Elizabeth's Endangered Earth Blog

Welcome to the Savanna Grasslands. Here you will find the Hirola. At first glance you may think it is a deer with funny looking antlers, but in fact it is a species of its own. They reside along the border of Kenya and Somalia and are a rare type of antelope. There is predicted to be only about 402-466 of these creatures left and are classified as critically endangered. In the local culture they are a significant symbol of good cattle and are a good sign. If they were to disappear, the locals believe their cattle will disappear as well. Not only are they important to the local villagers, but they are selective grazers and are an integral part of the grassland ecosystem. They are declining due to drought, poaching, invasive diseases, agriculture and habitat loss. These animals are the last of its kind. They are the sole member of their genus, Beatragus, and are considered to be a living fossil. We cannot lose these rare and beautiful creatures.  Currently a small...

Duunnn Dunnn…  Duuuunnnn Duun…  Duuunnnnnnnn Dun Dun Dun Dun Dun Dun Dun Dun Dun Dun Dunnnnnnnnnnn Dunnnn We all know the ominous music and the haunting images of the Great White Shark, but what do we really know about these animals? Well for one thing we know that they are classified as vulnerable and need to be protected. Although many movies have been made about these creatures and many people have developed a fear for them, not much is known about their biology or their behavior. They grow to be about 16-20 and can weigh anywhere between 4 and 7 tons. There is estimate to be less than 3,500 of these gigantic creatures left and are found in cool coastal waters.  We do know that these amazing creatures are an integral part of the ocean ecosystem. As major predators they are an integral part of the food chain. They are rapidly disappearing because of over fishing and fall prey to by-catch. Many people try to fish these animals for sport and they are sort of like...

Have you hear of Lonesome George? He was the last survivor of a subspecies of giant tortoises on Pinta Island. Sadly, researchers and conservationists never found him a mate and he passed away in 2012. Leaving no more Pinta Island large tortoises. This sad tale may soon be the case for many other subspecies of this majestic animal. With these creatures weighing up to 700 pounds and spanning 4 feet long you would think we would see more of them, but that is not the case. Their population is unknown but they are classified as a vulnerable species. Also known as the Galapagos Tortoise there home lies within the Galapagos Islands. These animals are huge sleepers and nap for up to 16 hours a day. The rest of the time they are basking in the sun or eating leave, grass and cacti. They live the dream tropical lifestyle. So why are they in danger? Their main threats to survival are the introduction of nonnative species like feral pigs, dogs and cows. They threaten these tortoises f...