Download Endangered Species - Rolling Hills Zoo

Possible biofacts included: Bear gall bladder vile,
snare, Colobus Monkey pelt, snake wine, dog bell, rain
stick, tiger powder, bird cage, rhino horn
Theme ideas
1. Animals become endangered due to their use in
cultural ceremonies as well as medicines.
2. Humans are the number one cause endangering
animals, but YOU can change that.
Endangered
Species
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Background Information:
Everyday between 50 and 150 plant and animal species
become extinct. When you ask yourself “Why?” just think
HIPPO.
Guide
Habitat loss Introduced Species Pollution Population Over-consumption
Background
Habitat loss
Habitat loss is the number one reason species become endangered and extinct. Habitat refers to the
place where an animal or plant species lives. There are five elements that are necessary: food, water,
shelter, space and an appropriate mixture of these elements. All species must have adequate habitat
in order to survive. The rainforests are being destroyed at a rate of 1 acre per second which equals 50
football fields per minute. This destruction is caused by logging, clearing for farming and ranching,
mining, dams and oil development.
Introduced Species
When non-native plants or animals are introduced into an area, they may disturb the natural balance of
the ecosystem. Introduced species may overpopulate an area, compete for food, carry diseases for
which native species may have no immunity, drive out other species and cause numerous other
problems. They may prey on native species that have no defenses against the invaders. Hawaii has
the greatest number of endangered species of any of the 50 states due to destruction of native species
by introduced species.
Pollution
Pollution from pesticides, burning coal, oil and gas, industrial plants and automobile emissions all
impact wildlife populations. The Bald Eagle, our national symbol, is just one example of how pollution
can cause a decline in wildlife populations. Bald Eagles became endangered largely due to the
pesticide DDT. The pesticide caused the eagles and may other birds to lay thin-shelled eggs that could
not survive. This pesticide is now banned in the United States.
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Rolling Hills Wildlife Adventure
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Deformed frogs are being discovered around the world. Scientists have several theories to explain the
malformations and declines in frog populations, including one implicating pollution. Damage to the
earth’s ozone layer allows increased amounts of ultraviolet radiation to enter the earth’s atmosphere.
Scientists fear that the additional UV light could be damaging not only to frogs but to humans as well.
Population
It took the entire history of humankind for the population to reach 1 billion around 1810. By 1930, this
doubled to 2 billion people. Today there are over 6 billion people. As the population continues to grow
so does the need for space for housing and food. Wild animals in the United States which were
formerly isolated from the public, now must cross paths with humans who have moved into their former
territories.
Over-consumption
Because of over-consumption of the earth's resources, the world is losing wild places and species as
the demand for food, minerals, lumber, and other resources increase. Many species of animals, such
as rhinos, tigers and bears, are endangered due to illegal hunting for their body parts. Animals are
poached (hunted and killed illegally) and their body parts sold on the black market. Some sources say
that this black market is larger than illegal arms sales and second only to the drug black market.
Bio fact Details
African Dog Bell
These dog bells are specifically associated with hunting. Dogs are sent into the jungle with these bells
tied around their necks and used to scare wildlife out of the forest. The hunters will wait prepared to kill
when the animals try to escape the noisy dogs.
Snare
Snares are traps commonly used to capture wild animals. They are camouflaged to blend in with the
forest floor. As the animal runs over it or is chased over it, the snare grabs them up into the air where
they must hang until the hunter retrieves them.
Snake Wine (docent only handles)
Snake wine is made from seven different venomous snakes. Only the cobra is in the bottle to age the
wine because the cobra is the most powerful of all the venomous snakes. Drinking the wine will ingest
the power of the cobra, making the men more virile and producing male children.
Bear Bile (Docent only handles)
Although many parts of the bear are used in ancient medicine, the gall bladder and its bile is probably
the most valuable on the black market. Many times the wild bear is killed for the gall bladder and other
internal organs. But a new industry of bear farming has begun. In China alone there were 167 bear
farms housing 9,000 bears in 2000. Obtaining the bear bile involves a daily process of 'milking'. To be
'milked', each bear undergoes an invasive surgical procedure performed in most instances by untrained
workers with no veterinary skills. The procedure creates a tube-like pathway to the gall bladder and
commonly results in ulcerations and infections. Bile drips from this wound causing immense agony.
Bile is used in wine, eye drops and tonic.
According to Chinese Medical Practitioners there are over 75 alternatives to bear bile.
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Tiger powder
Tiger powder is made of the ground bones of tiger and used in ancient medicine. The belief is that
ingesting a part of the powerful tiger will give the consumer the power and stamina of a tiger. In 2001 a
single tiger which has been illegally killed could be sold on the black market for over $10,000.
Tiger bone is believed to have anti-inflammatory effects in the treatment of arthritis and rheumatism.
Aspercreme works, tiger bone doesn’t.
Rhino horn (do not loose!!!)
This is a piece of rhino horn from one of our rhinos. The horn is made of keratin just like human hair
and fingernails. In ancient medicine rhino horn is used as a fever reducer and not as an aphrodisiac as
is often believed. They would get the same effect if they ate their own hair or fingernails.
The horn is also used for dagger handles in Senegal.
Colobus Monkey pelt
Have the public count the number of Colobus Monkeys killed to make this small rug. Each white spot is
a single monkey.
Colobus monkey’s, like many other primates, are often illegally hunted as bushmeat. The term
bushmeat refers to the wildlife that lives in the forest or scrub lands which is often called the bush.
Wildlife has been hunted as food since humans first evolved. It is still thought of as a “free” source of
food.
Today it is still an economically important food and trade item for both rural and urban families. It is a
status symbol for the urban elite who are trying to retain links to the village. Urban families typically
consume 2 to 3 times more than rural. In fact the demand for bushmeat is increasing annually at a rate
that far exceeds the replacement potential of the already over-hunted wildlife.
• A bushmeat hunter with a shotgun is inclined to shoot the largest animal he can be assured of
killing because this will generate the most profit per cartridge.
• Duikers, pigs, primates and rodents are the most commonly hunted groups of animals in the
forest with the duikers both numerically and in terms of biomass being the most important
bushmeat species group.
• Apes are most often hunted opportunistically.
• Gorilla hands are considered a delicacy by some consumers.
• The large numbers of workers employed by logging and mining companies eat more meat than
unemployed families.
• Logging companies construct numerous survey trails and roads which fragment the forest and
open it up to hunters.
• Loss of wildlife means loss of seed dispersing animals that play a key role in determining tree
composition and distribution causing loss of many plant species, altering both the structure and
function of the forest and eventually causing irreversible ecological effects with global
consequences.
The bushmeat crisis is a human tragedy as well: the loss of wildlife threatens the livelihoods and food
security of indigenous and rural populations most depend on wildlife as a staple or supplement to their
diet, and bushmeat consumption is increasingly linked to deadly diseases like HIV/AIDS, Ebola, and
Foot and Mouth disease.
Feng Shui birdcage
At the bird market in Hong Kong, people will buy birds such as blue jays, finches or owls specifically to
release. It is believed that by returning a free spirit to the wild, all bad karma will be replaced by good
karma.
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Rainstick
This is an authentic Indian Rain Stick that was confiscated by USFWS. The rain stick was used to
illustrate to the gods that rain was badly needed. They are made from wood skeletons of dead Quiso or
Copado cactus plants. These cacti have a short plant life of 70 years. When the cacti die, artisans
gather the dead wood called Normata and create their rain sticks. Deserts are not just vast empty
spaces, but are delicate ecosystems that are teeming with life. Deserts are being destroyed by
overgrazing of livestock, off-road vehicles, military equipment, mining and irrigation.
But the good news is...you can help!
1. Become aware and spread the word.
2. Take action: Do not consume, trade, hunt or transport illegally hunted bushmeat. And do not
buy products from threatened or endangered species when you travel, especially abroad.
Select wisely when choosing seafood, wood or other natural products.
3. Support local conservation efforts by volunteering your time and/or resources. Lakewood
Discovery Center (826-7335) has many projects throughout the year in the Salina area. For
refuges and projects outside the United States contact www.bushmeat.org/support.html.
4. Write letters, postcards and emails to your local, state and national representatives expressing
your concern about this issue and encouraging them to promote solutions to the crisis.
5. REDUCE, REUSE, and then RECYCLE!
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Rolling Hills Wildlife Adventure
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