Animal enthusiast, Cartoonist, Photographer, Writer
International name: Eurasian red squirrel Scientific name: Sciurus vulgaris Irish name: Iora rua Diet: Omnivore, but largely herbivore Size: 20-25cm Tips on how to find them: Look up at the trees, as red squirrels spend most of their time in the … Continued
Scientific name: Alligator mississipiensis Length: Up to 5m Origin: North America Diet: Carnivore IUCN status: Least Concern Threats: Habitat degradation, climate change, historically poaching Zoos I have seen them: National Reptile Zoo, Zoomarine Interesting fact: The alligator became increasingly rare in … Continued
Scientific name: Myrmecophaga tridactyla Origin: South America Size: 1-2m Diet: Carnivore IUCN status: Vulnerable Threats: Hunting for food, conversion of habitat to agriculture, fires (both natural and caused by humans) Zoos I have seen them: Belfast Zoo, Edinburgh Zoo, Chester Zoo, … Continued
Scientific name: Ambystoma mexicanum Size: 10-30cm Origin: North America (Mexico) Diet: Carnivore IUCN status: Critically Endangered Threats: Pollution of its habitat, capture for the pet trade Zoos I have seen them: National Reptile Zoo, Ménagerie du Jardin des Plantes. Also saw … Continued
Scientific name: Daubentonia madagascariensis Size: 30-40cm long, tail about 60cm Origin: Africa (Madagascar) Diet: Omnivore IUCN status: Endangered Threats: Deforestation, inaccurate folk belief (some Malagasy people consider it a sign of evil and death) Zoos I have seen them: Dublin Zoo, London Zoo Interesting fact: … Continued
Scientific name: Babyrousa celebensis Length: 85-110cm Origin: Asia (Sulawesi) Diet: Omnivore IUCN status: Vulnerable Threats: Overhunting by humans, deforestation Zoos I have seen them: Chester Zoo, London Zoo Interesting fact: Although babirusas were, until 2002, considered a single species, Babyrousa babyrussa, that … Continued
Scientific name: Tremarctos ornatus Origin: South America Size: 1.3-1.9m Diet: Omnivore but mostly herbivore IUCN status: Vulnerable Threats: Conversion of forests to agriculture, leading to conflict with people; hunted for food and for use of its parts in traditional medicine Zoos … Continued
Scientific name: Ursus arctos Origin: North America and Eurasia Diet: Omnivore Size: 1.5-2.8m IUCN status: Least Concern Threats: Human-bear conflicts resulting from raids on crops or livestock, poaching, habitat fragmentation Zoos I have seen them: Tierpark Hellabrunn, Welsh Mountain Zoo, Camperdown Wildlife Centre, … Continued
Scientific name: Ursus maritimus Size: 1.8-2.8m Origin: Arctic Ocean, North America (Canada) and Russia Diet: Omnivore, but mostly carnivorous IUCN status: Vulnerable Threats: Melting of sea ice resulting from global warming, water pollution, hunting for food and fur Zoos I have … Continued
Scientific name: Helarctos malayanus Size: 1.2-1.5m Origin: Asia Diet: Omnivore IUCN status: Vulnerable Threats: Deforestation (in Sumatra and Borneo, conversion of forests to palm oil plantations); hunted for use of its parts in traditional medicine, and for the pet trade Zoos … Continued