Endangered Animals

This week while we were researching and writing about Kiwi we also learned about endangered species (including our very own Southern Brown Kiwi). Did you know that the St Bathans Kiwi is now extinct, but at one point in time it would have roamed our country? We discussed how our choices on the planet affect the survival of other species in the future.

Someone then asked a great question about whether an animal could be endangered in one country, and not in another. We discussed how some countries help others out with protecting endangered and native animals.

• Zoos around the world help NZ by protecting Kiwi and educating others about them. 
• NZ helps other countries by protecting and breeding endangered animals in our zoos.

Here are some links to endangered animals that NZ is helping:

https://www.aucklandzoo.co.nz/animals/red-panda

Although it shares the same name, the red panda is not related to the giant panda. In fact, the red panda is not related to any other animal, making it completely unique. So what makes them so unique? Red panda have a gap in their teeth which allows them to strip bamboo leaves easily – pretty helpful when in the wild 95% of their diet is bamboo!

 

https://www.aucklandzoo.co.nz/animals/southern-white-rhinoceros

In the early 1900's, Southern white rhino numbers in the wild fell to less than a hundred. With the aid of rhino conservation organisations globally, there are now between 19,666 and 21,085 surviving: the highest number of all rhino species.

How many endangered species do you know about?

What can we do as humans to help these species from becoming extinct?