Endangered Animals

,,,,,,,

You are a wildlife biologist recruited to observe and learn all you can about a few endangered species. You are then to report your findings to the wildlife conservation. Your goal is to understand these animals and their interaction with their enviroment so you can understand how climate change may effect them and their habitats. You have been assigned the following species: Monarch butterflies, Orcas, Asian elephants, Apes, and Giant pandas. You now stand at the airport in Toronto. Are you ready to begin your research? Where do you want to go first? | [[California]] | [[Salish Sea]] | [[Cameroon]] | [[Kalimantan]]| [[China]] | [[Wildlife Conservation Office]]

You arrive in California. Because of the time of year you know that the Monarch Butterflies will be here mating before continuing their journey from southern Canada to Mexico for the winter. You hope to see some of these beautiful butterflies in their natural habitat. Where should you go? the grove of [[trees]] by the coast or Into town to check [[the Gardens]]

You arrive in Vancouver. You hope to observe the Orcas in their natural habitat. Where do you go? Out to [[the Coast]] or [[the zoo]]

''You arrive in Cameroon. You know that Gorillas are very wary of humans, and with only about 300 Cross river gorillas left in the wild seeing one would be a surprise. However you hope to research and learn about them in their natural habitat. Where do you go? To the forest mountain range that borders [[Nigeria]] To the [[coastal]] plains''

You arrive in Indonesia on the island of Kalimantan You are hoping to research the Borneo pygmy elephants and their natural habitat Where do you go? The lowland [[rainforest]] Or High in the [[hill]] forest

You arrive in China. You hope to see a Great Panda in their natural habitat. You know that they could once be found widespread throughout southern and eastern China But now only live in small isolated patches of mountain forest Where do you go? Towards the [[great Sichuan Plain]] or Towards the city of [[Beijing]]

Once you reach the coast you find a quiet lookout and wait. You decide not to join the whale watching boat as you know that the noise from boats can affect their ability to effectively hunt for food. You think that orcas eat Chinook pacific [[salmon]] or [[seals]]

You won't find an Orca in its NATURAL habitat here. At the zoo the Orcas live in artificial enviroments You'll have to start [[again ->Salish Sea]]

Correct! Chinook salmon are very sensitive to temperature change. Any increase in the temperature of the water where they live can harm or even kill them. As you observe and talk to local marine biologists you discover that a pod of Orcas eat 1,400 Chinook salmon [[every day]] or 14 salmon [[every hour]]

Orcas in the Salish don't eat seals You'll have to start [[again ->Salish Sea]]

An Orca pod eats about 1400 salmon a day. You realize how important the Chinook salmon are to the survival of Orcas You now start to think about how climate change effects Orcas. What will you tell the wildlife conservation is an important CLIMATE CHANGE threat to watch out for? [[Carbon emission and green house gases]] are raising water temperatures, killing the Orcas food source the Chinook salmon. Or Fishing and whale watching [[boats]] making it difficult for Orcas to hunt.

A pod of Orcas will actually each about 1400 salmon every day You'll have to start [[again ->Salish Sea]]

Correct! Carbon emissions and green house gases produced by humans are causing temperatures of the atmosphere to rise, therefore raising the temperature of the waters and killing chinook salmon, leaving Orcas with a depleted food source. You report your findings to the wildlife conservation. You now head back to Toronto and must choose where to go [[next! ->TO airport]]

Fishing and whale watching boats are a threat from direct human interaction with the species, yet still important to be aware of. Try [[again ->every day]]

''You've made it to the Wildlife coservation headquarters You prepare to share your research with the executives. Your findings are: The greatest threat to the Borneo pigmy elephants in Kalimantan Indonesia, the Orcas in the Salish sea, the giant pandas in China, the Monarch butterflies in California, and the Cross river gorillas in Cameroon are... [[A]] carbon emission and green house gases reulting in atmospheric temperature and weather changes in the air and water, and deforestation causing habitat loss and fragmentation. [[B]] Human inventions such as boats, roads and farms causing traumatizing interaction between humans and these endangered animals. ''

You've made it to the Sichuan plain! There are many kinds of plant life and vegetation all around. It is a beautiful lush forest plain. You begin your research learning what pandas eat. You predict they [[eat plants?]] or [[eat meat?]]

Although the city is fascinating, you won't find a great panda or its natural habitat here! You'll have to try [[again->China]]

Correct! A giant panda's diet consists almost entirely of bamboo shoots and leaves! However you learn that because of the growing population of China, panda habitat (including bamboo plants) is continuing to disappear as humans push developments higher up the mountain slopes, creating isolated and fragmented populations and habitats. You also learn however that bamboo has very little nutritional value which is why a panda has to eat [[12 to 38 kilograms]] every day or [[10 to 20 kilograms]] every day

A giant pandas diet consists almost entirely of bamboo shoots and leaves! Try [[again->China]]

Correct! Because of bamboo's little nutritional value a giant panda must eat between 12-38kgs of bamboo everyday just to meet their energy needs! This means pandas play an important of spreading seeds and facilitating growth of vegetation. But with their decline in habitat... What human action is putting the climate at risk and in turn also threatening the giant panda? [[Deforestation]] and loss of habitat or [[Tourism]] to China

Because of bamboo's little nutritional value, panda's actually need to eat between 12-38kgs of bamboo everyday just to meet their energy needs! [[Try again->China]]

Correct! Deforestation and loss of habitat is one of the greatest threats to the giant panda species. The impact humans make by continuously developing and clear cutting natural habitats affects our climate and creates a chain reaction that poses new threats to human, animal and plant life. You report these findings to the wildlife conservation. You now head back to Toronto and must choose where to go [[next! ->TO airport]]

While tourism may influence or play a role in the threat to the giant panda... You'll have to [[Try again->12 to 38 kilograms]]

You find a grove of trees and wait. You know the Monarch Butterflies will only fly at certain times of day and in certain conditions. You wait because you know the Monarch butterlfies will fly during the [[warmest]] part of the day when the sun is out or [[when it's overcast]] and there is a slight breeze

You won't find the Monarchs here with the hustle and bustle of people passing through. You'll have to try [[again->California]]

Monarch butterflies are very sensitive to temperature. That's how they know when to leave Canada and head to Mexico, and how they know when to return. You learn that the Monarch Butterlfies will stop to lay their eggs on the milkweed plants where ever they can. However, the loss of milkweed plants along the migration path is threatening the Monarch butterflies because... If there is no milkweed there is no food or place for the Monarch [[Caterpillars]] to grow into butterflies If there is no milkweed the Monarch butterflies do not know they are on the right [[migration path]]

Monarch Butterflies will only fly if the weather is warm enough and the sun is out! If it's a bit chilly the Monarch buterflies won't fly at all. You'll have to try [[again->California]]

Monarch's need to eat milkweed as caterpillars because they can't sip nector from the flowers until they grow into butterlies. The loss of these native plants like milkweed, and also the loss of wintering forests due to deforestation, pose a threat to the Monarch butterflies. What do you believe is another threat to the Monarch butterflies that needs to be reported to the Wildlife Conservation? Carbon emissions and green house gases causing atmospheric [[temperature and weather changes]]. People [[not planting Monarch friendly plants and flowers]] like Milkweed, Purple coneflower, Black-eyed susan, or Canada goldenrod.

Monarch butterflies are very intuitive! They have an internal compass that knows their migration path because of air temperatures, thermals, and currents. You'll have to try [[again->California]]

Correct! In addition to the loss of native plants like milkweed, and winttering forests to deforestation, one of the biggest threats to the Monarch Butterfly is the atmospheric temperature, and weather changes due to carbon emissions and green house gases. With the changing of temperatures the Monarch butterfly's migration may be delayed affecting their reproduction cycle declining the number of Monarch butterflies in the world. You report these findings to the Wildlife Conservation. You head back to Toronto to decide where to [[go next->TO airport]]

While planting more of these may help the Monarch butterflies, not planting them isn't the biggest threat. Try [[again->Caterpillars]]

You've made it to the forest range. Your first interest looking at the Cross river gorillas habitat is what here do they eat? [[Mostly plants]]? Or do they [[hunt for meat]]?

The Cross river gorilla hides in the forest mountain range along the border of Cameroon and Nigeria. Try [[again->Cameroon]]

''Correct! A Cross river gorilla eats mostly fruit and vegetation. They use their strength, lips, and hand dexterity to manipulate trees and fruit to get access to the portion they wish to eat. Because of where the Cross river gorillas live, the plants they eat are seasonal and their diets change slightly depending on the season. Cross River gorillas forage for food according to seasons, and this natural migration is being disrupted by an increase in villages, agricultural lands and roads. Why could this be a real threat to the Cross river gorilla population? Because not having a good food source all year has a huge effect on their [[health and reproduction rates]] or Because not being able to migrate means the cross river gorillas are forced to stay in one [[small area]]''

The Cross river gorilla actually consumes mostly fruit and vegetation. They use their strength, lips, and hand dexterity to manipulate trees and fruit to get access to the portion they wish to eat. Try [[again->Cameroon]]

''Staying in one small area does pose a threat. But that is a threat to the Cross river gorillas health and repoduction rates! Try [[again->Cameroon]]''

''Correct! Not being able to migrate and struggling to find a good food source poses many threats to the Cross river gorillas health and reproduction. Cross river gorillas have a low reproduction rate, meaning a female will only give birth to 1 baby every 4 years. So the health of one baby is very important to increasing the population. Cross river gorillas live in family units, and if this family unit becomes isolated to one small area of habitat due to forest fragmentation they run the risks of inbreeding and limited the gene pool. This makes a huge negative impact on the health of baby Cross river gorillas. What human action is putting the climate at risk and in turn also threatening the Cross river gorilla? Deforestation resulting in [[forest fragmentation]] Or Human presence in the forest as Cross river gorillas are [[afraid of humans]]''

''Correct! Deforestation to build roads, villages etc, causing habitat fragmentation poses a huge threat to the Cross river gorillas. If they can not sustain the health of the already small population, and can not migrate and interact with other family groups and find a good food source, increasing the population is not likely. You report your findings to the Wildlife conservation. You return to Toronto and decide where to go [[next->TO airport]]''

''While human presence in the Cross river gorillas habitat is a problem, it is not the gorillas fear of humans that poses the greatest threat. Try [[again->health and reproduction rates]]''

''Congratulations!!! You have travelled to 5 different countries and learned a lot about 5 different species of endangered animals and the effect climate change has had on them. You will have helped the wildlife conservation create projecs and policies to put into place that will help protect Borneo pigmy elephants in Kalimantan Indonesia, the Orcas in the Salish sea, the Giant pandas in China, the Monarch butterflies in California, and the Cross river gorillas in Cameroon There is still so much to do to combat climate change and to save these, and other endangered animals but it looks like you have taken a step in the right direction! Keep learning about endangered animals and be sure to research ways you can help fight climate change at home! Thank you for your help!''

''While human invention and interaction can sometimes certainly play a role in climate change and pose a threat to endangered animals, that is not the most important finding in your research Try [[again->Wildlife Conservation Office]]''

Borneo pygmy elephants habitat is in the lush lowland and river valley forests. Althought the Borneo pygmy elephant is the smallest asian elephant their size still requires lots of forest space to find sufficient food sources and to migrate in order to meet with other family subgroups to mate and avoid inbreeding. Like other asian elephants the Borneo pygmy elephants eat [[grasses]], bamboo, palms, and fruits [[small rodents]], plants, and fruit.

While some solitary male Borneo pygmy elephants will travel through the hill forests most family groups will stay towards the flatter land so young elephants can move around more easily. Try [[again->Kalimantan]]

Borneo pygmy elephants are herbivores that eat entirely plants, seeds, and fruits. This is why they need lots of forest to wander. They need an ample food suppy to get all their nutrients. Borneo pygmy elephants will eat [[150 kg]] of food everyday. [[50kg]] of food everytime they eat

Borneo pygmy elephants are actually herbivores. Meaning that they eat entirely plants, seeds, and fruits, and no meat. Try [[again->Kalimantan]]

Borneo pygmy elephants will actually eat around 150kg of plants, seeds, and fruit everyday! Asian elephants aren't predators, and have very few natural predators (only large cats and packs of wild dogs), but Borneo pygmy elephants have no natural predators on the island of Kalimantan -- other than humans. Because of human development Borneo pygmy elephants aren't just losing food sources but are being forced into living closer to human settlements. Elephants in search of food will sometimes raid farmers fields and ruin crops. This interaction has lead to more elephants being killed by human conflict. What do you believe is the biggest threat to the climate and to the Borneo pygmy elephants? [[deforestation and habitat fragmentation]] Inbreeding resulting in unhealthy elephants, loss of food source, and [[human conflict]]

Borneo pygmy elephants will actually eat around 150kg of food everyday! Try [[again->Kalimantan]]

Correct! Deforestation and habitat fragmentation cause Borneo pygmy elephants by limiting the habitat space they have to survive, resulting in inbreeding leading to unhealthy elephants, loss of their food source, and human iinteraction and killing. You report your findings to the wildlife conservation. You head back to Toronto to decide where to go [[next->TO airport]]

Borneo pygmy elephants are threatened by inbreeding resulting in unhealthy elephants, loss of food source, and human conflict. But all of these threats come from deforestation and habitat fragmentation. Try [[again->150 kg]]