Just like the Chinese Alligator, many vicious species are equally in trouble. In a publication released last July 13, the US government announced that the Largetooth Sawfish has been declared as an endangered species. This is an endangered species that looks like a shark/ray. It is considered to be the most endangered fish species in the world so the news of its inclusion is met with great enthusiasm by the Shark Advocates International.
The bad news is that it may too late since the last time a Largetooth Sawfish was seen in the United States, it was way back in 1960 off the Gulf of Mexico. The problems facing this particular species is that they don’t multiply fast enough, take long to mature as adults, and are often targets for the aphrodisiac food known as shark fin soup.
What is Shark Fin Soup?
This is an Asian luxury dish usually served on special occasions like weddings and birthdays. In China, it is a symbol of power and honor which means serving to guests was a sign of respect at the same time letting the guests know that they are in the presence of someone important.
In some Asian restaurants, it is also called Soup Number 5 because it is suppose to make one more sexually appealing, prevent heart problems, and improve energy. The fins have no taste and are rubbery prior to cooking. Many people believe that it can also prevent cancer and arthritis. This is so far a lot of speculation and has no scientific basis. The truth is, shark fins are loaded with mercury and can cause sterility in men.
Asia’s Response
Even with the drop in demand for shark fin soup in some Asian countries, the sharp increase in China’s economy has made it possible for the middle class to afford this specialty dish. Thus, the demand for shark fin soup is increasing. In Hong Kong, trading of shark fins have increased by 5% every year even if the Sawfish is listed and protected under the Convention of International Trade on Endangered Species.
The list of endangered animals seems to be growing longer in spite of many attempts by various conservation groups. However, the reality is the list of endangered animals is something that will take years to shorten. The problem is gigantic on so many levels. Not only will we have to provide a stable environment for these animals, we also have to make sure they are protected from poachers and hunters. The call of the mighty green buck is something many cannot ignore, and so the killings go on surreptitiously.
Right now, there are over 600 marine animals in the threatened animal list, or the Red List. The main causes are over fishing and pollution. Of these endangered marine animals, the top 5 are the following:
The Hawksbill Turtle
These are migratory turtles who live around reefs that have sponges. They cannot live in deep waters, and are quite small compared to other turtle species. People hunt them down for their eggs, although adult Hawksbill Turtles are also considered as food, aside from being killed to get their shells.
Unfortunately, the females only have eggs every 2 to 3 years, and even if they lay 100 eggs, not all live to be adults.
The Stellar Sea Lion
This is the largest eared seal, and its population has decreased by over 60% since the 1960s. Killer whales are their main predators, although humans have done their share. They are captured for their hides, oil, meat, among other by-products.
The Hammerhead Shark
This shark is killed on purpose for their fins. It’s a lucrative, illegal business that’s extremely cruel. When the sharks are caught, their fins are removed even as they struggle to live. Once the fins are cut off, the shark is tossed back to die. The fins are made into delicacies like Shark Fin’s soup and dimsum.
Gulf of California Harbor Porpoise
This cetacean can only be found in shallow waters in Mexico, more specifically in the Baja Peninsula. The current estimate is about 500 left in the world. It got this bad because of gill-netting which has been declared as illegal since the 1970s. Yet, the numbers are still dwindling.
Blue Whale
Known to be largest animal in the world, it is now close to extinction. This happened because of commercial fishing. Even with the 1966 international ban, the killing is rampant. Thus from a population of about 200,000, there are now less than 5,000 Blue Whales in the world.
As a child we all have our trip to the zoo to see all the amazing animals that we can’t see in our backyards. We get the opportunity to go to the reptile cage or building, whatever it may be in your zoo, and get a chance to look at the alligators. Did you know there are only two types of alligators in the world? The ones we usually see at the zoos are the American Alligators, however, there is another one called the Chinese Alligator that is an endangered animal that needs protection. There are around ten thousand Chinese Alligators left in the entire world.
If you think you can spot the differences in the two different alligators, I think you may be wrong. There are only two minor differences between the American and Chinese Alligators. While the American Alligators are very long and have a higher weight, the Chinese Alligator is the smaller of the two, averaging around six feet in length and only around one hundred pounds. The only other difference is that while the American Alligator’s body armor extends the length of its body, it leaves the belly area nice and smooth. The Chinese Alligator’s body armor wraps around the entire body, including the belly area, keeping it safe from those predators that would try to get it from the underside.
The Chinese Alligator is now listed as Critically Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature, or the IUCN for short. To help increase the population, they are being taken captive into zoos and rescues where they are bred and kept secure until they reach an age appropriate enough to be released back into the wild in China. Hopefully these efforts, along with the efforts of the Chinese people, will keep them from going instinct indefinitely.
Reference: Illustrated Encyclopedia of endangered animals.
Tags: chinese alligator, endangered animals, endangered list of animals, endangered reptiles | 
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Comments Off Take a walk in the Indonesian desert, through the terrain of rocks and grasses. Chances are that you will come across a giant lizard that blends in with its surroundings. This lizard is called the Komodo Dragon. The Komodo Dragon is the largest living species of lizard in the world. They can grow up to nine feet long and can weigh over one hundred fifty pounds! It is recorded that the biggest Komodo Dragon was over 10 feet long and three hundred seventy pounds! That is beyond taller than the average human being. They are said to be so big because of island gigantism. However, some scholars believe that these huge beings are descendants from larger lizards from the dinosaur days. Either way, you wouldn’t want to cross one of their paths.
The Komodo Dragon stays its size and length by the diet it consumes. It is considered carnivorous, so it dines on other animals. Because the Komodo Dragon is such a big lizard, it can consume many other animals ranging from small mammals and birds to some even bigger, such as deer and carrion. With the bigger prey, the Komodo Dragon uses its limbs as leverage and tears pieces of carcass and eats it piece by piece. However, when its thirsty, it cannot suck water out of a nearby source. Since it has no diaphragm, the Komodo Dragon has get a mouthful of water and allow it to run down its throat.
The Komodo Dragon has been raised to vulnerable state on the endangered species list. There are approximately around five thousand in the species left today. Some are held in captivity, such as zoos to help further population efforts. However, most are left in their habitats because in captivity their life spans are generally shorter because they are susceptible to parasites and disease.