ENDANGERED ANIMALS Portugal

Students of the 3rd year - 3D Class

ENDANGERED ANIMALS
Portugal still has a very positive outlook with regard to natural heritage, with 20% of the total area of the territory included in a Community initiative, which aims to list all the natural areas of the European Union, with significant values in terms of flora, fauna and habitats, called Natura. However, there is still a long way to go in planning and development of actions that could avoid that biodiversity decreases dramatically.

Is designated as endangered animals, those whose number of species is very low and are in imminent danger of disappearing if not protected. Man is what has caused the extinction of millions of species, these species disappear due to economic interests, pollution and human growth. In Portugal there are animals whose species are threatened, including: the sperm whale, the Iberian lynx, Iberian Wolf, the golden eagle, the wood pigeon, European otter, etc.

Our school, EB1 Vitorino, belongs to the parish of Vieira de Leiria, Marinha Grande municipality, Leiria district. In our region there are some animals endangered, including the bat, the donkey, the kingfishers and red squirrel.

Donkey

The donkey usually live on farms. This animal eats very little and is content with leaves and grains that other animals usually leave out. Are is very fussy about the water. This has to be clean and odorless. Threat factors: mechanization of farm work, abandonment of rural areas and subsistence agriculture led to the disappearance of important cultural and traditional values.

Iberian Iynx
The Iberian lynx (Linx pardinus) is a uniquely Iberian species. In Portugal it is in some mountains of Beira Baixa (saw Malcata), Alentejo (region Alcaovas) and Algarve (Monchique Mountains). Takes shelter among the rocks or in cavities of trees in open pine forests in the mountains, in dense thickets of brambles, gorse, gorse and cistus rich in small game hunting. It feeds on rabbits and hares, deer and calves of deer and birds of soil. When hunting is patient, secretive and endowed with great quickness of reflexes. Has an acute hearing and vision able to discern in the dark the smallest movement. Threat factors: destruction, degradation or fragmentation of habitat, direct persecution by man (both because of the skin, and for reasons of safety or fear) and also by the scarcity of its main natural prey, the European Rabbit. Measures of conservation are protected by law in Portugal and Spain.

Iberian Wolf

The Iberian wolf (Canis lupus signatus) is the most remote forests, mountains and tundra. The original European population is now much reduced. In the summer living in small family groups and in the winter gather in packs to hunt.They feed on deer and other smaller prey. Threat factors: widespread persecution and scarcity of natural prey. Conservation measure: educational and awareness, promotion of cervids, payment of compensation for any damage to the shepherds, elimination of poaching and control of wild dogs campaigns.

Wild rabbits
Wild rabbits are scattered grassland and areas of shrubs, dune heaths, woods and hedges. This animal has essentially nocturnal, feeds on nutritional vegetation, especially grass, roots and young trees; live in colonies in underground burrows.

Threat factors: disturbance of animals, habitat destruction, abandonment of traditional agriculture, diseases such as myxomatosis and viral haemorrhagic fever transmitted by domestic rabbits. Conservation measures: protection of areas where the species occurs, reduce human pressure, resettlements.

Red-squirrel
The red-squirrel feeds on tree seeds, mushrooms, bird eggs, berries and shoots of plants. You can also remove the bark of trees to access sap. In Portugal, the red squirrel has become extinct in the sixteenth century, probably due to habitat loss. From the 1980s the species began to colonize the north of the country, coming from Galicia, Spain. The natural expansion of squirrels repopulated much of the north of Portugal Douro River. This species is present in protected the Peneda-Geres Natural Park and Montesinho National Park areas. In recent years the species has been detected in the Natural Reserve of Serra Malcata, in the centereast of Portugal. The red squirrel has also been introduced in urban green areas as the Parque Florestal de Monsanto, Lisbon, and the Botanical Garden of Coimbra.

Bat
The bat-of-mediterranean horseshoe (Rhinolophus euryale) live in valleys with dense forest areas of woods and clearings access to pasture, near water, take shelter in caves or houses, barns, cathedrals and hot attics. Recently, it was located in Buaco Forest. This is mostly bat cave, may, however, also take shelter in the building. It feeds on forest areas and indigenous hardwoods, why he will have to Mata attracted Buaco. Threat factors: disturbance of colonies in caves, mines and old buildings, and destruction of individuals. Conservation measures: protection of caves, mines and buildings used as shelters; inventory of existing colonies and determination of areas and biotopes used by each.

Kingfisher
The kingfisher inhabits wooded areas, preferably near rivers or lakes. Are noisy, day and sedentary birds, however there examples of partially migratory species. The type of feeding of kingfishers varies with the species and environmental conditions. Most are fairly adaptable and consumes fish, insects and small vertebrates, and there are also examples of kingfishers fruit. These birds are, however, threatened by habitat reduction, pollution of rivers and poisoning by pesticides.

Woodpigeon
The woodpigeon (Columba trocaz), formerly between the Douro and Minho, Tras-os-Montes and Beira Interior, Lisbon and Tagus Valley, Alentejo, Algarve, Madeira and the Azores. Nowadays only found in Madeira. This bird lives in forests, farmland, parks and gardens. Factors of threat in the past, was affected by the destruction of their habitat. Nowadays this is a threat that no longer puts, because the entire area covered by Laurel have the status of Nature Reserve or Part, under the jurisdiction of the Natural Park of Madeira. Currently, the main threat is related to the fact that cause havoc in agricultural fields. Consequently, the woodpideon is a bird unpopular, persecuted and killed illegally.

Bustard
In Portugal, the bustards can be observed mainly in the Alentejo, Castro Verde, Elvas or Mourao, although it is not easy to be observed due to the low number of existing bustards. When they are born, begin by being insectivorous but with the growth adopt a primarily herbivorous diet, based on seeds, grains and fruits. May occasionally eat small lizards and small rodents. Threat factors: mainly due to changes in agricultural practices, also adding poaching and high voltage cables that often kill these slow and heavy birds. Since the nineteenth century the population of Great Bustard not falling globally, and estimates that there are just over 40 thousand birds of this species, with only a thousand of these in the country.

Osprey
The osprey is a large raptor. In Portugal can be seen as migratory passage and? Wintering. It is a rare species, although it may be? Considered regular in some places. Mainly occurs in? Coastal wetlands and, more rarely, inside being? Almost always seen in isolation. Is present in our? Territory mainly from September to April, with occasionally? View other months of the year. Threat factors: persecution, disturbance and loss of breeding sites, but also to water pollution. On the Alentejo coast where they were the last couples, the introduction of the irrigation district has profoundly altered the coastline, previously isolated plateau.

Golden eagle
The golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) is a bird of prey diurnal and is a sedentary species notable for their large size, which may vary from region to region. In Portugal, the golden eagle live mainly in the high and mountainous country, and is sometimes spotted in some mountains (Serra do Gers). The best place to observe this eagle in Portugal, is in the north. It can also sometimes be spotted in the Alentejo or even in the Algarve. They feed on mice, rabbits, reptiles, tarantulas, bats and birds. Have excellent vision, enabling them to see in detail everything that moves on the ground. The eagle launches into nosedive when detecting prey and you want to hunt it. Threat factors: hunting, the high voltage pylons and steel towers and the poisoning of some species with mercury.

Imperial eagle
The imperial eagle now dwells only in isolated places of each other, although over a wide area. However, since there are few individuals at each site. This species, a symbol of power and bravery, suffered a sharp decline in Portugal, particularly during the campaigns of wheat in the '30s, and came to be considered extinct in Portugal. However, between 2002 and 2004 were confirmed breeding pairs in Portugal estimating the current nesting population in 2-5 couples. They feed on small rodents, birds and smaller reptiles too often, especially snakes. Conservation measures: Actions associated with instability of the nests, to accidental death in electric lines, the game management and maintenance of contacts with the owners and managers of hunting to avoid disruption and foster the availability of rabbit main prey of the imperial eagle.

Saramugo
The saramugo (Hispanic Anaecypris) is the smallest fish fauna of the Guadiana river basin. This species prefers to dwell below 350 m altitude, narrow and with reduced depth and submerged aquatic vegetation and feeds on algae, detritus and invertebrates. Its abundance and distribution suffer about 80% reduction in the last 20 years in Brazil. Factors threat: pollution resulting from discharges of waste from industrial and urban sources causing the loss of water quality, overexploitation of water resources, and regulation of water systems. Conservation measures: collection of saramugos and keep them in captivity for their procreation plans of action based on the sustainability of forests and habitat restoration.

Dolpfin
The dolphin live near estuaries and prefers temperate waters. Dive to at least 280 m for 8 minutes; groups are mixed, encompassing tens of thousands of dolphins. They feed on fish, molluscs and crustaceans. Threat factors: disturbance of animals, incidental capture in fishing gear, vandalism and illegal killing of specimens, pollution of seas and estuaries. Conservation measures: protection of areas where the species occurs, reduce human pressure and outbreaks of pollution awareness campaigns.

Sperm
Sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) can be found in all oceans of the world, but yet prevent the water cooler. They feed on various fish, squid and octopus. The sperm whale is the largest toothed whale. It is easily recognized by its large rectangular head corresponding to about 1/3 of its length. It has a wrinkled skin and your skin is dark, a gray tone. Factors of threat is a threat due to the exploitation of its kind product. Another factor is the drift nets, in which sperm whales are trapped.

European Otter
The european otter (Lutra lutra) living in various parts of Europe, whose habitat in Portugal West Coast. The old European otter is between 90 and 120 cm and can weigh between 5 and 15kg. It is easily identifiable by its long tail and short limbs. Its coat is brownish, with progressively more clear when reaching the ventral area. This animal feeds mainly on fish, crustaceans, and possibly birds and rodents. Threat factors: the destruction of marine habitats and poaching. This animal also suffers accidental deaths as drowning in, though less common fishing nets and some roadkill.