I apologize for this late notification but unfortunately the final Australian post will not be released this weekend. As you might have read on my "About" page, I always put school as #1 on my priorities list, and with the State testing (SBAC) just finished and finals coming soon, blogging will have to step down a bit. I'm not going to say I don't have time--I do have the time--but I just have to spend it on school and preparing for finals and tests at the end of the school year.
However, this doesn't mean the Australian topic is done for good. I will release the final post hopefully next week or the week after that. Unfortunately that does also mean everything else I had planned for will have to be pushed back by a couple of weeks as well.
I apologize for the inconvenience, and hope you will be patient enough to wait through the next two weeks! I look forward to seeing your comments on my next blog post.
~Cheri (WeForWildlife)
Friday, May 29, 2015
Monday, May 18, 2015
Tiny Cousins
Take a close look at the picture below. Don't peek at the name! What animal do you think it is? Did you guess kangaroo? Nice try, but your answer is not quite right. It's actually a wallaby!
Wallaby
Classification: Mammal (marsupial)
Size: 22-70 in / 55-178 cm
Weight: 4-53 lb / 2-24 kg
Diet: Herbivorous
Lifespan: 9 years (in the wild)
Appearance: may vary depending on habitat; long, sturdy tail
Status:
Least of concern to somewhat threatened. They may vary depending on their habitat (bush, rock, etc.) but the groups at the biggest risk are the rock wallaby and the parma wallaby.
This interesting species is actually a smaller cousin of the kangaroo (mentioned in last week's blog post). They are categorized into many smaller "groups" usually according to their habitat, such as the rock wallaby, brush wallaby, and tammar wallaby. Even among these smaller groups, they split into more subspecies! Altogether, the wallabies almost cover the whole Australia continent:
Wallaby
 |
| Image courtesy of National Geographic |
Size: 22-70 in / 55-178 cm
Weight: 4-53 lb / 2-24 kg
Diet: Herbivorous
Lifespan: 9 years (in the wild)
Appearance: may vary depending on habitat; long, sturdy tail
Status:
Least of concern to somewhat threatened. They may vary depending on their habitat (bush, rock, etc.) but the groups at the biggest risk are the rock wallaby and the parma wallaby.
 |
| Map from National Geographic |
The groups we should be most concerned about are the rock wallaby and the parma wallaby. Here is each species' story:
Rock Wallaby: Although once pretty common, the rock wallaby is starting to lose its numbers, and is regarded as endangered in New South Wales, Australia. The main factors contributing to their decline include habitat destruction (logging, clearing land, etc) and a changed pattern wildfires take when sweeping across the landscape. Their main predator is the fox, and must compete against farm livestock and sometimes rabbits for food sources. A long time ago, hunting for their furs was also a contribution to their shaky population, but it is no longer an issue anymore. Exactly how endangered are rock wallabies? According to the World Wide Fund for Nature, there are only two colonies left in NSW, Australia.
Parma Wallaby: This species has an interesting story. Thought to be extinct since the late 1800's, people almost forgot about them until they met a miracle. While trying to decrease the tammar wallaby population (which were overcrowding their habitat), workers there discovered that those wallabies were not tammars--they were parma wallabies! This sparked a "refreshed" interest in conserving and maintaining the parma wallaby population. The San Diego Zoo/Safari Park and their Global Wildlife Conservancy is helping bring these species back up to renewed, plentiful numbers.
I think now is the time for some clarification between kangaroos and wallabies (which some might have been confused about since last week)
Kangaroo vs. Wallaby
There one main, big difference between the kangaroo and wallaby--its size. Kangaroos are much larger, varying to hip height to the size of a full grown man. Wallabies are much smaller (tiny cousins) and their hind legs and feet are not as big in proportion. However, both have strong tails used to prop themselves up, and they all belong to the Macropodidae family, which means "big feet."
Conservation
Although some wallaby species are not as endangered as others, it is important to keep all species safe and high in numbers. Big organizations such as WWF and SDZ are using research and education to spread awareness. What will you do? Not all actions that save animals are the stereotypic "heroic" ones. Simple things, like saving a bit of water, or recycling just one for bottle each day, can help preserve the environment, which in turn, will help the animals and their habitat. More great conservation organizations and websites will be posted in next week's article.
Speaking of next week, what will you learn? Just as the brief overview on a post a couple weeks ago had stated, next week will be the last post of the Australian Outback theme. But don't turn that grin of yours upside down! Next week, I will give you a detailed description of great Outback places to visit and see in person the animals we've covered this month. Great tours, sights, attractions, and maybe even lodging and pricing will be included. Whoa, that's a lot of work for me! In addition, I will also put up a list of great conservation programs, as well as their websites, for all of us to gain some more inspiration on what we can do.
Sources:
http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/endangered_species/rock_wallaby/
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/wallaby/http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/endangered_species/rock_wallaby/
http://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/kangaroo-wallaby
Parma Wallaby: This species has an interesting story. Thought to be extinct since the late 1800's, people almost forgot about them until they met a miracle. While trying to decrease the tammar wallaby population (which were overcrowding their habitat), workers there discovered that those wallabies were not tammars--they were parma wallabies! This sparked a "refreshed" interest in conserving and maintaining the parma wallaby population. The San Diego Zoo/Safari Park and their Global Wildlife Conservancy is helping bring these species back up to renewed, plentiful numbers.
I think now is the time for some clarification between kangaroos and wallabies (which some might have been confused about since last week)
Kangaroo vs. Wallaby
There one main, big difference between the kangaroo and wallaby--its size. Kangaroos are much larger, varying to hip height to the size of a full grown man. Wallabies are much smaller (tiny cousins) and their hind legs and feet are not as big in proportion. However, both have strong tails used to prop themselves up, and they all belong to the Macropodidae family, which means "big feet."
Conservation
Although some wallaby species are not as endangered as others, it is important to keep all species safe and high in numbers. Big organizations such as WWF and SDZ are using research and education to spread awareness. What will you do? Not all actions that save animals are the stereotypic "heroic" ones. Simple things, like saving a bit of water, or recycling just one for bottle each day, can help preserve the environment, which in turn, will help the animals and their habitat. More great conservation organizations and websites will be posted in next week's article.
Speaking of next week, what will you learn? Just as the brief overview on a post a couple weeks ago had stated, next week will be the last post of the Australian Outback theme. But don't turn that grin of yours upside down! Next week, I will give you a detailed description of great Outback places to visit and see in person the animals we've covered this month. Great tours, sights, attractions, and maybe even lodging and pricing will be included. Whoa, that's a lot of work for me! In addition, I will also put up a list of great conservation programs, as well as their websites, for all of us to gain some more inspiration on what we can do.
Sources:
http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/endangered_species/rock_wallaby/
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/wallaby/http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/endangered_species/rock_wallaby/
http://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/kangaroo-wallaby
Sunday, May 10, 2015
Majestic Marsupials
Happy (late) Mother's Day! It's May 10, already! There's only 2-3 weeks left of May, and that means I have to start wrapping up the Australian theme. Based on the comments and requests I've received, here is a quick layout of the next few weeks:
Today, 5/10: Red Kangaroo
Sun 5/17: Wallaby
Sun 5/24: Koala
Sun 5/31: Wrap Up Post
The Wrap Up Post will basically be a quick review of the animals I've blogged about this month, and I'll leave some suggestions and travel tips for these animals, like nice national parks and sights to see. But enough talking, let's get started!
It's Sunday, time for a new post. I asked you guys to comment on what you wanted me to blog on last week, and some said the kangaroo. Since the type of kangaroo wasn't specified, I decided on the most recognizable--the red kangaroo.
Red Kangaroo
Classification: Mammal (marsupial)
Size: 6.2-8.9 ft / 1.9-2.7 m
Weight: 200 lb / 90 kg
Diet: Herbivorous
Lifespan: 23 years (in the wild)
Appearance: reddish brown; deer-like head; females smaller and have bluish-gray hue
Status:
Least of concern! Still pretty plentiful. Don't be too careless though, they could potentially become endangered...
Fun Fact: A group of red kangaroos is called a mob.
Be warned, though! These kangaroos have quite a powerful punch. But no, they don't only punch with their front legs--they also "box" with their hind legs! This is made possible from their sturdy tail, which they lean on when "boxing" other challengers or enemies. This "boxing" attack is sometimes used when fighting over potential mates, and they may also leave a nasty bite or scratch from their claws. Here is a video of a kangaroos "boxing" (on a suburban street, I know):
Today, 5/10: Red Kangaroo
Sun 5/17: Wallaby
Sun 5/24: Koala
Sun 5/31: Wrap Up Post
The Wrap Up Post will basically be a quick review of the animals I've blogged about this month, and I'll leave some suggestions and travel tips for these animals, like nice national parks and sights to see. But enough talking, let's get started!
It's Sunday, time for a new post. I asked you guys to comment on what you wanted me to blog on last week, and some said the kangaroo. Since the type of kangaroo wasn't specified, I decided on the most recognizable--the red kangaroo.
Red Kangaroo
 |
| Image courtesy of National Geographic |
Size: 6.2-8.9 ft / 1.9-2.7 m
Weight: 200 lb / 90 kg
Diet: Herbivorous
Lifespan: 23 years (in the wild)
Appearance: reddish brown; deer-like head; females smaller and have bluish-gray hue
Status:
Least of concern! Still pretty plentiful. Don't be too careless though, they could potentially become endangered...
Fun Fact: A group of red kangaroos is called a mob.
Just like Kanga and Roo in Winnie the Pooh, red kangaroos are marsupials whose babies stay hidden in their mother's pouches until two months old. Their strong hind legs allow them leap up to 25 feet and jump 6 feet high. Here is a map of where red kangaroos live:
 |
| Map from National Geographic |
Originally posted on Youtube by [Art Fido.com]
Although red kangaroos are far from extinction, a close relative of theirs, the wallaby, has certain species that is starting to slide toward the brink. This is especially true for the rock-wallaby, which can only be found in Australia. Confused about the difference between wallabies and kangaroos now? I will go over the wallaby next week. But for now, here are some ways to ensure the kangaroos don't become endangered.
Love the environment. To ensure the kangaroos stay safe, they need to have a clean habitat. Whether you are a miles away from Australia or not, it is always good to keep the air and grass clean. Mother Nature will love you for it! So Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle!
Spread Awareness. Although no awareness is needed to be spread for kangaroos right now, people still need to understand that our actions now won't make them stay forever. Help reduce the amount of trees being cut down, and try to preserve their habitat. Visit local zoos for more information on how to maintain these majestic marsupials.
Saturday, May 2, 2015
Jeopardized Wild Dogs
Before we start let me ask you a question: What is your definition of a "wild dog"? A four legged canine begging for food on the streets? A savage in the woods about to rip out your throat? The person you despise the most? :)
Of course, different people would have different views on what they would call "wild." But let's take a look at what some Australians think, or used to think.
Dingo
Classification: Mammal (debated canines)
Size: 4.5-5.1 ft / 1.4-1.53 m
Weight: 22-33 lb / 10-15 kg
Diet: Carnivorous
Lifespan: 10 years in the wild; 13-18 years in captivity
Appearance: golden or reddish-colored
Status: 4.5 Exclamations**
Officially declared endangered by the Australian government. Could go extinct in less than 20 years! (Yes, it's bad!)
Fun Fact: Dingoes can live and hunt both individually or in packs. And although they look like dogs, dingoes can't bark. They howl!
It's funny how I used to think that Dingoes were wombats. Or that I foolishly thought Dingo was a board game a couple years before. Huh. Strange, isn't it, how much we seem to underestimate these cousins of man's best friend? ("Man's best friend" refers to the domesticated dog, by the way.) Well, it seems, we're not always right, or perfect.
The dingo is known as Australia's famous "wild dog" (and commonly confused with that, too) and can also be found in Southeast Asia. In fact, that's where the first dingoes came from! Take a look at the map; it is evident of how the population spread from Asia down to Australia.
Although they were quite plentiful many years, ago, the dingo population is drastically decreasing, and well, like always, we are responsible for it.
Hybridization & Inbreeding. This is one of the main causes of the dingoes' population downfall. Since they look so much like dogs (and are so closely related), many people are breeding dogs and dingoes together, and this is decreasing the number of "pure" dingoes left in the wild. Even of the ones that are left, very few of them are "purebred." The rest (about one-third) have a combination of domesticated and dingo blood (hybrid).
Hunting & Government Eradication. Because these dingoes hunt livestock (mainly sheep), farmers constantly shot them to protect their livestock. Yes, their sheep were saved, but the dingoes were not. Things did not get better when the government set "eradication programs" to get rid of the dingoes. With their mistake found right before it was too late, Australia is launching conservation programs to help bring the dingoes back from the brink of extinction, like the Australian Dingo Conservation Association, Inc..
If you think you're too young, too old, or don't have enough time, stop right now. It is never too late. Even though you might not be willing to donate $100 or join a particular organization, little things matter as well. You could write letters to a friend or family member to spread awareness. Tell your teachers about what's going on, make a report for the class. Maybe even plan a trip to the zoo with your family to learn more about these dingoes!
Your Opinion Matters
Instead of deciding myself which animal to blog on next, I'm going to let you choose. Please comment below about your opinions and what animal you would like to see on WeForWildlife next. Thank you!
Of course, different people would have different views on what they would call "wild." But let's take a look at what some Australians think, or used to think.
Dingo
 |
| Image courtesy of National Geographic |
Size: 4.5-5.1 ft / 1.4-1.53 m
Weight: 22-33 lb / 10-15 kg
Diet: Carnivorous
Lifespan: 10 years in the wild; 13-18 years in captivity
Appearance: golden or reddish-colored
Status: 4.5 Exclamations**
Officially declared endangered by the Australian government. Could go extinct in less than 20 years! (Yes, it's bad!)
Fun Fact: Dingoes can live and hunt both individually or in packs. And although they look like dogs, dingoes can't bark. They howl!
It's funny how I used to think that Dingoes were wombats. Or that I foolishly thought Dingo was a board game a couple years before. Huh. Strange, isn't it, how much we seem to underestimate these cousins of man's best friend? ("Man's best friend" refers to the domesticated dog, by the way.) Well, it seems, we're not always right, or perfect.
The dingo is known as Australia's famous "wild dog" (and commonly confused with that, too) and can also be found in Southeast Asia. In fact, that's where the first dingoes came from! Take a look at the map; it is evident of how the population spread from Asia down to Australia.
 |
| Map from National Geographic |
Hybridization & Inbreeding. This is one of the main causes of the dingoes' population downfall. Since they look so much like dogs (and are so closely related), many people are breeding dogs and dingoes together, and this is decreasing the number of "pure" dingoes left in the wild. Even of the ones that are left, very few of them are "purebred." The rest (about one-third) have a combination of domesticated and dingo blood (hybrid).
Hunting & Government Eradication. Because these dingoes hunt livestock (mainly sheep), farmers constantly shot them to protect their livestock. Yes, their sheep were saved, but the dingoes were not. Things did not get better when the government set "eradication programs" to get rid of the dingoes. With their mistake found right before it was too late, Australia is launching conservation programs to help bring the dingoes back from the brink of extinction, like the Australian Dingo Conservation Association, Inc..
If you think you're too young, too old, or don't have enough time, stop right now. It is never too late. Even though you might not be willing to donate $100 or join a particular organization, little things matter as well. You could write letters to a friend or family member to spread awareness. Tell your teachers about what's going on, make a report for the class. Maybe even plan a trip to the zoo with your family to learn more about these dingoes!
Your Opinion Matters
Instead of deciding myself which animal to blog on next, I'm going to let you choose. Please comment below about your opinions and what animal you would like to see on WeForWildlife next. Thank you!
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