The Endangered Caledonian Forest in Scotland
If you’ve never heard of the Caledonian Forest, it’s time to listen up…LOL…
Basically, the Caledonian Forest is like the “Rainforest” of Scotland. It used to cover 1.5 million hectares of the Scottish Highlands, and now, only about 1% of that remains in 35 isolated areas.
This is devastating, not only to Scotland and it’s amazing wildlife, but to the world in general. We depend upon trees to survive…
The species like beaver, tarpan, wild boar and the lynx are that inhabited these forests are gone.
Photo left: Tarpan (wild horse), extinct since 1919 – This is the only known photo of a live tarpan in existence from the late 1800s.
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This forest is a unique ecosystem in the British Isles and is home to some of the rarest wildlife:
1. There are 13 bird species that breed here that are found nowhere else in the British Isles.
2. 8 more bird species breed here that are considered rare in the British Isles.
3. There are 8 mammals still present in the remaining Caledonian Forest.
4. 8 mammals are considered extinct here, including:
European Beaver- Wild Boar
- Gray Wolf
- Elk
- Aurochs
- Eurasian Lynx
- Brown Bear
- Tarpan (wild horse)
Photo right: Aurochs, extinct since 1627
What an awful shame!
What do we do now?
Well, programs have been instituted to attempt to reforest the Great Caledonian. You can volunteer in replanting, or support these endeavors. Check out the site, TreesForLife.org.uk, to find out more information on the Caledonian Forest and how you can help with reforestation.
Some of the Scottish landowners have been planning to build game reserves on their estates to release some of the species that are now considered extinct in the area, as listed above.
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I hope you find this post on the Environment and European Animals interesting on Exotic Animal Lover! Until next time…
Live Exotically,
Kimberly Edwards 
P.S.
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Species of Seal Officially Labeled Extinct Friday
June 8, 2008 by Kimberly · 14 Comments
Exotic Animal Newsflash:
Firstly, I always hate bringing you this type of news, but it is so essential to know what is going on…IT IS REAL!
The Caribbean Monk Seal, also known as the West Indian Monk Seal, was announced extinct officially on Friday, June 6th, 2008.
Photo left: Caribbean Monk Seal – Click photo for larger view.
This seal is the only species ever known to be native to the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico.
Now extinct due to human activities, namely over-hunting, this seal has not been spotted for the past 5 years, even with an effort to try and save this species…It was just too late!
Now, we must watch a chain of events of likely extinctions of other animals in the area, as they are intimately intertwined together. Their diet consisted of octopus, reef fish and lobsters.
Measuring in as a small seal between 6-9 feet long, males could have weigh up to 200 kg, and the females of this species were smaller. The average lifespan of a Caribbean Monk Seal was about 20 yrs.
The last 2 sightings of the seal were in 1932 off the coast of Texas, and 1952 at Serranilla Bank.
How much more sad could this be?
Scientific Classification:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Suborder: Pinnipedia
Family: Phocidae
Genus: Monachus
Species: M. tropicalis
Conservation Status: EXTINCT!
In my opinion, we, as humans, can be the most disgusting species on the planet…
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Have you ever seen a Caribbean Monk Seal? If so, let us know about your experience by Commenting in the Comment Box Below!
I hope we all learn something very valuable from these Extinct Animal posts…Until next time…
Live Exotically,
Kimberly Edwards
P.S.
Technorati Tags: Caribbean monk seal, monk seal, West Indian monk seal, West Indian seal, seals, extinct animals, extinction, ocean animals, porpoise, over hunting
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Extinct Animal Becomes Alive Once More in a Mouse
May 31, 2008 by Kimberly · Leave a Comment
Researchers in Australia have actually extracted DNA from the extinct Tasmanian Tiger, otherwise known as the Thylacine, and brought them back to life in a mouse’s genetic code.
The Result:
The DNA actually showed biological function in the mouse and sparks hopes that the Tasmanian tiger could one day be successfully cloned.
One of the Tasmanian tiger’s genes is similar to that of the mouse’s genes for developing bones and cartilage.
This study shows that an extinct animal’s genetic biodiversity may not be completely lost.
Although they are not close to a total clone of the Tazzy tiger, it is a giant step towards this goal, and they are confident that one day it is highly probable.
To read the rest of this story, go to: Read more
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