Blue Whale

Balaenoptera musculus It took fewer than 50 years of intensive whaling to bring the largest animal the world has ever known to the brink of extinction. Whether the remaining blue whale population is large enough to make a recovery remains to be seen. Humans have hunted whales for well over a thousand years, but it was not until the 1860s that new technology allowed whalers to hunt the largest species of all. [Read more]

Ruffed Lemur

Ruffed Lemur-Varecia variegate – The ruffed lemur is the largest of the true lemurs and is becoming so rare in the wild that its best hope for survival is now an intensive program of captive breeding and release. The ruffed lemur of Madagascar stands out among other lemurs because of its large size and distinctively patterned coat. [Read more]