Endangered Species

  An endangered species of plant or animal that is at risk of becoming extinct. There are many factors that causes a species to become at risk. Human activity, change in climate, invasive species are just a few reasons as to why some species are declining. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) officially decides when an animals pieces has become endangered.

I selected the two following animals to research:

Clouded Leopard

Northern Spotted Owl

CLOUDED LEOPARD

  The Clouded Leopard is the smallest of the big cats. These cats are known for their beautiful coats. Their coats are either a grayish tone or light brown and have large cloud shaped spots covering their body. These animals are built very low to the ground with stocky legs with very large paws, and a long, powerful tail. The Clouded Leopard typically lives in lowland rain forests but can also be found in dry woodlands. They can be found in a large range in Southeast Asia from Nepal and southern China through Thailand, Indonesia, and Borneo. The suspected population of wild Clouded Leopards is fewer than 10000. This population decline is due to rapid deforestation, illegal hunting for their pelts and for traditional Chinese medicine.

NORTHERN SPOTTED OWL

  The Northern Spotted Owl lives in is one of three sub species of spotted owl. These owls are medium sized, and a tawny brown  to dark brown with a lighter face and white spots covering their body. Although owlets are born completely white, getting spots as they mature. They are also one of the few types of owls that have all dark coloured eyes. They are found in the regions of the Pacific Northwest of the United States, as well as in southern parts of British Columbia, Canada. These owls live in old growth forests, preferring trees with high canopies so they can fly between the trees. They are a threatened species due to the logging of the old-growth forests. As a result, fewer than 2500 pairs of Northern Spotted Owl still exist today.