The Barrier Reef is a tough place to live, even for a shark. Extreme tides and high temperatures leave the reef as a series of rockpools at low tide. Bigger sharks are forced into deeper water, leaving the Epaulette shark alone to exploit the riches of the reef undisturbed. Unlike any other shark, the Epaulette has an uncanny ability to walk. It uses its fins as prototype legs to crawl over the exposed reef between rockpools that contain its prey. But no shark can breathe out of water. This is not a problem for the epaulette shark though, as it can survive 60 times longer without oxygen than humans can! In order to do this the little shark slows its breathing and heart rate and powers down its brain. These incredible physiological changes mean the Epaulette shark has more time to hunt on the reef before the tide rises and the bigger sharks move back in. This shark is truly the master of the intertidal environment.

#CalmingMusic #CoralReef #Shark

Some tropical and subtropical coastal areas are home to special types of saltwater swamps known as mangroves. Mangroves may be considered part of shoreline ecosystems or estuary ecosystems. Mangrove swamps are characterized by trees that tolerate a saline environment, whose roots systems extend above the water line to obtain oxygen, presenting a mazelike web. Mangroves host a wide diversity of life, including sponges, shrimp, crabs, jellyfish, fish, birds and even crocodiles. They contribute to the mangrove food web and provide a rich environment for many marine species.
Mangroves are salt-tolerant trees, also called halophytes, and are adapted to life in harsh coastal conditions. They contain a complex salt filtration system and complex root system to cope with salt water immersion and wave action. They are adapted to the low-oxygen conditions of waterlogged mud.

Mangrove swamps protect coastal areas from erosion, storm surge (especially during tropical cyclones), and tsunamis. The mangroves' massive root systems are efficient at dissipating wave energy. Likewise, they slow down tidal water enough so that its sediment is deposited as the tide comes in, leaving all except fine particles when the tide ebbs. In this way, mangroves build their own environments. Because of the uniqueness of mangrove ecosystems and the protection against erosion they provide, they are often the object of conservation programs, including national biodiversity action plans.

#CalmingMusic #Fish #MangroveForest

The magnificent frigatebird (Fregata magnificens) is a seabird of the frigatebird family (Fregatidae). The magnificent frigatebird is known by several names including the pirate bird, condor of the oceans, and 'Man-o'-War' bird. With a length of 89–114 cm and a wingspan of 2.17–2.44 m, it is the largest species of frigatebird. Magnificent frigatebirds are found nesting in the Galapagos and the coast of Ecuador down to Mexico and in the Caribbean and Florida. It has occurred as a vagrant as far from its normal range as the Isle of Man, Denmark, Spain, England, Nova Scotia, the Magdalen Islands, and British Columbia.

Frigatebirds are the only seabirds in which the male and female look strikingly different. Females may not have the males' bright red pouch, but they are bigger than males.

The magnificent frigatebird is silent in flight but makes various rattling sounds at its nest. It spends days and nights on the wing, with an average ground speed of 10 km/h, covering up to 223 km before landing. They alternately climb in thermals, to altitudes occasionally as high as 2,500 m, and descend to near the sea surface. This bird makes a shallow platform nest on top of both trees and bushes on islands and cays with mangroves. This nest is constructed out of branches and twigs. The magnificent frigatebird lays a clutch of one clear white egg. After the egg hatches, the male parent will abandon it, with the female staying to provision for the young for almost a year.

Even though magnificent frigatebirds are seabirds, their feathers aren’t waterproof. Because of this, they can’t land on the ocean. If they did, the water would make them very heavy and they wouldn’t be able to take off, which means that they would eventually drown. Their legs and feet are very small, so they can’t paddle well with them, they rarely even walk.

This species feeds mainly on fish, squid, jellyfish, and crustaceans. Individual bird diets vary depending on food availability and preferred hunting techniques.

The Magnificent Frigatebird feeds on fish taken in flight from the ocean's surface (often flying fish). Magnificent frigatebirds practice kleptoparasitism, pecking at other seabirds to force them to disgorge their meals. After forcing the other seabird to regurgitate its meal, the magnificent frigatebird will dive and catch the prey before it hits the surface of the water. Magnificent frigatebirds have a long, thin, hooked beak that is specially designed to help them catch and steal slippery fish. Learning how to chase other birds and steal meals takes practice. Juvenile Frigatebirds practice stealing “food” from one another by playing games with sticks. Young frigatebirds hold sticks in their mouths and chase each other. When one of them drops the stick, the other dives below to retrieve it.

Magnificent Frigatebirds can fly without landing for several days and nights in a row without resting, a trait that earned them the nickname “the condor of the oceans”. Spanish sailors called them “pirate birds” or “Man-o-Wars.” This was because of their habit of stealing food from other birds.

The Magnificent Frigatebird has no known predators. The exception to the rule may be that mammals may sometimes steal their eggs from nests on land. But since Frigatebirds are such careful parents, this does not happen often. The parents monitor their nests around the clock.

The conservation status shows that the species is not under immediate threat, however, some populations globally are being put under pressure due to habitat loss and tourist encroachment on their breeding grounds. Their feeding habits also make them reliant on oceanic predators which bring their food up to the surface. Species such as dolphins and tuna are being put under threat which in turn is a threat to the frigatebirds. They could also be affected by marine plastic pollution.

The magnificent frigatebird is labeled as least concern by the IUCN Red List and as such there are no specific plans in place in Galapagos to protect this species particularly. However, they are protected by the Galapagos National Park.

#Nature #RedbilledTropicbird #Kleptoparasitism

The coconut crab (Birgus latro) also called the robber crab or palm thief, large nocturnal land crab of the Indian Ocean, the Indo-Pacific region, and the southern Pacific Ocean, with a distribution that closely matches that of the coconut palm.

Adult coconut crabs are about 1 meter from leg tip to leg tip and weigh about 4.5 kg Depending on where they live, coconut crabs can be deep blue, red, or purple-red in color, or any combination of the three. Their left claw is slightly larger than their right, both of which are located near the front of their bodies. Their pinchers are among the strongest of all land animals. They have two pairs of walking legs that have pointed dactyls at the end used for gripping tree bark and other tough surfaces. Interestingly, coconut crabs have gills but, as a result of evolution and thousands of years on land, they don’t work, they instead use lungs for gas exchange as humans do.

Coconut crabs live alone in burrows and rock crevices, depending on the local terrain. They dig their own burrows in sand or loose soil. During the day, the animal stays hidden to reduce water loss from heat. They live almost exclusively on land, returning to the sea only to release their eggs.

Coconut crabs are also known as robber crabs because might be tied to that incredible sense of smell. Unlike most other crabs, they have specially shortened antennae to detect smells in the air over great distances. Coconut crabs ignore objects that have been washed clean of scents, suggesting that they may only abscond with things that carry a faint whiff of food. The smells of rotting meat, bananas, and coconuts, all potential food sources, catch their attention especially.

Adult coconut crabs are omnivorous scavengers, which means they eat pretty much anything they can find. They eat animal carcasses, the molted skeletons of other crustaceans, tropical fruits, and coconut meat. They often use their claws to poke a hole into the soft eye of coconut before splitting it open, but some coconut crabs will drag coconuts to the top of a tree, dropping them to break them open. They will bring larger food items back to their home burrows for safe consumption and storage for later. They eat more ahead of molting periods and will eat their own exoskeletons after shedding.

The coconut crab can take a coconut from the ground and cut it to a husk nut, take it with its claw, climb up a tree 10 m high and drop the husked nut, to access the coconut flesh inside. They often descend from the trees by falling and can survive a fall of at least 4.5 m unhurt. Coconut crabs cut holes into coconuts with their strong claws and eat the contents. If the coconut is still covered with husk, it will use its claws to rip off strips. Once the pores are visible, the coconut crab bangs its pincers on one of them until it breaks.

Coconut crabs mate frequently and quickly on dry land. The female lays her eggs shortly after mating and glues them to the underside of her abdomen, carrying the fertilized eggs underneath her body for a few months. At the time of hatching, the female coconut crab migrates to the seashore and releases the larvae into the ocean. This usually takes place on rocky shores at dusk, especially when this coincides with high tide.

The larvae float in the pelagic zone of the ocean with other plankton for 3–4 weeks, during which a large number of them are eaten by predators. Upon reaching the glaucothoe stage of development, they settle to the bottom, find and wear a suitably sized gastropod shell, and migrate to the shoreline with other terrestrial hermit crabs. At that time, they sometimes visit dry land. Afterward, they leave the ocean permanently and lose the ability to breathe in water. Coconut crabs are related to hermit crabs, and they act like it when they’re young. Because its shell is thin and soft when it is small, a juvenile coconut crab wears an empty seashell or coconut husk on its back. As the crab grows, its shell becomes thicker and harder. The coconut crab reaches sexual maturity around 5 years after hatching. They reach their maximum size only after 40–60 years.

Adult coconut crabs have no known predators apart from other coconut crabs and humans. Its large size and the quality of its meat means that the coconut crab is extensively hunted and is very rare on islands with a human population. Other dangers to coconut crabs relate to climate change, which may affect food availability and reproductive cycles, and ocean acidification, which would make life difficult for larval and juvenile crabs to grow their exoskeletons.

Coconut crab populations in several areas have declined or become locally extinct due to both habitat loss and human predation. In 1981, it was listed on the IUCN Red List as a vulnerable species, but a lack of biological data caused its assessment to be amended to "data deficient" in 1996. In 2018, IUCN updated its assessment to "vulnerable".

#Nature #HermitCrabs #CoconutTree

Elephant shrews also called jumping shrews or sengis, are small insectivorous mammals native to Africa, belonging to the family Macroscelididae, in the order Macroscelidea. Their traditional common English name "elephant shrew" comes from a perceived resemblance between their long noses and the trunk of an elephant, and their superficial similarity with shrews (family Soricidae) in the order Eulipotyphla. However, phylogenetic analysis revealed that elephant shrews are not classified with true shrews, but are more closely related to elephants than shrews. They are widely distributed across the southern part of Africa, and although common nowhere, can be found in almost any type of habitat, from the Namib Desert to boulder-strewn outcrops in South Africa to thick forest.

The creature is one of the fastest small mammals, having been recorded to reach speeds of 28.8 kilometers per hour. They vary in size from about 10 to 30 centimeters, from 50 to 500 grams. Their lifespans are about two and a half to four years in the wild.

Although mostly diurnal and very active, they are difficult to trap and very seldom seen; elephant shrews are wary, well camouflaged, and adept at dashing away from threats. Several species make a series of cleared pathways through the undergrowth, the pathway provides an obstacle-free escape route.

Elephant shrews mainly eat insects, spiders, centipedes, millipedes, and earthworms. They play a significant role in maintaining natural checks of insect populations. An elephant shrew uses its nose to find prey and uses its tongue to flick small food into its mouth, much like an anteater. Some elephant shrews also feed on small amounts of plant matter, especially new leaves, seeds, and small fruits.

Elephant shrews are not highly social animals, but many live in monogamous pairs, which share and defend their home territory, marked using scent glands. Rhynchocyon species also dig small conical holes in the soil, bandicoot-style, but others may make use of natural crevices, or make leaf nests. Although they live in pairs, the partners do not care much for each other and their sole purpose of even associating with the opposite sex is for reproduction. Social behaviors are not very common and they even have separate nests. The one or two young are well developed at birth; they can run within a few hours.

Female elephant shrews undergo a menstrual cycle similar to that of human females and the species is one of the few nonprimate mammals to do so. Elephant shrews were used in the 1940s to study the human menstruation cycle. The elephant shrew mating period lasts for several days. After mating, the pair will return to their solitary habits. After a gestation period varying from 45 to 60 days, the female will bear litters of one to three young several times a year. The young are born relatively well developed but remain in the nest for several days before venturing outside. After about 15 days, the young will begin the migratory phase of their lives, which lessens their dependency on their mother. The young will then establish their home ranges and will become sexually active within 41–46 days.

They are intolerant of close neighbors, and should one trespass into the territory it will be violently evicted. Aggressive encounters involve screaming, sparring, snapping, and kicking, all of which can happen so rapidly that it appears to be a blur of animals tumbling on the forest floor.

Generally speaking, elephant shrews do not pose much danger to humans. Elephant shrews tend to shy away from anything that could be considered dangerous or predatory, so they do not interact with humans much at all.

#WildLife #Animal #Africa

The Red-Eyed Tree Frog (Agalychnis callidryas) is a type of frog which is found on trees and leaves of the tropical rain forests of Central America. are known as arboreal hylid, which means part of the tree-dwelling frog family.

Red-eyed tree frogs are arboreal that spend most of their life on trees and will require a variety of climbing and hiding structures within their habitat. Red-Eyed Tree Frogs can defy gravity and cling to leaves, sticks, and even glass. The suction cup-like foot pad helps them cling to the underside of leaves. Frogs’ feet are not entirely flat and fit into irregular surfaces very well. These frogs can stick to almost any surface, especially anything moist. They are found in the lowland rainforest and surrounding hills, closer to rivers or such water bodies. They are capable swimmers and visit these areas regularly as they can absorb water through the skin on their belly.

They are known for their bulging red eyes with a vertical pupil, which may result from their nocturnal behavior. They sleep by day, clinging to the bottom of the leaf with closed red eyes and body marking covered. The dorsal area is neon green with yellow or blue vertical markings on it. Their sides are light blue or cream-colored or may have yellow stripes. The upper legs are bright blue and the feet are bright red or orange. The suction toe pads are also the same color. The younger red-eyed tree frog may be brown in color and change color as they mature. The Red-Eyed Tree frog is found to be in the range of 2-3 inches. The female is larger than the male. They can change their body color to darker green or reddish-brown.

Red-eyed tree frogs are insectivores, eating crickets, moths, grasshoppers, flies, and other insects. Sometimes, they eat smaller frogs. Tadpoles mostly eat fruit flies and pinhead crickets. A red-eyed tree frog is an ambush predator which catches its prey using the element of surprise.

Despite intense coloration of the body, the red-eyed tree frog is not poisonous like other brightly-colored species of frogs. Their defense mechanism is startled coloration. These colors, as defense mechanisms, help them to merge in with their surrounding green fauna and flora. If the green camouflage fails and a predator spots a sleeping frog, When disturbed or attacked, they will open and bulge their bright red eyes and reveal their huge webbed orange feet and brightly colored yellow and blue flanks. The predator is often so surprised by these sudden flashes of color that it is momentarily confused and hesitates. The shocking colors of this frog may over-stimulate a predator's eyes, creating a confusing ghost image This will make the predator, pause for a moment giving them enough time to jump to safety.

Snakes are especially important predators of tree frogs. Snakes largely search for prey via chemical cues, rather than visual ones, negating the camouflage protection most tree frogs possess. Additionally, many snakes are accomplished climbers that can ascend trees, as well as tree frogs. Birds typically have excellent eyesight and are capable of finding even the most well-camouflaged tree frogs. Otters, raccoons, and squirrels eat tree frogs. The sharp eyesight and dexterous hands of these two mammals assist in locating and manipulating their amphibian prey. Bat regularly predates upon calling frogs, able to discern edible species from toxic species by call alone. Tadpoles are targeted by dragonflies, fish, and water beetles.

Red-Eyed Tree Frogs usually mate in the rainy season. The mating process starts with croaking and quivering mating rituals. The process for mating is called amplexus, which is common among varied frog species. In this process, the smaller males clasp themselves to the larger females when their eggs reach maturity. The males will inseminate the eggs as the females lay them. This process may take a day or longer. They mate the underside of the leaves, while the female is clinging to the leaves for both of them. The female will enter the water after she lays her clutch with the male still attached to her in order to fill her bladder with water. Water will keep the eggs moist. The eggs are laid on the underside of leaves close to the water. The eggs hatch within a few days of laying. After the eggs hatch, the tadpoles will emerge quickly and swim around the eggs until it ruptures. This is a quick process to let the tadpoles enter the water below.

It takes a red-eyed tree frog one to two years to reach maturity, depending on how much they eat. The frogs usually survive about 5 years in the wild, but can live much longer in captivity.

The species is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN due to its wide distribution and presumed large populations; it is also present in a large number of protected areas throughout its range. Pressures on the red-eyed treefrog include habitat loss through deforestation and some collection for the pet trade.

#Nature #Rainforest #CentralAmerica

The Brown Leaf Chameleon (Brookesia superciliaris) belongs to the same genus as some of the smallest reptiles in the entire world (Brookesia micra is the tiniest Chameleon on record).

The brown leaf chameleon is like other Brookesia species, a master of disguise. The brown leaf chameleon is distinguished by its elongated, high, laterally squashed body that resembles a rolled-up, dead leaf. The size and appearance of this chameleon vary considerably over its relatively vast range, and it may be any shade of brown, beige, grey, olive, green, or dark red, but usually display colors and patterns that mimic a dead leaf. Despite its tiny size, the brown leaf chameleon has an imposing appearance due to two pronounced horns that protrude from the head above each eye and four spiny scales that jut from the throat.

The brown leaf chameleon occurs in eastern Madagascar (including the island of Nosy Boraha), from sea level up to altitudes of over 1,250 meters. The floor of the evergreen primary forest is the preferred habitat of the brown leaf chameleon, but it may also be found in secondary forests and adjacent overgrown plantations. It seems to prefer closed-canopy forest and climbs higher in the forest (up to 1.5 meters), more often than other species of Brookesia.

The brown leaf chameleon spends its days foraging among dead leaves on the forest floor, searching for prey with its independently moving, protruding eyes and catching insects with its long, sticky tongue. If threatened, the lizard's first reaction is to stay still and rely on its remarkable camouflage, but it may also exhibit other defense behaviors. This includes the 'freeze and roll' technique, in which the chameleon folds its legs underneath its belly, rolls over to one side, and remains very still, mimicking a dead leaf on the forest floor. Alternatively, the brown leaf chameleon may also thrust its spines to ward off predators.

Brown leaf chameleons have an interesting courtship ritual in which a male approaches a female with pronounced nodding and rocking movements. An unreceptive female repels a male by reacting with jerky movements, while a receptive female walks with the male. After some time walking together, and before dusk, the male mounts the female and is carried on her back until the pair copulates in the late evening or at night. This species is known to store sperm. Between 30 and 45 days after copulation, the female lays two to five eggs, which she hides under dead leaves, moss, and pieces of bark on the forest floor. Sometimes, a true nest is excavated and the clutch is laid onto the ground. The eggs hatch after 59 to 70 days; the brown leaf chameleon reaches sexual maturity within one year.

Like other Brookesia chameleons, the brown leaf chameleon is threatened primarily by habitat destruction, which is the result of agricultural expansion, timber extraction, and small-scale mining. Harvesting for the international pet trade does occur but is unlikely to be threatening its survival. Since 2005, export quotas have been set at 200 individuals per year.

The brown leaf chameleon is listed on Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), meaning that trade in this species should be carefully controlled to be compatible with their survival. It is also known to occur in a number of protected areas, including Befotaka-Midongy National Park, Mantadia National Park, Analamazoatra Special Reserve,[6] and Kalambatitra Special Reserve. Although illegal harvesting and other activities that degrade the forest habitat may lessen any benefits this bestows, this species is more tolerant of forest disturbance than other leaf chameleons.

#Wildlife #Rainforest #Madagascar

The fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox) is a cat-like, carnivorous mammal endemic to Madagascar. It is a member of the Eupleridae, a family of carnivorans closely related to the mongoose family Herpestidae. Its classification has been controversial because its physical traits resemble those of cats, yet other traits suggest a close relationship with viverrids.

The fossa is the largest mammalian carnivore on Madagascar and has been compared to a small cougar. Adults have a head-body length of 70–80 cm and weigh between 5.5 and 8.6 kg), with the males larger than the females. It has semi-retractable claws (meaning it can extend but not retract its claws fully) and flexible ankles that allow it to climb up and down trees head-first, and also support jumping from tree to tree.

The species is widespread, although population densities are usually low. It is found solely in forested habitats, and actively hunts both by day and night. Over 50% of its diet consists of lemurs, the endemic primates found on the island; tenrecs, rodents, lizards, birds, and other animals are also documented as prey. The greatest threat to the fossa is habitat destruction.

Mating usually occurs in trees on horizontal limbs and can last for several hours. A receptive female occupies a site high in a tree, below which males will congregate and compete for mating rights. She may choose to mate with several of her suitors over the next week, and bouts of copulation may last for several hours. This lengthy mating is partly due to the backward-pointing spines on the male's penis, which results in a copulatory tie that is difficult to break. Once the first female has left, a new female will take over the mating site. The same trees are frequently used year after year. This mating system, in which a female monopolizes a site and chooses her mates, seems to be unique among carnivores.

#Nature #Mating #Madagascar

Philippine eagles (Pithecophaga jefferyi) are endemic to the Philippines. The species is found primarily in the forest of four islands, namely, Eastern Luzon island, Samar island, Leyte island, and Mindanao island. The majority of these birds are found on Mindanao Island. While the population is fewer on other islands. This is the national bird of the Philippines. Among the rarest and most powerful birds in the world, the Philippine eagle has been declared the Philippine national bird. This eagle, because of its size and rarity, is also a highly desired bird for birdwatchers.

A Philippine eagle has distinguishable long crown feathers forming a crest. The bird has sharp bluish eyes and a large arched beak. The plumage is rich brown overall, and the feathers are pale towards the end. The wing underparts are also creamy white. The legs are strong with large claws. The bird looks beautiful with a contrasting white belly and yellow feet, and powerful dark claws. The females are heavier than the males. In terms of length and wingspan, this species is one of the largest eagles in the world. It is 60-95cm long. Typically a female is observed to be larger than the males. An adult female weighs around 6.5kg, and an adult male weighs around 4.5kg.

This bird is an agile flier and can fly at a speed of 49.7 mph. Moreover, the bird is said to take on unsuspecting prey without breaking its flight. These birds' eyesight is eight times more powerful than human eyesight.

Philippine eagles communicate vocally and the most frequently heard noises include loud, high-pitched whistles ending with inflections in pitch. When begging for food, juveniles are known to produce a series of high-pitched calls.

Philippine eagles are generally solitary and spend time singly on in breeding pairs. They are active during the day and at night they rest. Philippine eagles primarily use two hunting techniques. One is still-hunting, in which they watch for prey activity while sitting almost motionlessly on a branch near the canopy. The other is perch-hunting, which entails periodically gliding from one perch to another. While perch-hunting, they often work their way gradually down from the canopy on down the branches, and if not successful in finding prey in their initial foray, they fly or circle back up to the top of the trees to work them again.

The Philippine eagle is at the top of the food chain. These birds of prey are carnivorous, and these birds’ diet includes many animals. Their diet includes monkeys, birds, flying foxes, giant cloud rats, Asian palm civets, flying squirrels, tree squirrels, fruit bats, reptiles (large snakes and lizards), and even other birds of prey. They will also feed on flying lemurs in some locations and have been reported to capture even young pigs and small dogs.

Philippine eagles are monogamous and once paired, a couple remains together for the rest of their lives. If one dies, the remaining eagle often searches for a new mate to replace the one lost. The Philippine eagle reproduces by sexual reproduction. The female reaches sexual maturity at the age of five, and the male bird reaches sexual maturity at seven years of age. They build their nests on trees and need a large area to rear their young ones. A female lays a single egg in the nest after breeding. Both partners incubate the egg for around two months. After the eaglet hatches out, the male eagle does the hunting and feeds the young for more than a month while the female sticks around the nest, protecting it. But as such, the eaglet stays with its parents for more than a year and a half before being on its own. This is the reason this eagle species breeding season is in alternate years. And the rate of growth in their population is also low since birds lay a single egg only in alternate years. They are monogamous species and mate for a lifetime. And if one of the partners dies for some reason, they search for a new mate. Each breeding pair requires a large home range to successfully raise a chick, thus the species is extremely vulnerable to deforestation.

According to the IUCN Red List, the conservation status of the Philippine eagle is Critically Endangered. At the top of the food chain, the species are an important part of the ecosystem creating a subtle balance in its territory. Humans are the major threat to this species. Massive deforestation in their range has been done, causing the population decline of these birds due to habitat loss. The killing of this bird is a punishable offense in the Philippines. Killing a Philippine eagle is punishable under Philippine law by up to 12 years in prison and heavy fines.

#Wildlife #Monkey #Rainforest

A central problem facing many Latin American countries is how to balance competing interests. Some countries in the region are attempting to restrict economic development until they can find the right balance between economic growth and the preservation of the rainforests.

Rainforests help to regulate the earth's climate. They do this by absorbing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen. As the forests disappear, however, much less carbon dioxide is absorbed. The carbon dioxide that is not absorbed builds up in the atmosphere. This buildup prevents heat from escaping into space. The temperature of the atmosphere begins to rise, and weather patterns start to change.

Although the world's rain forests cover about 6 percent of the earth's surface, they are home to an estimated 50 percent of the world's plant and animal species. Medical researchers are developing the processes needed to make use of the many plants that rainforest dwellers have harvested for thousands of years. The forest dwellers have used these plants to make medicines that heal wounds and cure disease. What is lost as the rain forests disappear is more than biodiversity and a stable environment. The rainforests also hold secrets of nature that might improve and extend the quality of people's lives.

Some people think that since the economic gain is at the heart of rainforest destruction, the affected governments should be paid to preserve the forests. One such plan is known as Debt-for-nature swaps (DNS).

Many Latin American nations are burdened by tremendous debt. They've borrowed money to improve living conditions, and now they are struggling to pay it back. In a debt–for–nature swap, an environmental organization agrees to pay off a certain amount of government debt. In return, the government agrees to protect a certain portion of the rainforest. Governments get debt relief; environmentalists get rainforest preservation.

This approach was successful in Bolivia. There, an international environmental group paid off some government debt in exchange for the protection of an area of forest and grassland. The movement to preserve the rainforests has many supporters in the region, as well as around the world. The battle to preserve the rainforests may be one in which everybody wins.

#Nature #AmazonRainforest #Animal

This hummingbird averages 14 cm in length, not including its more than 8 cm long bill. It weighs about 12 grams and is one of the largest species of hummingbirds.
The Sword-billed Hummingbird's name has been derived from its extraordinary long beak that sets it apart from any other birds. Its beak is longer even than the rest of its body (excluding its tail) and somewhat resembles a sword. Their extremely elongated bills and equally long tongues allow them to feed on flowers with long corollas.
The upper plumage is mostly a glittery green. The lower plumage is lighter in the male; and white with greenish-black spots in the female.
The Sword-billed Hummingbirds primarily feed on nectar taken from a variety of brightly colored, scented small flowers of trees, herbs, shrubs and epiphytes. They favor flowers with the highest sugar content (often red-colored and tubular-shaped) and seek out, and aggressively protect, those areas containing flowers with high energy nectar.They use their long, extendible, straw-like tongues to retrieve the nectar while hovering with their tails cocked upward as they are licking at the nectar up to 13 times per second. Sometimes they may be seen hanging on the flower while feeding.

#CalmingMusic #Tree #Bird

The binturong (Arctictis binturong) also known as bearcat, is a viverrid native to South and Southeast Asia. Binturong has a face like a cat, a body like a small bear, and a tail like a monkey. The tail is nearly as long as the head and body, which ranges from 71 to 84 cm, the tail is 66 to 69 cm long. Mean weight of captive adult females is 21.9 kg with a range from 11 to 32 kg. Captive animals often weigh more than wild counterparts.

Viverra binturong was the scientific name used by Thomas Stamford Raffles in 1822 for a binturong collected in Malacca. The scientific name of the genus Arctictis was coined by Coenraad Jacob Temminck in 1824.

Binturongs are in the order Carnivora, but they mostly eat fruit. In the wild, they eat a varied diet which can include carrion, eggs, plant shoots and leaves, small invertebrates, fish, birds, small mammals, and fruits like the strangler fig.

Binturongs play an important role in their rainforest habitats by spreading the seeds from the fruits they eat in their droppings. This is especially true for seeds of the strangler fig, which cannot germinate without assistance. The binturong is one of only two known animals with digestive enzymes capable of softening the tough outer covering of the fig's seeds. This special relationship makes the binturong a keystone species in the rainforest ecosystem.

Binturongs live high in the forest canopy and rarely come down to the ground. They are excellent climbers, moving slowly and cautiously through tree branches, aided by strong feet with semi-retractable claws. Their hind legs can even rotate backwards so their claws still have a good grip when climbing down a tree head-first. Due to their large size, binturongs cannot leap between trees; they must climb down to the ground to move from one tree to another. Binturongs walk like bears. Binturongs even sleep high in tree branches, curling up with their heads tucked under their tails.

Like other members of the Viverridae family, the binturong has scent glands, which are located just under its tail. As it moves about, the binturong drags its tail, marking branches and foliage in its territory. To humans, the smell is reminiscent of buttered popcorn, but to other binturongs it communicates that the area is occupied and they should move along. It can also help male and female binturongs find each other when they want to mate.

The main threats to binturongs are habitat destruction, hunting, and the wildlife trade.
India included the binturong in CITES Appendix III and in Schedule I of the Wild Life Protection Act 1973, so that it has the highest level of protection. In China, it is listed as critically endangered. It is completely protected in Bangladesh, and partially in Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam. Licensed hunting of binturong is allowed in Indonesia, and it is not protected in Brunei.

#WildLife #Borneo #FigTree

The shovel snouted lizard (Meroles anchietae) is endemic to the sand dunes of the Namib Desert. The species is native to southern Africa. The shovel-snouted lizard, also known commonly as Anchieta's desert lizard, Anchieta's dune lizard, and the Namib sand-diver, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The preferred natural habitat of The shovel snouted lizard is desert, with aeolian sand dunes and sparse vegetation, at altitudes from sea level to 500 m. The shovel-snouted lizards have learned how to survive in extreme conditions.

Adults of The shovel snouted lizard have a snout-to-vent length of about 5 cm. The shovel-snouted lizard has an unusual flattened snout with a cutting edge and nostrils that point upwards, as well as enlarged feet that allow it to dash across the sand at high speed without sinking into the dunes.

Although they can withstand temperatures of up to 44 degrees Celsius, they perform a characteristic 'thermal dance' to avoid overheating, balancing on their tail & lifting two of their feet every 10 seconds to cool them.

When it gets too hot and this thermal dance no longer works the lizard dives down into the sand to cooler temperatures. The flat snout allows it to plunge into the sand and “swim” deeply in order to hide from the sun’s extreme heat, as well as predators, it can stay hidden like this for up to 24 hours. The streamlined shape of its nose helps it to penetrate the sand.

The Shovel-snouted lizard is one of the fastest creatures in the desert, especially relative to its size, using its impressive hind legs to propel forward and the front legs only for steering. This speed allows it to capture insects and other prey which also provides it with all its water.

like most desert wildlife, it has adapted ingenious ways to harvest and preserve. It also has a special water bladder, a blind tube branching off from its intestine. There it stores a large reserve of water, obtained by drinking when fog settles on cold nights along the coast of Namibia. If full to capacity, the lizard can survive on it for 12 weeks.

The shovel-snouted lizard preys upon insects, especially small beetles. During dry periods when insects are scarce, they will eat seeds. All of their moisture requirements are obtained from food.

Shovel snouted lizards defend their territory vigorously high into the reproductive season. Luckily for them, there is no fixed breeding season either and eggs are laid at regular intervals, peaking from December to March. Females lay a single egg in a small chamber that has been dug firmly into the sand.

#Wildlife #ThermalDance #NamibDesert

The European Bee-eaters (Merops apiaster) also known as Eurasian or Golden Bee-eaters are among the most colorful of all the bee-eater birds with abundant populations in arid (dry) and semi-arid areas of southern Europe, northern Africa, and western Asia. Bee-eaters were mentioned throughout history in myth and legend.

European bee-eaters display little sexual dimorphism, so it can be difficult to tell males and females apart. Females are slightly more greenish rather than yellow on their upperparts. The European Bee-eaters measure 25 - 29 cm in length (including the two elongated central tail feathers) and have a wingspan of 36 - 40 cm. Their average weight is 55 g.

European Bee-eaters are commonly found near freshwater systems and inhabit forests, savannas, shrublands, grasslands, and farmlands. Their nesting situation is quite peculiar: they dig burrows into the flat or sloping sandy ground, mainly in earthen cliffs. The birds remove between 7 and 12 kg of earth from the burrow, and the process can last between 10 and 20 days. The burrow is about 70-150 cm long, with an oval section of 7 x 9 cm.

These birds play an important role as ecosystem engineers, especially in arid regions. During their nest-burrowing activities, they can remove up to twelve kilograms of soil. This bioturbation has a major effect on the ecosystem as it alters the environment for other species. Nutrients from the removed soil are made available for other organisms. Abandoned burrows are often used by other species for nesting, roosting, and shelter.

European bee-eaters are prone to parasites due to nesting in burrows. Because of this, they need to preen, bathe, and clean themselves often. They also take dust-baths.

European bee-eaters breed in Southern Europe and parts of Asia. As the breeding season ends around the latter half of July, they begin their migration south, trading the harsh Northern hemisphere winters for the warm, pleasant summers of Southern Africa. As the weather starts cooling in the Southern hemisphere around April, they make their way back to Europe before the next breeding season. Some resident groups avoid migration entirely as they have established small breeding populations in South Africa.

Like all birds, European bee-eaters perceive their environment through visual, auditory, tactile, and chemical stimuli.

As is suggested by its name, the European Bee-eater predominantly eats flying insects - particularly bees (honey bees and bumblebees), wasps and hornets, but also dragonflies and other larger insects. They feed on about 250 bees a day. They typically feed in open or at least semi-open countries.

European bee-eaters are migratory, diurnal birds that spend most of their time foraging for food. They swoop in from an elevated perch and catch their prey in flight. They then fly back to the perch where they repeatedly thrash the insect against a branch or rub it against a twig until the sting is removed. They are also able to regurgitate indigestible parts as pellets.

Their long, curved beaks are sharp and perfect for keeping prey in a tight grip. They have sharp claws for perching on trees and on vertical surfaces where they excavate their burrows.

They have excellent eyesight, which is necessary for precision when catching insects. They are also agile birds, able to move swiftly when hunting. Their wide, somewhat pointy wings and aerodynamic build make them perfectly suited for long-distance flight.

European bee-eaters are monogamous birds. Pairs remain together throughout their lifespan. They can live up to six years. The beginning of the breeding season is marked by elaborate courtship rituals with an array of aerial and vocal displays, and even some dance-like movements while on a perch.

Through the medley of color and song, the male also comes bearing gifts of food which he feeds to the female. The female lays up to ten eggs which are incubated by both birds. And after a twenty-day incubation period, the altricial chicks hatch naked and blind. Luckily the mother bird has plenty of help, as her mate and even other members of the colony often pitch in with feeding and care.

European bee-eaters' nests may be raided by rats and snakes, and the adults are hunted by birds of prey.

Bee-eaters get a lot of bad press in the bee-keeping world. This results in large numbers of Bee-eaters being illegally killed by hive owners. In reality, a beehive could also benefit from a Bee-eater, as it feeds on hornets and wasps as well, which predate on bees.

European Bee-eater is locally widespread in most parts of the range. However, this species is threatened by hunting as a pest or for consumption, by the use of pesticides involving heavy declines in insects populations, also by canalization of rivers with loss of sandy banks nesting sites, and human developments and disturbances. But this species is considered as Least Concern at this moment.

#Nature #Grassland #Bumblebee

The lowland streaked tenrec (Hemicentetes semispinosus) belongs to the family Tenrecidae in the order Afrosoricida, and more specifically to the subfamily of the spiny tenrecs Tenrecinae. The species is found in the tropical lowland rainforest, in the northern and eastern parts of Madagascar. The streaked tenrec lives in long, shallow burrows which are usually occupied by family groups, consisting of up to 20 animals.

The lowland streaked tenrec looks kind of like a mix between a shrew and a hedgehog. Its backside is covered with quills and fur, while its underside is covered in soft hair. True to its name, the lowland streaked tenrec has four yellow streaks running the length of its body. It also has a long, pointed snout, no tail, big ears, and small eyes. It's a small creature, reaching only about 5.5 inches in length and about 4.5-10 ounces in weight.

Tenrecs communicate using a variety of sensory cues, including visual, mechanical (touch), olfactory (smell), and auditory signals. Examples of communication methods include touching noses, squeaking, tongue clicking, and chattering. Tenrecs also use their quills to communicate. For instance, the spines on the top of the head and around the neck are raised when the animal is agitated or threatened. Agitation is frequently accompanied by stamping of the feet and chattering or “crunching” noises. Unlike other tenrecs, the Lowland Streaked Tenrec cannot curl up into a spiky ball to protect itself. If the opponent does not retreat, the tenrec will rush and head-butt its attacker, dislodging its head spines into its enemy. Some know predators of the lowland streaked tenrec include Dumeril’s boa, Malagasy ring-tailed mongooses, Malagasy fossas, Malagasy civets, and humans.

But one form of communication among lowland streaked tenrecs that have been of particular interest to researchers is stridulation, The streaked tenrec is the only mammal known to use stridulation for generating sound, a method more commonly associated with insects and snakes which possess stridulation organs. The lowland streaked tenrec has a stridulation organ consisting of a small number of specialized quills on its back. By rubbing these quills together in rapid succession, the tenrec is able to produce a high-pitched ultrasonic call. The sound produced is too high to be perceived by human ears.

Stridulation appears to be used mainly for communication during foraging, although it is suspected that the high-pitched sounds might also serve as a warning mechanism for predators. Along with stridulation, these animals communicate through tongue-clicking to turn away intruders. It's also possible that they use echolocation (locate objects with sound rather than sight), but this supposition is not proven yet.

The lowland streaked tenrec is active both during the day and at night. Its diet is made up primarily of earthworms, but it will sometimes prey on other invertebrates as well. They are able to stomp on the ground with their legs which could lead to increased earthworm activity so they would be able to find them more easily. If they get separated from their group they are able to send out sound vibrations using their quills which the other tenrecs can hear and subsequently lead the lost tenrec back to their group. Feeding upon worms, Lowland streaked tenrecs control populations of these invertebrates, thus playing an important role in the ecosystem of their habitat.

The streaked tenrec has an ability to enter torpor seasonally however, it is dependent on altitude, age, fat stores, and temperature. Torpor for this species generally occurs during June and July and during winter. However, The streaked tenrec is a facultative hibernator in response to environmental conditions. Facultative hibernation occurs only when the animal faces cold or food stress and will come out of torpor during winter and forage.

During the mating season, males compete with each other, engaging in fights in order to attract the attention of receptive females. Lowland tenrecs mate in September-December. The gestation period lasts for 55 - 63 days, yielding 2 - 11 young with an average of 5 - 8 per litter. Male Lowland tenrecs are careful to young. Weaning occurs at 18 - 25 days old. Females of this species reach sexual maturity as early as 25 days old, being the only tenrecs that begin breeding during the same season in which they were born.

These lowland-streaked tenrecs are threatened primarily by the loss of their natural habitat due to continuous deforestation, as it is with many other animals in the Madagascar region. This species is also being hunted for food.

According to IUCN, the Lowland streaked tenrec is very abundant and widespread throughout its range but no overall population estimate is available. The current population trend of this species is unknown, they are classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List.

#Wildlife #Stridulation #Fossa

The caracal (Caracal caracal) is a medium-sized wild cat native to Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, and arid areas of Pakistan and northwestern India.

Caracals live in diverse habitats. They can be found in woodlands, scrub forests, plains, rocky hills, and thickets. They prefer edge habitats, like a transition of a forest/grassland. Caracals can be found at elevations over 3000 meters in the Ethiopian mountains of Ethiopia in Africa. They prefer an arid climate with minimal foliage. In the Asian regions, they are found in forests and seldom live in tropical or desert environments.

The name 'caracal' was termed after the Turkish word 'Karrah-kulak', which means 'black ear'. The function of these ear tufts is still a mystery, but often zookeepers have noticed them communicating with their ear tufts. Like other cats, the caracal meows, growls, hisses, spits, and purr.

The caracal is a slender, moderately sized cat characterized by a robust build, a short face, long canine teeth, tufted ears, and long legs. The coat is uniformly reddish tan or sandy, though black caracals are also known. , while the ventral parts are lighter with small reddish markings. The underbelly and the insides of the legs are lighter, often with small reddish markings. The fur, soft, short, and dense, grows coarser in the summer. It reaches 40–50 cm at the shoulder and weighs 8–19 kg. The caracal is sexually dimorphic; the females are smaller than the males in most bodily parameters.

The closest relative to the Caracal cat is the Serval. They are of the same size but live in different habitats. Servals like humid weather, whereas Caracals live in dry, desert environments. Caracals, sometimes called desert lynx, are not members of the lynx family though many people confuse them with lynx because of their ear tufts.

They are opportunistic hunters and hunt whatever they find, from small animals like mongooses to large animals like deers, sprinting after mongooses, rodents, hyraxes, dik-diks, and monkeys. Occasionally, caracals kill mammals as large as an impala or young kudu and may attack domestic livestock.

The Caracals are known for being the fastest of the smaller wild cats and are extremely powerful hunters. It can run at speeds of up to 50mph. Its speed and agility make it an efficient hunter, able to take down prey two to three times its size. and with footpads cushioned by stiff fur, they make practically no noise as they sprint toward targets. Tufts of hair on the tips of a caracal’s ears may enhance their hearing, making it easier for the cat to listen for prey. The powerful hind legs allow it to leap more than 3 m in the air to catch birds on the wing. It can even twist and change its direction mid-air.

It stalks its prey until it is within 5 m, following which it can launch into a sprint. While large prey such as antelopes is suffocated by a throat bite, smaller prey is killed by a bite on the back of the neck. It often has to compete with foxes, wolves, leopards, and hyaenas for prey.

Caracals are generally solitary, patrolling, and aggressively defending their territory. Most caracals come together only to mate. Females advertise their readiness to mate with urine marking, and responding males will fight for access. Pregnancy lasts up to about 2.5 months, and mothers typically use abandoned porcupine burrows and rock crevices for maternal dens. Litters average around three kittens, with six being the maximum. Kittens are born blind and deaf. Their eyes will open at about 10 days old, around the same time their incisors first become visible. Females raise the kittens without help from the males, nursing the kittens for four to six months, though kittens can eat meat by the time they’re a month old. By this time, they can scamper about and follow their mother to learn hunting skills and how to fend for themselves. By nine or 10 months old, kittens are ready to leave their mothers. Both sexes become sexually mature by the time they are one year old and breed throughout the year. In the wild, these cats have a lifespan of 10-12 years. Whereas in captivity, with a good diet and care, they can live for as long as 20 years.

The caracal appears to have been religiously significant in the ancient Egyptian culture, as it occurs in paintings and as bronze figurines; sculptures are thought to have guarded the tombs of pharaohs. Embalmed caracals have also been discovered.

The caracal is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List since 2002, as it is widely distributed in over 50 range countries, where the threats to caracal populations vary in extent. Habitat loss due to agricultural expansion, the building of roads and settlements is a major threat in all range countries. Local people kill caracals to protect livestock, or in retaliation for its preying on small livestock. Additionally, it is threatened by hunting for the pet trade.

#Wildlife #WildCats #SociableWeaver

Tarsiers are haplorrhine primates of the family Tarsiidae, which is itself the lone extant family within the infraorder Tarsiiformes. Although the group was once more widespread, all of its species living today are found in the islands of Southeast Asia, specifically the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei.
Tarsiers are small animals with enormous eyes; each eyeball is approximately 16 millimetres in diameter and is as large as, or in some cases larger than, its entire brain. Tarsiers have soft, velvety fur, which is generally buff, beige, or ochre in color.
Tarsiers are the only extant entirely carnivorous primates: they are primarily insectivorous, and catch insects by jumping at them. Their favorite prey are arthropods like beetles, spiders, cockroaches, grasshoppers, and walking sticks.
Tarsiers tend to be extremely shy animals and are sensitive to bright lights, loud noises, and physical contact. They have been reported to behave suicidally when stressed or kept in captivity.
Due to their small size, tarsiers are prey to snakes, owls, lizards, and cats. When a predator is present the tarsiers surround the threat vocalizing and attacking it.

#CalmingMusic #SmallAnimal #Primates

The tasselled wobbegong is a flat, well-camouflaged shark that sits motionless on the seafloor, waiting for unsuspecting prey to swim a bit too close. It is a member of the carpet shark family, named for their seafloor-dwelling behavior.
With its blotchy coloration and the highly branched skin flaps that disguise its mouth and head, the tasselled wobbegong perfectly blends in to its surroundings on coral reefs along the northern shore of Australia and throughout the islands of New Guinea and Indonesia.

#CalmingMusic #Shark #CoralReef

Gannets are large white birds with yellowish heads; black-tipped wings; and long bills. When it spreads its wings, it measures 2 meters in width. Gannets swim and fly almost their entire life in and above the sea, only coming on land to nest. In order to take flight, they need to catch a good wind under their wings. On land that would mean a running start, but gannets are too clumsy on land. That’s why they nest high up on steep coasts, where the strong sea-wind is forced upward against the rocky wall. All they need to do to take off is to spread their wings.

Juveniles are covered in dark brown and white-specked feathers. It takes between two and five years for the young to gain full adult plumage. During this time the skin around the eyes becomes bright blue and the beak changes from brown to steely blue.

The gannet tracks its prey from the air and catches it by making a so-called jabbing dive. In order to seize its prey, the animal dives straight down into the water from a height of 30 meters. Folding its wings back and stretching its bill straight down, it reaches a speed close to 100 kilometers per hour, cleaving through the water surface like a living torpedo. The enormous blow is absorbed by a strengthened skull and a protective air cushion under the skin, a kind of airbag. Once under water it continues its hunt, first plunging through the first four meters and then swimming after the frightened fish.

#CalmingMusic #Dolphin #FeedingFrenzy

The Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) is the world's largest lizard species and is endemic to the Indonesian. The maximum length of 3 meters, and weighing up to approximately 70 kilograms. Komodo dragons can be found in Komodo National Park, which covers three major islands, namely Komodo, Rinca, and Padar. The islands are volcanic in origin, rugged and hilly, and covered with both forest and savanna grassland.

The Komodo dragon prefers hot and dry places and typically lives in dry, open grassland, savanna, and tropical forest at low elevations. Some dragons scratch shallow burrows to rest in at night to keep warm and as a cool shelter to retreat to from the heat of the day. They can swim, They can swim between the five islands with ease.

As with many other reptiles, the Komodo dragon primarily relies on its tongue to detect, taste, and smell stimuli, rather than using the nostrils. With the help of a favorable wind and its habit of swinging its head from side to side as it walks, a Komodo dragon may be able to detect carrion from 4–9.5 km away.

These giant lizards are apex predators and ruthless carnivores, It has about 60 curved, serrated teeth that can be up to 2.5 cm in length, and a yellow, forked tongue. Its skin is reinforced by armored scales bearing tiny bones called osteoderms that make it function like a chain-mail. The heavy armor makes the lizard nearly untouchable. they will eat any meat, from large deer to even humans and water buffalo. The combination of venom and multiple lacerations from the lizards' sharp, serrated teeth is what makes the dragons so deadly. If the prey escapes, the lizard will simply follow it at a leisurely pace. That’s because the dragon’s bite contains deadly bacteria that will eventually kill its intended meal. Soon, other Komodo dragons will join in on the feast, fighting over the best pieces. Komodo dragons eat extremely fast. They have been seen consuming 5.5 pounds of meat in 1 minute. Because of their slow metabolism, large dragons can survive on as few as 12 meals a year.

Once a year, when they’re ready to mate, female Komodo dragons give off a scent in their feces for males to follow. When a male dragon locates a female, he scratches her back and licks her body. If she licks him back, they mate. Males also sometimes wrestle with one another to earn mating rights.

When there aren’t any males around, female Komodo dragons have other means of reproducing: As they have both male and female sex chromosomes, female dragons can reproduce asexually in a process called parthenogenesis. Due to the availability of prey and the physical condition of the female. Female dragons do not breed every year.

Females often nest in the same nest location each time. To reduce the risk of predators such as snakes or boars preying on the eggs. Female Komodo dragons dig several additional holes near their real nest in an attempt to camouflage it.

The female lays between 15 and 30 eggs and guards her nest and eggs for the first few months, and then leaves the nest, returning nine months later when the eggs are about to hatch. Female Komodos only care about their eggs, not the juveniles. Life for a young dragon is not easy. As soon as the baby hatches, it scrambles out of the nest and scurries up the nearest tree so the adults won’t eat it and stay in the trees until they reach 3 to 5 years of age. Fortunately for the babies, the adults are too heavy and clumsy to climb trees. Youngsters live in the trees eating anything that fits into their mouths, eggs, grasshoppers, beetles, and geckos. To avoid being eaten by the adults, the young Komodos are also known to roll in fecal matter thereby picking up odor that the adults are likely to avoid. When they are about 4 years old and 4 feet long, the Komodo dragons are large enough to try life on the ground. Komodo dragons take approximately 8 to 9 years to mature and may live for up to 30 years.

They do not thrive in captivity where they become susceptible to numerous infections. Thus, it is important to keep Komodo dragon habitats safe and protect the species against other threats.

Volcanic activity, earthquakes, loss of habitat, fire, tourism, loss of prey due to poaching, and illegal poaching of the dragons themselves have all contributed to the vulnerable status of the Komodo dragon. A major future threat to the species is climate change via both aridification and sea-level rise, which can affect the low-lying habitats and valleys that the Komodo dragon depends on, as Komodo dragons do not range into the higher-altitude regions of the islands they inhabit.

The Komodo dragon is classified by the IUCN as Endangered and is listed on the IUCN Red List. They are protected under Indonesian law, and Komodo National Park was founded in 1980 to aid protection efforts.

#WildLife #KomodoIslands #VenomousLizard