This lesser one-horned rhino is perhaps the rarest of the large mammal species in the world. What we mean by ‘rare’ here is that it is almost on the brink of extinction. Lesser than 60 of these mammals are said to survive in the wild today; and none of these are in captivity.

The Javan rhino is said to exist in two protected areas – Ujung Kulon National Park (Indonesia) and Cat Tien National Park (Vietnam). However, owing to the pressures of human population and the ever-increasing threat of poaching, things do not look too bright.

The WWF is active in both areas of Cat Tien and Ujung Kolon; but there is a long way to go before this battle for the survival of the Javan rhino is won.

Description:

The Javan rhino is dusky-grey in color and has a single horn. The skin is said to have a number of loose folds which give the rhino an appearance of having donned armor plating. This species of the rhino is extremely similar to the Indian rhino; but it is slightly smaller in size. The head is definitely smaller and the folds of the skin are less apparent than they would be in the Indian rhino. As per recent evidence, the horn might be completely absent or negligibly small in the case of the females. The upper lip is slightly pointed; and this is used to pull the food towards the mouth.

General Information:

Height (at shoulder) – 5 to 5.5 feet

Weight – 2000 to 5000 lbs

Length (head and the body) – 6 to 11.5 feet

Length of the horn – 10 inches

Lifespan – 30 to 45 years

Visible Characteristics – One horn, large skin fold, smaller than the Indian rhino

Habitat:

The Javan rhino needs water, mud wallows and fruits to survive. They are known to commonly inhabit rainforests that have a good supply of mud wallows and water. They prefer low-lying areas; although, in some cases, these animals have been seen at heights over 1,000 meters in Java, Indonesia.

This animal is said to be solitary in habit. The only times they will be seen with other rhinos only when they form pairs during mating season, or when the mothers are nursing their young ones.

Breeding:

There isn’t too much information available about the breeding patterns of this species because they have hardly ever been bred in captivity. It is believed that the female rhino will mature at about the age of 5 to 6 years, while the male will take 10 years to get there. The gestation period is said to be around 16 months, which is similar to that of the Indian rhino. The common mating season should last between July to November each year.

What Are The Plausible Threats To This Species?

They are vulnerable to just about any major impact –

It is a known fact that only two very small populations of this rhino remain today. This would mean that this species is very vulnerable to extinction owing to natural catastrophes, poaching, political disturbances and genetic drift.

Reduced Genetic Diversity –

The rhino population that survives in Cat Tien National Park today is said to comprise only 8 rhinos. This in itself is proof to the lowered genetic diversity that remains here. This would mean that they are less capable of surviving any natural disasters or the outbreak of a disease.

Habitat Loss –

The increasing amount of human population is causing for a strain on the land that used to be the natural habitat for animals such as the Javan rhinoceros. The forests are being cleared to make way for land for agricultural and commercial logging.

About Hawaiian Monk Seals:

The scientific name for the Hawaiian monk seal is Monachus Schauinslandi. These animals are known to inhabit the northwestern part of the Hawaiian Islands, and they spend a lot of time at sea. Believe it or not, these creatures can dive as deep as 600 feet, and can stay under water for a good 20 minutes.

Diet:

Their diet would include fish, octopus, lobsters and eels.

Description:

The females are slightly larger in size than the males. The females will reach about 2.5 meters in length, and could weigh about 450 lbs. The males would reach about 2.1 meters in length and might weigh about 375 lbs.

The adult monk seals will possess a coat that is silvery-grey on their backs and a slightly lighter creamy color on their underside. The back of the males (especially males) will tend to become darker with age; and their overall life expectancy is said to be around 25 to 30 years.

Maturing and Mating:

The females are known to mature at the age of 5 to 6. The male age of maturing is yet to be pinpointed. The monk seals are promiscuous animals and are known to mate underwater. In some colonies, where there is a skewed gender ratio in favor of the males, there have been cases of group mobbing of estrus females, and this could even cause death of the female in some cases.

Gestation, Birth and Nursing:

The gestation period for the female Hawaiian monk seal is about 10 to 11 months. Most of the births in Hawaiian monk seals have been recorded in the months of March and early April. However, there have been reports of births all the year round as well. The mother can only give birth to one pup at a time; and at birth, the pup will be about 1 meter long and will weigh about 35 lbs. The mother will generally nurse the pup for about 39 days; during which time she will be on land. Once this nursing period is over and done with, she will abandon the pup and return back to sea.

These vocal primates can boast of being the biggest of all the New World monkeys. What differentiate them from the Old World monkeys are the wide, side-opening nostrils and the prehensile tail. The tail can almost be used as an extra arm so that they can grip branches or even hang from them. This extra-arm-like tail is an added advantage in the case of the howler monkey, because this creature doesn’t like descending to the ground too much. They will generally prefer staying aloft and munching on the tender leaves that grow higher on the trees.

The Howling:

Male howler monkeys will use their voices to defend the turf they stand on. They will howl and they will be answered by all the other males who are within earshot. Each one of them will begin and end the day by doing a sound-check of sorts on where their nearest competitors are. This way they will also call the dips on the food in their respective territories. Given the fact that the leaves that they feed on aren’t very high on nutrition, they’d want to keep away the younger leaves that are high on nutrition. This is why the troops will want to stake claim on any such treasures that they find.

In Wildlife Sanctuaries:

When there aren’t too many competitors in the region, the pattern of the howling monkey will differ. When these monkeys were introduced into a wildlife sanctuary in Belize, their howling screams were heard only once or twice a week as opposed to the daily howls when they were in the wild. Given the fact that there was plenty of space and hardly any competition, they didn’t feel the need to check on the whereabouts of their competitors.

Fun Facts about the Howler Monkey:

• Other than being the loudest in the animal kingdom, they also can boast of being the laziest. They are resting for almost 80% of their time.
• The red howler monkeys are the largest species among the 9 species of howler monkey and their weight ranges between 15 to 20 lbs.
• Among the New World Monkey species, these howler monkeys are the only ones who stuck to being folivores (i.e. specialized in eating leaves).
• The mantled howler monkeys will use sticks to drive away any intruders in their territory.
• Even though these species make a lot of noise, it is extremely tough to see them when they’re in the wild.

Bengal Tiger Facts:

The Bengal tiger is best known for the way it looks. That is one extremely attractive looking animal. The reddish orange base with black, brown or gray colored vertical stripes make for a visual treat. The underbelly has a creamy to white color. Given the fact that these animals prefer hunting after dark, the stripes on their body can help them camouflage in the wild grass shadows.

On an average, the male Bengal tiger is known to measure up to a cool 3 meters (10 feet). It will weigh about 500 pounds. The female tiger will come up to about 9 feet and will weigh about 300 pounds. The heaviest Bengal tiger ever had been weighed in at a whopping 857 pounds.

The Bengal tigers that live in the forests are said to have a lifespan of about 15 years. However, when they’re living in captivity, chances are that they could end up living for as long as 18 years.

They are known to prey on deer, pigs, buffalos, and antelopes. When it comes to one feeding, the Bengal tiger could end up eating almost 70 pounds worth of meat. Given the fact that they love to be in water, they will generally tend to chase their prey into the water and this is where they will eat it.

Basically, these tigers are solitary animals and love to live all by themselves. They will carry out activities like feeding and hunting by themselves. They will mark extremely large areas of the forest by means of droppings, scratch marks of their claws or even their urine. You will see tigers in groups or pairs only when it is time for mating.

White Bengal Tiger Facts:

A lot of people wrongly presume the white Bengal tiger to be a separate subspecies of the tiger. However, the fact remains at them being the same subspecies as the royal Bengal tiger. Their unique white coloration is the result of an unusual gene that they carry. The uniqueness of the gene is evident from the fact that this gene is found in 1 of every 10,000 Bengal tigers. In the span of a century, only about 12 white tigers have been found out in the wild. What makes them so visually appealing is the white fur with the black stripes; and this gets coupled with that cute pink colored nose and those freezing blue eyes. In today’s date and age, there are hardly any white Bengal tigers that can be seen in the wild; and they’re almost on the verge of extinction.

Their long tails help as counterbalances when these animals have to climb trees. Although these leopards look similar to the marbled cat, their skulls are narrower and longer. The flexible vocal cords present indicate that, like the smaller cats, these animals also possess the ability to purr.

The ankle joints on this animal are said to exhibit a lot of flexibility. This is said to be essential for these cats that are known as tree cats by the Malaysians.

The eyes of these leopards are distinctive, given the fact that the pupils are, in reality, vertically oblong; and they aren’t round like other cats.

Habitat:

Clouded leopards are found in tropical forests, and can be seen up to the altitudes of about 2500 meters. They will generally survive in regions with marginal scrub, and they will be selectively logged forests that could be considered secondary. The common pockets to find these animals would be the region of South East Asia – Nepal, Southern China, Malaysia, Bhutan, Sumatra and Borneo. Traces of the animal in Taiwan suggest that it may have lived there, but may have been hunted until extinction.

Diet:

Just like other cats, the clouded leopard is an opportunistic predator. The prey that has been recorded in the past would include bearded pig, domestic cattle, porcupines, gibbons, chickens, monkeys, fish, sambar and such animals. If these leopards are being brought up in captivity, they will live on eggs and some other such vegetation.

Reproduction:

Most of the litters of the clouded leopards would have two cubs. However, in the case of litters born in captivity, up to 5 cubs have been born. Gestation period would be about 109 days. The cubs will be weaned in 93 days. Around the time of the 12th day, their eyes will open and they will begin walking by the time they’re 20 days old. The males will end up developing faster than their female counterparts and will begin achieving their c0loration by the time they’re six months old or so.

Measuring Up:

The adult lion can reach a measure of up to about 8 feet in body and head length. Their tails along can reach a measure of about 3 feet. The females are smaller than their male counterparts. While the male lions can weigh up to about 550 lb, the females might go up to about 400 lb.

Furry Big Cats:

The fur on these magnificent animals is tan in color; and this works as a great camouflage for them in the light grasses of the savanna. The mane on the males could vary in color, from light to dark brown. You could also see black on some of them. The mane on the Asiatic lion is said to be shorter than that of the African lion, and this is what enables for their ears to be seen.

Habitat and More:

The Asiatic lion is said to prefer grassy plains and open woodlands for its habitat. They are very social animals and they tend to live in ‘prides’ (groups). These kings of the jungle are primarily nocturnal by nature, and they spend most of their day resting. They will generally prey on medium to large sized mammals like gazelles, zebras, hippos, young elephants and rhinos.

Breeding and Gestation:

The breeding season is said to be lined alongside the onset of winter. The months of October and November are the times when it is most likely to happen. The gestation period of the Asiatic lioness is pitted at around 3.5 months. The lionesses are said to breed about every 2 years and they’re said to be ready to be mating when they reach the age of about 30 months. The life expectancy of the average lion is said to be about 20 to 30 years.

Asiatic Lions – Today:

In India, there is only one pocket left in the Gir National Park of Gujarat that can boast of being home to the Asiatic Lion. There have been plans that were made to try and relocate a smaller part of the surviving population to other parks around the country, so that there were higher chances of ensuring survival of this dying breed. However, these plants have not yet swung into action.

Dinosaur Safari:

This is perhaps one of the biggest and unique-most selling points of the Blackpool Zoo. This safari ride will take you back into history and let you take a peek at how that memorable era went by – the time when these giants roamed the earth.

The safari will take you past the T Rex, and some other inspiring pterodactyls. The amazing part of the safari is the visually mesmerizing enormous volcano that is bursting; and you’ll be taken over currents and even past water geysers that are running. You’d also experience a meteorite crashing into the Earth; and all this has been done to bring the historic past back to life. This dinosaur safari makes for quite an informative experience and will definitely leave kids better informed about these magnificent creatures from the past.

The Pride of Blackpool:

The Blackpool zoo officials take pride in their beautiful pride of lions and lionesses that live here. They have recently refurbished the enclosure with paddocks that are multi surfaced. This has allowed them to work out a special feature in the rocks, which will allow for heating during the months of winter. This would allow the pride to bask in clear air; and keep them comfortable at the same time.

Gorilla Mountain:

The zoo is proud of its prize winning enclosure meant for gorillas. There are 4 adults here at the moment; and they’re free to roam the enclosure while they look for small treats that have been stashed away by the keepers of the zoo. The gorillas looking for the treats do make for an entertaining experience for the visitors; while the gorillas also end up getting their treats. It’s a win-win situation for everyone involved.

Recent Additions To The Zoo:

Four of the world’s smallest otters have now been born and are being successfully reared at the zoo. This has happened for the first time in their history. The quartet, made up of four of these tiny Asian Small Clawed Otters, are said to be out and about now. This specie is classified as being ‘vulnerable in the wild’.

Three female lion cubs were also added to the pride of lions this year. This is the first time that lions were born in the zoo, the first time in 25 years. The lioness mother is said to be taking good care of the cubs; and they’re growing well.

About PrideRock:

According to anyone and everyone who’s visited PrideRock or been part of their voluntary activities, the place is a safe haven for Big Cats who may have been abandoned, abused or confiscated. The big cats rescue operations conducted by the family of PrideRock is a commendable job in itself. Most of these animals were no longer being cared for by their previous owners; and this could have been the case for a number of reasons. Regardless of the reasons, they’ve been taken under the wings of the PrideRock family now. The Refuge is currently being operated by Gary and Carol Holliman, and they’re currently housing about 12 tigers, 7 lions, 8 wolf dogs, 8 cougars and a herd of their own familial dogs.

The Mission:

As Gary Holliman puts it, Big Cats were never meant to be pets. The endeavor of domesticating this magnificent animal will often end tragically either for the cat or the owner.

The mission of PrideRock is to prevent any sort of cruelty being meted out to the animals. The Wildlife Refuge created by this couple is said to be home for the Big Cats rescue animals and this could well be their home for the rest of their lives.

The refuge focuses on creating specie-specific enclosures where the residents can have enriching and recreational activities for the animals involved. Each animal here will be given veterinary care, diet and nutrition, as per its individual needs. PrideRock takes this entire experience a step further by allowing for summer internships where people can realize their dreams of wanting to educate themselves about these beautiful creatures and they would learn how to properly care for them.

As Carol Holliman says, it gives people an opportunity to become one with nature, and this helps them better understand what it is that they need to do once they go back home from this internship as well.

This creature is so weird in its appearance that a number of cryptologists believe that it must have been this creature that was responsible for the ‘sea serpent’ sightings. It has a strange head that resembles a lizard; it has a ruffled throat, and a long body that can be described as serpentine. The fins of this huge fish are very small when compared to its body.

The frilled shark gets its name from the collar-like gills which possess frilly edges. It is known to grow up to 6.5 feet in length. The first gill slit of this huge creature is said to be right across its throat. The long jaws of this fish are terminal (i.e. they’re at the end of the head, unlike the other sharks where the jaws are underneath). This shark comes armed with around 300 odd trident shaped teeth that get arranged in around 25 different rows. The skeletal structure of this complex animal can be described as being ‘deceptively simple’. This can perhaps be attributed to the fact that this is one creature that has probably not undergone evolution since the prehistoric times. It is still the same structure you see now, that had been seen centuries ago.

In fact, if scientists and reports are to be believed, this is one creature that literally came back from the dead. These animals were proven to be extinct. It was only in the year 2007 that a live frilled shark washed up on a shore and it was made known to the world that they still survive.

Given the shape of the shark, it has been assumed that they move around using the wriggle-method employed by the eel. Given the fact that the fins of this creature are arranged the way they are at the posterior end, there is but one suggestion that this creature is capable of hovering in mid-water and it will use the posterior fins to strike at its prey, just like snakes do.

Reproduction:

The reproduction cycle of these creatures is said to be oviparous. The mother will hatch the eggs inside her body and the little frilled versions of sharks will be born. As per a research conducted in the Saruga Bay of Japan, it was found that these species are said to breed all through the year. They produce a litter of around 6 pups. The gestation period of this creature is said to be an astonishing 42 months, which translates to 3.5 years. This gestation period is double the gestation period of the African elephant (22 months) and this could well be the longest breeding cycle for any known vertebrate.

Prehistoric Creatures?

The Triassic triops is a prehistoric creature which is said to be identical in nature when compared to its prehistoric ancestors. They’re said to have survived decades and centuries using the method of dispause or suspended animation. This natural method was employed to help them survive seasonal drought.

State of Dispause:

According to scientists, the triops’ eggs can stay in a state of dispause for a good 15 years. The researchers claim that at the time of entering this state of no-animation, the eggs will develop a thick, hard shell which is said to be drought resistant. This is also called a chorion. This might be the reason why almost a million years after the last dinosaurs left planet Earth, the triops are still here. These little creatures are still going strong, and there’s almost no stopping them.

Dinosaur Shrimps Are Found In:

• Japan
• Africa
• Central America
• Russia
• West Indies
• Australia
• Hawaii
• India
• Galapagos Islands

Methods of Reproduction:

Given the fact that triops are known to live in temporary ponds; these ponds will dry up when the seasons change. It is important for these creatures to complete their life cycle and they will then reproduce within a short time. The adults will die when the water dries up; and their survival will then depend on the eggs that have gotten deposited in the mud or even the substrate.

Some of the members of this species are capable of single parent reproduction, whereas the others will have to fall back on the traditional method of sexual reproduction.