St. Kilda Mouse

Apodemus sylvaticus hirtensis

The St. Kilda mouse evolvedfrom the common wood mouse. It lines on a zuindszuept island, sheltering among the ruined buildings left behind after people moved away. The St. Kilda mouse is typical of many subspecies of small mammals that form tiny populations in remote places and arehighly vulnerable, being found nowhere else in the world. The St. Kilda mouse does not face any particular threats. However, it is found only on the tiny island of Hirta in the North Atlantic and perhaps one other of the St. Kilda archipelago. These windswept, precipitous islands lie 40 miles (65 km) from the most westerly of Scotland’s Outer Hebrides. Hirta was only occupied by the [Read more]

Eurasian Red Squirrel

Sciurus vulgaris

Red squirrels are common across Europe, but are rapidly being replaced by American gray squirrels in Britain. Such a fate may also overtake their continental cousins. Only 100 years ago the red squirrel was common and the only squirrel in Britain and across continental Europe. Now it is extinct in southern England, except on three islands off the coast. It is still found in Scotland and remains widespread in northern England, although its numbers there are declining fast. Apart from these areas, it survives in a few scattered localities in Wales and eastern and central [Read more]

Panthera onca

Jaguar

The jaguar is the most accomplished climber of all the big cats and is almost equally at home prowling the forest, floor or swimming in rivers and pools. However, its adaptability is no protection against the erosion of its forest habitat or other human activities that threaten its existence. The jaguar is the largest cat in the Americas and the only [Read more]

Neofelis nebulosa

Clouded Leopard

The clouded leopard gets its name from the cloudlike markings on its coat. The hunting of this big cat for its magnificent pelt is one of several threats to its survival. The clouded leopard is not actually a leopard at all. In fact, the species is sufficiently distinct to be classified all by itself. The skull and teeth of the clouded leopard are similar to those of big cats such as lions and tigers. However, it is unable to roar [Read more]

OrangUtan

Pongo pygmaeus

Orang utan means “man of the forest” in the Malay language. Once numbering hundreds ofa thousands, the orang Utan population has declined sharply in recent years because of loss of habitat and capture for the pet trade.The orang utan holds two animal records: It is the world’s largest tree dwelling mammal, and it is the only great ape that lives in Asia. Living in the trees of the tropical rain forests of Borneo and Sumatra, [Read more]

Komodo Dragon

Varanus komodoensis

Known locally as buaja daret (”land crocodiles’, these giant lizards were named after the mythical dragon because of their size and fierce predatory nature. It seems inconceivable that the enormous Komodo dragon could remain upknown (at least to western scientists) until the early 20th century. Referred to locally as the ora or buaja daret (”land crocodile”), early reported sightings were [Read more]

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