I've noticed it's been 1 year since SAMSARA HQ moved from Cambodia (our main production site) to Tokyo last summer!

Time does really fly... 

Few days ago we had a meeting about our new products and we will most likely be going back to Cambodia soon to check up on our production!

Last week's blog was about Lacoste's limited polo shirt series, so today I want to introduce the 10 endangered animals in a little detail.

Also known as the Stout Iguana, these guys currently live on the Anegada and Guana islands (historically they also inhabited Puerto Rico and St. Thomas but not anymore...).

Females have a dull greyish brown-blackish colour, but males have the same base colour with bright blue hues along the back, tail and 4 legs.

They were originally herbivores like most rock iguana species but they evolved to become opportunistic carnivores. This is due to the introduction of other large herbivorous species, like livestock, and eventually there were not enough leaves, grass, flowers and fruits for the iguanas. Insects do not provide enough nutrition for the iguanas, especially females, and sadly females tend to die after laying eggs...!

This causes a gender population imbalance, thus leading to a decrease in reproduction rates. Population has decreased 80% over the last 40years!

Introduced 2 blogs ago ( https://samsara.base.ec/blog/2018/08/24/180000 ), these guys are one of the 3 Sunda island tigers, along with Bali tigers and Javan tigers. Sumatran tigers are distinct from the other sunda island species, with darker fur colour, bolder and more packed stripes.  Protection programs and breeding programs are fairly successful, and since 2014 few cubs have been born in London Zoo and Animal Kingdom in Florida!

 

The "asian unicorns" from the Annamite mountains in Vietnam and Laos. Although they have 2 horns, their horns grow straight and upwards, which is probably where they get their nickname. 

They are one of the newer species found only in 1992, and in fact other mammals have been newly found in Annamite mountains around that time! Locally, they are hunted for their meat, but illegal trade for their fur and use in traditional medicine have been a growing problem.

I've always had fascinations for raptors, but the bald birds always gave off an intimidating feel for me. They are scavengers that mainly live off of carrions. Theory suggests that the bald look is a result of evolution to lessen the possibility of getting infections from burying their heads into carrion while eating.

They actually became almost extinct back in 1987. 27 wild individuals were captured for a reintroduction programme, and in 1991 they were successfully reintroduced into California, Arizona, and Utah.

Today the numbers have increased, but poaching, habitat destruction, and lead poisoning still threaten the birds.

Also known as the eastern black crested gibbon, these guys are one of the 25 most endangered primates in the world!

For half a century they were not seen in the wild and were thought to be extinct, but a research team rediscovered them in Vietnam.

Until recently they were thought to be the same species as the Hainan crested gibbon, but fur colour and genetic differences proved otherwise, so today they are recognised as a distinct species.

Also known as the owl-parrot, you'll understand its naming once you see them!

Native to New Zealand, they are birds that cannot fly, like most oceanic island birds. Similar to the extinct Dodos, Kakapos once thrived on the islands of NZ because there were no predators and the islands were abundant in fresh fruits. However, after the Maoris landed on the islands, they brought with them dogs, cats, and other small mammals that became a threat to the birds.

Kakapo Recovery Plan began in the 1980s, capturing all wild Kakapos and placing them under protection on predator-free islands. Now their population has increased to a little over 150!

Their footprints are featured on our SAMSARA Endangered Animals Footprint bags and hoodies.

As the name suggests they are native to Java, but historically they were widely spread from the Sunda islands to Southeast Asia, China, and India. Their body size is similar to that of black rhinos, but horns are smaller with an average of 25cm. African rhinos have 2 horns, but the Javan rhinos are Asian rhinos and possess only 1 horn.

Though small, their horns are very precious. In fact at the black market Javan rhino horns are traded for prices 3 times higher than african rhino horns...! Rhino horn trade is sadly still an ongoing threat for the rhinos around the world.

Native to Madagascar like most lemurs, they are one of the smallest lemurs weighing not more than 1kg! "Sportive" comes from their specific boxing-like movements they make when they feel threatened.

Thought to be extinct, these species were rediscovered in 2002 in Myanmar. 

Most populations are found in Myanmar, but a single individual was also discovered in China. They are still very rare in the wild, but population is slowly increasing in the turtle park and zoo that help conserve the species in Myanmar!

Vaquita means "little cow" in Spanish, which is interesting since the Japanese name for dolphins are "sea pigs"!

They were the second most endangered aquatic mammal until the baiji river dolphins became extinct in 2006. Research proves that the population is decreasing at an alarming rate; less than 100 in 2014, 60 in 2015, 30 in 2016, and only 12 left in the most recent research done in March this year. At this rate, these porpoises will become extinct in the near future...

Some species like the Vaquita are in a seriously dangerous situation, but other species are in a slow but recovering trend and it is very hopeful to hear about successful conservation programmes.

We really hope that more conservation actions prove successful. As SAMSARA, we will continue to seek for casual, interesting, and more daily ways to contribute to conserving endangered animals!