Endangered Animal Anagrams - Part Two Quiz

Answer: golden lion tamarin

The golden lion tamarin, a small primate around one foot long and weighing just over half a kilo, is on the critically endangered list. Most of the remaining wild population lives in a protected forest area in Brazil, known as the Poco das Antas biological Reserve.
As so often the case , habitat loss is is the tamarin's biggest problem. Logging and agriculture have also been responsible for isolating small groups causing inbreeding.

Answer: red wolf

The red wolf once roamed from Florida as far as Pennsylvania, and as far west as Texas, but was hunted to near extinction. In the 1980's the U.S Fish and Wildlife service captured 20 red wolves to be bred in captivity. Because of the effects of various conservation groups it's thought that around one hundred red wolves now live in the wild in North Carolina. However, the wolf remains on the critically endangered list.
The red wolf is smaller than the grey wolf, about 26 inches high and weighing around 30 to 50 kilos. Lifespan in the wild is around 7 years and 15 years in captivity.
Their diet is mostly small mammals, berries and the odd deer.

Answer: giant armadillo

Found to the east of the Andes, the giant armadillo is now classed as an endangered animal, due to habitat loss and over hunting. They are apparently very tasty to eat. Also the tropical forest they once roamed are disappearing. Their population has dropped by over 50% since the 1980's
The largest of the armadillos, they have been known to reach a weight of of over 50 kilos but most fall into the range of 25 kilos when fully grown.
Wonderful looking mammals. The back and necks are covered in 14 to 17 flexible bands of horn and bone. Armadillo is Spanish for "little armoured one".
The female only gives birth to a single once a year so if their numbers carry on declining they could find themselves on the critically endangered list.

Answer: wild bactrian camel

The wild Bactrian camel is the only two-humped camel living in the wild and an ancestor of the domesticated camel.
In 2002 the camel was placed on the critically endangered list by the IUCN, as it is believed that only only around 950 left in their natural habitat.
They live in the harsh Gobi desert of Northwest China and Mongolia.
The WCPF ( Wild Camel Protection Foundation) has established a breeding program in Mongolia which also gives a unique chance to study this amazing animal.

Until recently their habit in Northwest China was used for atmospheric nuclear tests by China. They survived with no ill effects or birth deformities.
Scientists believe that the immune system of the Bactrian camel may hold secrets that will benefit mankind.

Answer: chinchilla

There are two species of chinchilla left. The third species commonly known as the giant chinchilla has gone forever.

Both the short-tailed chinchilla and the long-tailed chinchilla are classified as critically endangered.
However, the short tailed chinchilla is facing extinction.
Their beautiful fur has been their downfall and the trade in chinchilla fur goes back to the 1500's.
As chinchillas are small, weighing around 800g, it could take over a hundred to make a coat and they are still bred for the fur trade.

In the wild they live in social colonies in the southern and western mountains (Andes) of South America.
The female is larger than the male and although they can breed at any time of the year, the pregnancy lasts for over 100 days and the litters are small in number.

Answer: Florida cougar

It is estimated that there are only around fifty to eighty Florida cougars left alive in the wild and they are on the critically endangered list
They are also known as Florida panthers, pumas or catamount.
As the name suggests they live in swamps and forests of Florida in the U.S, predominatly in the Everglades National Park and the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge.

Answer: whooping crane

The whooping crane is the tallest of North American birds standing at around 1.5 metres and weighing in at about 7 kilos and a wing span up to 2.5 metres.
Again loss of habit has caused a decline of these wonderful birds who migrate from Canada to Texas (U.S) every year.
It is classified as an endangered species due to an estimated population of less than 250 mature cranes.

Answer: bala shark

The bala shark, also known as the silver shark, amongst other names, is not a shark at all but a member of the 'Cyprinidea' family and a popular aquarium fish. Unfortunately it often outgrows its aquarium reaching a size of 35 centimetres or 15 inches.
The fish's natural habit is the Chao Phraya river and Mekong deltas and is currently listed as endangered as its population in its natural habitat has dropped by nearly 40% in the past decade.

Answer: wombat

There are three species of wombat known as the common wombat,which lives in Tasmania as well as Australia.
The southern hairy-nosed is the smallest weighing around 25 kilos and living around the New South Wales and the Nullarbor plain. It's listed as vulnerable as the lack of rainfall, in recent years, has interfered with their breeding.
The northern-nosed wombat is on the critically endangered list.
They are only found in one national park in Queensland and the number needed to remove to start a new colony, 20 or so, would not leave enough wombats to carry on breeding.

Answer: Hawaiian crow

The Hawaiian crow, also known as the 'alala', only found on the Hawaiian islands, was thought to be extinct in the wild in 2003. It looks like they were right from what I can find out andit now only survives in captivity (around 60 birds).
Tragic!