Mammals

multicoloured squirrel
Mammals

Indian giant squirrel

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Indian giant squirrel The Malabar Giant Squirrels (or Indian Giant Squirrel) are an endemic Indian species, found throughout India in places like the Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats and the Satpura Range in states such as Madhya Pradesh. Body length-wise, they are 20-25 cm, their tail around 45cm in length, and their weight from 1.5-2kg. They are two times the size of the Eastern Grey Squirrel.   Their colour tone is a one, two, or three-toned colour scheme. Its colours include white, creamy-beige, buff, tan, rust reddish-maroon, brown, dark brown, or black. The colours act as a camouflage to protect the squirrel from predators. Broadleaf habitats of the squirrels exhibit a “mosaic of sun flecks and dark, shaded areas” which is like the patterns of the Giant Malabar Indian Squirrel. The Malabar Giant Squirrels can leap up to 20 ft. and they can travel between close trees with limited effort. Their long and strong claws help them climb trees with ease. Their flexibility and cautious attitude help them avoid predators. Diet, Habitat, Predators, and Behaviour: Their diet includes consists of jackfruit native to India, other fruit, flowers, nuts, and tree bark. The omnivorous species eat insects, and sometimes, bird eggs.   Malabar Giant Squirrels live in the tropical evergreen forests of India. They are an upper-canopy dwelling species that stay in the treetop and rarely touch the ground. They make their nests on the nooks of the thinner branches or in tree holes.   The nests’ sizes are like that of eagle nests and consist of twigs and leaves. Some individuals and pairs of squirrels live in over one nest. They leap from one tree to another in search of food. These creatures have a quirky method of storing their food. Unlike other squirrels, the Malabar Giant Squirrel creates large caches of food high in the treetops. Predators include leopards, lion-tailed macaques, crested serpent eagles, other big cats, snakes, and other big birds of prey.   Their tail aids their balance while they roam on precarious branches. Malabar Giant Squirrels have a unique way of avoiding predators. They flatten themselves against a branch and utilise their unique colour pattern to make it look like they are apart of the tree. There is limited knowledge about the breeding and mating habits of these unique creatures. The only known aspect is that their litter can include one to three squirrels and that breeding occurs at any time of the year. Their lifespan in the wild is unknown. However, in captivity, the longest they have lived in 20 years.   Threats and conservation efforts: These wonderful creatures are facing many threats to their survival. Deforestation, hunting, fragmentation of their habitats and captivity as pets are just some threats that the Malabar Giant Squirrel faces. There are efforts being made to help conserve their populations, but they are difficult to look after due to certain behavioural traits. The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List of threatened species did a worldwide assessment on the species. The assessment confirmed that despite the decline, the squirrel’s numbers remain of “least concern” on the organization’s scale. Conservation efforts despite all the challenges are being made to help improve the Malabar Giant Squirrel’s population. Implementation of Wildlife Protection Acts and legislations that ban hunting and keeping them as pets, help preserve the Malabar Giant populations. Wildlife Parks and Zoos including the Rajiv Gandhi National Zoological Park in Pune are helping boost the population of the Malabar Giant Squirrel. These are just some conservation efforts being made to protect the Malabar Giant Squirrel.   Sources: https://www.conservationindia.org/gallery/captive-malabar-giant-squirrel https://www.thedodo.com/in-the-wild/indian-giant-squirrel-pictures https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/why-a-pune-zoo-is-breeding-the-malabar-giant-squirrel/article25401268.ece https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2019/04/indian-giant-squirrels-colors-camouflage/ https://allthatsinteresting.com/indian-giant-squirrel

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Mammals

Grizzly Bear Facts |- Animal Fact Guide

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Facts about the Grizzly Bear. Grizzly bears live throughout the U.S.A., Canada, Alaska and parts of the former Soviet Union. They are brown. The name grizzly comes from the fact that their fur, appears to be white-tipped, or grizzled. Their claws can be up to 4 inches. Grizzly Bear front claws can be up to 4-inches. Grizzly bears most definable trait is the hump on their shoulders. The hump is a large, powerful muscle that helps provide power to their forelimbs through their schedule. Diet, Habitat, behaviour and Mating: Diet-wise, the grizzly bears eat whatever they like. They are on-top-of-the-food-chain predators. However, most of their diet revolves around nuts, berries, fruits, leaves, and roots. They eat moose, elk, bison, and mice. The grizzlies are powerful enough to make a meal out of anything. Quantity-wise, they can eat up to 90lbs of food each day. The Grizzly Bears like open areas including the tundra, alpine meadows, and coastlines. Grizzlies are solitary animals and only meet up with other Grizzlies for mating. In case they meet other bears, the social interactions between the bears are limited. The bears have a habit of rubbing their backs against trees. The purpose is to communicate with other Grizzly bears by emitting a scent onto the tree. They are not trying to get rid of an itch from their backs. The cubs require about 2-3 years of nursing before they can go out on their own. The cubs become less dependent on their mama’s milk and eat solid food from an early age. Females give birth during hibernation in which they spend most of their time in the dens they build before the winter period. Other interesting facts about the Grizzly Bear: In fictional stories, bears appear to be slow, lazy, and clumsy. However, appearances are deceptive. Grizzlies can run at speeds ranging from 27.78-35 miles per hour. This means they can beat many sprinters including the legendary, Usain Bolt. Also, contrary to popular belief, Grizzly bears can climb trees. However, they need proper support from evenly spaced branches as the bears have long claws and are heavy animals. They can be dangerous to humans if they feel threatened or if a human comes near their cubs. Conservation efforts and threats: Like many beautiful creatures, Grizzly bears populations are facing threats to their existence. Threats to their populations’ existence include human activities like logging, hunting, development, and mining. The sad part is that there is legalized bear hunting in Canada. A dead Grizzly bear is viewed as a trophy. There have been some controversial efforts to remove laws that aim at protecting the Grizzly Bears in recent years. On a positive note, there have been conservation efforts to boost the bears’ populations. In the USA, the Endangered Species Act helps in conserving the bear’s population. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have helped in conservation efforts by setting up recovery zones. Its aims at setting up recovery zones which help in reimbursing ranchers for the livestock killed by Grizzly bears. The Recovery Zones also aim at improving human-bear relations by educating people about the bears.                                    

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Mammals

Jaguar guide: how to identify, where to see

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Jaguar guide: how to identify, where to see Jaguar Fact File: The Jaguar is the third-largest cat in the world and the largest in the Americas. Length-wise, they are 240cm in length and in shoulder height; they are 75cm. The Jaguar lives across South America and Central America. They are an endangered species and there are continuous efforts to save the 34 jaguar subpopulations. There are 64,000 jaguars in the Americas. There are 34 jaguar subpopulations, 25 of which are under threat. Eight of the 34 Jaguar subpopulations are in danger of extinction. Diet, Habitat and behaviour Jaguars diet include rodents, mammals and reptiles. Their diet includes deer, peccary, capybaras, crocodiles, tapirs, snakes, monkeys, deer, sloths, tapirs, turtles, eggs, frogs, and fish. Jaguars live in a wide range of habitats. This includes drier regions, dense swamplands, grassland, scrub, and forests. While other cats dislike swimming, the Jaguars are excellent swimmers. That is why jaguars lurk around rivers because of the abundance of prey. They can climb trees and ambush their prey. The Jaguars are a top-level carnivore. This means they keep the other species populations in check and fight with other smaller carnivores over prey. They like to live and hunt by themselves solitary animals, besides during mating season. The big cat hunts on the ground but also hunt in the trees and water. Other features of the Jaguar: Jaguars have similarities to leopards. However, you cannot get confused while in the wild as there are no other big cats in the Americas. The cougar is weaker compared to the jaguar and they are also different in appearance to the jaguars. Colour-wise, the jaguars are tan or orange and they have unique black spots called rosettes. There are jaguars that are black and at first glance, do not appear to have any spots. The spots on the black jaguars are visible on closer inspection. Unlike the leopard who has similar rosette-type spots, the jaguar’s spots have smaller spots inside them which make them distinguishable from the leopards. Jaguars have one of the most powerful bites out of all the big cats. They have powerful jaws that are potent enough to crack open a turtle’s shell or penetrate through the skull of their prey. Males defend territory ranging from 80-90sq.m. The only time they meet other jaguars, in particular the females, is if they are mating.  Breeding occurs often throughout the year and the females give birth to four cubs that become independent after two years. Conservation efforts and threats: International organisations like the Defenders, are pushing efforts to implement policies that include banning international trade of the jaguar. The organisation also is a sponsor of the 1st range states Jaguar workshop in Bolivia in 2019. In 2004, the renowned zoologist and former Panthera CEO Alan Rabinowitz proposed The Jaguar Corridor Initiative. The initiative to create a continuous north-to-south habitat corridor throughout the species’ range, enabling it to roam and breed. Defenders played a massive part in helping establish the Northern Jaguar Reserve in Sonora, Mexico, that aims at protecting the remaining Jaguar population in the north of Mexico. Other threats to the jaguar’s existence include palm oil expansion, isolation, Amazon fires, fragmentation of Jaguar habitats, and deforestation.       .                                        

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Mammals

Baboons:The Monkeys With the Scarlet Booties

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Baboons: The Monkeys With the Scarlet Booties Baboons- “Few mysterious facts areby nature,Fixed to their ways.Baboons carry their innocent eyesI find peace in thoseSometimes for long days..” Baboons are probably the most identifiable of the monkey world. They have tufts of hair on either side of their appearances and enormous, smooth bottoms that can turn red. These old-world monkeys moreover don’t have prehensile tails like some unusual monkeys, which implies they don’t utilize their tail like a hand. Size Baboons are the world’s biggest monkeys, as indicated by National Geographic. From skull to base, Baboons develop to 20 to 34 inches (60 to 86 centimeters) and their tails add an extra 16 to 23 inches (41 to 58 cm) to their length. They weigh about as much as a human kid — 33 to 82 lbs. (22 to 37 kilograms). Habitat Baboons are just found in an unmistakable territory of the world: Africa and Arabia. Four species, the chacma, olive, yellow and Guinea, live in the savannas. Others live in other semi-arid territories, however, a few Baboons can some of the time be found in tropical timberlands. The Hamadryas Baboon lives in the slopes along the Red Sea. In contrast to different monkeys, Baboons remain on the ground a great part of the time. They do rest, eat or keep watch in trees, however. Habits  Baboons are exceptionally social animals. Gatherings of monkeys are called troops, and a troop can contain handfuls to many individuals. The biggest soldiers have up to 300 individuals, as per the African Wildlife Federation. Troops husband to be, rest and ensure one another. Youthful monkeys in the troop will likewise play together. Games incorporate wrestling, swinging from vines, and pursue. A Baboons male, as a rule, runs the troop. Guys are typically positioned in strength by age and size while females are normally positioned by birth request. Diet As omnivores, Baboons eat a wide cluster of meats and plants. Common nourishments in a monkey’s eating regimen incorporate grasses, natural products, seeds, roots, bark, rodents, winged animals, and the youthful of pronghorns, sheep, and different warm-blooded creatures. They even eat different monkeys. Now and then primates make irritations of themselves by eating crops close to their homes. Characteristics All baboons have long, dog-like muzzles, substantial, ground-breaking jaws with sharp canine teeth, close-set eyes, thick hide aside from on their gags, short tails, and unpleasant spots on their projecting posterior, called ischial callosities. These calluses are nerveless, hairless pads of skin that provide for the sitting comfort of the baboon. All baboon species show articulated sexual dimorphism, ordinarily in size, yet additionally now and then in shading or canine advancement. Males of the hamadryas baboon species likewise have enormous white manes.

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Mammals

Fascinating Cat Puma

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Fascinating Cat Puma Pumas: The Unique Cats of North and South America. Pumas are a fascinating cat species. These big cats possess many hunting skills and techniques. They live in different parts of the Americas, from the Yukon of Canada to the Southern Andes of South America. Pumas are the most spread out cat species in the Western Hemisphere. Characteristics of the Puma. Pumas are from the small cat’s family and do not get classified as big cats, even though some Pumas can match the size of the leopard. In terms of heaviness, the Puma is the fourth heaviest cat after the leopard, jaguar, and the tiger. The average weight of an adult Puma ranges from 50-82kg for males and 29-64kg for females. They are slender and agile and are 2.4m in height. Adult Pumas are slender and agile. Pumas have a round head, erect ears, five claws on each forepaw and four claws on each hind pawThe Puma has a spherical head and erect ears Pumas are apex predators, but they have threats. These threats are humans, bears, jaguars, and wolf packs. Threats occur when Pumas fight for the same food as other predators. Humans are threats to Pumas as they hunt Pumas for different reasons such as clothing and protecting farm animals.   The behavior of Pumas and Preying Techniques: Pumas are territorial and like to live on their own. Females mark the areas with feces or urine. Area-wise, the community ranges from 150 to 1500 sq. km, i.e., 58-386 sq. miles. For prey, the Pumas stalk their prey before leaping onto their prey and give them a suffocating neck bite. What further assists the Pumas while preying, is their adjustable spine that helps them get through different hunting experiences. Pumas are vocal animals and use various vocal calls. These include low pitched hisses, growls, purrs, and screams. Pumas show incredible strength in dragging prey that is several times their weight. Pumas are sole hunters. They require room to hunt and wherever there is a sufficient food supply; they stay in that place.   Other features of Pumas: The Pumas are such fascinating creatures. One article cannot cover the awe associated with the Puma. Pumas can run at speeds of 40-50 MP/hr, i.e., 64-80 km/hr, and they can jump as high as 15 feet (4.6m). However, they prefer running in short sprints rather than long chases. Not only can they run at a searing speed, Pumas are athletic animals that also can swim and climb. Pumas can be pests for ranchers and farmers, but they have an important role in the environment. Pumas keep the populations of animals lower on the food chain in checks, such as rabbits and mules. If animals that are lower on the food chain have population growths and are unchecked, then the farmer’s crops may get overrun leading to numerous problems and the environment.

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Mammals

The Otter-Facts That Prove They’re The World’s Best Animal

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The Otter-Facts That Prove They’re The World’s Best Animal Facts about the Otter- Otters are playful animal animals. They belong to the Weasel family and live near freshwater and marine ecosystems. We can find otters on every continent except Antarctica and Australia. Characteristics of the Otter. The average weight of the Otter ranges from 3kg to -45kg. Otters have fur color that is brown and they have lighter underparts. The shades of brown vary from dark to cinnamon brown on the otters. Otter’s fur is fine, dense and velvety. There are two types of fur that otters have. One type of fur is long, with stout guars hairs. The other type is a more dense arrangement of short with fine under hairs. The fur of otters varies differs with the species and Sea Otters, which have the longest fur out of all the species of otters.   Otters like to keep their coats clean and they have valid reasons to do so. The Otter’s furry coat helps them remain waterproof and insulated against the cold. Otter’s coats help them keep buoyancy and provide their fur with thick insulation. The thick fur helps protect the otters from the chilly waters and cold weather. In addition, their webbed feet and large lungs assist them in floating on water. Otters do not have blubber, unlike other mammals. They can hold their breath underwater for 5-8 minutes. Otters give birth in the water and the mothers look after their young when they float on their backs. Pups depend on their mothers for 6-8 months before they become independent and within that period, they learn how to swim. Newborn pups require lots of attention and they stay close to their mum before they become confident enough to venture alone. The Pup’s fur is too dense, which means it cannot swim underwater. So, that’s why the mother leaves the pup floating, while she goes searching for food until the pup develops adult fur.   Food, diet, habitat, and predators. An Otter’s diet includes fish, crayfish, crabs, mussels, frogs, clams, octopus, and sea urchins. Otters also eat snails, fat innkeeper worms and crustaceans. Otter predation on the herbivorous urchins enables helps keep the ecosystem stable. Fish and forest systems flourish because of Otters. Habitat-wise, Otters live in coastal habitats within range of the shoreline, barrier reefs. Predators include sharks, killer whales, and crocodiles and alligators. Other features. Otters, in particular, Sea Otters are a keystone species. Keystone species are those species of animals that are so valuable to the ecosystem, that if they become extinct or go close to extinction, the ecosystem most likely collapses. That is why the otters play a key role in maintaining environmental health. Otters maintain the balance of ecosystems wherever they live. Sea urchins would devour the Kelp Forests if there were no otters to keep the Sea Urchins population in check. The kelp forests off the coast give many marine species sources of food. Wipe out the Kelp Forests, and most marine species living near Kelp forests would disappear. Hence, why the Otters are so valuable to the ecosystems.      

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