Sumatran Tiger

Panthera tigris sumatrae 

Panthera tigris sumatrae is the scientific name of Sumatran Tiger. As indicated by the name, Sumatran Tiger can be found exclusively in the island of Sumatera, Indonesia. In 2008, IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) classified Sumatran Tiger as critically endangered due to their low population. Now, their fragmented population in the wild is keep on decreasing in numbers. As late as 1978, experts estimated the total population of Sumatran Tiger at 1000. Today fewer than 400 tigers exist.

Before we go any further, it is better to know them even closer.

The Sumatran tiger is the smallest subspecies from the five remaining subspecies. If you wander about their size, here are the proportion. The males are about 100-140 kg in weight, and around 220-225 cm in length. A bit smaller than the males, the females weight 75-100 kg and measure 215-230 cm in length. 

 

What special about this tiger are it has darker color in fur and thicker black stripe comparing to some other kind of tigers. If you take a better look, you'll find that the stripes tend to disintegrate into spots near their end, and lines of small dark specks between the stripes can be found on the back, flanks, and hind legs. The density of stripes is also higher than the other subspecies.

Sumatran tiger is isolated geographically in the island of Sumatera, specifically its habitat  are in the area of tropical broadleaf evergreen, forests, peat swamps, and freshwater swamp forests. Now, they have a wide array of habitats raging from Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park in the shoutern of Lampung to the Gunung Leuser National Park of Aceh Province.

Now then, are you afraid of tiger? Well, you don't have to because some of them are already extinct include Javan Tiger and Bali Tiger and most of them are critically endangered. So pathetic knowing that many similar things causing the lose of some animals include Sumatran tiger. Major thread like habitat lost due to expansion of oil palm plantation and planting of acaccia plantation, prey-base depletion, and   illegal trade primarily for the domestic market.

So tragic knowing that these beautiful creatures are getting closer to their end. And where are you, people? Pretending to be blind and depth, acting like there is nothing wrong..?

The fur of Sumatran Tiger was hanging in the villagers house

Illegal logging for paper factory

 New Year e-card by WWF 

"With soo much deforestation and poaching in Sumatera, wild tigers face a very difficult future, but we have the tools available to reverse their decline if the clearance of their forests can be halted"

-Dr. Barney Long; Asian Species Expert 

From Delicia for Recognesia.

Recognize. Realize.

Regards,

Delicia

Bali Starling

"Illegal poaching for the cagebird trade"

Jalak Bali (Leucopsar rothschildi) is internationally known as Bali Myna or Bali Starling. This medium-large bird can only be found in Bali. Bali Starling was first discovered in 1910, and in 1991 it designated as the fauna symbol of Bali.

How are they look like?
I guess not all of you know how are Bali Starling looks like. Just for your information, in most of the source that I've read, they describe Bali Starling as the most beautiful of all mynas (birds of starling family). The average size is about 25cm. Its plumage is as white as the snow with an elegant long white crest. It also has this beautiful black touch at the tips of tail and the tips of flight feather. The beak, the legs, and the area around the eyes are bluish-grey with yellow bill. Generally,  it's weighted around 85grams.

Bali Starling, as its name, is endemic to the island of Bali, Indonesia. To be exact, it lives in the tropical grassland and tropical dry forest.This beautiful bird is considered as an omnivore with the insectivore and fruits/seeds as its main food which can easily be found in its habitat. 

Unfortunately, these birds are considered as a critically endengered animal. Talking about the population has a strong relation with the breeding. During breeding season, it is the males who attract the females by calling loudly and bobbing up and down. After the mating season, the females will lay around 3-4 torquoise eggs on the nest of twigs. Usually, the nest is located in the tree cavity. The eggs will hatch after around 14 days. The chicks fledge in about 3 weeks. Over all, Bali Starling may live for up to 15 years.

As we know, Bali Starling is critically endangered. It means that the total population of this bird is drastically decreasing. There are 2 remaining locations where these birds still able to live in the wild: The West Bali National Park and Bali's small island of Nusa Penida. There are some factors involve including habitat lost, natural disaster, and above all, trapping for pet trade; heartless isn't it?

Hopefully, this article helps you to know better about this beautiful talking-bird. Further more, I do hope that we can take the real action and let them survive..

                     Bali Starling at Nusa Penida

Turquoise eggs of the female Bali Starling

                      Hello, young Bali Starling!

From Delicia for Recognesia

Recognize. Realize.

Regards,

Delicia

Source: 
http://www.bristolzoo.org.uk/bali-starling
http://www.birdsofeden.co.za/index.php?comp=article&op=view&id=1331
http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/speciesfactsheet.php?id=6822

Orangutan

Endangered to Critically Endangered!

Do you familiar with the name of 'Orangutan'?

I guess everybody know what Orangutan is. As its name 'Orangutan' means 'the man of the forest'. Originally, Orangutans can only found in Sumatera and Borneo island of Indonesia (and Malaysia). Classified in the genus Pongo, they have been devided into to two species: the Bornean Orangutan (P. pygmaeus) and the Sumatran Orangutan (P. abelii). They live in the primary and secondary forests. For your information, Orangutan is the most arboreal of the great apes.

How are Orangutans look like?

Physically, Orangutans have the ape-like shape, shaggy reddish hair and grasping hands and feet. As a tree-climbing mammal, Orangutans spend most of their time in the tree. Obviously, to climb the tree they have such a strong and long hands and arms. In opposite, their legs are relatively shorter than the arms and also weaker.

Orangutans are such an intelligent animal. Moreover, they are the most intelligent among the primates. From the articles that I read, during the last several centuries Orangutan had amazed the international scientific community impressive, human-like mental abilities allowing them to adapt to their environment. They are also a quick learner. They learn new skills, they even plan their actions ahead, and also solve their dialy problem.

Orangutans can be categorized as a solitary animal. The male and female mostly only interact during the mating period. By the statistics, female Orangutans have a much longer interbirth interval then human. Females give birth probably not more than once in 5 years (other source says they only give birth one in 7-9years) with the interbirth interval around 10 years. Everytine they give birth, usually it is only deliver 1 infant; twins is rare.

The population of Orangutan is decreasing. Somehow, I feel so sad and angry at the same time while reading about the habitat loss and also the poaching of Orangutans. Definitely not a surprise knowing that their status is now endangered to critically endangered animal. Their numbers having fallen drastically in the past centuries. If this keep on occuring, they may be lost forever from the wild in few decades ahead.

The rich tropical forests are being replaced by the logging, agricultural concessions, and unnatural forests fire. The poaching and hunting of Orangutans keep on occurRing. So many illegal trades including importation of Orangutan as a pet. The less strict policy and untransparent case and court.

So now, who to blame? The irresponsible parties? The goverment? Or our own self for being apathetic and having lack of concern?

Let's preserve our Orangutans and stop making them cry!

Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii) female swinging through the trees with male baby. Gunung Leuser National Park, Sumatra, Indonesia.

Although orangutans may consume leaves, shoots, and even bird eggs, fruit is the most important part of their diet.

Mother and infant

        Baby Orangutan  

Orangutans in cage

From Delicia for Recognesia.

Recognize. Realize.

Regards,

Delicia 

Sources: 

http://www.indonesianfauna.com/orangutan.php

http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/info-books/orangutan/birth-&-care.htm

http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/endangered_species/great_apes/orangutans/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orangutan#Conservation_status