Lweems6165

  Leighanna Weems                                                                                                                         Weems 1 Professor Foster  ENG 111 2WF  22 April 2023  Black Rhino              Black rhinos are the subclass species of rhino characterized by their hooked upper lips and two frontal horns. This species inhabits Namibia and Coastal East Africa, where they use their upper lips to feed on hanging vegetation. This differs from other species of African rhinos, who instead feed on low-hanging vegetation like bushes. While this species does still have a notable presence in Africa, with over six thou...

  Leighanna Weems                                                                                                                         Weems 1 Professor Foster  ENG 111 2WF  21 April 2023  Sei Whale               The Sei whale is a subclass specie of whales found throughout all oceans except in polar or tropical climates. This massive whale can reach up to sixty-six feet and over twenty tons in weight. They can also swim up to speeds of thirty miles an hour. Whales are considered to be at the top of the food chain, contributing greatly toward a balanced, healthy ecosystem.              ...

  Leighanna Weems                                                                                                                         Weems 1 Professor Foster  ENG 111 2WF  21 April 2023  Black-footed Ferret               The black-footed ferret is a subclass of ferrets located in North America. While they were once thought to be extinct until 1981 due to repopulation efforts, there are three hundred ferrets documented in the United States today. The black-footed ferret is considered North America's most endangered mammal, and researchers have estimated we need to reproduce over three thousand in the wild to outlast ext...

  Leighanna Weems                                                                                                                         Weems 1 Professor Foster  ENG 111 2WF  20 April 2023  Blue Whale               The blue whale is a magnificent and ginormous whale found off the coasts of Southern Chile, the Gulf of California, and the Coral Triangle. This beautiful marine animal is the largest animal on Earth; and weighs over two hundred tons! That is equivalent to thirty-three elephants! With a big body comes a big appetite, which stands true for this whale. Blue whales eat over four tons of krill a day. They are consi...

  Leighanna Weems                                                                                                                         Weems 1 Professor Foster  ENG 111 2WF  19 April 2023  Sunda Tiger               The Sunda tiger is found only in small parts of the Sunda islands of Indonesia. These islands house tigers, orangutans, rhinos, and elephants, which establishes it as a healthy and biodiverse location.               Unfortunately, there are only four hundred Sunda tigers documented still living in the wild today. The rise of extreme poaching not only drastically decreased the...

  Leighanna Weems                                                                                                                         Weems 1 Professor Foster  ENG 111 2WF  19 April 2023  Sumatran Elephant               The Sumatran elephant is native to the islands of Borneo and Sumatra in Indonesia. They play a vital role in the tropical ecosystem because they eat a variety of plants whose seeds can only germinate inside the elephant's digestive tract. Meaning they play a vital role in seed dispersal  t hroughout the rainforest. Without these elephants, many native plants would vanish and affect the food supply f...

  Leighanna Weems                                                                                                                         Weems 1 Professor Foster  ENG 111 2WF  18 April 2023  Bigeye Tuna               Bigeye tuna is a subclass of tuna fish. They are dark metallic blue with white stripes and a white underbelly. They are the main food source for multiple marine species and are an important commercial fish. They are most marketable than the bluefin tuna due to their greater size. They inhabit the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans where they are harvested to be sold fresh or frozen to nearby cities.  ...

  Leighanna Weems                                                                                                                         Weems 1 Professor Foster  ENG 111 2WF  18 April 2023  Dugong               Dugongs are cousins to the manatee, with a similar appearance except for their dolphin-like tail. They are found in shallow salt-water embankments off the coasts of the Indian and Western Pacific oceans. They feed on sea grasses as their only food source in these embankments, making them a vital part of a marine ecosystem. They also create a draw to tourism, given their calm nature toward humans.    ...

  Leighanna Weems                                                                                                                         Weems 1 Professor Foster  ENG 111 2WF  18 April 2023   Giant Panda            I think we have all been to a zoo before and gotten excited to see one of the biggest attractions: the giant panda bears. These lovable bears have distinctive black and white fur coats, making them interesting to look at. While these bears are comfortable in captivity, the wild giant pandas are considered vulnerable to extinction due to habitat loss.             Giant pandas are con...

  Leighanna Weems                                                                                                                         Weems 1 Professor Foster  ENG 111 2WF  9 April 2023   Javan Rhino             The Javan Rhino species was once highly prevalent throughout northeast India and Southeast Asia, but due to extreme poaching, there are now only around sixty documented left. These few remaining were relocated to the Ujang Kulon National Park in Java, Indonesia in an attempt to conserve their species. Due to their small population, they are considered critically endangered and on the brink of extinction.  ...

  Leighanna Weems                                                                                                                         Weems 1 Professor Foster  ENG 111 2WF  8 April 2023   Yangtze Finless Porpoise             The Yangtze Finless porpoise is an intelligent dolphin found in the Yangtze River in Asia. This river was home to two well-known porpoise species, the Yangtze Finless, and the Baiji, but due to competition over food, the Baiji dolphin species became extinct. Dolphins need a large amount of food to survive in their natural habitats, causing a lot of competition between species. Although the Baiji's e...

  Leighanna Weems                                                                                                                         Weems 1 Professor Foster  ENG 111 2WF  8 April 2023   Saola             The conservation world was rocked in 1992 when scientists discovered a new species in the Annamite Mountains of Vietnam. While conducting interviews with locals, scientists noticed an unfamiliar animal skull mounted in a hunter's home. This would soon be discovered as a Saola, an elusive species that closely resembles an antelope except with unique white face markings. Even after the discovery, the Saola is rarely see...

  Leighanna Weems                                                                                                                         Weems 1 Professor Foster  ENG 111 2WF  8 April 2023   Hawksbill Turtle             Hawksbill sea turtles get their name from their distinct pointed beak, which they use to extract their food from coral reefs throughout the East African coast. They feed primarily on sea sponges and anemones, contributing towards healthier coral reef ecosystems. Without the Hawksbill sea turtles, fish would not have access to the reef to hunt for their food. The ecosystem is influenced and controlled primar...

 Leighanna Weems                                                                                                                         Weems 1 Professor Foster  ENG 111 2WF  6 April 2023   African Forest Elephant             African Forest elephants populate the rainforests of West and Central Africa, often in herds of 20 or more. They eat leaves, grasses, and seeds, which allows them to play an important role in the ecosystem. Without the African Forest Elephant, plant diversity would drastically decrease. Due to the nature of their environment, many plant seeds can only germinate in an elephant's digestive tract. This i...

 Leighanna Weems                                                                                                                         Weems 1 Professor Foster  ENG 111 2WF  6 April 2023   Cross River Gorilla             Cross River Gorillas are classified as critically endangered, with only three hundred documented living in native habitats. Of these three hundred, there are eleven confirmed groups scattered throughout Cameroon and Nigerian forests. Their inhabitance is an area of three thousand square miles, which includes the border between Cameroon and Nigeria. The scattering is a result of deforestation brought on by...

 Leighanna Weems                                                                                                                         Weems 1 Professor Foster  ENG 111 2WF  6 April 2023 Orangutan             Orangutans are classified as the largest arboreal animal, weighing up to 200 pounds per monkey. They spend most of their time up in the dense forest trees of southeast Asia and play a vital role in seed dispersal. Without the orangutan, there would be a lack of plant diversity throughout Asia. With such an important role in the ecosystem, why are orangutans considered critically endangered?         ...

Leighanna Weems                                                                                                                         Weems 1 Professor Foster  ENG 111 2WF  4 April 2023   Capybara            Capybaras recently became popular when a video of a capybara riding a crocodile went viral on the social media app Tik Tok. Viewers fell in love with the capybara's unique physical appearance and fearlessness.  Capybaras are the largest known rodent on Earth, twice the size of an American beaver. They are characterized by their square-shaped head, stocky body, and short tail. Their strange appearance makes them stand out f...

 Leighanna Weems                                                                                                                         Weems 1 Professor Foster  ENG 111 2WF  4 April 2023  Desert Rain Frog            The Desert Rain Frog is the most unique frog I have stumbled across on the internet. A Desert Rain Frog is described as a "s quat, rotund frog with short limbs and large, prominent eyes." (1) They basically are a bouncy ball with legs. Besides their unique look, they have various other qualities that make them stand out, including their sound and lack of hop. Desert Rain Frogs omit a squeak, similar to a squeaky toy, ra...

 Leighanna Weems                                                                                                                         Weems 1 Professor Foster  ENG 111 2WF  4 April 2023  Tenrec            For those who do not know, I volunteer as an Animal Behavioral Research technician at the zoo. During the last meeting I attended, we got introduced to the Ambassadors Program, which is the special team that uses animals to teach about wildlife conservation and education. Part of this program involves getting up close to animals, and in this meeting, I met a tenrec for the first time.            ...