Latest news with #Przewalski
National Geographic
5 days ago
- National Geographic
Earth's Most Interesting Animals
Photographs by Getty Images Before your visit, discover some of Earth's most captivating creatures found at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, like the stealthy Sumatran tiger, the soaring California condor, and the resilient desert tortoise—each with its own fascinating traits that you can observe during your safari adventure. The southern white rhino, nearly 99 percent of which are found in South Africa, Kenya, Namibia, and Zimbabwe, is one of the largest land animals on Earth, second only to elephants. Despite the name, these rhinos are gray, and "white" was likely derived from the Afrikaans word for "wide," referring to their broad, square mouths. These semi-social animals often live in groups; males are usually solitary and mark their territory with dung. White rhinos are grazers, and enjoy rolling in mud to cool off and protect their skin. The critically endangered Sumatran tiger, native to Indonesia's island of Sumatra, is the smallest of all tiger subspecies—possibly an adaptation to its dense, island habitat. Built for stealth over stamina, it relies on quiet, calculated ambushes rather than long chases, and is capable of sprinting up to 40 miles per hour in short bursts. Desert tortoises native to the southwestern U.S. and northwestern Mexico, thrive in extreme heat by digging burrows up to 30 feet long to escape the scorching sun. A desert tortoise can collect rainwater in grooves it digs in the ground, and survive for up to a year without fresh water by storing water in its bladder. While generally solitary, male tortoises occasionally fight for dominance, using the curved horns on the undersides of their shells to flip each other over; the defeated tortoise accepts its loss once it rights itself. The platypus is one of nature's most curious creations, often described as looking like it's part duck, part beaver, and part otter. Native to Australia, it's one of only two egg-laying mammals, with females nesting in burrows and nursing their young for three to four months after they hatch. In the water, the platypus hunts with its eyes, ears, and nostrils closed, using its sensitive bill to detect prey on the riverbed. Despite its playful look, the male platypus carries venomous spurs on its hind legs, making it as formidable as it is fascinating. Przewalski's horses are considered by many to be the last truly wild horses, and were named after Russian explorer Nikolai Przewalski, who first encountered them during his expeditions in the late 1800s. These hardy horses roamed the grasslands of Asia and Europe for millennia before becoming extinct in the wild by the 1960s. Thanks to captive breeding and conservation efforts, they've been reintroduced, though some scientists now believe they may be descendants of domesticated horses that returned to the wild. Today, only around 2,000 Przewalski's horses remain, living in social groups called harems led by a single dominant stallion and known for their strong family bonds, or in smaller "bachelor" groups of breeding-age males driven out of the harem by the stallion. The California condor, the largest flying bird in North America, has a wingspan of nearly 10 feet and can soar up to 15,000 feet. Once ranging across North America from coast to coast, California condors now live mainly in California, Arizona, Utah, and Mexico. These scavengers prefer feeding on large mammal carcasses and can travel hundreds of miles a day in search of food. With slow reproduction rates, the critically endangered condors faced near extinction, but captive breeding has helped boost their population. Père David's deer, also known as milu in their native range, are large, stocky deer that thrive in cold, seasonally flooded conditions. With webbed hooves, these strong swimmers are at home in the water, and eat aquatic plants and grasses. Unlike other deer, their antlers have a front branch as large or larger than the rear-pointing one. Once extinct in the wild in their native China, the species survived in an imperial preserve in Beijing until it was destroyed by floods in the 19th century. The surviving deer were hunted and killed for food. French missionary Père Armand David had previously exported several of the deer to Europe, where a breeding program was established, and the species was saved. The deer were reintroduced to China in 1985. The okapi, often called the 'forest giraffe,' is a shy and solitary animal found only in the Ituri Rainforest and other dense forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Though it resembles a mix between a zebra and a deer, it's actually the giraffe's closest living relative. Its striped rump helps the okapi blend into shafts of sunlight filtering through the trees, and its long, dark, prehensile tongue is perfect for stripping leaves from branches. With a four-chambered stomach and a diet of fruits, leaves, and even clay for minerals, the okapi is uniquely built for life in the rainforest.
New Indian Express
23-04-2025
- Science
- New Indian Express
TN considers captive breeding of state animal Nilgiri tahr to ensure its long-term survival
CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu forest department is considering captive breeding of the Nilgiri tahr, which is the state animal, to ensure long-term survivability. With the species now confined largely to two meta-populations in Grass Hills National Park and Mukurthi National Park, officials see scientific breeding as a critical strategy for long-term survival. A comprehensive four-day synchronised survey of the Nilgiri tahr begins on April 24, covering Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Chief Wildlife Warden Rakesh Kumar Dogra, speaking at the survey's launch in Coimbatore, said: "When I was DFO in Ooty, we did preliminary work and identified a site for captive breeding, but the project never materialised. Now, it's imperative we pursue scientific captive breeding," Dogra told The New Indian Express . "This will support our relocation efforts. The Advanced Institute of Wildlife Conservation is assessing habitat suitability, and captive-bred tahrs can be integrated with wild populations to repopulate suitable habitats," he added. The survey, flagged off by Additional Chief Secretary for Environment, Forests, and Climate Change Supriya Sahu, involves multiple teams traversing 176 blocks in Tamil Nadu -- up from 140 last year due to new tahr sightings. Kerala will simultaneously survey 89 blocks. Sahu said, "Captive breeding, backed by scientific expertise and partnerships with Indian and international institutions, is a path we must explore to ensure the Nilgiri tahr's survival." Yash Veer Bhatnagar, IUCN country representative, told TNIE the revival of the Przewalski's horse and Arabian oryx are examples of successful captive breeding. "Przewalski's horses, the world's only wild horse species, went extinct in the wild. Pure breeds from Western zoos were used for captive breeding, and today, they thrive in Mongolia. The Arabian oryx followed a similar path," he said. The survey employs advanced methods like the bounded count and double observer techniques, tailored for fragmented and contiguous habitats near the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border. It includes threat assessments, carnivore faecal sampling, and field observations, with specially designed datasheets for accuracy. Field staff underwent training from April 15 to 20. Experts from IUCN-India, the Wildlife Institute of India, and Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University support this effort, spanning 233 from Ashambu Mottai to Thavalamalai. In January, a field team in Peyyanar Varaiyattu Mottai, Courtallam range of Nellai Wildlife Sanctuary, recorded direct tahr sightings -- the first in decades. The team also collected fresh tahr pellets, now under analysis at the Advanced Institute of Wildlife Conservation for faecal parasites and DNA to study population genetics. "The Varaiyattu Mottai habitat, with moist mixed-deciduous forests, bamboo, teak, cliffs, and rocky outcrops, is ideal for the tahr, which thrives in grassy, rugged terrains," said MG Ganesan, Director of Project Nilgiri Tahr. "This data will help us understand the population's health and genetic diversity," he added. Last year's survey estimated Tamil Nadu's tahr population at 1,031, with 552 in fragmented habitats and 479 in contiguous landscapes. Combined with Kerala's 827 tahrs, the total was 1,858. Launched by Chief Minister MK Stalin in October 2023, Project Nilgiri Tahr aims to reverse these losses through surveys, grassland restoration, and invasive species control, offering hope for the species' survival.
Forbes
20-04-2025
- Forbes
Watch Fearsome Raptors Soar At Mongolia's Golden Eagle Festival
While Mongolia is home to majestic mammals ranging from the snow leopard to the Przewalski's horse, few native animals can match the grandeur of the golden eagle. Capable of reaching more than 2.5 meters in wingspan, these ferocious birds of prey are known for their incredibly broad range across the Northern Hemisphere, with populations found from the Arctic Circle down to central Ethiopia—and for anyone wishing to marvel at these creatures in the flesh, Mongolia is the perfect destination, with Nomadic Expeditions offering a seven-day itinerary centered around this iconic species. Spanning from October 1st to October 7th, the company's Golden Eagle Festival expedition is dedicated to showcasing one of the Eurasian Steppe's most storied cultural traditions, with the art of falconry earning a spot on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity back in 2010. Immediately preceding the festival, guests will have an opportunity to explore the abundant natural beauty of Tolbo Lake—a scenic water feature found in western Mongolia's Bayan-Ölgii Province—before the opening ceremony kicks off. Over the following days, participants can marvel as local Kazakh falconers compete on horseback with their eagles in tow, participating in rigorous contests that showcase the natural instincts and abilities of the birds. And while Tolbo Lake is certainly a sight to behold, the Golden Eagle Festival tour also shines a spotlight on Ulaanbaatar, a storied city that was formally settled in 1778. There's a wealth of fascinating landmarks and attractions woven into the itinerary, with sites spanning from the central Sukhbaatar Square to the Chinggis Khaan National Museum, a prestigious institution that highlights the rich history of the region spanning from ancient times to the height of the Mongol Empire to the end of the 20th century. But of course, there's far more to see across Mongolia than just the extreme west and its capital city. In addition to the Golden Eagle Festival tour, Nomadic Expeditions offers a diverse array of other itineraries dedicated to Mongolian nature and culture. For a deep dive on one of the country's most renowned regions, the Classic Mongolia – Naadam Festival voyage provides plenty of insight into the natural splendor of the Gobi Desert, a vast expanse of land that's home to iconic creatures like the Bactrian camel and Gobi bear. Throughout the trip, guests will explore fascinating sites like the dinosaur fossil-laden Flaming Cliffs and enjoy top-tier accommodations, with Three Camel Lodge offering archery and other outdoor activities for guests to enjoy. While horseback riding has played a crucial role in Central and East Asian culture for centuries, the Golden Eagle Festival offers a glimpse into this storied tradition at its most extravagant—and with Nomadic Expeditions, visitors can have a front-row seat to all of the action with the added bonus of exploring one of Mongolia's most famed cities. Whether you're a seasoned avian aficionado hoping to see golden eagles in their prime or a history buff that's intrigued by the ancient traditions of the Eurasian Steppe, this famed festival is certain to leave you with a treasure trove of lasting memories.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Saint Louis Zoo takes in two endangered wild horses
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — Two endangered Przewalski horses, Nika and Sarnai, are settling into their new home at the Saint Louis Zoo's WildCare Park in north St. Louis County. According to the Saint Louis Zoo, Nika and Sarnai are the last of the wild horse species on the planet, making them the first for the zoo to care for. This salary is needed to be 'upper-middle class' in Missouri, study says The wild horse species were once classified as extinct in the wild, and by the early 1900s, there were fewer than 20 left placed in zoos across the world. The zoo said over the past 50 years, breeding and reintroduction programs have helped the population grow to about 2,000. The Saint Louis WildCare Park is slated to open in 2027, where visitors can see Nika and Sarnai in their new home. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
BBC News
12-02-2025
- General
- BBC News
Animals totted up for Marwell Zoo's stocktake
All creatures great and small have been counted at a Hampshire zoo during its annual process saw keepers at Marwell Zoo near Winchester meticulously log every mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian, invertebrate, and fish in the official count, a legal requirement of the zoo's licence, saw more than 500 animals across 145 species totted up.A colony of Humboldt penguins, a rare okapi calf and a critically-endangered, cotton-top tamarin baby are among the new arrivals added to the zoos stocktake this year. The herd of Przewalski's horse foals, which were once extinct in the wild but have seen a comeback thanks to conservation efforts, also grew by four in the past other arrivals in 2024 included Warjun, a male snow leopard which came from the Czech Republic; and Cherry, a female red panda introduced as a companion for Tashi, Marwell's resident male red results are shared with zoos around the world using the ZIMS Species360 database. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
