Endangered animals 3
Top 10 most endangered animals continued ...
7. Green-Cheeked Parrot
Native to Mexico, this colorful parrot species, with the ability to mimic the human voice, has been significantly reduced in numbers due to a huge demand for these lovely pet birds, especially from the United States. It is primarily green, with a grey breast, dark head, maroon tail and blue flight feathers.
Even after prohibiting the sale of these green-cheeked birds, droves of the species are still being illegally traded across the Mexico/US border.
8. Mako Shark
The Longfin and Shortfin Mako Shark is highly sought for its tender meat, and especially in Asian markets, for their shark fins which have even greater value for medicinal purposes and for making shark fin soup.
In Hong Kong, shark fin soup can fetch almost US$100 for a single serving, and wholesale pricing for fins can range from a low of US$40 to more than US$550 per kilo. As with most shark species, Mako Sharks are particularly susceptible to overfishing because they have long life cycles, resulting in the species being fished twice as fast as they are able to produce. Mako Sharks mature in seven to twelve years and only then produce small litters of baby sharks in their lifetime.
9. Polar bears
The polar bear is native to the Arctic Ocean and its surrounding seas.
Why is this species important?
Of all of the wildlife species in the Arctic, the polar bear is perhaps the most fitting icon for this region. Its amazing adaptations to life in the harsh Arctic environment and dependence on sea ice make them so impressive, and yet so vulnerable. Large anmals are an indication of an ecosystem's health. Polar bears are studied to gain an understanding of what is happening throughout the Arctic as a polar bear at risk is often a sign of something wrong somewhere in the arctic marine ecosystem.
10. Iberian Lynx
Why is this species important?
Iberian lynx displace and kill other carnivores - including foxes, Egyptian mongooses, and feral cats and dogs - to ensure sufficient supplies of rabbit populations and to protect their offspring. The loss of the Iberian lynx could result in an increase in the density of more common predators and a consequent decrease in rabbit populations.