Scarlet Macaw

The Scarlet Macaw is found in the treetops from Mexico to southern Brazil. It is about 90 centimetres in length and is bright red with blue and yellow wings, blue and red tail which is a unique feature in the family and a white face with big, sickle shaped beaks. Its feet are able to grasp the limbs of a tree very firmly. When a Macaw is fully developed, the tail is more two feet long. Both the male and females look alike. It is the among the most well known among the species.

It feeds on the abundant fruits and nuts found in the tropical forests which is its habitat. It cracks open the nuts by using its extremely powerful beak and uses its blunt tongue to extract the nut meat. It also uses its beak to cut out pieces of fruit. Occasionally it eats insects and worms.

Macaw do not have feathers on its face and sometimes blushes when excited or angry. It usually travels in a large flock. It is easily tamed and its life span is about 50 to 60 years. It builds its nest in holes in trees or in crevices between rocks. The young hatch in about 3 weeks and are cared for by both the parents for 2 to 3 months.

Scarlet Macaws are famous for its ability in mimicking and imitating sounds made by the human voice as well as perform tricks.

This bird has become endangered due to the overwhelming demand for its colourful feathers in fashion in earlier centuries. Demand has not diminished yet as the young are taken from their nests for pets by poachers. This has led to a great decline to the Scarlet Macaw's population.

Law enforcement has been made in most of the countries where the Scarlet Macaw is found, but heavier penalties are yet to be enforced.

Previous Post : Komodo Dragon

Rhinoceros--Very few of them survive outside

One more species, that is very rare in the world now, is a huge weighted, giant beast -- Rhinoceros

Rhinos once roamed Europe, Asia and Africa and were known by early Europeans who depicted them in cave paintings. In historical times, rhinos were still widespread in the African savannas and the tropical forests of Asia.

Today, very few rhinos survive outside national parks and reserves. Rhinos are threatened by poaching due to the demand for their horns, and habitat loss, a result of human populations encroaching on the land and the destruction of forests. WWF works to strengthen protected areas in Africa and Asia and stop illegal trade of rhino horns.

The southern white rhino, once thought to be extinct, and the Indian rhino are thriving in well-protected sanctuaries and their numbers are increasing. Black rhino populations have increased too, but total numbers are still a fraction of what they were fifty years ago.

Rhinoceroses are universally recognized because of their massive bodies, short legs and one or two horns. In some rhino species the horn is small and not easily visible. Rhinos have poor eyesight, but their sense of smell and hearing are well developed.


Five species of rhinos

Black Rhinoceros
Scientific Name: Diceros bicornis
Habitat: tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas and deserts
Location: East, Central, West and South Africa
Population: approximately 3,725 individuals

Sumatran Rhinoceros
Scientific Name: Dicerorhinus sumatrensis harrissoni
Habitat: lowland swamps and forests with thick vegetation
Location: northern Borneo. Borneo is the third largest island in the world, located north of Australia. The island is made up of the countries of Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei.
Population: Fewer than 25

Indian Rhinoceros
Common Name: Indian rhino, greater one-horned rhinoceros; Rhinocéros unicorne de l'Inde (Fr); Rinoceronte unicornio índico (Sp)
Scientific Name: Rhinoceros unicornis
Habitat: Tropical and Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands
Location: Southern Asia, northern margin of the Indian subcontinent adjacent to the southern slope of the Himalayas
Population: Around 2,400 individuals

Javan Rhinoceros
Common Name: Javan rhinoceros, lesser one-horned rhino
Scientific Name: Rhinoceros sondaicus
Habitat: Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
Location: Western Indonesia, Eastern Indochina
Population: 40-60 in Ujung Kulon National Park, Java, Indonesia; no more than 8 in Cat Tien National Park, Vietnam

Previous Post : Tiger-Somewhat back from 'low' now