WildlifeoProfiles Of Species

1. African Lion Profile

2. Common Wombat Profile

3. Duck Billed Platypus Profile

4. Giant Panda Profile

5. Great Auk Profile

6. Great White Shark Profile

7. Harp Seal Profile

8. Koala Profile

9. Laughing Kookaburra Profile

10. Maned Wolf Profile

11. Plains Zebra Profile

12. Polar Bear Profile

13. Przewalski's Horse Profile

14. Siberian Tiger Profile NEW!

15. Snow Leopard Profile

16. Spotted Hyena Profile

17. Strawberry Tiger Profile

18. Sugar Glider Profile

19. Tasmanian Devil Profile

20. Thylacine Profile

21. *Request Another Species*

This animal has been proudly adopted by WildlifeoPedia at WWF (Not endorsed) to support its conservation efforts and protect its future in the wild.

4. Giant Panda Profile

Common Name: Giant Panda
Scientific Name: Ailuropoda melanoleuca
Genus: Ailuropoda
Family: Ursidae (Bear family)
Order: Carnivora
Class: Mammalia
Phylum: Chordata
Conservation Status: Vulnerable (IUCN)

Physical Description

The Giant Panda is one of the most recognizable animals in the world, known for its striking black-and-white fur and gentle demeanor. Despite being a member of the order Carnivora, the Giant Panda's diet is mostly herbivorous, consisting primarily of bamboo.

• Height: 60 – 90 cm at the shoulder (when on all fours)

• Length: 1.2 – 1.9 meters

• Weight: 70 – 160 kg (males tend to be larger than females)

Giant Pandas have large, round heads, strong jaws, and molars adapted for crushing tough bamboo stalks. Their limbs are powerful, and their front paws have an extended wrist bone that functions like a thumb, helping them grasp bamboo.

Behavior and Social Structure

Giant Pandas are primarily solitary animals, except for during the mating season or when a mother is raising her cub. They maintain large territories, marked by scent glands on trees and rocks. Despite their gentle appearance, pandas can be territorial and will defend their area if threatened.

• Activity: Most active during the early morning and late afternoon

• Communication: Uses vocalizations, scent marking, and body language to communicate with other pandas

Giant Pandas are excellent climbers and swimmers, which helps them navigate the mountainous terrain of their habitat. Although they are generally docile, they can exhibit aggression when threatened or during competition over mates.

Conservation Status

The Giant Panda is currently classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN, although this status has improved in recent years due to dedicated conservation efforts. Habitat loss, fragmentation, and low reproductive rates are the primary threats to panda populations.

• Population estimate: Around 1,800 individuals in the wild

• Conservation efforts: Protected reserves in China, international breeding programs, reforestation efforts

China has established over 60 panda reserves, and international breeding programs have been successful in increasing the population both in captivity and in the wild. Bamboo forests are also being restored and protected to ensure the survival of pandas.

Why They're At Risk

Vulnerable (IUCN Red List)

Once on the brink of extinction, the Giant Panda has benefited from extensive conservation programs and has earned its symbolic logo of WWF. However, habitat loss due to deforestation, coupled with their specialized diet of bamboo, makes them vulnerable. The effects of climate change threaten their remaining habitats, and continued human encroachment on their territory remains a major concern for their long-term survival. You can help by protecting panda habitats, supporting sustainable forestry practices, and funding projects focused on conserving bamboo forests. Supporting organizations that work to reintroduce pandas to the wild also makes a big difference. 

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7. Harp Seal Profile

Common Name: Harp Seal
Scientific Name: Pagophilus groenlandicus
Genus: Pagophilus
Family: Phocidae
Order: Carnivora
Class: Mammalia
Phylum: Chordata
Conservation Status: Least Concern (IUCN)

Physical Description

Harp seals are marine mammals known for their sleek, torpedo-shaped bodies, which make them excellent swimmers. Adult harp seals have a distinctive black harp-shaped marking on their silvery-gray fur, while pups are born with a pure white coat that helps them blend into their icy surroundings.

• Length: 1.7 – 2.0 meters

• Weight: 115 – 140 kg

• Fur Color: Adults have silver-gray fur with a black harp-shaped marking, while pups are covered in white fur for camouflage.

Harp seals have large, dark eyes adapted for underwater vision and a thick layer of blubber that insulates them from the freezing Arctic waters. Their flippers are powerful and flexible, allowing them to move gracefully through the sea while also being able to pull themselves onto ice floes.

Behavior and Social Structure

Harp seals are highly social animals, often seen resting together on ice floes or swimming in large groups. While they are playful and curious, they are also cautious around predators.

• Group size: Varies, but large gatherings can include thousands of individuals

• Migration: Travel long distances between breeding and feeding grounds

• Communication: Use vocalizations, body movements, and whisker touch to communicate

During the breeding season, harp seals gather in massive "whelping patches", where females give birth and nurse their pups. These gatherings are among the largest animal congregations on Earth.

Fun Fact: Harp seals can sleep underwater by shutting down half of their brain while keeping the other half alert for predators!

Role in the Ecosystem

Harp seals play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of the Arctic marine food web.

• Predator Role: They control fish populations by feeding on species like capelin and Arctic cod.

• Prey Role: They are an essential food source for polar bears, orcas, and Greenland sharks.

As climate change affects sea ice availability, harp seals are facing new challenges, with higher pup mortality rates in years with reduced ice coverage. Conservation efforts focus on protecting their Arctic habitat and regulating hunting practices.

Why They're At Risk

Least Concern, but at risk (IUCN Status)

While the Harp Seal is not currently classified as endangered, it is still extremely vulnerable to environmental threats. Climate change, especially the loss of sea ice due to global warming, is affecting their breeding grounds. Increased hunting and pollution further jeopardize their future, especially when combined with the changing dynamics of the marine ecosystem. Additionally, the commercial seal hunt, which targets young Harp Seals for their fur, faces a significant threat to their population. In the past 10 years, it is estimated that both Canada and Greenland have together slaughtered 500,000 - 800,000 harps seals for their fur, of which over 95% is less than 3 months of age. Learn more. You can help by supporting bans on commercial seal hunting, contributing to organizations working to combat climate change, and protecting sea ice habitats. Reducing pollution in oceans also helps protect their marine ecosystem.

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This animal has been proudly adopted by WildlifeoPedia at WWF (Not endorsed) to support its conservation efforts and protect its future in the wild.

14. Snow Leopard Profile

Common Name: Snow Leopard
Scientific Name: Panthera uncia
Genus: Panthera
Family: Felidae
Order: Carnivora
Class: Mammalia
Phylum: Chordata
Conservation Status: Vulnerable (IUCN)

Physical Description

 Snow leopards are large, solitary cats that are famous for their thick, beautiful fur and powerful build, which is perfect for the cold mountain environments they inhabit. Their fur is usually smoky-gray with a pattern of black rosettes and spots that help them blend in with the rocky, snowy landscapes of their habitats. They have long tails, which help with balance and provide warmth when wrapped around their bodies.

• Height: 60 - 70 cm (at the shoulder)

• Length: 90 - 130 cm (without the tail)

• Weight: 22 - 55 kg

• Tail length: 80 - 105 cm (helps with balance and warmth)

Behavior and Social Structure

 Snow leopards are solitary animals, preferring to live and hunt alone, except during mating seasons or when a mother is caring for her cubs. They are also elusive and tend to avoid humans whenever possible. They communicate through scent marking, vocalizations, and tracks in the snow.

• Territory: Snow leopards are territorial animals, marking their territory with urine, feces, and scent glands.

• Activity: Mostly nocturnal, snow leopards are most active at dawn and dusk.

• Movement: They are excellent climbers, capable of navigating rocky cliffs and steep slopes with ease.

Snow leopards are also known for their incredible ability to leap and jump large distances, sometimes up to 15 meters (50 feet) in a single bound.

Why They're At Risk

Endangered (IUCN Red List)

 Snow leopards face a number of threats, including habitat loss, poaching for their beautiful fur and bones, and retaliatory killings by herders who view them as a threat to their livestock. In addition, climate change is causing shifts in their habitats, which makes it harder for them to find prey. Conservation efforts are crucial to ensuring that these elusive and beautiful cats continue to thrive in the wild.
You can help by supporting anti-poaching measures, habitat conservation projects, and initiatives that promote coexistence between snow leopards and local communities. Organizations such as the Snow Leopard Trust work to protect this iconic species through research and community-based conservation.

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15. Spotted Hyena Profile

Common Name: Spotted Hyena
Scientific Name: Crocuta crocuta
Genus: Crocuta
Family: Hyaenidae
Order: Carnivora
Class: Mammalia
Phylum: Chordata
Conservation Status: Least Concern (IUCN)

Physical Description

The spotted hyena is the largest of the hyena species and is known for its distinctive coat, which features a sandy to greyish-brown color with dark brown or black spots covering most of its body. Their powerful build includes a large, muscular neck, a broad head with strong jaws, and slightly sloping hindquarters, which give them their characteristic 'hunched' appearance.

• Length: 95 – 165 cm (head and body)

• Height: 70 – 92 cm (at the shoulder)

• Weight: 40 – 86 kg (females tend to be larger than males)

Their front legs are longer than the back legs, making them appear to walk in a sloping manner. Their ears are rounded, and they have a thick mane of hair along their neck. 

Spotted Hyenas live in savannas, grasslands, woodlands, semi-deserts, montane forests and prefer areas with open landscapes for hunting but will also inhabit dense forests and even urban areas.

Behavior and Social Structure

Spotted hyenas live in complex, highly structured social groups called clans, which can consist of up to 80 individuals. Their social system is matriarchal, meaning the females are larger, more dominant, and hold the highest ranks within the clan. Clans are territorial, and the spotted hyena's loud, eerie laugh-like vocalizations play a key role in communication among group members.

Fun Fact: Their famous "laugh" is actually a signal of submission or excitement, not laughter!

Why They're At Risk

Least Concern, but facing threats (IUCN Status)

Spotted Hyenas are classified as least concern but still face significant challenges from habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and persecution. As they often live near human settlements, they are at risk of being killed in retaliation for livestock predation. Climate change could also affect their prey availability, making their future uncertain in some areas. You can help by supporting wildlife protection laws to prevent poaching and habitat destruction, and advocating for the preservation of savannas and grasslands. Educating others about the importance of hyenas can ensure their survival. 

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