Anoa

Anoa come in two types, the lowland anoa (Bubalus depressicornis), and the mountain anoa (Bubalus quarlesi). The anoa is a species of pigmy buffalo, and they are the smallest of the wild cattle. Both species are currently listed as endangered, being threatened by clearing of the forests where they live and being hunted for their meat, horns, and hides.

Interesting Fact: Little is known about the habits of the anoa as they are one of the least-studied of all endangered species.

Anoa are only found on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia. The lowland anoa is found in swampy forests, and the mountain anoa is found in higher-altitude forests. Unlike most cattle, anoas don’t live in herds but, rather, live solitary or in pairs and only will meet in groups when a female anoa is about to give birth. They are active most often in the morning and evening when it is still relatively cool, and they rest in the shade when the temperature rises in the afternoon. They will also bathe in mud or water to keep cool.

The lowland anoa most closely resembles a tiny water buffalo. They usually don’t grow more than 30 inches (76 cm) at the shoulder and can weigh up to 660 pounds (300 kg). When they are young, they are covered with thick, light brown wooly hair, which thins as they grow older and becomes much darker. They have dark brown to black skin that can be easily seen through their hair. There are white marks on their heads and legs, and there is often a crescent-shaped area of white on the throat area. They also have horns, both males and females, that grow out of their foreheads and point straight back, growing to reach lengths of 15 inches (38 cm). Mountain anoas have essentially the same appearance, but they keep their wooly coats through adulthood, and their horns are somewhat smaller. They also are a more solid color without the throat and leg markings that the lowland anoas have.

Anoas are grazers, eating mostly grasses, saplings, ferns, and fallen fruit. They also appear to get additional minerals that they need by drinking sea water. Relatively passive and shy animals, Anoas will, however, attack violently if cornered or threatened, disemboweling their enemies with their sharp, pointed horns, and they seem to be especially violent towards humans.


The anoa reach sexual maturity at about two to three years of age and will mate and give birth once a year. There doesn’t appear to be an obvious breeding season. After a gestational period of about 275-315 days, the mother will give birth to one baby, and very seldom will birth two. The young anoas are weaned after six to nine months, and they are reported to live approximately 15-20 years in the wild.

Since so much is unknown about the anoa, experts are still unsure whether the males are territorial or not. Males have been seen marking trees with their horns and scratching the soil after they urinate. No one is sure if they are marking their territories or just showing aggression.

Babirusa

The Babirusa (Babyrousa babyrussa) is the last remaining species in the Babyrousinae family. Literally translated from the Malay language, Babirusa means “pig-deer”. Because of their odd appearance, the Babirusa has been the subject of many mystical stories and legends, including one that states that they hang from trees at night by their tusks. The Babirusa is currently listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and there are estimated to be about 4000 of these animals currently living in the wild.

The Babirusa is found on the isolated Indonesian islands of Sula, Sulawesi, and Togian, and they also can be found in the Moluccas on the Buru Island. They are most often found near rivers in forests and rainforests and will build nests out of straw. They are most active early in the morning and often travel in small groups with usually not more than eight animals grouped together. When foraging, they move along the same paths, worn down by years of travel. They also have been known to swim and will sometimes swim far distances to reach small islands and outcroppings.

The Babirusa, at least physically, most closely resembles a pig. They can grow to a shoulder height of about 26-31 inches (65-80 cm) high, a length of 3.5 feet (1.1 meters), and a weight of up to 220 pounds (100 kg). They have rough, wrinkled skin that is brown or dark gray in color with scattered, spiny yellowish hairs. Unlike a common pig, however, they have fairly long, thin legs. Their most distinguishing features, however, are the tusks. These grow from the snout area, but, unlike traditional tusks, they grow through the skin of the snout from the mouth, curving backwards over the eyes. They are rather large and can grow to reach a length of 12.4 inches (31 cm) in the males and are used to lock up a rival male’s tusks while fighting. The females also have these tusks, but they are much smaller, and they meet between the eyes. There are also lower tusks, which are much smaller and used more as a weapon when fighting.

Interesting Fact: Indonesian people have based masks on the Babirusa’s appearance and have been known to give a dead Babirusa as a gift.

The Babirusa is omnivorous, but it most often will eat fruits and nuts, only eating insects and their larvae as the primary source of meat. They appear to be very fond of mangoes but will settle for mushrooms and leaves. Because of the placement of their tusks, they don’t root under the dirt for their food like other pigs.

Sexual maturity in the Babirusa usually happens at one to two years of age. Births usually happen in the early months of the year after a gestational period of 150-157 days. Babies are usually born by twos or threes, and they are nursed continuously for six to eight months. They will, however, start eating solid foods at only 3-10 days old, even though they continue to nurse for many months. In the wild, they can live up to 24 years.

The male Babirusa will use trees to sharpen their lower tusks, but do not do the same for the upper, curved tusks. Babirusa will also wallow in the mud like other pigs to get rid of parasites and insects on their skin. They communicate with grunts and moans. There still seems to be some debate as to whether the Babirusa is more closely related to the pig or the hippopotamus. They physically resemble pigs, but fossil records show that they may, indeed, be in the hippopotamus family.

Dugong

The dugong is born a pale albino type colour, and as they age they darken to a deep grey. These great sea creatures weigh anywhere from 250kgs to 910kgs (about 500 to 2000 pounds). They have two flippers that average about 30-50 cms in length. Young dugongs use the flippers to swim, whilst the older dugongs use their tail to swim, and their flippers to steer. Their body has a thin cover of short hair, and tough smooth skin.

They feed on sea grasses and some types of algaes. This makes them aquatic herbivores, however reports of crabs have been found in the stomachs of dugongs. They usually feed in shallow water around two to five metres in depth.

Did you know? The dugong has been reported to reach speeds of over 25 km/h in the water.

The dugong swims about at a modest speed of around 10 km/h, but reportedly able to swim quite fast. They are also known to emit a whistling type sound, which is believed to happen if the dugong feels threatened.

The dugongs breed throughout the year, and the gestation period is currently unknown but averages around one year. A single calf is born in shallow water. The calf begins feeding intermittently from around three months, and may stay with the mother for up to a year. The calf suckles from the mother underwater which can continue for more than a year.

Dwarf Gymnure

The Dwarf Gymnure (Hylomys parvus) is listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Gymnures are cousins of the hedgehog, sometimes called furred hedgehogs, and are insectivores. The Dwarf Gymnure was first discovered in 1918, but it was not considered a valid species until it was more fully studied in 1994. Now, it is in danger because it is in a very limited location, and its habitat is rapidly being cleared. Little is known about the Dwarf Gymnure, partially because of their scarcity and the remoteness of their location. They do intermix with the Lesser Gymnure, however, in the lower parts of the moss forest that they live in, and their appearance is very similar to the Lesser Gymnure.

Interesting Fact: Gymnures and hedgehogs have been noted to be modern animals that are most similar to the very earliest mammals.

The Dwarf Gymnure has only been located on Mount Kerinci, which is on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. They live in a moss forest at the peak of the mountain. A moss forest is a high-elevation rainforest where the trees and ground are covered in a thick carpet of moss. Lesser Gymnures use regularly-traveled paths on their hunts for food, and they usually build themselves a nest on the forest floor in a pile of leaves or under a rock. They are good climbers, but they appear to stay on the ground as much as possible and can be very speedy when they are threatened.

The Dwarf Gymnure slightly resembles a hedgehog, but it has soft, silky fur rather than spines. They are small animals, with the length, not including a 1/2 to 1 inch (12-30 mm) long tail, only being about 4-5 inches (105-146 mm). The weight is uncertain and has been reported at 45-80 gm and 15-20 gm. The fur is a rust-brown color that verges to gray or yellow on its underbelly. It also has a long snout. The gymnure, especially the Lesser Gymnure, has an associated foul odor, especially when they feel threatened.

Gymnures are insectivores, meaning that they eat invertebrates, mostly insects. Lesser Gymnures have been noted to eat earthworms and insects, and they may also eat fruit for extra supplementation. They appear to have home ranges that are approximately 40 meters in diameter, and they can be seen foraging at infrequent times throughout the day and night. They find their food by rummaging through the leaves and other litter on the forest floor with their mobile snout.

It is estimated that gymnures in the wild are able to live about two years. There doesn’t seem to be any specific part of the year that is prime for breeding as they have been noted to breed throughout the year. The gestation period is approximately 30-35 days, and the mother gymnure can give birth to litters of two to three babies at a time. They are noted to be relatively solitary creatures, but sometimes are found in very small groups, with only two or three animals together at once.

Long-beaked Echidna

The echidnas and the duck-billed platypus differ from all other mammals in that they lay shell-covered eggs that are incubated and hatched outside of the body of the mother. A female long-beaked echidna usually lays 1 egg into its pouch. The eggs of the long-beaked echidna are soft-shelled and hatch after 10 days, whereupon the young remain in a pouch, dependent on the mother's milk for about 6 months.

The long-beaked echidna lives only in New Guinea. Listed in appendix II of CITES, Z. bruijnii is categorized as vulnerable by IUCN. Hunting with trained dogs by the New Guinean people as well as loss of natural forest habitat due to farming are the primary causes for the species' endangerment. Data tabulated in 1982 indicated that only 1.6 Zaglossus existed per square kilometer of suitable habitat. If the data were accurate, about 300,000 long-nosed echidnas were in existence then, and the number has dropped since that time.

The long-beaked echidna has declined greatly in numbers where it interacts with man, and it is found only where human population densities are low. The major reason for its decline appears to have been traditional hunting - it is a highly prized game animal. Current threats include hunting with specially trained dogs and loss of forest habitat to logging, mining and farming.

Long-nosed echidnas primarily inhabitat mountain forests, although some live on highly elevated alpine meadows. The species does not live along the coastal plains.

The long-beaked echidna weighs 6 - 16 kg (average 9 kg) (13 - 35 lb (average 20 lb)). It has spines of varying length interspersed with fur on its back, sides and tail. The snout is tubular with a very small mouth, through which the long tongue can be rapidly extruded and retracted. Its lack of teeth is compensated for by rows of "spikes" (horny teeth-like projections on the tongue). It is found in humid montane forests on New Guinea and is mainly nocturnal, feeding on earthworms and other invertebrates on the forest floor. It shelters in hollow logs, cavities under roots or rocks, and burrows. Termites and other insect larvae are also eaten, they may eat ants. They are remarkably long-lived, sometimes living for 30 years in captivity.

The long-beaked echidna is found in New Guinea [ (Irian Jaya) and Papua New Guinea ], where it is widespread. However, it appears to be extinct in large areas of the Central Highlands, and it is absent from the trans-Fly plains and from most of northern New Guinea at altitudes below 1200m elevation, as well as all of the North Coast Range.


The front of the long-beaked echidna's tongue is equipped with "spikes" located in a groove. The echidna probes with its long beak until the end of a worm is found. The tongue is then extruded and the worm hooked by these spikes. The worm and tongue are then withdrawn and the worm swallowed by muscular action of the tongue.

The spines on its body can be erected and its arms and legs withdrawn, as a hedgehog does.

The long-beaked echidna is insectivorous. Its diet consists almost exclusively of earthworms. Ants, termites and other worms are also eaten.

The long-beaked echidna is primarily nocturnal. It forages on the forest floor and is a powerful digger. In southern Chimbu, local people say that the long-beaked echidna digs short, shallow burrows with no nesting material inside.

Interesting Fact: Long-beaked echidnas are very inquisitive creatures and somewhat unafraid. They sometimes make a soft, snorting sound. "The echidnas possess some remarkable features. Perhaps most striking is their extraordinarily large and complex brains and relatively high intelligence, characteristics entirely unexpected in the world's most reptile-like mammals." (Flannery 1995)

As monotremes, the long-nosed echidnas possess one body cavity for the external openings of their urinary, digestive, and reproductive organs. The species has a very short tail relative to its average body length of 450-775 mm. The core body is covered in course brown or black hair that often hides the spines covering the back. Zaglossus has a pronounced downcurved snout, which accounts for two-thirds of the length of its head. Lack of teeth in the species is compensated by rows of spikes/horny teeth-like projections on the enormous tongues of the animals. Long-nosed echidnas generally have clawed feet, the front ones important in digging for food. Within the species there is variation in the number of clawed digits on each foot. Many have claws only on the middle three of the five digits present; others have claws on each digit. The males of the species can be distinguished from the females by the presence of a spur on the inner surface of each hind leg near the foot.

Little is known about reproduction in the long-beaked echidna, although they are believed to be similar in reproductive pattern to their sister species, the short-nosed echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus). Frequency of breeding, courtship rituals, and possible male parental care are unknown for both echidna species. It is thought that the breeding season for the long-nosed echidna is around July. As with reproductive aspects of the biology of long-nosed echidnas, their behavior and social systems are largely unknown. They are believed to be solitary.

The diet of the long-beaked echidna consists almost exclusively of earthworms. When earthworms are eaten, they are positioned by the echidna to go front first into the snout. The powerful tongue of the long-nosed echidna protrudes a small distance and wraps around the front of the worm. While the worm is pulled into the mouth, the echidna's tongue holds the worm in place with its spikes.

The long-nosed echidna is reported to have sweat glands spread over its entire body surface.

Pleistocene fossils of Zaglossus have been found throughout Australia and Tasmania. No other member of the genus currently occurs outside of New Guinea. It is thought that the disappearance of long-nosed echidnas in Australia was due to climate changes that led to decreased presence of earthworms.

In the past, taxonomists recognized up to four species of Zaglossus. At present all long-nosed echidnas are considered to be one species, Z. bruijnii (Augee, 1993; Walker, 1991).

Grizzled Leaf Monkey

The Grizzled Leaf Monkey (Presbytis comata) is currently listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. It is estimated that there are less than 1000 of these animals living in the wild, and, due to clearing of rainforests in Indonesia, only 4% of their natural habitat remains. It is estimated that the population of the Grizzled Leaf Monkey has decreased at least by 50% in the last 10 years.

Grizzled Leaf Monkeys are found only on the island of Java in Indonesia. Java is part of the Sundaland Biodiversity hotspot that contains some 82 threatened species and 13 critically endangered species. They have been seen all throughout the tropical rainforest, in both high and low areas. They are active during the day and live in the trees, rarely touching the ground. They seem to travel in groups of 3-12 monkeys each, averaging 6-7. Sometimes the groups are centered around a mated pair, but not always. There have been reports of all male groups as well. These groups tend to be very territorial, defending their areas against other groups, but there does appear to be pretty extensive overlapping edges between territories. The small areas that they occupy are relatively crowded, with sometimes up to 91 individuals per square mile or 35 per square kilometer.

The average weight for a Grizzled Leaf Monkey is 13-18 pounds (6-8 kg). They are small and slender with small faces, tails, and long fur that ranges in color from dark gray to white on the underbelly. The fur on the top of their heads is darker, verging on black, and it is a longer fringe of hair. They also have large, rounded stomachs.

The Grizzled Leaf Monkey has an interesting adaptation to deal with the food that it eats. Since leaves are usually not very nutritious and are actually often toxic, most animals that live in the jungles of Indonesia supplement their diets with fruits, flowers, and the more nutritious parts of plants. Leaf Monkeys, however, have large stomachs with several chambers. The first chamber contains specialized bacteria that counteract the toxins in the leaves and break down the leaves so that the monkeys can get nutrition from them. About 70% of their diet consists of leaves, 62% young leaves and 6% mature leaves. They will also eat fungi and tips of branches.

Did You Know? The Grizzled Leaf Monkey’s stomach is so large that the contents alone account for 25% of their total weight.

There isn’t a lot of information available on mating and reproduction in the Grizzled Leaf Monkey. Other leaf monkeys, however, such as the Francois Monkey, have been studied in more detail, and the females reach sexual maturity at three to four years old and the males at four. They reach their full adult size at about six or seven. Usually only one baby is born at a time after a gestational period of about 200 days. Babies are usually nursed for about two years and don’t have any contact with their mothers after they are weaned.

Celebes Black Macaque

The Celebes Black Macaque is endemic to Indonesia and is currently (2003) listed as an endangered species. Their population declines due to hunting, the meat is considered a delicacy. Habitat destruction is another big factor for the decline. The python is a known predator of Celebes Black Macaque.

The Black Macaque is a medium sized monkey. They have stocky bodies, and a very short tail. Their rump is a distinct pink colour. They are around 55 cms in length, males weighing around 10 kilograms, and females around 5.5 kilograms. They are also known as the Crested Black Macaque.

They feed on a variety of foods. They primarily feed on fruit and other such vegetation, but have been known to also feed on small animals like mice or lizards. They have pouches in their cheeks which they will often store food in and continue foraging.

They communicate with each other by grunts, and will often groom each other. Dominant males of the group bare their teeth which is one way they establish dominance. If an animal approaches who is not part of their group, they will sound what is known as a scream call.

They inhabit the tropical rainforest island of Sulawesi in Indonesia which was previously known as Celebes (hence the name Celebes Black Macaque).

They breed year round, and the dominant male will be the first to breed with the female. The gestation period is around 165 days or five and a half months.

Proboscis Monkey

Proboscis monkeys are confined to the island of Borneo; Indonesia and Malaysia. They prefer coastal regions to inland areas.

Proboscis monkeys inhabit mangrove forest along rivers and estuaries, swamp-land, and lowland rainforest

Proboscis monkeys are sexually dimorphic. The males have a length of 70 cm and weight of between 16 and 22 kg. Females measure 60 cm and weigh between 7 and 12 kg. Males have a large protruding nose, which enhances vocalizations through resonance. The nose of the female is smaller.

The fur of the adult proboscis monkey is pink and brown with red around the head and shoulders. The arms, legs, and tail are gray. Males have a black scrotum and a red penis. Infants are born with a blue colored face that at 2.5 months darkens to gray. By 8.5 months of age, the face has become cream colored as in the adults.

Proboscis monkeys have webbing between the digits to allow for swimming.

The basic social unit in proboscis monkeys is a single adult male with a harem of from 2 to 7 adult females. The males mate with females in their social group. Proboscis monkeys give birth to a single offspring after a gestation of 166 days. Births usually occur at night. The female sits on a tree branch during the birth. After the infant is born, the mother consumes the placenta.

The breeding season is from February until November. Copulation is initiated by the female through pursing of the lips, shaking of the head from side to side, and presentation of the hindquarters to the male. Females will continue to initiate copulations even after they have conceived.

Infants stay close to their mothers for about one year. Males reach maturity at about 7 years. As is the case for most primates, newborn proboscis monkeys are fairly helpless. They must be carried by their mother until they are able to walk on their own. Mothers provide their offspring with milk, nursing them until they are about 7 months old. They also keep their infants clean through grooming. Infants stay close to their mothers for about one year.

The lifespan in captivity is known as at least 23 years.

Proboscis monkeys are diurnal, preferring to be active from late afternoon until dark. They are primarily arboreal although they are never more than 600 m from a river. When moving through the trees, they are quadrupedal. These monkeys are good swimmers and will leap out of the trees into the water. They are capable of swimming 20 m underwater. They may cross rivers by swimming if alone or they may cross by jumping from a tree on one bank to one on the other side at narrow points if in a group.

There are two types of groups within the proboscis monkey society: unimale and all-male. These groups number 3-32 individuals. Several of the groups will come together in the evening to sleep. These multigroup gatherings are called bands. Proboscis monkeys sleep 0-15 m from the river's edge. They do not sleep in the same place on consecutive nights. The same groups associate regularly and there is little aggression between males in unimale groups.

Interesting fact:

The proboscis monkey has several sounds for communication. Growls are made by males and are used to calm the group members. Honks are made by males as a threat or to warn of predators. Shrieks are made by females and both sexes of juveniles to show aggitation or excitement, and screams are given during agonistic encounters. Social grooming is performed, usually between females. The grooming usually last 1 to 5 minutes and is performed by both individuals.

Proboscis monkeys are folivores and frugivores. They prefer fruits, seeds, young leaves, and shoots of mangrove. They may also eat some invertebrates such as caterpillars and larvae. They are more frugivorous from January through May and more folivorous from June through December.

Leopards are known to prey upon them, as are crocodiles. Adult males sometimes vocalize, apparently to scare off potential predators.

Proboscis monkeys are protected from hunting and capture in Borneo but the destruction of the mangrove forest has limited the population. They are listed as Appendix I by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). They are listed as endangered by the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (IUCN).

Javan Rhinoceros

Rhinoceros sondaicus (Javan rhinoceros) is known to reside in only two Southeast Asian locales: Ujung Kulon National Park in Java, Indonesia, and Cat Tien National Park in Vietnam. Approximately 50 to 60 Javan rhinoceroses are living in Ujung Kulon; while a small group consisting of only 7 to 15 individuals are thought to be living in Cat Tien.

Rhinoceros sondaicus resides in dense, low-lying tropical rainforests. They prefer areas with abundant water and mud wallows. Although most members of the species are found in these lowland areas, they have been observed at more than 1000 feet above sea level.

An average adult Javan rhinoceros is approximately 11 to 12 feet in length, with a height of 5 to 6 feet to the top of its shoulders. There is little sexual dimorphism. They are known for having poor eyesight, but they have keen senses of smell and hearing -- despite having smaller ears than other rhinoceroses. The skin is a hazy grey and contains tough folds that create an armor-like plating. Its one horn is made up of keratin (as are human fingernails), and may grow to a length of 10 inches. Females may lack a horn. Each foot ends in three hooved toes. Their teeth are lophodont, and the Javan rhinoceros also has an unique prehensile lip that functions as an aid for feasting on leaves.

The female Javan rhinoceros reaches sexual maturity at three to four years of age, while males reach maturity after six years. The gestation period is sixteen months, and the interval between births is four to five years. One rhinoceros is born at a time. A young rhino will be active shortly after birth, and will be suckled by its mother for one to two years. Thirty-five to forty years is the average lifespan of Javan rhinoceroses.

The Javan rhinoceros is fairly solitary, except for mating pairs and mothers with their young. The range for the rhinoceros extends between 3 to 20 square miles, with various groups having ranges that overlap one another. There is no set mating season.



Rhinoceros sondaicus feeds for the most part by browsing. In addition to this, the Javan rhinoceros is known to graze upon leaves, young shoots, twigs and fruit.

Many people in the Javan rhinoceros' homelands, especially Vietnam, would like to see the land upon which the rhino lives cleared for agricultural purposes. As long as governments protect these lands, agriculture can not occur here.

Interesting fact:

Eastern Asian medicine views rhino horns as an important, if not essential part, of medicine. Sixty percent of Eastern Asian doctors stock rhino horn, with Asian horns being perferred over their African counterparts. In this part of the world, one kilogram of rhino horn sells for approximately $60,000. The tribal people of Vietnam are also known to poach the rhinoceros for meat.

The Javan rhinoceros is one of the most endangered species of the rhinoceros family (along with the Sumatran rhinoceros), and one of the rarest large mammals in the world. Following the Vietnam war, Rhinocerous sondaicus was thought to be extinct in Vietnam. Agent Orange, land mines, and general warfare decimated the rhinocerous population. Only recently was the Javan rhinocerous spotted in the area. With such a small population however, the prospects for survival are not good. Although the land on which they live is currently protected, there is pressure to use the land for agricultural purposes. In addition, it is not known how many of the 7 to 15 rhinos are females. If there are only 1 or 2 females, their death could mean the end of the species in Vietnam. Also, with so few animals, the likelihood of inbreeding is great. Inbreeding is known to increase the likelihood of birth defect or disease. Those Javan rhinoceroses residing in Indonesia are fortunate to have a slightly larger population. However, should an environmental catastrophe (such as a forest fire) or disease affect the population, dire consequences could result.

Rhinoceros sondaicus is also referred to as the lesser one-horned rhinoceros.

Dhole

The Dhole is currently (2003) listed as a vulnerable species. It is known as the Dhole, Asian Wild Dog or the Red Dog. It was first discovered in 1811 by Amur. It inhabits Pamirs, Tien Shan, Altai, Sayan, Amur, India, China, Malaya, Sumatra, and Borneo.

They are usually rusty red in colour with a thick bushy coat. Their bushy tail is almost always black. They average around 90 cms in length, with a tail of 40 to 45 cms. They stand around 50 cms tall, weighing around 15 to 20 kilograms. The females are much smaller than the males, weighing in at around 10 to 13 kilograms.

The Dhole is a pack animal, thus living in packs of about 8 or 9 dholes. Packs of up to 30 have been reported. They have a varied diet and will feed on insects, lizards, berries, rodents, hares, and many other food sources. A number of dhole will often hunt and bring down larger animals such as a deer.

The Dhole mates between Sept to Feb in Northern India, and shorter periods in warmer climates, around Sept to December. The gestation period is 60 to 62 days before 5 or 6 pups are born. The litter can range in size from anywhere between 2 to 9.

Dholes do not attack humans, in fact if they spot a human they will run the other way.

Short-Clawed Otter

The Short-Clawed Otter (Aonyx cinerea), also known as the Oriental Small Claw Otter, is currently listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). This small mammal is the smallest of the otters, but, unfortunately, they remain somewhat of a mystery because of lack of research and study.

The Short-Clawed Otter is found most often in shallow water at the mouths of rivers, near the coast, or in marshy swamps. They are found in southern India and China, Indonesia, New Guinea, and the Philippines. They make their homes on riverbanks and will move in to an abandoned den if possible, or they will dig their own. They tend to travel in groups, sometimes up to 12 otters, that usually consist of a mated pair and their offspring.

As its name suggests, the Short-Clawed Otter has claws that are much smaller than other otters’. Also unlike other otters, their paws are almost like hands, very slightly webbed, and they are capable and dexterous when using them. They are very sensitive, much like our own, and they can use them to dig food out of the sand, dirt, or out from under rocks. These otters are very small, only growing to about 2 feet (65 cm) long, which includes the 8 inch (20 cm) tail. At full maturity, the Short-Clawed Otter weighs only 6-12 pounds (2-6 kg). Their fur is a dark brown color, which verges to a lighter tan on their undersides, and they sometimes have whiter spots on their faces, chests, and throats. Their fur is very water-resistant on top with a layer of softer fur underneath that keeps the otter from getting chilled in cold water.

Interesting Fact: Short-Clawed Otters can close their nostrils and ears to keep water from getting in when they are swimming.

Short-Clawed Otters’ teeth are built for hard-shelled animals, and the main part of their diet includes crabs, mollusks, and snails. The teeth are wide and flat and are used for crushing the shell so that the otter can get to the meat inside. They are also known to eat frogs and smaller fish, but, unlike other otters, they don’t snag their food out of the water with their mouths but instead use their “hands” to grab it and can find hidden food in the mud and rocks.

Short-Clawed Otters reach sexual maturity when they are about two or three years old. Most of these otters will keep the same mate for life, and they keep their offspring with them, with both of the parents caring for them. The female of the species is the dominant partner, and the male will hunt for and bring her food as she nurses the young. The gestational period in these otters is about 60-64 days, and they can have litters of as many as six pups at a time, although the average appears to be only one or two. They will often mate twice a year. When the pups are born, they are blind and need constant care. They don’t even learn to swim until they are nine weeks old, and they will nurse constantly until they are 10 or 11 weeks old, at which time they will start to eat solid food. The maximum life span for a Short-Clawed Otter in the wild is 10 years.

Short-Clawed Otters are very swift little animals, swimming extremely fast. They are also known to communicate with different vocal sounds - there is recorded evidence of at least 12 different vocalizations that they use with one another.

Siamang

The Siamang (Hylobates syndactylus) is an endangered primate. “Hylobates” is literally translated to “dweller in the trees”, and that description fits these animals quite well. Because they are native to tropical rainforests, they are endangered due to these rainforests being cleared at an alarming rate.

Siamangs are found in Malaysia and Indonesia, with dwarf versions of the animals found on the islands in Sumatra. They spend most of the time in the trees of the rainforest, even sleeping on tree branches, and don’t touch ground often. They are, actually, most often found at about 80-100 feet (25-30 meters) off of the ground. When they do travel along the ground, they walk on two legs, holding their arms over their heads to help balance themselves. The most-often used means of travel, however, is swinging through the trees, hooking one wrist over a tree branch as they swing forward to hook the next available branch. They travel and live in groups that are strictly family and consist of a mated pair and their children. They are very territorial, sometimes owning a territory of over 50 acres.

Interesting Fact: During any given day, a family of Siamang can travel up to a mile (1.6 km) on their search for food.

Siamangs are covered in black, shaggy fur which is lighter around the mouth and ranges to red at the eyebrow area. They don’t have tails but have extremely long forearms and hands with an opposable thumb and opposable toe. They can carry things with their hands or their feet and are very dexterous. One of their most distinguishing features is a hairless pouch on their throats that will expand when they are vocalizing. The average adult siamang weighs approximately 18-35 pounds (8-16 kg) and is 30-35 inches (75-90 cm) tall. Their arm span is very large, reaching over 5 feet (1.5 meters).

The primary staple in the Siamang’s diet is leaves and fruit, and they seem to prefer mangoes, figs, and grapes. They have also been known to eat insects, eggs, and even birds, which they snatch out of the air mid-swing. They are often seen eating with one hand while hanging from a branch with the other. They are also very generous with their food, sharing the bounty between all members of the family.

Siamangs don’t reach sexual maturity until they are between five and eight years of age, usually staying with their family groups until they are eight and then leaving to find their own mates. It will sometimes take a young Siamang two to three years to find a suitable mate, but, once mated, they mate for life. Female siamangs usually have babies two to three years apart. The gestational period lasts about 230-235 days, and the babies are born nearly hairless, with only a small patch of hair on their heads. The babies are protected and nursed by their mothers until they are a little over a year old. After they are weaned, the father takes over and cares for the young until they are about three years old and can defend themselves. Family groups stay very close together at all times.

One of the most interesting things about the siamang is the way they communicate. Their throat pouches help add volume to their calls, and these can be heard over 3 miles (4.8 km) through the jungle. They call to other family groups, establish territories, and participate in vocal warfare. Mated pairs are also known to “sing” to each other, and each pair seems to develop a unique “song” to communicate with one another.

Silvery Gibbon

The Silvery Gibbon (Hylobates moloch) is currently listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). They are in danger mostly because of commercial clearing of the forest where they live. It is estimated that only 4% of their original native habitat is still available to the species. They are, of course, in danger from poachers who sell their meat, pelts, and take the babies for pets.

The Silvery Gibbon is only found on the island of Java in Indonesia. Because of their isolated location, it is estimated that there are less than 2000 of these animals currently living in the wild. They are usually found in the upper reaches of trees, and they travel in small family groups that consist of a mated pair and their offspring in various stages of development. They travel by swinging from branch to branch, using their long fingers to hook the branches as they swing forward for the next branch. At times, their swings are so powerful that it allows them to be completely airborne and reach greater distances in one swing. Gibbons are able to walk on the ground if they need to, and they walk on two legs, holding their arms up above their heads to help balance. In each family’s territory, there are trees that are used for specific purposes, like sleeping and calling. They repeatedly use the same trees for these functions.

Interesting Fact: Every morning, the female Silvery Gibbon will arise and announce her presence to the forest by shrieking and calling. These calls can be heard for at least a kilometer in all directions.

Silvery Gibbons, as their name suggests, are fluffy with grayish-white fur. The fur is very long and dark gray on the top of their round heads. The arms are extremely long, the span at least twice their height, and they are very slender, which allows them to travel through the trees more easily. The average weight for an adult Silvery Gibbon is approximately 13 pounds (6 kg), and the males and females are very similar in appearance and size.

Silvery Gibbons exist primarily on fruit. Since fruit-bearing trees are usually scattered in the jungle, they must travel extensively to find food, and each gibbon family usually has a territory that they travel through that averages about 42 acres (17 hectares). Sometimes these territories will overlap, allowing several families to share the same fruit trees. They have also been known to eat flowers and leaves.

Silvery Gibbons mate for life, and the female will produce offspring about every two to three years. Pregnancies usually last seven to eight months, and only one baby gibbon is born at a time. Gibbons are born essentially hairless with only a small tuft of hair on the top of their heads. Gibbon families are usually very closely linked, and they stay close together when traveling. Adolescent gibbons will stay with the family until they are ready to get off on their own and find a mate. If threatened in their territories, the gibbon female will sing and scream while the male chases off the intruder, usually with a lot of noise and crashing through branches.

Sulawesi Macaque

The Sulawesi Macaque (Macaca nigra), also known as the crested black macaque or the Celebes ape, is currently listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) due to hunting and the clearing of their native habitat, sometimes even taken when very young as pets by the local population.

The Sulawesi Macaque is found in Indonesia on the Sulawesi island, Bacan island, and on the shores of the Philippeans. They are mainly found in the trees in tropical rainforest areas, although they will often venture to the coastal areas on a hunt for food. These macaques live in family groups, usually led by a dominant female. In these groups, there are usually about three times as many females as males, and the females are permanent members of the groups, while the males will often switch from group to group. They are very social and will often spend much of the day grooming one another. Males are competitive, fighting with each other for dominance in the group. It is estimated that there are approximately 144,000 living in the rainforests of Sulawesi.

Interesting Fact: The children of dominant females in the group are given preference and standing in each family group.

Sulawesi Macaques are covered with black hair that mixes with white on their shoulders and arms. Their most distinguishing feature is a short ruff of coarse hair on the top of the head that sticks straight up. They have relatively flat faces, very narrow, with a very prominent brow ridge and cheekbones. Adult male macaques can reach a weight of about 19-22 pounds (9-10 kg) and the females about 15 pounds (7 kg). They reach an average length of about 22 inches (56 cm) and have a very short tail with a pink rear end. They have very large canine teeth and cheek pouches that go all the way down the sides of the neck.

Sulawesi Macaques are omnivores and eat mostly fruits, eggs, insects, and flowers. When searching for food, they will often not stop to eat but instead will fill their cheek pouches first and then stop once they are full and eat. Unfortunately, they often have to raid farms to find food, and this often gets them killed.

Females reach sexual maturity between three and five years of age, and the males are sexually mature at about four to five years old. When the female Sulawesi Macaque is ready to mate, her rear end will swell up and turn a brighter pink or red. Gestation lasts about 162-186 days, and the babies are born one for each pregnancy. Their eyes are closed at birth, but they open in only about two hours. The babies are nursed for at least a year after birth, clinging to their mother’s chests. Male macaques are interested in the babies while they are still very young but lose interest, while the females will care for the offspring for their entire lives. They usually live about 18 years.

Sulawesi Macaques have many ways of communicating. They will often call to one another, show their teeth, and smack their lips together. They are also able to move their ruffs of hair to show emotion and to communicate. They have been known to greet each other by sniffing each other’s rear ends and embracing.

Sumatran Flying Squirrel

The Sumatran Flying Squirrel (Hylopetes winstoni) is listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), partially due to their isolated location and partially due to clearing of the forests where they make their homes. The Sumatran Flying Squirrel lives in what is known as the Sundaland biodiversity hotspot, which is home to 82 threatened and 13 critically endangered species. Unfortunately, little is known about this species in particular as not a lot of research has been done in their natural habitats.

The Sumatran Flying Squirrel is only found on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, discovered in 1949 and only known by a single specimen. Flying squirrels usually live in hollows of trees, sometimes taking nests of other animals, and they are most often found in dense, forested areas. They are also nocturnal animals, spending the days holed up in their nests and coming out at night on a hunt for food. Unfortunately, there is no current estimate of how many of these animals are currently living in the wild.

Flying squirrels don’t “fly” in the traditional sense, rather they have membranes that run along their sides, attached to the wrists and ankles. They typically use these membranes to glide from upper branches of trees to the lower branches, although some have been seen to flap these membranes, often with an almost frenzied motion. It is not certain whether this actually gives any benefit, however. The Sumatran Flying Squirrel is classified as an Arrow-Tailed Flying Squirrel. Some larger flying squirrels have been recorded gliding extreme lengths, up to 1500 feet (450 meters). Reported glides for an arrow-tailed squirrel, however, have been recorded at up to 443 feet (135 meters).

In general, flying squirrels vary in size, ranging from 4-10 inches (110-330 mm) in length. They have a relatively long, flattened tail that can measure anywhere from 3-11 inches (80-292 mm) curves up at the tip, and helps them in controlling the glide. Unlike other kinds of flying squirrels, the Arrow-Tailed flying squirrels don’t have a membrane that attaches to the tail. They are covered with soft, thick fur that ranges in color from grayish-brown to black.

Flying squirrels are omnivorous, eating fruits, nuts, leaves, insects and, sometimes, small snakes. One species of flying squirrel is very fond of spiders, crickets, and locusts, and a squirrel in captivity caught, killed, and consumed a small snake that was placed in its cage. Unfortunately, little is known about the Sumatran Flying Squirrel’s preferred diet.

Arrow-tailed flying squirrels don’t seem to have a specific breeding season, but there does appear to be a triggering event as the females in a particular area tend to be pregnant at the same time. The gestational period is estimated to be about 40 days, and each litter can be between one and four young, but two is the average number of young born at one time. Because of the limited field research on this small animal, there is no reproductive information available that is specific to the species.

Sumatran Rabbit

The Sumatran Rabbit (Nesolagus netscheri) is listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and was thought to be extinct until it was accidentally photographed in the late 1990s. Even now it is considered the world’s rarest rabbit and is sorely endangered of becoming completely extinct as the population is so low. There aren’t any current estimations as to how many of them are living in the wild.

Interesting Fact: The Sumatran Rabbit is so rare and well hidden that the local people don’t even have a name for it in their own language and don’t even realize that it exists.

The Sumatran Rabbit is extremely isolated, making its home only in the Barisan Mountains on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Since they are so isolated and have not been studied in the wild, there is scarce information on their behavior and habitat. It is known, however, that they are nocturnal, spending the day in burrows dug and deserted by other animals. There is no evidence that they dig their own. They also make their homes in holes in the ground and under the base roots of trees. They live in what is known as the Sundaland Biodiversity Hotspot, which is home to at least 13 other critically endangered species. Other rabbits of the same family as the Sumatran Rabbit use scent for identification and to mark territory and are able to emit high, piercing shrieks when they are injured or in danger. They also warn other rabbits of danger by hitting the ground quickly with their hind legs.

The Sumatran Rabbit is interesting in that it has striped fur, thought to have been an evolutionary development to help the rabbit hide in the rainforest floor. The rabbit is generally gray with thick, soft fur, striped with a chestnut brown color. These stripes pattern the rabbit’s face and body, and there is one stripe that travels all the way from the shoulders to the tail. Sumatran rabbits have white underbellies and red tails. They measure approximately 13-15 inches (340-400 mm) long with a 0.5 inch (15 mm) tail. They only weigh about 3 pounds (1.5 kg). They are also known to have shorter ears than other rabbits.

The Sumatran Rabbit doesn’t venture out into clearings or out of the forest when looking for food. Instead, it stays protected under the trees of the rainforest, making its meals on the plants that grow there, eating both the stalks and the leaves.

Since there hasn’t been any significant field research on these rabbits, nothing really is known about their method of reproduction. Other rabbits in the same family, however, usually reach sexual maturity at around 8 months of age. After a gestational period of 10 days, they give birth to litters of baby rabbits, or kittens. These litters can number up to six kittens at a time. Rabbits usually build nests that are lined with their own fur for the kittens when they are born, and they are blind and helpless at birth, usually not even opening their eyes for 7-10 days. Typical rabbits are able to live to be about nine years old. Unfortunately, it is not known whether the Sumatran Rabbit has these typical breeding characteristics or not.

Sumatran Rhinoceroses

The Sumatran Rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) is the only two-horned rhinoceros living in Asia. They are currently listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and are one of the rarest mammals found in the wild. They have been hunted to near extinction, especially for the horns which are believed to have medicinal properties and are also used for carving. There has also been a problem with their natural habitat being cleared to make way for industry and farms.

Sumatran Rhinoceroses are found in tropical rainforests in very isolated areas of Indonesia. They are most active at night, feeding in the morning and the evening, and spending most of the day resting in ponds and mud. They have been noted to migrate, spending cooler months in lower-lying valleys and spending the hotter parts of the year in the mountainous areas. Each rhinoceros will have a home area, often overlapping, that contains a salt lick, which appears to be essential to their survival. They are very territorial, and members of both sexes scrape the ground and use urine and feces to mark their territories. It is estimated that there are less than 300 currently living in the wild. Unfortunately, they are creatures of habit and frequently return to the same spots, and poachers easily take advantage of this.

The Sumatran Rhinoceros is distinctive in that they are covered with hair, unlike other members of the species. Their hair is long, shaggy, and reddish-brown with the hide underneath being a grayish color and plated like armor. Both sexes have two horns growing out from their noses, and the front horn is noticeably larger than the back horn. The males’ horns are somewhat larger than the females’. They can reach a full adult height of approximately 8-10 feet (2-3 meters) with a shoulder height of about 4 feet (135 cm). They do have a relatively long tail, measuring about 20 inches (50 cm). Very stocky animals, they can reach mature weights of approximately 1000 kg (2200 pounds).

Sumatran Rhinoceroses are herbivores and graze on many different kinds of plants. They seem to favor bamboo, figs and mangoes, but they will eat leaves, shrubs, shoots, bark, and vines.

Interesting Fact: Sumatran Rhinoceroses can consume up to 110 pounds (50 kg) of food every day.

Female Sumatran Rhinoceroses reach sexual maturity at around four years of age, the males at about seven years old. The females will breed every three to four years, and the mating ritual is violent, usually involving many males competing and fighting after which the victor will chase the female, marking his territory with excrement, and then fighting between the male and female before the actual mating begins. Pregnancies last about 400 days, and only one baby is usually born at a time. The mother rhinoceros will nurse for about 18 months, and the babies stay with their mothers for at least another year after that. Aside from a mother with her offspring, rhinoceroses are usually very solitary creatures, but they will gather when mating and when resting near water holes.

Sun Bear

The Sun Bear (Helarctos malayanus) is the smallest bear in the world, but it is also considered by many to be the fiercest. It is currently listed as endangered, mostly due to hunting. In many countries, bile from the gallbladders of Sun Bears is praised for its medicinal qualities, and their paws are used for soup. In some countries, Sun Bears are kept as pets.

Sun bears are only found in southeast Asia. They are extremely good climbers, often found in the treetops. Because of this, Sun Bears are known as “basindo nan tenggil” in Malay, which translates to “he who likes to sit high.” There is evidence to suggest that the bears spend a great deal of time in the treetops, even sleeping up high in the trees. They are nocturnal, resting and enjoying the sunlight during the day, and do not hibernate as other bears do and are active all year. As not much study has been done on these bears, no one is certain how many actually still exist in the wild.

The Sun Bear’s small size, with the males only growing to reach about 145 pounds (65 kg) and the females only reaching 60 pounds (30 kg), makes them very distinctive. They have dark brown to black fur, which is very thick, and their skin is actually loose, which allows them to turn and bite when attacked and held by a predator. The bear’s muzzle is very short and is lighter than the rest of the fur, sometimes ranging to a light orange color. Their most distinctive feature is the crescent-shaped patch of fur on the chest that ranges from white to golden yellow. They have very long claws, which help them to climb trees. At sometimes up to 6 inches (15 cm), these claws are also used to defend against the bear’s natural predators.

Did You Know: The Sun Bear is named for the patch of fur on their chests which was once thought to resemble a rising or setting sun?

Sun Bears are complete omnivores. They have very long tongues that allow them to get to hard to reach honey and insects. They have been known to eat termites, birds, small animals, honey, and fruit, and, as their habitats decline and food become scarce, it is not unusual for a wild Sun Bear to raid commercial crops, such as oil palms.

Due to their decreased numbers and lack of information, not much is known about their breeding and reproductive patterns, unfortunately. It seems that they reach full sexual maturity at about three years in the female and four years in the male. There are many differing reports as to the gestational period for the Sun Bear. Nothing is known about their reproductive habits in the wild, but, in captivity, most Sun Bears give birth after a length of only 95-96 days. There doesn’t appear to be a peak mating season, as these bears seem to give birth throughout the year. They usually bear litters of two or three cubs, and these cubs are nursed until about 18 months of age, but they tend to stick with their mothers until they are fully mature and ready to mate.

Malayan Tapir

The Malayan tapir is found in Southeast Asia in the following countries: southern Burma, Thailand, the Malay Peninsula, and Sumatra. The Malayan tapir occurs in the Sundaland & Eastern Indonesian Archipelago Mangroves, Sumatran-Nicobar Islands Lowland Forests, and Sumatran Montane Forests

The Malayan tapir weighs about 250 - 300 kg (550 - 660 lb). It utilizes various forested habitats, including swamp, lowland, montane and hill forest and prefers dense primary rainforest. Its diet includes grasses, aquatic plants, leaves, buds, soft twigs and fruits of low-growing shrubs. The Malayan tapir is primarily nocturnal. It travels long distances in search of food, habitually using the same paths. It climbs steep slopes well. Since it likes to bathe and wallow, it is often found around water and forms steps in river banks leading into the water. The Malayan tapir is found in lowland areas in the dry season and moves into mountainous areas with the rainy season. It is usually solitary, except for a female with young.

The Malayan tapir has historically been known from Myanmar and Thailand south through the Malay Peninsula to Sumatra. It still occurs throughout its historical range. However, it has been depleted throughout this range due to capture for the live animal trade, overhunting, and habitat loss, with remnant populations surviving in isolated habitats.

Found in tropical lowland and highland rainforest where there is a permanent supply of water. They tend to shelter in forests and thickets during the daytime, but come out at night to forage on grasslands or near water.

Malayan tapirs have a large stocky body with a prominent proboscis. Adults of this species have a dramatic color pattern, with a black front half of body, white sides, and black hind legs. As dramatic as this color pattern seems to our eyes, it camoflages them well in the shady forest, especially in nights when the moon is out. Eyes are oval and not very mobile. The forefeet have four digits, each of which ends in a hoof. The fourth toe does not touch the ground, so footprints show the imprints of three digits. Hind feet have three digits. This species does not have a mane.

Mating, which occurs in April and May, is characterized by a heated courtship ritual. When sexually excited, tapirs make wheezing and whistling sounds, and attempt to sniff each other's genital regions, often resulting in their going round in circles. They may bite at one another's ears, feet, and flanks. After a gestation period of at least 390 days, one young is born. At birth, young weigh up to 10 kg, which is the heaviest of any tapir species. The young of this species grows more quickly than those of congenerics. When born, tapirs have a spotted and striped coat rather in contrast to the dramatic black and white pattern seen in the adults. Females have offspring every other year. Sexual maturity is reached at about three years of age, and the lifespan is thought to be about 30 years.

Interesting fact:

Malaysian tapirs are nocturnal and solitary, with the exception of mother-offspring pairs. When they encounter one another in the wild, tapirs are aggressive. They communicate with whistling sounds and scent-marking urine. Tapirs are shy and crash off into the bush when humans are around, but will bite if cornered. They are also good swimmers, runners, and hill climbers.

Tapirs are among the most primitive large mammals in the world. Their closest relatives are the horses and rhinoceroses.

The Malayan tapir is a vegetarian non-ruminant. The diet consists of grasses, leaves, aquatic plants, and twigs. Salt is well liked by tapirs, which will go out of their way to find it. Foraging is often done on a repeated foraging route, often with their nose to the ground. Often tapirs forage in a zig-zag fashion. The fleshy proboscis is commonly used as a finger to grab almost out-of-reach leaves and grasses and pull them into the mouth. The stomach is simple, and the intestine has a short cecum.

Tapirs have been known to damage food crops.

Malayan tapirs are hunted for food and sport in non-Moslem regions of their distribution.

Malayan tapirs are classified as endangered by the IUCN and USDI. They are on Appendix 1 of CITES. Habitat destruction and overhunting are the two main factors contributing to their endangered status. Habitat destruction has mainly been a result of agriculture and and increase in cattle grazing.

Dingiso

The Dingiso is currently (2003) listed as a vulnerable species. It is endemic to Indonesia. It was first discovered by an Australian named Dr Tim Flannery in 1987. He roamed the mountains in New Guinea and discovered four new varieties of tree kangaroo. He named this Dendrolagus mbaiso, referring to it as "It's a beautiful thing, and no biologist had ever seen one before." Flannery describes the Dingiso as "none was as unusual as Dingiso and none such an interesting evolutionary and culturual story to tell."

The cultural story that Flannery refers to is the locals refused to hunt this particular species. They believed the dingiso to be sacred, and fittingly the scientific name "mbaiso" translates to "forbidden" in the local dialect.

Did you know? The Dingiso is the only known species of semi-terrestrial tree kangaroo.

The Dingiso is known by locals as the bondegezou.

Unlike most tree kangaroos, the dingiso spends most of its time on the ground. They are beautiful black and white coloured animals, and their markings have been reported to change as the animal matures. They have a white patch in the middle of their forehead, and a band of white fur around the muzzle. Females weigh approximately 8.5 to 9 kilograms, but no male Dingisos have ever been weighed. They feed mostly on leaves.

The dingiso is a close relative of Doria's Tree Kangaroo (Dendrolagus dorianus).

The dingiso lives high in mountains where the temperature usually drops below freezing at night. As such it has developed a dense thick coat. It is reported to be a fearless animal that will approach humans without much hesitation.

There is still a lot of research to be carried out on the Dingiso, as little is known about it to this date (2004).

Sumatra Water Shrew

The Sumatra Water Shrew (Chimarrogale sumatrana), also known as the Asiatic or Oriental Water Shrew, is a very small insectivorous mammal. Currently listed as critically endangered by the International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Sumatra Water Shrew is in danger because of the very specific area that it lives in and its habitat being destroyed. These shrews are found in the Sundaland Biodiversity Hotspot, which is the home of 13 critically endangered species and 82 threatened species. Shrews are some of the smallest mammals on the planet.

The Sumatra Water Shrew is only found in the Padang Highlands, which is on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. These shrews, true to their names, spend much of their time in the water. They even live in burrows with the entrance underwater. They are usually found in streams in mountainous tropical rainforest areas. It is still uncertain as to the status of the Sumatra Water Shrew, as many experts don’t consider them a separate species but rather a subspecies of the Borneo Water Shrew.

Sumatra Water Shrews are very adapted for their lives in the water. All Asiatic Water Shrews are considered large for their species, reaching full adult lengths of 3-5 inches (80-135 mm) with a tail about 2-5 inches (60-126 mm) long. The fur is dark brown in color, very thick, and water repellant, the eyes are very small, and the ears have a flap that seals them when the shrew is swimming underwater. Their feet are fringed with long, stiff, bristly hairs, and this is a characteristic that is only found in water shrews. These fringes help the shrews when they are swimming by increasing water movement.

Did You Know? The fringes on the Sumatra Water Shrew’s feet trap air bubbles between them, which float and allow the shrew to literally walk on water, running across the surface.

Sumatra Water Shrews are insectivores, and they eat many invertebrate animals, including insects and crustaceans. They have also been known to eat insect larvae and small fish. There is also some evidence that they are able to walk along the bottom of a river or stream, hunting and eating the bottom-feeding animals that are found there. Most shrews have very fast metabolisms and, therefore, must eat incredibly large amounts. Because of this, they are constantly active throughout the day and night on their hunt for sustenance.

Little is known about the mating and reproductive habits of the Asiatic Water Shrews, possibly because of the hidden, underwater entrances to their burrows. North American water shrews, which have many of the same characteristics as the Asiatic shrews, can reach sexual maturity as early as three months of age for the females. Males reach maturity in the winter of their first year. The gestational period is generally between 13 and 28 days, and litters are produced that typically have five to seven young shrews. The average life span is only 18 months, and females will often produce up to three litters in their lifetimes.

Fin Whale

The Fin Whale is found in oceans all over the world, from the tropics to the polar areas. They are known as a pelagic species, often occuring in shallow waters close to the shore. Even though they are found in oceans across the world, they are not as common in tropical waters or ice laden seas.

They are around 19 to 20 metres in length, and can weigh as much as an estimated 70 tonnes. Fin Whales found in the southern hemisphere have been reported up to 26 metres in length. They have a white underbelly, and are a brown-grey colour on top. They are migratory whales, and have been observed in groups of up to 300 whales. They normally however travel in a pod with 6 or 7 other whales. They have a narrow flat V-shaped head and two blowholes.

They are known by a number of other names such as the Finn, the Finner, the Finback, the Common Rorqual or the Herring Whale. The Fin Whale is currently (2003) listed as an endangered species.

Did you know? The Fin Whale is one of the fastest whales with the ability to swim and sustain a 37 km/h speed through the water.

From this feat, it is often referred to as "the greyhound of the deep". The Fin Whale also has the ability to leap completely out of the water. On the other extreme, they can reach depths of over 250 metres.

They have been known to consume one to one and a half tonne of food per day. They feed on a variety of aquatic species including squid, herring and capelin.

Humpback Whale

This large whale weighs an average of 30 tonnes, ranging in length from 12 to 16 metres. The female Humpback Whale is normally one or two metres longer than the male Humpback Whale. They have two blowholes. They range in colour from almost white through to gray and black. The word "Megaptera" translates to "huge wings" referring to the large flippers the whale possesses.

If a Humpback is spotted along the coast, it turns immediately into a great tourist attraction. Locals and visitors stop to see the amazing whale leap out of the water in gigantic somersaults, before crashing back through the sea. Other times they are known to roll on the surface of the water. When out of the water, they flap their flippers. An amazing sight to witness.

Humpbacks are found all over the world, however there are only about 2,500 remaining thus making this an endangered species world wide. Even with their huge size they still have predators. Killer Whales are known to attack Humpbacks, and unfortunately, so too are humans. These amazing creatures have been hunted to near extinction.

Did you know? A large humpback whale can weigh up to 60 tonnes!

The Humpback Whale has a bulky head with protuberances, which makes it easily identifiable. They usually travel in groups, travelling at around 10 km/h through the water. They have been reported to reach speeds of just over 25 km/h when threatened.

Humpbacks are known to be the most vocal of all whales, emitting long complex sounds. They also have the largest frequency range out of any other known whales, reaching 20 to 9,000 Hz.

The Sei Whale

The Sei Whale is found in waters all over the world, although it avoids tropical or polar regions. They are found in the Indian Ocean, Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean.

They range in size from around 12 to 15 metres. The largest specimen ever reported was 20 metres in length. They weigh an average of 23 tonnes but weights of 27 tonnes have been reported. They are dark gray to black in colour. They have a sleek streamlined body, and a single ridge along the top of their head. Their underbelly is a lighter colour, and has been known to have a pinkish tinge. Randomly scattered patches of white on the whale are usually parasitic scars from copepods or other such sea creatures.

They feed on around 900 kilograms of small fish (and other aquatic creatures) per day. They do this by swimming through schools of fish, skimming the fish as they swim. They feed near the surface of the water, and when feeding they swim on their side. They are unable to sustain dives of more than 5 to 10 minutes at a time and cannot reach great depths as other whales can, however they make up for this with their speed and agility.

Did you know? The Sei Whale is one of the fastest of all whales, able to swim at speeds of 50 km/h through the water.

Sperm Whale

This large whale weighs an average of 40 tonnes, and can reach weights of 50 tonnes. Large males can grow to 20 metres in length, and females only 12 metres. The females weigh on average one third of what the male whale weighs.

They have a large box type head, which makes it easily distinguishable and sets the sperm whale aside from other whales.

These whales can swim to extreme depths, going down as far as 3 kms. Given their size, they feed on very large sea creatures also. Amongst their favourite is the giant squid, which can range over 9 metres from top to tentacles. They also feed on seals, rays and even sharks up to a few metres long. The whales have no limit to how deep they can swim.

These whales can reach speeds of 30 km/h under the water if threatened, but generally attain a 10 km/h speed when moving through waters.

Did you know? The tooth of a sperm whale can grow to 23 cms long and weigh 3 kilograms!

The sperm whale is not as vocal as other whales, however it can still emite a variety of sounds from chirps or squeaks to groans and clicks. When the sperm whale interacts with another whale, they will sound a series of clicks anywhere between a few and fourty. This is known as the whale coda.

In the past sperm whales were hunted aggresively. Sperm whales were also feared by whalers with small-boats, as they had the ability to capsize such boats. In recent times whaler boats became more sophisticated and this was no longer a problem. These great creatures were unfortunately hunted for spermaceti. A substance located in the head of the sperm whale. It was used for a variety of lubricating purposes. It was found in automatic transmission fluid, burning oil for lamps, and other such purposes.

White Handed Gibbon

The White-Handed Gibbon (Hylobates lar) is an endangered, tree-living primate. Because of hunting and clearing of the rainforests where they make their home, these animals are in danger of extinction. It is estimated that a mere 10% of their natural habitat remains, and most of this falls in protected sanctuaries. The young are often captured and sold as pets.

White-Handed Gibbons are found in the tropical rainforests of Indonesia, southern China, Burma, Malaysia, and Thailand. They are most often found in the treetops, swinging from branch to branch. They don’t build nests for sleeping like other apes, but, instead, they sleep sitting upright on a tree branch. Usually they have “sleeping trees” that are used every night by each group of gibbons and not used by any other groups. They are able to walk upright, using their long arms for balance, but they don’t use that form of transportation often and prefer to travel through the trees. They avoid crossing water as they don’t know how to swim. Gibbons travel in family groups which usually consist of a mated pair and their offspring. They are very territorial, sometimes holding areas of 30-100 acres.

White-Handed Gibbons have very thick, soft fur that ranges in color from black to a reddish-tan. They have essentially hairless black faces which are ringed in white, and, true to their name, the upper parts of their hands are white with an opposable thumb. They have very long arms which are well suited for tree swinging. An adult gibbon can reach a height of 25 inches (63 cm) and a weight of 14 pounds (6 kg). They are tail-less and have coarse pads of skin on their rears that help protect and give comfort when they are sitting or sleeping on tree branches.

Primarily herbivorous, White-Handed Gibbons most often eat fruit and leaves, and they appear to be most fond of figs. However, they will eat insects, bird eggs, and the occasional bird, which they snatch out of the air as they swing by. They forage during the day, often stopping at more than 16 different trees to find food and will rest during the heat of the day.

Interesting Fact: White-Handed Gibbons often get their needed water by licking the moisture off of their fur after a rainstorm or by rubbing it on wet foliage.

White-Handed Gibbons reach sexual maturity at six to eight years of age, when they leave the family groups to find their own mates. Female gibbons give birth to young every three to four years, and one baby is born at a time. The pregnancies last approximately 210 days, and the young gibbons are born nearly hairless, except for a small tuft of hair on the top of their heads. The young gibbons cling to their mothers night and day until they begin to swing through the trees at six months of age. They will stay close to their families, only leaving when they are of breeding age and are kicked out of the group by a parent.

Communication in White-Handed Gibbons is extensive, relying mostly on lengthy calls that are very musical. They use these to communicate within the family groups and to protect their territories against other family groups. They use different tones to their voices to announce their presence, give details about who is in their family, the sex of the members, and whether or not there is a youngster about to leave the group. They also have a specific warning call that they use if there is danger.

Alpine Woolly Rat

The Alpine Woolly Rat (Mallomys gunung) is currently listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Even though portions of its habitat are protected, the Woolly Rat is still in danger from mining and tourism.

The Alpine Woolly Rat is only found in the high alpine and sub-alpine grasslands in New Guinea. They are actually only one of four species of mammals that live in the area, the other three being the lesser antechinus, the western shrew mouse, and the glacier rat. There is not much known about this animal, but it is in the same family as the giant tree rats. Some giant rats make their nests in trees, far up off of the ground, in the hollows of trees. Other giant rats, however, dig burrows and live on the ground.

The Alpine Woolly Rat is an extremely large rodent. The head and body measures a staggering 11-18 inches (28-45 cm) with a tail about the same length. The tail is relatively hairless and scaly, and the skin is partially brown and partially white. The fur is very long, thick, and somewhat woolly. It varies in color from brown to gray with a white underbelly and black whiskers, hands, and feet. They have very distinctive molars with a unique pattern not seen in other rodents.

The Alpine Woolly Rat, if like other giant rats, is primarily herbivorous, eating mostly shoots, grasses, and tubers. Most of the giant rats are also nocturnal, resting during the day and leaving their burrows at night to find food.

When the Alpine Woolly Rat was discovered, specimens were brought back to a museum and studied. Several of the female rats were pregnant with only signs of one baby, so it is assumed that, like some other giant rats, the Alpine Woolly Rat only gives birth to one baby rat at a time. This is in contrast to smaller rats that can have litters of up to 24 baby rats.

Since the Alpine Woolly Rat was just discovered and listed in 1989, there is still not much that is known about them. Perhaps in the future there will be some more study done, but, until then, the Alpine Woolly Rat is still somewhat of a mystery.

Blue Whale

The blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) is the largest mammal found on the planet, perhaps the largest mammal that has ever lived, thought to be even larger than even the largest of the dinosaurs. It belongs to a family of animals known as the rorquals and is termed a baleen whale. Unfortunately, it is currently listed as endangered and was hunted nearly to extinction by the 1960s when hunting was finally banned. The current population of the blue whale is only estimated to be about 12,000 total.

The blue whale is a grayish-blue in color with lighter gray spots across its skin. It has a tiny pointed dorsal fin, located low on its back. The average length is about 75-80 feet (22-24 meters), but the female, the larger of the species, can grow in excess of 80 feet and can weigh over 100 tons.

Blue whales are found all over the world. They migrate to warmer climates in the winter, in tropical and subtropical locations, and frequent colder locations, like the poles, in spring and summer. They usually travel in very small groups, often traveling alone, and can swim very quickly, sometimes reaching speeds of up to 30 miles per hour.

Blue whales eat by filtering food from the water through plates called baleen in their mouths that take the place of normal teeth. They have large pleated grooves on their underbellies that expand, allowing the mouth to take in huge amounts of water, which is pushed through the baleen, leaving the food behind. Their diet consists mostly of plankton and krill, which are small invertebrates that resemble shrimp. The blue whales can eat over 4 tons of these tiny creatures per day during their summer feeding season.

Female blue whales give birth to their young about once every two to three years after a year-long gestation. The baby whale, or calf, is nursed by the mother for the first six to eight months of life and then is weaned but will often stay with the mother for at least a year. The whales reach sexual maturity at around 10 years of age and usually live for 35-40 years, although some records indicate that they may live as long as 80 years.

Blue whales were once termed “sulfur bottom” by the earliest whalers because of micro-organisms and algae that grow on their underbellies, giving a yellowish appearance. They communicate with each other verbally, using small moans, clicks, and buzzes, but they are also considered the loudest animal on earth, able to emit a noise over 150 decibels, which can be heard for hundreds of miles underwater.

Tiger Indonesian

Several subspecies are known - P.t.altaica (Siberian tiger), P.t.sumatrae (Sumatran tiger), P.t.amoyensis (Amoy tiger), P.t.tigris (Bengal tiger), P.t. corbetti (Indochinese tiger). The largest subspecies is the Siberian tiger, weighing up to 300 kg. The smallest subspecies is the Sumatran tiger, weighing only 100 kg. The several subspecies vary in their body size, coat color and markings, with the archetypal tiger exhibiting a reddish-orange to yellowish coat, and white belly and black markings. Tigers are well suited to hunting larger prey. Their claws are retractable and quite sharp.

Panthera tigris is classified as a critically endangered species on the 2002 IUCN Red List. The Bali, Javan, and Sumatran tiger are extinct.

Once numerous in Asia, now tigers are extant only in scattered locales from Vietnam to India. Separate populations are also seen in the Far East of Russia, China and Sumatra. Tigers can adapt to various ecosystems, including mangrove swamps, tall grass jungles, and coniferous woodlands. Tigers need dense plant cover, access to water and adequate large prey.

Tigers are territorial creatures, spending much of their lives in solitary. They stalk and ambush their prey, taking advantage of their coat stripes to camouflage their presence in the fluctuating light of the forest floor. Tigers hunt mainly at night, focusing on wild pigs and deer. They are opportunistic feeders, and will eat other dead animals. Tigers easily go into water, are excellent swimmers, and sometimes lie partly submerged in lakes and creeks.

Territorial behavior in tigers is accomplished by marking the edge of their range with urine and scrapes. Males will often mate with several females. Mating is done throughout the year. After a 4 month gestation period, the female gives birth to a litter of 2-3 cubs. After 15 months, the cubs are weaned away from the mother, left to determine their own territory.

With the largest number of surviving tigers put at 4,500, India's Bengal tigers nonetheless are under severe pressure. India has established several contiguous sections of habitat conducive to tigers, but still they are under threat due to their risk to local livestock and legendary reputation as a man-eater. India established Project Tiger in 1973 with the intent of conserving its tiger population. For instance, the Ranthambor Foundation is actively promoting tiger survival. With ever increasing human pressure on the land, tigers remain increasingly threatened. What typically happens is the following sequence of events: habitat loss occurs as humans develop land, tiger populations become isolated in the remaining fragments of the original wilderness, and the resulting isolation causes a final die out.

Interesting Fact

Tiger body parts are in demand as ingredients in Traditional Asian Medicines in China, Japan, Korea and other Asian countries. All body parts from a dead tiger are used. For example, tiger nostrils are believed to protect against bullets. Tiger bones are used to produce medicinal powders and wines that are believed to cure rheumatism. The tiger penis is believed to be a powerful aphrodisiac.