INDIAN WILDLIFE
Explore the magical species of the Bengal tigers' forest, including the dhole, the Sri Lankan giant squirrel, Indian peafowl and the peacock tarantula illustrated by children from the UK.
Each of these species plays a vital role in its ecosystem. Like humans, they live their lives according to their needs. Imagine what their eyes have seen in the forests of the Bengal tigers.
Many of these beautiful animals are threatened with extinction. It is up to all of us to protect and cherish them. Learn more about each species with information provided by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and other sources:
MAMMALS
BENGAL TIGER
Panthera tigris
Population: 3,726-5,578 (includes all tiger subspecies), with a best estimate of 4,485 (~2,608-3,905 mature individuals, with a best estimate of 3,140); Indian population: 3,682
Drawings: Gosforth Central Middle School and South Gosforth First School children
"Bengal tiger, (subspecies Panthera tigris tigris), subspecies of tiger (Panthera tigris) inhabiting the hot and humid forests, and wetlands of India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal. The Bengal tiger’s appearance is distinguished from other tiger subspecies by its orange coat accented by prominent brownish-to-black stripes; a rare white-coated variant of the subspecies (the white tiger) also exists. The Bengal tiger rivals the larger, thicker-furred, cold-climate Siberian tiger in size, and most experts consider the Bengal tiger to be the world’s second largest tiger... The largest male Bengal tigers can grow up to about 3.2 metres long (including a 1-metre long tail)... Females are smaller, the largest ones measuring about 2.7 metres long... They are solitary hunters, preying primarily on ungulates (including deer and antelope), gaurs, and wild boars."
ASIAN ELEPHANT
Drawings: Lottie and Gurneesh, Year 5, Gosforth Central Middle School; Elisa, Year 5 and Ada, Reception, South Gosforth First School
"Many forests in Asia depend on elephants for seed dispersal and creating trails and clearings through which seedlings can grow. With vegetation growth, more carbon can be sequestered, helping mitigate the impacts of climate change. The habitats created by Asian elephants also help support numerous species... Elephants are highly social animals with extremely complex behaviours. Asian Elephants live in herds, typically of around 8-12 individuals although this number can be much higher, that are presided over by a dominant female, known as the matriarch. The matriarch, using information passed on by her mother, guides and protects the family, which consists of her sisters, daughters, female cousins and calves. The matriarch’s knowledge of the home range and traditional water sources is vital to the herd’s survival." Read the complete description: bornfree.org.uk/animals/asian-elephants
WILD WATER BUFFALO
Conservation status: ENDANGERED (IUCN Red List)
Population: 2,500, DECREASING
Drawing: Hugo, Year 5, Gosforth Central Middle School
Thai National Parks/Wild Water Buffalo:
"The wild water buffalo, also called Asian buffalo and Asiatic buffalo, is a large bovine native to the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia...They rank alongside the gaur as the heaviest living wild bovid species, as both attain similar average if not maximum weights, although, with their stockier, shorter-legged frame, wild water buffalo are somewhat less in length and height than the gaur... Wild water buffalos occur in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Thailand, and Cambodia, with an unconfirmed population in Myanmar." Read the complete description: thainationalparks.com/species/wild-water-buffalo
LION-TAILED MACAQUE
Macaca silenus
Conservation status: ENDANGERED (IUCN Red List)
Population: 2,400-2,500, DECREASING
Drawing: Eamonn, Year 4, South Gosforth First School; Josh, Year 7, Gosforth Central Middle School
Centre for Wildlife Studies India/Lion-tailed Macaque:
"Lion-tailed macaques are shy, relatively small monkeys known for their pitch-black bodies and contrasting silver-white manes. These fruit-eating primates were once a common sight in the rainforests of Southern India. In the last century, however, they have steadily declined, causing scientists to declare them endangered... In Karnataka, lion-tailed macaques are locally known as Singalika which literally translates to “Lion-like”. Their distribution is confined to the tropical wet evergreen forests of the Western Ghats of India. Endemic to the States of Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, these arboreal mammals have evolved to occupy a specialised ecological niche." Read the complete article: cwsindia.org/the-rediscovery-of-lion-tailed-macaques-in-karnataka
DHOLE
Cuon alpinus
Conservation status: ENDANGERED (IUCN Red List)
Population: 949-2,215, DECREASING
Drawings: Thomas and Stefan, Year 4, South Gosforth First School; Amy, Year 7 and Alice, Year 6, Gosforth Central Middle School
"The Dhole, otherwise known as the Asiatic Wild Dog, Whistling Dog or Red Wolf, has been described as a canid which combines the characteristics of the Grey Wolf and the Red Fox. The Dhole has rust-coloured fur with a paler throat and underbelly, amber eyes and a dark tail. Compared to the African Wild Dog, it has a long backbone and short legs, but it shares rounded, rather than pointed, ears with its African relative. The name Whistling Dog comes from one of its many types of vocalisations, a distinctive whistle used to reassemble pack members in their dense forest habitat. They live in packs and are highly sociable, resembling African Wild Dogs in social structure with less of a dominance hierarchy than Grey Wolves. However, the packs regularly split off into small clans of 3-5 individuals for hunting, which is optimal for catching fawns during the spring season." Read the complete description: worldlandtrust.org/species/mammals/dhole
INDIAN PANGOLIN
Manis crassicaudata
Conservation status: ENDANGERED (IUCN Red List)
Population: UNKNOWN, DECREASING
Drawings: Lila, Year 8, Maya, Year 7, and Lucia, Year 6, Gosforth Central Middle School
"Pangolins are mammals with plate-like scales all over their bodies, except their faces and underbelly. When threatened, they roll up into a ball and their scales form an armoured exterior. Pangolin scales are made of keratin, the same protein that makes up human hair and nails, and the scales harden as they reach maturity... Pangolins are the world’s most trafficked mammals. Historically they’ve been hunted for their meat, bile, scales and claws, and their scales are used in traditional medicine in China and Vietnam. High levels of hunting and poaching for the illicit trade in their meat and scales – for traditional medicines in Asia – mean there has been a dramatic decrease in pangolin populations over the last 15 years." Read the complete description: bornfree.org.uk/animals/pangolins
NILGIRI TAHR
Nilgiritragus hylocrius
Conservation status: ENDANGERED (IUCN Red List)
Population: 1,800-2,000, DECREASING
Drawing: Florence, Year 5, Gosforth Central Middle School
"Tahr [are] any of three wary and sure-footed wild goatlike mammals of the family Bovidae, native to Asia. Tahrs live in herds and frequent steep, often wooded mountainsides. They range in shoulder height from 60 to 106 cm (24 to 42 inches), depending on the species... The Nilgiri tahr, or Nilgiri ibex, of southern India, is dark brown with a grizzled saddle-shaped patch on its back; its body size is comparable to that of the Himalayan species." Read the complete description: britannica.com/animal/tahr
GAUR
Bos gaurus
Conservation status: VULNERABLE (IUCN Red List)
Population: 6,000-21,000, DECREASING
Drawings: Delisa, Year 3, South Gosforth First School; Zac, Year 6 and Natalie, Year 8, Gosforth Central Middle School
"Gaur, or Indian Bison, are a close wild relative of domestic cattle... Gaur are strong and mightily built, with a high grey ridge on their forehead between their horns, which curve upwards from the sides of the head." Read the complete description: worldlandtrust.org/species/mammals/gaur
GREATER ONE-HORNED RHINO
Rhinoceros unicornis
Conservation status: VULNERABLE (IUCN Red List)
Population: 2,100-2,200, INCREASING
Drawings: Elliot, Year 4 and Jack, Year 3, South Gosforth First School; Jasmine, Year 8, Ethan and Morgan, Year 7, Jack, Year 6, Gosforth Central Middle School
"Indian rhinoceros, [also known as the Greater One-horned rhino] is the largest of the three Asian rhinoceroses. It stands 2 metres high at the shoulder and is 3.5 metres long. The Indian rhinoceros is more or less equivalent in size to the white rhinoceros of Africa and is distinguishable from the Javan rhinoceros by its greater size, the presence of a large horn, tubercles on its skin, and a different arrangement of skin folds. The Indian rhinoceros occupies the world’s tallest grasslands, where at the end of the summer monsoon in October grasses reach 7 metres (23 feet) tall. They are primarily grazers, except during the winter when they consume a larger proportion of browse. The Indian rhinoceros fights with its razor-sharp lower outer incisor teeth, not with its horn." Read the complete description: britannica.com/animal/Indian-rhinoceros
SLOTH BEAR
Melursus ursinus
Conservation status: VULNERABLE (IUCN Red List)
Population: UNKNOWN, DECREASING
Drawings: Jay, Year 4, South Gosforth First School; Reuben, Year 6, Gosforth Central Middle School
"When one hears the name “Sloth bear” for the first time, it can be quite puzzling to imagine what this animal looks like... It was in 1791 that European zoologist George Shaw came across this bear and may have misunderstood its characteristics to be more akin to that of a Sloth’s as opposed to a bear’s, hence giving it the name “bear sloth”... Sloth bears are one of the eight bear species found across the world, and they mainly inhabit the region of India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and presumably Bhutan. They have long, shaggy dark brown or black fur and curved claws, which are the longest out of any of the bear species. Long claws were another reason that made Shaw assume that these bears were a part of the Sloth family. However, unlike Sloths, these bears use their claws for digging rather than an aid to hang on trees." Read the complete description: wildlifesos.org/sloth-bears-animals/what-is-a-sloth-bear
FISHING CAT
Prionailurus viverrinus
Conservation status: VULNERABLE (IUCN Red List)
Population: UNKNOWN, DECREASING
Drawing: Holly, Year 4, South Gosforth First School
Fishing Cat Conservation Alliance:
"The fishing cat, is a highly elusive wild cat species found primarily in wetland and mangrove habitats with some populations in Sri Lanka having even been recorded in highly urbanised landscapes and montane forests... Unlike most felines, fishing cats love water and are known for their expert hunting skills in aquatic habitats. Habitat loss and fragmentation, conflict with humans over poultry and livestock, as well as the demand for bushmeat and trade for captive wildlife are causing fishing cat populations to decline." Read the complete description: fishingcat.org/the-fishing-cat
LEOPARD
Panthera pardus
Conservation status: VULNERABLE (IUCN Red List)
Population: UNKNOWN, DECREASING
Drawings: Samuel, Year 2, South Gosforth First School; Ben, Year 7, Gosforth Central Middle School
"Leopards are some of the top predators in their environment and they play an important role in controlling the populations of herbivores and other small animals that they may prey on. Without predation, herbivore populations could increase to unsustainable levels, negatively impacting the abundance and diversity of vegetation. Due to leopard’s space requirements, they are considered to be an ‘umbrella’ species, meaning that by protecting leopards and their habitat, we are helping to protect many other species that live alongside leopards." Read the complete description: bornfree.org.uk/animals/leopards
RUSTY-SPOTTED CAT
Prionailurus rubiginosus
Conservation status: NEAR THREATENED (IUCN Red List)
Population: UNKNOWN, DECREASING
Drawing: Idris, Year 5, Gosforth Central Middle School
Wildlife SOS/Rusty Spotted Cat:
"Weighing a mere 2 pounds (almost 300 times smaller than a tiger)—the Rusty-spotted cat is one of the smallest cat species in the world. However, what they lack in size, they make up for in being fierce hunters! The Rusty-spotted cat is endemic to the dry deciduous forests, scrubs and grasslands of India, Sri Lanka and Nepal. Their population in India is fragmented as intensive irrigated agriculture has negatively impacted their prime habitat. There is still much to learn about this elusive species but studies confirm that they are nocturnal and are considered terrestrial with arboreal tendencies. Their diet primarily consists of rodents, birds, lizards, frogs, and insects. Due to their size, speed and agility, Rusty-spotted cats are often referred to as the “hummingbird of the cat family.” Read the complete description: wildlifesos.org/chronological-news/turning-the-spotlight-on-the-elusive-rusty-spotted-cat
TUFTED GRAY LANGUR
Semnopithecus priam
Conservation status: NEAR THREATENED (IUCN Red List)
Population: UNKNOWN, DECREASING
Drawings: Joey, Year 8, Will, Daniel, Ethan and Alexander Year 5, Gosforth Central Middle School
"This species is found in tropical dry evergreen forest, riparian, dry deciduous forest, coastal forest, gardens, around temples in Sri Lanka and cultivated areas. It is found in India up to 1,200 m and in Sri Lanka up to 500 m. It is arboreal, semi-terrestrial, folivorous and frugivorous, and diurnal. In southern India, these langurs are not very commensal with humans except in areas like Doddabetta-Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary, Bandipur, Horsley Hills, Tirupathi, Kurnool, and Chinnar. Interestingly, troop size in these areas are high exhibiting multi male societies. The Sri Lankan population is restricted to the dry zone in the north." Read the complete description: iucnredlist.org/species/167546892/17942964
SRI LANKAN GIANT SQUIRREL
Ratufa macroura
Conservation status: NEAR THREATENED (IUCN Red List)
Population: UNKNOWN, DECREASING
Drawings: Hugo, Year 4, South Gosforth First School; Tabitha, Year 5, Gosforth Central Middle School
Conservation India/Grizzled Giant Squirrel:
"The [Sri Lankan giant squirrel also known as the] grizzled giant squirrel is the smallest of all giant squirrels. It is found in the riparian forests of Southern India and Sri Lanka. Unlike their cousins, grizzled giant squirrels prefer riverine or riparian forests, which grow next to rivers. They are called ‘grizled’ due to the white flecks of hair that cover their greyish-brown body. Like all giant squirrels, they are arboreal. They are crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk) and spend most of their time foraging in the canopy. They consume fruits, bark and seeds of many plant species, thus aiding in their dispersal and help improving native floral biodiversity. Like its larger cousin, the Malabar giant squirrels, grizzled giant squirrels also build a nest from leaves and twigs where they raise their pups." Read the complete description: conservationindia.org/gallery/grizzled-giant-squirrel-cauvery-wildlife-sanctuary
LESCHENAULT’S ROUSETTE
Rousettus leschenaultii
Conservation status: NEAR THREATENED (IUCN Red List)
Population: UNKNOWN, DECREASING
Drawings: James, Year 3, South Gosforth First School; Benjamin, Year 6, Gosforth Central Middle School
IUCN Red List/Leschenault's Rousette:
"[Leschenault's rousette] is found in a variety of habitats ranging from tropical moist forest to urban environments. Roosts have been predominantly found in caves and abandoned buildings. It feeds on fruit, flowers and leaves. Additionally, it has been shown to occasionally feed on small fish..." Read the complete description: iucnredlist.org/species/19756/22001287
PAINTED WOOLLY BAT
Kerivoula picta
Conservation status: NEAR THREATENED (IUCN Red List)
Population: UNKNOWN, DECREASING
Drawings: Yasen, Year 2, South Gosforth First School; Jacob, Year 5 and Jack, Year 8, Gosforth Central Middle School
Thai National Parks/Painted Woolly Bat:
"The painted bat is a species of vesper bat in the family Vespertilionidae. It is found in Bangladesh, Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam. It is found in arid woodland and is fairly uncommon but widespread... Kerivoula picta is bright orange or scarlet, with black wings and orange along the fingers. As in other species of Kerivoula, K. picta possesses long, woolly, rather curly hair, a small, fragile form, large funnel-shaped ears and 38 teeth... Older males are brighter than females... The bright and broken coloration of these bats may be a form of camouflage to protect them, as they have been reported to blend in with dried leaves and flowers when they roost. Hunting flights last around 1–2 hours..." Read the complete description: thainationalparks.com/species/kerivoula-picta
GREY SLENDER LORIS
Loris lydekkerianus
Conservation status: NEAR THREATENED (IUCN Red List)
Population: UNKNOWN, DECREASING
Drawings: Emily, Year 1, and Philip, Year 3, South Gosforth First School
"Loris, [are]... tail-less or short-tailed South and Southeast Asian forest primates. Lorises are arboreal and nocturnal, curling up to sleep by day. They have soft gray or brown fur and can be recognized by their huge eyes encircled by dark patches and by their short index fingers. They move with great deliberation through the trees and often hang by their feet, with their hands free to grasp food or branches... The two species of slender lorises (the red slender loris [Loris tardigradus] and the gray slender loris [L. lydekkerianus]) of India and Sri Lanka are about 20–25 cm (8–10 inches) long and have long slender limbs, small hands, a rounded head, and a pointed muzzle. Slender lorises feed mostly on insects (predominantly ants) and are solitary..." Read the complete description: britannica.com/animal/loris-primate-subfamily#ref1083609
MADRAS HEDGEHOG
Paraechinus nudiventris
Conservation status: LEAST CONCERN (IUCN Red List)
Population: UNKNOWN, UNKNOWN (population trend)
Drawings: Diana, Year 8, Gosforth Middle Central School
Conservation India/Madras Hedgehog:
"The Madras hedgehog also known as the bare-bellied hedgehog, is a small-sized insectivorous mammal endemic to the dry scrub forests and grasslands of southeastern India. It is one of the 17 species of hedgehogs found in the world. Although locally common in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, very little is known about the Madras hedgehog’s ecology and population status. Hedgehogs are hunted for medicinal purposes and traded in the illegal pet trade. At the same time, they face habitat loss due to the collection of fuel wood, logging, agriculture, and urbanization..." Read the complete description: conservationindia.org/gallery/conservation-of-the-madras-hedgehog-in-rural-tamil-nadu
CHITAL
Axis axis
Conservation status: LEAST CONCERN (IUCN Red List)
Population: UNKNOWN, UNKNOWN (population trend)
Drawings: Henry, Year 4, South Gosforth First School; Annie, Year 5, Gosforth Middle Central School
"Chital are attractive spotted deer ranging from golden to rufous in colour... Males are much larger than females and grow large, lyre-shaped antlers. They have white fur on their abdomen, rump, throat, ears and on the inner side of their tails... Chital often occur in the company of Common Myna, Sambar and Grey Langurs. They have a commensual relationship with the Common Myna, a common bird belonging to the starling family, who benefit from the insects disturbed by browsing deer. The relationship with Sambar and Grey Langurs is more mutualistic, as both species benefit from the extra vigilance of larger numbers and will both react to alarm calls of the other species. From their high vantage points, Grey Langurs make good sentinels, and chital also benefit from food dropped or dislodged by the foraging monkeys." Read the complete description: worldlandtrust.org/species/mammals/chital
SMALL INDIAN MONGOOSE
Urva auropunctata
Conservation status: LEAST CONCERN (IUCN Red List)
Population: UNKNOWN, UNKNOWN (population trend)
Drawing: Alexander, Year 8, Gosforth Middle Central School
"Mongoose [are] small bold predatory carnivores found mainly in Africa but also in southern Asia and southern Europe. Mongooses are noted for their audacious attacks on highly venomous snakes such as king cobras..." Read the complete description: britannica.com/animal/mongoose N.B. The small Indian mongoose species, once native of Iraq and Northern India has been introduced to many countries including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Fiji, French Guiana, Guyana, Jamaica, Japan, Mauritius, Puerto Rico, Suriname, Tanzania, United Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, United States (Hawaiian Is.); Virgin Islands, British; Virgin Islands, U.S.
NILGAI
Boselaphus tragocamelus
Conservation status: LEAST CONCERN (IUCN Red List)
Population: 70,000-100,000, STABLE
Drawing: James, Year 7, Gosforth Middle Central School
"Nilgai, [is] the largest Asian antelope. The nilgai is indigenous to the Indian subcontinent, and Hindus accord it the same sacred status as cattle (both belong to the subfamily Bovinae). Accordingly, the nilgai is the only one of the four Indian antelopes that is still abundant. Nilgai is the Hindustani word for “blue cow,” which describes the blue-gray of adult bulls. (Cows are orange-brown.) The nilgai’s conformation, however, is more horselike than cowlike: it has a long neck with a short upright mane, a bony narrow head, a barrel-like chest, strong legs, and high withers sloping back to the croup..." Read the complete description: britannica.com/animal/nilgai
GOLDEN JACKAL
Canis aureus
Conservation status: LEAST CONCERN (IUCN Red List)
Population: UNKNOWN, INCREASING
Drawing: Avie, Year 5, Gosforth Middle Central School
"The Golden Jackal is a medium-sized canid which mainly inhabits dry, open habitats, and is less likely to be found in wet, evergreen forests. They are mainly nocturnal in habits, but may be observed early morning or late afternoon: during the heat of the day they tend to shelter in the cool of their burrows. Their call is described as a series of whines and yelps, which may be heard just before dawn or just after dusk. In parts of India they may form large packs, but in Southeast Asia they are generally solitary or travel in pairs. Typical family groups comprise a male, female and four to five pups.Their prey mainly comprises small vertebrates, for example rodents, lizards and frogs, but they will also consume carrion and the remains of animals killed by larger predators. Their size distinguishes them from the much larger Dhole Cuon alpinus and from typical feral 'domestic' dogs..." Read the complete description: ecologyasia.com/verts/mammals/golden-jackal
SMALL INDIAN CIVET
Viverricula indica
Conservation status: LEAST CONCERN (IUCN Red List)
Population: UNKNOWN, STABLE
Drawing: Joel, Year 2, South Gosforth First School
Ecology India/Small Indian Civet:
"The Small Indian Civet, or Little Civet, inhabits non-forest areas such as grassland, secondary scrub and disturbed, agricultural areas. It is mainly nocturnal and generally terrestrial, but can climb well if needed. It has a broad, omnivorous diet which includes small vertebrates (reptiles, amphibians, small mammals, birds), invertebrates (large insects) and some fruits and roots. In comparison with other civets in the region, this species is medium in size, being somewhat larger than the mainly arboreal Small-toothed Palm Civet, but smaller than the Malay Civet and other species of the genus Viverra..." Read the complete description: ecologyasia.com/verts/mammals/small-indian-civet
INDIAN HARE
Lepus nigricollis
Conservation status: LEAST CONCERN (IUCN Red List)
Population: UNKNOWN, UNKNOWN
Drawing: Arjun, Year 5, Gosforth Central Middle School
"The Indian Hare can be found in wide variety of habitats such as short grasslands, barren agricultural fields, crop fields, and forest roads. The species can be seen in forests of many types other than the mangroves and tall grassland habitats... The Indian Hare is characterized as a shy species. It exhibits activity during crepuscular and nocturnal hours." Read the complete description: iucnredlist.org/species/41282/45188041
RUDDY MONGOOSE
Urva smithii
Conservation status: LEAST CONCERN (IUCN Red List)
Population: UNKNOWN, UNKNOWN
Drawings: Miranda, Year 6, Gosforth Central Middle School; Peter, Year 4, South Gosforth First School
"The ecology of Ruddy Mongoose remains little known. Most records are from open forest, including dry forests, dry thorn areas, and disturbed forests, although there are also records, albeit fewer, from anthropogenic open dry areas and secluded rice paddy fields... Ruddy Mongoose is perhaps partly crepuscular, although there are many records by day and some by night. It climbs in trees at least occasionally, but evidently spends most of it time at ground level." Read the complete description: iucnredlist.org/species/41617/45208195
RHESUS MONKEY
Macaca mulatta
Conservation status: LEAST CONCERN (IUCN Red List)
Population: UNKNOWN, UNKNOWN
Drawings: Omar, Year 8, and Bobby, Year 7, Gosforth Central Middle School; Arthur, Year 4, and Johnny, Year 3, South Gosforth First School
Thai National Parks/Rhesus Monkey:
"The rhesus macaque...is native to South, Central, and Southeast Asia and has the widest geographic range of all non-human primates, occupying a great diversity of altitudes and a great variety of habitats, from grasslands to arid and forested areas, but also close to human settlements... They are regular swimmers. Babies as young as a few days old can swim, and adults are known to swim over a half mile between islands, but are often found drowned in small groups where their drinking waters lie. Rhesus macaques are noted for their tendency to move from rural to urban areas, coming to rely on handouts or refuse from humans. They adapt well to human presence, and form larger troops in human-dominated landscapes than in forests." Read the complete description: thainationalparks.com/species/rhesus-macaque
GREATER MOUSE-TAILED BAT
Rhinopoma microphyllum
Conservation status: LEAST CONCERN (IUCN Red List)
Population: UNKNOWN, STABLE
Drawings: Kiran, Year 5, and Florence, Year 6, Gosforth Central Middle School
Thai National Parks/Greater Mouse-Tailed Bat:
"The Greater Mouse-tailed Bat...is found in Algeria, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Chad, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Iraq, Jordan, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Myanmar, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sudan, Thailand, Tunisia, the Western Sahara and Yemen. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry shrubland... According to a recent research published in Royal Society of London, the species is found to be hibernating at the unusually warm and constant temperature of 68°F in caves in Israel's Great Rift Valley. From October to February, these bats were discovered semi-conscious, breathing only once every 15-30 minutes, with extremely low energy expenditures." Read the complete description: thainationalparks.com/species/greater-mouse-tailed-bat
GREATER SHORT-NOSED FRUIT BAT
Cynopterus sphinx
Conservation status: LEAST CONCERN (IUCN Red List)
Population: UNKNOWN, INCREASING
Drawing: Nuria, Year 7, Gosforth Central Middle School
Thai National Parks/Greater Short-nosed Fruit Bat:
"The greater short-nosed fruit bat or short-nosed Indian fruit bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is found in South and Southeast Asia, where it is known as තල වවුලා (thala wawulaa) by Sinhalese people in Sri Lanka... These bats have a relatively long snout. Their upper parts are brown to grey-brown with paler under parts. The fur is very fine and silky... [They are most] common in tropical forests and areas where fruit crops are cultivated. They can also be found in grassland and mangrove forests. They typically nest high in palm trees. The bats chew the fronds of the palms to construct fairly simple tents. These bats are also known to construct tents by closely interweaving the leaves and twigs of creeping vines which cover buildings, but such nests are constructed only when palms are not available... These bats are important dispersers of date palm seeds, and pollinate many night blooming flowers." Read the complete description: thainationalparks.com/species/greater-short-nosed-fruit-bat
INDIAN GIANT SQUIRREL
Ratufa indica
Conservation status: LEAST CONCERN (IUCN Red List)
Population: UNKNOWN, DECREASING
Drawings: Everly, Year 2, South Gosforth First School; Mattia, Year 8, Gosforth Central Middle School
Nature in Focus/Giant Squirrels of India:
"Also known as the Malabar Giant Squirrel... [it] is characterised by its rufous-brown/purple colour and its ability to quickly jump from one tree to another. The tree-dwelling squirrel is rarely found on the ground and can leap over impressive heights of about 6 metres—a skill that comes in handy when a leopard is on the prowl. Malabar Giant Squirrels feed on flowers, fruits, bark and nuts, often stretching themselves to reach the source of sustenance, and leaving a messy trail all around." Read the complete article: natureinfocus.in/animals/bite-sized-facts-about-the-giant-squirrels-of-india
MADRAS TREESHREW
Anathana ellioti
Conservation status: LEAST CONCERN (IUCN Red List)
Population: UNKNOWN, DECREASING
Drawing: Anonymous, Gosforth Central Middle School
IUCN Red List/Madras Treeshrew:
"The species occurs in scrub jungle, dry and moist deciduous forests and in montane sholas (wet evergreen forests)." Read the complete description: iucnredlist.org/species/39593/22278758
JUNGLE CAT
Felis chaus
Conservation status: LEAST CONCERN (IUCN Red List)
Population: UNKNOWN, DECREASING
Drawing: Estelle, Year 6, Gosforth Central Middle School
Thai National Parks/Jungle Cat:
"The jungle cat, also called reed cat and swamp cat, is a medium-sized cat native to the Middle East, South and Southeast Asia and southern China. It inhabits foremost wetlands like swamps, littoral and riparian areas with dense vegetation. The jungle cat has a uniformly sandy, reddish-brown or grey fur without spots; melanistic and albino individuals are also known. It is solitary in nature, except during the mating season and mother-kitten families. Adults maintain territories by urine spraying and scent marking. Its preferred prey is small mammals and birds. It hunts by stalking its prey, followed by a sprint or a leap; the ears help in pinpointing the location of prey... Kittens begin to catch their own prey at around six months and leave the mother after eight or nine months..." Read the complete description: thainationalparks.com/species/jungle-cat
LESSER DOG-FACED FRUIT BAT
Cynopterus brachyotis
Conservation status: LEAST CONCERN (IUCN Red List)
Population: UNKNOWN, UNKNOWN
Drawings: Alper, Year 4 and Eleanor, Year 1, South Gosforth First School
Ecology Asia/Lesser Dog-faced Fruit Bat:
"Also called the Short-nosed or Common Fruit Bat, this species is common and abundant throughout most of its range. It occurs in a range of habitats from lowland primary and secondary forests to mangroves, cultivated areas, and parks and gardens. By day it roosts under shaded trees, sometimes underneath the protective cover of epiphytic ferns, or near the entrance of caves. It can be identified by the pale edges of the ears and the whitish wing bones. It feeds on small fruits, figs and nectar. The species ranges from Sri Lanka, through Myanmar, Thailand and Indochina to Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines and Indonesia.." Read the complete description: ecologyasia.com/verts/bats/lesser_dog-faced_fruit-bat
INDIAN FLYING FOX
Pteropus medius
Conservation status: LEAST CONCERN (IUCN Red List)
Population: UNKNOWN, UNKNOWN
Drawings: Eli, Year 7, Gosforth Central Middle School; Ronan, Year 2, South Gosforth First School
IUCN Red List/ Indian Flying Fox:
"This species roosts in large colonies of hundreds to thousands of individuals on large trees in rural and urban areas, close to agricultural fields, ponds and by the side of roads. It feeds on a wide variety of fruits and flowers, both wild and cultivated..." Read the complete description: iucnredlist.org/species/18725/194134899
INDIAN WOLF
Canis lupus pallipes
Conservation status: UNLISTED IUCN Red List
Population: UNKNOWN, UNKNOWN
Drawing: Bethan, Year 6, Gosforth Central Middle School
Nature Conservation Foundation/Indian Wolf:
"The Indian grey wolf occupies a top predator niche in arid and semi-arid open plains and grasslands of India. It faces a series of threats including loss of grasslands to agriculture and industrial expansion, modification of habitats, depletion of its natural prey, retaliatory killing, and disease spread through feral dogs..." Read the complete description: ncf-india.org/western-ghats/the-lone-wolf-new-distribution-update-of-the-indian-greywolf-canis-lupus-pallipes-in-southern-india
BIRDS
WHITE RUMPED VULTURE
Population: 4,000-6,000, DECREASING
Resident countries include: India (extinct Malaysia)
Drawing: Lena, Year 2 and Matthew, Year 3, South Gosforth First School
Like other vulture species, white-rumped vultures are scavengers feeding on carrion. Vultures play a vital role as nature's waste disposal experts, keeping disease at bay. Over the last forty years the white-rumped vulture population has plummeted from several million to around 6,000. One of the main reasons for the catastrophic loss of many vulture species populations in India is due to the use of diclofenac and other drugs given to livestock which causes kidney failure in vultures. Read more: iucnredlist.org/species/22695194/204618615
REPTILES
NORTHERN RIVER TERRAPIN
Conservation status: CRITICALLY ENDANGERED (IUCN Red List)
Population: 100, DECREASING
Drawing: Freya, Year 2, South Gosforth First School
People's Trust for Endangered Species/Northern River Terrapin:
"Northern river terrapins are freshwater turtles that were once found in many of the large rivers and estuaries of the coastal district of the Sundarbans region. The Sundarbans are well known wetland, famed for their wildlife, which span India and Bangladesh. Even though large areas of the Sundarbans are now protected, unfortunately the long history of exploitation and lack of enforcement in both countries has resulted in catastrophe for these turtles." Read the complete article: ptes.org/grants/worldwide-projects/northern-river-terrapins
AMPHIBIANS
NORTHERN DANCING FROG
Conservation status: ENDANGERED (IUCN Red List)
Population: UNKNOWN, DECREASING
Drawing: Finlay, Year 5, Gosforth Central Middle School
Mongabay/India's Dancing Frogs:
"Unlike most other frog species, dancing frogs of the family Micrixalidae don’t vocalize to attract mates. They live in fast-flowing streams that would drown out any croaking or ribbiting. Instead, they wave their legs to attract mates, flashing their feet to signal their breeding prowess." Read the complete article: mongabay.com/2016/03/researchers-unearth-the-surprising-secret-of-indias-dancing-frogs
INVERTEBRATES
GIANT ASIAN MANTIS
Population: UNKNOWN, INCREASING
Resident countries include: India and Malaysia
Drawings: Jenson, Year 3, South Gosforth First School; Arlo, Year 8, Gosforth Central Middle School
This wide-ranging mantis occurs from Armenia to Indonesia. Females are larger than males and can grown up to 7.5cm. Read more: iucnredlist.org/species/118892125/118892175