Three animals, icons of biodiversity

ANIMALS These animals, most of which are threatened with extinction, have become true icons of biodiversity; they are the most publicized wildlife species, capturing the attention of the general public.

A giant panda weighs around 100 kg. — dangdumrong/Shutterstock

The giant panda

Endemic to central China, the giant panda is known for its thick white and black fur and its faux-plush appearance. Despite his peaceful and clumsy appearance, and despite his diet composed of 99% bamboo, the giant panda is classified as bamboo. among carnivores and does not hesitate to eat. eat eggs, insects, even meat at home the opportunity. However, it remains mainly herbivorous and spends its life in bamboo forests. Unfortunately, this very specific habitat continues to decline in the face of increasing numbers of people. the progression of agriculture.

The destruction of these high-altitude rainforests has resulted in a reduction in panda populations, of which only a few islets remain scattered over six mountain ranges. Even if the species is protected, its territory continues to expand. decline and its fertility is naturally weak. There remain between 1000 and 3000 wild individuals, 75% of which are found in Sichuan province.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Le Monde des Animaux – magazine (@lemondedesentreprises_magazine)

Access to this content has been published blocked in order to respect your choice of consent

By clicking on « I‘ACCEPT », you accept the deposit of cookies by external services and will thus have access to the content of our partners

I‘ACCEPT

And to better pay 20 Minutes, don't hesitate to accept all cookies, even for one day only, via our “I accept for today” button in the banner below.

More information on the Cookie management policy page.

The tiger

This large, solitary predator was once widespread throughout Asia. Extremely adaptable, the tiger is in fact capable of surviving in more than 200 different types of habitats, from the boreal forests of the Russian Far East to the mangroves of Bangladesh. Of the nine subspecies that existed at Originally, only six remain, including the famous Bengal tiger, the most widespread, the Siberian tiger, the largest, and the South China tiger, the more threatened. Their counterparts from Bali, Java and the Caspian were hunted until extinction. Considered as a pest because it sometimes attacks livestock, or even animals. man, this superb feline is now only found in 14 countries where it can be found. its populations are very fragmented and threatened by human development, the scarcity of prey and environmental pollution. There are only 3,890 wild tigers left in the world.

The tiger is found in 14 different countries. – Daniel Dunca/Shutterstock

The Elephant

There are three species of elephants: the African savannah elephant, the African forest elephant and the African elephant. ute The Asian elephant, which is the most threatened. Smaller than its African cousins, it has seen its distribution area fragment over time. the extreme, and it remains threatened today. through the ivory trade, although this practice is illegal. This species is classified as endangered, with only 40,000 left. 50,000 individuals remaining the wild state.

If African elephants are currently more numerous – they would be 450,000 to 620,000 in total – their populations are decreasing an alarming rate, victims of poaching and the disappearance of their habitat. The African forest elephant could thus become extinct by 2025 if ivory trafficking is not stopped, 25,000 to 2000. 30,000 individuals are killed each year.

The elephant has a life expectancy of 70 years on average. – PACO COMO/Shutterstock

Did you like this article? Find the magazine “Le Monde des Animaux” on newsstands and on monmag.fr (paper and digital versions, and subscriptions).

The World of Animals & Nature is a quarterly magazine. – The World of Animals n°46

The World of Animals & de la Nature is a magazine dedicated to à wildlife and wild flora from around the world. À Through captivating stories and sublime photographs, the magazine offers a true visual safari in the heart of nature.