Thursday 30 June 2011

POLAR BEAR AFFECTED DUE TO GLOBAL WARMING


POLAR BEAR
Polar bear {ursus maritimus}.
Polar bear are the largest strongest mammal bear and only one species  in the bear family. Baby polar bears are born on land and they are moved by the female polar bears to live on sea and Arctic Ocean. Polar bear baby are protected by the female polar bears .polar bears hunts only from sea ice. A polar bear is a vulnerable species they don’t live for long .polar bears attacks its prey mostly the sea lions, seals, whales fish etc. Polar bears are most dangerous predators in nature if provoked by human beings. Polar bear population is around 200,000
ABOUT POLAR BEARS
polarbear are carnivorous animals, the average weight  of an adult male polar bear is about  350 to 680 kg  the polar bear has  around 42 teeth  in total. Polar bear can also be named as a marine animal due to its long period in the sea; polar bears have a unique sense of smell which they use as a tool to hunt the sea lions in the arctic ice they rarely attack human beings.
Polar bear mating season is on April they mate on the sea they are not territorial  they live for a maximum of 24 years they have a blunt ,curved long straight claws
polar bears have thick white or yellowish fur and fats in their body to protect them from cold
polar bears are good swimmers
POLAR BEARS
  1. What are polar bears?
  2. Why are polar bear endangered? 
  3. Where are polar bears found? 
  4. Are polar bears becoming extinct? 
  5. What does polar bear eat? 
  6. What do polar bears do? 

Tuesday 28 June 2011

WHITE TIGER













White tigers are large at birth and also during maturity  stage .the white tigers are especially in captivity in zoos worldwide  due to their beautiful  image ,more attractive  and also they are being protected from haunting poachers. white tigers are exotic animals and most of them came from India  an Asian continent the white tigers are endangered species .A white tiger can be either  a breed of pure bengals and hybrid of bengal siberian.White tiger habitat is mostly in the densely populated areas of tropical forest and ma groove forests. white tiger  diet is  composed of  meat only, thats why the white tigers are called carnivorous animals  the food keeps them strong  so that they can get  ready to attack another prey for their dinner.White tiger predators are those that are seen to be more stronger and dangerous than the white tigers.

ABOUT WHITE TIGER
White tiger have dark or black stripes which run vertically on their body .the white tiger have blue eyes  which are crossed which helps them to see clearly at night and in dark .the white tigers do not live for long maximum of 11yrs and may live long in captivity.
white tigers have sharp claws which are used to mark  claws on trees  showing  that they dominate the area the male white tiger weigh 300kg while the  female white tiger weigh less

Monday 27 June 2011

cats

Felitus catus also known as domestic cats they are small in size  domesticate cats live  with human beings  like pets and which have different cat names or protection from other predators. Cats have stayed with human beings for along period of time centuries and centuries to come a cat  can also be a nuisance to human beings if not well taken care of at home  facts about cats is that  they have a strong  flexible bodies ,they have claws for their on protection especillay during an attack from other animals,they have hearing ability they can sense danger from far and have eyes which can see in  darkness. They mostly have a power of smell than taste which makes the cats unique in their own way, cat have different breeds in the world but have similar characters.Dogs and cats are both domesticated animals  which mostly are not feared by people .about kittens and cats is that kittens are babies of cats while the cats are maturely grown animals  which are  canivorouse.

Friday 24 June 2011

GIRAFFE

Giraffes are amazing, interesting beautiful  animals with spotted coat  colours as compared to zebras tiger, leopard and the cheetah.

GIRAFFES FIGHTING
 Scientific name of a giraffe is known as Giraffa camelopardalis 
Kiswahili  name TWIGA 

The twiga word is mostly used by the people who speak Swahili in east Africa twiga or giraffes is found in zoos, animal parks and reserves twiga are not that dangerous animals compared to lion and others most dangerous animals on earth.

THE BEST FACTS ABOUT GIRAFFES or TWIGA IN AFRICA

  1. Giraffes are the tallest mammal animals in the world measuring 6feet tall amazingly they can live for 25 years
  2. Giraffes or Twiga eat plants from acacia tress and grass for food which gives them an advantage of staying for days and weeks without water which is a good sign during droughts
  3. Female giraffes give  birth standing to young ones after 15 months duration. The Baby giraffe is 6feet tall immediately after birth  
  4. Giraffes are unique and intelligent in their own way they can sense when the predators especially lion or wild beast are at a close range moreover the giraffe’s sleeps while standing incase of any danger they are ready to run as fast as a cheetah to survive.
  5. A giraffe’s toungue is 15 centimeters long it can hold or grab objects without any struggle
  6. IMAGES OF GIRAFFES STANDING IDOL
  7. The giraffes can be vulnerable to predators in that when they want to quench their thirst by drinking water they have to spread their legs a part and bend making them easier pray to wild animals especially the lions.
  8. A male giraffe can weigh as much as a pick up truck! That’s about 1400 kilograms.
    Although a giraffe’s neck is 1.5 – 1.8 metres, it contains the same number of vertebrae at a human neck.
    A giraffe's habitat is usually found in African savannas, grasslands or open woodlands.
    The hair that makes up a giraffes tail is about 10 times thicker than the average strand of human hair.
    The distinctive spots that cover a giraffe’s fur act as a good camouflage to protect the giraffe from predators. When the giraffe stands in front of trees and bushes the light and dark colouring of its fur blends in with the shadows and sunlight.
    It is possible to identify the sex of the giraffe from the horns on its head. Both males and females have horns but the females are smaller and covered with hair at the top. Male giraffes may have up to 3 additional horns.
    Giraffes are ruminants. This means that they have more than one stomach. In fact, giraffes have four stomachs, the extra stomachs assisting with digesting food.
    Drinking is one of the most dangerous times for a giraffe. While it is getting a drink it cannot keep a look out for predators and is vulnerable to attack.
    Male giraffes sometimes fight with their necks over female giraffes. This is called “necking”. The two giraffes stand side by side and one giraffe swings his head and neck, hitting his head against the other giraffe. Sometimes one giraffe is hit to the ground during a combat.
    A female giraffe gives birth while standing up. The calf drops approximately 6 feet to the ground, but it is not hurt from the fall.
    Giraffes have bluish-purple tongues which are tough and covered in bristly hair to help them with eating the thorny Acacia trees.

                                                    Alligators
                                                               Beautiful snakes
                                                                         Monkeys




Thursday 23 June 2011

Pangolins

The Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) 

The Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) is a species of pangolin found in, well, India. The Indian Pangolin is also found in Sri Lanka and is an insectivore primarily. The Indian Pangolin is one of the few that will climb trees, however it is not strictly arboreal (tree dwelling) and will dig burrows. Like all pangolins it has large armored scales and will quickly curl into a ball when it feels threatened, with its tail covering its head for protection. The Indian pangolin grows to a weight of 17-19 lbs (8-9 kilograms) and their head and body length reaches 2.0-2.2 ft (60-65 centimeters) with their armored tails adding 1.5-1.8 ft (45-55 centimeters) to the overall length. Their skin is a brownish color, while the scales can be brownish to yellowish in appearance, but are mostly kept with their surrounding to better help them go un-noticed.

The Indian Pangolin belongs to the genus Manis, which has seven other species of pangolins, however the pangolins themselves are monotypes, meaning that their family Manidae has no other living genus but Manis, and their order Pholidota has no other living family except Manidae. Additional features of pangolins include their tongues, which can extend to over 9 inches (20-23 centimeters) and has muscles that extend back to its pelvic area in order to anchor the massive tongue. They also have a prehensile tail that they can use when climbing trees or balancing. The pangolin also posses five sharp claws on each limb, and use them for digging up their main foods which are majorly termites and ants.

The Indian Pangolin prefers hilly areas to planes, as long as they are tropical, and will sleep inside hollowed trees or dig a 20 foot deep burrow (6 meters) when the dirt is soft enough. However if the dirt is not as soft as that, they will dig 6 foot deep burrows out of necessity. Once inside their burrow, they will cover the doorway in loose dirt to hide it from predators and other invaders. The Indian Pangolin lives a mostly solitary life, having little contact with others until the breeding season starts, which is about the only time you will find two in the same burrow. If disturbed they can emit and acidic foul smelling liquid from glands - similar to how a skunk would, and can cause further irritation to any unlucky predator.

Gestation (pregnancy) times for the Indian Pangolin are roughly 65-75 days, with the average litter size being two or just one, and can occur at any season and time throughout the year. Other information, such as full maturity or rearing habits for the Indian Pangolin are as of yet unknown until further observation can be made. Currently the Indian Pangolin is listed as near-threatened by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) and are dependant on further conservation. However human beings are one of the largest threats to the Indian Pangolin, as encroachment on habitat takes a dire toll on populations - which is not helped by poaching for food and scales which are though by many (incorrectly) to be a pleasure inducing substance. Other threats do include natural predators; however without the pressure from human beings it is likely that it would not endanger the species in the same way.

Here are some interesting facts about Indian Pangolins:

Over 1/3 to 1/4 of the Indian Pangolin's weight is from its scales.

The Indian Pangolin's scales are made out of the same material as the human fingernail - Keratin.

Indian Pangolins have a highly developed problem-solving brain, and are capable of using it in the wild, and to escape back to the wild when in captivity.

Conservationists teamed with Authorities continue to save Pangolins from illegal exportation to countries such as China where populations believe the Pangolin to be a delicacy and also parts to hold medicinal values.

Indian Pangolins, like other pangolins, cannot walk on their front claws, and so curl them back and walk on their knuckles.

Indian Pangolins lack teeth, as do other pangolins, and have a two chambered stomach that crushes their food for them.

Malayan Pangolin (Manis javanica)
Malayan Pangolin (Manis javanica)also known as the Sunda Pangolin, is found in Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, Indonesia, and Singapore. The IUCN entry on the Malayan Pangolin has it listed as 'possibly extinct regionally' in Singapore and 'Uncertain presence and origin' in Bangladesh and China. The Chinese and Malayan Pangolin are closely related, the Malayan Pangolin is larger, has shorter foreclaws and is lighter in colour.

Malayan Pangolins inhabit burrows, which they dig out themselves, or occupy burrows from previous residents. They use their strong foreclaws, which also come in handy when digging out termite mounds and ant nests.They are remarkable creatures, nicknamed the "living pine cones", with their dragon like armor with sharp scales.

The Malayan Pangolin's natural predators are the Tiger and the Clouded Leopard.

Interesting fact Although they resemble tanks, a mother Pangolin is extremely protective. When threatened, the mother will curl into a ball with the young inside. The Chinese Pangolin (Manis Pentadactyla) ranges eastward through India, Nepal, Burma, China, and eastern Himalayas. This species is mainly found in the deciduous forests and subtropical regions. The rolling hills of central Nepal have a huge number of termite mounds where Chinese pangolins are found in great numbers.

The Chinese Pangolin
The Chinese Pangolin belongs to the burrowing family. It can dig up to 8 ft deep (2.5 meters) in the ground with its strong and clawed forefeet. It just takes the pangolin four to five minutes to dig that deep. Once it enters the burrow, it blocks the opening. Some Chinese pangolins occupy burrows of other animals as well.

The Chinese Pangolin appears like a scaly anteater. From head to body, it measures around 60 cm (24 inches) and its tail measures about 18 cm (7 inches). A mature Chinese pangolin weighs about 2.4 kg (82.72 oz). A new born baby pangolin weighs about 93 gram (3.26 oz). It has 18 rows of overlapping scales accompanied with hair, a rare combination found in mammals. It has a small narrow mouth and a little pointed head. Its nose is plump with nostrils at its end. This is a bronze colored animal with a round body equipped with extremely sharp claws.

The Chinese pangolin found in Nepal reproduces in the months of April and May when the weather is a bit warm. The female gives birth to a single young one at a time and the baby weighs about 1 lb (400 gm) and its length is about 45 cm (18 inches). The young one also has scales which remain very soft for two days. Although the young pangolin can walk on its very first day, the mother carries the baby on its back or tail. In case the mother feels threatened, it immediately folds her baby with its stomach with the help of its tail. Male pangolins have been noticed to show extraordinary parental instinct and allow the female and its baby share the burrow.

The Chinese pangolin is a rather secretive animal. They are considered nocturnal creatures and are extremely shy. They move very slowly and are known for their non-aggressive behavior. Their hard scales work as a protection cover from predators and when they feel endangered, they curl themselves in a ball. Chinese pangolins are mainly terrestrial animals and are observed in forests that are about 20 feet high from the ground.

They mainly eat insects as termites and ants. Their sharp claws help them in digging up the ants and termite mounds and with the help of their sticky, long tongue (25 cm), they can draw their prey into their mouth.

In Vietnam and Hong Kong, Chinese pangolins are considered a delicacy and they are hunted on a large scale only for this purpose. Now, Chinese pangolins are being protected in the forests where they are generally found. Factors like habitat destruction and hunting constantly challenges their survival. Since the forests they inhabit are difficult to patrol, hunters get a greater chance to hunt these animals without being caught.

The tree pangolin (Manis tricuspis)
The tree pangolin (Manis tricuspis) is a small mammal that lives in the rainforest of west to central Africa. It weighs approximately 4-5 lbs (about 2 kg) and is an anteater. The body of the tree pangolin is almost completely covered in hard scales which serve to protect it from predators. The scales each have three sharp points and are layered over the entire body except for the underbelly and parts of the head. The tree pangolin has a long thick tail that is also covered in scales and helps provide support as the tree pangolin climbs the trees of the rain forest.

The main predators of the tree pangolin are leopards, hyenas, and pythons. When approached by a predator, the tree pangolin rolls into a ball. The hard scales serve as a coat of armor and are sharp enough to injure a predator. The tree pangolin can also secrete a smelly substance from their anal glands which will also scare off a predator.

The female and male tree pangolins live alone unless the female is raising her young. The males will roam during mating season and each female will give birth to one offspring. The gestation period is 150 days and the newborn will stay with the mother for about 4 months. During that time, the mother will protect the newborn by rolling into a ball around it. The infant cannot walk for a few weeks after birth so it attaches to the mother's tail and is carried around through the trees.

The tree pangolins survive on a diet of ants, termites, and other insects. They use their claws to dig in the ground to search for food and then they capture insects with their long tongues that are coated in thick saliva. They have no teeth so they digest food by swallowing small rocks and sand that grind the food once it reaches the stomach.

The status of the tree pangolin is "near threatened" and they have been hunted by man for their meat and scales. Some cultures believe that the scales have healing powers and will protect them against evil.
Keywords: nocturnal , prehensile tail , poor eyesight , tail
The Three-cusped pangolin, tree pangolin, white-bellied pangolin is listed as Least Concern (LR/lc), lowest risk. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category, on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Countries
Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Congo, Democratic Republic of the, Congo, Republic of the, Cote d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda and Zambia
1. Manis, genus Manis -- (type genus of the Manidae)
Manis
genus Manis

The Long-tailed pangolin (Manis tetradactyla) 
is a fascinating creature, looking a bit like a walking pinecone. These species are usually found in the trees of dense rainforests, from Uganda to Senegal and Angola. Their scales are dark brown or pale olive green and are distinct. They range in size from 30 to 40cm (11.8 - 15.7 inches) in length and two to three kgs (4.4 to 6.6 lbs) in weight. Their very long tails are 60 to 70cm (23.6 - 27.6 inches) in length. This species of pangolin has a life expectancy of 13 years in captivity. It is unknown how long they can live in the wild.

The diet of the Long-tailed pangolin consists mostly of ants and termites. They make use of their long and sticky tongues to capture their prey, and they have no teeth. These animals find their food using their amazing sense of smell, which can sense termites and ants from hundreds of feet away. If the Long-tailed pangolin is attacked by a predator, it will curl into a small, tight ball, make a hissing sound, shake its scales and emit a distinct, foul-smelling liquid. They can even roll away from a dangerous situation if they need to.

They are generally solitary animals, spending daylight hours sleeping or climbing in trees, searching for food. In fact, they rarely come in contact with the ground at all, although they are good swimmers. They spend their nights in the hollows of trees.

In general, Long-tailed pangolins are born between November and March. Gestation takes about 120 to 150 days. The birth weight of baby pangolins ranges from 3-18 ounces (85.4-512.5 grams) and usually only one baby is born at a time. Young pangolins mature in two years.

Some of the natural enemies of the Long-tailed pangolin include leopards, hyenas and pythons. Human beings are also thought of as a predator. While not much is known about the exact number of Long-tailed pangolins in existence, the number of pangolins is declining in general. They are hunted for meat by many African tribes, their skin is used for boots and their scales are thought to have medicinal and ceremonial value. The destruction of the rainforest is another reason that their numbers declining, but their status is not of a large concern to conservationists at this time.

Keywords: tail , nocturnal ,

The Black-bellied pangolin, long-tailed pangolin is listed as Least Concern (LR/lc), lowest risk. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category, on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Countries
Angola, Cameroon, Congo, Democratic Republic of the, Congo, Republic of the, Cote d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Sudan and Uganda
1. Manis, genus Manis -- (type genus of the Manidae)
Manis
genus Manis
(Source WordNet) The Ground Pangolin, Temminck's Pangolin or Cape Pangolin (Manis Temminckii) is one of four species of pangolin found in Africa. It is the only one of the four which can also be found in southern and eastern Africa. It was named for Coenraad Jacob Temminck a Dutch Zoologist who studied these creatures.

The Ground Pangolin
The Ground Pangolinis listed on the United States Fish and Wildlife Services endangered species because this beautiful animal was once hunted for its scales which were used in love potions. It has also been burnt in many brush fires which has added to its endangerment.

The Ground Pangolin is covered almost all over with hard scales except for its soft underside. The scales are colored from grayish brown to dark olive brown. When this animal feels threatened, it will roll up into a ball, hence the title a reason to roll. It could also use its scales on the tail as a slashing tool to ward off potential attackers. Although it is found over a large area of Africa, it is difficult to find because of the threats posed by humans.
It can grow to a length of approximately 1 meter or 3.28 feet. When viewing the body of this animal, it will look very disproportionate, with a small head, small forelegs, large powerful hind legs and a tail which can measure 30 to 50 cm. or 1 to 2 feet approximately.

The Ground Pangolin, like all the other pangolins, are nocturnal creatures, preferring the nighttime hours. Their diet consists mainly of ants and termites. Their long, sticky tongue makes obtaining these treats easy. The tongue is stored in a pocket in the mouth. Even though they are perfectly capable of digging their own burrows, they usually will occupy unused holes which were previously dug by either warthogs or aardvarks. They can also be found sleeping in dense vegetation which makes finding them even more difficult.

Although their bodies look cumbersome, the Ground Pangolin can move quite rapidly. They have been observed moving at speeds of up to 50 meters or 160 feet per minute. They do move slowly most of the time though and they walk on their hind legs. Their tail is used for balance when they walk.

Keywords: tail , nocturnal

The Cape pangolin, ground pangolin, scaly anteater, south african pangolin, temminck's ground pangolin is listed as Near Threatened (LR/nt), is close to qualifying for or is likely to qualify for a threatened category in the near future, on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

Countries
Angola, Botswana, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of the, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe
1. Manis, genus Manis -- (type genus of the Manidae)
Manis
genus Manis

The Giant Pangolin (Manis gigantea) 
The Giant Pangolin (Manis gigantea) is the largest of the scaly anteaters or 'pangolins'. It lives in Africa along the equator from west to east and its diet consists almost entirely on ants and termites. Because it eats only ants and termites, the giant pangolin has no teeth and cannot chew. Its main threats are habitat destruction, the bushmeat market, and the illegal medicine market. The giant pangolin, like other pangolins, is nocturnal. It is a good climber and a good digger with its strong claws, which they curl in their paws when walking around.

Keywords: nocturnal , tail , claw ,
The Giant ground pangolin, giant pangolin is listed as Least Concern (LR/lc), lowest risk. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category, on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Countries
Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of the, Congo, Republic of the, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan and Uganda
1. Manis, genus Manis -- (type genus of the Manidae)
Manis
genus Manis


















Saturday 18 June 2011

BEAR

Bears are huge stocky mammals.We have  seven types of bears with long thick fur on their bodies they mostly live in dens.The  bears are carnivores animals apart from that they also eat grass,fruits,leaves and any other type of vegetation  available .The largest,huge beautiful bear is found in Alaskan brown bear which grows tall to around three meters in height.Bears are found  in Asia , Europe ,North America,South America and the Arctic around the north pole.
This are my free encyclopaedia of different species of bears  which are mostly endangered species  in the whole continent
brown bear searching food for their babies

black bear sitted waiting for diner

facts on black bears is that they are given names depending on where they come from example we have american black bears ,asian black bears etc bears hibernate depending on the seasons they are in

black bear bathroom

black bear crossing

asian black bear of maines

a black bear watching at a close range ready to attack

about black bears is that they are omnivorouse animals ,they live in deep forests they have sharp claws which  are used to mark on trees to symbolize they dominate that area ,their weight tend to vary depending on their health, feeding habits , age ,sex  and also seasons.the black bears have far which is dense in their body soft,long course hairs ,their hairs are more organized neat than brown bears which have shaggy hairs




polar bear

artic polar bears

polar bear cubs walking majestic on the ice searching for their mother after a long hibernation underground

polar bear cubs endagered species nowdays

About polar bears mostly  they always hibernate for more than six months and they come out of hibernation to smell fresh air and in search of food . polar bears are vulnerable species they are carnivorouse animals .the polar bears weigh 350 to 680 kg. the polar bears depends on sea ice to hunt lion seals , a polar bear is also regarded as  marine mammaml because all the year they spend time at the sea .



a polar bear after an attack of eating sea lion in the ice

baby polar bears  sleeping in the ice

baby polar bears suckling from their mother























Baby bears on the run




Brown bear watching at a close range  a bear is a very dangerous animal with its beautiful   
physique 

majestique walk  and proud bear

female bear with the naughty cubs taking snacks

Grizzly bear staring at its  reflection in the water endagered grizzly bear  they are  huge powerful bears of  North America  feeds on land animals ,fish,berries grass,roots and leaves. Grizzly bears have thick fur that ranges  from light tan to black.The grizzly bears are 6 to 9 feet  very dangerous creatures on planet 

bear swimming on a cold chilli water

a bear quenching its thirst

Teddy bear 

a brown bear on its two legged toes

brown bear brown bear what can you see ?    yammy  time to eat

brown bear hunting for fish