Facts: the extinction files

New Internationalist, March, 1997

Conservation: Captive-breeding programs from the early 1970s have re-established peregrines as a breeding species in the east and are restocking populations in the west.

Brazilian Rosewood (2)

Dalbergia nigra

Habitat: Scattered populations in the Atlantic Coastal Forests of Brazil, mainly in fertile hilly areas. A timber tree, prized for expensive furniture, musical instruments and crafts. It grows 15-25 metres high, with a thin trunk of 0.3 to 0.4 metres in diameter.

Numbers: Few stands remain.

Threat: The Atlantic Coastal Forests have been reduced to 5% of their indigenous range and are still being cleared for plantations and mining. Timber cruisers (madereiros) still cut stands for the black market.

Conservation: National law protects Brazil's Atlantic Coastal Forest but no domestic plantations exist to satisfy market demands.

Babirusa (2)

Babyrousa babyrussa

Habitat: Indonesia, islands of: Sulawesi, Buru, Sula and Togian. This piglike mammal can be identified by tusks that turn upward towards the forehead. An omnivore and social animal, it inhabits river banks and ponds with abundant water plants in tropical rainforest.

Numbers: In 1978 estimated between 500 and 1,000 -- counting is difficult because of the Babirusa's shyness and remote habitat.

Threat: Habitat destruction from logging activity and hunting by locals for food.

Conservation: Legally protected since 1931, but enforcement has been ineffective. Reserves and national parks in Sulawesi, but still poaching. Needs more reserves and new stock for captive populations.

Przewalski's Horse (2)

Equus przewalski

Habitat: This last truly wild horse probably now extinct in the wild, although there may be a population in north-eastern Xinjiang. Last wild sighting in 1966. Prefers open grassland, steppe and semi-desert. Differs from domestic horses in shedding erect, long-haired mane.

Numbers: Over 1,000 are captive-bred in zoos and reserves.

Threat: Hunting and loss of grazing land to domestic stock.

Conservation: The captive-bred populations derive from animals captured 80-100 years ago. Loss of genetic diversity from years of inbreeding. A program to return them to the wild has been delayed by political instability.

Asian (`Indian') Elephant (3)

Elephas maximus

Habitat: The Asian elephant's range once included most of Asia. Today it is restricted mainly to India and parts of South-east Asia. It requires vast areas to graze, preferably forest with access to water and grass -- eats up to 150 kgs of vegetation a day. Known as `modern leviathans', elephants are the only living Proboscidea. Unlike African elephants only some male Asian elephants, and no females, develop tusks.

Numbers: Between 34,000 and 54,000.

Threat: As many Asian elephants are tuskless, poaching is less of a threat than in Africa. Deforestation and clashes with local farmers pose the greater danger.

Conservation: The 1990 ban on the sale of elephant ivory caused the world-market price to plummet.

Caribbean Manatee (2)

Trichechus manatus

Habitat: Tropical and subtropical coastal waters and rivers of Caribbean and Atlantic Americas. These large aquatic `sea cows' prefer coves and lagoons to open waters. But often migrate great distances between winter and summer grounds. Graze on sea-grass and can reach weights of 1,600 kgs.