How many species do you think go extinct every day? One, two, or three? In fact, according to scientists, as many as 200 species go extinct every 24 hours, which means that as many as 73,000 species go extinct every year, and many fish, insects, mammals and plants will never be seen again in the future. While some of these creatures are unique and beautiful, others are very strange, and in today's article, Andy brings, many people have not heard of, 5 exotic animals that are already endangered.
1. Black-footed cat
The black-footed cat does not look as big as the tabby cat, and the cat living in Africa is arguably one of the most effective killing machines in the world, and even when fully grown, the black-footed cat is only 51 centimeters long and weighs about 1.8 kilograms. However, their hunting success rate is said to be as high as 60%, much higher than the wolf's 14%, and lions' 25%, but even if they can quickly eat many small mammals and birds, the black-footed cat itself is a fragile creature because farm animals are overgrazed in the cat's natural habitat, which reduces the number of prey they can hunt. Not only that, but the poisons that were used to kill locusts and large carnivores also caused serious damage to the population of black-footed cats, so that fewer than 10,000 of these animals remained in the world.
2. Irish Wolfhound
The Irish Wolfhound has been in Ireland since Roman times and is the largest dog breed in the world, weighing up to 82 kg. From the toes to the head, its height can reach 213 cm. It was used to pull soldiers off their horses on the battlefield and, in peacetime, to kill wolves. In addition, they were also used to hunt large games such as wild boar and elk, but due to the decline of Irish wolves and elk, the demand for this huge dog was also declining by the early 19th century. Later, a man named Augustus Graham devoted his life to protecting the breed. He has been keeping dogs for 20 years, focusing on maintaining the size and appearance of this dog breed. Today, the Irish Wolfhound remains one of the very few breeds considered easy to become extinct.
3. Pangolins
Pangolins are animals that exist in parts of Asia and Africa, and they can weigh up to 33 kilograms and have very strange anatomy. Their outer scales are made of keratin, like the elements of the horns of rhinos, so they are very hard and, when frightened, roll themselves into a ball, covering themselves to prevent predators from attacking. It is said that the shell of the pangolin is strong enough to withstand the bite of a lion. Pangolins mainly eat ants and small bugs, and although these prey live in crevices that pangolins are difficult to reach, pangolins have evolved long, strange tongues up to 38 centimeters long. Therefore, it is easy to prey on them. Although pangolins look so cute, they are also one of the most commonly trafficked creatures in the world, mainly because their flesh and scales can be used for food and folk remedies. Their numbers worldwide are unknown today, but it is estimated that more than 200,000 pangolins are poached each year.
4. Tarsiers
In the movie Star Wars, Yoda's character feels a lot like a tarsier, a tiny, strange primate that can be found in the Philippines and other Southeast Asian islands. Their huge eyes are the most eye-catching, and they're actually as big as the creature's brain, and unlike other nocturnal animals, tarsiers don't have mirrors behind their eyes to help them see in the dark. What they have is a pair of huge, non-reflective eyes that absorb as much light as possible, which is why they look so big and eerie at night. Tarsiers also have many other disturbing features, such as their sharp fangs and fast hands. Tarsiers can even rotate their heads a full 180° and jump from one tree to another. Unfortunately, tarsiers are on the brink of extinction due to human logging and mining, and apart from being sold as pets on the black market, there are currently only five thousand to ten thousand tarsiers left in the Philippines.
5. Pig-nosed turtle
The appearance of the pig-nosed turtle is very unique, it looks like it has been pasted on glass for a long time, which is why it is named pig-nosed turtle. It can be found mainly in freshwater in Australia and New Guinea, where it can grow up to 70 cm long and weigh 30 kg. The strange nose they possess is actually a survival tool that allows the turtle to stick its nose out of the water while soaking the rest of the water from predators, and their noses also help them find food in the turbid water. But this strange creature is on the verge of extinction because it is illegally traded as pets on the black market, and their eggs are sold as food.