Endangered animals at Zoo Country

Endangered Animals

The Black Rhino. Since 1970, the Black Rhino population, native to southern and east Africa, has declined by 90% to less than 3,000. They are killed primarily for their horns. Trade of Rhinos has been banned for more than 20 years but there still continues to be a great demand for Rhino parts.

The Giant Panda. Within a few short years, Giant Pandas could be facing extinction. Fewer than 1,000 remain in their native habitat of China. The main reason for their decline is due to loss of natural habitat and poaching.

The Tiger. These magnificent cats are native to tropical zones in Southeast Asia and temperate regions like the Russian Far East. Less than 6,000 tigers remain in the wild. The most urgent threat to the species is poaching for body parts and bones used in traditional Asian medicines.

The Alligator Snapping Turtle. Prized by turtle trappers and dealers for its rare meat, Alligator Snapping Turtles, the largest of freshwater turtles from North America, is quickly being depleted due to increased shipments to many other countries.

The Sturgeon. These ancient living fish fossils are found in the Caspian Sea. Valued throughout the world by connoisseurs for their superior quality caviar, poaching is out of control due to excessive demand and high prices paid for the Sturgeons' "pearl-like" caviar.

The Hawksbill Turtle. Found mainly around tropical reefs, the three foot (one metre) length Hawksbill Turtle species, named for its distinctive snout, is becoming extremely vulnerable due to their slow reproduction rates and high volume of illegal trade for the prized jewel-like "tortoise shell."

The Green-Cheeked Parrot. Native to Mexico, this colorful parrot species, with the ability to mimic the human voice, has been significantly reduced in numbers due to a huge demand for these lovely pet birds, especially from the United States. Even after prohibiting the sale of these green-cheeked birds, droves of the species are still being illegally traded across the Mexico/US border.

The Mako Shark. The Mako Shark is highly sought for its tender meat, and especially in Asian markets, for their shark fins which have even greater value for medicinal purposes. Some are merely stripped of their prized fins by the international fishing fleets and then thrown back into the sea, left to die.

The Siberian Tiger. Cold, snowy Siberia, in the USSR, is home to the largest of all the tigers, the Siberian tiger. It is highly endangered and there may be fewer than 200 in the wild, probably all in special nature reserves. Hunting and loss of habitat have reduced their numbers.

The Lion-tailed Macaque . This small monkey lives in India's tropical rainforests. Many of these forests have been replaced with tea and coffee plantations. Unlike some other animals, the lion-tailed macaque has not been able to adapt to these new habitats. Poachers have also captured baby macaques, often killing their parents in the process, for illegal export to collectors.