Extinct Part III

This is the third part of the series that chronicles animals that are extinct or have been on the verge of extinction and the reasons behind it.

MONKEY-EATING EAGLE (Pithecophaga jefferyi)
To call the monkey-eating eagle unique or different from other birds of prey would be doing to a disservice to this magnificent bird. The modus operandi that it employs to hunt prey is unrivalled. This bird has undoubtedly earned its place in the pantheon of great hunters. Its short, broad wings and squared-off tail make them genetically pre-disposed to search and destroy operations. They have the ability to rise vertically between trees and maneuver through the complex network of branches and vines. While they do this they snatch away monkeys and other small animals right out of their homes.

It has an extremely large, curved beak and remarkably strong legs. It is about 3 feet tall and weighs about 14 pounds. The average life expectancy is anywhere from 30 to 60 years. It has a headdress of spiky feathers that resemble that of the ancient Red-Indian warriors. It has been named for its preference for eating monkeys, particularly macaques. In the power stakes amongst birds, only the Harpy Eagle of South America fares better. They belong to the raptor category of birds because they seize their prey with their taloned feet and tear the flesh with sharp, hooked beaks.

Less than 300 such birds survive in the world today. But the fact that makes their situation really precarious is that all of these survive only on the Mindanao Island of the Philippines. Once found on almost all of the Philippine Islands widespread farming and logging has caused irreversible habitat loss. Their tendency to attack domestic animals i.e. cats, dogs, chicken etc has ensured that they are shot and poisoned by farmers. Once the bird was discovered in 1894, it became some sort of a bounty-hunting trophy for shooting enthusiasts. The reproduction rate for this bird is abysmally low, with one egg laid every two years.

Today efforts are on to ensure that this bird does not meet the fate of the Dodo. There were moves to make it the national bird of the Philippines. The rainforests need to be preserved. Farmers need to be educated about the use of pesticides and unintentional poisoning. This battle will go down to the wire.

PRZEWALSKI HORSE (Equus przewalski)
Przewalski horse is named after the Russian naturalist Colonel Przewalski who spotted the horse and first brought it into prominence in 1879. It has also been known as Asiatic Wild Horse, Mongolian Wild Horse, Mongolian Tarpan and Taki. This is the only surviving species of wild horse in the world today. It is said that unlike regular horses Przewalski horses are not tamable. There are certain horse experts who feel that the Przewalski horse is the progenitor of all modern breeds of horse but scientists have proved that these horses are genetically different. In fact they share certain characteristics with the zebra.

Smaller than most domestic horse species, Przewalski’s horses weigh about 440 to 750 pounds and are 48 to 56 inches tall. They have stocky bodies, large heads, thick necks, upright manes, and a dark stripe down their backs. They can detect smell and sound from great distances. Przewalski’s horses can use their sharp hooves to get at water in the ground. They eat mainly grass, as well as plants and fruit, and sometimes bark, leaves, and buds. Przewalski’s horses usually live to the age of 20. They live in either family or bachelor groups.

Today there are 1200 horses that survive but unfortunately none of them survive in the wild. Most of them survive in zoos and private preserves in Ukraine and the United States. The last horse was spotted in the wild was in 1968. The natural home for these animals was the Mongolian steppes. Mongolia legislated strict protection for these animals in 1928 but that did not work. These animals have disappeared over the years because of hunting by humans, capturing of grazing lands by domestic animals, habitat loss and interbreeding with other species of horses. Efforts are on to introduce these animals to their only home – the untamed wilderness.