Hobbies And Interests
Asian Elephant
The Asian elephant is a significant species in the tropical areas of Asia. The Asian elephant is threatened with extinction as its habitat continues to diminish. Wild Asian elephant populations have dwindled in numbers and have become isolated from each other as their ancient migratory routes are no longer accessible due to human encroachment. Ivory poaching remains a serious problem as does the hunting of this species for its meat and hides. Although Asian elephants inhabitat scrub forests, they prefer grasslands with low-growing woody vegetation.
Black Rhinoceros
The black rhinoceros experienced the most extreme decline in its population during the 20th century. From between 1970 and 1992, population numbers of this species declined by an astonishing 96 percent, according to the International Rhino Foundation. In 1993, only 2,300 black rhinoceroses remained in the wild. The population of this species has slowly recovered since 1990 due to intensive antipoaching efforts. The threat to black rhinoceroses from organized poaching gangs still remains high as of 2011.
Rothschild Giraffe
Fewer than 670 Rothschild giraffes remain in the wild, and the species has been officially listed as under threat of extinction by the IUCN. The Rothschild is the second most endangered of the nine subspecies of giraffes. It historically has ranged across western Kenya, the southern Sudan and Uganda, but it has effectively been eliminated from its original range. The remaining individuals survive as isolated populations in Uganda and Kenya.
Black-Footed Ferret
The black-footed ferret population experienced an immediate decline once ranchers and farmers began to eliminate the prairie dog. Black-footed ferrets use the underground burrows that prairie dogs dig. Eighteen black-footed ferrets were captured in 1987 and became a captive breeding nucleus for this species. Black-footed ferrets have been reintroduced into the wild since that time, but the success of these programs have been mixed. Captive bred black-footed ferrets do not possess a full range of survival skills. These animals still require prairie dog burrows to survive and often fall prey to coyotes, golden eagles and owls.