds on fruit, nectar and insects. Found only in the lowland coastal forest in Brazil. From a low of 200 in the early 1970s, the species has recovered to its highest point in 30 years. How many are left? Still fewer than 1,000. Madagascar Aye-Aye THE superstitious believe the Aye-Aye brings bad luck. The world's largest nocturnal primate, they are often killed on sight by villagers. The Aye-Aye has also been affected as the island's forests are cleared for sugar cane and coconut plantations. How many are left? Fewer than 1,000. Giant Otter FOUND in the rain forests of South America, the world's largest otter - almost 8ft long from nose to tip of the tail - was first brought to the brink of extinction by the fur trade. Today it remains threatened by poachers, human settlement and contamination of rivers. How many are left? Between 1,000-5,000. Leatherback leatherback, marine turtle, Dermochelys coriacea, found in tropical, subtropical, and temperate waters around the world. The largest of all turtles, it may reach a length of 7 1-2 ft (230 cm) and weigh 1200 lb (540 kg). Turtle IT has survived for more than 100 million years, but now faces extinction. Large numbers are killed every year by fishing fleets, yet as a major jellyfish jellyfish, common name for the free-swimming stage (see polyp and medusa), of certain invertebrate animals of the phylum Cnidaria (the coelenterates). The body of a jellyfish is shaped like a bell or umbrella, with a clear, jellylike material filling most of the predator, it provides a natural control of jellyfish populations, which eat commercially important fish larvae Larvae, in Roman religion Larvae: see lemures. . How many are left? As few as 2,300 adult females now remain. Bengal Tiger THREATENED by poaching and the destruction of their natural habitat. Over the past 100 years, tiger numbers have declined by 95 per cent and three sub-species have almost certainly become extinct - with a fourth not seen in the wild for 25 years. How many are left? Around 3,000-4,500 survive in the wild. Snow Leopard ENDANGERED cat which lives in Central Asia and Himalayas. Its fur is five inches thick and therefore coveted cov·et v. cov·et·ed, cov·et·ing, cov·ets v.tr. 1. To feel blameworthy desire for (that which is another's). See Synonyms at envy. 2. To wish for longingly. See Synonyms at desire. for clothing and decoration. Its bones are used in Chinese medicine and it's also targeted as it can prey on sheep and goats. How many are left? Between 4,000 and 7,000 in the wild. DOLPHIN DANGER: PAGE 21 CAPTION(S): Vietnam Leaf-Nosed Bat; Iberian Lynx; Ethiopian Wolf; Mountain Gorilla; Golden Lion Tamarins; Madagascar Aye-Aye; Giant Otter; Leatherback Turtle; Bengal Tiger; Snow Leopard |
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