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ONE EARTH
living on the edge
save these endangered animals
CREATURE FEATURE
It may sound a little doomsday, but 100 Animals to See Before
They Die (Bradt, www.bradtguides.com) is a call to protect the world’s dwindling species from extinction. Of the world’s mammals, 12% are considered endangered – that’s 521 species on the verge of extinction. Here are three Asian creatures still hanging that hopefully won’t go the way of the dodo:
1 PYGMY SLOW LORIS, VIETNAM, LAOS AND CAMBODIA
It may look small and cute, but this furry little creature (below) kills even smaller animals with a poisonous bite. The loris hunts by night and moves along tree branches, gripping with its strong hands and feet. See them at Cat Tien National Park, only a three- hour drive from Ho Chi Minh City. www.loris-conservation.org
2 GIANT PANDA, CHINA
Found in the province of Shaanxi, it’s estimated that fewer than 1,600 of these gentle giants remain in the wild – thanks to the clearing of temperate forests for agriculture and timber farms. See them and contribute to conservation programmes in the Qinling Mountains. Tours are conducted and transport is provided from Xi’an. www.wildgiantpanda.com
3 HOOLOCK GIBBON, MYANMAR
These apes swing from tree to tree at breakneck speed (up to 30km/h, covering a distance of 3m per swing!) and are known for their distinctive whooping calls. Apart from losing their homes to deforestation, hoolocks are hunted for their meat and bones which are valued in traditional medicine. Find out more or donate to the Gibbon Conservation Centre at www.gibboncenter.org/hoolock.htm
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