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Large Land Creatures
Gorilla
Status: Critically Endangered
Facts
The gorilla, humans closest cousins after chimpanzees and bonobos, are gentle giants and are known to be intelligent and charismatic. They can weigh up to 440 pounds and grow to be 6 feet in height. They are found in the Republic of Congo in lowland or uplands. These species live in family groups of up to 10 gorillas, and usually led by a dominant adult silverback male who holds his position for years.
Threats
Major threats such as slow reproductive rates, habitat loss, hunting and trade, disease and weak law enforcement are extreme to these species. Female gorillas give birth to one baby at a time and don’t reproduce for several years. Vast areas of gorilla habitat have been destroyed due to deforestation and urbanization. Killing and trading of gorillas is illegal, however there is a huge lack of government involvement in these acts; poachers and traders are rarely apprehended.
Why They Matter
Other than gorillas being closely linked biologically to humans, these species help maintain healthy forests; by feeding on stems and bamboo shoots, they spread the seeds of trees and open gaps in the trees to create lots of direct sunlight. By protecting these gorillas’ habitats, we end up helping ourselves; local and indigenous people rely on the forests and their resources, which the gorillas also depend on.
Asian Elephant
Status: Endangered
Facts
The Asian Elephant, known as the largest land mammal on the Asian continent, are a very sociable species; they form groups of 6-7 related females, led by the matriarch, the oldest female. They grow to be 11.5 feet tall and weigh around 11,000 pounds. Their habitats are in South and Southeast Asia, specifically in forests with large amounts of tree bark, leaves, and water.
Threats
These elephants face many threats today including habitat loss, poaching and illegal wildlife trade, human-elephant conflict, and the capture of wild elephants. Asia is densely populated - the continent has a high need of land for development and economic growth, which creates the biggest conflict for these elephants.
Why They Matter
Asian Elephants are vital in maintaining a healthy forest and grassland ecosystem. Their dense size creates paths for other wildlife while their dung helps disperse germinating seeds in the earth.
Polar Bear
Status: Vulnerable
Facts
The Polar Bear is very unique, with its white fur and its stance of being the largest bear in the world; they can grow up to 9 feet tall and weigh up to 1,300 pounds. These bears and impressive swimmers, reaching up to 6 miles per hour paddling with their front paws. Their habitats consist of the Arctic Ocean, sea ice and coastal areas. They spend over 50% of their time hunting seals, they are talented hunters, but usually catch 2 out of 10 seals they hunt.
Threats
Climate change is the biggest threat these bears face. The Arctic temperatures are rising drastically, causing ice to shrink; records show that about 770,000 square miles (an area larger than California and Alaska combined) of ice has lost since 1981. These changes cause fewer opportunities for these bears to feed, fewer cubs due to malnutrition, and habitat fragmentation.
Why They Matter
These bears are vital to the ecosystem; being at the top of the food chain, polar bears play an important role in the overall health of the marine environment. They are also one of the few among a large number of carnivores that are still found in their original habitat and range.
Giant Panda
Status: Vulnerable
Facts
The Giant Panda, also known as WWF’s logo since 1961, has a unique black and white coat that is adored by the world, especially China. These pandas live in the mixed forests and high mountains in southwest China where they spend most of their time eating bamboo and enjoying the high temperatures. These pandas are born very small, about the size of a stick of butter, and can grow up to 300 pounds with a height of 4 feet. Despite their large size, they are impressive tree climbers.
Threats
The greatest threats these pandas face are habitat loss and hunting. Infrastructure development in China’s Yangtze Basin region, the primary habitat for giant pandas, prevents pandas from finding new habitats and potential mates. Bamboo is also a vital food source to these pandas; while fragmentation is increasing, these trees are decreasing.
Why They Matter
Giant pandas are vital to economic growth; these species, through ecotourism, bring sustainable economic benefits to local communities. These animals are also an important example of an umbrella species; protecting them inevidably protects many other species such as the golden monkey and multicolored pheasants.
Sloth
Status: Critically Endangered
Facts
Sloths, known for their lethargic speeds, travel 40 yards per day, eating on leaves, twigs and buds. They spend 15 to 20 hours a day sleeping and have very low metabolic rate. These species have unique long claws, making walking on land difficult, but are vital for hanging from trees. Even though they spend most of their lives up high, they are excellent swimmers, with speeds up to 3 times faster than when they move outside of water. They are also able to hold their breath for an impressive 40 minutes and can slow down their heart rate a third of its normal speed.
Habitat loss threatens this species; tropical rain forests, where sloths thrive, are at a high risk of deforestation. With a low abundance of trees, sloths would lose their shelter and food source. Sloths also travel on the forest floor once a week to relieve themselves; when they do this, they would also have more exposer to predators with less trees,
Why They Matter
Sloths are vital to the tropical rain forest ecosystem; they are known to hosts an entire ecosystem in their fur. Inside of their fur, species such as moths, beetles, and cockroaches, eat the delicious algae found there. This algae also acts as an effective form of camouflage.
Threats
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