In this essay we will discuss about the concentration of bio-diversity in the various countries across the World. After reading this essay you will learn about:- 1. Introduction to Bio-Diversity of the World 2. Himalayan Monal (Lophorus Impejanus) 3. California Condors 4. Sierra Bighorns in Peril 5. Endangered Mexican Grey Wolf 6. Rain Forests of Amazonia 7. Brazil’s Atlantic Forests and Other Details.
Introduction to Bio-Diversity of the World:
The bio-diversity of the world is found in different countries and islands of the world. It is mostly concentrated in the vastly expanded rain forests of the world. These forestlands are more enchanting, amazing and recreational. From floral to zoological diversity, the whole world is a living laboratory of plants and wild animals where the experiments on various animals, their survival, food chains and survival of the fittest, laws of biological evolution are occurring with a systematic process on the planet.
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There are numerous plants and animals with their amazing nature and ecological importance. The bio-diversity is found in various habitats of the world. The whole process is an ecological occurrence managed by nature itself.
There are several reasons of vanishing away the wildlife of the world. Among them main reasons are – global warming, pollution, human population, and deforestation for human settlement, agriculture, ranches and farm houses. The agricultural expansion and development work has led to maximum deforestation in the rain forests of the world. The bio-diversity of the world is badly suffered in various parts of the world. The bird fauna is the worst sufferer among them.
Himalayan Monal (Lophorus Impejanus):
It is an endangered bird of the Western Himalaya. The reason of its extinction is its hunting for its feathers, meat and Kalgi in Pakistan Himalayas. In the past sixty years, it was first spotted in 1980 in the pastures of Chanshal valley in Himachal Pradesh.
California Condors:
The California condors are now an endangered species. This is the largest bird of eagle species and is on the verge of extinction. There are only 33 California condors in the wild now – Some 18 condors in California and 15 in northern Arizona. Every year, there are some efforts to breed them in captivity and release them in the wild. This process has made the population of condors capable to survive in the wild.
Sierra Bighorns in Peril:
Famous Sierra Bighorn sheep (ovis canadensis) population is declining every year because of continuous hunting. Now the population is limited to 100 individuals. The subspecies occurs only on the crest and the eastern slope of Sierra Navada Mountain Range in California, USA.
One reason of decline in the population of the wild sheep (Bighorn) is considered as the hunting and the disease. The domestic sheep are not allowed in the habitats of the wild sheep in the Sierra Navada mountain ranges in California. Some of them are killed by mountain tigers. These are the wonderful goats in the world.
Endangered Mexican Grey Wolf:
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Mexican Grey wolf (canis lupus) was released in the Apache National Forest. Among the 11 wolves, 5 were shot by the hunters. In Eastern Arizona, two of them were shot by the hunters. Three were taken back into captivity.
Rain Forests of Amazonia:
These are the largest wilderness and rain forests in the world covering about 4 million square km forests in Amazon area. It is estimated that around 1.6 million forests of the rain forests in Amazonia have been destroyed by the timber companies, farming process and urbanization.
The Amazon is known for its amazing wildlife and bird fauna. The wild animals include elephants, bears, tigers, jaguars, stag deer, small deer, caiman, crocodiles, black crocodiles, Python and Boa tree snakes. Several other species of water snakes like Anaconda are found in the wilderness of Amazonia. One fifth of the world’s bird population is found in Amazon forests. There are most beautiful and amazing bird species in these forests.
Brazil’s Atlantic Forests:
Once the Atlantic forests were spread to one million kilometers square but now are reduced to 2%. The Atlantic forests are famous in the world for their peculiar ecological existence. Now, there are only one third of the Atlantic forests existing in the Southern Brazil.
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On 20th October 2005, Brazil’s Ministry of Environment announced the creation of two protected areas in the state of Santa Catarina. The 12,481 hectare Araucarias National Park and the 6,563 hectare Mata Preta Ecological Station are of great importance to protect the Atlantic forests.
The remnant forests of the Parana or Brazilian pine (Araucaria angustifolia). The Araucaria pine forests of Southern and South eastern Brazil, a distinctive formation of the Brazilian Atlantic forest, once covered more than 20 million hectare but devastated by the timber industry and for agricultural development has reduced to remnants covering a mere 20% of that area. The pine has been on the Brazilian threatened species.
Australia’s Temperate Rainforests:
The temperate rain forests of Australia have unique ecological existence in the world. These forests are located on the North Eastern Coastal strips of the continent. These are the most beautiful rain forests known for amazing wildlife.
Rich Biodiversity of Socotra Archipelago:
These islands belong to Democratic Republic of Yamen in the Arabian ocean. The islands are known for more than 300 plant species, more than 60 butterflies and moths and 21 reptiles endemic to this archipelago. There are 24 bird ecosystems. The species are threatened because of the construction of roads and uncontrolled development. If the road is constructed through the islands, 19 bird species would be affected by current constructive activities.
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The environmentalists and bird lovers have requested to Yamenese government to construct workable roads only and not the network of roads. They may pollute and drain these islands.
Fiordland: New Zealand:
New Zealand government has proposed to create two giant island sanctuaries for wildlife in Fiordland. One of them is Secretary Island (8,140 ha) of doubtful sound and Resolution island (20,860 ha) of dusky sound will be transformed into safe havens for threatened wildlife. However, before all this can happen, pest control measures will be undertaken to control or eradicate the mice, deer, rats and stoats that have been recorded from one or other of the islands.
It is hoped that the islands will become home to threatened species such as kakapo, mohua (yellow head) and rock wren. Resolution Island may also be big enough to allow translocation of the threatened blue duck on to an Island Sanctuary for the first time. The Fiordland are the last standing forests in New Zealand.
The Famous Grasslands of the World:
There are some famous grasslands in the world known for their ecological existence. Some of them are found in colder places and some of them in tropical grasslands.
1. The Eurasian Steppe:
The Eurasian steppes are in existence from the Ice Age. During the Ice Age the grass cover of steppes was quite different, distinct and small. The velvet or moss like grasses were in the existence at that time. These are the large areas of land with grass and a few trees grow especially in South East Europe. The steppes of Russian Siberian grasslands are quite popular in the world. Once the mammoth elephants existed here.
2. The African Savannah:
These are the plain, open, wide grasslands but with few trees. The trees are scattered and sometime are quite scarce.
3. Veld:
Veld is the flat open land in South Africa, with grass and trees. Velds are the natural large pastures in South Africa and are a haven for birds, mammals and reptiles.
4. Pampas:
These are the largest areas of lava that are covered with grass and have few trees. The pampas are the famous grasslands of South America.
5. The Australian Grasslands:
The Australian grasslands have its distinguished characteristics. Some of the grasslands are within the wilderness like Kakadoo. The Kakadoo National Park, Australia and other wilderness Parks have some beautiful grasslands. Both wild and domestic animals benefit from them.
6. Downs:
Downs is an area of open land with low hills, especially in Southern England, full of grass. The South Downs are popular grasslands in England. The Downs are also found in Australia.
The Australian continent is the largest island nation which is surrounded by Pacific Ocean. It has largest grasslands in Australia. Australian wilderness like Kakadoo and Tasmania are the best examples of rich bio-diversity.
7. South American Savana:
The South American Savannas are quite popular among the sheep and goat herders. These grasslands are a home for a large number of mammals, deer, wild birds and reptiles. The famous bird poto which resembles to the barks of a tree stem is found in the wild of South America (Brazil).
8. North American Prairies:
These are the famous grassland pastures of cold climate. These are the flat wide areas of land in Northern America and Canada. The land is covered with many trees and originally covered with wild grasses.
The wild mammals, reptiles and birds are found here in the bushes and trees. The grassland is an ideal hiding place and habitat for the large birds of these grasslands.
The Ecology and Bio-Diversity of Wetlands:
The wetlands all over the world have a distinct ecosystem and bio-diversity. There is some unique ecological system of the wetlands of the world. There is no similarity in the ecology and biodiversity of the world. The wetlands are located in different geographical areas and have their different ecosystems.
For example, the wetlands in the Himalayan region, the wetlands in the tropical zones and the wetlands in the Arctic region have different ecosystems and ecological variations. All the wetlands have different ecosystem and biodiversity.
The Wetland Bio-Diversity:
The wetland bio-diversity is known for its distinct flora and fauna (aquatic animals). The lakes usually are surrounded by moisture loving trees and aquatic plants. For example, aquatic plants, water animals, amphibians, (Frogs, snakes and crocodiles) are some of the animals of the wetlands. Besides these, fishes, bottom fauna and several other microorganisms are found in the wetlands.
The Wetlands are a lifeline to several mammals, amphibians, reptiles and birds as they take shelter in the wetland and get enough food and water for their survival. There are amazing wetlands in the world. The wetlands in Amazon, Andes, Atacama and Patagonia have different ecological systems and environment. Each wetland has its own animal and plant kingdom with its characteristic of adaptation.
The Pantanal:
Pantanal wetland is an amazing ecosystem of the world. It is among the largest wetlands of the world, covering an area of 210,000 kilometer square. The Pantanal is quite well known for its marsh deer which number 60,000. This population is around Uberaba Lake and in the Flood Plains of Negro River in the South East of the Pantanal. There is no evidence in the decline of the population of the marsh deer (Blastocerus dichotomus) in Pantanal wetlands since 1974.
i. Patanal is known for its animals (mammals), reptiles, birds and poisonous insects.
ii. Several amazing species of birds are found in the Pantanal forests and wetlands. The strange bird Poto is found here. It has a colour of the tree barks and takes rest on trees in day time and flies in the night.
iii. Several cranes and water birds are found in this amazing wetland.
iv. Crabs, molluscs and snails are found in this wetland.
v. Several plant species of dwarf trees, tall trees, bushes and wild grasses are found in this wetland. There are hundreds of species of aquatic plants and moisture loving plants. The people from far and wide come to visit this wetland just to enjoy its bio-diversity. Due to its different landscapes it has become a tourist’s paradise.
Kushiro Marsh:
Kushiro Marsh is a water submerged marshland where water birds, fishes, water bottom animals are found abundantly. Several water plant species known for their characteristics are found here. The wetland is a home to several aquatic plants and wild animals. The wetland grass, trees and bushes provide shelter to birds, cranes and insects. Marshland is a haven for several amphibians also.
Yancheng Marshes:
Yancheng marshes are famous for its wild vegetation, aquatic plants and wildlife. The marshes are known among the botanists of the world. This is among the largest wetlands of the world and is known for its different plant species.
Mekong Delta:
Lower Mekong Basin comprises parts of Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam and covers an area of 6,20,000 sq. kms. The upper and lower Mekong basins cover more than this area. In this way, the Mekong Delta is the largest wetland of the world. The lower Mekong Basin is a home for 60 million people. About 80% of the population is predominantly rural and rely heavily on natural resources for their livelihoods.
Distribution of the population varies greatly across and within the Riparian Countries; the Mekong Delta, the Vietnamese Central Highlands, and the Khorat Plateau in Thailand are far more densely populated than large parts of Cambodia and Laos. Physiographic features include uplands with peaks up to 2900 m. in northern and northeastern Thailand. There are several aquatic, marsh bottom plants in the Delta. The wildlife is varied and characteristic.
The Sundarbans:
Sundarbans are known for Sundari trees which are widespread in Ganga Brahmaputra Delta in West Bengal and Bangladesh. The two-third of this delta has moved towards Bangladesh. There is only one third of Sundarban Delta in West Bengal. The ecology of Sundarban wetlands is tropical and the wildlife is distinguished, different and diverse. The marsh deer, tigers, leopards, snakes, birds, green snakes, turtles and water birds are the main attractions of Sunderbans.
Longbeach Lagoon, South Africa:
It is a most important wetland of South Africa which is a haven for waders, water birds and water animals. The wetland is under threat from port expansions, pollution from sewage, urban development and town infrastructure development. According to bird life, South Africa, the lagoon which is a Ramsar site provides shelter to 24,500 waders in the summer, of which 93% are Palaeartic migrants.
One of the most serious threats to the lagoon is the expansion of iron ore terminal which is set to double the capacity of exports. This expansion has been criticized by conservationists because of its expected impact on it. The hydrology sediments have affected bird life and shore line of lagoon. Damage to the lagoon caused by the original part development in the early 1970s is still in evidence on the eastern shores of the lagoon.
Garamba National Park:
The number of Rhinos in Africa is declining day by day as the poachers are killing them for bones, skins and horns. The skin of Rhino is very costly and fetches up to 60,000 US dollars in international market. Most of the African people are poverty stricken and kill the wild animals for money. Garamba National Park is between the boundaries of Congo and Sudan. Now, there are fewer black Rhinos than they were 30 years ago.
Once in the Parks of Zimbabwe, there were 67,000 Rhinos but now there are only 3000 Rhinos alive in Chabore Safari Park, Manapools National Park and Saiji National Park. The UNESCO World Heritage and European Economic Commission have financed in thousands of dollars to save these Rhinos in the forests of Zimbabwe.
Latest estimates put Africa’s total Rhino population as 14,720 of which 3,630 are black Rhinos, which have seen an increase of 500 (15%) in the past two years. There are currently 11,080 white Rhinos although as few as 20 are northern white Rhinos, a race now reduced to a tiny population in Garamba National Park on the border of Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan. There are still reckoned to be 90% fewer black Rhinos than there were 30 years ago.
Wadden Sea:
The Wadden Sea is a small sea and there is a worldwide call to protect it from the oil pollution. The Worldwide fund for nature has called for the protection of Wadden Sea which is surrounded by Germany, Denmark and the Government of Netherlands.
World’s Second largest Wetland, Congo:
World’s second largest wetland reserve has been designated in the Democratic Republican of Congo. This is the second largest wetland in the world after the Queen Mauda Gulf Migratory Bird Sanctuary in Canada.
The 590,807 hectares makes up Congo’s Grand Affluent Ramsar Wetland. There inhabit 300,000 people as well as many species of birds and is an important source of water. The four major tributaries of the Congo flow through the newly designated area and three rely on a transport network for local communities.
The wetland reserves designated at the same time as the Grand Affluent Wetland include areas on major tributaries of the Congo and two coastal wetland reserves. This wetland has a great importance to the people living there as well as the wild animals found in the periphery of the wetland.
Ningaloo Coral Reef:
Ningaloo is among the most beautiful coral reefs of the world known for its rich marine bio-diversity. This fragile coral reef is 300 km long along the remote coastline of Western Australia. It is one of the longest fringing coral reefs in the world and hosts many threatened species of fish, turtles, dugongs, whales and whale sharks.
The Government of Western Australia recently took a decision to expand the areas and ban the fishing nets in Ningaloo Marine Reef Park. The area has been expanded from 10 to 34 percent. The new projects are on the pipeline to all two-third of the Parks recreational fishing and seeking one third for prosperities of the natural ecosystems.
This decision follows one by the Australian Government to increase the area protected in the Great Barrier Reef from 4.6 to 33.4% meaning that 11 million hectare of this world famous reef are now protected by a network of sanctuaries.
Ningaloo Coral Reef has become quite popular among the tourists and Marine Park explorers of the world. There are several varieties of fishes, crabs, mussels, sponges, clams and other bottom animals of human recreation.
Galapagos Archipelago:
The Galapagos Island is quite popular among the tourists and biologists all over the world. A spotted bird which lives on the trees only is found here. The Galapagos Islands are known for their rich bio-diversity. The Galapagos are known for Darwin Research Centre which was established by Charles Darwin during his exploration of these islands.
The Isabella Island was completely devastated in the forest fires of 1985. The 25,000 acre land of Isabella was burnt into ashes in the same year and most of the plants, trees and wild animals died with the flames of fire. The island is 80 kilometers long and 60 km wide. The 25% part of the Island is evergreen and remaining is dry and has burnt with the lava of volcanoes.
This Lava melts from the fire of volcanoes of this Island. The population of Island is 1000 and 150 live in Santo Thomas isolated colony. Galapagos is the breeding centre of rare turtles of the world. The Elephantos turtles have become rare. It is said that only one male elephant turtle is surviving in the Galapagos and a search for female turtle is in continuation.
Madagascar:
The island of Madagascar is known for its rich bio-diversity in the world. The famous forests and grasslands of Madagascar are being protected by UNESCO World Heritage Department. In 1995, Germany also donated 30.5 lakh dollars for the protection of fauna and flora of Madagascar. The wetlands and forests of Madagascar are well known in the world. Several water birds, mammals, reptiles and fishes are found in the wetland, which create a habitat for rich bio-diversity of plants and animals.
The Meller’s Duck (Anas Melleri):
This rare duck is found in the wetlands of eastern slopes of the central highlands of Madagascar. But the Mallard Anas platy rhynchos is common and the other ducks are different species of ducks.
The genetic analysis indicate that the duck is distinct from Mallard species and from its nearest geographical contender, the yellow-billed duck Anas condulata, and may have evolved from a non-climorphic, an ancestor of the African black duck, Anas sparsa. The declining numbers of the near threatened Melleri duck highlights the need for adequate protection of its wetland habitat.
World’s Largest Marine Reserve:
An area of ocean equal to the size of California has been formally designated as a Marine Protection Area by the Pacific Island Nation of Kiribati. At 410,500 square kilometers, the Phoenix Island Protected Areas is the largest such reserve in the world and protects one of earth’s last intact Coral Archipelago Ecosystems.
Within the reserve’s boundaries are eight coral atolls, unsurveyed submerged reef systems, sea mounts, deep sea habitats and tuna spawning grounds. The largely uninhabited Phoenix Islands are located in the central Pacific between Hawaii and Fiji and form an archipelago stretching for several hundred kilometers.
Papua New Guinea:
The rich bio-diversity is unique and amazing in the world. The larger red parrots, beautiful song birds, mammals, butterflies insects, plants and colourful fishes are exported to rich countries. The amazing flowering plants, bushes and various species of orchids are found here.
Vast areas of tropical forests have been wiped out for the plantation of oil palm and timber. Some foreign timber companies have made this island nation a hell by felling the important forest areas. A novel use of satellite images has revealed that a major portion of forests have been felled which threatened a large number of bird species living in these forests.
The researchers have compared high resolution images of the island between 1989 and 2000 to determine the extent of deforestation, and then over laid the maps of forest loss with habitat preference maps of the island’s birds.
It is estimated that 12% of the forest cover was lost between 1989 and 2000, with 20% in lowland forests. In many areas, the deforested land was replaced by oil palm plantations. The research calculations showed that 21 birds’ species have suffered significant declines following this deforestation. The forest land is rapidly being cleared for oil palm plantation. This further reduced the important rain forests in the island.
The Mangroves:
Mangroves bio-diversity is disappearing at an alarming rate. At present, more than 20% mangroves have been disappeared. 3.6 million hectares of mangroves were lost between 1985 and 2005, equivalent to world’s 20% of the total mangrove area.
This rate of loss is higher than that suffered by other forest types, yet the loss of mangrove forests can have direct effects on the ecosystems, livelihoods and tourism. The major drivers behind mangrove forest loss are population pressure, conversion of forests for shrimp and agriculture, pisiculture, infrastructure development and natural causes such as pollution and global warming.
The situation may not improve in the near future. There is deforestation at an alarming rate from 187,000 hectare annually in the 1980s to 120,000 hectare annually between 2000 and 2005.
Desert Bio-Diversity:
The desert bio-diversity is quite different from that of tropical forests. The desert areas are with scattered grass-bushes, desert plants and very small vegetation at some places. Open barren land and isolated huge tracts of land are there with sand mounds.
The Horn of Africa:
The Somalia is called the Horn of Africa. It is surrounded by Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean. Most of the part of Somalia is a desert covered with scanty grass and very low dwarf trees are seen for several kilometers. Very few part of land is fertile and there is rampant poverty in the country. Although it is surrounded by ocean from two sides even then it has not developed greenery or moistures environments in the desert.
Theft, dacoit and sea pirates are commonly seen on the coastal cities of Somalia. The crime rate is growing up and the development is not up to the expectation of the people of the country.
The Namib Desert:
The Namib Desert is in Namibia in Africa. It is in the north of Kalahari Desert which is most wild, dangerous to track and often fatal with violent animals. There are some nomadic communities’ livings in Kalahari desert.
The Deserts of Patagonia in Andes:
The desert of Patgonia is the fourth largest desert in the world. It is spread in 480000 km2. Some of its part is ice field, full of glaciers and a larger portion is dry open barren desert land. The vegetation is rough and with thorny bushes which is a characteristic of Patagonia deserts. The storm here which is known as fatal winds move at a speed of 200 kilometers per hour.
These winds are quite devastating and move away fast with the things which come into the way. There are several huge, rocks, bushes and wetlands also in Patagonia deserts. These deserts are known for vicuna, Guinea pigs, rabbits and other small animals. Puma – the desert tiger exists here.
The Turkistan Desert:
The deserts of Turkistan have some characteristics in their vegetation. The sparse vegetation with small bushes and dwarf trees, the Turkistan Deserts have distinct desert ecosystem in the world and are known for their natural beauty and arid open landscapes.
Some deserts in the world are quite harsh and hard to trek. The landscapes are touching and remain into our memory for a longer time. The Desert of Turkistan and Patagonia are somewhat beautiful but quite harsh to trek. The other deserts of the world are quite hostile. Every desert in the world has its own natural history and distinct ecological systems.
The Australian Desert:
The Australian Deserts have different Ecosystems and environment in the world. The vegetation, soil cover and micro vegetation have distinct impact with sparse growth of trees and bushes after a distance. There are some peculiar instances of ecological variations of deserts in Australia.
The Great Sandy Desert in the North of Western Australia and Great Victoria Desert in the South Australia are quite popular among the trekkers and explorers of the world. The Great Victoria Desert is spread up to a large part of Western Australia. This has a unique ecosystem in the world.
Just south of the Great Victoria Deserts lies the most fertile land:
The Nullarbar Plain, and after the Nullarbar plain there is a vast beach resort of the Great Australian Bight which is the main attraction of the world’s explorers and trekkers. This is the largest natural curved beach in the world and the people explore it through vehicles, planes or on foot.
Some of the natural places in Australia are of greater significance for the tourists and explorers. Coral reef ecosystem and the coral island ecosystem are some of the best locations to study the environment and the bio-diversity of reef islands.
Bio-Diversity of Antarctica:
Antarctica is a continent covered with vast sheets of snow with glaciers in it. It is the fifth largest continent, with an area of 14,245,000 square kilometers – twice the size of Europe or Australia. It is surrounded by the South Atlantic and Southern Oceans. The land has high mountains and huge plateaus covered by a vast ice sheet. Nine-tenths of all the ice and seven-tenths of all the freshwater on earth are held in Antarctica.
Antarctica is the coldest place on earth, with temperatures as low as -89 ° C and there are frequent blizzards and gales. There is no permanent human population in it but this harsh environment is home to millions of animals including seals, whales, penguins, terns; gulls and more than a hundred species of cold climate fishes.
Antarctica belongs to none, although many countries have claimed parts of it for themselves. These claims have been suspended and the continent is controlled by the Antarctic Treaty. The international agreement on Antarctica was signed in 1959, by 12 nations. Since then more than 20 nations have signed and a further 17 have agreed to abide by it.
The Treaty states that Antarctica should be used for peaceful purposes. It forbids the use of land for military activity, nuclear explorations or radioactive wastes. It calls for scientific research and cooperation in Antarctica.
The treaty is at the heart of Antarctica conservation policy and, within the Treaty, two conventions have been organised. One protects and conserves seals, and the other preserves living marine animals. Many conservationists say that once mining begins, Antarctica’s special environment will be destroyed forever.
The Antarctica Treaty came into effect in 1961 but it was agreed that after 30 years any of the 12 original signing nations could request a meeting to review it. This was to request in 1991 but it did not because of the opposition of the world environmental agencies. Antarctica’s future as a wilderness is not yet secure. We all the citizens of the world should do our best to protect it.
Green Peace (NGO’s) Campaign:
It is an international environmental group which wants to make Antarctica preserved forever.
Their own research base is as follows:
i. Give complete protection to all wild life and their habitats.
ii. Keep Antarctica as a region of scientific research and co-operation
iii. Keep Antarctica as a zone of peace – no military or nuclear weapons would be allowed there.
iv. Ban any extraction of minerals
v. Ban the disposal of poisonous, radioactive or other harmful waster there.
Green Peace is doing its best to protect the Antarctica and make it a zone of peace in the near future.
Borneo Sumatra:
The orangutans (man of forest) are the great apes who live in the forests of Sumatra. It is estimated that there are 2000 orangutans in the nature reserves. Another 2000 live outside the reserves. Those who live outside the reserve forests, their chances of survival are small as the forests are being reduced at a greater speed.
Bio-Diversity of Philippines:
Philippines is a country of islands. There are hundreds of islands in the Philippines Archipelago. These are known for most beautiful birds and mammals. There are 9 species of colourful kingfishers in Philippines.
The bio-diversity of the world can be calculated through various species of mammals from different category:
i. Carnivores,
ii. Hoofed Mammals,
iii. Primates,
iv. Sea mammals,
v. Marsupials,
vi. Rodents,
vii. Insectivores, and
viii. Bats.
In systematic orders the carnivores are – tigers, lions, civets, African Palm civet and Hyenas. Madagascar carnivores are wild dogs, bears, raccoons and weasels.
Bio-Diversity of Thailand:
Thailand is known for its beautiful rain forests and amazing wildlife. It is popular for hornbills, elephants, and turtles. Thailand is known for its beautiful beaches and international tourism activities. It is known for its beautiful birds. There are 12 species of hornbills found in the dense forests of Thailand.
There are total 52 species of hornbills in the world. Thailand has largest species of hornbills in the world. Some of them are being studied by Hornbill Research Foundation, Mahidol University, Thailand. The primates and reptiles are also very impressive animals here.
Rare Monkeys in Vietnam:
Tonkin snub-nosed monkey is the rarest animal in the world found only in the Khera ka forests of Vietnam. At present, the population of the monkeys is 200. Fauna and Flora International is conducting a project in Vietnam border forests to protect this monkey. Vietnam is also known for most beautiful birds in the world.
There are some amazing species of reptiles and primates. Another beautiful monkey Cao Vit Gibbon (Nomascus nasutus) is found between the border forests of China and Vietnam. The monkey is vanishing away because of habitat loss, regular hunting, and limited carrying capacity of remaining habitats. The local peoples groups, voluntary organizations are doing their best to protect the Cao Vit Gibbon monkeys (Nomascus nasutus). The forests are being protected with the help of NGOs and mass support.
Uganda-Rwanda and Congo:
The forests of Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire) are quite popular for the habitats of mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei). Since the civil unrest in the early 1997, the mountain gorillas have suffered a big setback as the encroachment of forests by the effected population. This has disturbed their population as some 60 gorillas were killed by the poachers in two decades.
The Mountain gorillas with a worldwide population of about 600 are found only in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Many of the births in DRC have occurred in families that have been disturbed in the past three years as a result of the conflict in the region.
The park authorities in partnership with the International Gorilla Conservation Programme (IGCP) are rehabilitating park region and re-equipping the park guards. The park staff is to monitor the status of the gorilla groups and to protect them against poaching and working with the communities surrounding the park.
Decline of Boa Snakes:
Boa tree snakes are quite popular is the world. They are found on Boa trees in Round Island near Mauritius. For some reasons, their population is on the decline. Boa tree snakes (Casarea dussumeri) have always been difficult to breed in captivity.
Collected in 1977 and 78, the snakes bred successfully in 1980s, but since 1990 the eggs have either been infertile or failed to hatch modifications made to Boa’s diet, accommodation and sound environment, ultra sound scans to check reproduce cycles and finally the supplementation of the diet with calcium and vitamin D3 have achieved the desired results. In August 1998, 12 clutches of eggs hatched successfully.
Bonobos Threat in Congo Basin:
A survey was conducted on bonobos, pigmy chimpanzees found in the congo basin. Once, this basin was a stronghold of bonobos. The survey was conducted in Salonga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo and covered an area of 12,000 square kilometer. No live bonobos were encountered and sightings of nests and dungs were made in only a quarter of the area surveyed.
It is now thought that bonobos population is 10,000, 80% fewer than was previously thought. The survey found abundant evidence of human encroachment into the park and of poaching. Salonga National Park was created in 1970 especially to protect bonobos. It can be assumed that the species is in crisis across the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Protection to New Zealand Plants:
New Zealand is internationally renowned as a plant-bio-diversity hot spot. 80% of the country’s vascular plants are endemic. The flora has been on decline and in recent conservation assessment four vascular taxa plants were listed as extinct. Other 199 native vascular plants were classified as acutely threatened, a further 102 taxa plants are in serious decline and so the taxa plants are at risk.
The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network is doing its best to protect these plants with other government departments. The network is getting popular with its conservation efforts to save the taxa plants.