Animals on the Edge

Global warming

and its Impact on Animals

With particular attention to the plight of the: Andean Mountain Cat of Peru European Squirrel of the Ukraine Ganges River Dolphin of India Fennec Desert Fox of Tunisia

What is Global Warming?

Our planet is getting warmer Our planet is getting warmer It has warmed by.7 degrees C in the last century It has warmed by.7 degrees C in the last century We see evidence of this around us: We see evidence of this around us: - bird eggs are hatching earlier - flowers are blossoming earlier - the weather is wilder - the weather is wilder - the glaciers are melting

So, what does that mean for the earth’s animals? The earth is home to incredibly complex ecosystems that are easily upset The earth is home to incredibly complex ecosystems that are easily upset The pollution and use of fuels for running cars and heating houses is increasing the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere The pollution and use of fuels for running cars and heating houses is increasing the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere

The worst greenhouse gas is carbon dioxide The worst greenhouse gas is carbon dioxide Cutting down trees also causes more carbon dioxide as the trees absorb a lot of it Cutting down trees also causes more carbon dioxide as the trees absorb a lot of it

Greenhouse gases change patterns of rainfall and worsen droughts making it more difficult for plants to grow that animals eat to live Greenhouse gases change patterns of rainfall and worsen droughts making it more difficult for plants to grow that animals eat to live The number of species and the number of animals is dropping because of changes to their habitat caused by global warming, deforestation and the spread of urban areas The number of species and the number of animals is dropping because of changes to their habitat caused by global warming, deforestation and the spread of urban areas

Major environmental issues in Peru

Farming; grazing, mining, drilling and logging cause serious environmental problems Farming; grazing, mining, drilling and logging cause serious environmental problems Deforestation of the highlands and rainforest for valuable hardwoods and for agricultural use has led to severe erosions Deforestation of the highlands and rainforest for valuable hardwoods and for agricultural use has led to severe erosions The erosion has led to decreased water quality particularly in the Amazon basin which impacts all wildlife in the region The erosion has led to decreased water quality particularly in the Amazon basin which impacts all wildlife in the region

Coastal pollution, combined with over fishing is a serious threat to marine wildlife as is the El Nino effect Coastal pollution, combined with over fishing is a serious threat to marine wildlife as is the El Nino effect The El Nino effect happens about every 7 years. It is when large scale changes in ocean currents and rising surface water temperatures bring heavy rains and floods to coastal areas The El Nino effect happens about every 7 years. It is when large scale changes in ocean currents and rising surface water temperatures bring heavy rains and floods to coastal areas

What is the Andean Cat?

The Andean Cat is about twice the size of a domestic cat and is one of the most beautiful of all wild cats. It is the only small wild cat with stripes. The Andean Cat is about twice the size of a domestic cat and is one of the most beautiful of all wild cats. It is the only small wild cat with stripes. They prefer the rocky, They prefer the rocky, treeless terrain, which treeless terrain, which is very dry, is very dry, windy and cold windy and cold

The Andes Mountain cat lives in the high Andes mountain range in Peru. The Andes Mountain cat lives in the high Andes mountain range in Peru.

Impact on Andean Cats The Andean Mountain Cat has been upgraded from vulnerable to endangered The Andean Mountain Cat has been upgraded from vulnerable to endangered The Aymara people of the high Andes worship small wild cats, which are killed, stuffed and decorated. During festivals people dance with them around their shoulders. The Aymara people of the high Andes worship small wild cats, which are killed, stuffed and decorated. During festivals people dance with them around their shoulders. As well as being impacted by people, global warming is impacting these cats because they have specific habitat requirements and their environment is changing As well as being impacted by people, global warming is impacting these cats because they have specific habitat requirements and their environment is changing

Impact on Andean Cats As the earth warms, the trees are spreading and new animals are coming into the Andean Cat’s habitat. This is creating a shortage of food. As the earth warms, the trees are spreading and new animals are coming into the Andean Cat’s habitat. This is creating a shortage of food.

Andean Cat Conservation Plan The Andean Cat Alliance has put together the Andean Cat Conservation Action Plan to protect areas where the Andean Cat are found The Andean Cat Alliance has put together the Andean Cat Conservation Action Plan to protect areas where the Andean Cat are found The objectives of the Plan are meant to deal with specific threats to the animals The objectives of the Plan are meant to deal with specific threats to the animals

Major environmental issues in the Ukraine

Amount of cultivated land is higher than in any other country in Europe and only 4% of the country is preserved in national parks. Amount of cultivated land is higher than in any other country in Europe and only 4% of the country is preserved in national parks. A national park in the Ukraine is not like a national park here – some parks are filled with villages, roads and even factories A national park in the Ukraine is not like a national park here – some parks are filled with villages, roads and even factories Serious water pollution and deforestation are threats Serious water pollution and deforestation are threats Rivers, wetlands and the coastline are still recovering from decades of industrial waste Rivers, wetlands and the coastline are still recovering from decades of industrial waste

What is the European Squirrel?

The European Ground Squirrel is a small member of the rodent family The European Ground Squirrel is a small member of the rodent family It lives in colonies of individual burrows in pastures or grassy slopes It lives in colonies of individual burrows in pastures or grassy slopes

The colony has a look out who whistles at the site of a predator so the pack can scurry back to safety The colony has a look out who whistles at the site of a predator so the pack can scurry back to safety The squirrels eat seeds, plant shoots and roots or flightless invertebrates The squirrels eat seeds, plant shoots and roots or flightless invertebrates

Impact on European Squirrels The spread of agricultural land so the people can grow wheat for export to other countries has meant there is less grassland The spread of agricultural land so the people can grow wheat for export to other countries has meant there is less grassland Without as much grassland, Without as much grassland, fewer European Ground fewer European Ground Squirrels can find food and Squirrels can find food and live live

Bern Convention The government of the Ukraine has signed the Convention of the Conservation of Wildlife and Natural Habitats The government of the Ukraine has signed the Convention of the Conservation of Wildlife and Natural Habitats

The Ukraine has promised in the Convention to take steps to conserve wild fauna and flora and natural habitats, with particular attention to endangered and vulnerable species and endangered habitats The Ukraine has promised in the Convention to take steps to conserve wild fauna and flora and natural habitats, with particular attention to endangered and vulnerable species and endangered habitats

The Ukraine also promises to have legislation against pollution and to promote education and information of the need to conserve flora and fauna The Ukraine also promises to have legislation against pollution and to promote education and information of the need to conserve flora and fauna If the Ukraine does what it says it is going to do in the Convention, the grassland plants and animals will be conserved and the number of European Ground Squirrels should increase If the Ukraine does what it says it is going to do in the Convention, the grassland plants and animals will be conserved and the number of European Ground Squirrels should increase

Major environmental issues in India

With over one billion people, expanding industrialization, deforestation from logging and urban sprawl and heavy use of chemicals, India’s environment is threatened With over one billion people, expanding industrialization, deforestation from logging and urban sprawl and heavy use of chemicals, India’s environment is threatened Many of the chemicals end up in the river Many of the chemicals end up in the river

What is the Ganges River Dolphin?

The Ganges River Dolphin is a rare freshwater species found in a few rivers in India and other neighboring countries The Ganges River Dolphin is a rare freshwater species found in a few rivers in India and other neighboring countries It has never been fully studied in the wild and its behavior is largely unknown It has never been fully studied in the wild and its behavior is largely unknown

What is known is that it has one of the most highly developed sonar senses. It is the only aquatic animal which has developed its sonar sense so that it can capture its food and navigates with the help of ecolocation What is known is that it has one of the most highly developed sonar senses. It is the only aquatic animal which has developed its sonar sense so that it can capture its food and navigates with the help of ecolocation

There are approximately 4, ,000 individuals. There are approximately 4, ,000 individuals. Besides natural predators, this dolphin is also threatened by human activity in the form of increased river traffic, water pollution and fishing nets Besides natural predators, this dolphin is also threatened by human activity in the form of increased river traffic, water pollution and fishing nets

Impact on Ganges River Dolphin The Ganges River is among the most polluted rivers in India The Ganges River is among the most polluted rivers in India

Polluted waters flowing into the Ganges River from a number of smaller rivers are effecting the habitat of these shy animals. Adding more to their miseries, huge quantities of water taken out of the Ganges River through numerous irrigation projects are making the river shallower day by day. Polluted waters flowing into the Ganges River from a number of smaller rivers are effecting the habitat of these shy animals. Adding more to their miseries, huge quantities of water taken out of the Ganges River through numerous irrigation projects are making the river shallower day by day. Dolphin poaching is also common. Dolphin poaching is also common. Did you know the Ganges River Dolphin is blind and it may have become that way because of the dirty water? Did you know the Ganges River Dolphin is blind and it may have become that way because of the dirty water?

The polluted waters are harming people as well The polluted waters are harming people as well The biggest threat to public health in India is inadequate access to clean drinking water and proper sanitation The biggest threat to public health in India is inadequate access to clean drinking water and proper sanitation

Conservation Planning India has three pieces of rules passed by the government which help protect endangered animals: India has three pieces of rules passed by the government which help protect endangered animals: Wildlife Protection Act (1972) Forest Conservation Act Environmental Protection Act

The Act which is the most significant for the Ganges River Dolphin is the Wildlife Protection Act, but in reality it has not done a lot to protect the dolphins The Act which is the most significant for the Ganges River Dolphin is the Wildlife Protection Act, but in reality it has not done a lot to protect the dolphins There is also a dolphin sanctuary There is also a dolphin sanctuary Some wildlife activists say that the fishermen still fish in the protected area Some wildlife activists say that the fishermen still fish in the protected area

Major environmental issues in Tunisia

What is the desert fennec?

The fennec is the smallest fox with distinctly large ears, a cream-colored coat and a black-tipped tail. The fennec is the smallest fox with distinctly large ears, a cream-colored coat and a black-tipped tail. They are mainly nocturnal and They are mainly nocturnal and have a shy nature. have a shy nature. They are omnivores, eating plants, small rodents, bird eggs, reptiles and insects. They are omnivores, eating plants, small rodents, bird eggs, reptiles and insects.

They like to live in burrows in the sandy deserts of North Africa. They like to live in burrows in the sandy deserts of North Africa. Its feet have thick fur to Its feet have thick fur to insulate its pads from the insulate its pads from the hot desert sand and to cushion its step which makes its movements quiet for hunting. They can jump two feet straight up from a standing position and make horizontal leaps of up to four feet. hot desert sand and to cushion its step which makes its movements quiet for hunting. They can jump two feet straight up from a standing position and make horizontal leaps of up to four feet.

Impact on Desert Fennec The fennec disappeared from four small sandy places close to human homes The fennec disappeared from four small sandy places close to human homes Lower water levels and dried Lower water levels and dried up natural springs are making up natural springs are making it more difficult it more difficult for the fennec to survive for the fennec to survive Deserts claim more and more Deserts claim more and more land each year due to global warming land each year due to global warming

Sidi Toui Saharan 6300 hectares of arid plains and dunes have been protected in the Sidi Toui Saharan National Park 6300 hectares of arid plains and dunes have been protected in the Sidi Toui Saharan National Park Fennec foxes have been successfully reintroduced in this Park Fennec foxes have been successfully reintroduced in this Park

What can we do?

Turn off the lights when you leave a room Turn off the lights when you leave a room Unplug the charger for your MP3 player when its done charging Unplug the charger for your MP3 player when its done charging Walk or ride your bike to school Walk or ride your bike to school Take the bus or car pool with your friends Take the bus or car pool with your friends Grow a vegetable garden Grow a vegetable garden Carry your lunch in a reusable lunch box Carry your lunch in a reusable lunch box

Participate daily in the three Rs: reduce, reuse and recycle Participate daily in the three Rs: reduce, reuse and recycle Use cold water to wash your clothes Use cold water to wash your clothes Know where your water comes from and where your waste goes Know where your water comes from and where your waste goes Plant trees – they take carbon dioxide from the air Plant trees – they take carbon dioxide from the air

Hope for a better future Scientists are trying to make cars that run on: Scientists are trying to make cars that run on: - hydrogen - vegetable oil - electricity - algae oil - corn

People are planting more trees to take the carbon dioxide out of the air and governments are helping protect forests and the jungle People are planting more trees to take the carbon dioxide out of the air and governments are helping protect forests and the jungle

Love this Blue Planet I love this planet and I hope we can all stop global warming and protect the animals I love this planet and I hope we can all stop global warming and protect the animals

The End Our Great Earth

Researched, written and produced by Alexandra K. Grade 3 Scenic Acres School Earth Day 2008 Use of original song "O Great Earth" permitted by Linnea Good, © 1995 Borealis Music