Amazon Garden and RainforestSave the world, and learn about endangered animals!

In the list of endangered reptile species, you will not see this little animal. The Oregon Spotted Frog has been on the request list since 1991! This is 20 years ago! The same story is happening for the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake which has been a candidate to the list of endangered species for 29 years!

Are they even in existence today? When was the last time anyone saw these two animals in their natural habitat?

The reports are mildly conflicting. For instance, the state of Washington and Canada believe that the Oregon Spotted frog is 90% gone from its original figures. Compared to 15 years ago, the population dropped by 30%. Even the Woodland Park Zoo where this species was open for viewing has now put them out of exhibit and into a captive headstart program with the help of civic and state organizations like the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

According to Bob Irvin, SVP of the Defender of Wildlife, these animals are like people injured or sick in an overflowing emergency facility. He says, “Species on the candidate list continue to deteriorate while waiting for care.” They get no help from the federal funds and have to rely solely on environmentalists and the individual states. There have been 24 cases of candidates who have become extinct while waiting for approval.

The problem is not just that there is not enough funds for these endangered or vulnerable animals and plants, but also the fact that there is not enough effort to stop their habitats from being invaded and their food sources from being eliminated.

The government is doing all it can but the private citizens and visitors should all contribute to the cause. The federal agency that oversees the Endangered Species Act of 1973 spent almost US$1.4 billion in 2010 and a little less than US$1 billion in 2009. There are just too many very huge obstacles to hurdle to help all the animals and plants in need. Everyone has to help and work as a team, not just the government and environmentalists.

The plight of turtles is highlighted by the study on sea turtles. These are endangered reptiles at the highest level, which means Near Extinction. It began with poaching for eggs many years back. This has been resolved with stricter laws and enforcement of the law. However, the problem has managed to escalate to an alarming level nevertheless.

These endangered reptiles are vulnerable to external forces on several counts. One, is from shrimp vessels which catch them accidentally. Making the shrimp vessels move further away helps, but not completely.  These sea turtles, also known as loggerheads, can swim across oceans and seas. They feed on crabs and snails, and can live for up to half a century.

As late as 2009, nine loggerhead populations have been placed under the banner of soon-to-be-extinct in spite of a 1978 ban on the capture, sale or distribution of sea turtles.

Other turtles that are under grave threat are the Pinta Island Tortoise,  Red River Giant Softshell, marine turtles like Hawksbill, Leatherback, Flatback, Green, Kemp’s Ridley, and Olive Ridley. One common cause for their potential extinction is over-hunting and the black market. Pollution and loss of natural habitat comprise the other two reasons for the demise of the endangered turtles.

The turtles are also at risk from natural predators like the ghost crabs, feral hogs, and raccoons who prey on the turtle hatchlings before they can safely return to the water. The mother turtle lays her eggs on the beach. She can produce as many as 100 eggs a one time, and bury them in the sand. Unfortunately, less than half are able to survive.

Should a hatchling manage to survive this initial attack, there will be multiple others in store.  Swimming in the deep water could cause them to get caught in fishing nets or die from hooks, dredges, traps, fishing gear, and ropes. These are just one threat from commercial fishing vessels. Thousands of turtles every year die just from commercial fishing boats.

These turtles are also at risk from polluted water and will die because of exposure to oil, pesticides, chemicals, heavy metals, gasoline, plastic, from emissions from coastal power plants, and from PCBs.

Finally, they can die because of the swiftly changing climate and water temperature, eroded beaches, artificial lights, loss of quiet beaches to lay eggs, and worst of all, hunting for turtles to sell or eat.

Reference: Illustrated Encyclopedia of endangered animals.

In spite of the fact that reptiles are considered to be the “tougher species,” there are some reptiles that have been included among the endangered species of animals. Just recently, because of the haphazard climate changes and weather conditions, lizards have begun to decrease in number. Many predict that they will soon be one of the endangered species of animals, especially if temperatures continue to rise.

Initially, the lizard started getting attention from the marked decrease in France and Mexico. As high as 12% of the lizard species disappeared, and were no longer seen basking in the sun. The extreme heat appeared to much for the, and their inability to stay in the shadows did not help either.

Africa is expected to follow soon with Madagascar predicted to be heavily hit with quite a number of lizards becoming an endangered species of animals.

What does this mean to us and the food chain?

Lizards are food for many animals like the snakes and birds. They, themselves, are predators and known to eat mosquitoes and other insects. With the drop in lizard population, the food chain will be disrupted, and snakes will look for food elsewhere.

However, lizards are not the only reptiles in danger of extinction. The Komodo Dragon, which is a reptile, is also in danger of being extinct because of human encroachment. The Komodo Dragon has a more common name, which is the land crocodile. They are found in Indonesia and are meat-eating reptiles. These animals are very quick on their feet, and can move on land, water, and even climb trees.

With the growing demand for the Komodo Dragon skin, a sharp rise in illegal trade reduced to population to less than 5,000. Unfortunately, they are hard to keep in captivity, and have specific habitat requirements. For instance, they need water, land, and slopes to survive. They can travel over a mile every day in search of food.  The main problem conservationists are most concerned with is that even with the current population, they estimate that only 350 out of the 5,000 are females capable of breeding.

Other endangered reptiles are the Chinese alligator, American crocodile, sea turtle, Monito Gecko, the San Francisco garter snake, Puerto Rican boa, and the Alabama red belly turtle, among others.