High on a mountaintop in northern South Carolina, a buzzing fly meets a sweet smell. Flying towards the scent, the fly soon finds that the source is on the edge of a strange-looking plant. The fly stops and finds itself in a cesspool of delicious nectar. While following the trail of this nectar, the fly slips on a waxy surface and falls down into the plant. The fly tries to fly out but super-slick surfaces directly underneath downward-pointing hairs prevent any movement.

For several minutes the fly struggles in the water before exhaustion sets in and it drowns. This tale seems like something out of a poorly-written monster movie but, in reality, it’s a common occurrence due to the incredible adaptations of one of the most interesting and threatened plants on Earth: the Mountain Sweet Pitcher Plant.

The Mountain-Sweet Pitcher Plant, Sarracenia rubra ssp. jonesii, lives mainly in habitats that are known as cataract bogs. These consist of exposed slabs of granite with cool mountain water trickling over parts of their surfaces, inundating accumulated detritus and moss with water. It is here that carnivorous plants such as pitcher plants grow.

The reason for this lies in the fact that these plants actually digest insects and utilize their nutrients to combat the harsh conditions they grow in. This incredible evolutionary adaptation can be seen with many plants all over the world, but the Sarracenia genus of pitcher plant only lives in the eastern United States. The subspecies referred to here is restricted to a tiny area along the border of North Carolina and South Carolina. Not surprisingly, this tiny range is continuing to shrink due almost exclusively to human action.

As with most interesting species of plant and animal, the Mountain Sweet Pitcher Plant is threatened by man’s greed. Mountaintop habitats in North and South Carolina are among the first to be developed when new roads are built into remote areas since so many people feel the need to have a perfect view from their back window. Unfortunately, these people are unknowingly destroying unique ecosystems that took thousands of years to form.

In the few protected sites where this pitcher plant still grows, carnivorous plant poachers are digging up plants to sell to unscrupulous collectors for huge amounts of money. Because of this, most sites where the plants grow today are kept very secret for fear that poachers will find them. While this is good as far as protecting plants go, it prevents people who enjoy these stunningly beautiful, captivating plants from seeing them in their natural environment.

Poaching and habitat destruction must be stopped if this plant is to survive into the future and the only way this will be done is if people like you and I continue to spread the word about it. Please do so and please support organizations like the South Carolina Natural Heritage Division and Nature Conservancy who strive to protect this, and many other, threatened species.

All photos taken by Peter Kleinhenz

This series routinely discusses species of animals and plants that are poorly known in the international community. Perhaps no species mentioned so far fits as well into the category of “endangered unknown” as the Chinese Desert Cat, Felis bieti. There are various reasons for its anonymity, including its secretive nature, lack of presence in captivity, and the areas it inhabits.

The species is very discernible from other small cat species, however, due to its large size (twice the size of a domestic cat) and physical appearance. This cat’s yellow-gray fur allows it to blend in perfectly with its surroundings while its broad skull and enlarged ears serve to enhance its prey detection. Finally, the cat has a y-shaped mark on its face and a black-tipped tail that distinguishes it from other cats that share its habitat, such as the Asian Wildcat and Eurasian Lynx.

Native to China and Mongolia, the Chinese Desert Cat lives in mountainous habitats ranging from semidesert and steppe to bamboo forest and alpine meadows. Here it is believed to live in the burrows of other animals during the day which also function as birthing dens for females. Females give birth to usually two or three young in May and probably catch pikas and small birds to feed their young once they’re weaned. The only other aspect of its ecology that is somewhat well-known involves this cat’s tenacious nature.

During a Chinese animal collecting expedition in 1923, a scientist named Dr. Weigold followed what he believed to be a Chinese Desert Cat with his foxhound in the hopes of capturing this elusive animal. After a long chase, the dog caught up with the cat and a fight ensued. When the dog came out of the thicket where it had been fighting the cat, it had two large bite marks on its face and the whereabouts of the cat were unknown.

The following day, Dr. Weigold went back to where the cat had last been seen and he found it sitting peacefully in the spot where the fight occurred without any serious injuries whatsoever. That story should be reason enough to save this fantastic creature that is sadly threatened with extinction.

http://www.study-in-china.org/LivingInChina/EasyLife/2011928253399039.htm

Almost everything known about this cat comes either from fur trapper reports, or from the furs that are subsequently sold in Chinese markets. Nobody knows exactly how many Chinese Desert Cats remain, but most agree that it is a rare species. Few scientists have ever seen this species in the wild, much less studied it, and field research is absolutely necessary to determine how many of these animals remain. Given the fact that most of the information about them comes from dead specimens; it is likely that their numbers are declining in at least some of the areas in which they live.

Pikas, their main source of prey, are getting poisoned in many areas of China and this, in turn, has the potential to kill the cats that rely on them for food. Habitat loss, which is such a pervasive threat in China, is also likely threatening this species, especially in more forested areas. Finally, since few cats exist in captivity, they could be in real danger if their numbers ever fell low enough to warrant a recovery plan. It would be a real pity to lose an animal we know so little about at this stage in the game and safeguarding its population in the future should be a main priority for Chinese conservationists.

Source:

Sunquist, Melvin E., and Fiona Sunquist. Wild Cats of the World. Chicago: University of Chicago, 2002. Print.

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When most people think of the British Virgin Islands, they probably think about white sand beaches, clear blue seas, and complete relaxation. With sprawling resorts, luxurious vacation homes, and yachts cruising around the shore, it’s hard to imagine anyone worrying about anything on the islands. However, for those who cherish the natural history of these islands there is plenty to be worried about.

The second-largest island in the British Virgin Island Archipelago, Anegada, is home to a fantastically-cool lizard species: the Anegada Island Iguana (Cyclura pinguis). This large lizard inhabits dry, rocky areas of Anegada Island where it lives out its days feeding on fruits and leaves. Both sexes have large home ranges, characterized by limestone crevices and burrow structures that allow these lizards to find shelter during the hottest parts of the day.

Males, distinguishable by the turquoise on various parts of their bodies, compete readily for females, which are much duller in colour. Each spring, females lay about fifteen eggs and, ideally, these will produce juveniles that will branch out from the nesting site, establish their own home ranges, and live out their lives on beautiful Anegada Island. Sadly, the situation for these lizards is far from ideal.

http://shutterbud.smugmug.com/Zoos/SAN-DIEGO-ZOO/Reptiles-Amphibians/3759492_R2JQbz/1/990819108_aR9fe#990819108_aR9fe

Since the 1970’s, when domesticated animals were first introduced to Anegada Island, the iguanas living there have rapidly declined in number. Sparsely vegetated to begin with, the island is currently devoid of many plants these iguanas used to rely on for food. Goats, sheep, cattle, and burros leave very little for the Anegada Island Iguanas to eat, resulting in decreased nesting success and lower survivorship overall.

Additionally, introduced dogs and cats feed on these lizards which, had the island not been full of rocky crevices the iguanas could hide in, would certainly have driven this wonderful animal to extinction already. Still, the Anegada Island Iguana is far from secure and it is estimated that only two or three hundred individuals remain in the wild.

As with almost every conservation project that involves endemic island fauna, current efforts to save the Anegada Island Iguana are focused mainly on ridding the ecosystem of non-native species. The eradication of cats and dogs, the construction of livestock exclosure fences, and the re-vegetation of degraded habitats are high on the priority list for conservationists working with this species.

Forward-thinking individuals established a satellite population on nearby Guana Island in 1987, where the iguana has been doing very well due to the absence of grazers. Furthermore, a population was more recently established on Necker Island. A few zoos have been successfully breeding and head-starting this species, helping offset the large number of juveniles lost to introduced predators each year.

Protecting this lizard is crucial given its role as a dominant herbivore and, by helping spread awareness; you will fulfill your role as an admirable global citizen. Clear solutions exist to save this critically-endangered species from extinction and, if strong efforts to save it continue to be implemented, the Anegada Island Iguana will never be lost.

http://www.islandsun.com/2006-december/12282006/local3-v16i9.html

Work Cited:
Mitchell, Numi. West Indian Iguanas. Publication. Ed. Allison Alberts. Oxford: IUCN, 2000. Print.

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The tallest peaks of North Carolina and Tennessee seem like a very unlikely place to find a tarantula but, remarkably, one can be found there. The Spruce-Fir Moss Spider, Microhexura montivaga, is one of the smallest tarantulas on Earth and is only about the size of a BB gun pellet.

The spider’s common name provides a specific habitat description of the species, since it lives under moss that grows on north-facing rocks that are scattered throughout high-elevation Fraser Fir/Red Spruce forest. Here, it constructs a tube-shaped web that it uses to catch its prey, which scientists assume to be mainly springtails.

One would think that the highest forests in remote parts of North Carolina and Tennessee would safeguard this tarantula from most threats, but that is unfortunately not the case.

The Spruce-Fir Moss Spider is restricted to just a few moss mats on just a few rock outcrops on just a few mountains within its range. In the past 100 years, logging throughout the Southern Appalachian Mountains has been extremely extensive and reduced the already-rare Fraser Fir/Red Spruce forest even more.

Today, the remnants are threatened not by man, but by an insect. The Balsam Wooly Adelgid is an invasive species that infests Fraser Firs and eventually kills them. The death of these trees expose moss mats the Spruce-Fir Moss Spider lives in, and desiccation of these mats can occur shortly after.

Combatting the Adelgid is not an easy task, so the best bet for the future survival of this truly amazing spider is habitat protection. Most of the areas it can be found are currently protected, but many are close to trails which leaves them vulnerable to human disturbance. By being simply being aware that the spider exists, people will be more inclined to appreciate these beautiful areas from the trail.

Many people don’t like spiders, but even tiny tarantulas fulfill important roles in the ecosystem and need to be saved from extinction.

Work Cited:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Spruce-Fir Moss Spider. Asheville, NC: Asheville Field Office, 2000. Print.

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In 2006, one of the most remarkable creatures on the planet ceased to exist for the rest of eternity. The Yangtze River Dolphin holds the distinction of being the first cetacean (think whales and dolphins) species to be driven to extinction in recent years. Sadly, that distinction may soon be held by another species, the Vaquita.

The Vaquita, Phocoena sinus, is a porpoise native only to a small area in the northern part of the Gulf of California. This species typically lives close to shore in water that is less than 120 feet deep where it hunts fish, squid, and crabs. The Vaquita is the smallest cetacean in the world, reaching a maximum size of about five feet long.

Vaquitas don’t have beaks like many porpoises and dolphins and can be distinguished by the black rings around their eyes and black-lipped mouth. Little is known about the daily lives of this species given their secretive nature, but researchers believe that they travel in small groups and that females breed once every other year. Little else is known about the species which is disturbing considering how close they are to being gone forever.

http://vaquita.tv/about-vaquita/what-can-you-do/

The Vaquita should be considered the most threatened marine mammal on the planet. In 1997, there were an estimated 567 Vaquitas left and now, only 14 years later, there are only 150 of these amazing creatures remaining on the planet. As with most threatened species, habitat degradation has affected this species greatly. The Colorado River, which dumps its contents directly into the Vaquita’s habitat, is in poor shape since much of it is siphoned off for irrigation and drinking water in the American Southwest.

Furthermore, much of the water that does make it to the end is full of phosphorous and other runoff chemicals that affect the hydrology of the Gulf of California. The main threat to this animal, however, is entanglement in gill nets used for fishing. Over 30 are estimated to be killed each year from entrapment in nets, which clearly can’t go on much longer if the Vaquita is to avoid extinction. Fortunately, there are dedicated people in this world who are making its prolonged survival a priority.

The first thing that needed done with the Vaquita was for its habitat to be protected and gill nets removed from its habitat. Both of these were partially accomplished by the creation of a biosphere reserve that includes a good percentage of their known range. In addition to the creation of this reserve, the Mexican government and researchers working with the species have done their best to phase out gill net usage in this area while still finding ways for poor Mexican families to support themselves.

The main challenges in the future will involve adequately surveying the existing population given the secretive nature of the animal, and finding ways to minimize trapping disturbances in the future. By educating your friends about the plight of the Vaquita, financially supporting organisations working with the species, and supporting the ecotourism industry that many fishermen in the area have shifted to, you can help save one of the most precious creatures eking out an existence on our planet.

http://vaquita.tv/for-media/photography/?album=1&gallery=1

Works Cited:

http://vaquita.tv/

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In isolated rock outcrops, scattered across a wide area of the eastern and southeastern United States, lives one of the most beautiful amphibians in the world. Dark-coloured with splotches of green speckled all over it, the Green Salamander (Aneides aeneus) blends in perfectly with its lichen-covered, rocky habitat.

This species has a very narrow, elongated body and a flattened head that helps it fit into deep crevices in rock faces, where it spends much of its time. Long toes help the Green Salamander cling to vertical, and often-wet, surfaces which it must climb on when it hunts for food. Green Salamanders are nocturnal, hunting for cave crickets, springtails, and beetles out on the rock faces they call home.

Green Salamanders are excellent parents, as far as amphibians are concerned. In late spring or early summer, a female Green Salamander lays about fifteen eggs far back in a slightly-moist crevice and then guards these for up to eleven weeks until they hatch. The young look like miniature versions of the adults and already have the skills necessary to climb the rocks they will spend the rest of their lives in and around.

In a perfect situation, they would branch out to other nearby rock faces and boulders, establish themselves in new crevices, and keep the circle of life going. Unfortunately, perfect situations are few and far between for these amazing creatures.

Green Salamanders, like many habitat-specific salamanders in the world, are declining across their range. They now occur in disjunct populations, most of which are too far from other populations for the salamanders to disperse and enhance the genetic variation of the species. Logging, mountaintop removal mining, and recreational activities are all large threats to the continued existence of this species, as they are to other salamanders living in the eastern United States.

A somewhat speculative reason for the massive declines Green Salamander populations have undergone in the past 100 years is the virtual extinction of American chestnut trees due to a blight that killed off most of them in the early 20^th century. The space beneath the bark of those trees may have offered Green Salamanders another, possibly better, niche to occupy and many early herpetologists reported finding them there. There is another, more shocking, reason for the decline of many Green Salamander populations, however.

Many universities contain specimens of different animals preserved in jars, for the purpose of allowing students to study anatomy, physiology, and other factors later on. Unfortunately, collecting wild specimens can get out of hand and this certainly has been the case with Green Salamanders.

At a few Ohio schools, for example, there are jars containing dozens of Green Salamanders from individual rock faces that scientists felt obligated to collect. Green Salamanders are now absent or rare from many of these sites, and several of the specimens are now so badly deteriorated that they are no longer valuable.

Such collecting has hurt other reptiles and amphibians as well and, hopefully, most herpetologists have now recognized these past mistakes. I can say from personal experience that Green Salamanders look far better in their natural habitat than they do when they are shriveled up and dead in a jar that sits unseen.

Green Salamanders are a gorgeous creature, deserving protection for their looks alone. Of course, they are also valuable to the food chain they are a part of and help give scientists a good indication of how the habitat is doing in the areas they occupy. Although most people will go their whole lives without ever seeing one, Green Salamanders are a creature that everyone should be aware of and be motivated to protect.

Source:
Petranka, James W. Salamanders of the United States and Canada. Washington: Smithsonian Institution, 1998. Print.

All pictures taken by the author.

Some animals, it seems, got the wrong end of the deal when it comes to having a simple life. Twice every year, a bird that isn’t a great deal larger than your hand flies all the way from southwest Tasmania to the southern coast of Victoria.

The brilliantly-plumaged Orange-bellied Parrot, Neophema chryogaster, is just one example from a group of animals that is known for its awe-inspiring global trips. Most birds, however, are not in the perilous state that Orange-bellied Parrots are in.

One hundred years ago, Orange-bellied Parrots were far more common than they are today. A pair of monogamous parrots would raise their first young in their first year of life, which are born with an ingrained sense of where they have to fly just a few months later. Adult parrots would leave their breeding range, consisting of much of Tasmania, in February and fly over the rough waters of the Bass Strait to reach their wintering grounds. The young, having just learned to fly, would follow a month or two later.

Low, scrubby salt marsh typified the wintering areas and could be found from near Adelaide to central New South Wales, as could the parrots. Presently, these behaviours still can be seen but on a far more limited scale than they used to be as the years go by.

With a total population of about 50 individuals, the Orange-bellied Parrot is certainly one of the most threatened birds on the planet. Although their breeding range is well-protected within the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, their wintering range in the salt marshes of southern Victoria is shrinking fast.

Now essentially limited to small fragments of habitat outside Melbourne, the Orange-bellied Parrot is literally running out of places to live. Further threats come in the form of trapping for the live-bird trade, loss of genetic variation, and predation from introduced species. This species is not in good shape but, fortunately, Australians care deeply about their wildlife and are making big efforts to save it.

Hundreds of volunteer birders over the years have contributed observations of the Orange-bellied Parrot which, in addition to the work of ornithologists, have been responsible for a rich understanding of the problems the parrots face. Since the overall number of parrots was determined to be quite low, captive-breeding efforts were intensified to create an insurance population.

Breeding habitat in Tasmania has been protected due to the creation of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area and efforts to destroy the remnant wintering habitat in Victoria have met with community outcry. More people have become aware of the species in recent years and really want to see the bird be around for their children and grandchildren to enjoy.

In late May, I visited Victoria with the hope of seeing a wild Orange-bellied Parrot. I went to their main wintering area with an experienced guide who had permits to observe the birds, though he couldn’t promise me any sightings based upon their rarity. We walked on dikes passing through ponds with salt-marsh edges, hoping to see a bird or two perched in a tree.

After several minutes, we paused next to a large pond to drink some water. I heard some birds calling in the reeds by the pond, but thought nothing of it. Before I knew it, five birds flew out as my guide shouted, “That’s them! Those are the OBP’s!” I looked up to see five small, dark shapes flying rapidly towards a nearby field.

At that moment, it hit me. I had just seen 10% of the wild population of these birds and, were it not for the dedication of the Australian birding community and the work of ornithologists, such an opportunity would have been impossible. I hope that the Orange-Bellied Parrot survives its current challenges and provides spectacular experiences for others in the future, while fulfilling its natural role within two very different, but very important, Australian ecosystems. If those involved in its conservation now continue with their dedicated work, it can.

Work Cited:
Orange-bellied Parrot Recovery Team (1998) Orange-bellied Parrot Recovery Plan 1998-2002. Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment, Hobart.

The fastest land animal is also fast in another category: going extinct. The Asiatic Cheetah, Acinonyx jubatus venaticus, once prowled the deserts and dry grasslands of the Caucasus region of central Asia to the Indian subcontinent, but now survives only in Iran, where it still hunts gazelle in the Kavir desert.

Reports from Pakistan have trickled in over the years, claiming that a few cheetahs are still eking out an existence there, but this has yet to be confirmed by the scientific community. Either way, researchers agree that there seem to be less than 100 Asiatic Cheetahs remaining on the planet.

The history of interactions between Asiatic Cheetahs and humans leaves no doubt as to why the species is imperiled today. Indian princes referred to the Asiatic Cheetah as the “Hunting-Leopard” since large numbers were taken into captivity and trained to hunt antelope for royal families and their guests.

Emperor Akbar (not to be confused with the Star Wars character) was an influential Indian who supposedly possessed hundreds of cheetahs to aid him in his hunting. This unmanaged taking of a dominant predator, in addition to hunting and habitat modification, extirpated the cheetah in India by 1950 and, by this time, it had been extirpated from almost everywhere else as well.

In recent times, the Asiatic Cheetah has been faced with even more threats. Cheetahs, occupying the top of the food chain in their remaining habitat, need enough prey to feed themselves and their young, but poaching has dramatically affected the numbers of gazelle, wild goats, and wild sheep available to them. In addition, unregulated livestock grazing has led to desertification of its habitat, which once resembled dry grassland rather than sparse desert.

Iran is a notoriously unstable country and much of the cheetah’s habitat lies in areas that are frequently used by drug and arms smugglers, who think nothing of shooting the cheetah or its prey. Finally, both African and Asiatic cheetahs have a famously limited gene pool resulting from a near-extinction thousands of years ago that could be the straw that breaks the camel’s back where the cheetah’s long-term survival is concerned.

The Asiatic Cheetah represents a distinct subspecies from the African Cheetah all of us are familiar with. Even though it occupies a completely different habitat, which it shares with wolves, leopards, and lynx, few people outside Iran have put the Asiatic Cheetah in the conservation context its close relative occupies.

Recent camera-trapping has shown that, though Cheetahs still survive in Iran, their numbers may be less than previously thought. As of 2011, captive breeding of the species has been attempted at only one location, which is surprising given the fact that both Russia and India plan to reintroduce Asiatic Cheetahs into their respective lands at some point in the future.

The future of this species hangs in the balance and, by now, it should be evident that the Asiatic Cheetah desperately needs our help.

http://news.m3n4.com/general/2011/asiatic-cheetah

The one saving grace for the Asiatic Cheetah is that much of its habitat lies within nature reserves set aside by forward-thinking Iranian government officials. Political unrest and violence have kept many foreigners from enjoying the incredibly diverse fauna of Iran but hopefully the situation will change in the future.

There is no difficulty in understanding why both the Indian and Russian governments want this species back in their countries, as it is a beautiful and important species that could show that world that even the rarest species still have a chance to make a comeback. The next few years will either spell doom for the species, or give it a chance to roam free in lands few thought it would ever call home again. I, for one, hope for the latter option and so should you.

WCS/DoE-CACP/ZSL/UNDP

Sources:

“Asiatic Cheetah.” Of Cats. 14 May 2008. Web. 29 Aug. 2011. <http://www.ofcats.com/2008/05/asiatic-cheetah.html>.

Mallon DP. 2007. Cheetahs in Central Asia: A Historical Summary. Cat News 46:4-7.

Platt, JR. 2011. Asian Cheetahs Racing Towards Extinction. Scientific American. Accessed online on 29 August, 2011 from <http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/2011/01/24/asian-cheetahs-racing-toward-extinction/>

The North Sulawesi Babirusa is a primitive species of pig that lives only on the island of Sulawesi, a part of Indonesia. The species is notable due to the large, curved tusks that protrude abruptly from the faces of males. These tusks are modified canines and their purpose is still largely unknown.

Many other aspects of Babirusa life are also unknown. In fact, until recently, all Babirusas were lumped under one species. Now, scientists know that several subspecies exist and genetic work is still being done to determine if there are even more. The North Sulawesi Babirusa is one of the more vulnerable species, but it is also the one usually kept in captivity.

This means that more people are familiar with this subspecies than any other and that much of what is known about Babirusas has been based upon observations of the North Sulawesi Babirusa in particular.

http://www.north-sulawesi.org/bolmong.html

The North Sulawesi Babirusa dwells in the northeastern part of mainland Sulawesi, as well as on the offshore island, Lembeh. The habitat of this species is tropical rainforest that grows along water courses, especially those with abundant water plants.

These plants are a large source of nutrition for North Sulawesi Babirusas although, in addition to plant material, they will occasionally eat small mammals. Unlike most other pigs, the Babirusa does not usually root for plant tubers and prefers to use its strong jaws to break open fallen nuts.

When they aren’t feeding, Babirusas travel around the forest in groups of up to eight individuals. During one of Sulawesi’s frequent rain showers, individual Babirusas construct nests as shelter and females also are capable of constructing nests, though this is primarily for raising their young.

The North Sulawesi Babirusa typically has only one or two young at a time and the gestation period is normally about 155 days. Such a small litter size indicates a low level of natural predation on the species, but that does not factor in the many threats humans pose.

Like practically every pig species on the planet, North Sulawesi Babirusas are subject to a good amount of hunting pressure. Though not hunted as often as their relative, the Warty Pig, Babirusas are becoming more and more vulnerable to hunting due to human encroachment on their once-isolated natural habitat.

Logging in Sulawesi, as in most other places in Indonesia, has decimated natural Babirusa populations and research has shown that the Babirusa is normally one of the first mammals to go when an area is opened up for logging. Intensive hunting and habitat destruction are the two largest threats to the species and now threaten the North Sulawesi Babirusa’s continued survival. Fortunately, steps have been taken to help alleviate some of these threats.

http://www.dailyindonesia.com/news/top/2010/10/un-seals-historic-treaty-to-protect-threatened-ecosystems.php

Many populations of the North Sulawesi Babirusa are found in or near protected areas on the island. Protecting a creature’s natural environment is usually the best first step towards safeguarding it for future generations of humans to enjoy, and the Indonesian government has done a great job of doing just that.

Unfortunately, hunting has not declined enough for many Babirusa populations to recover since the population of financially-strapped humans in Sulawesi has been growing steadily. People will do anything it takes to survive and care for their families and, until their needs are addressed, the North Sulawesi Babirusa will probably continue to decline in number.

The only reason it hasn’t disappeared in many areas is that many humans in Sulawesi attach mythical beliefs to the unusual Babirusa due to its bizarre appearance. As the population grows and immigrants from other areas arrive, these beliefs could be lost and the Babirusa may continue to be hunted indiscriminately across its range.

Captive breeding has been successful and provides insurance for natural populations that may become extirpated in the future, but the best option would be to provide food alternatives to locals and continue to protect the natural habitat of the species.

This won’t be easy, but inroads have been made as more people outside Indonesia have become aware that the species exists. An animal as hideous as the North Sulawesi Babirusa may not garner the most sympathy from many people, but it is a fascinating member of our natural world and even the ugliest animals deserve all the help they can get.

http://animales–asombrosos.blogspot.com/2010/03/babirusa-babyrussa-babyrussa_31.html

Work Cited

Macdonald, Alastair. Pigs, Peccaries, and Hippos Status Survey and Action Plan: The

Babirusa. Edinburgh: University of Edinburgh, 1993. Print

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Snakes occupy a very special place in my heart. For as long as I can remember, they’ve been my favorite group of animals.

My first experience with a snake was at the age of six when I mistook a garter snake for a rattlesnake, ran away crying, then returned thirty minutes later only to cry again due to my inability to find it a second time.

From that point forward, I have searched for many different kinds of snakes in many different places. No snake find, however, elicits quite the response from me that a Kirtland’s snake, Clonophis kirtlandii, does.

The Kirtland’s snake is my favorite snake species for a number of reasons. First off, its natural range centers around my home state of Ohio. The limits of its range are Michigan to the north, Illinois to the east, Tennessee to the south, and Pennsylvania to the west.

Within this range, the Kirtland’s snake is an extremely secretive, extremely tough-to-locate snake. Very little is known about the species in the wild, which only adds to its mystique and motivates me to observe its wild habits even more frequently.

Finally, the Kirtland’s snake is stunningly beautiful. Black spots on a maroon background mark its dorsal surface, while a pink belly fringed with black spots lines the ventral side all the way to a cream-coloured chin.

Finding Kirtland’s snakes in the wild, even at the best sites, is never guaranteed. One reason is their fossorial nature, meaning that they spend the majority of their time underground where they hunt for snails, slugs, and worms.

The second reason is their habitat preference. Strangely, these snakes live either in pristine wet meadows or in downtown vacant lots. No one really knows the reason for this, but some of the most intact populations of Kirtland’s snakes are in places like urban Cincinnati, Indianapolis, and Toledo.

Regardless of their habitat, these snakes are most commonly found under cover such as rocks, logs, and pieces of discarded metal. They commonly share their wet meadow habitat with the endangered Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake. On more than one occasion, I’ve been caught off guard by a coiled-up rattlesnake when searching for Kirtland’s snakes.

Oftentimes, Kirtland’s snakes share their habitats with burrowing crayfish species and it has been assumed that the burrows the crayfish create are where the snakes spend much of their time. More research on this, and many other aspects of the life of this amazing species, needs to be conducted before we lose it forever.

Habitat destruction is happening at an unprecedented rate across the globe, but wetlands in the Midwest are perhaps some of the most endangered ecosystems in North America. Ohio, for example, has lost over ninety percent of its original wetland cover and states such as Indiana and Michigan are close behind.

Kirtland’s snakes, and many other wildlife species, depend on these habitats and the consequence of losing irreplaceable species far outweighs the benefits of fast money, in my opinion at least. More and more, people are recognizing that, rather than being wastelands, wetlands are beautiful expanses of land filled with unique species. This recognition needs to happen on a broader scale if animals like the Kirtland’s snake can be expected to exist in the future, at least in their non-urban habitats.

I’ll never forget seeing my first Kirtland’s snake. While hiking on a boardwalk through one of my favorite nature preserves in Ohio, my dad and I came upon a writhing, foot-long snake right on the boardwalk. I was only ten years old and didn’t recognize the bright pink belly and maroon-coloured back of the snake  but I did know it was, by far, the most spectacular snake I’d seen up to that point.

The middle section of the snake was crushed and it was obvious, even at that young age, that someone had deliberately hurt the snake and left it to die. I would have preferred to see my first Kirtland’s snake in a different circumstance, but it did instill in me an intense motivation to spread the word about this rare, but wonderful, snake species.

I’ll continue to try for the rest of my life to do just that and I hope that other people choose to do the same. The Kirtland’s snake deserves it.

All photos by Peter Kleinhenz

Gibson, Joanna, and Bruce Kingsbury. Conservation Assessment for Kirtland’s Snake (Clonophis Kirtlandii). Tech. Fort Wayne: Indiana- Purdue University, 2004. Print.

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