HONEY BEES

Honey bees range map :

FAST FACTS Name in Latin: Apis Mellifera Name in French: abeille Name in Latvian: Medus bite Name in Polish: pszczoa Name in Romanian: albina Name in Turkish: Bal arlar Size: 0.4 to 0.6 in (5 to 15 mm) (Workers) Lifespan: Up to 5 years

Diet

Honey bees feed on nectar and pollen from flowers. Worker bees feed the larvae royal jelly first, and later offer them pollen.
Behavior

Honeybees are social insects. In the wild, they create elaborate nests called hives containing up to 20,000 individuals during the summer months. (Domestic hives may have over 80,000 bees.) They work together in a highly structured social order. Each bee belongs to one of three specialized groups called castes. The different castes are: queens, drones and workers.
Reproduction

The great majority of female A. mellifera in a hive are sterile workers. Only queens mate and lay eggs. Normally there is only a single reproductive queen in a hive. She is mother to all or nearly all members of the colony.
Threats

In France, since 1995, almost 30% of honey bees colonies disappear every year. In 10 years, more than 15, 000 beekeepers had to stop their activity. This colony collapse disorder exists all over the world.

There have been a number of possible explanations for CCD including urbanization, disease, water pollution and parasitic mites. Many researchers and beekeepers however, now suspect the introduction of systemic neonicotinoid pesticides as a possible catalyst for the vanishing bees. We rely on pollinators like honey bees for much of our food supply. Honeybees alone pollinate around 30% of the food we eat. You hear a lot about the growing world population and food shortages on the horizon. While things might look dire, they will be much, much worse if we dont act now to save the bees.
Defenders at work

You can plant bee-friendly plants in your home garden. Dont have a yard? You can still help save the bees! Even just a few beefriendly flowers or food plants in a window box can help.

Limiting or eliminating pesticide use in and around the home can make a big difference, too.

Bonelli Eagle

Range :

The largest populations of Bonelli's eagles in Europe are found in the Iberian Peninsula and south-west France.
FAST FACTS Name in Latin: Aquila fasciata) Name in French: aigle de Bonelli Name in Latvian: Svtrainais rglis Name in Polish: orze Bonelli Name in Romanian: vulturul Bonelli Name in Turkish: Tavancl Size: from 60 to 70 cm, wingspan from Weight: From 1,500 to 2, 000 grammes Lifespan: up to 30 years Diet

150 to 170 cm

The Bonelli eagle is a bird of prey and it feeds on small mammals. As it is quite powerful, it can even feed on preys as large as itself. It mostly eats rabbits, but also squirrels, rodents, other birds
Population

There is now estimated to be only between 938 and 1039 breeding pairs remaining in Europe. Around French mediterranean sea, there were only 30 breeding pairs left in 2010.
Behavior

Bonellis eagle tends to live in warm, mountainous regions, nesting on cliff edges and sometimes on trees. Typically, vegetation in these areas is dominated by scrub, but Bonellis eagle also inhabits more densely covered areas and almost completely bare areas. It tends to live at low and medium altitudes, but has also been found to live as high as 2,000 metres above sea level in Africa
Reproduction

Like other raptors, mating pairs build between one and six nests next to each other, utilising different nests in different years. Each year the pair works on the nests and over time they become larger and larger, eventually measuring up to an incredible 1.8 metres in height and 2 metres in diameter. The female will typically lay two eggs between January and March. Bonellis eagle reaches maturity at about 3.5 years of age.
Threats

Whilst the global population of Bonellis eagle covers an extremely large range and has not declined enough for it to warrant a threatened status, in certain areas, declines in Bonellis eagle populations have been worrying. In Europe, this species is considered Endangered; the nesting population in Spain declined by 25 percent during the period 1980 to 1990. An increase in adult mortality rate seems to be the main cause of population decline in southern Spain, which is one of the last strongholds in Europe. These population declines are the result of several threats, the most serious ones in Europe being hunting, electrocution or collision with power lines, and the loss or disturbance of suitable habitat. Bonellis eagle is also

being affected by a shortage of food; diseases such as myxomatosis have considerably reduced the number of rabbits in the region, one of the eagles favourite prey. They can also be disturbed by outdoor activities such as rock climbing, hiking, free flight or motobikes.
Defenders at work

In Europe, where Bonellis eagle is considered endangered, an action plan was created with the short term aim of maintaining the existing populations in Europe, and the longer term aim of increasing the population size and encouraging the bird to recolonise parts of its former range. To achieve these aims, numerous measures were proposed including the enforcement of existing hunting regulations, modification of those powerlines that have caused eagle deaths, and the protection of areas that hold important breeding sites. Hopefully such measures will prevent this magnificent eagle from disappearing from Europe altogether.

Pyrenean frog

Geographical range Only found in a very small area in the western Pyrenees, there is a French part and a Spanish part to their range. The French part is much smaller to the spanish side.

FAST FACTS Name in Latin: Rana pyrenaica Name in French: Grenouille des Pyrnes Name in Latvian: Pireneju varde Name in Polish: aba pierenejska Name in Romanian: broasca pirenian Name in Turkish: Pyrenean Kurbaa Size: Males grow measure about 30 to 45 mm long,

females reach a size of up to 50 mm long.

Lifespan: About 7 years

Diet

They feed on a large proportion of insects such as wasps, earwigs and other... spiders, slugs...

Behavior

Found only between 800 to 1700 m in altitude. They live in the forests on slopes, they are often seen in and around small mountainous streams and small water holes, characterised by fresh clear water. These streams are also characterised by a rocky habitat. They often share these areas with Calotriton asper.
Reproduction

Their breeding activities start as early as February but vary according to altitude and climate. Metamorphoses occur in September due to the cold

water slowing the development of the tadpoles. The way in which the breeding happens is not well known.
Threats

Threats include stream eutrophication (through intensification of agricultural practices), drought, potential introduction of trout and other predatory fishes, and habitat loss due to the development of tourism and transport infrastructure. Logging and associated activities may threaten the species' habitat, and it is likely to be vulnerable to climate change.
Defenders at work

It is listed on Appendix III of the Bern Convention and is included in the regional catalogues of Navarra and Aragn. It is present in Ordesa and Monte Perdido National Park (Huesca) and Lizardoia Integral Reserve (Navarra). It is also protected in the Natural Park of Pyrnes. Its natural environment is now under protection.

Blue Whale Range map :

FAST FACTS Name in Latin: Balaenoptera musculus Name in French: Baleine bleue Name in Latvian: Zilais valis Name in Polish: Petwal bkitny Name in Romanian: Balena albastr Name in Turkish: Gk balina Size: Length: 24 - 27 m Weight: 100 - 120 tonnes Lifespan: Blue whales have a life expectancy of 35-40 years, but the normal, un-hunted lifespan of a blue whale is estimated to be 80 years.

Diet

The blue whale is thought to feed almost exclusively on small, shrimp-like creatures called euphausiids or krill. During the summer feeding season the blue whale gorges itself, consuming an astounding 4 tons (3.6 metric tons) or more each day. This means it may eat up to 40 million krill a day.
Behavior

The blue whale usually occurs alone or in groups of two or three, but occasionally large groups of up to 60 may form in areas of high food abundance. The blue whale produces louder calls than any other animal on earth. Communication occurs via a variety of low frequency sounds and clicks. The male blue whale is capable of producing particularly long calls, which have been well studied and appear to have functions in sensing the environment, prey detection, communication and male display.
Reproduction

The blue whale reaches sexual maturity at 7 to 10 years of age, when it will mate with several partners during winter

and early spring. A single calf is produced after a gestation period of 10 to 11 months and weaned at the summer feeding grounds, when it is approximately seven months old. During the nursing period, the calf consumes around 100 gallons of the mothers fat rich-milk and grows an incredible one and a half inches in length each day, with a weight gain of 90 kilograms per day. The inter-birth period for female blue whales is probably two to three years, although this may have decreased recently in response to the low population densities .
Threats

Because of its enormous size and speed, the blue whale was largely safe from early whalers, who could not pursue it in open boats with hand harpoons. However, the advent of the exploding harpoon gun in 1868 allowed for the commercial exploitation of this species, with the whaling industry particularly focusing on the blue whale after 1900. The slaughter peaked in 1931, when over 29,000 were killed in one season. After that, blue whales became so scarce that the whalers turned to other species. More than 360,000 blue whales were taken by whaling fleets in the Southern Hemisphere from 1904 to 1967, and the Antarctic and North Atlantic populations were probably depleted to the low hundreds by the time whaling ceased. The total global blue whale population has declined by at

least 70 percent, and possibly as much as 90 percent, over the last three generations, with the formerly very large Antarctic population declining over the same period by as much as 97 percent. Although commercial whaling of the blue whale is now banned, its population is so small that any further mortalities may severely impact on the survival of the species. It is still subject to a number of threats including ship strikes, noise and chemical pollution, and net entanglement. The remote distribution of some blue whale populations probably makes them less vulnerable to human impacts than some other cetacean species, but local populations that inhabit waters with significant levels of human activity, such as the Gulf of St. Lawrence, may be particularly vulnerable to these threats.
Defenders at work

Hunting of the blue whale was banned in 1966, although some illegal soviet whaling persisted for several years after. No blue whales have been deliberately caught since 1978. However, this protection almost came too late for the blue whale, and recovery has been extremely slow.

Only in the last few years have there been signs that numbers may be increasing. Today, there are an estimated 10,000 to 25,000 blue whales surviving worldwide, which represents around 2 to 11 percent of the total pre-commercial exploitation population . All international trade in the blue whale is further prohibited by its listing on Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and on Appendix I of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS or the Bonn Convention) . The blue whale occurs in a number of Marine Protected Areas throughout its range that are aimed at protecting the whole marine ecosystem, as well as whale sanctuaries in the Antarctic, Indian and Southern Oceans. Several countries have also implemented research and conservation programmes for this species, much of which is coordinated by the International Whaling Commission, and these include identifying areas of critical habitat, investigating species abundance and distribution, and mitigating the threats to the species.

HUMBOLDT PENGUIN

Range map : This species is found along the coasts of Peru and Chile within the reaches of the Humboldt Current. Some birds have been recorded as vagrants northwards off Columbia. There are also isolated colonies further to the south on the Punihuil Islands. FAST FACTS Name in Latin: Spheniscus humboldti Name in French: Pingouin de Humboldt Name in Latvian: Humbolta pingvns Name in Polish: pingwin Humboldta Name in Romanian: pinguinul Humboldt Name in Turkish: Humboldt pengueni Size: 65 cm Weight:4 kg Lifespan: up to 30 years in captivity

Diet

Humboldt penguins exploit the cold waters off the South American west coast for food. The Humboldt Current flows northwards from Antarctica, and provides a rich harvest of fish, particularly anchovies, but the birds also feed on other fish species, krill and squid.
Population

In 1998, a survey established that with a world population of between 3,300 and 12,000 breeding pairs, the species was likely to become extinct within the next century
Behavior

Humboldt penguins nest on rocky coasts and islands with suitable terrain for constructing nest burrows
Reproduction

These penguins are monogamous and can be found in their breeding colonies throughout the year although the main breeding seasons are from March to April and September to October, depending on the location. The

birds dig burrows into the sand or guano cliffs, or find small crevices in which to lay the eggs. Two eggs are laid over a period of two to four days, incubation taking between 40 and 42 days, with both adult birds sharing nest duties. The chicks usually hatch two days apart and are fed by both adults once they have acquired their first thick downy coats. Chicks rarely leave their nest scrape until they are fledged at about 12 weeks. They then fend for themselves along the coast for several months before returning to establish their own nests, often within the same colony where they were reared. They reach maturity at the age of two years.
Threats

Penguins have historically been heavily hunted for meat, oil and skins and suffered from unsustainable egg collecting. Currently, the principal risks to Humboldt penguins come from human over-harvesting of the fish stocks, especially anchovies, and exploiting the birds guano beds, using the mineral-rich guano for fertiliser. Removal of the guano deprives the birds from constructing nest burrows and leaves the eggs and chicks vulnerable to weather and predators. On the mainland nesting sites, wild dogs take eggs, chicks and even adult birds. Natural predators on land include foxes and caracaras (a large native hawk), whilst in the

water the penguins fall prey to fur seals, sharks and whales. A more alarming trend over recent decades has been the effects of El Nio-related events. This is known to affect penguin numbers in two ways; by displacing the Humboldt Current with warmer, less food-rich water, and raising severe storms that can wash out the nesting colonies. There are also a large number of birds caught as by-catch, and they are constantly at risk from marine pollution.
Defenders at work

Legislation to assist the recovery of the Humboldt penguin has been passed in Chile, including a 30 year moratorium on killing or capturing the birds, and protection of the four principal breeding colonies, although enforcement is low. In Peru, the major colonies are also protected and the extraction of guano is managed by government. Further proposed conservation targets to save this species include the creation of marine nature reserves around the main breeding grounds, greater care over the extraction of guano, reducing the fish harvests and setting up awareness programmes to limit the hunting of penguins and accidental entanglement (by-catch) in fishing nets.

Przewalskis horse Range : Wild horses (Equus

ferus) lived in Europe and Asia 10 to 15 thousand years ago before being pushed back to the furthest limits of their range. Przewalski's horse ended up in Asia and the final abode of the subspecies was in southwest Mongolia where the last wild specimen was recorded in 1968. Subsequently, captive-bred individuals have been released in Mongolia, causing the IUCN to reassess the status of this species from Extinct in the Wild to Critically Endangered.

FAST FACTS Name in Latin: Equus przewalskii Name in French: Cheval de Przewalski Name in Latvian: Prevaskas zirgs Name in Polish: koo Przewalskiego Name in Romanian: calul

Przewalski

Name in Turkish: Prezewalski yaban at Size: Head-body length: 210 cm / Tail length: 90 cm Weight: 350 kg Lifespan: up to about 25 years in captivity

Diet

They are herbivores. Przewalski's horse feeds on grasses and other plants, while in captivity it also takes hay and grain . Most of the day is spent foraging, as it feeds on food with a low nutritional content.
Population

1,500 found worldwide live in captivity, with about 250 in the wild.
Behavior

First described scientifically in the late 19th century by Russian explorer N. M. Przewalski, for whom the horse is named, the horse once freely roamed the steppe along the Mongolia-China border. Never again seen in the wild, Przewalskis horses have since been kept and bred in captivity and have recently been reintroduced in Mongolia. While extant in the wild, these horses ate grasses and other vegetation on the steppe, shrublands, and plains of western Mongolia and northern China. Herds observed at reintroduction sites appear to be affectionate.

Reproduction

In the wild, Przewalski's horse occurs in family groups led by a dominant stallion, juveniles were ousted and the males formed their own bachelor groups before attempting to take over a band of females. In captivity, births occur in April/May but in the wild the season is later and more likely to be May/June. Gestation takes between 11 and 12 months and foals are able to stand as soon as one hour after birth. A week after giving birth, females come into heat and will mate again .
Threats

Habitat degradation, human activities including hunting and conflict, along with competition with domestic livestock for water and forage were all thought to be responsible for driving the extinction of Przewalski's horse in the wild in the 1960s. Thankfully, it has been possible to reintroduce this unique survivor into the wild. However, those reintroduced populations still face threats; primarily that of hybridisation with domestic horses, along with competition with domestic horses for resources . A loss of genetic diversity is one of their greatest threats today.

Defenders at work

After the subspecies became Extinct in the Wild, it clung on in a number of small populations in various zoos around the world. In 1977, there were around 300 horses in zoos and parks and their breeding was managed in order to prevent inbreeding . In the 1990s, The Mongolian Association for Conservation of Nature and the Environment (MACNE) and the FPPPH collaborated to reintroduce a number of individuals in small herds into the Hustai National Park in central Mongolia . The national symbol was a welcome return to the area and part of an important drive to save the steppe biotope . Today, more than 120 Przewalski's horses live in Hustai and a further conservation programme run by the International Takhi Group (a consortium of European takhi breeding institutions) together with the Mongolian Commission for Endangered Species has introduced a further 50 horses to an area in the Dzungarian Gobi in Southwest Mongolia. The return of the Przewalski's horse to its natural environment is a success story for conservation and, despite ongoing problems, it is hoped that at least two large, self-sustained populations will soon be a reality.