Endangered species

This compilation brings together current information on the status of Asian freshwater cetacean populations, the factors that have caused their recent declines, and what can be done to improve their chances for survival. All of the species or populations in quesion are classified as endangered or critically endangered in the 1996 IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals. Includes papers on water development issues, the Yangtze River Dolphin, or Baiji, the Ganges River Dolphin, or Susu, and the Yantgze River population of finless porpoisese.

One threat to parrot arises from their attractiveness as "talking" companions to humans, leading to a high demand for trade that involves hundreds of thousands of birds annually on a global basis, and gives parrots a high monetary value. There is an urgent need to change the attitudes of both the many millions who keep parrots, and those who make billions of dollars in trading them. Neither group accepts responsibility for survival of parrots in the wild, and governments find it difficult to establish sustainable use regimes.

The family Cracidae is made up of 50 species of guans, curassows and chachalacas - large gregarious game birds, many of which have striking colours. They are important as seed dispersers, biological indicators of the environment, a major protein source for indigenous people, and for ecotourism. Nearly half the species in the family are threatened and several have been pushed to near extinction by wide-spread destruction of tropical forets and over-harvesting. This plan describes the natural history of cracids, outlining threats to the birds, and measures needed to alleviate these.

Vol. 1 (Northern hemisphere)

Vol. 2 (South America)

Vol.3 (Central and South America)

Vol.4 (South and South East Asia)

Vol.5 (Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines)

Vol.6 (Africa)

Vol.7 (Australia, Papua New Guinea)

Vol.8 (Madagascar and Indian Ocean islands; New Zealand and Pacific Ocean islands)

Vol.9 (extinct animals and index)

The black and the white rhinoceros have become flagship species for international conservation. They are significant not only for the continuation of a major evolutionary heritage, but also as symbols for the protection of African savannahs. The battle for the survival of these species has been marked by some notable successes and sadly, many failures, and the situation is still critical.