Hobbies And Interests
African Forest Elephant
The African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis) is noticeably different from other species of savanna elephants. This elephant is short and stocky, growing up to eight feet in height. Its smaller body makes it easier to navigate through the dense rainforests. This elephant is dark skinned, with rounded ears and a long lower jaw that makes its face look long and narrow. The straight, thin and hard pinkish-tinged tusk of the African forest elephant is in high demand by poachers and is a main cause for the threatened extinction of this species. Additionally, illegal logging and the loss of natural habitat poses another setback to the survival of the African forest elephant.
Bengal Tiger
The Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) is among the six surviving species of tigers that inhabit Asia. While India is home to the largest surviving population of Bengal tigers, they are also found in dry and wet deciduous forests, grasslands and mangrove forests across Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Nepal and Myanmar, according to the World Wildlife website. The Bengal tiger has a magnificent orange body with black stripes that slope across its side. Its white cheeks, mouth, eyebrows and stomach are a striking contrast with the black stripes. A solitary animal that weighs an average of 310 pounds (females) or 420 pounds (males), the Bengal tiger is a carnivore that lives on animals like wild boar, ox, water buffalo and deer. It is listed as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The Bengal tiger is commonly hunted by poachers for its coat as well as for its bones and teeth, which are used for medicine. Urbanization has resulted in deforestation and infringement of forest areas by humans, which is causing an increasing loss of tiger habitat. Urbanization has also introduced revenge killing of tigers by local farmers, who hunt and kill the tiger to prevent it from preying on their cattle.
Golden Lion Tamarin
Found in the Amazonian rainforests of Brazil, the golden lion tamarin (Leontopithecus rosalia) is a small monkey, around 14 inches in height and weighing a little over a pound. This animal has magnificent, golden-red mane circling its head that resembles a lion's mane, and a flat face with large, hazel-colored eyes and wide-spaced nostrils. Extremely dexterous and equipped with strong legs and long digits, the golden lion tamarin can jump 15 feet across trees. Living in groups, golden lion tamarins survive on fruit, nectar and insects like crickets, a favorite food. This monkey has reached endangered status for a variety of reasons: its mane is prized as a trade item by poachers, and it is also hunted down for the illegal pet trade. Predators such as owls, snakes, bamboo rats and wild dogs prey upon the golden lion tamarin for food.