Why do birds stand on one foot?

 

Rare Animals (Part 3)

1- Cuban land iguana (Cyclura nubila)

Although species close to the land iguana are threatened worldwide, this 1.5-meter (5-foot) and 7-kilo (15-pound) iguana from Cuba is fortunately not there yet. However, habitat loss and predation by feral dogs, cats, and pigs are creating a hostile environment that may soon lead to the decline of this saurian. The San Diego Zoo is renowned for its land iguana breeding program.

2- California condor (Gymnogyps californianus)

America's largest bird has all but disappeared due to hunting: hunting itself and other animals - lead from bullets poisons these cliff-nesting vultures when they feed on the carcass of slaughtered animals. Many efforts have been made to save this species; it is now illegal to use lead ammunition in California, for example. This bird is slowly coming back to life: there were only 25 wild condors in 1975, today there are 170.

3-Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii)

Times are tough for primates: the forests they inhabit are shrinking. This subtropical orangutan is bearing the brunt of the loss of its habitat and there are only nine groups left in what remains of Sumatra's forests, much of which has disappeared due to fires and the invasion of plantations. oil palms. Only 14,000 individuals remain of this species. The project to build a major road represents another threat to their viability; WWF is working with businesses and governments to preserve the remaining forests.

 4- Philippine Pithecophagus (Pithecophaga jefferyi)

The Philippine Eagle Foundation classifies this bird of prey among the rarest birds in the world since it only survives on four of the country's 7,000 islands. There are believed to be between 180 and 500 birds left in the wild, and the fact that this eagle needs 11,000 hectares of forest to hunt – a forest that is rapidly disappearing – means that the fight to preserve it faces significant difficulties. .

5- Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus)

This one-ton predator is surprisingly vulnerable to hunting and disastrous changes to its freshwater habitat. While these gharials were abundant less than 100 years ago from Pakistan to Myanmar, they have suffered a devastating decline to the point that 98% of their populations are now extinct. Conservation programs have been set up in the few countries where these crocodilians continue to exist in small numbers (India and Nepal).

6-Mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei)

Dian Fossey has made the study and advocacy of this majestic, thick-furred primate her life's mission. But despite their best efforts and those others have made over the years, the mountain gorilla of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Uganda is still at risk of extinction. WWF reports that thanks to recent conservation efforts, progress has been made to preserve populations. Will they be enough to ensure its survival? One population has seen an increase of 124 individuals since 2010, and the group now numbers over 1,000 gorillas. In short, there is progress, but it is slow.

 7- Malayan Tiger (Panthera tigris jacksoni)

This rare species can only be found in one place on Earth: the Malay Peninsula in southern Thailand, where there are only 340 felines left. Unfortunately, China, where tiger bones are traditionally used in the manufacture of certain medicines, recently lifted the ban on the use of certain parts of this animal for pharmaceutical purposes. WWF called the move a "huge setback for wildlife conservation." To make matters worse, tigers are often killed by villagers protecting their livestock. It is, however, an area where WWF is concentrating its efforts and can achieve good results