Rhinoceroses

According to a report by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, Clownfish – the real-life Nemos of the sea – are endangered. Sea waters are becoming more acidic because of high carbon dioxide levels, which prevent coral organisms from making shells. The coral reef habitats of Clownfish are also severely threatened by warmer waters, which bleach coral – eventually killing it. Mass coral bleaching is a relatively new phenomenon, first noticed in the 1980’s. However, it’s now the main cause of reef deterioration. That one-third of all coral species are threatened is an “offishial” IUCN fact.

According to the same 2009 report by the IUCN, koalas are endangered too. Koalas depend on eucalyptus leaves for food. However, the increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the environment are reducing the protein levels in eucalyptus leaves and increasing the tannin levels. Because carbon dioxide levels are expected to continue to rise, koalas could suffer from malnutrition. Then there’s global warming, which is expected to cause more wildfires and more severe droughts in Australia, which are also threats to koalas. That koala bears don’t have a strong ability to adapt is unfortunately a “bear” fact.

However, there’s hope. Northern white rhinoceroses have been hunted to the point of extinction by poachers in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. None have been seen in the wild since 2005 and only 8 are known to remain in the world. Unlike other rhinos, this subspecies doesn’t breed well in captivity. To prevent their extinction 4 northern white rhinoceroses – 2 males and 2 females – were shipped in December 2009 from a Czechoslovakian zoo to a Kenyan reserve. It’s hoped the climate and terrain will encourage breeding. Otherwise, one of the rarest animals in the world will be rarefied into extinction.  

Hope continues. In January 2010 experts estimated there were only 350 whooping cranes left worldwide. In fact, in 2001 there were none in eastern North America. That’s when the nonprofit “Operation Migration” started using ultralight aircraft to guide young cranes from Wisconsin to two wildlife refuges in Florida every year. Now there are more than 100 whooping cranes in Florida. Whooping cranes have to be shown the way south once and then they know how to fly north in the spring. Starting new generations of whooping cranes in Florida can prevent their extinction – giving Operation Migration reason for whooping it up.

Originally published here.

Knight Pierce Hirst has written for television, newspapers and greeting cards. Now she writes a 400-word blog three times a week. KNIGHT WATCH, a second look at what makes life interesting, takes only seconds to read at http://knightwatch.typepad.com

i just recorded rhinos